December 29, 2010

From: Monica Gean Miller

Hey famiglia,

Wow it was so great to talk to you all. Everyone looks great and it gave me a huge boost to finish strong. Even if the next day was hard again all over! Haha To be honest the work right now is really hard. We saw the family on Monday. Unfortunately it seems that Satan gets them to think about their problems more than having faith in Jesus Christ. It is hard to get them to keep commitments because there is always an easier excuse. We are going to try to focus more on their 21 year old son who is awesome and super receptive to the spirit. We think maybe if we can get him to make progress he will be the one to now set the example. All in all, we are praying a lot to find the elects that are out there, just super hard to find.

We were doing house the other day and found a man. It turns out that his wife is the sister of the branch president in Bitonto who is NOT a member, and their daughter got baptised about 4 years ago. Their daughter now lives in Milan, and 5 months ago her husband was also baptised. We knew NOTHING about this family. Turns out the Branch president in Bitonto baptised their daughter, AND son in law, and has been working for years trying to get them to receive the missionaries in their home. We randomly found this family, and they let us in! Right there at the door. We then saw them in church on Sunday, and they were with their daughter who was here for Christmas from Milan! We talked to the branch pres of Bitonto and he is convinced they are ready to accept the gospel in this period since they willingly let us in, when before they had sent the sisters to them many times and they never let them in. Were guided! Cool story.

I know the gospel is true. This week for the first time I had a realization that my time is running out. I love feeling the spirit every day here in the mission. I know it is because we are literally set apart from the world, but also I know it is because we DO a lot to INVITE the Spirit into our lives. I love that feeling of joy and wanting to just do good, that the spirit gives us. I hope that even though you all are in the world, you do things each day to invite the spirit to be present each day. I know that we can always have that JOY that the Spirit gives us if we want to have it, but it takes conscious effort. I love you all so much.

Con tanto affetto,

Monica

XoXo

...Sorella Miller

Merry Christmas! December 22, 2010

HIIII famiglia!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, this letter will be short since we willl be talking with you all via skype in just a few short days. Wow, I am so excited and that will be the best present for me i could ask for.

I am so excited, and dont feel like writing a letter when I can just tell you on the phone in two days which is much easier. I hope I can get to some how talk to everyone! Today was sweet because we went out to Chinese food, just like we always do, the week of christmas! haha

Love you all and Merry Christmas!! TALK TO YOU SOON!!!!!!!!

Just so you all know im going to bawl my eyes out, oh well ...

Con tanto affetto,

un bacione

MONICA

...Sorella Miller

Missionary Companions and Scriptural Companions

Sorella Miller and Sorella Tinoco November 2010 with The Bible and the Book of Mormon

Preach My Gospel

We continue to teach and pray for this families baptism...Grazia & Giacomo

Zone Conference November 2010

(L-R) Sorella Jones, Sorella Tinoco, Me, Sorella Hashey

Our Missionary Apartment Bari, Italy

Bari Pictures November 2010

P-day grocery shopping. Granny style with our sweet cart that we hall around town. I've seriously become the biggest nerd-I'll do anything @ this point! Ha

December 15, 2010

Dear Famiglia,

I am really excited for Natale here in a week or so, the time honestly goes faster and faster every week!! I am not going to lie this week was a hard week. We were supposed to have Giacomo's baptism on Sunday,but it didn't happen. We were all prepared Saturday for the font, the programs, the talks etc. then sunday at church we unexpectedly heard the Bishop announce that we would now have a testimony ....I was translating and all of a sudden I had a hard time understanding what was being said, because I had no idea what he was about to say. So with (the bishop at his side) he explained to everyone how "today I was supposed to get baptised, but last night I had a dream. In this dream I saw a big white door in the clouds. I tried to open the door, and then I couldn't open it. I took this as a sign that I need to wait longer to get Baptised. I hope the Sisters will forgive me, and I pray to continue forward in this church, because I feel like someone else, since they have started teaching me and my family. In the name of Jesus Christ amen."

He had a lot of faith to get up there and say all that. At the time it was really hard, because we weren't exactly sure, but mainly we came to the conclusion that we would love to be able to have a baptism of ALL of the famiglia on the same day, because that would be a lot easier for all of them to stay strong. Sometimes, no, a lot of times, I feel really inadequate. Sunday, I had a bit of a breakdown after church, where I just felt no desire to continue to figure out how to help solve so many problems that are so over my head! Haha For a minute I just wished that this wasn't my responsibility anymore!! Sometimes its just so hard to keep thinking and coming up with ways to help with problems that I have never faced! But, I know that is why the Lord calls us, because there requires a lot of humility in being a missionary!!! WE will have an appointment with them tonight, and hope to be able start back at the basics, and help them strengthen their testimonies.

