Week 22 - Caraz

Here is Elder Miller's weekly update.  It's starting to warm up there and beginning to feel like summer.  Enjoy the e-mail & the pictures.

Canada VS. Peru

He received a package from the YW finally!  He's sooo happy.

This week was great! We had an awesome worldwide fireside training thing with the quorum of the twelve on Wednesday with our zone in Huaraz in Wednesday and I learned so much. One of my favorite things was that we need to teach less actives like they are investigators so that we can strengthen their faith or help them find it again.

This week I also received my package from the young women with snacks and my mtc survival kit! That was an awesome surprise! My companion and I have been enjoying the snacks this week for sure! I also really enjoyed the letters! Deer Lodge Ward is the Best! 

The work here in Caraz was really super slow at times early in the week, but as the week grew older we got busy with lessons so that was awesome. The days go by so slow when its hot and we are walking a ton to find someone to teach, so its really nice when we have lessons. One day in particular we were in Yura Coto a little town outside of Caraz and we had a few lessons with less actives which was great, but we were looking for new investigators and not having a ton of success until we went to a members house and we met her grandson and his girlfriend. Her grandson is a less active member and his girlfriend is not a member. We taught them the restoration and it went great. I have really seen the power that the message of the restoration has lately. Its pretty awesome. I have seen investigators go from not wanting to listen to us to asking about baptism after hearing this lesson.

I also found an awesome quote this week in a Mormon message that I really like. ¨Never let correcting someone be more important than loving the person¨ This is definitely something that is difficult for me, but its so important. Nobody is going to listen to criticism or advice if your not giving it with love.

It was a great week here in Caraz! The mission life is pretty awesome!

Week 21 - Caraz

This weeks e-mail Summary from Elder Miller.  He wanted me to Thank EVERYONE for the birthday wishes! 

 

From Elder Miller:

Wow this week was another great week! My companion had to go to Trujillo earlier in the week for a leaders meeting there so i got to proselyte in Huaraz with two missionaries there. It was a great experience. I got to learn a few new things from them on how they teach and study so that was great. I also spent a lot of time laughing. Elder Fernandez is from my group and he is so funny. he is from the jungle in a different part of Peru. 

This week was kind of tough at times. We could not find our investigators in their houses so that was kind of frustrating, but we did have a few lessons this week and I learned to appreciate the lessons a little bit more. We taught a part member family the proclamation and once again it was super awesome. I love using the proclamation in our lessons. 

Yesterday we went on splits and I got to go with Hermano Castillo and it was great! We taught two less active families. The first one was so awesome. The Husband drives a payloader for his job so I got to talk a little bit about that with him to get to know him. He told me that someday I can come check it out when he is working so I think I might have to do that one Pday. It is so much easier to help someone learn and come unto Christ when you get to know eachother a little bit. Hermano Castillo was great to have in the lessons as well. He has a very powerful testimony. He is part of the stake high council here. 

I have learned quite a bit in my studies this week as well. I studied Elder Hollands talk about the Godhead and wow that was so awesome. I studied his talk with a lot of the Chapters in John in the Bible and I learned a ton. 

I really am kinding of feeling like its crunch time. We havent really had any baptisms so I am thinking a lot of how I can become better and change to make that happen. I know this is the work of the Lord and that it will move forward. I am definitely learning patience.

PDay last week

Hermana Vilma and her family

 Wow! I feel so blessed this week. My pensionista had a little party for me in her house for my birthday with the missionaries in my district. She made me a cake and everything. It was kind of a surprise haha it was a good time for sure!

 

Week 20 - Caraz

Elder Miller turns 19 on January 14th.  If you feel like e-mailing him to wish him a happy birthday, I'm sure he would love to hear from you!

