Week "A Lot"

Hi franz,

It was a weird week this week. Went by so fast, but at the same time so

dang slow. I've been a little cranky because I can't remember the last

time I've seen sunlight. Dark and rainy my entire time here so far.

Elder Miller needs his vitamin D.

So Tuesday not much. We had an appointment with Alex and his grandma.

They called us and asked us if they could meet and things didn't sound

too good on the phone. We got there and it was pretty rough. Alex is

really struggling with some personal things right now and his grandma

is always worried about him. He doesn't have a phone so there is never

constant communication either, which makes things hard too. By the time

we left things were better. Alex has so much potential to do great

things and Elder Bodtcher and I are really trying to work hard with

him to make him realize that and to do some things to get him on the

right path.

Wednesday went on exchange with the Leer Elders. I was with Elder

Christoffersen, shy but nice kid. He's been out for about 2 months. It

was a bit of a stressful day because I haven't been in this area for

long and Elder Christoffersen can't speak German yet so I had to do

everything myself, which was fine, just exhausting because Elder

Bodtcher and I usually split 50/50. Did lots and lots of doors and

finding:)

We had our district meeting on Thursday in Bremen and that was good as

always. After, we had our weekly annual seminary class with the

Daniels. They always call on Elder Bodtcher and I to read some parts

out of the Old Testament. I can normally read well but when I have to

do it in front of people I get nervous and just end up reading at the

same pace as a 3rd grader. Plus, the Old Testament in German has

ridiculous hard words.

Friday I don't even know... Pretty sure all of our appointments fell

out except an elderly lady we visited who is in an assisted living home.

She didn't really have a choice to cancel us cause we didn't tell her

we were coming hahah.

Saturday we had some good less active appointments and an appointment

with a lady named Angela. She is way sick! She just got back from

vacation in Spain and got us this bread that tasted heavenly.

Sunday was weird. There was only like 20 people at church and 2 were

missionaries and 3 were investigators. So there was like 15. Our ward

had a temple drive to Holland to go to the temple there since both in

Germany are under construction right now so maybe that's why... Our

eating appointment was with The Lou family because it was the CHINESE

NEW YEAR!! The Lou's come straight outta China so all the food was

authentic and amazing. I think it was the first time I sat down to a

meal without freaking potatoes. Not that I don't like potatoes but

every meal...

Well your boys got 7 days left of his teenage years. That's kinda sad.

But it should be a fun week this week so I'm excited.

Love you all!

Tchüß,

Elder Miller

Week 32 February 1st, 2016

Another week and month has come and gone. I still love Döner, I still hate running for trains and buses, I still am sick, I still have not lost at ping pong;) and I still love being a missionary. Now it's time for February!! One of my favorites! Crazy I'm going to be 20 this month... I don't know what to think about that.

Tuesday was kinda rough. We had 3 appointments made and 2 fell out. And the one we had was ridiculous. We went to his place and he started questioning everything about our religion because he found some church history "facts" online from a bunch of "credible" sources on google. So frustrating. We couldn't answer any of his questions because they had false details. And when we tried to tell him that what he was reading online was contrary to what we actually believe he wouldn't listen and just said "no you guys believe this,  it says so there!" The guy became a Mormon church history expert overnight! I know I should have asked him how he did it, but we just told him to read the Book of Mormon and left. Maybe I will ask on Yahoo answers when I get home...He really is a great guy and he just wants to choose the right. But he expects to find answers through other people and it just doesn't work that way. 

Anyways, nothing really on Wednesday. We had our first district meeting and it was good.

Thursday night there was a geniology class being held in Oldenburg about 2 hours away by train. The Daniels wanted to come so we rode up there with them and Brother Daniel made it in about 45 minutes, compliments to the autobahn and his fast car;) The best part was the girls put in Jess Gwynn and we had a dance party in the backseat. Sweet sweet music to my ears!! The class was good. After we just spent the night in Oldenburg with the ZL's which was way fun, and left back home the next morning. Right when we got home we changed into normal clothes and left again and helped a less-active move. That pretty much took all day and wore us out. 

Saturday some finding in the windy rain and as you can imagine we had lots of success with that like we usually do! That's a joke. On the real, I never thought I would say this, but I have grown to kind of like finding...

