Today is my 6th month mark as a missionary and I wish I was writing from Ecuador, but 'm home now. After 11 long days of intense quarantine in Ecuador, (no opening the front door and police on the streets all night picking up people outside) a willing member came in the middle of the night to get us out of our house. We left in gloves, masks, and goggles. It took me about 48 hours to get home, but after quite the adventure I'm safely here and very grateful for that. I don't understand a lot right now about what is going to happen, but what I do know is that I'm at home in "self-isolation quarantine" (meaning that I can't leave my house) for two weeks. I will be receiving a reassignment as soon as possible- but not really sure what timeframe that really means. Originally, the new assignments were going to be more systematic and logistic, but President Nelson has said that he wants each reassignment to come directly from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I think that's pretty neat, and I know that I will be reassigned based on revelation to another place that the Lord needs me (in the states most likely)- although I would LOVE to return to Ecuador.... (and that's an understatement)
I already miss Ecuador like crazy. That place and the people there will always have a piece of my heart. It was so hard to leave. It hadn't even really sunk in yet- probably because when I left, we were just so focused on getting out. I think this may be one of the hardest things that's ever happened to me.
One thought that's really brought me a lot of comfort in this time is that Heavenly Father loves me, has a plan for me, and will take care of me. That's a principle I've always taught and always believed, but now I've got to really trust it, because it is a lifeline for me right now. If He loves me, and always has my best interests in mind, and has a perfect plan for me that can't be foiled, then what am I worried about? It's of course easier said than done, especially when your heart feels broken, but I know that to be true. The Lord is in the details and if I am faithful to Him and to His commandments, I cannot fail. It's a pretty incredible truth.
This week is going to be an exciting one! It is the two hundredth anniversary of Joseph Smith's incredible First Vision, when God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to a boy in a grove of trees in answer to his prayer. Through Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ established His gospel again, the same gospel that He established when he lived here on Earth. Can we just pause a moment and consider the magnitude of that truth? God the Father and Jesus Christ have established their Church, and, since the time of Joseph, we have had a living prophet to lead and guide us. How grateful I am for that! It is not coincidence that before the world went upside down, we were focusing on home-centered gospel learning. It is not a coincidence that for years we've been doing our best to have home food storage. It isn't coincidence that this generation of young adults are technology wizzes and thus our ability to share the gospel isn't limited. It isn't coincidence that the Lord's priesthood power isn't limited to the church buildings, but to all worthy men to administer the sacrament to their families and those around them. It isn't coincidence that in recent years we have been taught to minister in higher and holier ways and have learned how to better take care of each other. It isn't coincidence because God is speaking to His prophet, Russell M. Nelson, and He is leading and guiding the affairs of His church. How blessed we are! So I would invite you, each of you, member or otherwise to tune in this coming weekend April 4 and 5, and listen to God's prophet, because he is going to speak to the world. He will be sharing with you what God would like you to know. It's an opportunity that is both collective for the Church, and individual as we prepare ourselves to hear His voice. I can PROMISE YOU, and I feel really strongly about it because if you take me up on this invitation you really will receive blessings, that if you will listen to what President Nelson has to say this weekend, and just come and see, you will feel the love God has for you personally, you will recognize him to be a prophet of God, and that as you follow his counsel, you will be blessed and protected and so will your families. I KNOW that is true, and if you're open and willing He will change your life. I've seen it time and time again in my own life, in the life of my family, and in the lives of those I had the blessing to come to know and love in Ecuador.
I'm so grateful for each and every one of you and your love, support, and prayers, and emails. You are the Lord's hands to lift and strengthen me when I need it most. I'll send out another email when I have a reassignment to share-- hope it's soon!
Lots of love from Nampa,
Hermana Miller
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