Hello Everybody,
This week was pretty good. We are working with a guy who doesn't seem to have much going for him. I think he's been homeless for much of his life and is just recently living in a group home type place. He's really nice and easy to talk to. It just seems like his disadvantages in life are now disadvantages in accepting our message. He never received a very complete education so I have to really think about everything that I say and try to make sure that it is in it's simplest terms possible, and even then he just naturally agrees with everything and probably doesn't want to feel stupid for not understanding something. So it is a real challenge working with him and helping him progress when he hasn't really found the motivation for him doing this for himself, if that makes any sense. He's just a really very nice and likeable guy so everyone around him wants him to want the Gospel but he's getting in his own way. He has no problem coming to church but he won't commit to be baptized fully yet. The member who gives him a ride to church every week was telling us that he sees our investigator as one who will come to church for like a year before they fully realize that they want to be baptized. I hope that's the case and that it's just a matter of time.
Other than that our most devastating news is that the little old Tongan lady who is in charge of our dinner calendar is moving to Hawaii and so there may be a rough transition period in which no one is bullying the relief society to feed us, but we'll survive.
We had a lesson/meeting thing at District Meeting in which we were encouraged to try and use Family History as a means to contact people, and we were also told to invite the members to do the same. So for my little after dinner message with a family I shared a scripture about geneology and then asked the family how familiar they are with it. Unfortunately it was more of an elderly couple and they then spent like a straight 15 minutes just relating their experience and family history and other peoples family histories and it was kind of bad. But it all worked out and I encouraged them to share what they just shared with someone who might find it interesting and want to learn more.
The shut in guy that we teach, I think I just realized that he could probably be diagnosed as a hypochondriac, just had a heart test conducted and said that he was perfectly fine as far has heart disease goes but he feels he has a weird skipping beat and that compounds with this condition where his chest wall tightens up and he can't breath and so that's why he's never come to church. Anxiety causing situations set it off and so he doesn't want to come to church and risk socialising to set it off. But he did go to general conference six months ago and hopefully he'll go this time as well. General conference attendence counts as attending church. So then we'll just have to wait another six months for him to go to April conference again and he'll be eligable for baptism. Except he also has a bit of a problem with tithing. Long story short he's full of problems, as is everyone though.
So I'm having fun working with these, different, people and it's rewarding. They are all great people but have their own hang ups and it's a challenge but cool to work on them.
I hope everyone has a great week. We get to visit the Temple on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to that.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Hello Everbody,
This week was nowhere near as exciting as last weeks since we had that baptism basically sneak attack us. We haven't been able to visit with that family yet since be we are really hoping that much more missionary work will generate within their home. My companion and I are doing well and we have so much support from the ward that it's really easy to appreciate this area despite our week being a bit of a bummer. Perhaps the highlight of my week though was having dinner at a members home. Everything went just right. We got there and they had two Papa Murphys pizzas waiting on the table. A pepperoni pizza and a garlic chicken pizza, my favorite. They asked if we got pizza a lot and the truth is I haven't had a single member in this area before now serve us pizza. I responded that I haven't had Papa Murphys in 13 months and the member thought I was joking, but sadly that was the truth. I was super glad it was Papa Murphys too cause that is all I ate back home. As I was eating their son kept asking sly questions trying to determine if after dinner we would be able to hang around a bit and race his slot cars with him. They had a huge long track that took up the living room and then stretched down the hall. We certainly had time to race a little and it was fun. I lost to Elder McKenzie on a ten lap race and then we had to leave. I tended to keep my speed up a little too much on the sharp turns and would go spinning off the track. Those little things are fun. And the members told us that there are smaller ones that you can drive upside down. So a new ambition of mine is to get tons of that track and then attach it to my ceiling and then you can just have it out of the way. For when I get home of course, not at our missionary apartment. He he.
