Week of miracles

Elder Miller and Elder Ripley

I love Mexico!!!!!!!! I love life!!!!!!! I love my mission and all the people here!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just love, I love lovin, lovin lovin all around!!!!!

We sang down in the subway this week as a zone when we were waiting to go to our zone party at presidents house. Oh it was amazing. We filled the subway with a little Christmas cheer. We were smiling and so were all of the people that were down in the subway. I loved it!!! I love singing. Our party was way saweet. We had waffles and a pinata and we went to the temple. It was just a awesome day.

Christmas Eve we had rootbeer floats!!!!! They tasted so good!!!

Christmas at our house.

We also went over to a recent converts house with some investigators and had an awesome night. We sang Christmas hymns. It was amazing. I loved it.

This was a week full of the spirit, smiles and miracles.

Elder Aguilar and Elder Miller.
Elder Aguilar will be my life long friend.

Yesterday we had a lot of things we had to do to complete with our goals. We needed 3 new people in church. We had two but Elder Aguilar and his comp only had one in there sacrament meeting so when our sacrament started (my comp and I were late because we were running all over our area to try to get our investigators to church) Well both us and Elder Aguilar needed 3 new in church. We had 3 in total for both companionships so we got up and left church. We hit the roads and started inviting everyone to come to church. Well lets just say before priesthood started we completed with our goal and we had 6 new people in the church. As a team we were able to complete this goal but my comp and I still lacked 3 lessons, a new investigator and 3 new baptismal dates. After lunch we went and did some work. 2 of our lessons fell through but we didn’t let that bother us. We were guided to a really cool guy in the park. After we taught a family, we found this week, and had an truly amazing lesson. The mom and the little girl want to get baptized in January, so after this lesson we still needed one more lesson and one more baptismal date. We were praying so hard to receive a miracle because it was late. We went to Clara¨s house and she didn’t really want to talk but we started reading with her from the Book of Mormon. The spirit came to the lesson and spoke to her and really touched her heart. She then accepted a baptismal date.

It was a crazy day and night, but it was worth it! I know my Savior lives I know he is always watching over us and blessing us!! This week was very special and dear to my heart. We were richly blessed!!

Kel happy birthday 2 weeks ago!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot to tell you and I feel really bad but I love you so much!!!!!!!!!! Always know that.

I totally bought a Lucha mask today.  It is so awesome!!! It was my comps b day so I bought him a Lucha mask, they are
so tight!!! We wear them around the house.  I love MEXICO. ha ha 

Mom how many years are you going to have this week like 34!!! Mom I hope it’s a happy one. Always know that I love you and I think you are the most amazing mom in the world. You have taught me well and yes, I am your little warrior and I love you. te amo

have an amazing week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

live life!!!!!!!!!

smile!!!!!

look for opportunities to serve!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Miller

Christmas call

Hey family, I hope you are working hard down here in Mexico

but

I think I gave you the wrong phone number to call me this Saturday.

Ok the part of it was right but I think the area codes were wrong

So this is there home number               37351446

You need to dial is this number but with some area codes and country codes

Like 01-157-333-675-1446.  I think this is the right one but you can try both numbers. I gave you this one and the one on the other email.

Just ask for Fabby or Edison

or if you need to ask in spanish

Puede decir "se encuentra Fabby o Edison" o "esta Fabby or Edison.

They are way awesome so just call them to check.

I love all of you so much. Have a great day of work.

Christmas week!!!!!

Hey family I love you!!!

We had an amazing week this week with a ton of miracles but I can’t tell you about it cause we have to work today our p day is going to be on Christmas.

This week you guys can call me and its going to be so amazing and saweet to hear your voices!

This is the number that you need to call

01-333-635-1446

This is the number of Edison and Fabby they are awesome and can speak english.

Call me at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Make sure you check the time difference and call when its 2 here in Guadalajara.

I’m going to come back tonight to check my email. Tell me if this is alright and works for you guys just confirm with me.

If you want tell me a little a bit about where you are at and wats going on.

ok well I gotta go do work.

love you so so much!!!!

Beautiful days in the city

watsss happinin everybody!!

