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

May and June letters... a little late...sorry

June 7th, 2010
Dear family,

Well I was very happy to see you got those pictures, Sis C, is a great lady and her husband of 30 plus year got baptized last august finally! They are both active and looking forward to getting sealed this fall, and she is all about missionary work and helping us out.


J is getting baptized this saturday and it will be amazing, the w ward hasnt had any baptisms since it was created two years ago. The ward leadership is starting to warm up to us missionaries, but I think the underlying problem is still that there is no connection between us and the leadership, no trust or coordination. But oh well, we have worked our hardest for the ward and we hope they can welcome j with open arms. We stopped by R and taught him and he read the Restoration pamphlet and he said that he is really interested and wants to see the pictures of the twelve apostles we have today because he thinks its fascinating that there is twelve apostles again today.

The two sisters are completely out of the picture and I think that it is just going to be one of those things where we have planted a garden basically and in a few years maybe someone will go through the garden and find treasure. But it is pretty sad but we have to move forward and keep finding people.

Transfers are this weekend, well we find out what is happening with transfers, I think I will stay here for another transfer. I really dont mind staying at all.
We have a baptism June 19th in the K ward, it is m, she is 16 and her parents wouldnt let her get baptized till she is sixteen. She is golden, she was taught in December and just when I first got here. But we retaught her the past month and her parents are not interested in the gospel at all. She has read the book of mormon like 5 times and she goes to mutual every week and she has gone to church the past 9 months consistently. She is so excited and happy, a family in the ward that lives down the street and has brought her to us and to the church.

Family I love you and appreciate all that you do for me and helping me be here on my mission. Heavenly father is blessing us so much and I know that things will all work out for the good.

Love

your son
Elder Loren James Miller



June 1st 2010
Dear Family,

It is good to get the news from back home! I am happy that all is well in Idaho and Washington. This week has been and up and down week because some changes made in our daily routine.

Its June 1st today and I cant believe I have made it this far, one year to go and a lot more amazing experiences left. The priesthood fireside topic is great, that evil among us is creating divorces and bad relationships and is weakening the faith of many. Tatoos, is something that I dont understand, our investigator J has some tatoos but he is 35 and got them at 18. He told us the other day he regrets getting them and tries to cover them up as much as possible because he doesnt want his children to get them.

Speaking of J, the man is incredible, it is such a blessing to know him and his faith. He told us last week that he has lost friends and clients because of his choice to get baptized June 12. But he does not let that phase him, he is a student and a great man of obedience. He is all about obedience, that principle is the first law of heaven according to Jefferey R. Holland. So he will be a great addition to the fold of god.It is hot here in Houston! I bought a camelpack water bladder for my backpack at walmart so that will be good for the work.

This past week I had a powerful experience that solidified my testimony of the book of mormon even more. A month ago the spanish missionaries found some potentials in a trailer park and they called us and invited us to go and help one of the potentials with service on his yard. The potential's name is R and he is a lonely old man and has liver cancer. His heart was softened by the weekly efforts of spanish missionaries and us and became interested in hearing our message. So Elder M and I went over and talked to him for 45 minutes and he was so depressed and lonesome. It got to a point where he said he doesnt feel like he wants to live anymore and he was in tears. Elder M and I bore testimony of the plan of salvation and of God's purpose for each and everyone of us. I turned and got a book of mormon out of my bag and gave it to R. I told him to read this and pray about it, and I bore my testimony of the book to him. We left that day not knowing what would come from our invitation to read the book of mormon to him. This past week the spanish missionaries called us and told us that R read the first part of 1st Nephi and is interested in coming to church. On sunday R came to church and he was happy and he sat by a former senior missionary who lives here in houston, named elder C who sat by him in Sacrament meeting, He told Elder c this "if it wasnt for those 4 missionaries and this church, I wouldn't be here today!"

The gospel of jesus christ saves lives, the book of mormon is the difference maker in the work. This man was very depressed and he has completely turned his life around. It was amazing!

Family, Thanks for all that you do and I so privileged to represent the lord for two years and help him bring his children return to live with him. Continue living the gospel and being the example to others and never give up hope. I love you all and pray that you have a great week. Be Safe!