Anyway, my companion and I were asked a lot of questions from our members after stake conference because in a session that we hadn't attended our mission President spoke and mentioned that a missionary that used to serve in this area but is now in Pleasanton was punched in the face a few days ago. My companion and I didn't know anything about it since we don't really communicate between areas that much so we had no clue what our members were asking about. But I guess he tried contacting an unpleasant person on the street and didn't come off as the most respectful missionary to an already grudging guy and so the man popped him one. Not to sound uncaring but that sounds like a good story at the very least. Unfortunately the people I try to contact on the street are usually non-confrontational, they sooner just avoid eye contact and ignore you. But hopefully at some point in my mission I shall have the pleasure of getting a good punch to the face. Or maybe I don't want that.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
This week was nowhere near as exciting as last weeks since we had that baptism basically sneak attack us. We haven't been able to visit with that family yet since be we are really hoping that much more missionary work will generate within their home. My companion and I are doing well and we have so much support from the ward that it's really easy to appreciate this area despite our week being a bit of a bummer. Perhaps the highlight of my week though was having dinner at a members home. Everything went just right. We got there and they had two Papa Murphys pizzas waiting on the table. A pepperoni pizza and a garlic chicken pizza, my favorite. They asked if we got pizza a lot and the truth is I haven't had a single member in this area before now serve us pizza. I responded that I haven't had Papa Murphys in 13 months and the member thought I was joking, but sadly that was the truth. I was super glad it was Papa Murphys too cause that is all I ate back home. As I was eating their son kept asking sly questions trying to determine if after dinner we would be able to hang around a bit and race his slot cars with him. They had a huge long track that took up the living room and then stretched down the hall. We certainly had time to race a little and it was fun. I lost to Elder McKenzie on a ten lap race and then we had to leave. I tended to keep my speed up a little too much on the sharp turns and would go spinning off the track. Those little things are fun. And the members told us that there are smaller ones that you can drive upside down. So a new ambition of mine is to get tons of that track and then attach it to my ceiling and then you can just have it out of the way. For when I get home of course, not at our missionary apartment. He he.
Anyway, my companion and I were asked a lot of questions from our members after stake conference because in a session that we hadn't attended our mission President spoke and mentioned that a missionary that used to serve in this area but is now in Pleasanton was punched in the face a few days ago. My companion and I didn't know anything about it since we don't really communicate between areas that much so we had no clue what our members were asking about. But I guess he tried contacting an unpleasant person on the street and didn't come off as the most respectful missionary to an already grudging guy and so the man popped him one. Not to sound uncaring but that sounds like a good story at the very least. Unfortunately the people I try to contact on the street are usually non-confrontational, they sooner just avoid eye contact and ignore you. But hopefully at some point in my mission I shall have the pleasure of getting a good punch to the face. Or maybe I don't want that.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Hello Everyone,
What a crazy week it has been. Rather unorthodox. I believe on Tuesday night we were actually about to start eating dinner with a family when my companion got a call from our Bishop telling us that there was less active family that just moved into the ward with a 16 year old son that wanted to be baptized. The next night we set up an appointment and met them. The son has a very rare disease called Battens disease which, since the time he was 7, is eating away at his motor and speech skills. He was very hard to understand, his father basically translated for us. And he is basically still at the emotional and mental state of a 7 year old, or at least that is how he seems. Perhaps on the inside he is much more developed but incapable of expressing himself. Anyway it was unique situation. The father is a less active member and his wife is catholic. They are great parents and have really done well to take care of such a situation so well. The boys desire to be baptized stemmed from his uncle who is fully active and lives in Utah. He gave the boy his first Book of Mormon and because he is blind he told him to ask his father to read to him every night, which his father did our of love for his son. And he has grown to love the Book of Mormon. He calls it his "Mormon handbook" and doesn't want to go anywhere without it. He has been taught the missionary discussions a number of different times when he lived in Nevada and has always wanted to be baptized but I think his mother stood in the way until now. I believe he is not expected to live past the age of 20 so as his 17 birthday approaches and a family reunion was planned to take place this past weekend anyway they decided it was time to grant the boy his desire. So we were the lucky missionaries to be a part of this wonderful event. He truly is a very special person. The things he says are very simple and he is always talking but he really touches you and makes you happy to be around him. It's hard to imagine being in the situation he is in and it's even harder to imagine being as happy and unconcerned about it as he is. Right after our stake conference we set up for his baptism and welcomed his extended family and got to witness his very caring uncle baptize him. I think it's understood that the boy was innocent and a place in the celestial kingdom is reserved for him whether he be baptized or not because he is as a child. But baptism was something he desired very badly and we realized that it wouldn't do any harm, but rather increase his faith as well as hopefully bring the church back into the life of his father and perhaps introduce his mother to the church as well. We are excited to continue to work with him and his family and see the changes that may arrive in their lives due to this wonderful faithfilled step that their son made. So the week was a fast one. We had to meet him and teach him all the lessons before Saturday. Many exceptions were made on his behalf and it was worth it. His parents said that he has a website that they seemed eager to let everyone know about so I don't think they'd mind if I told you all. I think it was connorsbattle.com. I guess his parents fundraise for research on his disease because not many research has been done cause it's so rare.
