Saturday, December 25, 2010
10 Reasons why a Missionary Christmas is different
TEN REASONS WHY A MISSIONARY CHRISTMAS IS DIFFERENT
-Written by Sally Tielemans, Henderson, Nevada -Missionary mom to
Elder Tielemans-Japan Sendai (Now an RM)
1. Last Christmas we were counting our money; this Christmas we are
counting our blessings.
2. Last Christmas we were giving thanks for gifts from stores; this
Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from God.
3. Last Christmas we valued things that were costly; this Christmas
we value things that are holy.
4. Last Christmas we were wrapping gifts; this Christmas we are
wrapped up in the work.
5. Last Christmas we looked into people's eyes when we spoke; this
Christmas we look into their hearts.
6. Last Christmas we prayed to obtain a testimony; this Christmas we
pray to share our testimony with others.
7. Last Christmas we were impatient with the weaknesses of others;
this Christmas we are working on our own.
8. Last Christmas we read the scriptures as a duty; this Christmas
we read them as a joy.
9. Last Christmas we thought it was enough to celebrate the
holidays; this Christmas we are finding ways to consecrate them.
10. Last Christmas, Italy was just a place on a map; this Christmas,
it is a place in our hearts.
-Written by Sally Tielemans, Henderson, Nevada -Missionary mom to
Elder Tielemans-Japan Sendai (Now an RM)
1. Last Christmas we were counting our money; this Christmas we are
counting our blessings.
2. Last Christmas we were giving thanks for gifts from stores; this
Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from God.
3. Last Christmas we valued things that were costly; this Christmas
we value things that are holy.
4. Last Christmas we were wrapping gifts; this Christmas we are
wrapped up in the work.
5. Last Christmas we looked into people's eyes when we spoke; this
Christmas we look into their hearts.
6. Last Christmas we prayed to obtain a testimony; this Christmas we
pray to share our testimony with others.
7. Last Christmas we were impatient with the weaknesses of others;
this Christmas we are working on our own.
8. Last Christmas we read the scriptures as a duty; this Christmas
we read them as a joy.
9. Last Christmas we thought it was enough to celebrate the
holidays; this Christmas we are finding ways to consecrate them.
10. Last Christmas, Italy was just a place on a map; this Christmas,
it is a place in our hearts.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Ridiculously Clean Room
Hello my eternal family,
I am happy to let you know that my room has been ridiculously clean for the time that I have been here because my companion is a worry wart about the room checks; so I always do my best to keep my bed made and the room clean.
I have not done anything that new this week, all I know is someone is coming this Christmas who is really important so I am excited to go and watch the amazing talk given to me by..??? I don’t know, I just know it is going to be someone who loves me.
By the way Mom, I wrote you a letter today it was quite nice, I hope you enjoy it. And I definitely hope you do not think it is weird because I still think its weird sharing things that I have learned here with my family.
The new missionaries came this week they are a blast and fun to be around all the time. It is just so much fun seeing the difference in people after being here for only a couple of days.
I want you to know that it is not very long until I am off to Rome. It is only three weeks from today and I cannot wait. I hope that you understand that. I am so excited to talk to you please let me know how many minutes I need to buy for phone a phone card, there is no limit just let me know how much you want to talk to me. I can’t wait to bear my testimony to you.. in Italian, the language is getting easier and easier as the weeks go by.
We have the TRC every Monday and yesterday was a real treat! Me and my companion had a native Sicilian who is in Utah for a while and he came and volunteered at the TRC. He spoke so fast it was unbelievable. I had no idea... he was skipping and slurring words... just absolutely amazing but the best part of the whole thing was is that we were able to understand him. We had an amazing conversation and had a wonderful talk about the gospel! I loved every minute! It was also a real confidence booster because if I could understand him and I am able to have him understand me then I know I can teach by the spirit it! I know I can! It is something that is a strength of mine. My Italian is not very good, but I know that I can teach with the spirit! The language will come but I know that I can be that person to help out a brother or sister who is in need of the gospel.
This week has gone by really fast and I have really enjoyed it. I am sorry I did not have a whole lot to say. I forgot the paper that Dad wrote to me so I cannot remember all of the questions he asked me.
Ok well your obviously not there so I will continue....
I want to know if Santa is coming this year. I hope the girls have been good to each other and have loved meechother...
How is Grandpa? You have not sent anything about him in previous letters.
How are Jake and Landen? Have you seen much of them?
How does it feel to be out of school for two weeks Kaitlyn?
How come I have not gotten a letter back mommma mia? ....che cosa?
I am sorry I have forgotten the paper it is something I need to work on being good at remembering what to bring to the computer room to write my letter to you. It is just not something I remember to do. It’s hard for me, I don’t know why.
