Let God Prevail

I would be lying to you if I told you all this week was a breeze, but just like Elder Holland shared at General Conference, suffering is what makes us divine. So boy, do I feel blessed!! :)

We spent countless hours finding on Facebook this week. You could say I'm working on becoming a master finder. :) To be honest, we have not found a ton of people, but we are giving it everything we have, and I know God sees our efforts, and He will bless those efforts. And that's all that truly matters. 

This week we did have one HUGE miracle. After spending the whole week doing some finding, we found sweet Jasmine. She loves Christ and the scriptures so much. She wants to follow him with everything in her. At the end of our first lesson, she asked if she could bring her friends to the next lesson!! What a miracle. Jasmine is so amazing. 

The rest of the week was great but the highlight for sure was when we had GENERAL CONFERENCE! I have been looking forward to it forever. In it, many inspirational messages were shared!! One of my favorites was from our dear prophet, President Nelson. The focus of his message was on "letting God prevail" in our lives. Sometimes that means we are going to have to endure uncomfortable situations that stretch us but we can know we are following God's plan. And thank GOODNESS! Because His plan never shortchanges us—even when the blessings don't come when we originally thought they would. 

Keep your hope, my friends. Place one foot in front of the other and God will help you when you feel like your strength has worn thin. I know He can and He will. He has for me, and I know He will for you too! He is there. 

The last thing I'll share is a humorous story from today!! We were just doing our laundry and cleaning the house when we got a call from the elders in our area. "HELP WE ARE STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR" so, as good missionaries do, we rushed to the church ready to save the day. What we didn't realize however is we couldn't. And in fact, we needed to call the fire department for the elders. But balance was restored and the elders were able to get out of the elevator eventually!! I wish I could take credit for it but alas. I can at least say I raised the warning voice!!

This next week is transfers and that means a couple of things. My dear friend Sister Lines is leaving Manhattan. Am I sad? 1000%. This transfer was the fastest thing ever! I felt like a rollerblader being pulled behind a car that keeps speeding up. Sister Lines has been here for me through the hardest days and the best of days. She is a friend, a confidant, and a cheerleader. She is amazing. Transfers also mean that I get a new, awesome companion next week! So that'll be totally awesome and I can't wait to learn from her!! 

Well, dear friends, I love you. And so does God. Above all else, never forget that. 

The church is true!!

Be happy, be brave, be smart. 

Love,

Sister Miller

Before I close, I would like to ask a favor from each of you. Could you please pray that we are able to "find" friends in our area? I know that God hears and answers prayers. I am positive that all of our prayers combined will surely bring blessings! Love you all!

Pictures:

1) Sister Lines is so smart, call her the "Defeater of Rain"

2) the prettiest chapel downtown 

3) Teuscher chocolates, no we didn't buy any lol. Those things are $$$$ on Google maps  
4) The Rock

5) Exchange day with Sis Benefield and Taeulia 

6) I FINALLY TRIED THE FAMOUS PAPAYA'S PLACE!!! It was amazing! Would recommend these chili hotdogs.

 

Dear Sister Miller,

I am glad that you are becoming more divine because of your trials.  As I listened to conference it seemed that all the speakers had been following me around for the last 6 months and knew what I needed help with or what I needed to reminded of.  Sometimes I am a little scared to even listen to conference.  JK.  I love every minute of listening.  Conference always gives me hope for the future and comfort in learning that I am doing something right.  Hang in there with the not-so-good days.  We have to have those so that we can really appreciate the good days.  The most important thing is not to become discouraged.  Discouragement is one of Satan's biggest tools.  So like one speaker said, right now I can’t remember who, but he said to tell the adversary no.  I have done this and I testify to you that it works.

You mentioned that it seems that you haven’t found many people on FB.  Be patient. So many times it seems like we aren’t moving, but you have probably set a spark or two but it takes time for that spark to fully get going.I loved your story of Jamie.  I hope her friend comes with her this week and feels the spark that you have to share. By spark, I mean the spirit.  

I loved that the Elders had to call the sisters for help.  That must have given them a little bit of humble pie.  I can only imagine how hard they tried to get out of there before they called you.  It will be a fun story to tell for years to come.

I’m sad that Sister Lines will be leaving Manhattan, but you have made a lifelong friend so it’s a ’see you later’ kind of thing.  How exciting that you will get to meet someone new and teach her what Sister Lines has taught you.  She will also teach you a lot.  It will be different than what Sister Lines taught you, but it will be something that the Lord needs you to know.  

I experienced a wonderful miracle this last week. My oncologist from Winchester had sent me to the University of Virginia, about 2 hours away to see a lymphoma specialist because of this new cancer that I have.  The doctor in UVA was like, hey this is no big deal.  He is waiting for more information from the biopsy but thinks that we might not have to do chemo.  He hopes that we will be able to just do radiation.  The greatest thing is that I can do the treatments here in Winchester and not travel all the way to UVA.  This journey of mine has been tough but I have felt the Saviors love so much.  So the tough times once again become a blessing.  I know the Lord is trying to perfect me, it is just taking a little longer than for most people.  

