Wednesday, May 27, 2009

5-27-09


Hey how are things? Tell Tiffany thanks for the email, Tiffany formerly Evans that is... weird. Today we went to the temple at 8:00 and now we are emailing and we are going to go hang out at the capilla with the district and some other elders in the mission. We are going to cook up some good grub as well. It should be a relaxing preparation day as apposed to the traveling ones we have been having. That's so great that Becky Swim, Kathy Jones and Emily Bourne are going on missions. Elder Karren is actually friends with Emily's cousin from Skyline, Lizzy Bourne.
Our address, I'm not sure which building it is, but it is on Calle Juan Francisco, and I would guess it's number 1. It's on the very end nearest the Plaza Oporto we live by.
As a birthday request, I would just like some hard copy pictures of me with long hair and Evan with long hair, however many you want to send, I think that would be a fun present. Other than that, you don't need to send any banners or birthday stuff. I kept the ones from last year to use throughout the year for other elders, and then for my birthday next month, and Elder Karren just got a bunch of party hats and stuff that we saved. But, a box cake mix of sorts would be neat. I don't really need anything though.
So as far as this last week in church, Robert, the 28-year-old Austrian who was in Barrio 5, came to Barrio 3 this week. I think to see a girl he likes who is in our young single adults. He is so awesome and it was fun to see him. Also we saw Thomas, who lives right next to the border between Barrios 3 and 5. We were on our way to Alex's and we got to talk to him and catch up a bit and have a nice laugh. He is so funny and just a dynamite recent convert. At church, tons of less active members came this week, which was awesome. We had quite a few lessons with less active members the week before and were able to light the fire under them a little and get them to church. Carlos and Elma couldn't come to church because he works until 4 or 5 every day, and so we need him to be able to get off at 4:00 at the latest so he can come for Sacrament Meeting at 4:45. I hope it works out this week. We are teaching them tonight and their little girls are as nice as ever, and their parents are great investigators.
So the big transfer news comes next week, and I sure hope Elder Karren stays here with me next transfer. That would be by far my number one choice. He is helping me with my workout plan. It involves getting up early, the 20 minute "repentance run" as I have named it, due to the fact that you just give it all you've got down hill for 8:30 seconds and then back up is exactly that - UP the whole way and a real leg work out.
The even cooler part is that the destination is the Athletico Madrid Stadium Vincente Calderon, right on the Rio Manzanares. The freeway goes under the stadium. It's a great sight right before we trek back up the hill. When we get back, we just do a general piso work out. Elder Karren and I just get along amazing! We have a fun companionship and work well together.
The best news of all is about Alex. ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡HE PASSED HIS BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW!!!!!!!! I am sooooo excited for him. He is so changed to a man of God from a man of the world. He came to church 40 minutes early to watch Kenny, the teacher who always sets up the sacrament, and learn how for after his baptism, and he didn't want to be late. He told us he made food on Saturday so he didn't have to even cook Sunday, but rather he could just focus on keeping the Sabbath day holy. He is so excited for home teaching you would think he was going to get a Ferrari if he does it, but he just wants to visit the members and share the First Presidency message with them. He has been really integrated with the young single adults who are going to do a special musical number at his baptism and then lots are participating in the program. His baptism is going to be Saturday at 10:00, so we will see what crazy thing decides to go wrong, and try to think on our feet to fix them. I hope all will go well. Elder Karren hasn't given a blessing in Spanish or English yet, let alone a confirmation, but I helped Alex choose him so he could have the opportunity. He will do great, but he is pretty nervous. Alex's mom is coming along super slowly, and we still haven't been able to teach her a sit down lesson, but she is reading the Book of Mormon. Alex is in 2 Nephi: 23, and just eating up the Book of Mormon. I just can't say enough amazing things about him. He is the most changed and prepared investigator I have taught on my mission.
I love this work. The Lord prepares his elect. His sheep are numbered and he knows their names. He wants us all to come unto him and is always extending his hand to us and wants us in his fold or to come back to the fold.
Have an amazingly awesome week wherever you may be. I love you all. Much love from Spain.

Love Elder Miller

Oh yeah, Mom, can you send this email to Elder Karren's mom again. Thanks!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Consuegra, Spain

Hi from Consuegra!


