Elders & EASTER BASKETS!!

**EASTER SUNDAY**

Thanks Sister Melissa Heisel for taking this cute photo!!

Good Day my Son Elder Miles,

I love Easter for the simple fact of the reminder and focus on our Savior's triumph over death as he was raised TRIUMPHANT, GLORIOUS and MAJESTICALLY from the tomb. I am especially grateful for the scriptural accounts of those who were blessed to see him in all his GLORY. I am grateful for Joseph Smith's Vision of our Heavenly Father and His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. I have a testimony that our prophet and apostles today have audiences with him when occasions require and for their testimonies of him. And what an opportunity we have this weekend to listen to them all. I loved conference weekend on my mission I hope you do as well. This will be the second of 4 conference weekends that you will experience on your mission. Make the most of it and learn as much as you can from it.

Have a great day & week!
Love ya my son,
Papa

March 28, 2016 Press Forward...no sugar coatin' a missionary's frustration...

Well, one more week of the same stuff. I don't know what's going on. We haven't taught a lesson to a non member for over a month. Sorry there aren't any stories or experiences to share. I also don't have a lot of time to talk. Just stuff that's going on.... And I am sick of people yelling at me while they drive by and try to dump chewed up sunflower seeds on me. That's how things are going here. Hope you guys are doing better. Talk to you next week.



Author's note: Some scriptures that aid in our confusion, sadness, discouragement, frustration, & feeling overwhelmed. 
Doctrine & Covenants 58:4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

Moroni 7:33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
  
Doctrine & Covenants 121:1, 7-8 1 O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? 7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; 8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

Alma 38:4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee. 5 And now my son, [daughter], I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Doctrine & Covenants 24:8 Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

March 27, 2016 Happy Easter

                                                                                                                    

Did Jesus really live again? 

Yes, when the third day came, 

He wakened and he left the tomb; 

He called Mary's name. 

Did Jesus come to those he loved? 

Yes, people touched his feet, 

And of the fish and honeycomb 

He did truly eat. 

And there were nail-prints in his hands

And a spear wound in his side. 

Did Jesus really live again 

After he had died?

Oh yes! And so shall I! 

Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott, b. 1910. 

© 1977 IRI Music: Royce Campbell Twitchell, b. 1939.

© 1977 IRI 

Children's Songbook pg. 64

March 21, 2016 That's my story & I'm sticking to it....even if it is short

Hello hello,

This week was a pretty good week. We had the opportunity to do a ton of service. We were able to go to the Bishop's Storehouse and work a shift there, we helped someone move & we broke down someones fence. Good stuff. Service is fun.

Our investigators aren't investigating anymore. So there really isn't an update on that.

We were able to witness a crazy miracle on Saturday. I was literally a step from coming home... So more than half of our area is desert. We were walking along a trail next to a ditch to get to one side of our area to the other. As we were walking I heard Elder Trounce say "stop!" And so I did, confused. I saw him looking down at my feet, so I looked. And right there, kissing my toe with its tongue was a baby rattle snake. About 9 inches long. This thing blended perfectly with the rock and sand. And if anyone knows anything about rattle snakes, ususally they will bite you if you get anywhere near close to it. Our Heavenly Father truly does watch over us.

Well that is all for this week.  Talk to you later.

Love,
Elder Miles

RUN AWAY SNAKE!!!

I MEAN SLITHER! QUICKLY!! 

Not for the faint of heart! SNAKES, LIZARDS & Eeeww....oh my...

After researching a bit because Elder Miles' father was a somewhat concerned that killing a snake may be illegal in California...excerpts of an interesting article was found.

Rattlesnakes in California    

As springtime calls people and snakes alike to the outdoors, encounters with snakes become inevitable. California has a variety of snakes, most of which are benign. The exception is California’s only native venomous snake - the rattlesnake.

(it continues on with other information & several do's & don'ts of which 2 will be included for the reader)

• Do not handle a freshly killed snake, it can still inject venom. 
• Teach children early to respect snakes and to leave them alone. Children are naturally curious and will pick up snakes. 