2 Ne. 4:5
Love

Elder Loren James Miller

May 24th, 2010
Dear Family,

I loved the pictures you sent me of stellar and dad on the tractor and lexie looks a whole lot older than a year ago. So this week was a very long and up and down week, we had 11 appointments fall through! But we are improving a lot more as far as ward unity and our companionship's unity.

It seems as though when we are busy, life seems to be much smoother and when things are slow, life gets kind of boring.
Our investigator pool is pretty low but we are going to try and get some more by the end of this week. Members are really working hard and we are really working hard so I know something will happen. We had stake conference this past weekend and J came to stake conference and we sat in the front row. It was probably the best stake conference I have ever been to, J said at the end that " this has solidified my decision to get baptized". At the end of stake conference President and Sister hansen, the klein stake presidency, and a number of members who dont even know who he is came up and shook his hands and said thanks for coming. J is doing amazing! The other day he called us to return our phone call because we couldnt get a hold of him all week! He quit tobacco and tea and we havent even taught the word of wisdom yet!

Mom and dad can you compile like a summary of dad's journey to being a member of the church. I just want to know what the full story is, what his thoughts were, what his religious background was before he joined the church. I just have thought a lot about him when I teach investigators because I think of how he was baptized and how that effected me being the missionary I am today.

So I had a great opportunity to go to a Sealing of a family in the Kleinwood ward this past saturday. They invited us, we visit them once in a while the past months and helped them prepare for the temple a little bit. The husband has been a member his whole life but was inactive for a long time, his wife was found by Elder W two and half years ago. Elder W knocked on her door, and they werent married at the time, but they were engaged. he was an inactive in the spanish ward. So Elder w got transferred and Elder B came in and taught her and baptized her two years ago. They are both very very active and they have a nine month old baby. Elder b came back with his parents to go to the sealing and he came to our apartment the other day and visited us. I will send you a picture of me and him next week or so. It was so amazing to be at that sealing, it was just picture perfect, that is what every missionary's goal should be, seeing a family be sealed in the temple. It was such an amazing experience!

We tract a lot now and we live in the strongest part of our mission as far as activity wise and so that brings a lot of opposition. When we tract, elder m gets all the great nice people who say thanks but were good in a gentle way. When I knock on the door I get Anti people who just go crazy on us! haha but I had a cool experience the other day, I knocked on the door of Messianic Rhabbi (I dont understand why he said he was jewish). So he said he knew our church and that he is good with his church and that we were wrong with the book of mormon. he said that I need to read Revelations 22:19, he quoted it. I just knew in my mind this guy has no idea about the bible, they didnt have a bible compiled in that time period. So i asked him if he read the book of mormon and he said a piece of it but thats all. I said back to him sir how can that be fair to say that the book of mormon is not true if you have not read it and prayed about it. He just said I am sure its a cute story with all about Joseph Smith. So I then bore down with pure testimony against him and said sir i know that the book of mormon is true and by the power of the holy ghost I have gained that witness that it is true and nobody can take that away from me. He basically shut down and said see you later and shut the door. I was like nephi and slayed laban, spiritually speaking not really physically.

The best thing I did to read the book of mormon, was have a study journal to re-write whats happening in the chapter in my own words and right down key points on that page in the study journal. Also highlight everything about christ in red! read the book of mormon for 30 minutes a day and things will get better. I am half way done with the old testament and I have the doctrine and covenants then I am done with the standard works.


Well family, I love each and everyone of you so much and I am seeing a lot of great things happening in the lives of individuals. Remember how powerful the gospel is and never forget that its not about how much knowledge you have, its about the testimony you nourish each day. I love you all so much, I am doing my best and representing our family well and hope that your love of the gospel of jesus christ will spread throughout family, friends, and neighbors. Be safe. Love you

Love

Elder Loren James Miller
May 17th 2010
Dear Family!