He had another great week and continues to improve his Spanish speaking skills. 
Here is what he wrote:

Hey everyone this was another great week here in the mission! We have been working with a few new families lately and it has been really fun. Almost all of them need to get married still so we are talking with them about that quite a bit. It is cool for me to hear why their families are important to them and also their testimonies of our Heavenly Father. There's a few that really have a strong desire to please our Heavenly Father and don't want to disappoint him so that makes me so happy. I honestly love working with the families. There's one family that we have that I know this gospel can help them so so much right now. They are the nicest people and always talk to us in the street, they just are having some struggles right now. We have also been working with a few young men who are at the age to get ready for their missions so that is super fun as well. We are working on trying to get them excited for the mission right now. I feel so lucky when I look back and see all the support I have been given to go on a mission from my family, family friends, missionaries, teachers, and coaches. This really is a great experience. It is so hard at times, but I have learned that the secret really is attitude and effort. We also had a little leaders meeting here this week in our zone and my companion is a District leader so I got to go to the meeting too. I love learning more about being a leader. While we were in the meeting something that the football coach said at the Seattle football camp came to my mind ¨the most important thing you can do in life is make sure that the people around you know they are important¨ that's basically what he said.(not sure if its word for word but close enough) so that is something I'm going to work at. I'm not a leader right now but I want to be a good one when the opportunity comes.

Today for Pday we went to the Laguna Paron that is in the mountains here by Caraz. It was so fun. We went with a few members and it was quite the adventure! My new companion is also very cool. He is from Lima and he knows how to surf. Pretty sweet talent id say. I am really learning from him to just relax and enjoy the mission a little bit more. The mission really is a blessing.

 

Laguna Paron - with his new Rugby Jersey

Laguna Paron - Miller Jersey

Laguna, with Companion & Hermano Castillo & his son

 

Week 19 - Caraz & Basketball

Here is Elder Miller's Summary and an email about playing basketball.  I love this kid!  His comments are pretty hilarious. 

Last Monday I got to play some basketball with some of the members in a  super nice gym in Caraz. It was sooooo fun to get on the court and compete a little bit. It was kind of fun to be one of the tallest ones out there for the first time in my life! I hope you all are enjoying college basketball at home for me! Go Michigan State!!!

PS Dad or Aunt Sarah will you forward this to your brothers please.

Basketball and look who is the TALL boy.  :-)

 

 

Here is Elder Miller's weekly summary:

Hey! This was another great week in the mission. I spent all day last Tuesday in Huaraz proselyting with Elder Fernandez and we actually got to do some pretty cool service. We found a less active preparing guinea pigs to eat so we got to help her out. It was pretty cool. She boiled them and then after we pulled off all of their hair. It was interesting.

My new companion Elder Rodriguez arrived here on Wednesday and we have been working in Caraz. He is a good companion. He knows a lot and is a very good teacher. He is from Lima. Our first day together we actually had quite a bit of success. We visited a few members then we kind of fell into a slump and couldn't find anybody. I had a prompting though to go visit a family that used to be investigators who is always super friendly with us in the street the Grandpa always yells ´Waowki!´ which means brother in Ketchua(the native language here). We went and visited them and they were very nice to us and have desires to learn more because they are having a little bit of difficulties and believe that this can help them. We also started working with a part member family that is less active. They are so awesome. Their family is united and its always fun to go visit them. We shared the family a proclamation to the world with them and wow that is so powerful. Its things like that that make our church special. I also had some great studies this week. I love study time. During one of my studies I compared Chapter one of James and chapter ten of Moroni. I love how they talk about praying with true intention. The example in verses 22 to 25 I think it is in James was awesome.

I am really enjoying my time here in the mission. It was a good week. I got a few compliments from a few less actives and investigators this week about my Spanish as well. So that made me happy!

I also gained a stronger testimony of the importance of attending church this week. I felt so good and peaceful at church yesterday. It was a great day.  

Week 18 - Caraz

We were able to Skype Elder Miller on Christmas Day for 1 hour, it was wonderful to see his face and talk to him!  

Here is a little summary from him.

From Elder Miller:

My first Christmas in the mission was great! Different than at home, but it was good. Like I said in Skype it is always so fun to be with a bunch of missionaries. We basically spent all week with missionaries and members. It was great. We had a Christmas party in the church and Elder Sanchez and I did a few skits on the spot with a few members and they were pretty funny. We ate super good this whole week. Lots of apple pie on Christmas and basically an American Thanksgiving dinner.

My companion gets transferred today to go be a Zone Leader so that is awesome for him. He has helped me so much. I have learned a ton and really learned to appreciate my time in the mission with him. I'm very happy that I get to stay in Caraz for one more transfer for sure. I'm excited to start working with my new companion here in Caraz. We have a party in the church this week for the new year so that should be very fun hopefully we can help some investigators and less actives come and enjoy the time with us too. 

That's basically my summary for the week. So you can share it with whoever haha thanks mom!

