December

Dec.6th,2010
Dear Family,

I am doing pretty good here, my new companion is a lot more obedient and fun to be around than the past few, so it is good. He is from Las Vegas, he is really funny and likes motorcycles and cars and stuff. Elder C and I are trying our best to live the higher standard.

Disneyland pictures were crazy to look at, I can't believe how much older everyone is looking. I definately think I want to go to see Emily above anything else and I think Texas would be fun to come back to sometime in the future. Well I do not like the snow either, I just don't like the mess it causes and the slow down of traffic. It is getting colder down here in Houston area, not crazy hot anymore.

Well we had a pretty interesting week this past week, we got in touch with a part member family who we are going to be teaching. The husband isn't a member and he is from India, he has been taught for years and years. His wife is a member and she is from Sweden and is a convert. She is active and wants him to be a member but he thinks all churches are good and he hasn't been taught for a year or so. We are really excited to start teaching him, We are way confident that we can seal the deal on this one. The ward is pretty suprised about it because they thought that it would be for a while before he would start to be taught again. We are also teaching B still, and we had a really good lesson with him this past week and the ward is really doing a good job in supporting us with a place to teach him. I have seen a lot of families from the K ward this past couple weeks because I am right next door to the area. An investigator in W got baptized and the elders didn't even tell me, I found out at the mission office when I was getting Elder C. The investigator's name was A and she was way solid and I taught her a lot before I got transfferred to K. I am glad she finally got baptized, and now they are teaching her mom and so it is pretty cool!
This week we have a lot ahead of us as far as finding new investigators, because we dropped a lot of the ones that Elder T wouldn't drop. They weren't going anywhere and just liked missionaries not wanting to progress, and I am glad I am here to re-establish the trust with the members.

Well I am happy to say that I am doing great and I am looking forward to three more weeks until I get to speak with you all.
I love you all and I am grateful for the sacrifices you have made to get me here and sustain me for the past 18 months. The time is passing by and I need all the prayers I can get to finish strong and to be the best I can be. I am grateful for the blessings that we have recieved and for the help that we can get if we are obedient and faithful. Please be safe and remember christ this christmas season.

Love

Elder Loren James Miller

Dec.13th, 2010
Dear Family,

I am doing great here in the K and M S ward, even though it is getting freezing cold outside compared to the heat of the summer. Elder C and I are getting along pretty good and we are working pretty hard to get things rolling in this area. We are really trying to rebuild the teaching pool because we totally are starting from scratch. It is pretty good to serve with Elder C because he wants to work and be obedient, and he is fully invested in the mission. We are rebuilding trust with the wards here because it is need of it, and we are really making progress so far.

This past week the M S ward had their christmas party and an inactive member who's brother is the elders quorum president, came to it with his nonmember wife. This member is very inactive and is still a teacher in the priesthood, missionaries havent had any success with him in the past, so it was great to see him there. The whole time elder c was telling me that we need to go and talk to them and set an appointment to teach them, I told him that we need to be patient and let the members and the lord take care of it. So the next day at church they showed up to church for all three hours and we were hanging out by the bishop's office and he was filling out a tithing slip. The ward mission leader said that we might be teaching them in the near future. It is way sweet to see this happening, the members are really fellowshipping these part member families. That has kind of been the focus of Elder C and I's planning and prayers. So we will see what happens next week, and another part member family came to church as well for three hours and the husband is active and the wife is not a member.
Well I love each and every one of you and I am grateful to know what I know. I am grateful for my membership and my testimony that I have so diligently strived to gain the past 20 years. I am thankful for all the support and help you have given me. I love you and always keep you in my prayers.

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

Dec. 20th, 2010
Dear Family!

Well it is great to read that email and her about all the exciting Christmas Plans. This week is the big christmas P-day with the whole mission, it happens on wednesday and then on Thursday it is the mission temple day. We had a really good week this past week and we are starting to pick up some support from the members. Elder C and I are doing really good, we are very happy to be companions. I hope I get to stay here another transfer with him, it is good to be with a companion that wants to be here.

We are starting to teach the part member family that came to the christmas party. We had a crazy dinner with them on friday, the wife is not a member and her name is c. C's brother came and is just returning from the army, and he is living with them for a few weeks. Well he was completely anti mormon, when c first said I have a few questions. He just kept bringing up contentious questions. Even c's husband (s) who is a member, was upset and wanted him to stop. We both kind of sat back and laughed it off, everything he said was funny, all of it was Anti mormon statements that I have heard all before. So we read 3 Ne 11:29 and left the scene, c was really embarrassed because her brother was a complete idiot. So when we got in the car, we both prayed for c and s, we prayed so long, we just really are hoping they can overcome this.

Well our prayers were answered, s's family lives all in the area in surrounding wards, came up to us at church, (a few attend the same building) they are all active and the dad lives in the ward next door and he called us. They all told us that S and c went over to S's parents house and talked to them till 2 in the morning about the gospel after the meltdown at dinner. Seth's dad called and set up an appointment with us to teach S and c. S's family told us all yesterday that it is a miracle that we are being a part of. One of his brother's was in tears, telling me that 20 years of family prayers for s to come back and be active, have been answered. It is incredible what I am a part of, seeing a family rejoice and are way happy because the Black Sheep of the family is returning to the fold. S has been to church the past two weeks with his wife, pays tithing now, both live the word of wisdom, c studies the book of mormon and is really seeking the truth. Elder C and I are so excited to teach her and see a family be started in the gospel. I will tell you more on saturday over the phone alright? Pray for us! I am grateful that are family is all active and we are staying close to the church. S hasn't been active since he was 15. His dad was in tears on the phone with me last night and I got a little choked up.

We will probably set a goal for c to be baptized by end of january. We hope that s will baptize her, if he is worthy, and ready to. B called us yesterday and he wants to be baptized January 1st, so we have to teach him tonight and get him interviewed for baptism tommorrow. He leaves thursday for louisana and gets back on Jan. 1st in the morning. We are excited, because he is ready, he is young, but he has formed friendships with the ward youth. So yeah!!! Things are going great!


Well I love you all so much and look forward to the big phone call! I am not a hundred percent sure when we are going to call but I am guessing about later in the day like 5pm or later. I might send you a little one minute call in the morning to let you know when. I will call dads phone alright? Well I hope all is well at home and I am grateful for the gospel and the authority that god has entrusted his servants with. I am so thankful for my membership and our eternal family, it is so beautiful to bike home at night or drive home at night and to live a football field away from the temple. I look forward to hearing your voices, I am grateful to have you as my family. Heavenly father has definately blessed me! Be good and be safe. Study the birth of the savior from the book of mormon or from Luke. I promise if you do that christmas will be more purpose centered.

Love you and talk to this saturday!

Elder Loren James Miller

Dec.27th,2010
Dear Family!

Well it was quite an adventure to talk to you the other day! I really needed that phone call because it has been forever since I have heard your voices!

So C might be baptized this saturday! We have to teach her like everyday this week to make it happen. She wants it to be done quick! She has a testimony and knows everything is true! It is incredible! We will be working with her this whole week and preparing her for the baptism. We are going to hopefully do some finding this week and find some new investigators. It is getting pretty cold here and hopefully we get some people outside to talk to.

We have the spirit with us more when we attend the temple and we gain more spiritual strength. I definately want to to go to the temple once a week when I get home, because it helps me out so much.
I am working hard and trying my best, I just need to keep looking forward and not look back. I am trying to be happy and trying to find joy, I am doing some amazing things here and I have changed a lot. I am really excited to be home in may but right now I got a lot more things to do. My companion and I are doing the right things and are trying to help others do what is right. I am not really worried about home things right now or feeling trunky! I love my mission and I love the work that I am doing. The lord has molded me into the adult I need to be for my future. I love you all and hope you have a great week, be safe and keep me in your prayers always! I look forward to next weeks email!

Love

Elder Loren James Miller

You thought I was never coming back...

Well I definitely should get the worst big sister of the decade award. It has been MONTHS since I updated Elder Miller's Blog, but guess what?! He comes home in like 2 months! How incredibly exciting is that!? WOOHOO! So lets see here perhaps we should do a bit of catch up. Hopefully I can get you all caught up quickly so you are all up to speed with him.


Nov. 1st 2010
Dear Family,
Well Halloween has come and gone, thank goodness its over, because I just am not a huge fan of halloween espeically on my mission. Now that it is November the weather is cooling down and it is really pretty with the fall leaves falling and being right next to the Temple it is so nice. I sent you an email with the T-shirt sizes and I am pretty sure they will all be suprised by the shirts. About the whole Disneyland thing, it is all good, I really dont mind at all, just be safe in your travels. I think it is best for the little ones to go experience the whole disneyland experience. I am having the time of my life here in Spring so don't worry about me having fun or being left out.

It is Emily's birthday this week! The next one she has, I will be there! I can't believe that it is November already, it seems like it was just yesterday when I got to Waller and it was June.