Well this week was a great week because I hit my year mark.
We celebrated my year mark with 3 of my MTC district members and it was so weird to look back and see how far we have all come. We went to Fudruckers and talked and had some good burgers, I am not sure if it is Holten meat burgers but still they are really good.
We are teaching a 15 year old girl named M and she has been going to church for a year but her parents wont let her get baptized till she is 16. She is golden and has read the book of mormon 5 times, she is getting baptized june 19. Our appointment with her the other night was good because we had an ex mission president go teaching with us.
I have learned on my mission that I need to be a leader and not just wait for others to do stuff. Taking the lead and being the one who sets the pace for the day is something that I have had to step up and do. But I do it with love and diligence for the work and for my companions. We also gave J a baptismal date for june 12 and his wife will be hard to get a hold of to teach. That is what we are doing is trying to set up appointments so his wife could be there. But he is doing great and doesnt have any problems with word of wisdom, tithing or other commandments. He reads the book of mormon with his heart and wants to know it is true.

It is getting pretty dang hot here and very humid, we went tracting in some trailer parks and had some fun doing that the other day. It was fun because I felt like I was on that TV show my big fat redneck wedding. But although we didnt find any investigators we still talked to a lot of funny people that didnt have any teeth! haha YeEEHAW! So anyhow we are working hard and doing our best to help both wards out and the things we discussed on Mothers day was good conversation.

I was thinking about the past year of my mission and wonder this is the fastest thing I have ever been a part of, I made it out a year! It is truly weird to think I have been out a year, I only have a year left but they say that the second year goes by faster. I am excited for the summertime though because summer is better time for people because school is out and more flexibility.

Well I love you mom and dad, lexie and emily, and everyone who reads this email so very much. I thank heavenly father for the support that he has given each one of us through this year in Houston. I still got a year but I need to savor every moment of it and keep on having faith in the lord jesus christ and be persistent. I have a testimony of the priesthood power and the great opportunity to hold it and to know of the restored gospel. I have a testimony of the book of mormon, it enlarges our memory of the saviors ministry and his infinite love for us. Please keep going strong, we have came a long way as a family and we have more to go, just "remember him" in all the hard times, when giving up is tempting, "remember him". I love you all and I am safe and sound and doing great things!

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

May 10th 2010
Dear Family,

It was a very good day yesterday because of our great conversation on the phone. I hope you know that I am safe and sound, that I am in the lord's hands.

I was so thrilled to to talk to Stellar yesterday because it was so different to hear him talk and make sentences and not be a little baby anymore. It is great to talk to all of you and have a minute or two with each of you. Just think two more phone calls and my mission is over! But lets focus on the now, haha, so we got a phone call earlier today and it was J and he wants us to teach his wife this week. His wife came with him to church yesterday and she didnt understand the sacrament meeting organization and about how we dont use the bible mainly. So J wants us to bring a sister along with us to teach him and his wife. I have a good feeling about this, it is a great opportunity to bring in a family in to the fold.

So ways that you can be a missionary is pretty simple, I would tell you ways to do it but I will give you talks to read to help you. Search these on the church website:
Dallin H. Oaks, “Sharing the Gospel,”
Gordon B. Hinckley, “Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep,”
Don R. Clarke, “Learning to Share the Gospel,”

Just know this mom, you can be a member missionary through your example and just being a friend who takes an interest in others.
Well family, I have a sure foundation of testimony that is built upon the savior, jesus christ. Remember to be grateful for the blessings, and know they you are worthy of them by the power of the holy ghost. I am loving my time here in Houston and cant wait to move forward to the next day to teach and to help others finding better faith in christ. I love you all so very much, Thank you for all that you do! Be safe, I love you all!

Love
Elder Loren J. Miller
May 3rd 2010
Dear Family!

Well the transfer news has come and gone! I am staying put with Elder M, I will be "killing him off" because this is his last transfer. I really thought I was going to get transferred but it is all good, I love the area and we work well together. This week was pretty rocky because I got the flu for two days and so we didnt teach a lot this week. K and her family are not on good terms right now so we couldnt get a baptismal interview for A and her, so their baptism is being postponed. It is completely different this week, its like they fell off of the face of the earth. We are going to be patient and I know they will be baptized! We had some great appointments that fell through but it is all good, the trials we face in the mission will lead us to success.

