Pic and Email from a member

Dear Families,

We had the great pleasure of having your sons over for lunch this afternoon. As they prepared to share a message with our family, they all sat down together on the sofa and I snapped this picture thinking of the mamas of these sweet elders and how they must miss them. My husband and I have been called to serve in the spanish speaking branch and I cannot tell you how much your sons do to move the work forward in our little unit. They are happy, hard working, well mannered young men with wonderful testimonies that help strengthen our members. They are truly a blessing to us.  Our own son is a full time missionary in Hawaii and although we are very grateful and aware of the great blessings and opportunities their missionary service allows them, we also know that they are missed by their families. Thank you for sharing your young men with us. We'll do our best to watch over them and feed them (although I suspect they've already told you that the branch DELIGHTS in keeping the fed).

Best regards,

Regina Issa

4-16-12

Hi fam, how's everything going? I actually didn't have the baptism this week. Diego came to church but was sicker than a dog so he didn't end up getting baptized this week but I'll be baptizing him next week- it's lookin like because Elder Cartwright is getting transferred tomorrow so I'll have a new companion with me. That's going to be very weird but it'll be nice. 
Sounds like you all had a fun week and the kids still sound as crazy as ever. There's no way that tanner gets home in July... he just barely left like the other day it seems like. You'll have to keep me updated on Stacie. Let me know how everything goes with her. Also you'll have to let me know how Zac did on his test.
It's crazy how fast time goes by I feel like a new missionary still but at the same time I don't it's crazy. I got your package as well- thank you so much- there was so much candy in there- wow. I didn't even know what to do with it... I'm still eating it. But the package is really nice. It's nice to get things in the mail so thanks. 
Is the shed and everything finished now then? Sorry I can't remember if y'all told me or not. Well this week was a little bit slower but still amazing. We had a lot of lessons cancel on us but all the lessons we taught were super spirit filled and it was just a great learning place for all of us. Thanks for sending those shirts to me I'll be looking forward to them it's getting so hot here. But sorry I don't got much to say this week but I'll look forward to you package. I love you all.
Love Elder Miller

4-9-12

What's up my fam?????? This week has been the sweetest week ever. It's been super sweet and super successful with all our investigators. The Lord is always looking out for me. Every time I read something in the scriptures it seems like it's exactly what I need to use in my lessons. I love it! Also my investigator is still progressing, he passed the baptismal interview on Sunday so he's good to be baptized this next Sunday. I'm so exctited! Also this Easter was surely different because I wasn't with y'all but it was coo.l The Relief Society gave us an Easter basket which was nice of them. This Easter was nice though because I could focus on the Savior more then and not have the distractions of the world. It's very nice to know that we have a loving older brother who has atoned for our sins and makes it possible for all of us to live after this life. That was my study as of late. Mostly the resurrection but also the whole plan of salvation. Our investigator made the comment during priesthood meeting on Sunday that first made me so pumped I could barely control myself and second got me thinkin. He said and I quote not word for word..." knowing that we will rise after this life it will give us the motivation to try our best to live the gospel." It's so true knowing that this life is only a small section compared to eternity is what gives us the motivation to get out of bed in the morning and to live the commandments and choose to follow the Savior and his example. 
Sounds like y'all had some fun during Easter though. You dropped your plate and everything but even if you wouldn't have done that you woulda still ended with food all over you cause you probably woulda missed your mouth. ha. love ya mom!! Anyways how's everything going? Dad kinda has a new job. You'll have to let me know how that is/ what it is. Lilah looks like the cutest little girl! Not gonna lie I'm kinda jealous that I can't hold her... but it's all good cause the mission is awesome!!!!!!!!!!! I started a new work out- my goal is six pack in two months. ha probably not gonna happen if I eat a lot at members houses.Yes I've been receiving Elder Gramp's emails and also I got a letter from him. He's a super funny guy. I don't know what type of fabric I want on my shirts... just those van huesen ones we bought would be great they're very comfortable. Yes i take my meds everyday but y'all send me a new shipment of like a thousand (slightly exagerated) (and i can't spell that word) but yes i've got plenty for now. My headaches are doing alright. I think I'll be good on them for a while but if you can get some medication that'd be great to have. Also I have not received your package yet but I'll probably get it sometime today or tomorrow. But next week I'll be sending some pictures home. Well I gotta go I love you all though and I know that we have a loving Savior who has risen and lives today.
Love, Elder Miller