Last but not least, church on Sunday of course good as always! We had a big ward lunch afterwards and it was way good:) 

Elder Bodtcher and I are doing good out here in Bremerhaven. I am blessed to have such a great companion that can make me laugh like he does! We have this ongoing thing right now where we keep scaring each other. Last night he was making dinner and he came into the living room and I popped right out and scared him so bad he dropped all his dinner on the floor. I was in tears for about the next hour!

I feel like there is a lot of stuff I am forgetting to mention. By the time Email time gets here I swear my mind always goes blank. 

I have been reading in Alma this week and I think one of the coolest things I have known, but read again, is the fact that Heavenly Father knows our hearts perfectly. It's not about what is on the outside, it's about what is on the inside. People can think what they want and say what they will, but none of it matters because they don't know. But Heavanly Father does!! And when you are striving to be the best you can be he always has your back:)

I love you all!

Elder Miller

Week 31 January 25, 2016

It has been quite the week over here in the West. I love it. I was

told THREE TIMES by people how good my German was. I was tickled pink. My new comp is Elder Bodtcher from American Fork Utah. The guy is hilarious and it's funny because I don't think he means to be. The apartment is enormous and it has a dryer LESGO!!!!! Game changer when you got one of those things! We live 5 minutes away from the water:) Our church use to be an old sailor's mansion who lived there so that's way cool other than it has like naked women sculpted on the front of the house HAHA.

One of the first things I noticed here is how people actually stop and talk to you when you talk to them!! I almost didn't know what to do with myself when the first person looked at me, smiled and said, "jaaa?" When I asked for a moment of their time! Totally unbelievable!

Anyways, I was on the train all day Tuesday and when we got to the apartment I just unpacked.

Wednesday we planned to have my first appointment here with a member named Alex at the church. As we were waiting at the church for him, Elder Bodtcher was practicing the piano for something we have next week, so I was just chillin outside of the room. All of a sudden this guy dressed in all black clothes, black eyeliner and a spike necklace walks in. I was speechless. I had no idea what to say. I didn't even say hi. I was scared! I thought it was a random guy who stumbled in our church and he was gonna start casting spells on me or something! But it was Alex hahaha.

The rest of the week we did finding, area book work, and went to introduce me to members! There's a small branch here of about 25 people.. Tiny! But the people are great!

Sunday we ate at The Daniel's and played some fun games. I think that they will be the Dessin Family of Bremerhaven.

So far I am loving it in my new area! I love my new comp and I'm excited to work with him here. Bremerhaven is a way pretty place with lots of potential. We have a ping pong table downstairs in our church and it's nice! It's SO funny it brings out the worst of Elder Bodtcher and I. We are competitive! He's actually really good. He was saying how he had to overcome a long 5 year road of controlling his anger when it came to stuff like losing in ping pong. You would never guess if you have only known him for a week. But we played 5 games today and I won all 5. Reminds me of Nick and I! I honestly cannot remember the last time I lost a ping pong match. I'm so way good it's unreal Hahahaha!


Alright I love you guys! Have a good week!

Tschüßes!

Elder Miller

Week 30 January 18th, 2016

Okay a lot happened this week. Lots of good and fun things but I'm

gonna cut right to it!

SATURDAY: Transfer calls. I don't know why the heck it takes so long

for the AP's to call. I was antsy all day. I couldn't take it. They

start calls at 8:00 And Elder Wirthlin and I got ours at 1:00... Should not

take 5 hours to call 50 people and tell them if they are goin or

staying. Or maybe it should... I don't know. I just know I don't like

getting my call late. ANYWAYS. Funny story, so we take an investigator

to a baptism in Dahlem. I walk in and there's a bunch of missionaries and

they are all like, "Elder Miller how do you feel about leaving?! Are

you excited!? Your new comp is way sick!" And I'm just like.....