It is so much fun with Elder T, We get a long really well and we had a pretty good week, we found two new investigators and we have gained a lot of trust with the members of the wards we serve in. We had a good talk, Elder T and I about companionship unity and working hard. The talk was very helpful because it helped us stay on the same page. One of our new investigators name is v, elder T talked to him on the street before I got here a couple weeks ago. We had an appoinment with him last saturday but he couldn't meet so we met with him this past saturday. We gave him a pamphlet on the restoration when we first met him, so he read it before we met with him the other day. What was interesting is that he told us he read through it and told us that his mom actually investigated the church years ago. He said he found two copies of the book of mormon in his house and actually read a little bit. It is so crazy how the Lord leads us to people that are prepared because Elder T and I feel that he has been prepared. Hopefully we can take a spanish speaking member with us so we can invite his mom to learn more about the church.

That is a pretty cool experience you had with trick or treating, I think that you have done a great job recognizing when a missionary opportunity occurs, how to respond to it. Keep praying for missionary opportunities, I really think our family is really becoming member missionaries. I think that if every active member of the church chose one person, either inactive,less-active, or nonmember and set goals to bring the gospel fully into their lives, the work would move forward and we would see more and more converts or re-activation. It was really powerful this week to read my line of authority and to realize that the Priesthood is here on the earth and it will never be taken away. I am grateful to be apart of that line of authority in which it came from the lord himself.

I thank you for the sonic money and the money in the mail last week, I really appreciate it all. I am losing weight and fitting better into my clothes again. I am glad I left waller because Thanksgiving would have been crazy to be out there. They feed you like crazy out in waller and we never ride bikes or go to the gym so it is hard to work off the food.

I hate being sick on a mission because it definately slows down everything. I hope everyone who is sick feels better and that your all safe. We are really working hard here in our area and enjoying the fruit of our hard work. This area is unique, the members are the source of the conversion of people and so we have to help them find people. I have learned a great deal of patience and diligence in the past few months, when we work hard and we do what is right the spirit is with us and when the spirit is with us many good things happen!


I am grateful for the call and decision I made to serve a mission, this will spring board my life to greater heights. I have a testimony of the first vision, it happened and I do not doubt the events that followed. The restoration is still unfolding to this day, we are led by a prophet I know that is called of god, the priesthood is here and is the authority given to man to act in the name of god. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that the pages hold key words and passages that can change lives. I testify that God lives and his church is here and I am grateful to be a member and a messenger of it. Thanks for being my family and being sealed in the temple for all time and eternity, it has been such a comfort for me to know that we are together. Be safe and thanks for all the prayers.

Love Always

Elder Loren James Miller


Nov. 8th, 2010

Well it was a pretty rough week as far as the work is concerned, but things are looking up and I am pretty excited about what is to come. Elder T was sick most of the week and a lot of our investigators have been missing in action and we need new investigators. Most of the investigators we have are not progressing at all and I really want to drop them and I don't think that would go well with Elder T. We did how ever find out that a son of a Recent convert wants to be taught and baptized. His siblings and his mom were baptized the past few months but he wasnt interested at the time. B has been going to seminary and to church regularly. B actually stood up for the church on a recent wrestling trip, a teammate on the team stood up on the bus and asked who ever is mormon to raise their hand. There was three of them that raised their hand including B, who isn't a member!, and the teammate actually tried punching b but he missed and was later kicked off the wrestling team. The bishop of the ward said in PEC yesterday after that story was shared, "send him to missouri"! haha they could have used his courage down in missouri when the saints were being pushed out.

A lot of the members of the wards are trying their best to help us build a teaching pool. There is a lot of members working on their neighbors and friends, it was a pretty good feeling at church yesterday to have members come up to me and tell us that they are going to try and set something up with their friends. I am in a pretty hard area where people are set in their ways and are very successful where they are at. Also there is a lot of misinformation about the church in this area, for example about the temple. But for the work to move forward in the most successful way, the members are key to everything.


So saturday night we went to a family's house for dinner and we walked in and they would not turn off the TV. They had to watch TCU vs. UTAH and so I probably made a mistake but we watched a little bit of the game.
Thanks mom for who you are and the love you have for others who are not even your own children. I am grateful for the foundation and the standard you and dad have set for the future generations. I hope I can have a marriage and family like you and dad. I hope I can continue the faith exemplified by you two in my raising of my children and my marriage. I am thankful for the atonement and the savior's life, he dedicated it to us and to his father, now it is our turn to do the same. We are his children and his prized possesions, he knows us and will be there every step of the way as long as we do our best. Despite all the conflicts, the trials, and when the journey seems long, we always know that the "church is true".

I love you all and appreciate the family I come from, it has helped me on my mission so much. I am fine, take care, be safe and be grateful.

Love

Elder Loren James Miller


Nov.15th, 2010
Dear Family,
It is getting much cooler and darker here in Texas and it feels like Idaho sometimes for sure. I did get some pictures from Emily in her email to me and I think its so incredible to look at them and see how time as flown by.

The missionary work this week went pretty good, it is hard to adjust from w to K/MS wards because in W there was so many investigators and potentials. Over here its much more established and rich and people know about the church because they have lived in the area forever. But we did find a new investigator named D who we found in the weirdest way. We had an old ward list and we looked at a family's name and we decided to go visit that family. Well when we got there, D answered the door and said that he bought the house from them 8 months ago. So it was kind of awkward but we did prevail and we talked about who we are and what we do. He invited us into his house and we taught him about the restoration. He is really open and he hasn't had much religious experience in the past, he even thought about being atheist. I know that the spirit was there and it did touch his heart, because I could feel it powerfully. Sometimes we just sat there in silence as he pondered what we taught him, and thats when the spirit flowed in. We are very excited to teach him, he is looking for a direction, it was such a humbling experience to teach him how to pray, he did not know how and Elder T coached him through it.

We did start teaching B,I wasn't there because we were on exchanges. If his dad approves of him getting baptized we will set a date for early december and shoot for it with him. The MS ward is where we have investigators and the Klein ward is pretty tough right now. The K ward is a powerhouse ward, very active and very successful in the past as far as missionary work. But earlier this year they split the wards and half the area got moved into the other wards. The area has been tracted out all this year because there was really a lot of hard work put into finding. There are some members that are really working on giving us referrals so we can just pray and help inspire them to continue to work on their friends.

Elder T is really good and he is so funny, but he is very very quiet. Well we do service together a lot and do P-day together, but we study and do our own work in our areas. We do go on exchanges , but we did them already this transfer, and the groceries, we all pitch in and buy what the whole apartment needs. Each companionship is in charge of their own area and so we can't really invervene with each others investigators or ward work.

We are doing service at the temple again and actually I kind of miss doing the service at the horse stalls in W. We helped the local thrift store the other day build used christmas trees for their christmas display. It was a lot of fun and we built a huge 9 footer and those things are huge.

So I might need a new pair of shoes but I am not sure, because I have six months left and I don't want you to buy 80 + shoes that I will wear for six months. I dont really need anything else, my pants are doing fine and my coat is good! My fitness is going great and I am excited to continue to try to burn off some fat and my big belly that I built in waller. The thanksgiving plans are pretty big, we have a lot of families to visit and we have turkey bowl in the morning.

I am in the 4th quarter of my journey and I have a lot good to do still. There is so much more for me to experience and I am very grateful to serve this mission. I thank the lord every day for the blessing of serving the people and teaching the truth. It is the most rewarding thing ever and I am thrilled to be here. I appreciate all that you have taught me before I entered the MTC because it has helped me out here in Texas. I know that the gospel is true and that the heavens are open and the blessings are being poured upon us. Thanks for all that you do to support me out here and travel safe whereever you may go. I love you all so much!

Love Always

Elder Loren James Miller

Nov.22nd, 2010
Dear Family,

It is thanksgiving week and the holiday season is in full swing, which means missionary work gets twice as hard. People are way busy and out of town! But we do have 4 thanksgiving appointments and 2 turkey bowls on thanksgiving day. So I will be a blimp by the time its black friday!


I can't believe I am the next one to come home in our ward! Is my mission plaque up? Take a picture of it next time?

Speaking of christmas, is there anything you need from Houston, Texas? The missionary work here is pretty slow like I said, but we have a lot of work to do. We taught B this past week and we asked what he thought of baptism and he said that it would help him fit in. At that point we decided to hold off on giving him a baptismal date because he needs to realize that baptism is not just another thing to do on a random day. He needs to have that testimony of following the savior and being baptized by his authority. We are going to teach him this week hopefully and teach him about covenants and how baptism is the gate to the journey to heavenly father.

