Elder Miller Smith

Fam

YESSSSS!!!! I get to be a ranch boy for at least another 6 weeks!!!!!!! ahh I'm so stoked!!!!! Oh and Elder Aragon is still with me.  We get another 6 weeks together to tear things up. Oh I'm so stoked!!!!! We have been working hard lately and we are having success, in many different aspects.  Baptisms, finding new cool people, having ward members accompany us on our visits, feeling the spirit, being led by the spirit, ah just so, so much. My life here is truly a blessing. I'm really excited for this next change because we already have baptisms for the next couple of weeks. The people are awesome. They are all miracles. Mayco, Homero and Cassandra are their names. I’m so stoked for them. I’m also really excited because I have these 6 weeks to work my butt off and get prepared for the next change. If I do my part, I know,I will be blessed by the Lord. I may not know everything but I will know enough for this next step in my mission training. Really, I'm just full of joy right now, just filled with joy. Yah, a lot of my days are just really tough and sometimes I get frustrated because of the language, but I love it. I love it all. I'm seeing changes in my life. I was thinking about my farewell talk, since I was like a little kid when I gave that talk. I didn't really know anything. I have come such a long way with everything, language, knowledge, patience, love---ah just everything, but I'm still green ha ha that means I'm growing I hope I can always stay green because there is always something to learn each day and we always can grow. Remember don't eat a green snake unless it's ripe ha ha ha

Oh so this week was bad!! I will tell you that! I have never had the "Rocky Mountain Quick Step" so bad in my life. After I got done eating one of our meals at the members, I was sitting there and then boom it hit me.  I was like "ah no manches" so casually I ran to the bano and barely made it. I felt better so I was like let's go do some work. We passed by with our next visit with Donyatonya. She works in a house and cleans and stuff so we pass by her work and then we go to a park and teach her. We rang the doorbell and when we were waiting for her boom it hit me again. "Ah no manches" I asked Donya if I could use the bano in the house but she said her boss wouldn't allow it. I went next door and asked the lady if I could use her bathroom. I had no idea who she was but she said yes. So, I ran as fast as I could and barely made it. Afterwards, I felt better and I thanked this lady so much. I found out she spoke English. It was cool, we talked for a bit and then we left. I was sick all the rest of the day. That night I was in a visit and I had told them my problem. The guy said, oh I have a cure for you. This guy doesn't believe in doctors. He is an Indian. He only believes in natural stuff. He cooked me up a tea. I drank it and felt better. It worked for that night. I was like sweet but then the next two days, I was sick again ha ha. It was a bad week. Ha ha oh and for my comp, he became a missionary this week, he was sick too. Ha ha ha so funny.

On Saturday night I baptized Donyatonya. She has been waiting for 2 months to be baptized. She is old, so it took her a really long time to learn the lessons but with patience and consistency and lots of prayers she was finally prepared. She was stoked!!!! Saturday night as we entered into the water, I asked her if she trusted me. She said of course I do, guedito. I couldn't help to laugh. She is so funny. Oh, guedito means little white boy. I baptized her and as she came up out of the water she had a huge smile on her face!! Just a big smile. I asked her how she felt. She couldn't talk she had so much joy and just couldn't stop smiling. Oh beautiful this moment was. Have I told you guys how much I love these people? I think I have but I just want to tell you again. I love them. 

Tell grandma s that I have been getting her letters. Thank her I love her letters.  Grandma is awesome and I feel her and grandpa with me.

I love all you guys with all of my heart. Dang aren't we something. I mean don't you remember us up in Wyoming with Jack Sparrow. I'm sure we are one of a kind.

love ya

Elder Miller Smith

¡Que Onda! Familia?