4-2-12

Dear Fam,
How's everything back home? This week has been amazing-I've loved it. General Conference was so great.  We had our investigator Diego there -he's so tight. He's going to be baptised the 15th if everything goes to plan. He's a very solid guy and truly believes in the church. 
My headaches still are getting to me but I'm doing alright. I drink a lot of water and I eat alright as well. 
The exchange with the zone leaders was pretty cool -but it was hard to teach in English -ha.  I can't go to that website to see Lilah but y'all better be sendin me pictures of my baby sometime soon!  Sounds like everything has been pretty good around home- Dad's busy as usual but work is a huge blessing to have.  A lot of the people I teach don't have work right now and it's hard to watch them struggle to feed their families. But still the people here are such amazing people. On prep days we usually just shop and do laundry and chill. We're gonna go to the country store today just for fun and then we may go fishin. In the package if you could send of few short sleeve shirts that'd be amazing. It's so hot here now. Spanish is coming along -I can't talk super fast yet but I can get my point across which is what matters. I have alot of words left to learn though. There's not alot of tourist sights where I live. I'm in the city part of my area- actually covers South Raleigh not alot though. We went to the temple this week -it was awesome- super small -but SUPER beautiful. I saw elder Miller a few weeks ago. We have training pretty much every transfer so I see him there. President is Awesome he is definately inspired. I see him at every transfer as well it's always great. Conference was great as well. Well I've gotta get to my shopping but I love you all and I know that this church is true. love you
Love, Elder Miller

3-26-12

Buenas Tardes, that's awesome that Melissa had her baby- that's crazy! She looks so cute! I'll be completely honest, I do miss being around all the little ones. But hey in a few years I'll be able to. Sounds like everything has been going pretty good at home. Mom you know if you don't like being home alone we should buy you some sort of home defense weapon- a hand gun. I think that'd be great for when dad is traveling. ;) 
I've got food don't worry I'm good there. 
Sounds like Logan knows what's up with the whole cookies thing.(Logan wanted to call Grammy when he wanted some cookies) Did you make him some cookies? And Lizzie- ha- I remember when Logan was at that stage (Parroting everything you say) that's pretty funny- Tell Brooke no more cussing... ha just kidding I know you don't swear Brooke...but also I've been eating with members like once a week if I'm lucky. I definately got the package from Melissa it was fantastic also I got one from Brooke as well which was great. 
Well anything else new around home? You're gonna have to send me some pictures of Lilah that I can put up on my wall of family.The week has been kind of a slow one but there has been a few miracles that we've seen just from sharing the gospel with everyone. Elder Cartwright is the district leader so once a transfer we go on exchanges with the zone leaders. So I went up the NC State's campus to work with one of the zone leaders for a day/night. That campus is so beautiful it's an awesome school. It's some much different to teach in English than it is to teach in Spanish it's crazy. But it was a great experience. Well this week we also had a member of the 70 Elder Giddens come and speak to the mission. It was an amazing talk- he talked about the atonement and also about obedience and how faith comes through obedience. It was great to hear that cause some of the investigators we've been teaching needed to hear that and it clicked for me and so we've been able to teach them that principle and now I'm hoping they'll begin to progress. 
Well I'm sorry this is short but if you could let me know how much money I have on my card and also send me some pictures of my new baby as well that'd be fantastic. Well have a great week. I love you and can testify that this church is true and that I have no doubt of that.
Love, Elder Miller

3-19-12

Hello family, Wow's everything going this week? Anything new and exciting happening? thanks for the package it was great!  I am out of money for the month so I'm living off of that easy mac and ramen. Ha good thing that ramen is cheap other wise I'd probably die. Not really but I would deffinitaly be hungry more often. 
This week has been pretty crazy. We taught quite a few lessons. We're just trying to find some people who are ready to change. But it's been a very good week. My Spanish is still coming along as well. I finished the Book of Mormon again which was great- one of the best experiences I've had so far on my mission. I've learned that I need to help people see the importance in the Book of Mormon and if I do that they're going to be a lot more likely to be baptized.
Ok now I'll answer all the questions -yes I got the email from my boy Durf that's pretty cool! One of Elder Cartwright's friends is serving there. And Elder Gramps a.k.a. Elder Mcmurtrey is still awesome as well. I sleep alright but i am getting a lot of headaches some that get pretty nasty but it's all good. I'm eating alright- I wouldn't say it's the most healthy by any means but it's not too bad. I eat a lot of rice- ha man ever since I became a Latino I love the rice it's fantastic. My clothes are holding up as well. 
We're still teaching Carlos and Abby- they're awesome people and we're also teaching Carlos' brother Juan and his girlfriend Esmoralda. They're all so funny it's always fun to go teach them. We're also teaching a guy named Antonio. He's the most humble man I've ever met. It's amazing how as you get to know these people and how much you begin to love them. They're all amazing people. I love serving a mission it's great and it's the best thing I could've chosen to do. I love this gospel it's so amazing and I love how no matter who we are it can help us if we'll let it. Love you all very much.
Love, Elder Miller

