Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year from Madrid!


Segovia


Happy New Year!


We are in Segovia today, by the way. We had to do piso checks and I wanted to visit. The elders in Segovia live in a different piso than when I was here with Elders Jensen and Peterson. We are emailing right near the aquaduct. It is so nostalgic to be back. There is snow in the mountains, and it is as cold as I remember it was. It is interesting to be back going to the pedido mail meetings again, and piso checks and locutorios checks and stuff.
Thanks to Ginny and Joe for a Christmas email. I really loved it. It was a way good long one. Also thanks to Merkie and Gary, Grandma Judy, Evan, and to Dotty again.
Wow, a White Christmas, a wedding and a family party or two, what a week. I was sad to hear about Keith Warshaw, I always loved getting dragged along to their house with you. Thanks for keeping things going well at home with school and life so there isn’t a worry about you all. I love you all so much and hope you had a great week.
We get a ton of referrals in our area. Like, we got 7 in the last two days from other elders. We turn in like 20 plus weekly to other areas. We went to the Joseph Smith movie with 2 recent converts, who brought 2 investigators and 1 menos activo. Leonardo a new investigator, who has a baptismal date, came as well. Manuel Robledo is doing well and quitting his vices. I saw the temple Christmas lights when we went to the movie.
I got to talk to the guy who is coming to the U.S. for school. He is the Executive Secretary, I think. He is awesome. His name is Luis Huerta. He brought a non member friend to the Ward Christmas party the Friday before Christmas. He offered to deliver my package to you, but we only had Sunday night to get it to him, and we couldn’t work it into the schedule. So I will send the package the normal way in a bit. I love the Ward, and the Ward Christmas party was awesome with a huge buffet 4 tables long. Also, there were 7 of the investigators from our area and 3 menos activos, which was awesome for fellowshipping.
We had 3 great Christmas meals last week, well 4. First, on Christmas preparation day we cooked 2 chickens as a piso and made mashed potatoes and gravy, and it was awesome. Also we had 2 roast roosters that were fattened up and raised for the Christmas season meals. They were cooked with bacon on top, in a bed of potatoes and onions, and stuffed with pine nuts, jamon, hard boiled eggs and spices - just succulent. We also had soup to start-jamon and egg, followed by La Mancha queso, the best, and jamon, salchichon, chorizo, and lomo, the main Spain deli meats. Then we had the main course - poularda, and then dessert cookies and brownies, we made, and tons of Spanish desserts like turron, candied fruits, polvoron (cinnamon flavored things that are dusty, and so you crush them in the rapper before you eat them, and then some cakes. It was all from a recent convert Spaniard in our area named Andres de Batres, just a saint. He is super kind. Then we had paella and cornbreadish stuff from Paraguay called "sopa" which means soup here, but cheesy cornbread in Paraguay. I don’t know why. The meal we cooked was for Christmas Eve lunch. Andres’ feast was on Christmas Eve night, and Christmas day lunch was the paella and bread we had for dinner. Christmas night, right before the phone call, we had soup with chicken, and my companion’s serving looked like he got an extra special part of the chicken foot. They sell the whole feet, but it looked like his had been cut off just above the dedos, so there weren’t like claws or toe/finger things. Then we had fried chicken with mixed vegetables that were all red from some kind of weird sauce, and then pizza. So it was over the top on both of our dinner meals, and on all of them really, but it was a good Christmas.
Thanks for everything.Have a great week.
I love you all.
Much love from Segovia.
Elder Miller

Wednesday, December 24, 2008


Merry Christmas!