It is already May! I cant believe that in 10 days I hit my year mark! I cant believe it! Really time is flying by because of all the work that is involved and the dedication that is needed. The mission is hard! I am not going to hold back anything, if one is not prepared for this two year journey than it will be a long long long road. I have been blessed with great people to teach and to work with, but difficult weeks are in there too! But overall I love my mission and I love being a missionary and cant wait to wake up and do the lords work each day!

I did need new shoes but that was taken care by a great family in my area. They have a son on his mission who is the same size as me and there is another member in the ward who is quite wealthy that gave their son a bunch of suits and shoes before he left and he didnt take some with him. So the members last night show me some of these shoes and the ones they gave me are custom italian brown shoes that are way good! I am so happy that it all worked out!

This week is mothers day! I am so honored mom to have you as my mom and I am so blessed to know of great mothers in our family. I love you mom so very much! I hope you have a great week and I hope that you will be safe. Dad thanks for your emails! And yes a mission does trasform one to become a man from a boy. I look and feel different sometimes but I still am the son you raised! I love the lord and his gospel and I am not afraid to share it with those that need it! I cant wait to talk to you all on the phone this weekend! I will call on sunday around 5 o clock your time or so okay! so be alert and I will try to call dads phone! Thanks for the great support and love you all give me and I can feel it everyday as I wear the saviors name and our last name. I will save the rest for this weekend! I cant wait to talk! This is 2 out of 4 phone calls so its the halfway point! I am glad you all enjoyed the pictures! I will have more as soon as more things happen, sorry about the lack of information but being sick does damper the work from the week. I love you all!

Love Elder Loren James MIller

Well, It makes me so happy inside to read my brothers last few letters, because he is so happy! He is doing awesome and he is making a difference in people lives, and I can tell people are enjoying him. I really enjoyed the story of him talking to the man in his driveway in the April 26th letter.He sure has guts! Cant wait to read about what happens to him this week in his next letter. And I am really looking forward to Mothers Day when he will call home.
April 5th,
Dear Family,
Well it is gettin humid here in Spring, Texas. Conference is done, it was a suprising conference because of the reoccuring theme of the importance of teaching the gospel in the home. I got the easter stuff in the mail! I love the CD, it is perfect! We had a hard week of tracting and walking, we are working hard to find some investigators. Elder M and I are getting along great, he is a very seasoned missionary but he isnt lazy or trunky.
I can't believe I am almost 20 years old and I remember when I turned 12 and thinking how old I was then. But wow, 20 is a big number out of the teens and into young adult hood. I am very happy for the 20 years I have lived through, it has been a joy to grow up in the places where we lived and be around the people we were around.
Conferene was pretty powerful especially, Elder Neil L. Andersens talk and also Elder Holland did it again. Conference flew by way fast and I think it will be interesting to read them again next month and see what I missed. So in between sessions on sunday we had lunch with the Deaf Branch in our stake/zone. They had a group of like 8 deaf members and the two ASL missionaries and the Branch president and his wife. It was a lot of fun, I am learning sign language pretty good with the exposure to the ASL program. I love the k ward and I love the area. The members are very strong and active in this area, probably because we are so close to the temple. But yeah, I am turning into a gardener because of all the gardening experience on the temple grounds, its really fun service to do.

So the other day at ward coordination in windrose, our ward mission leader who has gone from unsure to solid in his attitude of his calling, he has came along way. He used to be very doubtful with his calling and now he has completely changed into someone who wants missionary work to be done the right way. at the end of coordination, he showed us the mormon message off of LDS.org, called HE LIVES! its a 2 minute movie that is powerful. I actually cried at the end because of the spiritual power it has, I would encourage you to send that movie clip to all those who need that little extra push to help them have a better day. The ward mission leader was in tears and couldnt even speak, he has a very strong testimony of the savior jesus christ.

Well mom and dad and family, I love you all very much and I hope that you have a great week, remember to be patient and diligent and remember the savior. I am having a blast on my mission, I am doing all I can to get the most out of my journey of bringing souls unto the lord.

Be safe and pray always

Love Elder Loren James Miller

April 12th-
Dear Family,

Well this week has been really great! We have a lot of potentials that we are trying to put into position of investigating. The weather was great! We are working really hard to improve the area and are putting together some programs with the wards to improve missionary work.

