I love the sacrament. I really, really do.

WELL WELL WELL. ANOTHER WEEK COME AND GONE. Honestly, time is fake. But as always, let's jump on in.

This week has been one crazy one indeed. If you're keeping track of our fantastic people you probably remember Herve (on date for April). 

This week we called him and found out that he was really going through a tough spot. Something had gone wrong with his home and he was told it was no longer suitable to live in. He was given 48 hours to move out. Herve was in distress, looking for somewhere to move, and had no idea what to do. We were devastated to hear this news and we prayed with him that things would work out. Later this week, we called once more--hoping things were beginning to be resolved. To our extreme disappointment, Herve was almost in tears. He had spent the last 72 hours packing up all of his belongings and had slept a total of 4 hours. He was to his limit. I happened to be on exchanges that day with Sister Morgan (who is literally my bff and twin) and she looked at Herve and said: "Have you eaten?" This thought had not even crossed my mind. (I had been thinking about how I had wished we could help him move, but the Covid restrictions in our area will not allow it. I hadn't thought of another way we could serve him, until Sister Morgan and asked.) 

"No," came his answer. Bags were visibly under his eyes and his shoulders slumped in discouragement.

Sister Morgan and I piled into the car and drove out to Hempstead. Nearby there was a Subway. We ordered a footlong and some chips and brought them over to Herve.

He looked up at us with his big brown eyes and said, "Thank you. I will never forget this day for as long as I live. Thank you." He then said, "Nothing will keep me from coming to church tomorrow!" Herve has no family here in America, and that day we were lucky enough to be his family.

Please pray for him as he continues to figure out housing--he is under a ton of stress.

In other news, I have been active calling people on FB lately. Anyone who is active, I just call with hopes that they won't curse me out and I will be able to talk about the gospel with them. (Call it online door-knocking if you will). I called this man named Michael this week and he picked up super confused as to why I was calling. I explained that I was new to Long Island and was looking to get to know the area better. He revealed that he had actually moved to Florida. His language was quite crass and profane, and I was about to hang up when he asked me my name for the second time. "Sister Miller," I said. "Sister?" He asked. He immediately went on to apologize profusely for his poor language and mean demeanor, realizing who I was. Michael quickly asked what he could do for me. To which I just asked him if we could pray together. He said of course. I began to pray and I immediately felt an overwhelming love for this stranger on the other end. Tears came to my eyes as I prayed on behalf of him and his family. I got to the end of the prayer to have this scruffy old man on the other end begin to cry. His words spilled out quickly and I heard his quiet sobs on the other end begin to shake his body. Michael had lost his son tragically last year, exactly one year ago. He had just gotten back from visiting his grave. He asked me to say another prayer for his son and asked if I could pray that Jesus would be with him. This time, the tears flowed as I prayed for Michael and his family. Words cannot describe what was said, or even felt for this man living in Florida. My heart was full, to say the least. I am so grateful that God brought us together over FB, that I didn't hang up, and that I was able to share a small part of His love for him and his son. It was a very special experience for me. The missionaries are going to start teaching Michael in Florida this week, and he went to church for the first time in several years yesterday--even though he had to walk 3 miles to the closest one. How special. How sacred. How wonderful is the Lord!

Y'all know I believe in the power of prayers, so please pray for our miracle man, Bobby. He is trying to overcome some addictions and could use all the support in the world. Our girl, Arlie, is preparing for baptism this month, so send prayers her way as well. And please pray that we find those that God has prepared to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We are ready to help cheer up the hearts that hang low, we just need to find them.

I do have a quick funny story to share, so I hope y'all won't judge me.

This week we had a zone conference which is always WONDERFUL. Our conference was based around a talk called "Wrestling with Comparisons" by JB Haws. (It is a BYU speech and I highly recommend you go read it RIGHT NOW.) But in our zone conference, we were talking about the need to not compare or compete, but to run the race together. It was so perfect and I loved all the insights that were shared. 

Towards the end of the meeting, we had an assessment of our cars. WERE THEY CLEAN OR NOT? Now, Sister Likiliki and I had slaved over our car getting it perfectly clean (because secretly we wanted to win--but hey we weren't competing FOR SURE.) But the senior couple had a prize for the cleanest car. A 5lb bag of Hot Tamales. I was invested, to say the least. 

And then my dreams came true. We--the Lynbrook sisters--were announced the winners of the clean cars contest. My heart soared in pride and I immediately started cheering and walked up to get our 5 lb Hot Tomales bag that looked similar to a grammy, I'm pretty sure. And that's when it hit me. I was competing and comparing right as President had told us not to. The zones just started laughing. Ah well, I guess I need to work on not competing! It was quite a funny moment.

I have grown so much this week. I have learned that my best is enough. I have learned that sometimes my plan is not the Lord's plan and I need to be willing to yield to His will at all times. I have learned that God's mercy is granted to all who will repent and believe on His name. I have learned that all things work together for good for them that love God. So keep going. Keep moving forward with faith. The Lord has my back, and yours too.

For my spiritual thought today I wanted to share my testimony of the sacrament. I love the sacrament with my whole heart (it is similar to communion, for those of you who have not heard that term before). We prepare and bless bread and water in the name of Jesus Christ and we partake of that power into our souls each week as we go to church. There is no more important part of my week than the hour that I get to partake of the sacrament. 

At the beginning of my mission, we were still under fairly strict quarantine. We had only online church and I went 7 weeks without partaking of the sacrament. By the end of those 7 weeks, I felt so burdened and recognized that I was not getting the cleansing that I needed. The sacrament was missing. When I partook of the sacrament that 8th Sunday, I felt whole again. I felt clean, refreshed, and completely new. I felt an actual weight lift from my back. I was clean. 

I was reading in 3 Nephi this week and something really stood out to me. Most of us know 3 Nephi 18 as when Christ institutes the sacrament to the Nephites. BUT we forget in chapter 20 that Christ does it again. I found that particularly powerful. Why would Christ feel the need to do the sacrament two days in a row? 

Forgive me for putting in some Sister Miller doctrine here, but I believe it was because Jesus wanted them to have His image engraved upon them as they partook of the sacrament throughout their lives. He wanted them to realize that it was that action that brought them closer to our Savior because that is what He spent his time doing with them.

 

The sacrament is everything. It is our time to lay down our burdens at the cross and to begin again and again. It is freeing. It is letting go, it is using the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. If you have not partaken of the sacrament in a while, please do so. If you have never partaken of it, please do so. Your life will not be the same. It will fix the wounds you didn't realize you had and lift you to new heights. I have seen it do that for me.

I love you all. This church is so true. And you matter to Him.

Be happy. Be brave. Be smart!

Love,

Sister Miller 

1-2) Zone conf in Flushing 

3) silly me & Sis Likiliki 

4) OKAY BUT HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? IT IS A GAME CHANGER

5) driving around town 

6) Me and Sister Morgan with some BOMB shakes 

7) las hermanas 

8-9) can we check your temp for church?? ;)

10) me!! 

11) we went to Jamaica, Queens :)