♦ Elder Miller week 13 (11-14-2022)

 Bon Dia!

I hope everyone is doing well! It has been a good week here in Aruba. It's been kind of rainy here this last week which meant a lot of cancelled lessons, which was hard but it led to us focusing our efforts on finding and we ran into a lot of cool people. We have these little pass-along cards (a picture of Christ and we put our phone number on the back) that not a lot of missionaries use, but right now while the language is still a work in progress, handing people this card with a smile is the best I can do. I have given out a decent amount of these cards and haven't seen any in the street or trash yet, so I'd say it's working. 

 

Last p-day my hair was getting long and just annoying with a bike helmet so I was going to go get it cut but found out it was kind of spendy so one of the elders in our district said he could do it. I was hesitant at first, but he said he'd been doing it the whole mission. So I couldn't say no to a free haircut. I asked for a length I've had it cut, my whole life. He finished and it wasn't terrible, besides a short stripe down the middle of my head. So the only way he could fix that, was a buzz. Honesty, its been nice not having to deal with it, but it does feel weird. Whatever, it was bound to happen at some point so oh well haha. 

 

Last pday we went to a petting zoo kind of place.  Lots of neat animals but I must’ve gotten too close to the camel with carrots in my hand because he came at me! 

 

Had a super cool experience this week with Benjamin! We asked him if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. He said he wanted to, but then gave the classic islander response: "one day". But it was really neat, the spirit that was felt, and he wants it, but maybe after a few more lessons and then we can bring it up again. He knows he's found the truth, just needs to take that leap of faith!

 

The languages are coming! This week actually I ran into an older Arubian woman who I chatted with for a bit. At the end of our conversation she asked me how long I'd been in Aruba, and she was so impressed with my Papiamento for being here for such a short time. It was a payoff for sure, and a reassurance that it is coming. Slowly, but coming.

 

In my personal study I was reading in the end of 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon and I loved this verse in 2 Nephi 31:19

 

And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

 

In every, Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson we teach, enduring to the end is the last principle. We always have to remember baptism is only the door, and there is so much more on the covenant path. Continuing in the little things everyday, that build our faith, and our testimony is how we endure to the end. Remembering Temple covenants and following the words of our prophet in daily repentance, even letting go of our most "favorite sins' is how we progress on this path. The way is narrow, but the path is straight, and this path is only where we can find true and lasting JOY!

 

Pasa bon siman! Thanks for all the love and support. You all mean a ton to me!

-Elder Miller