We had an interesting experience eating dinner at a member's house who invited their non-member friend over. Bro.C (member) asked the friend if she had read any of the book of mormon that they gave her a while back. Sis. C was like hunny don't drill her at the dinner table with questions like that. Well their friend responded and said she gave the copy back to them and is happy being catholic and her church's bible study groups. So later on we shared a message after dinner like we normally do, and we shared a lesson on the holy ghost and its role in our life. I shared Moroni 10:5, and then elder T shared Galations 5:22 and we taught the C's and their friend that the Holy ghost is how we know the truth and how we are comforted. The spirit was so strong, Bro.C shared a scripture in the bible and then their friend asked for a pen and paper to write the scriptures down. She asked me where I got my scripture from and I said the book of mormon, and she said "oh i dont have one of those,". So at the end of the evening she got back a Book of Mormon and she is very interested in reading about. It is funny how things work out by the power of the holy ghost! It was very powerful and the members were way happy!

We had zone conference last week and it was basically, a question and answer with President H. There wasn't any general authorities there or anything. I hope thanksgiving is great for you all in Idaho, be safe in that winter storm, and I hope my thanksgiving is great too!

Well I am so thrilled to be here in Spring, I love my companion and the calling which I have. Thanks for all the love and support, I am grateful for the gospel and for the opportunities it gives us to repent, to become clean, and live better. I have a testimony that god lives and his church lives as well, and that it will never leave the earth again. This thanksgiving, I ask you to be thankful for your membership in the church of Jesus christ. Everything good that has happened to me in my life is because our family's faith and beliefs. I love you all and please never forget the book of mormon, read it, no matter how long each day, it will be a guide!

Love Always

Elder Loren James Miller


Nov.29th, 2010
Dear Family,
Thanksgiving has came and gone and it was a lot of fun in Texas this year. We played in two turkey bowls and ate three dinners, it was so much fun. The first turkey bowl we played in was at K M Stadium on turf and it is K High School's stadium and it is huge. After we played for an hour at that Turkey bowl we went over to a middle school and played with another ward for another two hours! It was crazy! We ate dinner at 2 o clock and then at 430 and then had a mini dinner at 7. The food was really good but I do miss thanksgiving dinners at home.

Transfer news came saturday night and it was kind of weird this time around. I am staying in the area but Elder T is leaving. I am suprised that he is leaving and he is too because he wants to stay. My new companion is Elder C and I am not sure what to think about it. Hopefully he wants to work and be obedient, because thats something I definately need, a companion who is both of those.

That is pretty exciting about disneyland! I hope I get to see some fun pictures of the grand kids. I will send you a bunch of pictures for christmas so you can scrapbook them, and I have a lot more to take between then and now. There is actually a section in Preach my gospel in chapter 9 about family history as a finding tool. I do not know a lot about family history but I do know that it is a big hobby for people. One of the ideas preach my gospel gives us is to go to a local family history center and meet with a member to help us understand it and learn about it. When investigators get baptized, the home teachers and ward missionaries help them prepare names for temple work for them to be baptized for. It is a lot better for members to teach new members or investigators about family history because it helps create relationships that can last forever. We as missionaries focus a lot on teaching people the doctrine of the restoration, and helping them find out through feeling the holy ghost and recognizing the holy ghost.

It is incredible that Grandpa is 88! I forgot how young he is! It is getting pretty cold and dark here, which is no fun to bike in! But I am staying warm, and I am being protected on the busy roads at night. Thanks for the package and advent calendar you sent this past week! Elder T appreciates the money and he says thank you! Elder w gets home in 6 weeks! He comes home January 12th I think? I definately think you all should go down there and see him.

Well this week will be pretty interesting, we have a lot of finding to do because you can't do missionary work until you find someone to teach. Elder c and I are going to do all we can to find someone to teach. A lot of investigators have dropped us lately and now we have to rebuild our teaching pool. I thank you for your prayers and all the help you have given me! I am doing good and I am excited for another fresh start. I hope you all travel safe and sound this week and have fun and know that I am doing good. Only like 26 days until I speak on the phone! YEAY! This work is true no matter how hard it is! I love my mission and I am grateful for the lessons that I have learned from serving.

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

October

October 4th 2010-
Dear Family,
Well conference weekend has come and gone, it breezed by so fast, Ihave no idea how it could have gone so fast. It was my third generalconference of my mission which means for most missionaries, that Ihave one more general conference weekend left. I really enjoyed all ofthe talks especially Elder Ballard’s and Elder Christofferson. I hopethat dad, you enjoyed priesthood session! Priesthood Session wasfantastic and I got to watch it with my good friend Elder L. Wehad the baptism of A between conference sessions on Saturday andit was great! A has a tough time sitting still during church, usteaching him and just all the time. Right after he was baptized, hewas calm and collected during the rest of the baptism program; it isso special to see how far he has come in the gospel. Well we had interviews last week and it was great to talk to PresidentH. It was another confirmation to me that he was the missionpresident the lord called for my mission. He has helped me so muchthrough out my mission and he helped me out this past week. I have agreat feeling that I am going to be transferred on Oct. 19, I lovethis area but it just seems right. We find out next Saturday, transferinformation and I honestly hope all works out. Our investigators are doing great, not much to report besides that weare getting in with them more consistently. We are working on some less-active members as well that arestriving to come back to activity. Members are so happy to see usworking hard and trust us a lot more. There might not be a lot ofbaptisms in the next month or two but I know that there have been alot of seeds planted. Missionaries in the future will greatly reap theharvest of our work here. I am so thrilled to begin another week of work and to see people havetheir hearts changed by the Holy Ghost. This Saturday Elder Costa, ofthe seventy will speak to all three missions and I am excited forthat. I am praying that this week will commit at least two more peopleto be baptized for the beginning of November. I know that the work isso hard and I know that if only one person even is baptized, the workwill have been a success. I was told this week by President H that I have one of the biggest hearts in the mission. That I have abig heart for the work and for others around me and that really mademe feel great. I owe it to you mom and dad for all the years ofservice to others and to the lord. I am grateful for my family andfriends and love you all so very much. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’tfor you! Until next week be safe and pray always.
Love your son
Elder Loren James Miller
October 11th, 2010
Dear Family,
Well after looking at those pictures, it makes me feel so good to seehow great everyone is. Sometimes, I forget what you all look like! Itis sad I know but it has been a long time since we have seen eachother face to face. The work is well here in W, we have a lotgoing on still but some investigators are hiding from us which isreally not that good. I am happy to see a beautiful baby be blessed inour family and to see one of the fruits of the Restoration, thepriesthood, working to bless the lives of families and individuals. Next Saturday is transfer calls and I am anxious but I need to putthat on hold because I have a whole week until that night. I would love to be transferred to a Bikearea, because I need to shed some weight off and also more people aretalked to in a bike area then in a car area. But as far as towns orplaces, I would like to head out to Katy or the Woodlands, butwhatever happens it will be good with me. Katy is suburbia, and prettynew, and the Woodlands is where the rich people are but is full oftrees and hidden paved bike paths. Our investigators are doing great; we should have at least one or twobaptism at the beginning of November. Elder Costa came and also the area seventy member S. Gifford Nielson,who played football for the Oilers in the seventies. All three Houstonmissions were there and every missionary got to shake their hand whichwas pretty cool. He talked about his conversion story and not to besocial instead, focus on the people as we teach. If we are too casualthen we can let the spirit walk right out of the room as we go. Thiswas the second time in my mission that he spoke to us and he is a veryenergetic and funny man. I turn 17 months this Wednesday and I am still in awe howwonderful this experience has been and I got so much good things tolearn still. I am grateful for the email you sent me, it doesn’tmatter long or short, I just want to know how everyone is doing. Besafe in your travels, I love you all so much. I look forward tohearing back from you soon. This work is true, look at all the goodhas come out of it.
Love Always
Elder Loren James Miller
October 18th. 2010
Dear Family,
Well Christmas came a little bit early this year, transfers have cameand gone and I am heading back to S, TX. I am going to the K/M S wards which were right next door to K ward. Iam going to be living in the most expensive apartment in the missionand going to be in a half car half bike area. Which I am excited aboutbecause I need to lose some weight, and also I am going back to thatgym that I went to when I was in K. My new companion is fromCali and I know him pretty well, his name is Elder T. I have really wanted to serve with him and he is agreat guy. Iam excited to serve with him.We livewith another set of elders.I am veryhappy with the transfers. This week was pretty difficult because a lot of our investigatorappointments didn't happen because they forgot or they cancelled. Sothe other day we decided to go tract in a trailer park. After about 15 minutes we were kind of just like whatever,today isnt the day, nobody is really listening and so decided to knockon two more doors. We saw a school bus drop off kids in theneighborhood and this one girl opened up the gate to her fence in herfront yard and we asked her if we could talk to her parents. She saidalright you can come by, and we go around the trailer and we see alittle cottage house tucked in there. We knock on the door and thelittle girl's mom was so happy to see us. She knew exactly who we wereand told us that she saw missionaries two years ago ride by on bikesand wondered if they would ever talk to her. She has been waiting fortwo years now for missionaries to talk to her, and she is the only nonmember in her family. She has been through a lot in her life and wantsus to teach her and she is pretty much golden. Elder S and hisnew companion will have a great time teaching her. The lord blesses uswhen we keep fighting the fight and work hard and dont waste time.This was an example of that, I never wanted to stop working because offailure, it just pushed me a little bit harder. I amgoing to miss w, they all love me here and there is people outhere that I will always remember. W is a small piece of heaven onearth and its because of the people, they are so open and kind. Remember how much I was involved with thescriptures? Now I finished the old testament, and the book of mormonand I am moving on and doing it again, (except the old testament, thatwas a beast). Well this might be my last area that I go to, so I pray that I mayfinish strong and go out with a bang. I have worked so hard, and Ihave done the best I can, but I know I can do better. I know that godlives and that his work is not supposed to be frustrating and that theholy ghost is the abosolute best companion to have. It will the bestcompanion I will have on my mission because when I have it miracleshappen. I love you all so much and pray for you day and night, pleasebe safe in all you do and I am happy to represent you and the lordeveryday.
Love Always
Elder Loren James Miller
October 25th, 2010
Dear Family,