I hope that you are doing really well Kaitlyn. Be careful while skiing. I know how retarded I was so don’t think I don’t know what goes on up there. There are more places that you can hurt than there are to be safe. :P
I love you family. I will answer your questions in a letter.
Love,
Anziano MILLER or Arizona Miller
I am happy to let you know that my room has been ridiculously clean for the time that I have been here because my companion is a worry wart about the room checks; so I always do my best to keep my bed made and the room clean.
I have not done anything that new this week, all I know is someone is coming this Christmas who is really important so I am excited to go and watch the amazing talk given to me by..??? I don’t know, I just know it is going to be someone who loves me.
By the way Mom, I wrote you a letter today it was quite nice, I hope you enjoy it. And I definitely hope you do not think it is weird because I still think its weird sharing things that I have learned here with my family.
The new missionaries came this week they are a blast and fun to be around all the time. It is just so much fun seeing the difference in people after being here for only a couple of days.
I want you to know that it is not very long until I am off to Rome. It is only three weeks from today and I cannot wait. I hope that you understand that. I am so excited to talk to you please let me know how many minutes I need to buy for phone a phone card, there is no limit just let me know how much you want to talk to me. I can’t wait to bear my testimony to you.. in Italian, the language is getting easier and easier as the weeks go by.
We have the TRC every Monday and yesterday was a real treat! Me and my companion had a native Sicilian who is in Utah for a while and he came and volunteered at the TRC. He spoke so fast it was unbelievable. I had no idea... he was skipping and slurring words... just absolutely amazing but the best part of the whole thing was is that we were able to understand him. We had an amazing conversation and had a wonderful talk about the gospel! I loved every minute! It was also a real confidence booster because if I could understand him and I am able to have him understand me then I know I can teach by the spirit it! I know I can! It is something that is a strength of mine. My Italian is not very good, but I know that I can teach with the spirit! The language will come but I know that I can be that person to help out a brother or sister who is in need of the gospel.
This week has gone by really fast and I have really enjoyed it. I am sorry I did not have a whole lot to say. I forgot the paper that Dad wrote to me so I cannot remember all of the questions he asked me.
Ok well your obviously not there so I will continue....
I want to know if Santa is coming this year. I hope the girls have been good to each other and have loved meechother...
How is Grandpa? You have not sent anything about him in previous letters.
How are Jake and Landen? Have you seen much of them?
How does it feel to be out of school for two weeks Kaitlyn?
How come I have not gotten a letter back mommma mia? ....che cosa?
I am sorry I have forgotten the paper it is something I need to work on being good at remembering what to bring to the computer room to write my letter to you. It is just not something I remember to do. It’s hard for me, I don’t know why.
I hope that you are doing really well Kaitlyn. Be careful while skiing. I know how retarded I was so don’t think I don’t know what goes on up there. There are more places that you can hurt than there are to be safe. :P
I love you family. I will answer your questions in a letter.
Love,
Anziano MILLER or Arizona Miller
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
December 7, 2010
Dear Eternal Family
Hi momma it’s good to hear about the camera I will send you that stupid thing as soon as possible I can’t wait to get the new one!!! You are so nice...
This week has been great but the thing is we really have not done a who lot so this email could be a bit short; I have been working hard the only time we take those way sweet pictures are when we are at the dorms at night so we are still working hard. CAROL and her sweet family sent me the nicest package of goodies and a wonderful letter I am glad to hear they are doing well. I will answer most of your questions from this week. ps sorry about Anziano Mcafee ... as you can see it’s not just me and Dallan who do those kind of thing
Things
Sorry my computer just freaked out at me so yah now I have a little less time then before any who to answer your questions
I did work everything out with the mail room I told you how to send me stuff so it does not get sent to Bryce miller. Also I have received all my packages. When you get a package here it has your name on it and my box number so it is a bit different then dear elders.
The camera cord is not in my suitcase for sure. I have checked high and low... check in my top drawer in my room
I can write emails to other people besides family but I would not prefer writing emails until I am in the mission field because I have such a limited time on the computer at the mtc.
I have heard our visas have come in they have had them for a while I have been asking to get my passport back because I want it where I can see it even though its the church I would really like to see my visa and passport.
don’t worry about me sending stuff home I will take care of that I will send everything I don’t need home before I leave they gave me an extra set of scriptures and another predicare il mio vangelo so I will have to send some stuff back to you.
Some bad news is that I have gained six pounds sense I have been here so my wrist has gotten a bit bigger... if you can send me one of the links and the pin that goes with it. That would be great. They can fix the watch here so I just need that little piece.
