Heyyy heyy
I hope everybody is doing great! All is well in Hamburg.
Nothing too crazy this week. We had interviews on Thursday and I was second to last so we were there pretty much the entire day. My
interview went really well. It was like an hour long and I came out
and people were worried - they were like "Elder Miller everything good?? You were in there forever!" I didn't even realize. With my last normal interview, I told President about some insecurities I had about not knowing if I have achieved a successful mission or not because I haven't had many baptisms. The last few weeks as I realize my mission is coming to an end, I have been solely evaluating and drawing to the conclusion that my mission has not been successful because I have not been in the water as much as I would have liked. As I explained this to President Fingerle we talked, he took me through some scriptures, and suddenly he pulled out his laptop and showed me a video of a mission president seminar he attended with a few of the apostles. Together, afterwards, we discovered a different conclusion. My mission has been successful.
In January with the broadcast to missionaries throughout the world we learned that our job, is to establish the church. There are many
aspects in doing so. Strengthening ward unity and the members,
reactivating less actives, testifying of Christ, being an example, and
much more. As we went through a few of these points together I
realized that, that is exactly what I have strived to do these past
two years, whether or not I or others have seen "baptism success." We came to this land and did what we were called to do. Declare the word unto the people, serve them, and to explain of Christ's love for them.
No I wasn't in the baptismal font every weekend. I don't think that
was God’s plan for me ever since I decided to send in my papers. But I told a heck of a lot of people about the blessings that await them if they so choose. I developed love for the people I taught, whether they decided to take the next step or not. I changed many things about my nature in order to become more of the person God expects me to be.
D&C 97:8 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are
willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice--yea, every sacrifice
which I, the Lord, shall command--they are accepted of me.
I'm not done yet, but I know the Lord approves of my service and
sacrifice thus far. I haven't been perfect, I've made mistakes, but
through the atonement my love has grown deeper and I have grown
stronger.
"Come as you are, but don't plan on staying as you are." - Jeffrey Holland
That is the gospel.
I love you
Elder Noah Miller