Thanks so much for all of your support and all you do for me mom. It was so fun to Skype. It looks like you all had a great Christmas! Have a great week this week and a very fun new year. Here we come 2016! I love you and miss you tons! Be safe!

Christmas Dinner with Companion (Elder Sanchez)

Dinner with Hermana Flor Tacos

District at Christmas time, I think they performed at a Christmas Concert 

(hence the matching bow-ties)

Week 17 - Caraz

Here is Elder Miller's weekly update and pictures too!  We love pictures.  We get to Skype him on Christmas Morning, so we are anxious for Friday.  Merry Christmas everyone.!

Here is what Elder Miller wrote:

This week was great. I really realized the blessings of working with members. We are currently working on teaching all of the families in ward council the lessons to refresh their minds and strengthen them. In our lessons with them this week we found a few new investigators waiting for us when we arrived to their houses, so that was a great surprise. We also found a new family in a little town called Yura Coto(kind of a cool name) that wants to learn more and wants to have us come visit them so that was great as well. I love working with families. 

This week we had interviews and a Christmas devotional with President Rios and his family. Which were so great. They are so inspired. Hermana Rios told me something that really motivated me. She said that if you give all you've got and are obedient in your mission right now then you will receive tons of blessings in your mission after your mission or in other words your life after your mission. I passed both interviews by the way hahaha President Rios really helped me to understand how to have more confidence in myself and he always teaches with examples which i love. He compared the mission to driving a car. When we first learn how we are nervous, but after experience we become more comfortable and confident.

Yesterday we went to Yungay in the afternoon and taught a family and after we went to her orchard above her house and she gave us a bunch of fresh apples and lemons. They are soooo good! The people here are so generous. 

I have really enjoyed learning more about Christmas and helping others to do so too. I am so grateful for this time of year and that i am at least able to see the snow this Christmas. I am realizing that i took a lot for granted at home especially at Christmas time. Nothing will ever beat a Montana Christmas with my family thats for sure. I will definitely have a good time here though its so fun to be with a bunch of missionaries. For Christmas here they eat a ton of Paneton which is basically sweet bread with sweet little fruit bites in it. Its actually super good. A lot of people have lights and fake trees up so a lot of their traditions are very similar. 

This opportunity that i have been given is so amazing. I am learning so much and I hope to be making my Heavenly Father, my mission president, and my family proud! 

Helado in my new tie this morning.  Feliz Navidad!

Yes, mom those of inca cola and coca cola are glass!

Christmas Party with Mission & President & Sister Rios' family

Elder Miller & Companion with President & Sister Rios & one daughter

Week 16 - Caraz

Here is Elder Miller's weekly update:  He received his Christmas Package.  Thank you for all of you that took the time to write & send something!

From Elder Miller:

This week was so great we have been preparing as a zone for christmas. We are singing for Presidente and Hermana Rios this weekend so we have been practicing some singing haha its been fun to listen to its not my favorite thing to do but i love listening to it. Im very excited for my first Christmas in the field. It wont be anything like a good ol Christmas in Montana with my family and the snow, but it will be fun. We are going to eat and spend the day together as a zone in Huaraz which will be very awesome. 

This week we traveled to Chimbote(a town on the coast) for my reunion of 10 weeks with all the people who started the same time that i did in the field. It was really fun and really nice to know that we all had similar struggles our first few weeks and as President Rios says ´its normal.' I really like the assistents too. One of them Elder Weber was our Zone Leader last change and he is so awesome. I got to spend a day proselyting with him last change and that was a great experience. He has helped me a lot. 

This week we didnt get to spend a lot of time proselyting, but we did get a few people called as ward missionaries so it will be super fun to work with them too. We had one lesson with one of them with us this week and we watched a movie about the restoration with our investigator. It went really well. The purpose was to show him why the restoration was necessary and the movie got the point across very well. 

One of my favorite studies this week was in Ether chapter 12. I love this chapter. It really made me think of my experience as a missionary so far. For Ether it was really hard to preach to the people and he was a PROPHET! and he asked why is this so hard and was very discouraged at times, but I love verse 27 and the rest of the chapter after that. In this work I have realized there is so many things im not good at, but if I continue to have faith Heavenly Father will make these things become stronger for me. I really am so grateful for this opportunity that i have to be a missionary and to improve and prepare every single day for my future! Its pretty sweet :)