Well I have moved to a new area, I am now in the S area again, this time next door to my old area. I cover two wards, the M S and K Wards. These two wards very active wards and after meeting a lot of the members yesterday, these two wards are pretty cool. The work is rather slow right now, the teaching pool all got baptized the last few months but it is all good, things will work out. This area is simple, members are the major source of investigators and baptisms, either part member families or member referrals. I got sick this week, battling allergies/cold stuff but I am finally getting over it and working hard. We go to the gym I once used to go to and we ride bikes every other day so I should be losing some weight.
Elder T is so much fun and I love him so much. He is a big teddy bear of a guy and loves kids and the youth of the wards. Everyone in both wards just love him and want us to come over all the time. The other Elders we live with are pretty good guys, Elder K is from UT. His companion is Elder S is from Missouri.I am learning a lot from them.

It was a pretty sad day last monday night, I had dinner with the L family and they gave a going away present. I love that family, they have helped us out so much in W and I was sharing a lesson with them on Mosiah 3, which is probably the most detailed account of the atonement in my opinion. When I was reading it, I felt the spirit so powerful and I began to weep and to feel all this emotions. It was very hard to leave w but I know that it will always be there and the lord truly does have other plans for me. So usually the first week or two in a new area, everyone asks where your from and this past weekend, I loved answering that question. I am grateful to be who I am and to be where I am from.

Finally, I am getting that priesthood Line of authority, it has been on my list for a long time! It is so special to me, to know my priesthood authority traces back to the savior himself. It is such a privilege to hold the priesthood and to act in his name to perform the ordinances of salvation. I am happy to represent our family out here and the lord, this is his work and it will not be frustrated. I am blessed to know all of our family is doing so great! Please remember to pray and to give thanks for the help I have received out here. Have a great week! I love you all.

Love

Elder Loren James Miller

September

September 6th, 2010‏

Dear Family,
Well this week we did find out about transfers and I am staying putwith Elder S for another six weeks. I am very excited about it because there is a lot of good things happening and we actually having a teaching pool. The BBQ has propelled the area and it gave membersconfidence in inviting people to do stuff. Speaking of the BBQ, it wasa blast and there were more non members than members there. We have afew good potentials and a lot of good feedback from the guests at theBBQ. We were there from 9 AM to 4 pm and we were wiped out for therest of the day. It was hot and in Proselyting clothes, it just getsworse with a tie. Everyone was having a good time there and Iparticapated in the watermelon seed spitting contest. I didnt do sogood but it was fun and also elder s got 4th place in thejalepeno eating contest. He got really sick the rest of the day andhis face was completely pink and just was way out of it. It wasprobably the best thing for this ward out here because it helped themunite and work together and be involved with other's lives. L is doing good and we have a lesson with him tonight. He willprobably get baptized in the beginning of october or at the end ofthis month. He studies out of gospel principles, joseph smith manualfrom last year and the book of mormon. The lord has definatelyprepared him for us to teach and help him. We are working with an Inactive member who I think Ihave told you about, his name is E, and he is a RM.He told us that he is pretty excited to watch thegame tonight and he is rooting for Boise. I wish for just one night I canwatch a football game, but I know that obedience is the price forblessings out here. We are pretty busy tonight anyways so temptationwont be a problem. I can't wait to watch some football with Stellar and dad.I have pictures from the Waller BBQ and I willsend them to you soon.Well I am grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives and I am so happyto be who I am. I have about 8 months left and I have to lengthen mystride and finish working hard. Time is flying by, but that is becauseI have lost myself for the welfare of others, the heat doesn't matterto me anymore because the people need us. The book of mormon is theone thing that has gave me a boost of spiritual power and has broughtme so much happiness in times of afflictions. Never take that powerfulwitness for granted, it is something that saves lives. I hope that youhave a wonderful evening watching the heart of boise on the nationalstage. I love you all so much and pray for each one of you everyday! Love always Elder Loren James Miller

September 13th, 2010
Dear Family,
Well it was a pretty interesting week and we had a big week as far as our teaching goes. The Boise State game was very much a jumpstart to my happiness, I had members invite me over to watch it but I declined. A lot of members watched it and said that Boise State might be too good for the Mountain West and that Kellen Moore is something special.
That BBQ is still causing much good in the Waller ward, oh man we have non members coming to church with their family members who are members now. We have a couple members telling us to go talk to their friends who went to the BBQ. The spirit of missionary work and unity is really radiating in this part of Texas. So we got ourselves this past 6 new investigators! None came from the BBQ, all came by our finding efforts and our faith! So we went to an inactive member of the church's house and she is the only member of her family and her husband used to be kinda ANTI and he has warmed up a lot in the past few years. So we go over there and knock, she isn't home but her 22 year old daughter answers and lets us in and three of her other kids were there as well. We taught all of them and they all agreed to be taught. It was just kind of funny how that happens, we had no idea they had kids at home and so the lord blessed us there. Another new investigator couple we found through old records in our area, they haven't been taught in two years and so we taught them and the wife knows that joseph smith is a prophet and that the book of mormon is true even before we started the lesson. The husband I think feels the same way, I am not sure because they speak only spanish! haha. So they are solid and we are going to really work hard with them and prepare them for baptism.


An interesting experience happened this past week, E, who is inactive, coaches at the high school and his team had a game on friday. A member told us that we should get permission to go to the game to support evroy and we thought it was a good idea. We called President and he told us that we could but there is risks involved with it and that we should pray and ponder about it. So Elder S and I did and we just felt that it didn't feel right and that heavenly father has something for us to do or someone for us to teach that needs us. We called and told President H this and he told me on the phone that he trusts me and that he knows we are making a good decision. So we went out knocking on a random street that afternoon at like 4 pm, friday. Instead of doing something else that would allow us to go to the football game later so we worked on a street nearby another street where we have contacts. So the first door we knocked on, we did the door approach that Elder K taught us that works and the lady told us to come back next week. So a couple doors later, a guy answers the door and lets us in because its too hot he says. We walk in and we talk to his dad mainly who is in his 50's and we had a great lesson on prayer and seeking to know the truth. Towards the end of the lesson, I felt prompted to ask him what his last name is and he told me, then it clicked, he is the older brother of a member in our ward. The guy's name is T and he is very open and wants us to come back teach him. I fully believe that heavenly father wanted us to meet him instead of the football game and it is such a blessing to be guided to people.


We are having a lot of success in W and I have a feeling like we are really planting seeds in this wonderful land.I am so grateful for this work and for my mission, I have been out for 16 months and I am just having the time of my life. I need to lose weight but it will come, besides that I have no worries and no doubts, this is where I need to be doing with my life. I am trying to sustain the drive and keep doing good and helping others no matter who they are. The book of mormon is true and though I was not there in 1820, Joseph did see our father and his son in a sacred grove. My mission president is called of god and knows what is best and he has been very good to me. I can't believe general conference is right around the corner and the lord's servants will speak to us again. How great and marvelous is this gospel! I pray that you are all safe and sound, travel safe and be the best you can be.

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller


September 20th, 2010
Dear Family,

So I have to say that the letters were pouring in from family members and others this past week and it has truly been crazy to get stuff each day. I really have to say thank you for asking people to write me. It kind of made my companion a little upset, but he got over it when he got some mail on saturday. I sent an email to Elder and Sister S with my notes from Elder Kikuchi, hopefully that will help them out. I really loved the Boise State shirts, the orange one didnt fit Elder Steagall because its too big but I gave it to a member who I am converting to a Boise State fan. I gave it to the member and he is an old granpa Texan, he said "gee how much do I owe ya?" " I might have to ask the bishop if I can wear this on sunday because this is beautiful". This member almost got choked up a little bit it was cool to see how appreciative and grateful he was for that gift from home.


