Uneventful Week

Hello everyone,

My week has been pretty good. Just been directing our efforts on finding people to teach since we don't have many. On Monday we did transfers and we get to visit the Temple on Wednesday so that is technically my preparation day. But we were permitted to e-mail today so that we could update our President and get it out of the way. We keep meeting people who are too polite to say upfront that they aren't really interested so we go back for follow up appointments that they weren't serious about and therefore aren't home. So even thought this kind of sucks I prefer the polite people who string you along than the abruptly rude people. I guess ultimately they're just wasting my time but we are supposed to view it as a possible seed planted that will eventually lead them to the Church.

I'm excited for Conference to come. When I was at home I don't think I thought much about it but conference is pretty darn awesome. Plus out here it's king of like Christmas cause it's like two days of lessened work load. You get to watch something very similar to television which, those of you who know me pretty well know I could do for hours, and then there are the obvious things like hearing from the Prophet and stuff of that sort.

It's actually been a very boring and uneventful week so I'll have to leave you with those few words. Have a great week everbody!

Sincerely Elder Miller

How to Answer the Door with Panache

Hello All,
This past week was rather slow as far as mission work is concerned. We have fallen out of contact with a number of people that we have been working with, so we really need to try and set up furthur appointments with them somehow. I did, on Tuesday, finally get the banana bread package that Mom sent me though. And I got to read about my Dad's paintball trip and getting rammed by a truck. I don't have too many new adventures or stories but I would like to share my impressions concerning tracting.

Since our week has been slow and we don't have anyone to teach we tracted quite a bit. Two things stuck out to me, I don't like some people, but I do like others. I imagine you recognize that these are pretty simplistic understandings for me to come to and are probably wondering what type of education your children are getting out of public school system if they produced me, but let me explain. The group of people that I don't like when tracting are those that: 1)slam the door as they shout not interested 2)look out of their peep hole and then just decide to ignore you 3)pretend to not speak english 4)are afraid of you

Thinking about the last one, it's logical but I hate it. It makes perfect sense for the little old ladies or single mothers to be guarded when answering the door to two strange guys but it really gets annoying, especially when you compare it to the few awesome people that like come out and stand on their front step with you and give you a real conversation. My favorite guy just stepped right out and said "how can I help you?" with a small grin on his face and just beaming with friendliness. After we gave our spiel he simply said, "Oh, we are of another faith, and aren't exactly interested in changing. Okay?" and I was just thinking, I want to be his friend cause he is so cool and confident. Once he said that he initiated the shaking of our hands and told us to have a good day. That guy is awesome, I may go back and write down his address so I can look him up and become his friend when I'm off my mission. Just kidding, but I would actually look forward to tracting if we got a few more people like mr. happy pants answering doors than the people who just shout through their doors.
I'm making it a goal for myself to be more outgoing so that I can be more successful and approachable out here and that hopefully I'll be a cool guy who answers doors with an air of awesomness when I'm home.

Well those are my thoughts on tracting. I hope we can all learn something from it and answer doors with more confidence. Growing up my Dad's motto directed to me when he would dare me to do something silly, was "What's the worst that could happen?", now it's important to not let your imagination get out of control when pondering this question, but rather look at it realistically and recognize that odds are you won't be attacked or become a victim of home invasion when answering the door. So you might as well answer the door with a little panache. And that's all I have to say. Good day to you all. have a great week everyone.

Sincerely, Elder Miller

A Clean House

I recieved a few letters on saturday I think and those are first ones that have been forwarded from the mission office successfully as far as I know. Now the first couple weeks I was here the mission office just hangs onto the letters and gives them to you by hand if you are going to a big meeting or something. Since the letters made it here yesterday, I herby repeal my plea to mail straight to my house address here. I didn't really think much of it until a sister that works in the office called me about a letter that was just addressed to an elder miller, there are four in the mission now. Shain had sent it so she was checking whose it was before forwarding it. It never made it to me and it was a couple weeks ago that she told me to expect it. So that made me question how many letters I've been getting. so I'm not sure if there is or ever was a problem. All I know is that Shains letter never came. I think I'll send a letter to him within an envelope to the family and you can get it to him cause I don't know his address. I haven't gotten the package yet, I guess they can only forward it if you used the us postal service, not UPS. They may just be holding onto it because we have a pretty large meeting tomorrow, Elder Golden is addressing us. And he might inspect some Elders or Sisters living quarters. We had and inspection on our house by a member who was assigned to make sure we weren't fouling up the place. As I said before the Elder I replaced and his companion before mine let the place fall into mayhem, giant stuffed gorilla in the corner, chairs and tables wearing the paint off the walls, soda spots sticking up the floor, unwashed dishes only and everything else apparantly. Elder Bludworth had it nice when I got here and we've been keeping it in good shape. My companion apparantly got chewed out by the owner of the house and then also this guy who does inspections on a separate occasion, both times his companion(the one responsible for the mess) hid in an avacado tree or in his room. So Elder Bludworth was pretty scared this time, he scoured out the bath tub and was pretty detail attentive, he said the inspector was pretty anal, but the guy came and could apparantly tell right off the bat that the house was in much better hands and was really helpful and even complimented us, and then said he'd put us on a list of possible living quarters to have Elder Golden inspect. That sounds pretty intimidateing but it would be cool.

so I'm doing great having a good time been teaching a load of lessons. Perhaps the most interesting thing I have to announce right now, which is completely not connected to missionary work but is sort of neat is

1. We have a brother Beck in our ward who is the uncle to John Beck, star quarter back of BYU a little while ago and now back up for the Redskins

2. Our Bishop, Bishop Hess is the uncle of Jared Hess, director of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre.

