Cottage to Palace

Hello, my friends!! It has been another week in the grand city of Manhattan! This Saturday, I hit one month as a missionary. Isn't that so crazy? I remember the day I was set apart like it was yesterday. 


This week I have learned so much!! God is really helping me grow in ways I can't even imagine. This week has been challenging but beautiful all at the same time! (Welcome to missionary work haha!) 

In Ether 12:27 it says, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble, and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." 

I am so grateful that God loves me enough to show me my weaknesses. He loves me enough to point out my flaws and take me down the road of discipleship a little farther, day by day. This week, I have really been focusing on developing greater faith. I've been doing lots of studying about what faith looks like and how I can develop my faith even more. 

Faith is:
-Believing His hand is in all things, even when things don't go the way we plan
-Trusting God's plan and submitting to His will over our own
-Trusting that we don't have to have all the answers to move forward 
-Diligently doing all that lies in our power 

As I have studied, one of my favorite scripture stories has continually come to mind. Many of you know of the story of Nephi in the Book of Mormon. But for those of you who don't, his family was commanded to leave Jerusalem and follow God to the promised land. What stands out to me about this story is the reaction of Nephi while he is in the wilderness. It would be easy to look around at their circumstances and to shake his fists at God. To wonder why on earth they were struggling so much if God had asked them to leave in the first place. But Nephi does not waver. He remembers why the Lord had called them to leave and he trusts that the Lord will provide a way for them. He doesn't expect that way to be easy or smooth. But he does trust that they will be able to accomplish. He doesn't shake his fists at God and ask why, but he continually submits cheerfully to God's will. We know the happy ending of this story: they arrive in the promised land and are blessed beyond measure.

What I love about this story is that Nephi exemplifies what true faith looks like. As we learn to walk the path of discipleship, it will not be easy. But we can know, through FAITH, that we are never alone. 

Life is hard my friends! Believe it or not, saying goodbye to my family two weeks ago was pretty hard. They mean the world to me and walking away was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Watching people learn the truth of the gospel and choosing to walk away is hard! (Please add Brittney to your prayers. We had a lesson with her this week, and the spirit was so strong. She knew it. We knew it. God knew it. And despite all of that, she is choosing to walk away.) Working diligently but not finding those who will hear our message is HARD! (Facebook finding isn't easy. It is definitely new for me. And it requires faith on my part.) But, the beautiful thing about the gospel is that it was never meant to be easy. What we are promised is that the Lord will provide a way and that He will walk beside us (1 Nephi 3:7). Isn't that the most beautiful promise?   

During church yesterday, our dear friend Lisa said something that really stuck out to me. She said, "Trials are beautiful. They move us out of complacency and focus us on an urgent connection with heaven." So as we all continue to face hard things, we can change our perspective just a bit and be grateful. Gratitude that God is not finished with us yet. He is helping us grow and become far more than we could have ever been on our own. CS Lewis shares a beautiful parable. He says, "Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably. … [You see,] He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of. … You thought you were [being] made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

So take courage! No matter what you are facing, remember the Lord not only knows your situation but is there with you. He knows what you can become, even if you thought you were only meant to be a small cottage. He has bigger plans. 

I love you all SO VERY MUCH.

IN QUICK, HAPPY NEWS:
- My parents bought us pizza. BEST DAY EVER!!
-We have to wash our laundry in the tub because of the quarantine, haha BUT WE GET OUT OF QUARANTINE ON WEDNESDAY WOOT WOOT
-Anna is progressing so so well!! Pray for her as she approaches her baptism date of August 20th!
-We found a friend this week! We are meeting with Freddie on Thursday! Cross your fingers for us!!


As always,
Be happy. Be brave. Be smart. 
Love,
Sister Miller 

PS: here's a list of scriptures that have helped me this week!!
-1 Nephi 20:10
-Ether 12:6
-John 14:18
-D&C 123: 17

PPS: I love you all so very much. I'm making a prayer list of things and people I can pray for each night! If you have something you would like me to specifically pray for, please send it to me! I love you all! Let me know if I can support you in any other way. ♡ 

PPS: If you get a second I 100% think you should read this article. It is beautiful. 

--
Sister Hailey Miller








Hey Cute Sister Missionary.
Pizza is on the way. Maybe next week we can get you something different.

I am so proud of you. You really are a great missionary. Keep your chin and faith up. Great things will happen.

Jake and I survived the high adventure. It was kind of cool to hike the same trails I hiked at his age, 30 years ago. We played at the natural water slide in the stream and jumped off a cliff into the lake. Jake was a trooper and kept up with the older boys for the most part.  I did not sleep much. I gained a great appreciation for my bed. We had been hiking some, but not enough. I was tired and sore.

I got to talk to our old neighbor Su Nan. I told him about your mission and he said he wanted to have us over as soon as the pandemic passes. You are inspiring missionary work here too.

Good luck this week. We are praying for you and your friends.  You are awesome (after all, you are related to me).  Enjoy getting out on the street this week!  I am excited for you to experience the greatest city in the world.

Love, Dad



Hailey Bay,
Hey there! Did you and your companion decide if you could help with some thoughts for scripture journaling? 

We just got back into service. We will be in and out tomorrow. It's been crazy fun, but also I'm ready to go home. I have an abscessed tooth and I am in serious pain. I can't get any relief until I can get an antibiotic. So, I have to get home for that. 

All and all it's been amazing. It's been so nice to be with family and live in the sun. Amber is adorable and really thrived. She learned how to surf and she loved on some babies. The kids adored her and she was just so cute. So happy we could do this for her. So happy Roxy invited us.

Pray that we can get home without too much pain. And that dad can get our prescription so that I don't have to go on Sunday. Pray for my pain. I'm dying. But, Kendall gave me a blessing and I have hope. Love you so so much!!!

I was sad to not be able to talk to you on Thursday. I thought of you all day.
Love, Mom

P.S. We miss you, but somehow you were with us. So many references to New York and every time I thought of my baby. So proud of you. I also got a message from Amber Ulrich today stating that the missionary department is approving that parents come to the endowments. YAY!!!

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