So yeah our teaching pool, is incredible, we are having a baptism with a 9 year old who comes from a recently activated single parent home. He is going to get baptized between satuday conference sessions and he has came a long way, he didnt even know how to pray or who god was 6 weeks ago, now he knows what baptism is and why he needs to be baptized, he even offers to say prayers now. We have another new investigator as well thats pretty solid, she was a referral from her daughter who is in the w ward. Her daughter called us out of nowhere last week and said hey you should go see my mom and my mom's neighbor. So we are teaching her mom and her next door neighbor but her next door neighbor is an inactive member who doesnt have her records here. It is crazy, our investigator is helping the inactive member come back to church and the inactive member is helping us teach our investigator. We have a lot of good things rolling here in w, it is a dream, we have a teaching pool of like 7 investigators that have a few bumps in their road to baptism but we are going to work on smoothing things out. It is amazing how in a 3 month span, an area has gone from ground zero to the top of the mountain. The baptism of the 9 year old will be a great event because investigators will really feel the spirit of that great ordinance.

A lot of members out here give us peaches and canned things, people are very self-reliant and love farming. Yesterday we had an interesting experience, we were getting into our car and a lady came out of nowhere in a chevy blazer and pulled up to us and said where you elders from. We told her and she told us she taught sister missionaries how to crochet like 20 years ago and she knows members of the ward. I asked her if she can teach us how to crochet and so hopefully this can lead to teaching her! Next week we will head over to her house down the street!

I really am blessed for all that you and dad do! Well I have to get running, but I love you all so much, the gospel is important to me and is in my mind and heart. The Lord loves us , he did before we came and will love us as long as we love him. My mission has saved my life and has helped our family out so much, I am grateful for the book of mormon and the first vision, that spring day changed the world in 1820, it sure has. Thanks for all the support and letters, I have 8 months left but I know that each day matters, and each person is a child of god. I look forward to hearing how this week turns out for everyone, be good and travel safe! I love you!

Love,
Elder Loren James Miller
Septemebr 27th, 2010
Dear Family,
The Lord has definately been taking care of you all and meduring the past 17 months. October is almost here and it is gettingcooler here in Texas, I am done with summers on my mission, now tokickoff the fall is General Conference weekend which I am excited forbecause members really do stop and listen to the prophet's voice. Thisweekend will be a great opportunity for our investigators to come outand listen and go to a baptism in between sessions. Elder Holland oncesaid that 80 percent of investigators that go to baptisms of otherswill get baptized. I am excited to see some of our investigators makea leap of faith and come to a session of conference so that they cangain a testimony of the restoration by hearing the lord's servantsspeak. Many members out here told me about the success of Boise State thispast weekend. More members are starting to follow the Broncos than theBYU cougars, hopefully this isnt just a temporary thing. We had a lotof let downs this week with appointments with investigators fallingthrough but also we have an investigator who is engaged to a memberwho is going to out and teach with us. It is kind of funny to see thata non-member is more willing to come out and help us than the Eldersquorum of the ward. We will see how that goes, but anyhow, we justhave a lot of investigators that have great stories and backgrounds.We just picked up a new investigator this week who is 11 years old andshe is from venezuela and she is a niece of a member family. She is ona 5 year visa for education and trying to learn english. She hasfamily in Venezuela who are members but her immediate family is notall members. She is a great girl and told us yesterday that she feltthe spirit so strong that she wanted to bear her testimony insacrament meeting yesterday. We set a goal with her to be baptized atthe end of the month IF her mom allows her to. We had another great moment with one of our investigators this pastweek. We gave him a pamphlet about the restoration and followed upwith him a day or two later and taught him. The first thing we askedhim if he had any questions and he said to us "yeah, where can I get abook of mormon?". This man who tracted into three weeks ago,completely understands the book of mormon's purpose and he found itout on his own. That is another miracle of my mission, the power ofthe book of mormon in people's lives. If this investigator never getsbaptized within my time here in waller, but understands and feels thespirit of the book of mormon, I will feel accomplished. The difficulty about serving in Waller is the distance between peopleand the miles we are allotted to each month. We are supposed to teachinvestigators twice a week and its very challenging to teach themtwice a week. People are very busy and also there is too little timein the week. I really missspending time with the family, so I hope next summer I have time towork and spend time with family. Well I am very happy to hear about all the good things happening inthat end of the country. I am doing great and I am working hard tobecome better each day, and my mission had definately changed the wayI work with people. In closing I leave you my testimony of this gospel and of therestoration, another great fruit of the restoration is generalconference. I wish I would have been more appreciative of generalconference earlier in my life but I guess that is what the lord hadplanned for me. I still have great memories of saturday sessions andmom turning on conference in all parts of the house, while she cleanedor did other things. No matter what room we were in we can here thevoice of the lord, I ask you to take advantage of conference weekend,and please pray and ask for guidance before the conference sessions.Be together and write down everything! I love you all so much and I amgrateful to be a member of a great family who loves me so much.
Love Always
Elder Loren James Miller

I want to apologize, but that wouldn't be enough...

Here are Loren's August Letters- enjoy!


8/02/10
Dear Family,

Well I am so happy to be back in a two man companionship, the three man thing was not fun! I am having a lot of fun learning and working in the spanish community! Elder S is really cool and is really helping me out a lot with spanish. Him teaching me spanish has really helped unite us together so we can teach better because when companions are not united or don't get along its hard for the spirit to be there. There is a lot of spanish people that Elder S talked to this week, it really is hard to just sit there and watch him teach them in spanish, but I am learning and paying attention to him and what they are talking about. We have so many appointments this week, we have 5 houses right next to each other of spanish families that we have appointments with in one day. The ward is really helping us out with the work and really is excited to have a dual companionship. There is a lot of members that speak spanish because of their mission and they still use it to teach the less actives so that is really good. Elder S is kind of in a culture shock because he is so used to everything in the spanish language and so it is really hard to pray at members home in english.

I am glad that you enjoyed the pictures that I sent you and hopefully I can start taking more pictures because it has been hard to find what and when to take a picture. I dont want to look like a tourist or a cameraman, I want to look like a missionary.The W ward is really focused on reactivation and retention because there is a lot of those that fell away not too long ago.

We started doing service recently for a lady that is not a member who manages a property and has her own property for her horses. Last week we cleaned out her horse stalls and picked up her corrall area a little bit. It is so hot and it was good, hard work, and I enjoyed every minute of it. August has just started and that means that I am done with July's on my mission and the summer is almost over.
I have become a consistent and diligent journal writer on my mission, and I am almost done with my second journal.Time is flying by and it is scaring me. Elder H told me the other day that getting close to the end of the mission is really scary. He goes home in October and I really am going to miss him a lot. I had so much fun with him and he is doing so good right now in his new area.

I love you all so much, I really am so blessed to be where I am at and doing what I am doing. If you could pray extra hard for me to help me learn spanish and teach people in spanish. I have a testimony whatever language the gospel is being preached in, it still brings the holy ghost to the hearts of the people. I have witnessed this the past few days when working amongst the spanish community, people are looking for that special thing, and we could be the answer to their prayers. Thanks for all that you do mom and dad, I am the person I am today because of our family.

Love,
Elder Loren James Miller

8/09/10
Dear Family,

It is very hot here and very humid like always and the barbeque pits full of brisket dont help!
This past week we taught a lot of people mostly in spanish, it is really hard to sometimes sit there and just be quiet and listen to elder Steagall teach it all by himself. We have a few potentials on the english side that are coming from members doing their own missionary work so we hope to have an english baptism and spanish baptism in the future. We have a spanish investigator that speaks english but wants to talk and be taught in Spanish. It is kind of hard to swallow but he is really a golden investigator, he reads the assignments we give him and he talks a lot. The wards out here are really stepping up and helping us out with splits, referrals, and just being friendly.
We are getting pretty busy and working hard out here and the ward's are very helpful. I have a feeling like I will get transferred in 4 weeks when transfers happen because it just feels like I am only supposed to be here to help get the trust back of the members. The area is such a beautiful area and there are some great people that I have met. But all my other areas I was there for atleast 6 months and I dont feel like I will be here for that long.
We work on the ranch in 90 degree weather on wednesdays for this nonmember who got our number from her neighbor who is an inactive member. It is very hot and we work until we are just drenched in sweat, and the lady we do the service for usually feeds us. We are really softening her heart through service, hopefully we can teach her something soon. I have accomplished my goal of having better studies by focusing on the needs of my investigators and the weaknesses of my teaching. I need to set some new goals for this month and I will hopefully put some good thought and prayer into setting them.