Happy Birthday Dad! What a week for emails! Thank you Hadley, Stephanie, Vickie, Doug, Grandma, Sarah, Becky, Marty, Michelle, Dotty, Isaac, Clint and Amanda, Hawkins, and Elder Jackson Brown, who just returned home from his mission; I am in Barrio 5 - Sol. If I forgot anyone, thank- you too! I got a package from Brian. We listened to the EFY cd’s yesterday at medio dia. I also got packages from both Grandmas and the 2 from Mom, Dad and Evan as well. The box with the Thai books came in time that I was able to write in them at Christmas Zone Conference and give them to Elder Haynie to take to Tak and Rei. Speaking of which, Tak and Rei sent a Christmas card with Elders Haynie and Parry for me, just a simple Christmas card but it made my world. Elder Sewell loved the BYU hoody. Thanks so, so, so much for sending the packages for me.
I was made a Zone Leader again with this transfer, so I will probably stay here for 2 or 3 more transfers and then I will go somewhere else for my last few transfers.
Christmas Conference was amazing. There were two parts - a skit part at the beginning where we made impromptu skits, and also there was guessing about missionaries in the down time. We sang Christmas songs in Spanish as well, and then we ate a delicious honey baked ham, smothered in Dijon mustard horseradish sauce (kind of a strong flavor), and then pineapple on that. We also had baked potatoes with all the fixins, croissants and a spinach salad. For dessert we had Roscon, the traditional Spanish Reyes Day (6th of January) celebration cake. It is a circle like a donut with whipped cream in the middle. It was great. We also had a spiritual half where there was a choir presentation with a ton of songs and solos and quartets and a ton of talented missionaries sang. Then President and Hermana Farnsworth both spoke and we received our family letters. I also got one from President Lattin. Then President Farnsworth handwrote one to everyone just like last year. It’s weird to be on Christmas number 2 in Spain. It doesn’t feel a lick like Christmas, except when we were caroling in Sol and at Christmas Conference.
Mom, I would love it if you took some pictures at Elise’s wedding for me of the people there.
Have fun snowmobiling and snowboarding and all of that cold stuff. I love you all a ton, and the people here love us as well. Don’t worry mom. We have a dinner appointment tonight and one tomorrow, and both days are full of citas. If all we did was walk around and contact on Christmas, I would be just fine, though. I hope I don’t get my camera stolen again, that was way bad last Christmas, and then we also had emergency transfers on Christmas morning last year.
This week at church there was about 120 people there, which is awesome. There are people from the USA, South America and Spain. It’s kind of crazy, especially because 2 wards meet in the same building. It is a bajo, or a basement to a big apartment building, but on the ground floor. Here in Spain, they leave all of the ground floors of buildings for stores, offices, bars, restaurants, businesses, and Mormon capillas... that’s convenient.
As far as investigators goes, we are teaching some people that Elder Ott taught. A man who we thought was a member until we found out he isn’t a member. We found him in the old investigators section of the area book, with Elder Ott’s name on the back as the last one to teach him. So that’s weird. He is coming to church and we have a baptismal date with him even though he was baptized 17 years ago with no records of it. So we have to recreate the baptism. The problem is that he smokes a lot, and has lots of problems we are trying to help him overcome. His name is Manuel Robledo. We also have a new investigator that we taught for the first time last night. Her name is Dora and we also taught her brother-in-law Quirico. They are both from the Dominican Republic. We are hoping to teach Dora’s sister and Quirico’s wife in the next lesson. They are awesome and were so intent, and feeling the spirit as we were able to tell them that amazing message of the restoration of the Gospel. We also have another former Elder Ott investigator, Ascensio. He had a baptismal date with Elder Ott and disappeared the last week, and then another after he was found and taught again, until in the last week he called his wife in South America and she told him not to get baptized. So we are trying to figure that out so we can baptize him. Work is going well. Have a Merry Christmas!
Remember the reason for the season!
I love you all tons.

Love, Elder Miller

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Merry Christmas from Madrid!


I'm in Madrid!

From: Morgan Miller elder.miller@myldsmail.net

Elder Morgan Miller
Spain Madrid Mission
Avenida de Espana 17, Local 01-1
E-28100 Alcobendas (Madrid)
SPAIN