The work is kind of slow, but missionary work comes in cycles, for like 6 months there will be a lot of progress, then when those investigators get baptized, the work is in reloading mode of finding and member work. K and A are doing really good, keona didnt make it to church because of work:( but its been hard to get an appointment with them. We are going to call them and set something up. They are great young women, they are both strong and are developing great relationships with the ward. They have a date for may 1st, we got a few things to teach them, but we are working hard to do the best we can to prepare them! We tract a lot and actually found an investigator who we are teaching again on wednesday, we will see how it goes. I forgot to tell you that in one of my wards, a second quorum of the seventy member has his home in our ward. He lives in Brazil on assignment but he raised all of his kids in our area. He came and spoke at stake priesthood meeting two sundays ago, and he came to the kleinwood ward meetings as well. I met him and shook his hand! Well anyway we ate dinner at his house yesterday with his wife and one of his sons and his family that is staying at the house. It was really cool to talk to them about their calling in Brazil and telling us stories about traveling around and doing work for the lord.

Well, my big 20th birthday is happening this friday and I am honestly excited and cant wait but still it will be weird. I am fine with it, Houston is my home for right now, and yeah I was really bored at SNOW on my birthday. I will try and send some pictures in the next week or two because we take pictures at the temple mostly and I will send those in a few weeks okay? Thank you for sending the package, I cant wait to get it, we are going today to the mall and getting some new pants and socks, and a new white long sleeve shirt. Thank you mom and dad for all the support!
Well mom and dad thanks for the 20 years, there are so much more ahead! 11 months are down and 13 left! man time is flying by when your having the time of your life. take advantage of the gospel and study, work, pray, and ponder what you know and what you need to know. I know the savior lives and that each of us has a divine calling in this life to be the person heavenly father needs us to be. I love my heavenly father and the redeemer, I know that the book of mormon is the word of god, I have found joy in my journey from the witness of jesus christ it proclaims. I hope all is well, never forget what you know and what you can do for others. Be safe, I love you all!

Love
Elder Loren James Miller

April 26th-
Dear Family!

Well this week was probably one of the most explosive weeks in my mission. The work is booming in our area because of all the hard work and tracting we put in. We have 4 people with baptismal dates at the end of the week, also we received 6 member referrals from the K ward council. We had a guy show up to church with his less active girlfriend who wants to investigate and change his life and he is solid. We got two new investigators and taught the standard 20 lessons that we are suppose to teach week. The work is just going so well and I owe it all to my heavenly father for the blessings of this gospel. We are getting members excited, we are having fun, and we are sweating out the days. It is getting pretty hot but its all good when we are teaching like crazy. Elder M and I are doing so good in this area, we definately have heavens help.
We had interviews this past week and it was pretty good, mine was a really long one, and President was very helpful. I have a great love for President H, I dont know if I would still be out here if it wasnt for his counsel and instruction over the past 11 months. He told me how much I have changed and how I am completely different missionary. He says that I have a lot of good leadership skills and that my companion said a lot of good things about me. I definately believe that there is a purpose for President H being my mission president, he is called of god and we fit right together. This week is transfer announcements, honestly I have no idea what is going to happen. Either I stay in a great area and be the last companion to elder M before he goes home or I go somewhere else where the lord needs me.

So we were tracting the other day and we walk up the sidewalk with a RM who was helping us. And we see an old guy reading a book and we talked to him and invited him to learn and he started off talking to us about what Mitt romney said in a debate. He was talking about Mitt romney saying that mormons are christians and how that ruined his presidential campaign. Then he just went off on us, saying how we are trying to be like the rest of the churches and trying to compete with other churches for attention. . Then he got on the topic about how we are wishy washy type of religion, because of the blacks and the priesthood thing. Then the spirit helped me put an end to it. I said exscuse me sir, can I say something, the whole conversation stops. Then I said to him " Sir, I cant feel the spirit being here in your driveway, if you dont mind I am going to move on". So I walked away down the driveway and my companion and the RM were shocked. Family, I have to say when there is a lot of good there is a lot of opposition. People dont like us and dont believe we are christians. It is shocking, but it is definately a sign of an apostasy actually occuring in the history of time.