Well family this past week, I have witnessed a lot of tragedy in the homes of those in the ward. I have came to a better understanding that satan attacks the family especially the strong ones. One of the families in the ward is going through a divorce and they have 4 kids and they are converts of 10 years and the father was a Branch President a few years ago. There temple marriage was not honored and the father is a ward missionary and he is still coming to church and is helping us. But I can tell that he is going through the hardest thing ever and I know that he is going through much sorrow. We also got a call last night from an inactive member in the ward who was in the hospital who was assaulted by her husband. She wanted us to visit her but the hospital was so far away so we called the bishop. Mom and dad, can you please find a place or time this week and pray as a family all together. Pray for the families in the world in or out of the church who are struggling. I know that our family can help others and as long as we do what we know we are supposed to be doing, everything will work out.

I love you all, Be safe and remember the covenants we have made. I am safe and watched over, you will see me soon, and I will be the man I am supposed to be.


Love
Elder Loren James Miller

8-16-10
Dear Family,
The members around here are veryexcited for school to start because summer break gets a little old. The W ward is reallydoing some great things and we picked up two english speaking investigators last week. We have some spanish investigators and less actives that are progressing. This area is really moving forward and I owe it all to Heavenly Father, it is a difficult area and without hishelp, my companion and I would just go crazy. The members are really helping us out with people to teach and with a good direction. I think most of the nights this week, a member is going with us to teach or is taking us to go home teaching to some inactive families. In fact a old member, who hasnt been to church in a long long time, who's wife isa ctive, told his home teacher he wants us (missionaries) to come over and cut his grass for him. The spirit of missionary work is reallyg oing strong out here and I have to say it is all because the members are re-uniting themselves. There is a little activity on Sept. 4tht hat I have forgotten to mention to you all about. One thing Elder W did was suggest an activity for members to invite non-members to.Well the ward mission leader ( the realest texan I have ever met) took hat idea and ran with it. He has organized a bbq, I mean like this is omething that I have never seen organized before. He has been having embers sign up for items the pasttwo months to bring to the bbq. I mean there is going to a flat bed trailer size bbq pit, there is goingto be brisket, chicken, stuffed jalepeno eating contest, water melonseed spitting contest, tug of war, hay rides by tractor, pinatas, tonsand tons of food. This thing is not just some potluck, this is like aprofessional party. Members were a little hesitant at first to thisbbq, but now the bbq is going to be a huge success because throughthis the ward has re-united. There is supposed to be about 400 peopleat this bbq most of which will be non-member friends. I will send youa flyer in the mail this week, it is going to be so much fun plus alot of hype has been built into this , the stake has its eye on it.This is a big missionary opportunity that the members are reallytaking advantage of. So to answer some of the questions you asked: I am working on the bbqskills thing, it has been crazy busy out here. My spanish skills aregood, like i can understand what elder s is teaching and whatthe investigators say, its just that I cant speak that well. Also membersdont just fix a meal out here, they fix buffet, so we never go homewithout leftovers. I really hope President transfers me to a bikearea, so I can shed some pounds, it is hard in a car area to keepweight off especially in waller county.I know that HeavenlyFather has blessed me so much out here and that my mission has builtme into a man, a disciple of jesus christ. I know that our family isbeing blessed so much and that we needed this mission, it hasfortified our family.I am alsograteful for Elder W, he sent me a letter this past weektalking about how much his mission has been the best thing he has everdone. He finishes in 5 months or less, he is a friend to hold on to,and I grateful that we moved to Utah four years ago. Family, lovethe gospel and look at how many things, even little things, that aregood that has come into our lives. I will definately make sure thatevery moment counts and work my hardest. I love you all so much and do some good for others whenever there isan opportunity. I am safe, healthy, and protected, this is the lord'swork and he has course for me that I must be diligent and faithful tomaintain. I cant wait until next week!
Love Elder Loren James Miller
8/23/10
Dear Family,
This past week was a great one, a lot of success is happening in the W Ward. Elder S and I are doing really good and the members have recognized it. TheBBQ is coming here quickly and it is the talk of the county. I was outof the area for two days, because of exchanges with our zone leadersand our district leader. In fact I went back to the S Branch areafor a day and it was really weird. It felt like I went back and droveby a old house we used to live in. I was really happy to return to w though because we have a lotgoing on out here and we are busy. We are going to have a baptism in a few weeks with our investigator M, he is the son of a member who used to live in w. He islike 32 and is really spiritual and loves talking the gospel inSpanish but he does speak great english. He reads the book of mormonreading that we give him and he even does the cross references witheach verse. Also we are going to start working on some englishspeaking member referrals that are promising. This week we have a lotof appointments on both sides of the area. Also this week we have zoneconference and Elder Kikuchi is going to be speaking to us for a longtime. He has asked us a month ago to memorize the standard of truthquote by joseph smith and D&C 4. I thank you dad for always pushing usin young mens to memorize that and recite it each week. I hope youstill have it memorized dad. I really need to start losing some weight out here because we get fedso much and we are in a full car area with no gym near by. I am tryingto run each day so hopefully that will start to progress. I dontreally drink any soda anymore, mostly water that we get for free frommembers that have water purifyers. It is really really hot down hereso I be thankful for the weather up there. It is football season and Icant even imagine doing two a days in this humidity, oh man that would be crazy.I love you all that read this letter, be an example to others andbe the best you can be. I have came a long way and it is because ofthe gospel of jesus christ, nothing else has influenced me more. Thereason why we are having success in life is because of christ andbecause of our obedience to his laws not our own wants. I am having ablast and I am safe and well taken care and I can't wait to hear backfrom you next week.
Love
Elder Loren James Miller
8/30/10
Dear Family,
Well this past week we had a great opportunity to hear from anespecial witness of Christ. Elder Kikuchi came and gave a phenomenal zone conference and our mission definitely needed it. The meeting wasabout 8 hours long and we got a lot of help for our teaching and ourfinding methods. He talked about how we need to slow down in ourteaching and let the Holy Ghost be there and speak as well. He emphasized how important the story of Joseph Smith is and how we needto teach it slow and sincerely. He told us that obedience to keepingthe morning schedule is our tithing to lord so he can pour out theblessings from the windows of heaven. He told us we need to have ourown sacred grove experiences in our prayers. He also taught us aboutthe different experiences he has had in reactivating and sealingfamilies. He mentioned the families in Idaho and after zoneconference I went up to him and told him that I am from Idaho.Elder Kikuchi taught us other ways to approach people and ElderSteagall and I have tried each one since conference and they all work! The Waller ward is getting really jazzed up for this activity thisSaturday and we are going to have a little booth with informationabout what we believe. Our ward mission leader in the W ward isamazing and he is like Captain Moroni, not kidding at all. He gets thejob done and is a leader and really is restoring the W ward.Members are really doing a lot of missionary work out here by invitingtheir friends to come to the BBQ and paving the way for gospel topicsto be discussed. It is going to be weird after the BBQ, because thisall that anyone talks about out here. This past week members evenbought us groceries and have helped us with rides into C for district meeting. We live in the middle of nowhere but we aredefinitely making some noise. We have a good teaching pool ofinvestigators and tonight we are teaching someone who is prepared tobe taught. We are teaching L tonight, he is a teacher/soccer coach at W HS and a year ago he noticed something different about one of his students who are the member who introduced us to him. Thatmember gave him a book of Mormon and invited him over to the family’shouse for FHE a lot. The whole family has taken him in andfellowshipped him and he has been to the singles ward every Sunday thelast 2 months in C. He knows the Book of Mormon is true and thechurch is true and he is a great guy. So I am excited to teach in English!! Haha, by the way Idid bear my testimony of Joseph Smith in Spanish in a lesson! Crazyhuh! We are very busy this week leading up to the BBQ and also thisSaturday night we get transfer calls. I am really nervous because Ithink I might be leaving because I was in my first two areas for awhile and I just have a feeling about it. But whatever happens I love W and I don’t mind staying!I love you all and I am doing great, the lord isproviding ways for things to get going in this area. I have reallystrengthened my testimony of the first vision and the reality of it inmy life. Everything in my life that has been good comes from thegospel and Joseph Smith’s visit from the Father and the Son. Takeadvantage of the time now to study Joseph’s vision and ponder it. All is well here in Houston, I look forward to hearing from you nextweek and I pray for each one of you everyday in my sacred grove.
Love Always
Elder Loren James Miller

July

July 6th, 2010
Dear Family!

This past week was pretty good, patience has been the key in this area because there was a huge problem with the missionaries out here earlier this year but then Elder W came in and white washed trained and so when he got here he started from ground zero. Elder w is getting pretty trunky, he is more trunky than elder M but he is still obedient. He is ready to go home and it kind of weird to him that his mission is over. The holiday was good, we went to a party hosted by a member who had like 30 non members there so it was pretty good. We had to be in our apartment the past three days at 730 pm.

When I get home from my mission I am going to be cooking real good haha. Everyone out in w loves to cook and they are going to teach me. They dont use any BBQ sauce out here, they just season it and smoke it in a metal barrell pits.