2008 Humanitarian trip to Bacalar , Mexico

2009 Graduation from High School

Well 20 years ago was a time of big hair and mullets.  It was during this era when Elder Jake David Miller came into this world.  Seems like yesterday, but oh man how time flies. It has been a very adventure filled 20 years. Praying with "elk Heavenly Father" instead of Deer (Dear) Heavenly Father (thanks pops), peein my pants when we were out at Strawberry sleddin, reppin the saweet bull cut while building my mountain train, obtaining and saying the "DO YA" phrase ah classic, being on student council, running out of gas a couple times in my truck, Mr. Caveman pageant and receiving the Mr. Entertainer award, the saweet mullet!!!! My bull cuts, and you can't forget graduation hair doo yeah that was pretty dang saweet!!!! When I fell off the scafolding when I was working for Benny and cracked my crack.  Oh wow these are only a few of the memorable moments in my life and there are many more.  Yes I am growing up. I'm getting older maybe a little wiser but I do feel fatter ha ha.  I stepped on the scale today and I about died. I am up to 143. Yeah I was shocked. I got myself a little tortilla aka gut!!! I think that is where I got my extra weight. It makes me sick. I'm doing a bunch of stuff to slim up as best I can. I still got my six pack, it's just not as defined as it used to be. Don't worry I'm gonna do some work.

  So I bought myself some ties today and they are so saweet!!! They were 3 for one!!!! I was stoked!!! They are skinny ties. Oh they are so rad. I was super excited.  Mom I'm sorry but they will be tied short because that's just me. haha.

  This week was way awesome in the city.  Elder Ripley and I completed all of our goals. We were so stoked. The Lord put a lot of cool people into our path. We have a family of 5 that we are teaching and another lady named Yenni that is so awesome.  She is like 22 and reminds me of Jacee. She is a little ball of energy!! We are going to keep on working hard and we should have a bunch of baptisms on the 26th of this month!! Yeah!!!!!!!!

  Oh family if you could pray for the people in Apatzingan.  I'm worried for them, all of the people in my little ward. They are having a really rough time down there in the ranch right now. Nobody can leave or come into the city it is shutdown and including the missionaries are still there. They can't leave yet it's just too dangerous. Please keep them in your prayers. I love those people!

Elder Miller loved the time he served in "the ranch" (Apatzingan).

I love all of you so much. More than all of the colors on my new ties!!! haha

have the best week ever

keep the faith

share your testimony

live life!!

ELDER JAKE DAVID MILLER

David and I found out about the problems in "the ranch" on Friday before this email came Monday.  The situation is serious and there is so much unrest.  We know the Lord is aware of the missionaries, we have felt this first hand.  The mission president's wife sent an email Saturday, confirming the unrest.  They don't think the unrest will move as far as the city.  For now they have asked all missionaries to increase their efforts in the work, increase obedience and to follow the counsel they are given. We wondered on Saturday what Jake would know of this situation, from the above email, he knows and is very concerned for those in his little ward and the two spanish missionaries.  The seven months he spent in this area were a blessing to him. He was transferred 10 days before the violence broke out.

God of miracles

Hey familia, what is up with you all!!!

I hope you had the most excellent week last week, because I did! Well, it was a very interesting week I must say! Filled with laughs, smiles, tears, and many more emotions. It was a very special one that I will remember for a very long time.  Two weeks ago I had one of my hardest weeks with just pure rejection. We came into this week with a lot of energy to make things change. After Tuesday, we were like, what are we going to do? We knocked on 100's of doors, talked to sixty something people and only had one return appointment. We didn't even have any lessons, all of our lessons fell through and nobody wanted to listen to us. So we were walking to the bus stop, it was about 9:15 and we were a little down in the pit.  I looked over and saw two ladies sitting on the curb. So I just went over, I just started talking to them.  I cracked a few jokes and we were all laughing but then we just started talking about their lives and it tied right into the gospel. We had an amazing lesson with these two ladies and we gave them a Book of Mormon. They just couldn't stop talking about how good they felt and they really felt at peace. I felt just as good as they did. I know, we were guided by the spirit.  A day of rejection turned into a beautiful day.

From this experience I just realized that we needed to talk to everyone no matter where they are!  The next couple days after Tuesday were just miracles. Most of our lessons fell through but then we would go search in the area that our lesson was and we would find somebody who was ready to listen to the gospel. Sometimes they were in the park other times in the street other times outside of their house!  I just couldn't believe how much we were blessed this week. It was unreal.  We just had lesson after lesson and our contacts were awesome and we just could really feel the spirit with us this week. Woweee, the work is awesome!

We found three single moms that are like 20 yrs old. They have had a lot of problems in their lives but they want to change. Their names are Carmen, Lupita and Carla. They are all so awesome!! Lessons with them are really just special and they love reading in the Book of Mormon! We are really stoked for them and fasting and praying that they can continue to learn and grow and one day enter into the waters of baptism!