We got news that K and A want there baptism to be on the 8th of May not may 1st. It is all good with me as long as they are baptized and recieve the holy ghost. J is going to get baptized may 22, but he didnt come to church yesterday so we will have to see.
This week was amazing and now this next week we will put our shoulder to the wheel and find more people to teach. Thanks family for all that you do, I love you and miss you so much. Be safe and read the book of mormon, it is the great harvesting tool for us. I am so happy where I am and I am excited to be the person I am today. But I know I am not perfect, I must always be improving and work towards being a better servant because the gospel helps be the person that Heavenly father has designed for us to be. I will keep you all in my prayers! Thanks for everything! Love always!

Love your missionary

Elder Loren James Miller

March 22nd
Dear Family,

Well transfer news was delivered and some big news, I am staying and Elder H is leaving. Elder H is going to be a district leader somewhere else.I am staying and getting Elder T, he has only been out for 3 months and I will be his second companion, which means I am going to be senior companion and I am greeny breaking him. Greeny breaking means to be the second companion to someone and make them not a greeny anymore. I have no idea who Elder T is because he is coming from College Station, and that area is like 1 1/2 hours away from here. It will be a lot of stress but it will be worth it totally! I am really going to miss Elder H,but he is needed and will do a great job.

So last week was a big week for us! We taught two teenage girls who are friends with some youth in the W ward and they are totally golden! Their names are K and A, they are sisters and a member who is a senior in high school who is in some after school stuff with them read the whole lessons of PMG to them and gave them a book of mormon before we even met them. So a few days later we taught them again, but the night before we got a call from our zone leaders saying that they are going to help us out with something. We were thinking that we were getting some supplies or something but, they said that President H is going to go teaching with us to the second appointment with K and A! So President H called us and we went teaching with him to the girls' house. Oh man, it was an incredible lesson, I extended the Baptism date for the end of april to the girls. They are so committed to the gospel its incredible! This will be the first baptism in the W ward's two year history! It is crazy! We have been working so hard and we got two solid investigators!

So after the appointment, President was praising us for our teaching and I was like oh man this is different! Haha, but the other day we went to a funeral of a Ward Mission leader in one of the wards around us who owns a BBQ restraunt in our area, he was incredible man, he died on the golf course which is his favorite thing to do. He even taught President Eyring a few years ago how to golf,and he went with his ward's missionaries to teach a lot of investigators and he would always convert them by his powerful teaching and testimony. He is a convert of like 40 years I think, he loved the gospel and thats all he talked about on the golf course, he love to work in the temple, he was 100 percent home teaching his whole life. He even went to his families' childrens baseball games and different events in their lives. He was probably the best member missionary and he loved to feed the whole mission during zone conferences and other things. It was a huge blow to this mission and the C ward. He will be truly missed, he gave himself to the lord and I know now that he is definately teaching others on the other side of the veil the missionary lessons.

We got a ride with President H to the funeral and afterwards we were getting in the car to go back home. President puts his arm around my shoulder and like kind of puts me in a headlock and is like Elder I just love teaching with you. I feel that president knows me so much better than before because of that teaching moment we had.

Well I am really happy that your trip was great! You are SOOOOO lucky to go to washington, give the babies hugs and kisses. I truly miss them very much! Well mom and dad I love you so so much and dad happy birthday and I love you. You are my best friend and I look forward to the day I return and we can do the things we use to do. Mom, time is flying by but your baby boy is doing great, I am safe and healthy. The lord watches over me and protect me because I love the work at which I am doing. I cant wait to help Elder T grow up more in the mission, because I have to be the example now and be the leader. I love the book of mormon and I love the the savior and that gives me the desire to put my shoulder to the wheel and push along. Mom and Dad thanks for supporting me throughout my mission and helping me choose the best I can be. I love you all, Lexie be strong and keep being a good girl and helping mom and dad. Travel safe and pray always

Love
Elder Loren James Miller


March 15th
Dear Family!

Well weeks are like days here now, the weather is beautiful and things are going up. This week we have two investigators in the w ward that we are teaching! The w ward is only two years old and they have never had a convert baptism! We are trying to break that drought and help the ward be strengthen with missionary opportunities. I am blessed to be here in Texas, it is truly a beautiful state!