So I have came to a conclusion that I dont like the commercialized form of the 4th of July. I dont like fireworks, I like celebrating our free country and all that but fireworks are kind of ridiculous. They just dont do anything for me and I am glad that I am a lifeguard of some sorts.

The heat is not too bad and today we are doing service for a part-member less active family today on their property. The other person we do service for is a non member that lives across the dirt road from the place we are doing service today. We usually cut branches and help him on his property with his trees and vines. Today I think we are helping this less active member clean up horse doo doo and clean the horses or something. Teaching is okay, again we are starting from ground zero and the w ward has a lot of less actives that they need us to focus on. In the f ward they have a lot of Do not contacts and active members but we do have a less active samoan family we are working on which the dad is not a member. They are a great family and we are going to have dinner with them this week at an active members house that we set up. If the ward fellowships the dad and helps him and be his friend, I think he will get baptized in the future.

I have about 10 months left and time is flying by.

Thanks mom and dad for all that you do and I love you so very much. I am safe and fine and will be okay, I am learning a lot of things that are so essential that I couldn't get anywhere else. The gospel is true and the work in which I am a part of is special.

Love

Elder Loren James Miller


July 12th, 2010
Dear Family,

I am doing great and Elder w is trunky! Haha we are doing really well and a lot of people out here are really bummed that elder wood is going home. He is a really good guy and is really converted to the work and not lazy or crazy. Patience is the key to everything, I have advice for anyone that is preparing to go on a mission, MASTER chapter 6 of PMG, which is about Christlike attributes, if you dont work on any of them then the work will be hard and miserable. Setting goals to work on a christlike attribute is something that I have done each transfer, and Heavenly Father usually gives me the best companions to work on them with. I have had some that have tested my patience, charity, faith, obedience, and hope. But they taught me how to endure in each one of those attributes and I am very grateful for that.

This past week we have been having a lot of success with the Less-active or Inactive members and are working hard to get them into the possible idea of coming back to church. We had dinner with the M family at an active members house that we set up to help fellowship the family. It was a huge success and both families are really great for each other and hopefully this will help the family fit in with the ward. Also we are working with E, he is a inactive member who's family lives in the ward and they are all active except him. He is so cool though and we are making some progress with him, for being inactive he says we can come by anytime. In fact his girlfriend who lives in the neighborhood joined the church 4 months ago and she is working on him to so he can come to church with her. E comes from a great Jamaican family and through their patience he will come back.

We had a crazy sunday school class yesterday, it is the gospel principles class for returning to activity members and investigators. But before sacrament meeting that day a member came up to us with a referral but she didnt want to bring him to church because of the gospel principles class is kind of crazy because they talk about deep doctrine and political stuff. So this member had her other family members take him to the singles ward. It is pretty sad and so we told the bishop about everything and also our ward mission leader made it clear how crazy things are getting in that class.

Besides the crazy gospel principles class, the people out here are great and there is a lot of long time members in the ward. Elder B comes home during the second week of august! it is so crazy! I remember at his farewell saying goodbye to him and telling him I wont see him for three years and now he is almost finished.

Remember Elder Kikuchi from the seventy? Well he is visiting our mission for zone conferences next month and it is pretty exciting. I remember he visited your stake up in Idaho a couple years ago right? Our mission will definately benefit from his visit, we havent had a general authority visit in almost a year. When Elder w goes home, I will staying with another set of missionaries in a ward nearby and one of them is from Nampa and the other one is really cool. So it will be exciting, but it will be weird to cover three wards and to be in a three man for a week.

Well this week is the last full week for Elder w and I hope I can be the companion that he would want to help him finish! We are having a BBQ like everyday this week because he loves brisket! We have one tommorrow with the M family! I cant wait! I love you all so much and I pray for each and everyone of you always. I am grateful for my mission and all that it has taught me about life, people, and the savior. I am reading the book of mormon for the seventh time cover to cover and I am doing it with all diligence and patience, it is such a powerful influence in my life, I cherish it. I hope you all will do the same. Be safe and love one another.

Love

Elder Loren James Miller

July 19th, 2010
Dear Family!

Well I really am going to need those wet naps because tonight a member who makes the best brisket is cooking up a lot of BBQ for Elder W. Speaking of Elder W, he is doing great, he is ready to go home though! He leaves in about two days. Most chicken is smoked and I just like everything about BBQ food out here because its not heavily loaded with BBQ sauce. The people out here in waller are pretty bummed about Elder w going home and so a lot of expectations for me to fulfill because he has helped this area a lot. He has been like a breath of fresh air for me because he is mature and has a good attitude.

So this past week we ate Jamaican food, Samoan food, and Liberian food! It is crazy huh! Members are from all different parts of the globe. The M had all their Samoan family there for a BBQ for Elder W and they gave him a Lava Lava haha! Sis. M mom took a look at my second helping of the food and she said to me "Elder Miller you know how to eat" and Sis. M says to her " yeah he grew up with Samoans". The whole time I was there, I was thinking about S and all the times we had, I love the samoan people and their culture. We had a inactive Liberian old member cook us food from her country and she is really working on coming back to church. We have been also working on a family the past 5 weeks that I will not give up on until I leave this area. There is something about them that radiates future eternal family, their names are the e's, they are inactive and live down the street from us. They would come to church but sis. E never really had a testimony when she got baptized and Bro. E doesnt want to go to church alone. They have a son who is 11 I think who is not a member and they go to the catholic church because his wife feels comfortable there. 4 weeks ago Bro. E kind of shewed us out of his house because he didnt have time, and was not intesrested. Over the past few weeks we have visited them on their doorstep and this past week we stopped by later in the evening with their home teacher that they have never met because they avoid him. When we pulled up to the house, they were working on putting dirt on their driveway, so we rolled up our sleeves and worked with them that night in proselyting clothes. It was a great opportunity for their home teacher and them to get to know each other. We went by on saturday morning and helped Bro. E some more, and our relationship is really good now. Last night we stopped by and he invited us in his house and gave us a tour of some of his household projects, and he told us that we can come by anytime and he said we can teach him and his family. I know that if we keep serving them with the love of christ, they will come back and stay, not waver and go off the path.

This past week we got news about some changes to the missionary program worldwide, nothing is being replaced just some elements of the PMG is being more pushed for us to work on specifically. It is called the simplified curriculum, and last week the zone leaders and district leaders all met and had a three day training on it, its that big, it will start to be taught in the MTC in May 2011, because they want the missions to be fully going on it. Mom and dad this is an answer to my prayers because I have been worrying about my teaching skills lately and about my success as a missionary. But this church is built on continuing revelation, so this new revelation on missionary work is from God and I know the lord is helping me with this. The book of mormon is what I am going to teach out of when teaching the lessons, because it is crucial for an enduring conversion for converts. Most people know about the bible but many have no idea of the power of the book of mormon in helping people draw closer to christ.

I will take more pictures of BBQ's and tell you who my new companion is next week and I am so grateful for all the support from you guys. This work is great and I am learning such valuable lessons that a college or a job couldn't give me. This is what I am supposed to be doing and where I am needed, thanks for everything. I love you all so much, please keep praying for me and the missionaries and for your missionary work.

Love

Elder Loren James Miller

July 26th, 2010
Dear Family,

Well transfer calls came on saturday and it wasnt like the previous transfer calls where all I cared about all day was the call. I was very calm and confident with President's decisions and I did not worry about anything. So I am staying in w (not suprised!) but I am getting Elder S, he is a spanish speaking missionary so we will be doing a TEX-MEX companionship haha. This is a big blessing to the area because there is a lot of spanish people who are not members or are inactive. Elder S entered the MTC the same day I did so we will be leaving together next may, and he is from Bountiful. But I served around him in S Branch because he covered the same area but was one of the spanish elders. He is a pretty cool guy and it will be fun to try and learn a little bit of spanish from him.

This past week I said goodbye to Elder W, It was pretty hard to say bye because he was just such a cool guy. He really is enjoyable to be around and always made an awkward situation pretty funny and he was an amazing teacher! So after he left I worked mostly with the W Elders, and there area is about 20 miles from my apartment so not a lot of work got done in W. But they have a lot of great investigators and it was great to teach them. In w it is pretty slow as far as investigators but we will definately pick up with the spanish speaking missionary coming in. Also this week I had my fist encounter with Texas fire ants, we were doing service for an investigator in the other elder's ward and I was mowing the lawn and all of the sudden my ankles just felt like someone was squeezing them so tight. I looked down and there were like 20 fire aunts crawling all over my feet and legs, and oh boy they hurt so bad. It was kinda funny I guess because the other elders said I did a funny dance trying to shake them off! haha

I served with Elder H from Spanish Fork, UT. The other missionary I was with is Elder W from Nampa, Idaho and he went to nampa high school. It was great the past few days to serve with them and to get to know them and work as a trio.