What???..... And they look at me and give me that "oh shoot you haven't

gotten your call yet..."  look and none of them would tell me anything

after that!! So the baptism goes on. It calms me down a little bit - So

so good. Made our investigator cry so that was way sick! I could go on

all day about how great it was. Soo the baptism is over we are singing

the closing hymn and the phone rings. I book it out and the truth

comes forward... I'm going to Bremerhaven?!? My first thoughts.. No no

no no no no. But I've heard such good things about how cool the city

is and I've heard some good things about my new comp Elder Botcher

too. So I am actually way excited. It's on the sea! I'm so sad to be

leaving Spandau. The Dessin's, Vanessa Virginia Oma, the Mathias', my

kids Calvin and Leoni! Sister Kronwitter, Sister Seare:( SO SAD. I feel

like I'm leaving my 2nd family to go on a 2nd mission if that makes

sense. Ahh and so many good missionaries leaving this transfers that I

will miss. I actually hate transfers.

My last Sunday was really really sad. Only a couple of people in the

ward knew that I was going, so when it was announced during sacrament

that Sister Kronwitter and I were leaving there was literally a gasp.

I saw Leoni give me this look while I was on the stand and then she

went straight to her mom and started crying. JUST AWFUL. We went to

the Dessin's for our final dinner and gosh dangit I do not want to

leave them!!

Last night Elder Hein, my trainer, spent the night with Elder Blake and

Elder Flake before they go home tomorrow. Also way weird and sad... My

trainers GONE. I love those guys and I'm gonna miss them so much.

Bremerhaven is kinda far from Berlin. 3 hours by train. I was scared I

was going to have to ride all the way by myself but luckily Sister

Brim is actually coming there too so I'm pumped to ride with her and

be in her district so I'm not all unfamiliar. @ElderGlissmeyer

#MisterStealYoGurl

I'm so grateful for the time that I had to serve here. I know I made

relationships here that will exceed far after my mission is over. The

Lord knew I needed Spandau. I know it's not a goodbye forever with

them but just a bis später:)

See ya'll in Bremerhaven,

Elder Noah Miller

Week 29 January 11th,2016

Hey guys!

Not much to report on this week, kinda slow. Had a couple normal

lessons but other than that, just the normal "Nein!" Or "kein

Interesse!" In the streets and door to door.

We had our zone training meeting on Friday which, of course, is always a blast

and brings my spirits up. We got a bunch of snow this week so that's

pretty much awful. What else.. Hopefully this week will be better. I

have hope. Last week of the transfer:)

I'm sorry this email is bad. I'll redeem myself next week! Maybe! Hung

out with Elder Gallacher today and got some rad pics. Enjoy:)

Elder Miller

Week 28 January 4th,2016

Ayyyy happy 2016!! I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years! It
was absolutely insane here, nothing like I could have imagined but
I'll go into that in a bit.

Sooo it's been not such a good time outside the past week. Germany hit
a cold front. The first day of it we just kinda laughed it off, thought
it was cool, busted out our gloves and scarves excited to wear them
thinking the cold was fun! But the next few days actually weren't fun,
they weren't fun at all. It hurts to be outside. It hurts. It doesn't
matter how many layers of clothing and scarves and tights you wear,
you will still freeze. Elder Wirthlin and I doored last night, on the
verge of tears, until we just couldn't do it anymore, we had to go home.
Today I am grateful for Arizona heat. Hot>Cold

New Years was really really cool. We went to the Dessin's of course.
They spoil us! We ate some wunderbares food and played phase 10 till we
had to be home. Fireworks are illegal in Germany, like other places,
normally.. Except New Years. Anything goes. New Year's Eve it is NON
STOP all day. I have never seen/heard anything like it. You cannot go
.1 second without hearing fireworks close or in the distance. It legit
sounds like you are in the middle of war. We had a show right outside
our apartment so we woke up before 12 and watched for an hour and it
just did not die down till maybe 4 or so..? If your looking for a cool
New Years Germany is the place to be.

Anyways we thought we had some really good lessons this past week. We
committed 3 people to church and they all said they were for sure
coming! Sunday rolled around and a grand total of... Drum roll!!!
Drumdrumdrumdrumdrumdrumdrum ........... !!!!!! 0 of them came to
church woo!!! Simply awesome :):):):):):):):):):) 🙄🤗🤓

But ya know, that's okay. I've grown to love church so much on the
mission. Before I dreaded it. 3 hours blah blah blahh. But that's only
because I wasn't there. I was, but my mind wasn't. Anywhere you go for
three hours, regardless if it's church or not, and just sit there is
not going to be fun.. Be there! Listen! Participate! You will
learn so much! I'm not saying there won't be a boring talk in
sacrament once in a while that will make you wanna ahgghhhhuhgh,
because that's inevitable. I'm saying there's a lot of other good
things you will hear when you open your ears. Things that will help
you.

