I will miss Heidi Smith!

I feel like every week I have to search for words in which I have to say... I cant believe that Heidi died... she was really one of my favorites in the family (not saying that I have favorites but there are those I like more then others) she was really someone special. She reminded me a lot of my own mother in the prospective of her personality and her creativity. She was and is a great person... Their family will have a hard time. It seems like Terry and Shelly’s side of the family has had some major trails. I hope that they will be ok; I hope that Sammy and Troy can really help their father out. I don’t know what has happened these last two years but I really hope that they can remember the heavenly fathers plan. I can’t even imagine how hard it will be for them, they are going to be some pretty strong children of God if they manage to get out of all this crap! I don’t know what to say, and I don’t know what to think, but I will put my trust in God. 

This week has been a rough one, my companion is still adjusting to the life style here. He doesn’t say anything but you can see that it over whelming him in his eyes. This last week we helped a lady that is going through the crisis, and she was put in a state hotel for a short time period while they found her a new place to stay. When she told us she needed help she didn’t tell us anything, she just told us it was an emergency. After we arrived in front of the hotel she told us everything, she told us that the hotel she was staying in was a Hostel for prostitutes and that the Mickey Mouse club was running a business out of that state hotel. After she started to tell other people they wanted to act on it but everyone who was in that hotel is really poor. The Mickey Mouse club had robbed the little money that she had and a couple belongings and framing another young family that lived in the same building as her.  Let’s just say that the situation is pretty crazy. There was a man that was in there that was laughing at her decision to leave. It was pretty absurd and I still can’t believe everything that happened. 

Anywho, we have had a pretty good week this week with all of our investigators but we also need some new investigators. I am so glad that summer is over and we can get back into the swing of things. We have been working our hind ends off this week and everything is going really well. I am always excited to show my companion new things, but its kind of difficult at the same time because I have to teach him how to cook, how to clean, what he can and cant use. I do have the joy of showing him the new things that he has never seen such as, the food, the laws, the language... everything=) I love it... I am trying to work his shoes right off his feet and he seems to be enjoying that. I honestly believe that Greenies work miracles. I think that we do not notice all of the miracles that happen around us until we have someone to show us. We have been studying the training Manuel and I like the simplicity and the efficiency of the whole training manuel, it really makes these Greenies stretch.

I am loving this city and I am loving my mission, its pretty difficult sometimes but it would be nearly as fun if I didn’t have the difficulties. I hope that you all are fine and that you can give Troy, Sammy and Paul my best and give them a great big hug for me! 

Tell Kaitlyn I feel great oh I feel so great.... I am still waiting to hear how she feels. 

The computer that I am using right now will not send you all the pictures so you are probably going to have to wait for another week. 

Dad thanks for the email and I hope that exam went well last week, I will be praying for you!! Love you so much, 

Anziano Miller...

PS. Lexi I have three mosquito bites on my foot=) 

Light House Top of the Mountain

As for my card, just send it to the mission home it. I will get at zone conference which is on my birthday. So it shouldn't be much of a problem. 

Today has been good we have some new anziani in the house so Palermo has changed quite a bit! When you change companions it’s pretty hard to get used to.

Sorry for last week I am sure that you are not very happy with me but MY companian/copanians left the house sooooo dirty it wasn’t even funny! Anziano Simmonetta and I went up to climb a mountain with a couple of friends and the after doing so we came back to take a shower and then go down and do internet, but to our surprise the house was completely destroyed.  I was not very happy and I don’t need to say more. That morning I had already done an hour or more of cleaning then I came back and saw the whole house a mess. The first thought was Crap, we have a new Greeny and two very clean missionaries coming to this house. So instead of doing internet I cleaned for another two hours with Anziano Simonnetta, who doesn’t even live at our house.

Then we had to leave to Catania it was still dirty but, it was better than it was. That night when I was in Catania I received a phone call from Anziano Lacher and he asked me why our house so dirty and I was a little bummed because I had already put three hours into that house that day.

Anyways, I am going to talk about something else now. Last week I went up to this light house that is at the top of this mountain. It’s pretty cool because it was all abandoned but the coolest part is that there is this old man that has been working on it by himself for 15 years. You may ask, why? But he has been taking little stones that are from the ocean, stones that are really smooth and polished by the waves and carrying them up the mountain in a backpack.  He then takes all of these rocks and makes images, like the Star of David and crazy stuff like that.  I am telling you, it was some of the craziest stuff I have ever seen that has been built by human hands. I couldn’t believe all the crazy stuff he did. The cool part of the story is that normally no one is aloud to go in. He wouldn’t even let Anziano Larson in a few weeks ago. He only lets people go in when he is not there.  Because he thinks that they have been guided by the lord to go up and find this place. But I sat down and talked with him for about 30 minutes, we spoke about God and how he works, also about different scriptures and how I felt about them.  Anyways when we were about to leave and said I could go it and he let us go inside! It was really cool, my camera was low on battery and so I couldn’t take any videos but I have a couple pictures. We really enjoyed ourselves that day until we came back down and had to clean up after everyone else. 