3-12-12

Hello family, How's everything going this week? Sounds like you've all had a very exciting week. I'm glad to hear that.
We found a few new people who can become investigators. I tracked into them it wasn't easy and eElder Cartwright made me talk to work on my Spanish which is suprisingly coming along very well. It's a little difficult still but it's getting easier. I can understand pretty much everything and say what I need to say- it just aint pretty when I speak it yet.
Happy birthday Mara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Brittani. Also congrats Brandon, Melissa and Max!!!!!!!! I'm glad everything is going well at home. 
Here things have been crazy but awesome. We're so close with a few investigators which is great. I'm hoping that we can help them be baptised before I leave the area. Elder Cartwright and me get along great he's a hick and I wish I was one so it works out great. He likes to hunt and fish. He's very knowledgable about hunting and I like to fish so ya it's fantastic. He's actually the District Leader now. Transfers are every six weeks and so the next one will be in 5 weeks. Usually the longest you stay in an area is 6 months and that hardly ever happens. Our schedule is four hours of study in the morning and then some area book work then appointments or trying to find someone to teach. 
That's pretty sweet that Durfffff is learning Spanish. That's awesome. Tell him after the mission we're only speaking Spanish to each other. Beto's runs will be great with me and him yesssssssssss.... I do miss Beto's. That place is fantastic but so is North Carolina. I love it here- it's awesome. But as far as my studies have gone I've learned so much about the Atonement. It all clicks and wow it's pretty crazy but the greatest blessing we have.Ii'm so greatful for the Atonement and for the fact that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us. We really are so blessed to have the knowledge that we do. It's hard to see people who don't and they struggle because of it. But that's the beautiful part about the gospel- we get to share it with everyone.
Well Miller fam I love you all very very much and hope you have a great week. 
Love, Elder Miller

3-5-12

Dear Mom and Dad,
This week has been a little bit slower than the other weeks so far, but it was good. I've learned al ot this week about how I can teach the Book of Mormon with more power. It's amazing how much power the book of Mormon has if people will read it. But even when they have it their hands they won't. It makes me realize how blessed we really are to have the book and to have a testimony of it. 
Also that's awesome that Brandon and Melissa can be sealed now. What a huge blessing that is. You'll have to let me know how it is. How's everyone doing at home? hopefully well. When is Derek going to open his call as well?Tell him he better send me a letter telling me where he is going. Also can you get Ryan's and Kadan's address for me.
Can you send me my work boots? I could really use them for the service projects that we've been doing. And also my leather man (because it's versitile not because I need a knife) and my belt I could really use those if you could send them that'd be amazing.
The weather lately has been around the 60's so it's been super nice. I'm living in Garner which is where Lucille's friends live but I haven't been able to catch up with them yet.  I don't talk fast. But for the most part I can communicate with everyone except on the phone, that's super difficult still. I speak norma,l still not super fast. tell Brandon and Melissa thanks for the food. I was almost out of food and so that was great. Tell Mara and Brittani happy birthday for me and also Brooke tell her sorry I missed her birthday. 
well I've gotta get going so I can buy groceries but I love you all.
Love, Elder Miller

2-27-12

Hi Mom and Dad, 
Sounds like this week has been super busy. Is everything going alright with Dad? 
This weeks been pretty crazy. We had a good week. We got a few lessons in which was good. I also set a few appointments and did door contacts in Spanish by myself. It was pretty cool. 
I heard your talk went well Mom that's good. I also heard you were going to speak at the next stake conference. ;) We had stake conference this Sunday, it was amazing. It was a Regional broadcast and Elder Scott spoke about respecting women. It was a great talk. 
Sounds like the little ones are doing good and still being themselves. What else is new with everyone? Anything fun or exciting going to happen this week. Also are you still liking Young Womens Mom? ha Our branch only has like five youth. I think it's weird not to have many people younger than me in the ward. Also did you like that fish? Pretty nice huh. Caught it on a 4 inch Yamamoto worm Texas rigged. It was a fun fight as well. 
As far as people here go, it's been great.  We found a new family of investigators. They're awesome people and I'm super excited to continue to teach them. It's amazing how the Lord answers your prayers. I've been praying to find a new family to teach for a few days and then one day they were at a less active members house and the less active members asked us to teach them. It was awesome. It's been a great week and I'm loving it out here as well. I hope everything is going well at home. I love you all.
Love, Elder Miller