10-22-12

Hello everyone! News for the week: Found a cool investigator through English Class who already speaks pretty good English, and is happy to practice it by asking us questions about our Gospel. :P Also met a nice lady on a train. Talked to her about who we are and what we do, and gave her a Book of Mormon. She seemed interested. It was cool. :) Worked very hard on a cool phrase based on a little piece of revelation I recieved. I hope you guys enjoy it: Sometimes we're so busy marvelling at the might of the Mountain, that we shrink from the simplicity of the Step. My message for this week is not to worry. Don't worry about focusing on the things that aren't under your control. Don't worry about all of the things you WILL need to do. Be at peace. Look at the step, tasks, and planning that are in front of you. Work with what you can in the here and now. Don't waste time discouraging yourself by gaping at the height of the Mountain, simply start stepping and doing what you can. You'll get there faster, and more easily than you think. :) Love you guys. Keep Christ close to you, and the Spirit with you this week. God be with you. :) - Elder Michael Miles

10-15-12

Hello everyone! I hope, as I always do, that you find yourself feeling well today, and encourage you to do something about it if not. :) Things have been good since I last wrote. Had transfer calls and it turns out I am staying for another 6 weeks here with my same companion. No complaints there really. He is a good guy, and this town is a bit small, but it is good. :) I apologize also about last week. I was very pressed for time because of various circumstances and only had time to tell everyone that had written me that I had no time to write. It was rough. :/ This week, I would like to insert the answer that I gave to Mom about how my investigators are doing, and I will also be including a spiritual thought of course. :) How are my investigators doing? Well, I'll give you a little insight on 3 of the ones we are meeting with right now. We have a psychologist lady Frau Schwientek (not a German name, even though she is a German, pronounced shven-tek) we have cleared up some things with her recently, and are having a hard time some days because we get into such depth talking about different things that we don't make a whole lot of progress on the material. But I love meeting with her. Wonderful discussions and a very nice lady, and she reads what we give her to read in the Book of Mormon every week. :) We are also meeting with Frau Metke, a nice Lutherin lady. (many, many people are Lutherin here) The lessons are going well, and we are starting to talk to her about baptizm. She seems timid though. But she reads in the Book of Mormon now. :) We are also teaching an inactive woman and her husband, last name Pierschel (peer-shul), her husband is not a member, and she seems very interested in becoming active again. She also seems to be bringing her husband with. :) Nice people huh? The work moves forward. :) This week I would like to share a thought about a reference about Christ in the Book of Mormon, and the Old Testament: In Malachi 4:2 it reads: "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." And 3rd Ne. 25:2 reads: "But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall." Also, one more time mentioned in 2nd Ne 25:13: "Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in absepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name." I love this reference. 'Healing in His Wings'. Beautiful imagery. Wings as a symbol have always meant a lot to me, and I think they have a lot of meaning here. Often in the scriptures, Christ speaks talking about how He would have gathered His people under His wings as a hen gathereth her chicks, and they would not. In this sense, the wings refer to His loving care a protection. I also love the imagery of Christ's asscention, not just from the world, but from the grave. I love the beautiful image of Christ rising up and extending peace and love and healing to all that will come and turn unto Him. I would encourage you all to look unto the Christ. Just as seen with the brasen serpent on the staff, He has risen up as a symbol and guide and trailblazer, and He can heal you of all of your pains. He is the Master Physician. He will take care of you. I testify of that in His name, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Have a wonderous week everyone. I wish you all the best. Go do all you can for God, and then stand still as he works mighty miracles with what you have done. :) - Elder Michael Miles

10-8-12

Sorry, Michael didn't have enough time this week to write a blog post. Your friendly Blog-keeer, Andrew Miles, his little bro.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you all healthy and happy. :) I had my first walk in lesson the other night! Two actually... That was a big deal! It has been a long time on the mission, and now I finally got them! X) We were in the student housing across the street looking to re-establish contact with some contacts that were written down in the area book. We knocked on a door and an Arabic guy answered, and informed us that the person we were looking for had moved upstairs. We quickly transitioned it into a door approach and briefly introduced our message. He immediately let us in, and we talked to him all about our church and the restoration and the Book of Mormon. He told us a lot about what he believes as a Muslim, told us he is actually from Nasareth(spelling?), which is cool, and overall we just had a wonderful discussion. :) We went back to our appartment real quick and grabbed him a Book of Mormon in Arabic, gave it to him, and headed upstairs to talk to the other guy. We found him, but he had no recollection of having met with us. But he let us right in as well! He is a friend of the first guy, also an Arabic guy from Nasareth. Very cool. The same thing happened. Talked to him about our message, he talked a little about his and asked us some questions the same way we were asking him questions, and we placed a Book of Mormon in Arabic with him as well. Wonderful how God set it up so those two could receive the Book at the same time. Hopefully they can share their experiences and come to the Gospel together. Wouldn't that be great. :) In any case, it was a wonderful night of testifying about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ. Hopefully we were able to bring those two young men closer to Christ. :) Well, I hope you all have a good week. Go make it good. Keep close to Christ, for He is Mighty to Save. D&C 84:88 "- for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." Trust in your God. :) - Elder Michael Miles