So far we have only had one out of fifteen of the quorum of twelve apostles come to speak to us it was president Holland on thanks giving. Last week we had Julie beck come and speak she is the president of the relief society. Everyone thought it was not going to be very good but I thought she gave a fantastic talk she was very inspiring... there was some jokes before the talk but after the people who made the jokes where pretty quite. Sister beck talked about missionary work and how amazing it is and how much she loves missionary work. She shared her different experiences when she was a girl in Brazil while her dad served as mission president there.
the boundaries where change in my mission before I got here they were changed from firenze down including Sicily Malta and Corsica sorry I have never mentioned that before I must have forgot...
Everyone from the group before me had there visa. They all left and got on a plane... unbelievable that it’s been only a short month’s time ... I can not believe I am half way.
to clarify I am a zone leader not a district leader it is a wonderful task I love having a further love for my zone I love each and everyone of them I will try to get a picture of them before leave and write about them in that black book that I have with me.. I was called to be a zone leader because the other zone left for Italy so I got called to be a zone leader with my companion
the only thing that I need from my family besides letters and packages... are you prayers which I am sure you are praying for me and if you are not please start because I need help.. It’s not easy being here.
ps mom how could you say Arizona. haha I love it I wish I was there to experience that. I am sure dad has had many great laughs about it
I am so ecstatic to hear about dad’s new job I absolutely love hearing about that... it brings so much comfort and joy to my heart hearing that dad has a job.
my time is almost up so I would just like to tell you I love you and I am so glad to hear from you each and every day... do not expect a letter from me this week... except Kaitlyn will get a letter because I need to answer her questions from her letter.. The last day the mtc will receive packages is December 22 until the second
te voglio bene mia famila
Anziano miller
Hi momma it’s good to hear about the camera I will send you that stupid thing as soon as possible I can’t wait to get the new one!!! You are so nice...
This week has been great but the thing is we really have not done a who lot so this email could be a bit short; I have been working hard the only time we take those way sweet pictures are when we are at the dorms at night so we are still working hard. CAROL and her sweet family sent me the nicest package of goodies and a wonderful letter I am glad to hear they are doing well. I will answer most of your questions from this week. ps sorry about Anziano Mcafee ... as you can see it’s not just me and Dallan who do those kind of thing
Things
Sorry my computer just freaked out at me so yah now I have a little less time then before any who to answer your questions
I did work everything out with the mail room I told you how to send me stuff so it does not get sent to Bryce miller. Also I have received all my packages. When you get a package here it has your name on it and my box number so it is a bit different then dear elders.
The camera cord is not in my suitcase for sure. I have checked high and low... check in my top drawer in my room
I can write emails to other people besides family but I would not prefer writing emails until I am in the mission field because I have such a limited time on the computer at the mtc.
I have heard our visas have come in they have had them for a while I have been asking to get my passport back because I want it where I can see it even though its the church I would really like to see my visa and passport.
don’t worry about me sending stuff home I will take care of that I will send everything I don’t need home before I leave they gave me an extra set of scriptures and another predicare il mio vangelo so I will have to send some stuff back to you.
Some bad news is that I have gained six pounds sense I have been here so my wrist has gotten a bit bigger... if you can send me one of the links and the pin that goes with it. That would be great. They can fix the watch here so I just need that little piece.
So far we have only had one out of fifteen of the quorum of twelve apostles come to speak to us it was president Holland on thanks giving. Last week we had Julie beck come and speak she is the president of the relief society. Everyone thought it was not going to be very good but I thought she gave a fantastic talk she was very inspiring... there was some jokes before the talk but after the people who made the jokes where pretty quite. Sister beck talked about missionary work and how amazing it is and how much she loves missionary work. She shared her different experiences when she was a girl in Brazil while her dad served as mission president there.
the boundaries where change in my mission before I got here they were changed from firenze down including Sicily Malta and Corsica sorry I have never mentioned that before I must have forgot...
Everyone from the group before me had there visa. They all left and got on a plane... unbelievable that it’s been only a short month’s time ... I can not believe I am half way.
to clarify I am a zone leader not a district leader it is a wonderful task I love having a further love for my zone I love each and everyone of them I will try to get a picture of them before leave and write about them in that black book that I have with me.. I was called to be a zone leader because the other zone left for Italy so I got called to be a zone leader with my companion
the only thing that I need from my family besides letters and packages... are you prayers which I am sure you are praying for me and if you are not please start because I need help.. It’s not easy being here.
ps mom how could you say Arizona. haha I love it I wish I was there to experience that. I am sure dad has had many great laughs about it
I am so ecstatic to hear about dad’s new job I absolutely love hearing about that... it brings so much comfort and joy to my heart hearing that dad has a job.
my time is almost up so I would just like to tell you I love you and I am so glad to hear from you each and every day... do not expect a letter from me this week... except Kaitlyn will get a letter because I need to answer her questions from her letter.. The last day the mtc will receive packages is December 22 until the second
te voglio bene mia famila
Anziano miller
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