Alright I forgot to send pics n flix last week so y'all are gonna have
a lot to work with this time around!

I luhhhhhh yewwwwwwwww

Week 27 December 28th, 2015

What a week!!

It was so good talking to the fam!! Man that short hour felt like 5
minutes! I hope everyone had a special Christmas this year:)

I thought this week was going to go by slow for sure but I was wrong.
Way fast! To start the week off Elder Wirthlin and I saw the Berlin
Wall on Monday which was way sick. Literally touched history. We
wanted to go see the graffiti part of the wall but we ran out of time
looking for it. We found out where it is for next time though!

Tuesday was all stress. We left for the office around 12:30 on an RE
(type of train). Normally takes 45 minutes or so to get there. A
little bit into the ride I noticed my monatskarte was expired. The
ticket I need to ride all the trains for the month. Not good, not good
at all. Plus, I had 0 money for the rest of the month. They ALWAYS have
ticket checkers on the RE's and if you don't have a good ticket you
get a humongous fine. So we got off asap and had to take U-bahns
and S-bahns. This adds about an hour to the trip just to get there,
however, they never have ticket checkers so it's safe. We finally got
there and dropped off the stuff we needed to and left. Back to the
U-bahns and S-bahns. About 2 stops in A TICKET CHECKER STANDS UP and
announces for everyone to show their ticket. Here's the thing about
these guys ... Ticket checkers disguise themselves as normal riders so ya
just never know. Anyways I held out my ticket sweatin bullets
expecting a future fine and he looks at my ticket as he does everyone
else's ticket and says...... "Danke" WOO. I don't know if he was just
a bro or didn't see but I'm pretty sure I used up all my luck already
for 2016 so that's kinda sad. Anyway, we had a lesson with Michael
again which was good and committed him to church but he
didn't come! Second time he has showed us up:( but it's all good, we just 
need to keep up the hard work and anyway Sunday turned out being way good!

Wednesday was rad! We had district meeting Christmas style and made
lots of crepes. I had like 8 loaded with Nutella and cherries and whip
cream! Hah and here I am wondering how the heck all my pants are
ripping.

Christmas Eve! Here in Germany everyone goes to church in the late
afternoon for an hour. That's when Santa comes while everyone is at
church. So we had our ward Christmas program which was... good... Some
people in the ward organized a singing part for a group of people
including me and it was so bad.... I started cracking up halfway
through the song because it was that bad. It was fun though. We tried
and that's all the matters:) After we had dinner at a members house
which was way good. Goose!

Christmas Day was awesome! Elder Wirthlin and I opened up our amazing
packages!! We actually weekly planned on Christmas day.... Then we went to 
my favorite German family, the Dessin's!! We ate more great food, opened presents,
and played lots of fun games, I'll attach a video or two. It was the
best. And of course Skyped!!

Germany has three days of Christmas so the 26th we had another eating
appointment with a member, Sabina and her two sons. After we ate we
played Monopoly!! I was pumped. I started slow and at one point I was
almost the first out of the game, but remained patient and composed.
People finally started landing on my hotels and before you knew it, 4
hours later,  Sister Kronwitter and I were the last ones standing, and
we had to stop cause the game would have gone on another 2 hours. All in
all though I think I really would have won so I was satisfied with
what everyone was calling a "tie". Something I could work on is taking
it easy on my competitiveness probably...

Anyways Sunday, and  most importantly, for the first time we had an investigator, 
Bruder Greb,and a less active come to church! Wooooo!!! First investigator since
Tina in Schwerin who was baptized, so I was way pumped! It's been a while!

Last but not least HAPPY NEW YEAR. I love the new year. Literally a
chance to start fresh. Make it the best year yet!!