We also had another baptism this last Sunday. A girl named Alba she is 15. Her family got baptized about a month ago but she wasn't quite ready. So she waited a bit just until she felt ready. Her baptism was really awesome and she was just like pure smiles!! She was really happy!! And so were we!

We are really excited for this next week!! It should be another awesome week!! We are so excited we just can't stand it! We just want to go do some work, because that's what we do!

I hope all of you have a stella week with lots of happiness and laughs.

love your city boy Elder Miller

Hey hey hey

What's going on familia!!!!!

How was your thanksgiving?   Sounds like it was pretty stella and eventful.

Well mine was really eventful.  We just did some saweet work all day long.  It was pretty awesome!!! Yeah and guess what happened Saturday?  I was talking to my compa and telling him it was going to be a real treat for him to eat menudo, because he had never eaten it. I was telling him all about it. (remember the stomach of a cow) I was poking fun and I think it jinx us.  When we got to the comida the Hermana put down in front of my compa a big bowl of soup stuff. Right when I saw it my stomach dropped.  I was like good lunch compa, haha that is menudo! After the prayer I put a whole bunch of chile on mine to kill the taste and my taste buds. I went to town on my menudo because I didn't want the Hermana to feel bad.  I was just chowing down on my stomach soup and I about puked 8 times, but I finished it. I was so happy and then I looked over at my compa and he looked pretty bad and hadn't eaten all of his.  I said "compa put it in my bowl, I will eat it for you". I had to just pound it! Oh man what a time that was.  I did it and the Hermana was happy, so I was happy too. Dang there is nothing like menudo.  Oh, it is something else. I hope I never have to eat it again.

This week was pretty interesting. We talked to a bunch of people but not very many wanted to listen to us and we got a lot of doors slammed in our faces. That's alright we gave them the chance and maybe one day they will accept the gospel. We just continued searching with big smiles on our faces.  Not much went on this week though.  Oh but today, I found oatmeal creme pies at Wallmart.  I was so stoked and I had the biggest smile on my face!! I love them!!

Sorry this is short, but I don't have much time. Next week I will have some good stuff for all of you guys.

I love all of you more than all of the smiles that I give.

keep the faith

live life

Elder Miller

Elder Flores, Elder Aguilar, Elder Ripley and Elder Miller

Elder Miller

Que onda Familia!!!!

To tell you the truth family, I'm a little lost for words right now. I have so many thoughts in my head right now. I just don't know what to tell you guys. I had a very interesting week this past week.  One that was really strange and I have never had a week like this in my whole mission. It was really trying for me in a number of different ways. Let's just say the people in the city are very different from the people on the ranch. I talked to a trillion people this week and knocked on a gazillian doors this week and got a bazillian rejections. Door after door after door! Of course, I kept a smile on my face and kept working to try to find the people that are prepared. There came a point in this week where I sort of just hit a wall. I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong or why I wasn't being successful. It was really hard and I talked a lot with my comp about what we could do to open the hearts of the people? We talked a lot but over the days I really realized that the Lord wants more from me. He wants me to move up to the next level. He has a plan for me and I need to follow this plan. The people are ready we just have to be prepared but in every aspect. If I don't have the spirit with me the conversation cannot happen.  If I don't have the spirit with me, I should not teach. I am not the reason that people change their lives. I am only an instrument and guide in the Lord's hands. I have to be worthy to have the spirit with me, I have to, it is a must. I know through strict obedience and constant diligence the people here will have there hearts opened and the Lord will pour out his blessings over all these people but first as missionaries we need to do our part.

We are teaching a guy named Ceasar.  He is an older guy like 55 and he is awesome. As we were teaching him I really just felt the spirit with him. He is really searching for the truth and he is so willing to listen.  It is like he is just absorbing everything we say. He is reading the BOM and praying. I know he is going to receive his answer soon, I can just feel it. Something very interesting happened with him that I would love to share. I was talking to him and he is a cowboy.  I found out that he has a ranch outside of the city. I was all stoked to talk to him, we talked more.  He told me that he has visited a ton of different countries and ranches like Israel, Australia and the states and that he had visited King Ranch.  I know that ranch my pops talks about it. He went off talking about a bunch of different ranches in Texas and Oklahoma.  I ask him, what do you do for work?  He told me that he worked right under the governor of the state of Jalisco.  He is in charge of all the livestock for the state. This is the reason that he travels all over the world. He does all sorts of business with the livestock, he is way saweet.  The thing that hit me really pretty hard this week is that a part of my setting a part blessing came to pass this week. In my blessing it said that I would bear testimony to government officials. It happened.  I'm really grateful for the gospel I know it's true and I know that we as members of the church receive revelation for our benefit.  We are in the church of JESUS CHRIST and I know it's the only true church on the earth.