Preach my gospel is a fruit of continuing revelation which our church is so blessed to have. We have the heavens open and guidance of a living prophet and he teaches us the things we need to know to be a better follower and doer of the gospel. Preach My gospel is something that will stick with my life forever, and I just could not be where I am as a missionary without it.

When I was being interview by my stake president at snow, he told me about how a mission is the best thing for a family to come closer together. I believe that this two year journey I am taking is going to be the base of my life forever and will be a journey that will be taught to our future generations because it has changed each one of our family's lives. It means the world to me to represent Jesus Christ and his church and as well to wear our family name "Miller" on my chest. THanks family, for all that you do and for the love and support you have given me, I am so well taken care of. I know that this work is true and that the news of the restoration is spreading like wildfire and that through the atonement more people will be happier in the times to come than from any other source. Keeping pressing forward and doing the best you can do! I love you and am happy to hear about all of the success and changes that are good in our lives. Cant wait till next week! Be safe!

Love your son

Elder Loren James Miller

These last few letters have been so fun to read from Loren, he seems so happy, and sounds like he is LOVIN' the country life(which includes lots of bbq.)We are all a little curious to see if he comes home with a pair of cowboy boots on.I have also really loved seeing these great pics of him too!

June 28th-
Dear Family!

Waller was great this week, we are trying to get in the groove of things out here. We are working on a lot of less actives and part members out here, tracting wont get it done. My companion is great, he leaves here in 3 weeks or so and I have to learn a lot more about the area but I will be fine. It is getting hotter and hotter out here and the summer is definately here. We have been doing a lot of service out here in the heat but we are getting plenty of water so no worries.

I feel like I am breaking the word of wisdom out here, haha, by eating so much meat! We have BBQ every day and they know how to cook it out here. Its all about coals, wood, and cut out all the oxygen and you let the meats smoke. I have come to love Brisket, it is a texas thing out here, and we dont use any sauce out here because its all seasoned up while its cooking. For 4th of july we will have church and meetings then probably have dinner with a member and be in by like 7 because people can go a little bit crazy with fireworks. A tip for uncle mike and aunt sandy in Alabama, a tip to beat the heat is to drink water more than eating food, haha, it gets pretty nasty heat, also eat lots and lots of fruit, and stay away from candy or sweets.

Waller is very open and very widespread and full of cattle and horses and farming. It is pretty nice and people are very friendly and love their BBQ. Sorry to bring it up again but BBQ is the thing out here, its how people gather and get to know one another. The other night we had BBQ that was fantastic but we had it the next day too, so i hope i dont get tired of it.

The other day it hit me really hard that my mission is on the downhill and with the way things are going so fast, I will be home quick. It is already the end of june and so I am done with june's on my mission! So you want me to tell you all I can about my new area, well I have told you a lot already but yeah we dont have any investigators except in the F ward, we have a part member family we are working on. The wife and the kids are members but the dad is not, but however we did have a major breakthrough, we got him to come out and play volleyball with the elders quorum last week, something Elder wood has been working on for a couple transfers now. Bro. M (investigator) has been taught by the missionaries before and we are working with the ward to fellowship him so it would be easier to teach him with fellowship because I think that was the problem with him in his last ward he was in.

Well family all is well, I have a lot of pictures to send you and I want you to see the cool country living in Waller. So i best be fixin to do that right now haha! I love you all so very much and hope that you are making the book of mormon a priority in your daily schedule, it will improve every thing I promise! Be safe this week and I look forward to the news of next week! Also dad, is leBron with a new team yet? Hows Boise state? anything new? But you can answer those questions next week, thanks for everything family, my mission is the springboard to the rest of my life! I know that everything good that will happen to me in the future, will come from this two year service to the lord. Love you!


Love

Elder Loren James Miller

June 21st

Dear Family,

Greetings from Waller county, TX and I am so happy to know that you got the package right before Fathers day. I actually kept that hat for a long time, and I almost thought about leaving it in Spring. But I chose to do what I originally planned and send it home, I am so happy to be in the country! It is so beautiful! We cover like 4 little townsand we cover a huge but rich subdvision in the Fward. There is so much country folk mixed with humble people and lots of BBQ! Oh man I have had BBQ everyday this week, out here in waller they know how to cook some good ol brisket, sausage, pork, and chicken. In fact the ward is putting on a huge labor day weekend BBQ for the whole county basically, so the ward members can invite their friends to come to it. Whenever we work in the F ward though we bike but it is no biggy to me because biking there is so nice because its all connected with bike trails. We do service at a non-member's who is a rancher and rodeo guy and he has horses and has a ranch, it is pretty cool.

My new companion is Elder W, He is very laid back and very calm and is really experienced.He actually goes home a week early than when he is supposed to so he could go to a family reunion/ festival in his little town. So I have to learn the area in 5 weeks and get to know everyone, It will be a challenge but I will be fine. You know that question about killing off companions can be answered easily, it is because President is inspired and has been set apart by the Prophet to lead the missionaries here. Elder w is a lot of fun and I am grateful to be his last companion and to serve with him. President when making transfer decisions goes to the temple and meditates and recieves inspiration in the lord's holy house. He has several transfer meetings the last two weeks of each transfer and meets with his two assistants to decide who goes where.

So I talked to the sister missionaries who took elder m and my spots in k ward and they are doing really good. J will get baptized soon, actually right before we left J told us he will get baptized soon and the reason why he wanted to get baptized last weekend is because he wants to share his testimony and conversion with others. It was powerful to see this man have the faith to know and to want to share what he knows to be true. He told us when he makes his mind up on decisons he sticks with them. The sisters also said that they talked to A and her mom and they are going to start teaching them again and helping them out, which is great! Dad, I hope you know that I love you and that next father's day I will be there with you and celebrating and honoring you! Thanks for all that you have done, I wouldn't be here in Houston if it wasnt for you. Your a major part of who I am and I love you and miss being there and hanging out with you. Everything you have taught me has stuck with me and has been excellent help during my mission. I have 11 months left, and I want to make every minute count, and time is flying by so pretty soon I will be home.

I cancelled my gym membership and I absolutely love the ties you sent me mom! They are great and I am currently wearing one right now. The work is moving forward and I am loving my new area and I am really blessed. People out here in Waller will take care of me like the rest of my wards have.
Well I love you all soo much and I hope that you are safe and sound there. I appreciate dad that you are putting together your baptism story, I think of it as a treasure to me because of the eternal impact of your decision to get baptized. Be strong and pray as a family for missionary opportunities around you there in caldwell. Thanks for everything! I will be excited to hear back from you and I gotta go, we are fixin' to leave real quick hahaha (texan) .


Love your son

Elder Loren James Miller



June 13th
Dear Family!

Well Big Big news! I am being transferred!!!!!! I am being transferred to Waller, TX! It is pure country! I cannot wait! They are placing sisters here in the K and W wards, I am so excited to move on! It was such a big upset! Nobody thought I was going to get transferred! But I am and I am going to Waller and I am going to be with Elder Wood, who goes home at the end of July so I am "killing him off". This is good that sisters are coming in because they can probably connect with some people that My companions and I couldnt connect with.

So J didnt get baptized, So the transition with sister missionaries is good because they can probably connect with J's wife and instead of just him getting baptized it will be a whole family. J's is so golden, he told us he really wants to get baptized so he can be a better husband and father. He also told us that he wants to meet with the bishop of the ward and ask him for some counsel on his marriage and other things.

I am going to really miss some of the families in the wards I covered but I know that the time has now come for me to move on. I have seen a lot of people that have changed and become stronger and I am so excited for the future of J and other people we were working with. So there is a family in the K ward that are amazing and great missionary members, and I got really close with them over the past six months, and I am going to miss them. Their names are the Scardino family, they actually got me a going away present, History of the Church, which is an 8 volume set. She is sending to you pretty soon, so be ready for that and also I sent a box in the mail with some random stuff I dont have room for. Sister s joined the church 7 years ago and is amazing! Her mom is not a member and has been over at their house a lot when we have been there and we have definately helped her mom a lot by just talking to her about gospel things, nothing formal but just being a support to her. So there was a huge seed planted with Sis S's mom, which if she does get baptized in the future , I really want to come back and see. People's lives can change mom and dad by just being the person heavenly father wants you to be, it is really that simple.

So I have not much time to email, but I will have a lot more to right next week after my fist week in the country, I am just thrilled to go to Waller! I love you all so much, I have to go because we have to go deep deep clean our apartment for the sister missionaries who are moving in. I love my mission so much and I am blessed to be a representative of this church and of his gospel, I thank you my loving family for the support and raising me in the way that the lord would want any child to be raised. I am going to be missing some people here in Spring but change is good! Keep reading the book of mormon! It will inspire us to greater lengths and to more accomplished goals I promise!

Until next week, I love you! Be safe!

Love Elder Miller