Well, sweet Sister Miller.  Have a wonderful week and may the Lord bless you as you place one foot in front of the other.  I constantly pray for you and your success and your safety. 

Love,

Aunt Cindy

Hay Bay,

So many things have happened the last few days I honestly feel like I am swimming upstream.  I went to the dentist on Tuesday, but they were unable to help because apparently it was an old root canal and a specialist had to do it. They called around to all the specialists and miraculously got me in for 1 hour following my dental appointment. That was a huge miracle. I went and they confirmed that my old root canal has gone bad and began drilling it out. My face was so swollen at this point so when they finally hit the puss pocket, the doctor was relieved. They cleaned out the tooth the best they could and filled it with a cleaner that will remain for a month. After that, they sealed it. They then said they thought I should relieve some of the pressure in my face. They recommended slicing my check to get some puss out. By this time, dad had already left and I was nervous. But, I said let’s do it.

When they sliced my cheek, I reacted by reaching up and grabbing the assistant's hand. I actually didn’t think through it at all. I just did it. She laughed and said, “You need a hand to hold?” I had too many instruments in my mouth, so I couldn’t respond, but I just decided, “Yep, I do.”  And I didn’t apologize or anything. I just held on until the noises stopped. Poor girl. I’m sure she doesn’t get a complete stranger to grab her hand every day.

At this point, I’m just trying to heal. I salt water rinse every day, I changed my antibiotics and we are moving forward.

My friends came yesterday because I Marco’ed them my experience. It was a mixture of complete crying and laughing. Even when I watch it now—I cry and laugh all over again. They brought me a blanket, slippers, a smoothie and told me j was being forced to rest️.

Well, I honestly thought we had a breather. But, last night Jake started struggling. I think he is to a breaking point. Let me explain. He started twitching. Big twitches. With his head and his neck and his mouth and eyes. He tried to stop them. He couldn’t control it. The missionaries came to dinner and asked if he was ok. He broke out crying and said it hurt but he couldn’t control it. Dad took him to urgent care. They said it wasn’t life-threatening. He went to sleep last night with me holding him. He is no longer twitching. But, he does have an appointment for 3 o’clock today. He isn’t totally with it today. He may not be twitching but his brain seems over-stimulated. I’m working on his homework today trying to help him as much as possible. He said several times yesterday that he was so stressed. That school was so hard and that he was stressed.

Bottom line: he’s going to be ok. We will go to the doctor. We will figure this out, but keep Jake in your prayers.

I hesitate to send this to you. I don’t want you to worry. Please do not. Keep your focus and I will give you an update every time I know something new.

Love you, Mom

Hey!!
I love you! Guess what!? I got asked to Homecoming! Tyler asked me. I think mom already told you. I am going to respond with Crumbl cookies. I had them write yes on the cookies. I’m super excited. Also...quick question. Can I sign out of your Instagram account? It’s killing me to have it notify me all the time that someone is talking to you. But I still want my notifications. Anyways. This week has been a party. Mom and dad were unable to sign me up for the PSAT so I don’t have to do it! We have our timed write in English this week. I’m kinda stressed. But I’m sure it’ll be fine. And I think we are going into red soon. Our COVID cases have kinda been going up. I hope this week went well in New York!! Love you!! Happy Sunday!
Amber

Hey Little Girl,

 

How are things?  I liked your videos this week.  The one of you singing (and playing the piano) was particularly good.  Hopefully, you are finding lots of people to teach this week.  I am sure you are ripping it up.  If you are not though, your cousin Scottie told a cool story in his homecoming talk today about a time when things were not going well and he was praying about it one morning and he felt the overwhelming power of the Spirit and love of the Savior.  Even when things don’t go well, the Savior still loves us and wants us to know it.

 

While God may love me, he hates my football team. Texas lost to Oklahoma in 4 overtimes yesterday.  At least Manchester United did not lose.  Of course, they did not play, but they did not lose. 

 

We got to go to church today.  That was nice.  We are also getting new neighbors.  Hopefully, they water their lawn. 

 

Yesterday I did not watch much football, which was both good and bad.  I spent most of the day in the garage cleaning and fixing the breaks on mom’s car.  It was long and boring.  It is not supposed to be hard to change breaks, but it took me a long time. 

 

Your mom will start doing Pinners again this month.  This has added a new layer of panic to her about getting to your endowment.  She has lots of anxiety over it.  The Relief Society presidency stopped by when her jaw was going to fall off and they were starting to ask her about it.  I kind of cut them off and quietly mentioned it was not a good subject to bring up.  Hopefully, all this Covid crap quits so you can go and we can come. 

 

Jake developed a tick this week.  That also freaked your mom out.  Hopefully, it will not last too long.  The doctor is not worried.  Middle school is not a pleasant time to start twitching uncontrollably though.  Jake is a good, tough kid though.  Hopefully, he will sail through it.

 

Amber got a date to the pretend homecoming dance.  Yeah.  I am so excited.  It is Tyler Furhiman though.  So it will be fun to tease Amber about it. 

 

I am not sure what else to tell you.  Doing lots of work.  Sitting at home in my corner of the bedroom.  You know, the usual. 

 

Have fun and remember to baptize Kevin Durant.

 

Love,

Dad