Oh and another funny thing mi compa y yo were knocking this week in a place with houses that are massive and I mean massive like houses that are like 10000 square feet. Just big houses. We were in this area because a 70 said that we are missing a lot of baptisms because we are not talking to the professionals.  We started knocking.  We knocked about 5 or so houses and then out of nowhere two security guards showed up and started to give us scruff. Long story short, the people called security on us and so they said we couldn't be there and were hustling us.  I started talking with them you know just like buddy buddy.  They were actually really cool but they didn't want to listen to our message.  I couldn't talk them into letting us knock this area, so we got kicked out!!! haha It was pretty funny.

Well family I love all of you but I need to work!!

Oh my house is pretty dang saweet!!! We live with 2 other elders so it's a riot!!

Don't know where I am in the city it's really big but I can find out!!!

When are you gonna bust the sleds out!!!

Pops what happened with grandpa down on the boulders?

Brady can you do me a favor and eat an extra serving of turkey, potatoes, gravy and biscuits for me this week because they don't have thanksgiving here. thanks bro!!!!

love all of you more than all of you know!!

Elder Miller

I put the boots in the closet!!!!!!!

Well family, I put my boots in the closet and hung up the wranglers and I pulled the slacks back out of the closet. Yup I’m in the streets of Guadalajara again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what!!!!!!!!!! yeah I know it was totally unexpected we were teaching a lesson and the zone leaders called and after the lesson I called them back and they said "Whats up bro" (they are spanish and I taught them how to say "what’s up bro", but they have a funny english accent when they say it!! It is pretty dang funny.  I love them and they are truly my bros!!!!!) They said I have changes! I was like totally stunned and couldn't believe it!! This was Thursday afternoon. I went home packed my stuff and left the ranch at 10:30 that night. Before I left, I had the opportunity to talk to one of my converts Mayco.   He is 18 and he is a dang stud!!!! He has been a member for 2 months and he is already a ward missionary and the ward secretary!!! I talked to him just me and him.  When I told him the news, it broke my heart and his. We just started crying but it was a very special moment.  He promised me in a year that he will be out in the mission field serving a mission. When he said this, I was deeply touched. I also promised him as a representative of Jesus Christ, that if continued to live the gospel, pray, read the scriptures and go to church and go on splits with the missionaries one day his mom will enter into the waters of baptism!! It is a big promise but I know that it will come to pass. I have faith!! I loved my time as a ranch hand but its time for me to put on the other business clothes and tear it up in the city!!!!! Oh yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Miller and Elder Riplely

So my companion's name is Elder Riply can you believe that or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hhahahah He is a stud!!! He is a southern boy from Alabama!!! I never thought that I would get me a southern boy but I did and he is awesome!!! He has like 8 months in the mission and he has a super command on the scriptures.  I am so stoked to be with him. I’m going to learn so much!!! We are going to tear it up!!! Oh we also live with two other elders Elder Flores and Elder Aguilar. They are so funny!!!

My area is in the zone of Reforma and my area is Jardenas!!! My area is dope show!!! I don't even feel like I’m in Mexico. I feel like I’m in a suburb somewhere in Cali!!!!!!!! yeah its sik!! It is a really weird change from the ranch but I like it and I am so stoked to do some saweet work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had two baptisms yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Zarahi and Yerami!!!!!!!!! Two kids and there mom was baptized last week!!! super Stelllaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey did you guys know that I am going to be an UNCLE!!!!!! I don’t know if you heard!!!!!!!!!!  How incredibly coooool is that!!!! Uncle Jake!!!  I mean Uncle Elder Miller.  Mom and Pops abuelos!!!!! They are way to young!!!

Mom I got my saweet back pack and I love it. I wear it every day!!!

Well, I love life!!!!! I’m living life!!!!!!!!! I’m smiling a lot!!!!!!!! I’m just lovin it.

love you more than all the miles I drove in that dang bus!!!!!!!

ELDER MILLER

Family I am freezing here!!! Ha ha It is funny because it is not even that cold.  It is just that I have been in the heat forever!!!

So un favor por favor!!!

Could you guys find me some saweet sweaters that are like nice sweater like for church that I can wear over the tope of my white shirt and maybe a few sweater vests!!

I would be so happy!!!!  Like I would be so stoked and happy and I would love it!!!!!