After all that we had to stay in Catania for 3 days which was ridiculous. We stayed there Friday I got my Greeny, Anziano Pizza! He was one of Landen’s friends so I knew him pretty well in high school. Everyone says that returned missionaries are weird, but I think that the MTC changes the heck out of people too. I have been trying to be Anziano Pizza’s friend and making sure that his is completely comfortable and that he is happy. I hope that he can really start his mission off well and that I can help him have a great mission. 

We have been really busy but we have not been busy with investigators.They have this new training program and I have to follow everything to a tee. I really like it, In fact I am kind of jealous that they didn’t let me do the whole thing but it really stinks for the person training. You have to really be diligent and remember to do everything.  But the most important thing is to be a good example. I am learning a lot and I am hoping to continue learning. I love this new house there are a lot of fun people and they are really ready to do the work. It’s really hard to think that I only have a couple of months left. I haven’t slowed down a bit.  If anything I have sped up even faster, because of this new Greeny.

Tell Carol I love her and I am very sorry for all of the crap she is going through. I am sure it’s not easy to handle. Also give my best to Bill Sheldon, Hope he gets on the mend soon.

Tell Kimiko I am proud of her and that she is an awesome woman, I am sure she will see a lot of growth in the next couple years of her life. I know she will be OK, she is a strong and always has been. I hope everything goes well for her.

Well family I gotta go Love you so much have a great week.

Anziano Miller 

P.S Kaitlyn, I feel great, OH I feel so great. HOW DO YOU FEEL!!!!!!????

Stop Counting the Days!

Great Friends - Salvo and Laura from English course

I am really sorry I will don’t have anytime this week to email. I will explain next week. McMullen went to Terni which is above Rome and Larsen went to Bari which is next to Bitonto. I am staying here and I am training Anziano Pizza. That is his name Pizza, you won’t believe it but I know him from High School. Bethany was one of his good friends and from what I know about him he is an incredible kid. So I am really excited to work with him really hard and I am sure that he is prepared as well. I will talk to you next week, It looks like you are having a great time!!! Stay safe and play hard=) I love you and I hope you are not counting the days. 

Love Anziano Miller

Happy Feste!

Hello, 

I am so glad you guys received my package; I always think its fun sending something home every now and again. My bed was naked because... I was the only one cleaning my sheets, and it was cleaning day so I thought it would be a good idea to clean my sheets. So don’t worry about me and my sleep.  I stole Anziano Weeks's mattress when he left, it is brand new and it is really comfortable, we have plenty of sheets and plenty blankets.

That is really funny that you flipped the Hardman over in the canoe. I am sure it spiced up girls camp a little bit.  I don’t know how it usually is but I am sure that they will remember that for the next couple years. It’s always fun to have good memories like that. 

Today was really nice we woke up early and we went to go play basketball at eight.  It was good for me because the last couple of weeks we have been inside doing absolutely nothing. This drives me literally insane! INSANE... if I am with my companion for another transfer I think I will just go crazy because he just really likes being inside and I don’t!  We do get along just fine we went and played basketball which made me really happy.

You better hope and pray that you are still in the young women’s because that leaves you open for another call and EVERYONE loves you as the ward activities leader =)... so you should pray that you stay in the young women’s. 

This week was holiday and it was absolutely terrible.  I dislike summer as a missionary but thank goodness the worst part is over. Everyone will start coming back and everything will be good again. We have been working a lot with the new English course, we are doing a lot of publicity for it and we would like about two hundred people to start coming.

I am really happy to be in Palermo!!! I have a higher percentage of leaving then he does, but I know president will do the right thing. I really hope I don’t go but I guess we will find out this Saturday. 

Sorry I didn’t email much I was switching pictures and things on the computer=) so I will show you all that stuff when I get home =) 

But if you would so kindly give my best to the Shur family this week it would be greatly appreciated.  

Love you Anziano Miller 

Opposition of Lives & Gratitude

Well, I don’t know what it is but it seems to me that when things are going good here things are bad there, and when things are good there things are bad here. 