This week is has been FREEZINNNGGG. It snowed today!! We woke up to snow on all the rooftops, then we went to a city called Matera. It was sweet. Its apparently where they filmed the Movie "The Passion" It was really cool.

We did a lot of house this week. Usually when we do house, we ring the intercom, and try to see if someone will just open the bottom door, so we can get in and go door to door. Its a lot more effective to be able to see people face to face, than just talk on the intercom with them. We got in this apartment, and made our way to the top floor to start knocking, then make our way to the bottom. Every floor, next to each door bell there were stickers up saying "If you are a Jehovah's witness, Go away! Do not knock!! We are Catholic! Maria bless this home." This wasn't the first time that I have ever seen these stickers, nor was it the first time that I have seen these stickers and we went right on ahead and knocked on the door! ha ha usually my companions like to skip them, but I like these experiences because they are always more interesting. So EVERY DOOR so far in this apartment had a sticker next to the doors. So we get to the third floor, (after the top two floors all telling us to go away) and we get a man at the door to listen to us for like 15 minutes! That doesn't happen very often! It was a sweet little reminder to not let our fears of men over come our duty to open our mouths and share the word! We had two awesome experiences in that apartment complex one right after the other, Both in houses with the "Jehovah's witnesses go away" stickers on the door. ha ha

I am trying to be more creative in my approaches lately. After zone conference on Friday with Elder Causse and Donaldson, I felt inspired and ready to go find all the elects that are here. We did the Mostra the other day and I brought with me that gospel art book. I love teaching wtih that book. I just walked up to people and right away showed them the picture of Joseph smith in the grove with the vision. I would say something along the lines of "I want to tell you the story of this boy who was really confused about which church to join, have you ever asked yourself which of all these churches is true?" It was a cool experiment and I have to say it proved to be effective. A lot of times we waste time introducing ourselves, "asking for a minute of time" etc, when people these days are in such a hurry that they have to hear truth right away, because if they are ready to hear it, they will. A constant reminder. Being a missionary is MUCH different that the missionary work I will do when I get back. We have very little time to get people's attention, it has to be like 1 minute or less in which they feel the spirit. With our friends we can take things with calm, but for us its our call to teach WHEN we find, and FIND when we teach. its a strange, UN-natural thing ha ha but its beautiful.

The lights have started up now and its a beautiful city here under Christmas. WE supposedly will be doing a few days a month in another city called Bitonto about a 20 minute train ride from Bari. I will probably only do it once or twice since I only have a little time left here, but the members there really want sisters, so we will do something like 2 days a month there (one of those days being a Sunday) teaching women investigators etc, and helping wtih member missionary work. We are yet to hear more details about when we start this new stuff. We'll see.

Last week we did a lesson with an investigator named Mariella. We were with another family in our ward at this lesson. It was a little difficult to teach. You know that werewolf from Twilight? her 14 year old daughter is obsessed with him and so we were teaching a lesson and trying to testify of Joseph Smith came difficulty with this Jacob black starring at me from every angle. Anyways, kinda funny.

I'm really excited to talk to you all soon. I love the gospel and know it is true with all of my heart! I love each and every one of you and hope this letter finds you well.

Tante belle cose,

MONICA

...Sorella Miller

December 8, 2010

Ciao Ciao Famiglia Mia,

Well, this week has been crazy busy, in trying to get this Baptism organized! Giacomo will be getting baptised on Sunday night. We had a sweet experience two nights ago with them talking about Tithing. They have some serious economic problems right now, and he totally accepted tithing as an opportunity to put it all in the Lords hands, and put him to the test by paying tithing. He also has quit smoking. I would have never believed that someone could quit smoking in two weeks, or one even if I hadn't come on a mission. I know that we truly do see miracles when we have faith in the Lord!!!! That night we had the lesson on tithing, the Bishop came with us. While he was waiting outside their apartment, for Giacomo to get home he apparently received a phone call, of a woman from his work telling him that there was an opening for a young man to do a job at her work. During the lesson, the bishop shared this experience, right after we had testified that the Lord would open up the window of heaven and pour out blessings on their family. We were unaware of this phone call that he had received, and during the lesson asked their son if he would be interested in taking this job! The Lord is so aware of our every circumstance and need, and he takes care of us when we put our faith in him! Giacomo will be the first, this Sunday evening, and we don't doubt, that Grazia, Aurora, and MIchele their 21 year old son will be soon to follow. Michele their son is seriously making heaps of progress ...oh hey Australia... :) and he is coming to all the lessons now. He is a lot like Giacomo in that he is very receptive to the spirit.