Well time to work!!!!!

Love ya, thank you so much, love ya

Finally a bust in the heat wave.

Que Onda!!!!!!!!!!! familia!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally this week the climate changed!!! The days are just perfect and I mean perfect. Blue skies a cool breeze and mariachi bands what more could you want haha!! I do have to say that I freeze my butt off in the morning!!! It's not cold here it's just that I'm really used to the heat here, so I'm freezing haha I wrote a letter to someone and told them that I have no clue what I'm going to do when I come home to Utah in January!!! haha but it will be alright!!  The days are beautiful and this has caused me to reflect a bit on home and how beautiful Utah is!!! I love my time in the ranch!!!!! I love being a ranch hand!!!!!!!!

Family yesterday was a super special day for me and I was just filled with the spirit the whole entire day and it was unexplainable!!!

It was fast Sunday!! My favorite!! I was sitting with some of my investigators and my heart started pounding and my chest started burning. I knew, I had to give my testimony to my brothers and sisters. They needed something. All I could think about was Grandpa Smith. My heart was full as I walked up to the pulpit. I already had tears in my eyes  because of the experience that I had with grandpa in the MTC is something that I hold so dear to my heart. I told them I  was happy and I was to share my testimony with them.  I was so happy because the day I arrived in the ranch I couldn't speak any Spanish, but now I can speak and I can express myself. I told them that I wanted to give my testimony about the family and how the family is so special to me. I continued to tell them about my Grandpa Smith and the relationship that I had with him, also the experience that I had with him when I was in the MTC. I was so touched by the spirit the whole time (that means yes I was in tears) and as I looked out over the congregation I couldn't look at anyone because everyone was crying.  I continued and I bore my testimony of my experience and how families can live together forever through the beautiful plan that our Heavenly Father has for us!!!!! I know the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS REAL family!!!! with all my heart.   After I finished the old bishop that got released a week ago bore his testimony. His words put me in tears ultra vez. He expressed to the ward how grateful he was for me and how when I arrived I couldn't speak any Spanish but now I’m speaking fluent. He expressed how I bring a spirit with me wherever I go but a spirit that is different than the other missionaries a spirit that is really special. He said that I am always welcome here in Apatzingan and I will always have place to stay if I return. He gave me gradulations. I can't express how I felt and I'm not trying to "brag" but these words really touched my heart and after sacrament, I went up to the old Bishop Sanduval and told him thanks so much. He said come here elder and gave me a hug. But it was a real hug. He is a big ole boy so I got a big ole bear hug for like a minute and we cried a bit again. After the hug he said "Elder Yo Quiro" I will never forget this man he treats my like his son and here in the mission he is like a father to me and I can go to him with anything! I love my ward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The day gets better!!!!!!! Mario and Viri entered into the waters of baptism today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never had a baptism so special an all of my mission. I love these two people with all of my heart and they are truly miracles in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to tell you more but it will have to wait another week  because I need to go work!!!!!!!

I love you all more than all of the words I am speaking in spanish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha chido!!!!!

oh guess what? It is sad I am only going to be a teenager for 1 more month!!!!!!!! bummer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20 what!!!!!!!!!!! I'm getting old!!!!!!!! no!!!!!!!

Jacee you need to take it easy haha and one step at a time!!!!!!!!! haha I think I’m going to have to use this story for an example with my investigators hahaa love ya girl!!!!

well I will talk to you lata!!!!!

chilllennnnnn AWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

keep working hard

keep the faith

love life

love your ranch hand Elder miller

Family!!!!!!!!

Wat up fam?     Oh man I am totally beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went hiking today with Panchito and Mayco!  It was a riot. We hiked up this mountain that is next to the city. It was so dang hot!!!!!!!!! with humidity also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was soaked from head to toe and all the way through my saweet wranglers in sweat!!!!!!!!! Oh man it was worth it though!!! We got to the top and we could see forever, the city of Apatzingan, and farther into all of the little cities and all of the orchards of fruit. It was rad!!!!!!!!!!! We plopped down on the ground ate some tortas (sandwiches) laughed and just enjoyed ourselves!!!!!!! Then on the way down Pancho wanted to go a different way where there was no trail. I said if you want, but if you get lost don't expect me to lead you out. Guess what happened, they got lost. It was bad, it was thicker than crap and for a little bit I was a little on edge because it reminded me of Ghost in the darkness and I thought a black puma was going to jump out in get me. I had to get these boys out of the wilderness and as we were going it turned into pure thorns and thistles and dang they hurt like crap. The other 3, the boys and my comp wouldn't stop crying. I had to make a path through this thorn patch that was thicker than the thorn patch on sleeping beauty. I had my bearings and I knew I needed to go in this direction. I couldn't see anything but I knew where I was (thanks pops!!!! thanks for all the times we had in the mountains). After awhile I broke through these terrible thorns and right on to the trail. I was so grateful!! My body was throbbing everywhere in pain and I was all cut up and bleeding but I was so grateful. I love the wilderness and the mountains. Great adventures, this is one that I will have for a long time.  Making memories.