Author's note: Ok, so good safety tips!!  Make sure to discuss these scenarios with your missionary before putting them on a plane:) Also, it is not breaking any laws to end a rattlesnakes life. So long as you adhere to the "bag limit of 2" per day. 

The "digestion" AND "dissection" of a rattlesnake....hence the eewww

Elder Miles on the "WALL OF MURRIETA"!! .....Nephite last week & Lamanite this week...hmmm, wonder if Samuel the Lamanite flashed the people a "hang loose" sign before he fled from their arrows...hopefully that's not sacrilege

Yea, for this cause I have sent you hither, and have selected my servant "Elder Ethan Miles" and have appointed unto him his mission in this land. 

Doctrine and Covenants 58:14 

(Some words taken from Nathan Miles' email to Elder Miles - March 14, 2016)

"The phrase “March Madness” this time of year means the NCAA basketball tournament and all the excitement with the "fanatic" and casual college basketball fans that turn fanatical for their teams. All of the build up for a 40 minute game that only one team can win and advance and the other goes home totally dejected. Let’s use this as a metaphor for missionary work. As of your last email a week ago you have one person ready to except the Gospel and get baptized this upcoming week. We are hoping and praying for him to make it to that “game day” and come out of the water victorious over the opponent, the Adversary. A victory for the Greatest team of all time lead by the Greatest coach of All, our Savior Jesus Christ."

Even though their investigator Shannon dropped his baptismal date, he still wants to learn more.  He told Elder Miles & Elder Trounce that he knows he will be baptized eventually.

March 14, 2016 Time does in fact "fly"!!

Hello hello,

This week has gone by way too fast. And the longer I'm on my mission the faster and faster it goes! Its crazy!

We were able to teach a couple more people this week. Including the Tinsay family. We have another lesson with them this week, but his daughters are excited to start coming to different activities like mutual. The ward also had an Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning and they went to that as well. And they helped clean the church building. So yeah, they are super cool.

Shannon dropped his baptismal date. So that is a bummer. But we are still working with him. He still wants to learn more. But there is something behind the scenes that we need to pull out that is holding him back. He brought his son to church again this week. Which is also awesome. He told us he knows he will be baptized eventually. He just feels like something is telling him not right now. blahhhhhhh! But things are going good. We are trying to figure out ways to get our ward more missionary minded. So if there are any ideas from you guys let me know!

The temperature here has cooled down to a freezing 65 degrees!!! Hahaha its funny to watch everyone walk around with huge winter coats on. But it has felt really good. You even get little hints here and there of the ocean breeze. It is so nice.

Anyways that how this week was. Super fun stuff. Talk to ya next week

Love,
Elder Miles

Silly shinanigans with the fun Heisel family!!

Sister Heisel mentioned that Elder Miles was trying out a GQ pose....alrighty!:)

March 7, 2016 Elder Ethan S. Miles........ Our "Nephi"

Springtime blossoms in Southern California - San Diego Temple grounds

"Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded “to mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort.” 

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf "You Are My Hands" April 2010

Elder Miles & his
signature photo of the local wildlife....

Thumbs up 

MR. GOAT!!

 San Diego Temple Trip -Elder Trounce & Elder Miles

"The San Diego temple is my favorite temple, and we are really lucky to go because it is outside of our mission."

March 7, 2016 "When you are focused on the Lord's work it is fun!!"

Hello all,

This week was pretty good. We were able to go to the temple on Tuesday. It was soo good. The San Diego temple is my favorite temple. And we are really lucky to go because it is outside of our mission.

We finally had a lesson with Shannon this week. And guess what?!? WE SET HIM ON DATE FOR MARCH 20TH!!! I feel like there is something else on that day though. Not really sure what it is. Oh well. But we are excited for that. He is such an awesome person and is so converted to the gospel. He knows that the Book of Mormon is true, and knows that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. 

