Monday, August 29, 2016

Week 62 August 29th, 2016

I cannot believe it is going to be September..

It was a good week for Elder Ash catchum and I. Things are looking
good in the town of New Monster! We've done quite a bit of finding and
have actually got a few numbers. So we're hoping to schedule some good
appointments for the week tonight.

Funny story on Tuesday we were finding and I said "okay Elder Ashby
your up!" So the next man that walks by he stops and says perfectly 
" Entschuldigung ganz kurz! Wir sind Missionare von der Kirche
Jesu Christi...." Alright now usually by this point they run away, but
this man stayed and was listening and Elder Ashby had no idea what to
say next so I was going to come in but then directly after he says
"können wir haben Ihre Telefon Nummer?" And I lost it. He said "excuse
me we are missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ can we have
your phone number?" The man laughed as well and it was all good. I was
laughing the rest of the day because I couldn't help it but Elder
Ashby was a champ about it. I love training.

Skipping to Thursday we had a GNARLY service project at the stake
presidents house. He's wiping out his kitchen and another room. So
Elder Ashby and I were assigned a couple of big power tools and we
were destroying the place. I've never used a tool like that before, so
it was fun for about the first 5 minutes, then it got old real quick. Arms
we're ready to fall off when we were done. We headed up to Kiel
afterwards to print out some flyers and posters for our street display
that we would have on Saturday. We got back that night in time for
ward council. Our ward mission leader, Elder Ashby and I were way excited to show
everyone the cool posters and 500 flyers we made to hand out. As we
were explaining them, one of the members just looked totally
disappointed.. He slowly took off his glasses, was rubbing his eyes,
sighing, etc. etc. and he was like "you guys should have have spoken
to me better about this, I can't do Tuesday's." Bruder Zickler our
ward mission leader - greatest guy ever - was super nice about it and
said we could change everything, reprint the 500 flyers and the 2 posters,
and see if the German teacher could do a different day for him.
Meanwhile in my head I'm about to explode because that took so long to
set up, find a date, find a teacher, and print the flyers. But he said no no, it will be ok. We
had a good laugh about it afterwards and Bruder Zickler said one of my
favorite Bruder Zickler quotes in English in his super low German accent voice
"ahhh man, what is going ‘UP' here!"

Anyway, Friday we were out street contacting. We walked past a man in
a wheel chair and he said "MOIN!" Which is good day in German. Now
normally, actually never, does anyone say hello to us on the street. We
said hello walked a little ways past him and thought, what the heck
are we doing?!  We went back and talked to him and got his number!
Super cool guy and I can't wait to teach him.

Saturday! Our street display was way cool! First one we have done here
in Neumünster. Had a lot of good conversations, gave out a few Books
of Mormon, and got a couple addresses. Also handed out a ton of those
flyers for Enlglish and German language classes! I'm excited to see
what kind of turn out we can get from that.

Elder Ashby and I are having a lot of fun and we are working hard. He
is good at ping pong too! I still haven't lost in 2016 though;) we've
played about 25 games or so. He took me to over time once and that was
way too close for comfort.

I was reading in Mormon the other day and it was so good. It talked
about how God is a God of miracles, and if we have faith we can
literally do anything through him. Anything is possible. But
sometimes, as I have learned and seen, having faith is the hard part.
However, if we stay diligent in prayer and in scriptures I know we
can build a foundation on that rock so that no matter what, our faith
is unshakable. And we can press forward and accomplish those miracles
that we want and that God can help provide.

I love you all! Keep on keepin' on!

Elder Miller





Monday, August 22, 2016

Week 61 August 22, 2016

What's good fam!

Man it was a crazy week. Crazy crazy but fun. And hey I was baptized 3
years ago! Almost half the time I have been a member of the church I
have been on a mission hahhah.

I took off to Freiberg first thing Tuesday morning. It was about a 6
hour train ride to Dresden. It was the first time being completely by
myself in 14 months it was awesome. I went through Berlin and passed
through Spandau's Banhof. Literally felt like I was home, it was
weird. Anyways, I met up with a couple elders in Dresden who would also
be training. We had some time before our next train left so we
explored for a while. Dresden is incredible. Like President Uchtdorf
has said it’s hard to believe that city was bombed to pieces at one
point.

We spent the night in Chemnitz and finished the journey to Freiberg
Wednesday morning. Usually the new missionaries stay at the hostel on
temple grounds but because of the Freiberg Temple open door it's
booked and they had to stay at a hotel near by. So we got to the hotel,
had some breakfast and then we walked to the temple and got the tour!
It was gorgeous. I was kinda bummed we didn't get to stay longer.
We went through and then pretty much had to walk back to the hotel right
away. The trainers had some meetings and a couple hours later the
trainees came in and we were all in one room! Each trainer got up and
introduced themselves and their area. Finally they announced who would
be paired with who and where they were serving!

My new companion is Elder Ashby from Pleasant Grove, Utah! He is fresh
out of high school! He is a way sick kid. We're super similar. We're
gonna work hard and have some fun this transfer. I'm really looking
forward to it.