I have never been so happy in all of my mission than in this last week. We had a baptism, which was spectacular. Hermana Maria del Socorro was baptized and is all jazzed to be a member of the church. Also we have a ton of investigators right now that are all chosen ones the people that God has prepared. I love all of them. They are progressing so much and are just loving the gospel. Mario and Virdi can't get enough we visit them every day to teach them and they just love it. They are going to be baptized this Sunday!   Oh and yesterday in sacrament meeting we had 16 investigators!!!!!!!! I can't even express the joy that I have right now!!!!!!!!! I am so thankful for all of the many blessings that my Father in Heaven blesses me with I know that I am nothing with out Him.

Family I am swamped with work right now and I need to go work more to help bring salvation to Gods Children! I love it! I love all of you more than all of the cuts I have on my body!!!!

keep the faith!!!

smile always!!

look to serve!!!

love your ranch hand ELDER MILLER

Mom I can't thank you enough for my blanket!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!! Know that I sleep with it every single night even when it’s hotter than hot here in the ranch!!! I love it!

thanks for everything love you

       have a great week

Oh, I am running a little low on ties because I give them away to members.  I’m a little bored of the ties I have, so if you have time, I would love some ties.  I love ties.  Ha ha ha ha

Ranchin it up!!!

Sup family!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all things that you guys do, not only for me, but for everyone. Your examples are so awesome and I just love all of you so much!!!!!!!!!! I was with my zone leader this week Elder Zuniga! It was a great time. He wanted to come be a ranch hand with me. I was stoked. He came out to the ranch for a couple of days and we tore it up.  I learned so much from him and he helped me a lot with my teaching. We click really well.  He is a chubby boy, but has a lot of love.  We had a lot of laughs together and a lot of spiritual experiences.  Yes, we did planch a few JW"s (Jehovahs Witnesses), but these days were awesome and I will never forget them. My comp and I also did some traveling, to a nearby ranch called Nueva Italia.  It was saweet and we did some sik work. There is a little branch there and only like 15 active members, but the church is true and they know it.  We are going to help their branch. Some of the ward members prepared some investigators for us, so we are teaching 3 families out there and it is "la neta" it's saweet. I'm doing great.  I am growing a bunch right now and I am really being pushed to my limits, but I always need to keep the faith and put my trust in the Lord!! I really love this scripture it's one of my favs D&C 6:36.  It's truly awesome and talks about how we need to look unto Christ in everything not fearing and not doubting. Bomb, I love my life and I love the ranch!!!!! Elder Aragon and Elder Miller Apatzingan Sunset. Sorry it's short, but I was having troubles sending the pics!!!  I'm not a geek, kel you can teach me when I come home. Elder Miller Smith Love you all more, than all of my 7 moons that I have here in ole Mexico.

Family!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you hardly believe that another week has past. Wow, I can’t!!! Time is a very strange and crazy thing. I know that I am right where I should be and as I work harder and harder the time is going to go faster and faster. It's sad how fast time is going. I am loving it!!! I am really enjoying my time in the mission. I am learning so much!!!!!!!!!!! It's crazy!!!!

I'm in Uruapan again with my brother Elder Lopez! Dang, I love this kid. I really feel like I knew him before this life. We just connect really well and just have the best time out here in the field together. He really is my bro. Last night we were out teaching and an investigator invited us to eat dinner with her and her kids. We said of course!!! (what missionary would pass up food hahaha) She brings out this soup. We said the prayer and right as I was about to eat this Hermana, said “if you don't like it, you don't have to eat it.” I was like ok, but I'm going to eat it don't worry. I took a big chunk of something and put in my mouth. I started chewing, and oh dang I just couldn't!! It was so bad. But I manned up, chewed all of it and swallowed it. Oh what a miracle. The Hermana said "you are a big fan are you" I said "la verdad, no" She said, don't worry none of the guedos(white boys) like it! So she got me some fruit to eat and my compa Elder Lopez ate my portion. So, you are probably wondering what it was. It was stomach. Yah, the actual stomach!! I ate it, but the truth is----I just couldn't stomach it. hahahahah.