We also did some service this week at a Catholic food pantry, where we are pretty much slaves for two hours. We clean up everything after people come through and grab food. But it is fun because we have other missionaries from our zone that go and we just mess around and play games.

This week Elder Trounce and I were talking about how fast time has gone by on the mission. He just hit his 6 month mark. And it really does. When you are focused on the Lord's work it is fun! We work really well together and get a lot done. We are going to start working with a part member family of a recent convert. He just received the higher priesthood. His whole family aren't members, but they have been going to mutual and came to his ordination. So we are also looking forward to that.

Well that is about it for this week. More good stuff coming up for next week. I will let you know how it goes!

Love, Elder Miles

P.S. Oh yeah!! The 20th is Miranda's birthday! Happy Birthday Miranda!

 

PASTRAMI BURGER 

+

ELDER MILES

=

BIG SMILE!!:)

"That's what I want to challenge you to do this week... Offer somebody service"

Sister Winegar sent this silly pic of 

Elder Miles & new companion Elder Trounce

I'd be scrunchin' my face up too Elder Trounce!:)

Feb. 29, 2016 Leapin' for joy on LEAP DAY for our Elder Miles:)... "it has been nice to go out and work all day every day!"

Daaaaaaaaaang!
This week has been so good! Elder Trounce and I get along really well which I am so grateful for. He is from Sandy. We are going to have a lesson tomorrow with Shannon and challenge him to baptism. He is so ready. He comes to church EVERY week and loves it. Yesterday he brought his son who is seven. And he was even asking really good questions. Also tomorrow we get to go to the temple again. It is going to be so nice.

This week we were able to do a ton of service. We went with our Zone Leaders off into the mountains of Murrieta to an old lady's house and took care of her horses. And that was super fun. Then we helped a non member lay down sod for a house that he is selling. But unfortunately he wouldn't let us leave without giving us each $100. Dang it. We seriously tried so hard to not accept it but he was actually getting mad that we wouldn't take it. So we did. Then we helped out at a book store. They were having a book sale and we had to clean it all up afterwards. But it has been nice to go out and work all day every day. Sharing the gospel with others is so much fun. And the blessings that come from it are great. Even if it's just a smile on your face. 

We are the banner on the mountain. People see us, so it is important that we are always being good examples. That is something that I have learned on my mission. How important it is. And service is one of the best ways to do it. So that's what I want to challenge you to do this week. Offer somebody service. Even just taking someones cart at the grocery store. "The GRO-SER-REE store." - The Best Two Years. Haha that just popped up in my mind.

Any ways, have a good week. Love you all!

Elder Miles

Sunday dinner & UNO with the amazing 

Heisel Family!
 

 Elder Miles & Charlie:)

February 22, 2016 "We will get a lot of work done!"

Well my new companion's name is Elder Trounce. I served with him at Edson Range for my second transfer there. He is a really cool guy and an awesome missionary and we will get a lot of work done. Elder Burandt was sick all week so we didn't really do anything because he wouldn't leave the apartment. So I am stoked to have a new companion.

We still haven't been able to meet with Shannon at all. That has been a little frustrating.

So nothing really happened this week. Just sat in the apartment. But that is going to change tomorrow. But I will talk to you all next week.

Love always,

Elder Miles

"I have determined that for so long as I have the strength to do so, I will get out and meet with the Saints I love."  Gordon B. Hinckley

Make His Way Your Way

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/christlike-attributes?cid=HP_FR_2-19-2016_dPFD_fYTH_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng

Feb. 14, 2016 Thank you Heisel Family for "warming our HEARTS"!!:)

Happy Valentines Day!!

Thanks so much to the amazing Heisel Family!! Sister Melissa Heisel posted this photo on Missionary Mommas & wrote, "Spent Valentines Day with these two AWESOME elders..."