I am at 10 months in the mission and I have grown up a lot! President H said to me in interviews last week that I have gone from boy to man over the past few months. I have really seen that huge improvement in attitude, christlike attributes, work ethic, and obedience.

Ether chapter 9 is good! The whole book of ether is amazing, the Jaredite record is so interesting to learn about. In Mosiah they talk about it and how it was found. Ether chapter 12 is truly an amazing chapter and it is perfect to gain insight on faith, humility, and patience.
The gospel changes lives for the better, it is life altering and it improves the pathway to heaven and makes it understandable. The gospel principles book holds topics that basically explain salvation all together. Reading the book of mormon lately, I have found that the lord keeps his promises and the prophets truly have the revelation from god. I don't know where the members of this church would be without the priesthood keys and revelation to guide the church. A prophet is crucial for each one of us, each one of them have a personal touch or meaningful example to us. I am so excited for conference as well, I really cant wait for the necessary words to improve our daily lives.

Transfer news will come this coming saturday night and I am so nervous for it. I have a feeling that Elder h is going to be transferred! I have really enjoyed serving with him, he has taught me a lot and he is a true example of overcoming the world and following christ. We work well together and do all we can to improve our areas and to help people build their faith in christ. He probably has been my favorite companion so far, he has been such a blessing to me.

Also I have stopped my snoring! So my companion has been struggling with sleeping because he wakes up and then cant go back to sleep because I snore. So I finally got him to admit it was me that was causing the problem. So I said it is all good I can fix it. So i went to the walgreens and got some breathing strip things. Also I got these homeopathic pill things called snorestop, they work! My companion has been getting so much sleep, it is incredible!

Well mom and dad and family, I love you so much and I am so blessed to be a representative of Jesus Christ. To bear his name when teaching people and to hold the priesthood. I love my mission and I have truly lost myself in the work and have improved so much. I have a sure foundation that Heavenly father knows each one of us by our desires and our hearts. He will prepare the way through christ if we first love and serve him sincerely. I know that the book of mormon is not just some other scripture, its the word of god for our day. Never take it for granted. Things will get better for each one of us as long as we diligently serve the lord with a humble heart. I love you all so very very much and never forget that!

Be safe and follow christ, our redeemer.

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller

March 8th-

Dear Family!
I am doing great here, we are working very hard and are doing all we can to find people to teach. We have been tracting a lot lately and are doing all we can. Elder H is great. I have learned so much from him. He tells me all of the time that I am probably one of the most dedicated missionaries and righteous missionaries. I would have to say that it might be true but I did not get the way I am from just me. I have truly had heavens help through obedience and sincerity of the calling which I have.

Isn't the book of mormon amazing? Everyday I am studying it so hard, I love it, and I have found that in comparison to the bible I feel more of the truth that makes sense. I love the story of Alma and Amulek, and also the career and person that Captain moroni was. I love the scriptures, as I make them more apart of my life each day in my mission, I see myself transforming into the person I need to be. Sorry, I dont really know what the wards are doing for humanitarian, haha, we are just so caught up in the missionary work in the ward!

So we have had some interesting experiences tracting and knocking doors last week. We have been called out, slammed, laughed at, argued with, yelled at, cut off in sentence, and we still have been blessed. We received two referrals from members yesterday after a long week of hard tracting, and it all paid off! I am so happy because I know the faith we exercised was just enough for heavenly father to bless us with teaching opportunities. We actually went to a less-active's house and knocked on their door and they werent home so we decided to knock the next five doors next to them. Well the first door we knocked on, and it opened and this lady invited us in and she and her husband listened to the first lesson. She is friends with a strong member of the ward and the member told her recently that she should let us in if we ever knock on her door. It was kind of funny, but it showed me that the ward members have been doing missionary work by opening their mouths and engaging in gospel conversations. We gave this couple the challenge to read and pray from the book of mormon. As soon as we extended the committment, she said to us well we go to his church pointing to the husband. Her husband is catholic, and the member later told us that they are not really active at all in the catholic church. It is just funnny! haha but it was a great testimony builder of courage and doing the work regardless of the outcome.