I had a special week and it was filled with miracles. I have miracles happen in my life everyday but in particular this week was filled with many. We had a baptism this past Sabado. A good ole boy named Odilon. He is like 70 years, he is pretty old but very sharp and has 12 kids. How about that? This is the story with him. One day like 2 and half weeks ago we were waiting for a member to come to the church so he could come visit some people with us. We were just waiting so I told my compa lets just walk over to this house and contact them. It was right next to the church so we did. There were two old boys, one didn’t want to talk to us and the other (Odilon) he did. He had interest but said we couldn’t visit him because he is out on his bike all day working. I was prompted to invite him to church. He said he would come. We were like chido and we said goodbye and left. We didn’t think anything of it because most of the people here say they will come to church or we can visit them but they never are true to their word.  On Sunday rolls around and this ole boy shows up to church. I was stoked. I went and talked to him and then had him sit with a member. Again we didn’t think anything of him, or like he didn’t have potential. Another week went by and on Sunday he showed up to church. We didn’t even say anything to him or visit him. We were going to have a huge baptismal service in Uruapon as a zone the next week and we didn’t have anyone to baptize. I was thinking the whole time in church about Odilon. I knew I needed to put a sita or a visit with him. After church I couldn’t find him. I was like ahhhh no manches where is he. I ran outside. He was leaving on his bike. I was like Odilon!! He stopped and I went and talked to him. Instead of asking about a visit I felt prompted to ask him what he was doing right then. He said, nothing. I said how would you like to come to a baptismal service? We are having one right now and it will be performed in the same way as our brother Jesus Christ was baptized. He said he would like that. After the baptism, my comp talked with him. He was stoked and said he would like to be baptized. We put a fecha with him for the 21 de Augosto. We had one week to teach him. We needed a miracle. As we taught him this last week, I truly realized that God really prepares his children. Odilon didn’t have a problem with one thing. He prayed and read everyday this week. By the time Saturday came he was ready. The baptismal service was sweet. We baptized 5 in this night. The same night they were having a huge ex missionary reunion for all the ex missionaries in the stake of Uruapon. There were about 60 returned missionaries in this baptismal service. Our mission president, the stake president and some other returned missionaries baptized all the people. It was so special and the spirit was like a powerhouse this night. After the baptisms different returned missionaries got up and shared there testimonies. The next thing we know Odilon asks is he can go up. He walks up and with power gives his testimony. I was filled with such great joy. My life is something that is special and each day I grow a little closer to my Heavenly Father.  I can feel and I know that I am becoming the man that he wants me to be.

I’m going to Uruapon again today for a day or two. I’m going to be with Elder Rojas. My comp has to go to Gaudalajara for a little training so I get to go to Uruapon. It is a really cool city. It is not hot because it is up in the mountains. So I’m stoked.

Mom, those Oakley shoes look dope and they will be great. I need a shoe that is for walking because I walk a ton and most of the streets are rock streets. I just need a really good walking shoe for the work in the field. I have shoes for Sunday. They look great. Oh, important important. I wear a size 7 and a half or 8 nothing bigger than 8 that is just too big or a size 41 in the other system. I know I have small feet but that’s alright. Thanks.

Chickens huh. That is so saweet and funny. There are chickens everywhere here in the ranch. All over in the streets.  Yesterday after we ate me and this kid named Victor fought his chickens. hahaha I’m probably not supposed to do this but it was a lot of fun. haha

Kel I see miracles in my life everyday. You are right, you have to look for them. That why its important to try to look at things how God sees them. A lot of time we get caught up in our own lives because they are so busy. We really we need to just step back and look at the big picture. I have chilled out a lot in my mission and I love to just observe everything.  The people, my comps and just everything and then meditate on these things and then receive inspiration or revelation on how I can better these situations. Life is good and life is great---but life is the best when you can feel the love of your Heavenly Father and know that what you are doing is what He wants. This life is about completing the things that Heavenly Father wants us to complete. As we do just that, we become closer to Him. We receive help and direction for ourselves and for others, and we receive joy and happiness. Ultimately we start seeing the big picture. I love life.

I love the ranch, I love the people, I love tacos, and barely water, I love walking, I love laughing, I love smiling, I love being me, I love my family and friends, I love my Savior Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father.

These are only a few of the things I love. I could go on for a lot longer. I love life. Family and friends recognize all of the things you love, all the things you are grateful for, all of your blessings and miracles. Love life.

Your country boy Elder miller

much love always

Elder Miller Smith

Another week in the ranch!!!!!

gotta love. i do i really do. i like being out in the middle of no where not really close to anything and just out in the country. things are more relaxed. the people are living not always looking at their watches and saying "oh i’m going to be late or i gotta be here at this time" this isn’t the lifestyle here in the ranch. it’s a small town lifestyle. just how i like it. 

well family, this last week i was able to support a family in getting married. it really wasn’t me. i dedicated it to you guys. the whole time we were going through the long process of getting them married i was just thinking of them and how you guys would love to help. so thanks family. it really was a special day for this family and a lot of excitement and even more excitement yesterday because the mom Margarita and a daughter angela were able to enter into the waters of baptism. what a special day. they had been waiting for this day for more than 3 months. the marriage process was really long and lengthy but it finally came and they were able to get baptized. i baptized the little girl angela. she was so stoked. as we entered into the water i just had a huge smile on my face and so did she. as i started to say the words of the prayer i was overtaken with a feeling of joy that i have never ever felt in my life. as i spoke the words slowly but with authority, there was a burning in my chest that was so strong so strong. i ended with the word amen and she looked into my eyes and all i could see and feel was the trust that she had in me. then i baptized her. after she went and changed. my comp was changing in the boys bathroom and there was only one stall, so i just stayed in the font for like 5 or 10 minutes by myself just pondering and meditating.  at this moment during this baptism prayer, i received a answer that i had been searching for for a long time. i really wanted to know if i was a son of my Heavenly Father and if he loved me and if what i was doing was right and if this Gospel was really the Gospel of Christ. this was my answer. i have never received a stronger conviction in my life. Family i am a child of God and I am doing His work and it is a work that is TRUE and there is no other work like this on this planet. i felt deep  deep gratitude to be serving a mission, especially here in mexico. i feel close to my Savior right now and it is a feeling that i always want to have in my life.