P-Day ROLLERBLADING!! Looks fun!!:)

Feb. 16, 2016 Psst...Elder Miles, are we going to hear from you today??? (Have to tease him because it was 5pm our time when he emailed:)

Yeah, sorry I am late to emailing. Today we had a district activity in the morning so we did that then did all of our regular stuff throughout the day and now I'm here. Anyways this week was clearly a better week than the past couple. We were able to go out and work more and got to become more familiar with a lot of the members. Also, we were able to finally go to our Bishop's house and officially meet his family. They are super cool!

The temperature is gradually rising. Murrieta is known in the mission for it's hot summer. But .. if it is already in the high 80's in February, what does that mean the summer is like? It feels amazing biking in the heat, sweaty, with tight slacks, and a helmet, and a tight collar, sometimes in a suit... Mmmm, But hey! My legs will be personally described in Songs of Solomon 5:15 "His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of gold..." That is one positive way to look at it.

Well we are still only teaching Shannon at this point. Even though he has been super hard to catch because of work and his kid and a handful of other things. But he is coming to church every week and loves it.

My companion, Elder Burandt will be transferred this upcoming Tuesday. And it was also hinted by President Kendrick that I might be training again, so we will see how that works out. But exciting to think about. Things are going well here, and should pick up within the next week or so with the increase of work time so I will have more to email about.

But anyways I am out of time so I will talk to you next week.

Love,
Elder Miles

Elder Miles shares, "Knowing that as we let God "be for us," as we let him refine us, bend us, with these trials that we have on Earth, and learn from them, nothing can stop us from being our full potential. And I love that. There is a super awesome Mormon message about that..."

http://www.mormonchannel.org/blog/post/the-refiners-fire-mormon-message

Feb. 8, 2016 Dear Elder Miles... I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!! Love, Mom

Hello hello hello. This week has been a very humbling experience. And I had only realized that yesterday during church. I assume a lot of you are aware of the recent struggles that I have had in the field and outside of the field. And as I fasted yesterday, my purpose was to feel peace and comfort with the trials that I have had. During sacrament meeting I felt prompted to open my scriptures. And what I happened to turn to was Romans 8:31 - "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" That hit me pretty hard. God has been putting all of these things in my life because he wants me to turn to him, to let him guide me so that I can strengthen my relationship with him. And I realized that I have been selfish. Blaming others for these internal battles that I was making worse on my own. That I wasn't allowing God's will be my will. And as I understood that, I felt an incredible feeling of peace and comfort. Exactly what I had been fasting for. Knowing that as we let God "be for us," as we let him refine us, bend us, with these trials that we have on Earth, and learn from them, nothing can stop us from being our full potential. And I love that.

There is a super awesome Mormon message about that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIIgm6xABQ

Other than that not a whole lot has been going on. I can testify as a disciple of Jesus Christ that the church is true, the book is blue and Jesus is a mormon.

Talk to you next week.

Love always,
Elder Miles

Feb. 2, 2016 COURAGE!! ON, ON TO THE VICTORY! Hang in there Elder Miles! Sending prayers & LOVE!!

Feb 1, 2016 Uplifting inspiration from amazing leaders, scriptures & song. These have also been shared with Elder Miles

Trust in the Lord....It was intended that life be a challenge, not so that you would fail, but that you might succeed through overcoming. You face on every hand difficult but vitally important decisions.

- Richard G. Scott

Look unto me in every thought;doubt not, fear not. 

D&C 6:36

There are occasionally hard days for each of us. Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. In a dark and troubled hour the Lord said to those He loved: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” 

(John 14:27)

Gordon B. Hinckley

IT IS YOUR REACTION TO ADVERSITY, NOT THE ADVERSITY ITSELF, THAT DETERMINES HOW YOUR LIFE’S STORY WILL DEVELOP. 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

When Faith Endures 

 I will not doubt, I will not fear; 

God's love and strength are always near. 

His promised gift helps me to find 

An inner strength and peace of mind. 

I give the Father willingly 

My trust, my prayers, humility. 