=) I am doing well I we just had zone conference and I really enjoyed it. Normally I don’t like zone conference that much but yesterday I loved it, it was absolutely fantastic!

I hear from Anziano Weeks every now and again. So that puts a smile on my face, President has told me some good news about my future... things about where I am going, who I might be with, and things like that. But, I am not going to say anything to you guys, because he hasn’t made up his mind yet. 

We have a baptismal date with Giuliano and things are going well with him, next week we will have our P day next Tuesday so make sure you send your email a day earlier if you would like to email me. 

I really don’t have much time this week because I am going to go to Trapani to do splits... 

Also, I have been inviting people to come to Utah and stay at our house.... I hope that is OK because I am more then excited to host them and see them all. Palermo is ridiculously cool and I just love these people. 

I have been feeling really good these last couple of weeks; I have loved being with my companion even if we are two people that are absolutely the opposite of one another. 

ARE CHURCH IS OPENED AGAIN!!! THAT MEANS WE CAN HAVE LESSONS IN CHURCH!!!! I don’t know if I told you but is has been closed for the last two months... It is absolutely beautiful. 

This email I just wanted to thank mom and dad more then anything else, for everything you two have done for me. While I am here in the mission you really notice how much I was supported by your parents. I miss their guide, advice, help, encouragement, and even their correction. In the mission I have noticed that I am a really stubborn person when it comes to correction( I have been getting better)! But I have two parents that knew me very well and they were literally destined for me. I am convinced that if I would have  anyone else as parents I would be a rather lost in this world. I thank you and love you. 

I will probably be a strange person for all of you when I get home because I will know how to do things that I didn’t know how to do before. I will probably be a lot quieter then I was... (you probably don’t believe me but I will be). hahha I guess we will find out. 

Mom there isn’t much time left to write but pray your heart out, I ask all of you to find a place where it is quite this week and pray for the many problems we have in our lives in this moment I also ask you to kneel and pray for the things we need most... I love you so much family, I hope you are doing great things.

Kaitlyn keep up the good work, I have heard nothing but good things about you. I’m so proud of you, I know you will be a great cheerleader and I can only imagine how much you love it. I can not wait to see you at all the games and at all of the events 

Good luck dad!  I really admire your efforts, You have never givin' up and I know that we are close to the end here...we have been praying for you and I hope that you are excited to take on this new work. 

Mom, A good country song of mine says... If you’re going through HELL keep on going, down slow down, if your scared don’t show it. Remember it’s always darkest before the dawn, don’t stop fighting. 

Lexi, I love you so much, please stop growing and please help your mom and your dad. Keep smiling and make sure that you pet Mr. Omally for me=) 

Grandpa, I only got a couple of months left... YOU Keep walking up those stairs, and do what your doctor says=) and keep bowling your heart out

Send my best to Wendy and the gang.... (Our neighbors)

Tell grandpa Miller I am praying for him 

Love you so much Anziano Miller 

Spirit of Contention

Alright, What a fantastic week! we had a beautiful baptism in Palermo 2 in Anziano McMullen's and Larsen's ward.  We had a great week just because we wanted to have a great week. It started with somebody persecuting us in public=). Every Sunday we do a demonstration... were we go to a big piazza and we go to talk about our church with the people that walk by there. We have a big sign that asks certain questions. Like, what can I do to have a strong and faithful marriage? etc. When we were doing this demonstration we were speaking to a lot of people like always but it just so happens that every week the same Baptist are on the same street directly across the street in which we are on each week every week.  Finally this Baptist got all mad because he was seeing that everyone was talking to us, so mad that he actually crossed the street and started yelling at us telling us that we were wrong that we had 10 wives and that we were telling lies to everyone. One of our members was there and he went over and started talking to him telling that he brought the spirit of contention and that that kind of spirit can only come from Satan=) It was pretty legit. hahah After he left everyone started to talk to us asking us different questions. The Baptist were really not very happy with us. I thought it was funny but I didn't laugh about it until I was at home.

I really jealous that you went boating. I cant stand August as a missionary. In August everything doesnt open until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Its pretty stupid, we wanted to go play bowling and there was a sign telling us that there was no bowling until 4 o'clock. then we went to go play laser tag and there was another sign that said no laser tag til' 4 o'clock. I wanted to cry because I cant stand August and its only the start. 

I recieved the letter from Lexi this week, I was so happy to see those wonderful scriptures. I am sure they will help me so so much. Many of those scriptures are my favorite scriptures. I thank you so much Lexi for your thoughtfullness and your help. =) 

We have been really helping our investigators that want to progress. Its been a bit difficult because its summer so they are often late. 

