AÑO NUEVO

Hello,

Well, the holidays are ALMOST over. I still cant believe it was Christmas, I feel like it was just yesterday that I was celebrating the fourth of July in the CCM.

Christmas here was deffinately different, but something I will remember the rest of my life. Other than skype we werent allowed to leave the house. Because christmas here is a big beer party haha which is kinda funny. SO we slept, worte cards, talked, haha and not much else-

It looks like you guys had a really good Christmas, that makes me happy! Looks like you guys had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. It was so good to see you guys! haha I feel like there was so much left unsaid but I am excited for mothers day in six months! haha

This week I complete SEVEN months in the mission! I cant believe it! That means less than one year left! 11 months to go.. its such a weird feeling.

This week I havent been feeling too well. STomache problems again, so thats no fun. Its just frustrating because its hot, im sweaty, i dont feel good and I still gotta plaster a missionary smile on my face! haha But things are going well.

My companion and I get along, but there are days where I just wanna punch somebody in the face. Sometimes she just acts like I dont know anything and it really makes it hard. But other days she can be really cool, so other than that I just got a little whiplash of a companion.

It continues to get hotter here! haha I miss snow! Ppl here dont even know! lol

For new years here the people make these HUGE paper doll things, cartoon characters, political people, animals, its way cool! Some are the size of tootsie and some are big as an apartment building! They are called Manegotes. On the 31st at midnight they burn them! its crazy! Haha for this reason the 31st we have to go home at 6 and we dont leave the house the 1st. But we will see it from our window so thats cool!

I love you all! Have a good week! It was so great to see you guys!

My pick one!

There was a big soccer event that took place !

Our trip to the Ecuador Temple!, we actually got to do a Session!!!!

Inside of our Taxi cabs! yikes!

6 months down...(7 now)

 THIS IS THE FAMILY WE GATHERED PRESENTS FOR A GAVE THEM SOME CHRISTMAS GIFTS!

 THE TREE MOM MADE AND SENT ME!

 THANKS FOR THE PRESENTS MOM!

WE MADE PRESENTS OUT OF STICKY NOTES AND WROTE WHAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR!

 THE GIFTS!!

THANKS MA!

SOME OF THE GIFTS!

MOM GAVE ME A SCRIPTURE FOR EVERYDAY IN DECEMBER  ABOUT CHRISTS LIFE THAT WE READ AND HANG UP!

 MAKING GIFT BAGS!

GIFT BAGS WE MADE !

 OUR FRIEND!

What a week!

This week was the CRAZIEST week of my entire mission! Full of really high ups and really low downs, and stories that I am going to tell my great grandchildren!

First of all, the Christmas conference... alllll of the missionaries in our mission came. The spirit was really strong as we all humbly celebrated this Christmas. The ward cooked for us (like mom is doing for the other missionaries in lakeville) and it was really sweet. They tryed really hard to make us feel at home. AND GUESS WHAT.... I sang a duet with My District leader (venid adoremos, y la primera navidad) INFRONT OF OVER 200 PEOPLE!!! Haha my poor little heart almost jumped out of my chest but the Mission presidents wife asked my to do it so I said "Yeah of course!" haha everyone really liked it (at least thats what they told me) 

Its really hard to be here away from you guys for christmas but comforting to know there are so many people here looking out for us.

ALSO, There was an earthquake! We were sitting inside a meeting on tuesday with my zone. When all the sudden the windows, benches, EVERYTHING started shaking like crazy! haha it was SO COOL. But apparently I freaked out a little because afterwards all the latinos (who are used to this kinda stuff) were like "uh... hermana miller... esta bien?" and were laughing at me because aparently during the earthquake I kept saying "OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH"... haha stupid gringa.

But yeah, so thats cool. Also something that made me realy upset  is the fact that I was robbed twice this week. Tuesday, leaving our meeting we went in the metro... and in the metro you are shoved into people... like literally everyone in the bus is spooning haha and my bag got pushed behind me and while it was behind me some jerk stuck in his hands and took my money bag (25 dollars) and when we got off I looked and it was gone :( I was really sad... who robbs a missionary?? I at least hope they bought something cool with it. But ya.. and wednesday my companion lent me 10 dollars because I didnt have anything.. and GUESS WHAT. freaking metro... I have stories about this metro! MUCHAS CUENTAS! but yeah. robbed again. SO I bought a new bag that has a snap latch thingy. So HA take that robbers!

Also, the hard part this week.... Im no longer Senior Companion... my companion got called as Hermana lider.. so she is in charge of all the hnas in our zone. It was a big pride blow. Because I thought when our ZL called us in for a meeting that I was gonna be called, because I was senior companion and had more time and all of that.. buuuut ya. So she is incharge now.. and I have just had a hard time with that because I feel like the leaders think the only reason we are having success is because of her. Everyone is always saying stuff like wow.. you guys have the best sector in our zone.. I wish she was MY companion. and now that she is leader its like... What am I doing here? Am I not sacrificing everything to be here? Was I not good enough to lead?... I mean I know I have never been a naturally born leader... but I thought I was progressing, becoming the best that I can be, and now its like EH wrong, your companion that has only FOUR months is incharge of you. And now she is like a big balloon because allll of the attention is going to her head and she is correcting me on everything. Spanish AND teachings. akjsdfhiausdfhiasdhfasdh okay rant over. Dont worry about me, just throwing a pity party haha.  Time to put on my big girl underwear, or rub dirt in it or whatever those dumb sayings are. I guess I just have to learn something else..