I got transferred to the center of Madrid. That Christmas tree that you sent me a picture of is in my area. I am in Barrio 5 where Elder Ott was before he went to Ciudad Real. My new companion is Elder McBride. I am way excited to be with him. Elder McBride was in Fuenlabrada when I was in Mostoles, and then afterwords as well. By the way, Fuenlabrada has grown so much in the missionary work since I was there 1 year ago. There are 4 elders there now, instead of 2. Mostoles has grown as well, and yesterday received a companionship of Hermanas. So that is awesome. Elder McBride is from West Jordan and his dad owns a restaurant called Geckos Mexican Grill on 10600 South 781 West. You should go there. That would be cool. He is in the same group as Elder Peterson, my 2nd companion in Segovia. Sorry about last week’s short email. I sent the first one, and then I typed up another one just as long, if not longer, all about what happened the week before. So the computer kicked me out about a minute early and poof went the email. So, sorry about that. I will try to type that stuff up next week.
On the Christmas phone call, it would be splendid if you could call at 7:50, and then Elder McBride’s family will call at 8:50. Our area is way crazy as far as the work with the metro travel. I am a fish out of water here, and having a struggle to adjust to the work. It’s a weird style. we have to take the Metro about 30 minutes between appointments, and make contacts and commute in super close quarters, and sometimes pressed up against people. It’s so different! We don’t have a super lot of investigators, but we teach a bunch of members, menos activos, and the 7 recent converts from last transfer and the ones before that. In this district is Elder Weinert, the District Leader with Elder Goldhardt (cousin of Mark Goldhardt). Then there are Hermanas as well. They are Hermana Salas from South America and Hermana Thompson from Alaska. It’s kind of interesting with Hermanas now. We have the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Sol, and lots of museums in our area. We live 2 Metro stops from Atocha, and the Reina Sofia is just down the street. Santiago Bernardo, the Real Madrid stadium, is right next to our area as well. So what I said about never serving in Madrid isn’t true anymore. It sounds like the hustle and bustle is going in full force back home.
If you could call Elder Brown for me, and invite him to the house for dinner when he comes to Utah that would be awesome. He just got home today or yesterday. If you could give him a call, that would be great. I gave him your number and address for when he is in Salt Lake and invited him to dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s one Sunday night.
Thanks for the updates on everything. Thanks for the packages, and thank Grandma Judy and everyone for the paper Christmas tree and ornaments. It is up on our wall with of the presents underneath, but it doesn’t feel an ounce like Christmas. The piso here needs some cleaning, and so we are going to whip it into shape today. It was really sad to leave Ciudad Real. They gave me the opportunity to bear my testimony and I almost cried, but didn’t. Just to say good by to the Pedrajas, the Sanzs, Jose Antonio, Luis Gallego, Arnaldo and Arnaldito, Denis, Irma, the Lopezs, and the investigators who were just doing great when I left was very hard. We had a noche de hogar on Saturday with 32 people there and 6 were investigators. Teo and Estefania were there with their new baby boy, Oswaldo and Luz, Takisne and Rei, and then at church the next day were Patrick and Takisne and Rei. Also at church was the Primary Program, which is hysterical wherever you go in the world. We have the Barrio 5 Primary Program this week so I get back to back Primary Programs. I think that is one of the best Christmas presents I have ever received, and to be on a mission, and to serve the Lord here. Like I said, it is kind of hard to shift gears from La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote to here, but I will do my best. I know Elder Haynie will take over with no problem, and my replacement as District Leader is awesome. He is Elder Parry from Logan. He lives next-door to the Lamberts and has been snowmobiling at the cabin. I’m in a new chapter of my mission and it will be an interesting one. We have Mission Council on Thursday, and that will be awesome I am sure. That’s the Zone Leader meeting at the mission home, and this one is the one where we set the goals for next year. Also, we are going caroling on Saturday night as a Zone, and then we have Christmas Conference on Monday. The Zone is Cuatro Caminos which includes Segovia, Salamanca, Valladolid, Barrio 1, Barrio 5, Villalba, and that’s it, I believe. Elder Sewell is in Salamanca, Elder Fairbanks is in Barrio 1, and Elder Jarman is in Valladolid. So that should be fun to be around those elders, and I will get to go on exchanges with Elder Jarman, as well. Our piso is smaller than in Ciudad Real, with just one bathroom and one bedroom, and a small living room and then 2 study rooms, and a small kitchen. But it is amazingly placed right in the heart of Madrid, so that makes it all worth it. So far I have just taught lessons to members, but today we are going to teach 2 investigators.
The spiritual thought is Alma 7:10-13. It gives an awesome description of the Atonement, the best Christmas present ever, and everyone who wants it can receive it.
Have a great Christmas season, and I love you all oh so much.
Have a great day.
Love, Elder Miller