I hope you all have a good week.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
What a crazy week it has been. Rather unorthodox. I believe on Tuesday night we were actually about to start eating dinner with a family when my companion got a call from our Bishop telling us that there was less active family that just moved into the ward with a 16 year old son that wanted to be baptized. The next night we set up an appointment and met them. The son has a very rare disease called Battens disease which, since the time he was 7, is eating away at his motor and speech skills. He was very hard to understand, his father basically translated for us. And he is basically still at the emotional and mental state of a 7 year old, or at least that is how he seems. Perhaps on the inside he is much more developed but incapable of expressing himself. Anyway it was unique situation. The father is a less active member and his wife is catholic. They are great parents and have really done well to take care of such a situation so well. The boys desire to be baptized stemmed from his uncle who is fully active and lives in Utah. He gave the boy his first Book of Mormon and because he is blind he told him to ask his father to read to him every night, which his father did our of love for his son. And he has grown to love the Book of Mormon. He calls it his "Mormon handbook" and doesn't want to go anywhere without it. He has been taught the missionary discussions a number of different times when he lived in Nevada and has always wanted to be baptized but I think his mother stood in the way until now. I believe he is not expected to live past the age of 20 so as his 17 birthday approaches and a family reunion was planned to take place this past weekend anyway they decided it was time to grant the boy his desire. So we were the lucky missionaries to be a part of this wonderful event. He truly is a very special person. The things he says are very simple and he is always talking but he really touches you and makes you happy to be around him. It's hard to imagine being in the situation he is in and it's even harder to imagine being as happy and unconcerned about it as he is. Right after our stake conference we set up for his baptism and welcomed his extended family and got to witness his very caring uncle baptize him. I think it's understood that the boy was innocent and a place in the celestial kingdom is reserved for him whether he be baptized or not because he is as a child. But baptism was something he desired very badly and we realized that it wouldn't do any harm, but rather increase his faith as well as hopefully bring the church back into the life of his father and perhaps introduce his mother to the church as well. We are excited to continue to work with him and his family and see the changes that may arrive in their lives due to this wonderful faithfilled step that their son made. So the week was a fast one. We had to meet him and teach him all the lessons before Saturday. Many exceptions were made on his behalf and it was worth it. His parents said that he has a website that they seemed eager to let everyone know about so I don't think they'd mind if I told you all. I think it was connorsbattle.com. I guess his parents fundraise for research on his disease because not many research has been done cause it's so rare.
I hope you all have a good week.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Hello Everyone,
Elder Miller here, pleased to announce the arrival of my new companion, (drum roll please), Elder McKenzie! He's pretty cool. He's from Lehi Utah but was born in Hawaii and raised in Washington mostly and just spent his high school years in Utah. He is full Samoan and the McKenzie name is just a fluke apparantly. I think he is going to be a great asset in this particular area since there are so many Polynesians and he gets along with everyone so well. He only has roughly 5 months left on his mission so I'll probably just be with him for 3 months and then be transferred somewhere else.
Our week was pretty good. On Tuesday I went to the transfer meeting with Elder Orgill and he is now in San Jose, the southern part I guess and I picked up Elder McKenzie and we drove back to our area. We actually stopped first by our Bishops workplace just so I could introduce him to Elder McKenzie and he ended up taking us out for lunch which was cool. Since Elder McKenzie is pretty old by mission life he is already very much in command and capable to help out in the area. I still don't always know how to respond to every situation we come across but Elder McKenzie does so it's all good.