Grazia is still having a hard time receiving an answer to her question of whether she should get baptised, but we need to help her understand that The Lord isn't just going to TELL HER that she needs to be baptised, but she needs to make a decision, then ask if its right. She doesn't quite understand the concept of personal responsibility yet... Pazienza. Little Aurora is just wanting to follow her mom basically, so until her mom feels READY, she wont be either yet.

However, i am so stoked for this baptism. It will be a beautiful day!!!!! Pray that it all goes through. We will do the Baptismal interview in a few minutes, so this letter isn't going to be long. sorry.

Friday we will find out what will happen on the 16th at this conference. I am excited to have Elder Causse here for this conference, it will be a good energizer. We had a bunch of new greenies come into our zone this week. IT gave me a really good needed boost of enthusiasm that I needed. It made me reflect on how I felt at the beginning of my mission. Its so awesome to be here on a mission, I have to enjoy every minute that is left!

This week we taught this kid at the Mostra named Umberto for an hour and gave him a Book of Mormon. He understood everything, and wanted so badly to read the Book of Mormon, I really pray that we see him again this week. We were supposed to go bowling with the young single adults this week. As we were about to get into the car I felt, NO, don't go, waste of time. EVEN THOUGH the leaders wanted us there and there would be other missionaries there, but it was a pretty strong impression, literally AS we were getting in the car. then we instead went and knocked 12 story building and got about 100 doors slammed in our face :) BUT, I felt so much better. Its so weird I think I'm going to be a really socially awkward person when I get home. I feel so weird around young people who are normal, I honestly don't know how I would act if I weren't a missionary its a really strange feeling. I'm a missionary now, and don't know how i will be normal again. I don't like thinking about it.

I love you all and hope this letter finds you well. We are off to this baptismal interview, then the ward Christmas party. Apparently I am playing the piano and am playing for them all to sing Christmas songs too!? I am not sure that I have played the piano in the last 5 years, but yea it should be a jolly time. Today is a fiesta here so everything is closed. PS mom got the ornament. Made me cry. I miss you all so much. i hope to get the other pictures soon ?

I will try to send some pics home this week.

Love,

MONICA

...sorella miller

Dicembre. Wow!

From: Monica Gean Miller

Date: December 1, 2010 10:17:10 AM MST

To: Margo G Miller

Subject: Dicembre. Wow.

Ciao famiglia!

Alright lets get down to TRANSFERS. So here is what's going on. Since there are a few missionaries going home two weeks into this transfer (Dec. 16th) to be home for Christmas, we (Sorella Tinoco and I) will be doing some sort of Transfer on the 16th of December. President still hasn't decided what to do with us. They are short on sisters and will have to close down a city. There will be two openings--one in Rome, and one in Mistretta. They will most likely either close Mistretta (there are only 2 sisters there, NO Elders) or take the sisters out of Bari...we are thinking we will BOTH get taken out of Bari on the 16th. SOMETHING has to change, and we are hoping President will have made his decision by this next Thursday when we will be having a special conference with Elder Causse and another member of the Europe Area Presidency. So President told us that we will be having our transfer split in half basically...Wow, who knows what could happen. Hopefully we'll have news next week..

Other crazzzzy news. So Sorella Foote, is still in Ragusa, and will be training this transfer. President is pulling some crazy moves this transfer. Her companion who has one less transfer than me, who took my place in Ragusa is getting transferred to Ladispoli for her last transfer. It is highly possible that I WONT finish in Bari. Crazy.

Today I got my hair cut. I feel a million times better. It was actually really weird when they blow dried and straightened my hair I felt like I hadn't spent that much time to get ready in years! haha. It was amazing how good I felt when I walked out of there haha PS. mom yes I did receive the "discontinued samples" from Stacie haha thanks so much, I have fun every morning picking new eyeshadow ha! I feel like a little girl .

Sounds like you had a fun Thanksgiving. I can't believe that you actually ate that cute little turkey! I got more updates on the turkey the last 6 months, than on anyone else in the family! HAH! The Thanksgiving English Course party went well, MINUS the fact that this guy who always makes inappropriate comments brought Beer to put on the table AFTER we had previously announced to not bring alcohol haha Luckily the Elders had a quick reflex and snagged it and dumped it before anyone saw.