After 10 weeks in Mexico

mom thanks for finding out about my shoes. but i’m not really sure if i want another pair of those. i have only worn them here in mexico and they are already worn out. another elder, elder wright from Payson has the same pair and his are thrashed just like mine. if you could, i would really love it if you could find me an outdoors shoe that is actually made for walking and isn’t a church shoe but looks nice under a pair of slacks and is black. i would really love that. because i walk a ton. maybe Oakley makes one or you could look at REI or parks. thanks that would be "la neta"

family and friends i love you all and thank you so much for all of your support that you give me. i love hearing from all of you. keep your letters coming i love them. And when anyone of you have a spiritual experience or are touched by the spirit please share these experiences with me. 

love you all

Your little country boy  ELDER MILLER

My homemade poncho for the rain.

Me with my Primary Kids

I've been seeing this crapper dodge a lot around Apatzingan and I was just like man, that looks like a Utah truck.  Sure enough it is.  It has Utah plates and is from Ken Garff.  ha ha ha
funny

Elder Miller and Elder Lopez at the Lagoon in Uruapon.  Elder Lopez is my companion when I am in Uruapon.

Elder Miller Smith

Que Onda familia

yes its already another Lunes or Monday, sauce time is a very weird thing that I can not explain. I am happy for this Lunes because I get to hear from all of my family and friends.

Elder Miller and an investigator

Well mom, I took a big chunk of money out of my account. I hope you know. It was for a good reason. My comp broke his glasses about 2 weeks ago. We rigged up a little thing to fix them but about 2 days later he broke them again and he totally broke the frames. We tried to jimmy rig something up but they were totally destroyed. I told him we needed to get him new glasses and I said I would pay for them. He rejected my offer a number of times. So, he was with out glasses for about a week, which was really bad because one of his eyes is really bad. Finally I had the president talk to him about getting new glasses and after this I explained to him the importance of eyes and how they are not something to mess around with and its not worth losing an eye for being stubborn. He accepted my offer so we went and got him some dope glasses,that he really likes. This was a humbling experience for me in a couple different ways, and I won’t ever forget the look in this elders eyes when he was able to put on his new pair of glasses. I told him that it wasn’t from me, it was either from you mom and dad or I said a neighbor because the Budges told me they really wanted to be a part of my mission and if they could buy anything like shoes, a shirt or something like this for one of my comps they would love to. So I paid 800 pesos for his new frames.

I spoke in church yesterday, yeah for 20 minutes. What do you think about that haha. But it wasn’t all me. In my talk I spoke on service and the importance of it. I spoke for like 10 minutes then in the middle of my talk I invited 3 or 4 people from the ward to come up and share there feelings about how Christ served or a way that they could serve here in there community.  Different huh, but I was prompted to do so and it turned out really well, as these few people bore solid testimonies of service. After them, I closed my talk with my testimony, I was overtaken by the spirit, yeah I was crying. I couldn’t help it and there hand full of people in the ward crying as well. It is okay to cry especially when the spirit is with you. I love my family here in Apatzingan its a small ward but a loving one.

Pops thanks for my priesthood line. Really, I am really grateful.

Mom, look at you. I know its going to be hard for you mom but there is a reason that you have been called to this position, for one everyone loves you, but the other is there is something that your Heavenly Father wants you to do. Have faith in that and keep the attitude of Nephi "I will go and do" and always know that the Lord has prepared a way. Mom I know speaking and doing stuff in front of people is hard and a lot of times we don’t like to do but just remember this. Its in time like these that we need to but all of our faith in confidence in the Lord and not in our own selves. This is something I am learning right now in my mission. If I think my Spanish is all great and I’m just the bomb teacher, I get struck down and the Lord lets me know my position. It is in these times when we are young or don’t have much times in our callings that we can learn the most. Yeah we might fall a lot of times but in situations like this we are out of our comfort zone because we don’t know a lot but as we learn to trust in the Lord he will provide a way for us. He will put the words in your mouth that you need to say in the exact right moment. It’s hard but if we can learn to trust the Lord in all of our doings we can know where we stand with God and we can receive all of the blessings that he wants to give to us. Be strong.