MOM what is your shoe size? Dad I know you think that I might have bought you a shirt but I definatly havnt done that yet they cost way to much money. and they are not the prettiest of shirts that I have seen. but what is your shoe size?

It was good to hear from you,

I love you so much Anziano Miller 

Strippling Warriors

Hello Family and Friends, 

This week was not nearly as bad as last weeks, I was not very happy and I had kinda lost all my patience. I am having a pretty fantastic week, I dont know if you knew this but there is a missionary couple here in Palermo that are also from our parts of town in the Utah. They live up by Kim Brown, they told me that they know her, but I didnt know this until this week.Their names are Anziano and Sorella North... hahah I dont know their real names. They are just keeping my spirits up, they are the coolest people ever! They are going up to visit the temple for a week and a half so that will be a little upsetting for me but hopefully they will be ready to come back. The Norths work so hard and they have great ideas. We have been working with them and we are really getting our ward moving along. Anziano North is our unoffical ward mission leader, he was called not to long ago, but he has some great plans and is ready to help us out. Our bishop is really pulling through too, he is a fantastic man himself he is very intelligent and was born in the states. Its kinda wierd because I have not spoke a word of english to our bishop but I know that he speaks my native language which is wierd for me.

Man, what did Xanziano Weeks tell you guys, McMullen and I are fine. We had fun with the training sessions when we were betting with the whole gelato and pizza thing............. It was really fun! Everytime we had gone out and did training he would come back and be so tired hahah it made me laugh. Mostly because the next day you would find him limping because he was so sore... he would also take short and simple steps=). Infact after the first work out his told me he was not going to obey the contract... which was kinda of a bummer because I totally forgot to put a punishment on the contract, so when he did break it, it was not a big deal. In the end he is still getting larger and now he is eating worse then he was eating before. I love that missionary to death and I want the best for him. I have lived with Anziano McMullen for 8 transfers. that is half of my mission so stop thinking I am to hard on him. If I was too hard on him he would tell me... Anziano McMullen is like the Brother I have never had. (He just has a speech impediment) =).

Did you know that if you find the RED BULL car they give you a free RED BULLl? Basically since I was in Napoli I have kept my eye out for this car, Anziano McMullen and I were the first missionaries to search, find and recieve goods from this RED BULL car. After those moments I have been continually finding the car all over Italy. I have found it in Napoli, Bari, Lecce, and Palermo. This last week we found it again, We were on our way home when we saw it, we got off the bus and ran to retrieve the goods. I think it's so fun to find and continue to find fun things to do like that. 

I might say the frase (I hate) but I really mean it when I say I hate August in Italy, There is literlly no one. I can not stand it when people tell me that they can not see me until september, mostly because I know that they are so full of crap when they say it. 

This week I wanted to talk a little bit about the strippling warriors and how they are a lot like us youth.  I hope that I can still count myself as being someone who is in their youth. Anyways, I was reading the story of the strippling warriors the other day and I was relating it to our time here in 2012. The strippling warriors where a really young group of people that could of been less then 17 years old. (Alma 56:46) They fought against many MEN 10.000, if i remember correctly. So it was 2.000 young men against 10.000 men. These 2.000 young men came from the people of Ammon, they were the tribe that promised God that they will never pick another weapon to slay their brothren, so these men were also untrained and had never fought in their lives.(Alma56:47). These young men obeyed their parents expecially their mothers like we all know. They never doubted and believed that God would always deliver them out of their hardships. These men went to war not knowing what was going to happen and were ready to fight for Freedom and Peace. These young men go and fight not one of them died, but 200 where wounded. Those that were wounded and had fainted had lost hope and faith for a small moment in that battle I am sure their friends and fellow soldiers looked around and saw that some of their friends had fallen, after seeing that their freind had fall they lost that faith and hope for a split second as well. 

The point is, is that we do not need to fall and loose faith just because one of our friends has made a bad choices. it has happened in my life and I am sure that it will happen in your lives. Continue to have faith and dont loose track of you objectives in your live weather those objectives are physical or spiritual. Help your friends heal those wounds, get them back on their feet and back in the game. Not one of us can be lost everyone is very valueable in this army. We are as the strippling warriors, we are fighting against many, sometimes its not easy and we are out numbered but we have the strength of our God behind us=)

Thanks Brian Stewart and Cache Guzy for your words of encouragment. That does make me feel better. I thought everyone had forgotten me for a little while there=) jk

Love you all so much talk to you later Anziano Miller