I will be bald!

So, stress is causing my hair to fall out. Isnt that cute? haha 

Im just gonna be coming home one hot mess... hahaha 

This week was a long one. I feel like Im working working working but Im still not seeing progress. This sector is really different than my other sectors and I feel like its the final "refiners fire" haha the last test! I know that my Padre Celestial wants me to learn so much, and he loves me SO much that he is willing to let me pass through hard times to become stronger, and more like his son Jesus Christ. BUT dont worry I still plaster a smile on my face even if I dont feel like smiling. I know my companion looks up to me (I dont understand why) and I feel the responsability to be a good example to her. 

ALSO she has had a rough week. THERE WAS A HUGE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE! and a Tsunami! Everyone was freaking out thinking that the tsunami was gonna come to Ecuador and all this stuff. It freaked her out pretty bad... but then she felt better because someone looked up on internet for us where it was at and all that stuff. And turns out where she lives wasnt affected that much. They felt the earthquake but everything was okay...She said dont worry, my family is fine. Im just glad they werent in Santiago. I asked her why and she said, because Santiago would have been affected more. WHAT! I KNOW SOMEONE IN SANTIAGO!! haha (Someone kinda important...haha) and so I was a little freaked out (still am) I hope everything is okay over there. But anyways... so that was interesting aswell. Enough about my worries, how are you guys?? haha

Its really nice living with other sisters. Its always a little more fun when youve got other people to talk to aswell. The other day I taught the Latina sisters in my house what a rootbeer float is. But there isnt any rootbeer here so I used strawberry ice cream and a tropical soda. It worked out pretty good haha

This week we are gonna go to the temple... Im super excited because its well needed. Haha 

I love the mission. I love God. I love this work.

Hermana Miller

La Paz 2

Well, Here I am in La Paz Portoviejo!

Wanna know something funny?... Cameron is in Chile, and has a companion from Ecuador.... I'm in Ecuador, and my companion is from Chile! haha Interesante!

This sector is actually super different. Its super commercial. Alot of businesses, and shops, and stores... and not much else. Its actually super hard. Satan has been hardening the hearts of these people for a while. Haha... lets just say we have had a lot of doors slammed in our face this week. Yesterday I was actually feeling super bummed. We had talked to what felt like 100 people and only 3 people were somewhat receptive. Yesterday, after even plan Z fell through, I was determined to have success so I marched right up to a door and knocked, out came a super religious man telling me just how wrong I was and how LITTLE he wanted to hear from us. I could feel hot tears burning in my eyes as he told us to go away. We had nothing else.. and we still had a couple more hours until we went home. Me and my companion, with all the frustration and tiredness we had, went and hid behind a semi truck to say a prayer... Asking God to guide us to someone that would receive us. We said Amen and started walking. We walked past a bunch of houses that we had never seen before until we found a weird ally way full of houses. The house on the very end had a light on, we went, knocked, and a girl of about 14 años answered and called her mom. The first thing that came out of the moms mouth was "Pasen." We walked in sat down, and taught her about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She had listened to missionaries before, a really long time ago! She even gave us food! haha... It was God´s way of humbling us, and showing us just how much He loves us... even if we have a long day.

I love you guys! and cant believe I am training again, haha Her name is Hermana Espinoza, and she is from Chile. She is super nice, shy, reserved... and she knows a lot about the scriptures! So that's cool!

Its weird just how different every companion is!

Love you all! Miss you all! See you next week!

-Hna Miller

Surprise Transfers!

Well, just like the title of this email says... I had transfers! It came as a huge surprise! Right now I am in guayaquil... until about wednesday! BUT SO MANY CRAZY THINGS!

They closed my sector and opened it up again with two new sisters. Hermana Moya is now in my old sector Mapasingue with my old companion Hermana Velez finishing her training. I am going to be OPENING SECTOR and TRAINING annnnd I have a new calling as Sister Leader. Instead of being incharge of four sisters im incharge of EIGHT!!!!

Opening sector means that we are starting from zero. Like... I have never been to that place before and neither has my companion. We have zero investigators, no contacts, references, nada! haha I have absolutely no idea where to start. Needless to say, pray for me! (which I already know that you do, haha) I am honored and excited for this new calling. It means that Presidente Dennis (And the Lord) trust in me to be able to do it. Iknow with there help- I can! and will do anything the Lord asks me to do. 

I was really sad to leave my old sector. I had been there 7 months! Thats the longest time ive been in one sector! normally I was only there for about 4 months. I love Esperanza, and we had to leave behind a kid named Cristofer who will be getting baptized this Saturday. He cried when we told him that we werent gonna beable to be in his baptism but he assured us that someone else needed us more. It was SO HARD to say goodbye to the people there.... haha but I made them a promise (and I pray everyday that I can complete it) that I will come back someday! 

My new sector is called Portoviejo, La Paz 2. I have absolutely no idea what its like. BUT I heard that house has hot water! WOOHOO!! Haha, we will be four sisters living together and its about 4 hours outside of Guayaquil... so even FARTHER away! haha its in the North I think. Lol I will get there on Thursday I think! 

Right now I just have a temporary companion, haha I will be working in La Florida Guayaquil until my new "hija" comes! 