Apatzingan is hot, really hot. But it's good, the people are nice and I am learning a ton. I have a sik tan. It's only a missionary tan, my head and arms. haha.

I can say that these 3 weeks have been really hard for me. I am struggling quite a bit but it is a growing experience and as I go through this time I can feel myself becoming closer to my Savior. I can feel that my faith is growing and that I am becoming stronger! I love the mission it's dang tuff but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Brady way to go big dog. Way to put the hammer down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Story was saweet and you put ole laraine to work---atta boy!!!!!!!!!!! that's my bro!!!!!!!!!!

Family I love all of you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! More than you could ever know!! love you, talk to you in a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the faith

Ride tall

Always remember who you are

Peace out

TENGAN UN BONITA SEMANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another 6 weeks in the ranch!!!!!!

Yup, I'm still going to be a ranch hand for another 6 weeks!!! I love ranch'n it up!!

This week has been a good week. It was a tremendous week with all of our new investigators. We really have gained their confidence and the love when we visit them. A lot of them are keeping their compromisos (I forgot what this word is in English) and many are improving. It makes me so happy to see these people put their faith in Christ and start living his gospel. I can literally see the change in these people when they follow Christ. Their attitude is different and they literally have a light in there eyes. I just rejoice and give thanks to my God because I am so blessed. I am so blessed to be here and be an instrument in the hand of my Lord. I have a love for this people that is real, I yearn for their well being.  I just want them to have what I have. I want them to feel what the gospel can bring into their lives.  It just makes me so sad when they reject the gospel because they are missing out on so much joy, happiness and blessings from our Heavenly Father. It's part of the work. I can only do the best I can to be obedient and have the spirit with me and to share all the feelings that I have. If I do this, I will be at peace and I will know that I am doing all that I can do.  I will feel the love of the Savior, my Brother, in my life.

Yesterday we were with one of our investigators named Graciela. She couldn't come to church because she went to the hospital because she was feeling really enfermo. (she is pregnant) so we visited her in the afternoon. We didn't know what we were going to teach her but after the prayer, we just started talking.  We started talking about the Savior and all of the things he did for us and about his life. The miracles that he preformed and how we (my compa and I) are literally representatives of Jesus Christ. She felt the spirit really strongly and she asked if we could give her a blessing. We said of course. I explained to her that this blessing is going to work on faith, and her own faith. I told her if you really believe and have faith in your Savior Jesus Christ you will be healed. We gave her the blessing. I

felt very .... I don't know how to describe what I felt, but a feeling that was really powerful. When my compa said the words "in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen" I opened my eyes and Graciela was in tears. I asked how she felt? She said "I feel tranquility and peace and all my pains are gone."  Then she just smiled really big and thanked us. Family I have never felt the power of the priesthood so strongly. This experience was so special, and there is no other feeling better than feeling the spirit. It's better than a day of blue skies and 4ft of fresh powder. It's a feeling that is not expressible. I love it!!!

I am a missionary of the Lord. My time is short, but oh there is so much work. This is my life and I love it. I would not trade it for anything right now. I am becoming the man that my Heavenly Father wants me to be!!!

Dad you are my Hero!!!!!!!! I am honored to carry your name!!! I love you and I miss you a ton!!! Keep on Keepin on

Mom I can't express my gratitude that I have for you!! I love you!! and think of you Often!!!!

Brady!!!!! Bro you are a stud.  I would not be where I am at right now, if it weren't for you!!! You are my big brother and always will be!!!  Life is a rush so farm it!!!!!

Kel thanks for all of your prayers I can feel them!!!!!!! you are always such a great example to me!!!! Keep doing what you do best!!!!!!!!! love you!!!!!!!!!!

SNase!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love your face!!! you rock!!!!!!!! keep studying hard!!!!!!!!! Know that I'm always with you!!!!!!!!!!

Highland 30th you are the Greatest ward there is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep the FAITH always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love you

Mom there is lady in my ward that was going to email you a bunch of food recipes from here so if you received recipes its from her.

Mom one more thing, can you send a package to my companero, Elder Villca. He has 5 months in his mission and has never received a letter from his mom. It makes me super sad. Please mom, could you send him a package full of love from the miller family!!  Thanks!!!!!!!!!

You guys are always in my prayers

Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LES AMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Miller

Elder Miller Smith

Sup my family!!

Splits with Elder Lopez ing Uruapon.