You know conferene is is in like 3 weeks and I am so flippin excited! haha, I am trying to lose weight by eating better which I totally am and eating less salt foods and drinking plenty of water. I have a great companion who supports me in my dieting and exercising. I am hoping tto get down to atleast 215 by the time I go home in 14 months! I am at 245 but I know that I am not just a michelin man or a blob you know? I have been doing just straight cardio machines for 50 to 60 minutes every morning, like elipticial,stairmaster,and cycling. I hope that I shed some pounds, but members make it tough with the good food they feed us with!

Well I am getting pretty nervous lately, because in two weeks is when we find out what the next transfer cycle looks like. I have a feeling like I am getting transferred to a new area or something. I feel that the lord has special purposes for me being in certain areas at certain length but who knows. Elder H and I could stay together for another one which I would love. But whatever the lord asks I do. I am so happy and I know that we are eternally blessed for the sacrifices and submission we make to the lord. I testify that the heavens are opened and we have a living prophet on this earth and what a mouth piece of the lord he is. One of the twelve apostles is coming to houston to see how the missionary work is going, its L.Tom Perry. I dont know if we will see him but I know that he is one of the special witnessses of christ. I love the lord and this work, I feel like my course in life is set up by how much I work and put into this effort. Thanks mom and dad for the sacrifice you make to have me be out here and for the years prior of giving up things to help me. I love you all so much! Thanks for being YOU! The gospel is the way and there is no other way that is going to get us the true happiness we seek than what has been restored. I am so honored to be your son.

Love always
Elder Loren James Miller

March 1st-
Dear Mom and Dad,

Well it is already march 1st of 2010, and time is flying by, first and foremost, Happy Birthday mom! Something should be in the mail soon ok? This past week we had a lot of downs and a lot of ups, we had 9 appointments fall through and that caused a lot of frustration but, it was all good. On friday night, the k ward had a chili cook off, which the ward brought 13 non members! That totally made up for the 9 appointments, I am most happy when I see the members being missionaries themselves, I enjoy their success! We will see what happens with those people that came to the ward activity, but I did ride my bike the other day and it was pretty nice, my bike is doing great. The weather is great here and it is in the 60s and sometimes it changes here and there but it is all good.

So members feed us every night, we are pretty used to being taking care for meals at dinner time. But on friday, our district of 8 missionaries went to a mongolian grill type place and had a blast after district meeting. Right before we were getting ready to finish our meal, the waitress comes up to us and says that the lady who just left paid for our whole bill. It was so cool, we never saw the lady or talked to her but she definately helped us out a lot. We have a lot of potential investigators in our area, but there is something always holding us back from teaching them, like the member that referred us to them cant make up a time to have us over to teach the person or they never call us back or anything.

I am grateful for my obedience to you mom and dad, for the decisions that I made because of you taking me to church every week. The gospel has affected every single decision I have made in my life. I am grateful I have a testimony and I have such a knowledge of the restored gospel of jesus christ.

Transfers are March 23rd, so we are at halfway, we will find out on the 20th, I have no idea whats going to happened. I love K ward and the w ward. This area is so cool and its way fun to be in, but who knows what is going to happen. President h is inspired and I know that where ever he sends me, it is an assignment from the lord. It would be fun to serve in College Station, home of Texas A&M but who knows. I am going to go on a diet and try and lose a lot of weight, thats the one thing I do know.

Well this past zone conference we talked about faith, President h said that the thing that measures our faith is our obedience. The more obedient we are the greater faith we have, we also talked about using faith in finding people. Zone conference was really amazing, I feel like my faith has increased tremendously in the past two months. Obedience is easy if you get in the habit of doing things that are asked of you and don't think about it or analyze it. Faith is an action word and I think the more we exercise gospel principles in our life, faith will sky rocket.

Well Mom and Dad, thanks for all that you do, thanks for helping me get to the point of where I am at in my life. I have been blessed so much because of the things that the lord has commanded. I testify to you that the savior has done it all for us, if we have faith to do everything his way then the blessings will come. If we are patient and are humble we can do amazing things. I love you all so very very much! Happy Birthday mom and be safe everyone!

Love always

Elder Loren James Miller