Re: How's our missonary? May 17, 2010

Dear Family,

It was really nice to hear from you all this week. Mom, I also appreciated the message from Dr. (Brother) Watkins. I am very excited to play with Sound Alliance again! And Dr. Watkins is an amazing professor who really cares about the students. I am very appreciative of all that he and Brother Holman have done for me and for the music program at BYU-Idaho. My mission has been a huge blessing in my life and I know that the principles and attributes that I have learned on my mission such as diligence, hard work, and sacrifice, will greatly enhance my enjoyment and performance in the music program there. I also look forward to hopefully participating in the big trip that Sound Alliance makes every four years, possibly even one overseas! If you have the opportunity, please tell them that I said thank you for all they do and that I look forward to seeing them again in the fall.

I am glad your new calling is going so well and I know the Lord knew what He was doing when he chose you to work with the young women. You finally get to have daughters!

Karolyn and Jonathon accepted a baptismal date for May 29th! We are very excited for them. And I am happy that Elder Engemann will be able to attend the baptism since he is staying now. During the transfer calls I was under the impression that Elder Engemann would be transferred because I remember President talking with me two interviews ago about training my last two transfers. But when the transfer texts started coming and our apartment hadn't received a call yet I realized that maybe the Lord had other plans for the new missionaries coming in from the MTC. I hope there is a way that I might train my last transfer instead, because I really enjoy that responsibility as a missionary! Although I am a little sad about not training this transfer I am happy to be with Elder Engemann and I know we will have a successful transfer together!

Dad, thank you for your compliments. I will definitely finish out strong with my last two transfers. Remi, I enjoyed hearing about your adventures with your friend Aaron. I hope you have a fun summer!

On Friday we got to attend the baptism of Johnny, a 19 year old young man whom the Stuart Zone Leaders have been teaching and it was a really good experience. I have had the opportunity to speak with Johnny over the past few weeks at Church and I know this step is the best thing for him in his life. I am happy that I was able to be there to support him in his righteous decision. His foster parents were there, too, and it was a great experience for them to see Johnny's baptism as well. Hopefully they felt the Spirit and will want to make that same step in there lives.

Sunday was a special Sunday for me because I had the opportunity to bless the sacrament with Brother P. As missionaries we do not want to interfere with Priesthood responsibility of the men in the ward, but when I am called upon to serve in the Priesthood I do not hesitate. I realized that it has been over two years since I blessed the sacrament but the words flowed out of my mouth just like I remember they used to when I was a Priest in the Visalia 6th ward. I thought about the importance of the sacrament and what the emblems we were blessing (the bread and the water) signified. I feel very blessed to help others receive that sacred ordinance of the Sacrament.

Reece, today Elder Bennett and I are going golfing with a member from his ward (the FT. Pierce ward). This will be my first time so it should be interesting! It's too bad I didn't know earlier or I could have asked you for some pointers. I am sure I will learn as I go, haha. Congratulations on winning first place in the drafting competition! That is really something! It sounds like you have a potential career on your hands.

The work is going well here and we look forward to contributing to the 100 baptisms in May. I know that the Lord is with us and He will help us accomplish our goals. I look forward to a great May and a strong finish to President Darrington's service as President in this mission. I really appreciate all you do for me as my family and I love each of you very much! Have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Miller