Well, I'm in Uruapon again and I'm just freezing my butt off. I had to sleep on the tile last night and dang was it cold.  I haven't felt the cold for a long time, but I love it. I really love it. The heat gets old pretty fast, but that is why I am so grateful to visit Uruapon every now and again.  It makes me think a lot about home when I am here, because it's up in the mountains and the air is fresh. There is nothing like some good ole fresh air. Lovin life.

I have a week with my new comp and it has been a pretty interesting week. He is a pretty unique kid. I am trying my hardest to do my best and to get along with him. He is from Bolivia. He didn't have his visa, so he served in Bolivia for 2 changes. He speaks really different than the people that are here in Mexico. It's Spanish but it's super different. It's quite comical talking with him. I am learning a little about the culture of Boliva so that is cool. He also speaks a different language.  It is a language that is native to his country, like the Indians that are there. Elder Villca and I are here and working hard.

Conference was amazing I must say, but I missed a lot of it.  Saturday I watched part of the first and second session on the internet in Apatzingan. Our leaders wouldn't let us come to Uruapon until Sunday to watch conference.  I was really pretty sad that I missed the priesthood session it is always my favorite. I got to watch all of yesterday and it was so awesome. I loved all of the talks. I loved the talk about the things that the families need to do like: family prayer, family dinner,  family scripture, and interviews. I really like this because these are things that can really strengthen the family.  The family can be made strong and unbreakable. I loved all of conference and probably could talk for a really long time about conference. I do know that we were spiritually fed and now it is our turn to take these words and apply them into our lives. When we apply, we show God our love for him and our brother Jesus. Set goals and try to apply the words of conference into your lives.

Mom and dad I have a question. Why do I have my name? Why did you choose my name? JAKE DAVID MILLER thanks

I love all of you very much. I don't have to much to say today, but I'm sure this next week I will have a lot of interesting things happen, more funny stories to tell or spiritual experiences. My days are hard, long, and hot but I always have the strength of my family, friends, my brother Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father with me, you are my strength. I am pressing forward with love, joy happiness and much more.

I love you all more than all of my shivers last night. Ha ha

Elder miller

Elder Ranch Boy Miller

How the heck is everyone!!!!!!

This email is going to be a little short, but I’m sorry. I have had no sleep for 24 hours and I'm still going on no sleep right now.  We got a phone call last night when it was absolutely dumping rain, like buckets. I’m not kidding, the streets were rivers. Our zone leader said he had bad news. Well let’s just say that my boy Elder Aragon is gone. Yep they transferred him, and I received my new comp. He is from Bolivia and his name is Elder Villca. He doesn't have much time in the mission but he seems like a stud. I can tell that he has a desire to work. I am stoked its going to be saWeet!!!! I am going to have more responsibility now, but you know what--its good for me. I love a challenge.

Yesterday we had a baptism and it was truly a miracle. Her name is Lourdes. She is in her 40´s and is in a wheelchair. She has been one of our investigators for about 2 months. It is just that she was a slow learner and she had a really huge fear of water. With much prayer and fasting Lourdes was finally ready to enter the waters. Lourdes isn’t the littlest lady, lets just say she is quite a bit bigger than me in weight. We got to the edge of the font, I said Lourdes do you trust me, she said yes. I took her in my arms, the way the groom carries his new wife when they get married, and down into the water we went. I put her on the chair in the water. My comp said the prayer and baptized her but her feet came up and I knew the chair wouldn’t work. So I got on my knees and took her in my arms. She had her arm around my shoulder. My comp said the prayer again. After, I didn’t know how I was going to baptize her. I just felt that I should go with her, so we both went at the same time. Yup all the way under the water and up out of the water we came. She just had a big smile on her face and so did I. I was so happy. This truly was a miracle and Lourdes was so courageous. None of this would have been possible if we didn’t have the help of the Lord.

Thanks for the shoes, I got both of them and they Rock!!!!!! Thanks for the letters too, they touched my heart. Mom, how is sister Lakip?

Dad for the backpack, um one that has good support but is not to huge. A little smaller than a Brahma bag but bigger than a hiking pack. Colors aren't too big of a deal. But not colors that are way bright and yeah!!!!

Oh I had an amazing 4 days with Lopez in Uruapon. We saw many miracles together and many spiritual experiences. I hope I can serve with him some day down the road longer than 4 days.

Mom, I have a lady in my ward who is going to be emailing you a whole bunch of recipes so get stoked. ha ha

I love all of you so much!!! More than all of the miles that I have taken in the bus.

ha ha love ya

Wear your smiles this week