We headed back that same day but had to overnight in Hannover because it
takes forever to get from the bottom of the mission to the top.. Soo Thursday
around noon we finally were home sweet home. He unpacked and we met
with our ward mission leader.

Friday was our first real day! Lots and lots of fun dooring and street
contacting:) We got up to what would be Elder Ashby's very first door
and I said "your up!" He knocked and the man answered and Elder Ashby
barely got 2 words out before the man said "Du kannst gleich
verpissen!" Yeah really mean. I don't think I have to translate that
for you guys hahaha. Could not have been a better first door. I was
dying.

Saturday we went up to Kiel for a street display. That's a long story
that I'm not even going to get into.

So far I love training. Makes me better. We're busy a lot too because
we have some extra stuff we have to do for these next 12 weeks so the
time is going to go by fast. Feels good to have a companion that I can
talk and relate to as well. Definitely makes the mission a lot more
enjoyable.

I hope everyone's doing well! All my college people enjoy their last
week of summer:)


Elder Miller


The Freiberg Temple is renovated and open for public tours through Sat. Aug. 27th








       

                                         

Monday, August 15, 2016

Week 60 August 15th, 2016

Hi:)

I cannot believe another transfer has come and gone. They are
absolutely flying right about now. Before I tell you about transfer
calls I will ramble on about my week, no skipping ;)

Soo Tuesday we had as a mission what was called a "Harvest Day". We
were told if we dedicated that day to finding we would find new
investigators and see success. So that is exactly what Elder Morrison
and I did. Other then a quick hour and a half eating appointment we
were on the street and door to door the entire day. We weren't seeing
too much though. At the end with about 5 or 6 houses left it started
to rain pretty hard, so we just said let's call it a day. But thennn
actually we were like No, absolutely Not - we've gone this hard for this
long we might as well finish knowing we knocked every house we could
and after a few more we get to the final door. The actual last door we
could possibly knock, the guy lets us in and we make out an
appointment for the next day!! Unbelievable. Never give up folks:)

We met with him Wednesday and taught him the plan of Salvation. He's
German and from what I can tell, likes his cigarettes like every other
German.. He's got about 4 silver teeth, 3 dogs, and a heart of gold!
Super nice guy. He has vacation next week and he's leaving town, so we
gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he would have lots of time to
read through on his train rides. But we have an appointment for next
Tuesday to meet again.

Thursday we had district meeting in Kiel which was awesome. And at
this point 2 days before transfer calls, the mission becomes like
high school. Rumors bounce around like a beach ball at a Nickleback
concert as to where people are being transferred, who's doing what,
etc. etc. I don't like it because it all sparks my nerves.

So Saturday FINALLY rolls around.. And at about 1900 I get a call from
Elder Day. He says "Elder Miller, are you ready for your transfer call?"
Of course I say yes and he goes on to say.. "Elder Miller! Your 
comp is Still…….. in America! You will be training." So yep I will be
training and Elder Morrison will be leaving. I'm super pumped! I am
training at the best time because all the new missionaries are picked
up at the airport and taken to Freiburg to the temple to start their
mission. So I found out I get to go through and see the all new
renovated Freiburg temple while I pick up my new comp! Lucky lucky
lucky me. I don't know anything about my companion yet. I don't even
know his name. We find out when we get to Freiburg and all meet
together and we do this meeting thing and it gets announced. It's
cool. Hopefully he's not a punk! But yep it's true - I'm officially
gonna be a Dad!

That also means my week is going to be crazy. I won't be in Neumünster
most of the time. We are going to take off to Kiel tonight and
overnight with the elders there. I have to leave first thing tomorrow
morning. Transfers for the normal missionaries aren't until Wednesday
and elder Morrison can't be alone so he is going to stay with the Kiel
elders until then. I'm clear up north in the mission and Freiburg is
completely at the opposite south end. 8 or so hour train ride. I have
to be there 10am on Wednesday morning so I will travel more than half
way to Dresden stay the night there tomorrow, and take another train
Wednesday morning to be there on time.

I'm pumped - it's going to be a good week. Summer is going to end soon
too which means the work should pick up as well!


Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Week 59 Aug 9th, 2016

Hellooo August!

And summer is quickly on its way to coming to end! Can't say I'm too
sad about it😉

We have been busy working and finding but it has been really tough...
We had a couple of appointments but other than that it was a quiet week. 
Oh yeah, other then the fact that last week they shut down the mission in 
Turkey because it has gotten too dangerous so all the missionaries 
came to Berlin.

We had 2 moves this week. One was pretty bad. There were
maggots and such spread throughout the kitchen, things 1 year expired
in the fridge, and the strong smell of cats in the living room. Luckily
the ward does only a little bit at a time so we didn't have to be
there too long. I felt really bad, it was one of the worst I've seen, so sad...
The other was much better other than moving huge and heavy appliances
up multiple flights of narrow stairs!

Sorry, not a lot to report....I know that right now I am going
through some challenges that will inevitably  make me stronger and
wiser! So grateful for this mission and all that it is teaching me! 

Welllll there ya have it! I love you guys a lot.

Haut Rein!


Elder Miller