3. The same Bishop has produced his own album. It's called Take the Chance by Jim Hess. I have no idea if it's in distribution by Deseret Book or what but his wife gave us copies and it's not bad. and its' mission appropriate so I can't complain.

So I'm doing well here, we played some football today, it was fun and I got paired up with a slightly less athletically inclined elder so I got the ball way more often than I normally would. Things are going great, my companion is a very good match for me I believe, the right combination of work ethic and able to find the fun within the work. Well I hope you all are doing fantastic I am having way too much fun out here. Oh an investigator gave us her cigarettes as we challenged her to obey the word of wisdom, then she thought we looked funny carrying them and took a picture with her cell phone. We gave them to a member who has been involved in her conversion process and she threw them away.

Well that's about it, I'd like to thank everyone that writes me, it's great to hear from you all. Have a great week, I know I will.

-Elder Miller

Labor Day BBQ

This Monday was Labor Day of course and the library was closed where I do e-mails so I am e-mailing you now on Tuesday. But Yesterday was great, P-Day on a Holiday is quite an occurance, maybe. My ward here had a picnic and it was very successful on the subject of missionary work. On Saturday my companion and I were tracting at Miller Place. Mainly because I wanted to get a picture with the street sign, but perhaps that was inspiration on my part because oddly enough we found some people who were interested. We first approached the house and noted that the door was ajar, which is a great indicator that someone is home so we were excited after all the unanswered doors we had just left. Then as we started up the driveway we noticed there was a massive Rottweiler laying on the front step asleep. I noticed it's choke chain collar was linked with a fourth inch braided cable the led into the open garage and attached to a dumbell rack with probably a couple hundred pounds on it. But I didn't doubt that this dog could tow that rack if he wanted to. So we approached with caution. I know from playing with the neighbors dog that some Rottweilers are nice and just loveable like Rocky, but still I was ready to run if this one proved stereotypical. We got closer and the dog heard us and opened his eyes and raised his huge head and I figured a bark would be enough to let me know that my presence was unwanted and I'd leave, quickly. But the dog just stood up and my companion pet him and he wagged his tail and now he's my best friend. We ended up knocking on the door and wether the lady didn't hear us or she just didn't believe someone would be standing on her front step when her menacing dog was there I don't know. But we sort of startled her and she was impressed that we braved her dog (Baron) and she was just friendly anyway so we talked and she seemed interested and then we went back the next night to inviter her and her husband to the picnic and she and her son came.
So she and her son showed up and her son had a great time and members went over and made her feel welcome and so it was awesome. Plus we had a family that came and has been meaning to come to more church things but their kids are high functioning autistic and they were worried if they would fit in but they had a blast and the members all like them and talked to them and are so helpful that it was awesome.
The picnic was fun, I got to toss a frisbee a bit and it was right next to a pool and we pass pools like every day and I always wish I could swim cause it is always perfect swimming weather but alas, I'm a missionary. But it was great and I ate so many sweets that I haven't bought for myself cause that would be a waste of money but they are delicious. And it was just a great experience and I am grateful for the ward I'm in, and my companion and all the blessings I witness each and every day out here. It is just amazing to me how many people are here and how diverse this area is and how many are quick to refuse the gospel but at the same time there are those that pick it up like nothing.

Well I hope everyone is doing well, I'm doing great. My companion has IBS and so I get amusement out of every dinner appointment bringing it up. Though I'm worried they'll start feeding me non dairy and gluten free stuff all the time, my enjoyment from members feeding us meals may end. But it's good. Have a good week everyone.

Love, Elder Miller

A Letter from Members in Fremont

Brothers & Sisters Miller & Bludworth,

We had your sons into our home Saturday night; they are currently serving in our ward. Elder Miller made it to our area safe and sound and is enjoying his first weeks in the field. Elder Bludworth has been serving in our ward for a little while now and is doing a great job. They both serve with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts. You have raised fine sons and they are anxiously engaged in the work of serving the Lord and sharing the gospel with those in the Fremont area. They are working hard to not only be great missionaries themselves but are doing all they can to help the ward members be better member missionaries as well. They have given us many tools and ideas on how to share the gospel with our friends and those we meet.

We know what it is like to have sons serving a mission and the joy it is to receive a photo of them and an update from others once in awhile. Our eldest is currently serving in the Salt Lake City South Mission and will return home in February . . . time flies! Our second son has been in the field for about a month now and is getting familiar with the Spanish language in the Ogden Mission.
We thought you might enjoy a picture of your sons, you'll see they are well.

Sincerely,
Kortnee & Adam Feriante