I love you all! These weeks certainly have been a trial of faith but it just shows just how much God really trusts in someone as self-conscious and imperfect as me! I am happy! Honored, Stressed, but super happy!

Thats just the life of the mission I guess.

Starting a new chapter!

-Hermana Miller

No tuve PDAY!

Hola! haha

To be honest, I was a little nevous thinking "shoot, I couldnt write on monday. My family will be super worried!" NOT turns out no one wanted to write me this week, haha its cool its cool, no biggy. Haha, just kidding, but seriously lol  (SIDE NOTE: MOMMA NEVER MISSES....UGGH! NOT SURE WHY SOMETIMES I DONT GET AN EMAIL OR SHE DOESNT GET OURS....HEART BREAKING! ...MOM)

Yesterday I was in a Leadership counsel meeting alllllllllllllllll day long in guayaquil, so no pday for me again, but its okay. I actually dont really mind. Our house just needs to be clean and im a little more tired than normal. But other than that the meetings are SUPER good and I lean so much. Today I had to giving a training seminar to my zone, haha I was a little nervous but I feel like I rocked it... haha at least I hope so! 

This week went by super fast... can you believe I will be home in less than 13 weeks?? WHAT. I still cant feel it. Haha...I feel like I have been here my whole life. What is Minnesota? Wha is snow? I do not know of these things.

We have been working our butts off! lol My companion still doesnt really got the hang of things, and she struggles a lot with somethings but I really am trying my best to help her adjust. Training helps me realize just how blessed Ive been in the mission, because even though it was SUPER hard (and still is) I was able to adjust quickly and fall in love with this work. I love being here, and a part of me will stay here when I go home. 

This week we were able to bring 4 people to church! Woohoo! I couldnt help but feel such joy to see the family we´ve been teaching in church! Tday, at 6 we will be extending a baptismal date to all of them! ASJDHAKSHDLASD.............. dont worry.... im expirienced! haha just kidding, I totally still get nervous to extend baptismal dates. But its just because I love them so much! 

I am glad to hear all is well at home, I have so much to share with you all when I get home. I have learned so much! and miss you all cada dia un poco mas! Nos vemos pronto, ya??

Cuidense!

Hna Miller

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Do you guys remember how much I HATE feet? well, my feelings for them have grown even stronger. Sooooo I wasn't very smart. I totally had an ingrown toenail for like... 3 months but I was dumb and didnt tell anyone, haha then one day I thought to myself, I can take care of this myself! and I "fixed" the problem, but it came back! and it came back angry! haha... so this week I went to the doctor and they had to cut out a little piece of my toe....without numbing it! haha talk about uncomfortable! haha I would send pics but this computer has a virus... so you guys will have to wait!

Other than that, this Saturday we had a baptism. Her name is Mylin :) She is 10 years old and her parents were less active, so we worked with the family and she was able to get baptized! she was really nervous but she was just fine, they had to dunk her like four times because everytime they put her under the water she shot her hand up haha.. it was funny!

I love and miss you guys, can you believe that in just 14 weeks I will be home?? How strange!

Things with my companion have been interesting, I can tell God wants me to learn patience haha (I just hope I develop patience faster HAHA)

Have a good week everyone!

Sister Miller 

Another week down!

Well, my time is starting to tick down. You would think that as I got more experience the mission would be easier right?? haha Well, I did too.. but this week has been difficult.

Sometimes its hard to stay positive. Its really hard training, and even harder with someone who isnt really used to the culture or mission life. Ive felt pretty alone this week, until something happened!

One day we walked from the morning all the way to five at nigt because no one would let us in, or they werent home. My companion just complained the whole time asking me why the people wouldnt let us in, why did I make us walk so much, that we dont have any good investigators, that I shouldve planned better, la la la... I know she does it just because she doesnt understand yet, and I imagine that day was harder for her than it was for me. Now, I feel bad about it but at the time I was pretty self-pittying. and it got to the point where I knocked on an investigators door and she told me she was too busy right now and closed the door... and I just stood there. There was no where else to go. I could feel tears stinging in my eyes, and a lump in the back of my throat. I wanted to cry so badly..... but I just wiped my eyes and we kept walking.

I just said a quick prayer and immediately I felt better. We walked with a little more purpose in our step as we tried to find someone to teach. I have had days like that my whole mission but I had forgotten something really important that day, I forgot to just enjoy it. Only for this time of my life would I be a full time missionary walking in the dusty dirt roads of Ecuador! Why wasn't I enjoying it? Because pretty soon I am gonna miss is so bad all I will do is dream about coming back here.

Sometimes in this life we get to a point where we "Just cant wait until..:" Like, I just cant wait to finish high school! I just cant wait untill the weekend! I just cant wait until im married, or happy, or done with whatever thing it is we are dealing with! And before we know it everything's over and we would give anything to go back and live it again. Don't wait until its over to love it! Enjoy every day, God gave it to you for a reason!

I love you guys so much! I love my mission (and my companion) even though we drive each other absolutely crazy. I know I have some patience to learn, and God is just giving me a chance to do so.

Love, Sister Miller

p.s. enjoy Hawaii this week! lol Im super jealous

 

my new companion!