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Toledo


We're In Toledo for P-day


We are in Toledo today with the elders serving here, and we are emailing from the cool castle library again. I’m here with Elders Karren and Read from Puerto llano and Elder Ostler and Hutchings that are serving here, also Elder Haynie. Elder Karren and I left Puerto llano from exchanges at 6:15 am, and then our companions got on at 7:00 am in Ciudad Real, and then we got here at 8:30 or so and took the city bus up to the library. We are in Toledo for about 7 hours until the 4 o’clock bus takes us home. It wasn’t the most convenient travel to get here from pueblo to pueblo, but we should have a way relaxing unrushed, fun visit today. I am going to get some Christmas stuff and get that off to you ASAP.
Happy 16th birthday Ian! Thank Jenn for the email. I loved hearing about James and soccer, and being scouted. Way to be James. Thank Grandma Judy, Dotty and Tess for their emails too. Tess asked when I come home, so let her know its July.
Takisne told us this week "I want bautizma" that’s what baptism sounds like it Thai, and she wants it. So we are trying with the super limited English, to teach and prepare them. Mom, those books you are sending should be amazing and maybe the key to it all.
I am telling more and more Grandpa Allen jokes by the day, and I think they are a little bit funny.
The spider bite was on my calf. It is just fine, just a big old scab, but it will be a sweet battle scar.
Higinia came for the 4th time in a row to church this past week, and she is just beaming. She has changed so, so much to a happy member of the church. It has been awesome to see her go from down in the dumps spiritually to being active in the church and happy again. Sorry my time is so short!

Love, Elder Miller

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

It's December


Teo and Estefania had a baby boy, and are doing well.
Elder Korongo has 6 months exactly until he goes home. He goes home with Elder Sewell.
Just a side note, I talk in my sleep and teach lessons and contact in Spanish nightly in my sleep, so I kind of feel bad for Elder Haynie on that.
I bought a new tooth brush that is good and soft, and I will be sure to do my little circles while brushing. My gums aren’t painful or tender. I floss like 3 times a day at least. And I brush for a little too long I think. I really like brushing my teeth and flossing. It’s weird.
So this week was good for emails, and I was shocked about Elder Wirthlin. We had a good week in the work as well. I went on exchanges with Elder Gamarra who was in the Madrid CCM with me, and is from Peru. Exchanges were in Alcazar and went great.
The crazy thing this past week was the spider bite I got while I was sleeping on the couch. It was already a blister full of puss about a centimeter wide when I woke up. It had a red ring around it. It grew until Sunday when it popped during church. It is a scab, and kind of a deep hole. The red is going away and all is well. It was pretty cool though, and mixed things up a little bit.
Also, I had exchanges with Elder Read on Monday in Puerto llano, so I have been on exchanges in each city in La Mancha that has missionaries now. Elder Read is awesome, and I just have a blast with him. We taught 2 lessons to their 4 different investigators with baptismal dates set, and then we went to a member Noche de Hogar. It was great. When we were coming home, Elder Read bought his ticket for the 30th of December and we so missed our train trying to switch it. The next train to get to Zone Conference on time was an Ave. We take Avant normally, which is only 55 minutes in on the train to Madrid, but the Ave is 5-10 minutes faster. So it is double in price, 30 euros instead of 15. We had to take it though, and it was worse seats, and a movie we couldn’t even watch and they gave us a candy. I was hoping I would at least have a cool "I rode the Ave train" story, but I just found out it is super lame and expensive.
We stayed in Mostoles after Zone Conference on Tuesday. Elder Peterson is there, and Elder Guerrero, and Elder Swartwood, who goes home with Elder Brown in less than 2 weeks. So it was good to see them all. The temple was amazing this time as always. I got to say my goodbyes and I hadn’t seen Elder Brown since General Conference. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to say good bye to him. Also, we played futbol and basketball in the Stake Center and there were 30 plus missionaries, which is 1/4 of the mission. So that was fun. One of the Elders there was Elder Sewell, so we caught up. I hadn’t seen him since General Conference either.
The area is going just amazing. For the 2nd time in 5 weeks we were able to teach at least 20 lessons. It is going great. We are still working towards the 27th of Dec. with Oswaldo and Mabel. Patrick’s date was moved to Dec. 27th due to not finding work, and thus not being able to move out. In Mostoles, I got to see Miguel Angel and his wife Marlene at the capilla, and we ate at Julio’s from Mexico again. I also saw Juan de Dios Vaca again, and Rebecca who is from Africa. That was awesome.
We are headed home now. Higinia came to church again, and she brought a friend.

Love, Elder Miller