June 13, 2010

Hello All,

This week was an interesting one. Lots of meetings and stuff like that, which took up a lot of time. It was one of the biggest, what we call "juke" weeks ever. Juke would be when someone sets up an appointment, and then is not there when you come. When I got here in Flushing we had a pretty "dead pool" or not very many investigators. We've got that turned around. But so anyways, the first week we had like no set appointments, so just lots of finding. This last week we had like 10 set appointments, and out of those 10, 8 or them "juked". So that was very interesting. It's not really out of the norm I guess, juking happens a lot, but it was a very high pecentage and what not. So it made for a very interesting week.

One cool experience we had was during English class. We only had one person show up for English class, his name in Raul, he has been coming for a while. I am usually not in his English class, because I have been teaching the beginning, but anyways. So he gets taught English, and we always do a spiritual thought at the end, and the spiritual thought goes really deep, end up teaching all about the restoration and everything, and by the end he committed to be baptized on the 3rd of July. So that was really cool. Hope all keeps going well with him. He is 20 and from Guatemala. It is interesting how someone can go from seeming to have no interest to having tons in so little of time. It is amazing.

Other than that all things are going very well. One weird thing is happening today, which I am not really excited about. I live with Elder Nagaishi and Elder Pape (pronounced pop) and they are great. Well, today Elder Pape is going to be changed areas mid transfer, which is weird for him, because he only has 3 weeks left in his mission, so that will be a change for not very long. It is happening because there is another companionship that I guess is struggling quite a bit, so President thinks Elder Pape and Elder Naga can help both of them out, so one will be coming here with Naga, and Pape will go out and be with the other. It is sad to see Pape going, he is great, and only got 3 weeks with him. Hopefully the switch will help out the other companioship though.

Elder Hernandez left from California, I think he had been living there since he was like 10. Elder Oliva did come straight from Guatemala, had been to the states a couple times. His family is actually very well off. His Dad is a retired doctor, and now works for the church and an emergency response coordinator.

I will consider asking for something for my birthday, I will let you know next week, how does that sound?

I did get the other pakcage and it was great. Just what I needed.

So my eating went down the barrel last night as we were fed by a family, and they gave us what are called papusas, which have like 500 calories a piece, and they gave us both 9. That was enough calories for the week. Haha. So that was frustrating, but they were very good.

I do think I will be buying insulin this week, and so if you wouldn't mind checking my card, that would be great. I have been a little bit of a spender lately, sorry about that, but just getting some food things and what not, I really did spend a lot, sorry. I will not be spending much more for the rest of my mission though, so hopefully that will make up for that. Sorry again.

Well, taht is about all that is up with me. I will talk to you all again next week. I love you all so much.

-Elder Miller

June 7. 2010

Hey All,

So it does sound like you had a very packed full week. That is good though. Slow boring ones are always the worst I guess. But then again, I guess as a missionary we count weeks a lot more intensely then the normal person does. Everything we do is either on a weekly or transferly basis.

It is pretty crazy to me that Heidee is now graduated. She is still just the little baby. Weird to think she is all grown up and such. You will have to tell her congrats for me.

Yeah, the place I live is very nice. And I am really enjoying the side by side beds. I definately prefer them over a bunk bed setting, but having slept in a bunk bed for almost 2 years you get accustomed to it. But still, going back was nice. So no worries about where I am living, it is very nice. The days of living in Ghetto places are done.

Here is where my companions have been from.

Elder Hatch - Greely, Colorado

Elder Wahl - St Johns Arizona

Elder Powell - Lehi, Utah

Elder Hernandez - San Salvador, El Salvador and Englewood, California

Elder Heiner - Alpine, Utah

Elder Zimmerman - West Valley, Utah

Elder Goodman - Phoenix, Arizona and somwhere in North Carolina

Elder Alverson - Mesa, Arizona

Elder Oliva - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Elder Oakes - Mesa, Arizona

Elder Call - Kaysville, Utah

Elder Jacobs - Montpeliar, Idaho

So not too many have been too close by. But that is just kind of how it goes, that is where the majority of the missionaries are from, so it is easy for me to have companions from there.

The work is going alright. It is of course, hard. But the hard areas are the best. Totally tackling a hard area makes you feel great. So I am excited to do it again.

Nothing too exciting happened this week. Lots of hard work trying to find new people to teach in very hot weather. So basically it was a week of sweating and thirst. Haha.

I went and got some test strips last week just so you know. It ended up working out for $15, but I eneded up having to have the pharmancist call Dr. Tensmeyer and get the prescription sent there. So yeah, it all worked out. I also will probably be getting insulin in the next week or so, just so you know.

As far as my birthday, this is what I want exactly. And you know how often I tell you exactly what I want, so you better make it happen. Haha. JK. So this is what I want. This year I want my birthday to be delayed until September 13th or so. That is what I want. Lets wait until I am home, since it is like a month away. So as far as other things I may want as like presents, we'll wait on that. :)

Well, I think that is about it for this week. All is well. I love you all very much, and will talk to you all next week.

-Elder Miller