From: elder.miller@myldsmail.net
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009

Today we are in Consuegra, where there are sweet windmills and a castle. It is in La Mancha near Toledo and Ciudad Real. Last week we went to Ventas the Plaza de Toros, the bullring of Madrid, which is spectacular. We took a tour, and it was awesome. The month of May is the biggest month for bullfights and they have one every day with 4-6 bulls fought at each one. We didn't see a fight, but just being there was fun and we got to take pictures the torero's cape, which is pink and yellow. Then the red cloth that he uses at the end when he has the finishing sword at the end of the fight. It was great. Next week we are probably going to go to Tony Roma's with Elder Sewell and his companion as a goodbye. He has plans to visit for 1 or 2 weeks during Thanksgiving later this year, so hopefully that works out, and you all can meet him then.
Last night we taught an awesome mother and father who are actually legally married. They are just way nice and had amazing questions. Their answers to our questions showed that they were really applying themselves to learn what the spirit was whispering to them. They are Carlos and Elma from Peru, and they are about 30 and have 2 little girls - Fiorela (5) and Mirella (9). They are a referral from Elder Murga and Elder Read. They are just great. They were sad when the first cita didn't work out, and we were worried that it wouldn't work out the second time or ever. But then last night it went great and they ate our message up. They are way excited to have the next lesson with the girls there, who were out playing at the park with a friend and the friend's mom. The littlest girl, Fiorela, ran to the door when we were leaving and was like, "Wait- I want to give you a chuche. (A little candy, usually soft and delicious but sometimes rock hard because the stores have had them on the shelf so long, but this was a good one). So it has been rough only having Alex to teach, but he is amazing, and now we have 4 investigators so its great. The members are awesome though, and so we have 1-5 member lessons depending on the day. Its great, and we are just following "Preach My Gospel" teaching the missionary lessons and getting referrals. I love teaching the members because they almost always put a lot into the lesson, and when people really want to learn they do from the spirit. But also you get out of it what you put into the learning experience and so that's why we have to find the elect. Alex is golden. We found out one rough part in his past from Ukraine, where he grew up until 12 years old and then came here. President Farnsworth will be doing his interview and it should go well because Alex understands repentance, wants with all his heart to be baptized, recognizes what's gone wrong, wants to make it better. We will see how it goes on Sunday, but pray for Alex. He accepted tithing, offerings, fasting, word of wisdom, chastity, and its like he would have lived them his whole life if he only knew about it all. He got frustrated when we contacted a person in the street on the way to the fireside this week The fireside was with the 2 former mission presidents of the Madrid Mission, tons of former missionaries, current missionaries, and members. It was a great experience. They rejected us really hard, and Alex was just like "How could the people do that to you? This message is true, and if I had known this stuff all along, I would have been living it. I just had to wait to finally receive it." He is really excited to prepare for a mission, and oh, he is just amazing.
Also some old investigators that I taught in Barrio 5 got baptized. Alcides and his wife got baptized by Elder Moreno in Barrio 8. They are family of Bernardo and Lorenza, recent converts who gave us tons of referrals in Barrio 5. Alcides is the one who waited to pick up his wife from Paraguay to get baptized, and his son was already baptized in Paraguay. That's awesome. Also, Eva and Juan Carlos, who were also referrals from Bernardo, were baptized in Paraguay. They are the ones who moved back the week before Elder McBride left Barrio 5. They got married and baptized. Its just wonderful the blessings the gospel brings to families. Miguel Angel from Mostoles was sealed in the temple, and I just found out today. I was so sad to not have found out before because I would have been able to attend, since Elder Brown and I taught him, and then he was baptized while we were there. But the important part is that they are an eternal family with their 2 boys. This gospel is so amazing.
We had Zone Conference yesterday, and it went really well. We learned about the atonement, and practiced contacting. The main focus was creating Zion in companionships, then districts, then zones, and just being a team. It was kind of like a "one for all and all for one" theme. It went well, and I learned a ton. Elder Sewell gave his final testimony at the Zone Conference, and I was way sad to see him up there for two reasons. He is going home to England, and I am next. It is really surreal. It scares me and makes me sad more than anything.
I have been able to cut a lot of hair here in Barrio 3. I have cut Elder Read's and Elder Murga's hair twice now, and then Elder Karren's once and my own once. I'm getting pretty proficient with a missionary cut tapered, and just long enough to part. So, have a great week, have fun in Lake Powell and at Tiffany's reception. Tell everyone I say "Hi".
Thanks for all you do for me and your support and love. I love you all so much.
Much love from Spain.
Love, Elder Miller