Family I love ya a lot and all of my friends a family back home as well. More than all of the steps I’ve walked in my mission.

ps no pics today because I’m in Uruapon right now. Next week promise.

Oh mom, all my clothes are destroyed. I can wear them for another 17 months its no bigggy. Maybe not my shoes but can you ask Mr Mac if my shoes have a warranty my rugged shoes. Because they said I couldn’t wear those shoes out in a year. They said it wasn’t possible and they have had it. They have no tread and in the sole all the latex is gone so water comes in through the bottom. If they need a pic, I can send one.  But really all my stuff if fine and I dont need any new clothes right now.

thanks love you

I froze my butt off

Family!!!

Que tal, pues todos cosas aqui esstan muy muy chido.

Elder Miller and Elder Lopez in Uruapon

Last week I froze my butt off in Uruapon but in reality the weather was perfect like 70s, I think but I’m not sure. It was cold at night and in the mornings. I guess I’m just really accustomed to the heat. It doesn’t really bother me anymore. In Uruapon I was with an elder named Elder Lopez. He is from my same generation which means he entered the MTC the same day as me. He is from Veracruz Mexico. Yup another native comp except, he didn’t speak a lick of English so yup yup total Espanol. He was way cool and a lot like me.  He smiled all the time and was always happy and I could joke around with him. We really had a good couple of days. I know I was supposed to go to this area for a reason. Yeah it was for 4 days but I had a huge impact on the people there. I’m not trying to be like boastful or anything it’s just that so many of them expressed there love for me and were really sad that I had to leave so soon. They said I was welcome into there homes anytime. I also expressed great gratitude to them. 

Elder Miller and Miguel the ward mission leader in Uruapon

There was an old man named Miguel he is like 60 and is a ward missionary and so he would come with us everyday on all of our visits. I became really close with him. He will be my buddy forever. I had so many great experiences and Elder Lopez and we were really in tune with the spirit because one of us would be talking and then one of us would share a scripture and then right after the other would share a scripture.  This happened 3 different times where the scriptures had the exact same principle but in different scriptures and we didn’t plan any of this. It was like one would share and the other would just strengthen the testimony of the other through scripture. I cant even express how cool this was. I loved this last week. Oh oh yeah Elder Lopez and I treated ourselves to some tacos. Ah eses tacos fueron muy muy rico. steak, chorizo, throat!!! Have I told you how much I love tacos. So good.

Elder Miller and primary kids.

Thanks for the pics kel and family. They were awesome. I love you guys. You are all so funny.

Kel I will think about your lesson and see what comes to mind. We have about 26 kids in the primary. Yesterday in church I gave hermana Pati all those CTR rings for the little kids in the primary. Oh man what a hit. Everyone in the ward thanked me for doing this and all the kids were stoked!!!!! Ah love all the little kids here I love talking and joking with them. It brings me great joy to see them smile and laugh, and none of them can pronounce my name. Oh its funny but I love them all. Kel I will get a pic with the primary.

Brady what up? Sounds like you are just busy busy with school. Keep on truckin and keep on keepin on haha.

Getting your education will pay off yeah its a long time but it will go by fast. Besides you get to learn something new and cool everyday in school. I loved school. Dude brady how is the stroker. Like 5 or 6 guys have them down here they seem to be pretty peppy. A guy down here was driving down the road and stepped on it and the tires broke loose and were just spinning. They look good and don’t have the ugly exhaust. Oh and did they make a 4 seater razor like our ranger because the other day I saw one down here it looked pretty sik. All the new cars, trucks, 4 wheelers and side by sides are in Apatzingan. This city is really crazy. I can’t wait to tell you guys more about this city when I return because it is crazy.

Nacho quote.

But yeah, my life is good. I wake up every morning at 7 and do some pushups, eat some cold cereal, take a cold shower do some studies and then go to try to speak some Spanish. It is great and I sleep in a bed alone for all of my time here in the mission. What more could I want! hahahah I love my job.

Oh una cosa mos que es muy chistoso!!! I got my hair cut today and it was my first haircut that I’ve ever had where a guy has cut my hair!! Ah so bad. He was like come sit in the chair and I was like wait, you are cutting my hair. No manches. So yes family I got my hair cut by guy. The whole time a lady in this place was saying how much I looked like Barbie ken. I couldn’t help but to laugh a lot today. Very funny.

thanks I love you guys so much.

take care

Elder Miller Smith

oh I will send some pics next week