His Spirit guides; his love assures 

That fear departs when faith endures.

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 

 

I want to be kind to everyone for that is right you see! 

So I say to myself, "Remember this...."

January 25, 2016 wise words...Keep on KEEPIN' ON!!

This last week has been super hard. I don't know what is going on I feel like I am depressed. I was going to talk to President on Saturday because we had quarterly interviews but he ran out of time and I didn't get the chance. I am really frustrated & unfortunately our ward doesn't trust us.

I went on exchanges with a missionary in my district this week. His name is Elder Martinez. He is pretty cool. It was nice to get out and share the gospel. We worked super hard, his area has a lot of big hills and it was super fun. We are both kind of going through the same thing right now companion wise. So we were able to let most of our emotions out by just talking about it. And we set some really good goals that should help us out a lot more.

Shannon came to church yesterday. He is learning a lot and I feel in the next couple weeks that if we don't set a baptismal date, he will set a date for us. During class he was talking and being super involved. It was awesome. Something I didn't know is that he is dating a member that is in our ward that is super solid and that is going to help him progress a lot. Other than that not a whole lot happened this week.

Just gotta keep on keepin on and we will get there. The key to solving problems as a missionary is attitude. Things will work out & I believe we will turn this area around. Anyways I will update you next week on how it goes. Love you all!

Love always,

Elder Miles

January 25, 2016 Wanting to take liberties again...some other "wise words" from another Elder Miles I know...I am so blessed to have such men in my life that encourage & uplift me. A few excerpts of Nathan's words to our son...

...I can promise you this... the next 18 months will be the GREATEST of your life if you give yourself completely to them. School, football and the future Mrs. Ethan Miles will all work out...you will learn so much and grow closer to your Heavenly Father and elder brother Jesus Christ & they will guide you through it all. Read your patriarchal blessing weekly and watch in joyful amazement how it comes to pass.

I love you My Son Elder Miles
Kia kaha - "Stay Strong"
Pops (Jan 2016)



...Take advantage of every opportunity and make every effort to learn and grow from these experiences. As I was driving into work this morning I was listening to the Book of Alma and the account of Moroni and the scripture that says if we could all be like Moroni the very power of Hell could not prevail against us. Then it goes onto say that Moroni was like unto Ammon and Aaron and the sons of Mosiah. They all were great missionaries, leaders and true believers in our Savior Jesus Christ. I hope you read the account in Alma 38 this past week and tried to implement it in your life. I hope you know just how many people are praying for you every day. Help our Heavenly Father answer their prayers. Have a Great Day, set goals to challenge you individually and as a companionship, and a District, and then pray for guidance to meet those goals and have a GREAT Week.
I love you MY SON,
Papa. (Dec 2015)


Elder ETHAN “my son” Miles, As part of this 12 days of CHRISTmas that mom has engaged in I would like to share a testimony with you. I would like you to know that I gained a “for my own” testimony when I was 13 or so. Or should I say that it was about that time that I REALIZED I had my own testimony. I never doubted the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I always loved going to church and being a part of it. However it was about that time that I started to sincerely pray and saw answers to my prayers and then I asked directly if it was true and I received an answer. My testimony has only grown from there, as they say “a line upon line, here a little there a little” over time I can now say because of personal experiences that I KNOW my Savior lives, that he is the SON of a living GOD, our Heavenly Father and everything that has been revealed through living Prophets. The priesthood power is real and more powerful than we can imagine and if we are in tune with the spirit and worthy of this wonderful power we can be the instrument on earth to BLESS the lives of our fellow Brothers and Sisters. I know we can receive personal revelation and it was that very power that sent you to us to be our first born. It was through the Priesthood power and the proper keys that were restored to the prophet Joseph Smith that sealed you to us and made you our first born in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. I LOVE YOU and hope that this Christmas will be one of the BEST ever. It won’t be the same as the 17 prior Christmases but it can be one of the most special.
Love always,
Papa (Dec 2015)