Elder Noah Miller

Week 26 December 21, 2015

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

In like 4 days! Pumped!! I've learned a lot of discipline on my
mission so far, especially this time of year when I get Christmas packages
that say I'm not suppose to open until Christmas Day... I've come
close a few times but I'm proud to say I've stayed true and have not
opened anything:)

Soo Tuesday was way cool and for 1 reason. We got Michael, our investigator,

to pray and he loves it! Says it helps with his meditation! HAH who would have
guessed that praying helps with things?? He even prayed for us at the
end of the lesson. He was so stubborn about it last week I was way
surprised.

Wednesday not much to report, but we ate at Bruder Silva's. I kind of knew him
before but I didn't know how cool he was! Definitely one of my
favorites in the ward, the guys hilarious.

Thursday we went to Messa süd again to help with the refugees. The
entire zone went and we built a bunch of tables and chairs and stuff.
The pics are on Facebook, which reminds me! Everyone go follow or like
or whatever it is the "Deutschland Berlin Mission" page! Got some good
stuff coming:)

Saturday was way fun! We went Christmas caroling with the zone at a
weihnacthsmarkt and gave out presents (wrapped Books of Mormon).

Well that's the highlights for the week. Nothing too crazy other than
the occasional drunk German getting in our faces. Elder Wirthlin and I
can count on that at least once a week. This week it was a lady and
she kept ramming her walker into me while waiting at a bus stop so
that was heavenly. I won't repeat all the fun stuff she said.
ANYWAYS:)

I miss you all so much. I hope everyone has the best Christmas! Frohe
Weihnachten:)

Er ist das Geshenk,

Elder Miller

Week 25 December 14, 2005

Yooooo!

I hope everyone had a great week! It's been a good time so far in
Deutschland with my new comp Elder Wirthlin. I've kinda had to take over
here in Spandau this week and really lead him and show him where
everything is and who everyone is, which is a first for me. He is a WORKER.
This kid... Machine. He is from Mapleton Utah. Speaks really good
German so my German has been picking up quick too since he moved in

Tuesday: Super hectic transfers. I'm pretty sure we were at Banhof for
most of the day. We had a lesson with Michael later that night and it
went okay. He doesn't like to pray though, he likes to meditate and
he's pretty sold on only meditating. We are trying to convince him he can
do both but he insists not. Stubborn Germans.

Wednesday: Finding. All. day. Caught a sick Nigerian family though and
we're gonna make an appointment with them this week!

Thursday: Had a lesson with the Mantilla family which went well! After
we did some work in the area book and went by some people in there - no
luck though.

Friday: More finding.

Saturday: Zone training meeting which is always a good time! After a bunch
of missionaries went to a really good burrito place, I love
missionaries especially when we all mob together:) After some
fantastic burritos we had to get back for our ward Christmas party
which of course was some high quality fun.

Anddddd that's about it. Kind of a tough week this week but I'm only
looking up! We will continue to find! We will continue to teach! We
will continue to look for those who are ready and prepared to receive
the ultimate happiness of the gospel, until our feet fall off, which
could be soon at this rate.

Mosiah 4:15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and
soberness; Ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one
another.

God is love, love is service and service is happiness. It flows. My
testimony of service has seriously grown so much on my mission. Doing
things for other people brings so much feel good.

That's about it. Shout out to my girl Holly who's no longer a teenager
anymore! Where the heck does time go. PS WILL EVERYONE PLEASE SEND ME
CHRISTMAS CARDS.

Make it a good week!

Bis nächste Woche,

Elder Miller

Week 24 December, 7th 2015

Dear family and friends,

It's been a sad past couple of days here in Spandau. We got transfer

calls on Saturday and found out Elder Glissmeyer will be leaving me:(

I am honestly so sad. I love that kid and we got along so well. Not

only that, but we had to say goodbye to our beloved sister Walker as

well. Home, back to the real world! 2 pieces of me just GONE! Not even

in my zone anymore. We said our goodbyes, gave our hugs, and tears were

shed. I will never forget this past transfer. So much fun.

That being said, I can't dwell on it and I'm excited for my new

companion. I will meet him tomorrow. His name is Elder Wirthlin and

that's all I know.

Today has been really busy so sorry not much time. I'm so grateful for

all of you! I hope everyone is enjoying some sick Christmas

activities! Remember the true meaning!

Christ lives:)

Elder Miller