On Thursday we got a text message from one of our investigators and he told us that he had run out of money and didn't have any food for the rest of the week. So we searched our cupboards and fortunately had some things to give him to get him by. It was a kind of neat experience being able to help in that capacity. Generally we only take care and try and help out the spiritual needs of the people we work with but this form of serviece was pretty fulfilling.
On Saturday we generally play basketball in the mornings with our ward but we had some members sign up on the "Feed the Missionaries" sheet for breakfast so we were excited about that but sorry to miss basketball. Especially since Elder Orgill and I had been trying for a long time to convice our Bishop to come and play with us and the day that we didn't go is the day that Bishop finally made it. Bummer. But the breakfast was good. Apparantly the kids couldn't agree on something. One wanted cinnamon rolls and another wanted pancakes and so they found a recipe for cinnamon roll pancakes which you put a glaze frosting on and it was delicious.
Sunday the investigator that we gave the food to finally came to church so that was good. And then right after church we had a lesson with our golden investigator. His only hold up is that he hasn't gotten work off to come to church yet, but he promised that nothing will stop him from making it to stake conference next week. Which is when there will be a bunch of general authorities there cause we're getting a new stake president.
Then yesterday was fun. Our ward mission leader invited us to have a park party BBQ with his family and I got to toss my frisbee around and play volleybally which I haven't been able to play for a whole year until now. I'm kind of sore and sun burned today though.
That was my week and I'll update ya'll next week.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
Elder Miller here, pleased to announce the arrival of my new companion, (drum roll please), Elder McKenzie! He's pretty cool. He's from Lehi Utah but was born in Hawaii and raised in Washington mostly and just spent his high school years in Utah. He is full Samoan and the McKenzie name is just a fluke apparantly. I think he is going to be a great asset in this particular area since there are so many Polynesians and he gets along with everyone so well. He only has roughly 5 months left on his mission so I'll probably just be with him for 3 months and then be transferred somewhere else.
Our week was pretty good. On Tuesday I went to the transfer meeting with Elder Orgill and he is now in San Jose, the southern part I guess and I picked up Elder McKenzie and we drove back to our area. We actually stopped first by our Bishops workplace just so I could introduce him to Elder McKenzie and he ended up taking us out for lunch which was cool. Since Elder McKenzie is pretty old by mission life he is already very much in command and capable to help out in the area. I still don't always know how to respond to every situation we come across but Elder McKenzie does so it's all good.
On Thursday we got a text message from one of our investigators and he told us that he had run out of money and didn't have any food for the rest of the week. So we searched our cupboards and fortunately had some things to give him to get him by. It was a kind of neat experience being able to help in that capacity. Generally we only take care and try and help out the spiritual needs of the people we work with but this form of serviece was pretty fulfilling.
On Saturday we generally play basketball in the mornings with our ward but we had some members sign up on the "Feed the Missionaries" sheet for breakfast so we were excited about that but sorry to miss basketball. Especially since Elder Orgill and I had been trying for a long time to convice our Bishop to come and play with us and the day that we didn't go is the day that Bishop finally made it. Bummer. But the breakfast was good. Apparantly the kids couldn't agree on something. One wanted cinnamon rolls and another wanted pancakes and so they found a recipe for cinnamon roll pancakes which you put a glaze frosting on and it was delicious.
Sunday the investigator that we gave the food to finally came to church so that was good. And then right after church we had a lesson with our golden investigator. His only hold up is that he hasn't gotten work off to come to church yet, but he promised that nothing will stop him from making it to stake conference next week. Which is when there will be a bunch of general authorities there cause we're getting a new stake president.
Then yesterday was fun. Our ward mission leader invited us to have a park party BBQ with his family and I got to toss my frisbee around and play volleybally which I haven't been able to play for a whole year until now. I'm kind of sore and sun burned today though.
That was my week and I'll update ya'll next week.
Sincerely, Elder Miller
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