81 Downhill,
I told my Mom that I never really liked running downhill, and it hasn’t really changed being out here in the mission field! All things are going well in Alabama though. A lot of good people that we are meeting and a lot of great things happening! We’ll be visited by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on Saturday and then transfers will happen so, here we go! I have a testimony that no matter what happens the church moves forward because it is run by our Lord, Jesus Christ and a loving Heavenly Father.
This week we went tracting a lot. We had a couple of long, slow, harder days but they were another day in the Lord’s service nonetheless! We found several people who have expressed themselves being generally okay with us coming by which is where it all starts. As Alma teaches, “let this desire work in you until ye can give place for a portion of my words.” We’ve met Adam, Ty, and Karen this week who are all somewhat intrigued by what we have to share. When Elder Davis and I were talking to Adam I couldn’t help but compare our experiences to Ammon’s in teaching King Lamoni. He didn’t really believe in a lot concerning God and who he was. But as we talked about Him being our Father and how He has a plan for each of us, etc., he started to feel something. Enough of something to take a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and invite us back to talk again. Ty invited Elder Davis and I in as well and we had a good conversation of which he asked a lot of questions about why we do certain things. It was interesting because they could’ve been confrontational, even antagonistic, but they weren’t. We are going back tonight and he asked if he could cook us dinner as well. The Spirit is definitely the ultimate teacher and if it wasn’t for him we couldn’t do much. Karen was a lady who let Elder Hamblin and I in and let us teach her about the Book of Mormon. She went out of town but hopefully we’ll get back there as well.
Crystal and Oscar are doing alright. They weren’t able to make it to church because of some family issues and things but be praying for them. Our Christmas Eve miracle! We also met a lady named Meeka for a lesson this past week. Elder Gwira and I actually knocked into her door and we weren’t able to teacher her then but we set up an appointment for a week or so out and she actually kept the appointment. She said her husband didn’t want us coming over but she met us at the church and we had a great lesson with Brother Morgan, who I might add is a huge help to us-shout out to him! Kathy is another lady that Elder Egbert and I met, then Elder Hamblin and I taught her and her husband the Restoration. SHe seems more interested than him but we went by yesterday and talked to her again and she’s doing her research in reading and praying about the Book of Mormon! It was a short and sweet visit but very powerful. Enough to mention in the email at least.
We had another super powerful lesson on Wednesday. We went and taught a lady named Ashley with Brother Morgan with us. She was so open to the Spirit and she told us that she recognized it. After the lesson Brother Morgan made a comment about how he felt God’s love for her during the entire mission. It was really cool because we told Brother Morgan how we are able to feel that for almost every single person we meet (we’re not perfect) and how wonderful a feeling it is when they realize it as well. Unfortunately, despite the amazing spiritual experience Ashley told us the next day that she wasn’t interested in continuing our meetings. Those are the hardest times of my mission, is when someone undoubtedly feels the Spirit and denies the truth and turns back toward traditions.
- A guy named Steven invited us into his home when it was super cold one night. Then we discovered he was an “ordained” minister. (Great). We had a good conversation though, and then it turned into a little bit of an argument of why we believe what we believe. All of the things he and his wife (which was funny because what she said never made sense and so he kinda shut her down a little bit; her name was Sarah) brought up we justified! Then he resorted to the one thing that ever major Christian Church in the world doesn’t understand-the Trinity and the nature of God. We left soon after that, but not before he gave us the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds to read through.
- Ty talked about a revelation he gained by the Spirit concerning Revelations 22:18...that is wasn’t talking about the Bible but singularly the book of revelation! First person I’ve met in Alabama that understands that scripture.
- We played street basketball with a couple of guys for a few minutes and totally won. Haven’t done that since Elder Harris and I and Elder Schrubb and I in Wetumpka!
- We knocked on a door and got a response from someone, “Who is it?” “The missionaries!” “Who?!” “The missionaries!” (in a very bubbly manor). *Door opens* “Hi, it’s the missionaries!” (again in a bubbly manor).
- Julie was a 13-year-old girl who we met tracting who was super nice. One of the coolest midgets I’ve met on my mission.
- Met an old man who is 83 and jogs everyday...in his living room because his doctor told him it’s too cold outside.
All is well in Hoover! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! I love my mission and I couldn’t be happier, except the whole running downhill thing, it hurts my knees. Keep strong and stay on the covenant path! If you’ve fallen off, get back on! “His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come” (The Living Christ). Have a blessed day!
Much Love,
Elder Milius
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Godspeed,
ELDER MICHAEL S. MILIUS
ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM MISSION
"Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." ~3 Nephi 5:13
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