This week we met a lady on the street who refused to listen to our message, but was frantically telling us how miraculous the "Acqua della Madonna" is...translation would be like some magical blessed water of Mary...? She was telling us how she puts this Mary water on her face and her arms and the pains go away...Hm. Strange.

We are seeing progress mainly with the Father in the Gravina family. Right now they have major financial problems, so we are really trusting in the Lord that they will trust in the Lord's promises to bless them tremendously, for paying tithing...They are striving to live the word of wisdom and other commandments-- Giacomo is down to just two cigarettes a day, and Grazia is really trying to cut out coffee. They also are now living the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy. Little Aurora is an angel and sets the example for her parents. She told us that she used to go out and play with her friends on Sundays, but now there is something inside of her that tells her that she shouldn't do that anymore. She truly is an angel that the Lord has prepared to be a rock and an example in this family! They are now reading the Book of Mormon as a couple, and praying together as a family and as a couple daily. At the lesson, THEY reminded US to kneel when we said the opening and closing prayer. Those are special moments..

We are struggling to know how ''ready'' they will ever be for Baptism. They have the desire to follow Jesus Christ and obey his commandments, and this is one of the main qualifications. Grazia's progress has slowed down, because she has started to say that she still doesn't feel "ready." We are focusing on helping them to understand what a testimony is, and then move forward accordingly.

The Baptismal date for the Gravina family is still for the 11th of December.

We also have this lady named Lina who we found a few weeks ago. She is awesome and is really getting hit strong by the news of the plan of Salvation. She hit us with some intense questions, but luckily I have yet to be confounded before her...here are a few questions she threw at us last week.

1. So if Adam and Eve were made after "God's image" assuming God is a man, after whose image was Eve created? There are blatantly anatomically different!.....

haha uhhhhh..... In moments like these I just smile and start to testify of simple truths! haha

2. Why did God create the world? Was it just to keep him company?

3. How are we supposed to know if the trials we have are given to us, are because of our own sins, or the sins that someone else has committed?

PS random stuff...

Could you set me up a Skype account to be able to use for when I call home at Christmas in a few weeks? Then you will be able to just tell me the login and password etc and that will be a lot easier than for me to try to worry about it that day..

Do I need to do anything to sign up for spring term classes that are in April? I have no idea...

That picture from Charlotte was basically the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life!!!!!!!! I don't even recognize her kids I'm going to cry so hard when I see everyone. They are all like little kids now!!! umm Noelle's glasses??? ADORABLE! I can't believe it, how different they all are!

I am starting to freak out that I only have two transfers left. Its basically been the quickest year + of my life, and yet it seems like its all been a dream, that will never end. I love the mission, even though most days I have to pretend to not be tired, and just still get courage every time to open my mouth. I feel like for a short period it got "easier" to talk to people, but then at the same time I still feel like even at this point in my mission, talking to people is still hard. I still don't understand why so many people just get so defensive and angry even when we approach them on the street. most people wont talk to us because they have such a hatred (sorry mom, but its true) towards Jehovahs' Witness', and they initially think we are them...Lately we have decided to do at least one hour of finding/day. That means were out knocking doors, walking down the streets, getting on buses, or doing the Mostra.

We scored and found a secret closet in our house with three baby Christmas trees in it!!! WOO! I was crying I was so excited. It isn't super Christmassy around these parts. A few lights here and there, but other than that you can't really tell its Christmas. Basically nothing like America at this time of year. The weather here in Bari is mild. Every few days there is a really cold day, but super mild. Like 50's, low 60's. Not bad.

Well, tonight we are off to do an appointment with a family we have been trying to teach for a long time, except her husband creates tons of difficulties. HE claims to be a prophet. Hm. The lesson will be on the plan of salvation. I love the plan of salvation, it gives us so much direction.

Basically I have grown so much on my mission and now understand the gospel in a way I never did before. It is so so so simple, and i have learned how it all comes back down to the fact that God appeared to that little boy Joseph Smith. God loves us so much. What a miracle. I took it so much for granted before, but never will again. I am most thankful to the mission for helping me realize how blessed i am to have what I do!

I love you all and please know you are in my prayers. A challenge we got a few weeks ago is to keep a "good deed book" and write down a few things you do each day to serve someone else.. its great, because it keeps your thoughts during the day on how we can help someone else other than our self. After all, that is when we are the happiest!

Vi voglio un mondo di bene!!!!

MONICA

...Sorella Miller