Yesterday we had a fireside and a member of the seventy came. After he talked he said "Okay.. we are going to do some practices... you guys are gonna be the missionaries and you are going to invite me to baptism" so presidente Dennis called two zone leaders to the front (in front of 100 missionaries) to practice. It was awful he definately gave us a spanking... laying down the law! so obviously after that practice no one wanted to go up front.. pdt dennis called two more zone leaders and it went the same way. And afterward the member of the 70 said he wanted to practice with Hermanas.. and there I was,....avoiding all contact when president said "Hermana Miller.... Hermana Cordova... To the front please" I ALMOST DIED.... So basically I just looked like an idiot infront of my mission president, half of my mission, and an area 70 member. Thats cool... The lord is just trying to humble me this week. Thats all. 

Siiiigh.... haha oh the life. 

This sunday was really special. One of our mamitas invited the missionaries of our ward to dinner (she lives in a freaking mansion) but ya so it was really cool and really sweet because she told us that she wanted us to feel at home. The food was SO good! But of course there is always rice haha

I cant wait to see you guys next week! I will try not to freak out to bad when I see you guys ,) haha I love you so much and continue learning somthing new every single day.

I love you all!

Love, hna Miller 

What the What!

Hey guys, guess what, IM BETTER. You know what that means mom... you can stop worrying! haha

But yeah this week was CRAZY our investigator Daniela was gonna get baptized this week until EVERYTHING went wrong. She hid from us all week, wouldnt answer our calls, nothing! We were freaking out! Until the day of her baptism she finally called us! I answered the phone and she said "Hermana.... I cant get baptized... Im just sad and so confused." and in my mind I was just thinking NOOOOOOOOOOOOO we cant lose her! So we were talking to her and asking why and it turns out someone in her family called her saying how bad of a decision it is, and that religion isnt a game she cant play with God and a BUNCH of stuff. So pretty much heart breaking, but I was just praying so hard, I didnt know what to say. So we just asked her. Like... daniela? Do you know this church is true? and she said.. yes. So we asked if she got baptised, and this family member still treated her like that would she still think its true? and she said yes! Long story short we talked to her for a long time at her house, and the zone leaders came with us.. and GUESS WHAT? Miracles happen! She was baptized Saturday and confirmed Sunday :) She told us she has never felt happier! 

This week is crazy, we dont get pday today, we only get to write and then we have to go out and work. Because the 10th we have a Christmas conference with ALLLL the missionaries in the mission (180ish I think) I am super excited but REALLY nervous because they asked me to sing! Me and another Elder are gonna sing acouple musical numbers... infront of almost 200 people! Yikes! 

AND GUESS WHAT ELSE! I get to go to the temple this week! Its our "Christmas Present" haha we get to go do a session this week in the morning.. I think the 13th? Haha not really sure yet but yeah.

Also... funny thing for the week... we invited a man named Charles to baptism and he accepted.. but gguess what.. He is a minister of over 13 churches! hahaha So we will see how that goes. We have another lesson with him today.

We have a lot of people to teach, but no one is really progressing.. we have to leave a lot of people and its really hard. But I am happy to know we are doing our part planting seeds! 

I love you all!

-Hermana Miller

                                                   Daniela was baptised She told us she has never felt happier! 

                                 
                             

Well...

Hello, haha well thanksgiving came and went. We did absolutely nothing haha this country is missing out on this whole thanksgiving thing let me tell ya!

Also, this week was the relief society christmas dinner, and we couldnt go. For two reasons, one, because it started too late. And two, Ive been sick. I have had to spend the last two days in the house. The story is actually pretty funny though. Saturday morning I woke up feeling naucious (i dont remember how to spell, haha CHUTA) I thought it was just a little bit of the gringa stomach haha... so I just brushed it off whatever. and we started working, climbing hills, stairs, teaching, everything full on. My companion at one point was like HERMANA SU CARA ES BIEN BLANCA... Y AHORA ES VERDE! So aparently my face was really white and green haha and anyways... we were waiting for a bus... and I totally hurled infront of over 60 people. Que verguenza. Not only do people stare at me because im a stupid gringa, but now they stare at me because Im the stupid gringa that threw up in the middle of the street. So we took a taxi home and a member stayed at our house while my companion went out with another member to teach. Lets just say my stomach NO ESTA FELIZ. I only threw up once, but thats not my only problem if ya know what I mean... ehem... haha....

But yeah, ive talked to the nurses so we´ll see what happens. 

Other than that GUESS WHAT WE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK. She is a 25 year old single mother and she has a sister on a mission. When her sister left, she started coming to church, so we went to her house and during the first lesson, I repeat FIRST lesson we invited her to baptism... her reaction left me speechless.. it must have looked so funny because when she said yes my companion and I just sat there... like... what?... really?? haha we asked her and she was like.. "hmm...um... yeah. Yes I wanna get baptized." Her baptism is this Saturday and she couldnt be more excited! so that just goes to show that the Lord really is preparing his children, we just have to find them!

Still not used to all the hills yet haha seriously... we are so sweaty all the time. But good news is Ive lost 5 pounds.

I love my companion, and we work really well together. It does get a little lonely sometimes living just the two of us. I miss Hermana Quist a lot. But she is the nurse that I call when we are sick. I called her and it was super funny because when she answered the phone the first thing she said was "Hermana Miller did you give yourself diareah just so you could talk to me?" hahaha I just love her.

Anyways, all is well for me here. Pray for my health! and I cant believe it but this week I will have been out 6 months! One year left! What??? time keeps going.

thanks for all that you do for me you guys! Love ya!

Hna Miller

Thanksgiving came and went... they are missing out on the whole turkey thing :)

 well i got half of your package Mom! we love the tree, we put sticky notes under it with things we are thankful for , they look like presents!

Herman Cordova got her presents Mom! Thanks!

This is Sister Saba Ramirez, she feeds us every Friday!

                                                  The whole city is covered in stairs and hills....Yikes!

(This must be a battle wound from all the stairs)

I Love Ecuador!