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

5-13-09


From: elder.miller@myldsmail.net

The fireside with Elder Bednar on Sunday night was very interesting. We took Alex, our investigator from the Ukraine with us, and he really liked it. He told us how much he could tell that Elder Bednar knew the problems of these days and the needs of teens and young people. It was great, and afterwards we had a temple tour with Hermana Salas and Hermana Toone. Alex loved it and gave amazing answers to their questions. He says he is counting the days to go to the temple grounds again for the next charla foganera or fireside.
The Madrid Open started last Friday and goes until this Sunday. The arena it takes place in is very near us. You will have to check out some of the matches.
Elder McBride's dad is doing amazing. He did have to get a pacemaker, but it all went well and life is going good for him.
Jose is doing all right but he works like a mad man. He accepts everything, but doesn't have time to come to church or hardly ever can he meet. Alex, as I said, is doing great. He has quit the occasional social cigarette he would smoke, drinking, and coffee, his real addiction. He works at their restaurant that has a bar where he prepares all of those things and sells them to others, and is able to resist them. He is amazing. He hasn't missed a single lesson out of the 4 a week that we have had. He has been to church 3 times now. He is coming to the baptism of Diana (20 from Ecuador) an investigator of the hermanas'. Alex's mom isn't a believer in religions, but does believe in God. She was raised in the Ukraine in a time when they weren't aloud to practice religion I think, and so it just made things hard for her. Besides, the Orthodox Church has some interesting beliefs.
We ate at the restaurant that Alex and his mom own, and it was way good. They served us a catfish that was about 10 inches long with its tail in its mouth, so it was in a circle. Then it was battered with the skin and all and deep-fried. It was way interesting. Alex studied to be a chef/bar tender/waiter for 4 years so he is just a way good cook. I love the people here. They are amazing! I love being in Barrio 3 and I love the mission.
Much love from the happiest place on earth, not Disneyland, Spain.
Love, Elder Miller

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

5-6-09


From: elder.miller@myldsmail.net

Today we are going to a restaurant at the mall Isla Azul. It is pretty sweet and really close here in Aluche. They have a Taco bell, the only one in Spain, in the food court. I will have to give it a try. We are going to eat at the Brazilian buffet that is like Rodizio Grill but not as expensive.
Some huge news for Spanish speakers all over the world is the Latter-day Saint version of the Spanish bible coming out in September. It will have a better translation. The Joseph Smith translation will be in the footnotes and it just should be an amazing blessing for these amazing people in Spain and those all around the world. Another news flash is that jackets came off on Monday, so we just wear our nerdy white short sleeve shirts. It feels way weird without a coat and the shirts just beam. It doesn't make us sweat half as much though. Also, the Madrid Olympics might become a reality in 2016. That would be awesome. Keep your fingers crossed. The Madrid Open for tennis will be hosted in our area at the metro stop San Fermin-Orcasur. It should be a huge tournament, and it is going to be in the Caja Magia or "magic box". It's a huge arena, "the largest in Europe" is the word on the streets from the people. So those are the updates from Spain in general, now to the most important, the people we are working with.
We have an awesome investigator from Ukraine named Alex who works at a restaurant with his mom. We are going to start teaching him. He came to church the last few weeks as a member referral. We taught him for the first time Monday and the second time yesterday. He is preparing for baptism for the 30th of May, and there are 3 other baptisms with the hermanas and other elders before then. Alex is amazing, and he does his reading and prays and went to the fireside with the young single adults on Sunday. He is about 20 and speaks Portuguese, Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, and English. I would say he has the gift of tongues for sure. He is just a sharp guy with amazing questions and oh so elect. He is one of the people talked about in the Doctrine and Covenants 29:6-7 and Alma 13:24. Barrio 3 is amazing. We are going to teach Alex's mom soon as well. We saw home teaching being done again when we went to visit a member family and teach them. We got to hear the tail end of the message, and it was great. Then we added our message and it was just a great experience. Also, we are teaching a man from Spain which we do sometimes but not that often, and even with less frequency here in Aluche. Part of our area, metro stop San Cristóbal, is the lowest priced housing in Madrid, and so there are just tons of humble immigrant people to teach. Jose' is awesome and is from the church Cuerpo de Cristo, or "body of Christ". He accepts and believes in the restoration of the gospel, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. We will probably find some differences in the plan of salvation, but he should be getting ready for a baptism challenge come the 2nd or 3rd lesson. The hurdle will be the unmarried problem with him and his member girlfriend who he lives with. She is from Bolivia.
So that was a trial of our faith for a couple of weeks without investigators. Teaching members, inactive members and recent converts has now turned into awesome work with investigators who want to learn. We kind of did an overhaul of the area book and whipped it into shape and just have been working really hard. The Lord blesses us when we bear with patience our afflictions.
We get to take an investigator to a fireside after church on Sunday that is a broadcast with Elder Bednar. I am looking forward to it.
Keep on keepin' on in the world that's been turned on its head and during this economic crisis that people can't stop talking about.
I love you all and wish you a very merry week.
Much love from Spain.
Love, Elder Miller