From the Missionary Mom website

From last Thursday...

visit http://emailgroups.ourldsfamily.com
...Here is his story as told by his mom, Angie Miller, in Brentwood, TN, after she talked to him on the phone:

Friends and family, Elliott just called from Samoa still in shock but safe. He relayed what just took place during the tsunami and I wanted to pass the info along while it is fresh. I am still in shock and am trying to focus. I will send out an email and post this info on Facebook so you may get a duplicate. I was just at a meeting when my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number so I almost didn't pick it up. But the ladies in my meeting encouraged me to so I did. It was Elliott calling from Samoa sounding a little in shock and raspy. Here is what happened and I'm still reeling from relief and gratitude.

Yesterday morning at 6:48 Elliott was in the shower when the 8.3 quake hit. He said it was strong but not destructive. He and his companion got a laugh at the thought of him in the shower during an earthquake. They were staying in the home of another family in the village of Malaela on the southeast coast of Upolu. Just as he was drying off and getting his underwear on a family member from the house was up working on a hill and called down that a tsunami was coming. Elliott didn't think it was serious but threw on some shorts and his white mission shirt. He went outside to see what was going on and saw people running and screaming toward the forest. He grabbed some sneakers and started running too. He picked up some kids and started running with them. His companion turned around and the water was right behind them. There was no high ground to go to so they ran to some trees and climbed them. As he got up in the tree the water hit the tree and started rising quickly. He said the water came up about 5 feet and started pulling on the tree. He was afraid the tree would be pulled out and taken out to sea. Pretty soon the water receded and they got down from the tree and ran deeper into the woods. His companion thought they should stay in the woods through the day and not go down to the beach which made Elliott mad. He thought they should go into the village and try to help. Finally later in the afternoon they went down to their village and the whole village including their home (which was made of cynder block and wood) and all their belongings were swept out to sea. They did the best they could to try and find debree and other things but did not find anything. There were people in the distance picking up dead bodies. Around 4:00 2 other missionaries happened to be going by and saw Elliott and his companion. They were able to help some and then took Elliott and his companion to Apia to the mission home which is where he is now. They were able to shower and eat and he is borrowing some clothing. He is still getting transfered in 2 days to Pago Pago as was planned. The day of the quake was transfer day meaning missionaries change locations and companions. His friend Elder Larsen was coming in on a ferry from Western Samoa during the quake and when the ferry got to the port they saw the water emptying out and the ferry was able to back out and avoid the shore. Elliott said from the time of the quake until the tsunami hit was 6 minutes. The patriarch and his wife perished in the tsunami. The temple was not damaged but the trumpet fell off of the angel Moroni. Elliott noted that had the man on the hill not called to warn them or had the earthquake been in the middle of the night the situation would have been much different for him. During the drive to Apia another alarm went off and people were running and screaming so they floored the car to get out of the area but it was a false alarm. He is sunburned and tired. He's lost his clothing, camera, journal, scriptures, notes, study material, toletries and travel documents. He wanted to know if it was on the news here and I told him it was and that friends and family have been calling from all over to make sure he was ok. I told him to be strong and that we love him and and for him to help in the recovery. I can't believe how close we came to losing him. I wasn't worried when I heard about the quake but then when I heard about the tsunami and knowing that his last location had been on the southeast coast I was very very scared. He said he and his companion got the worst of it but noted another set of missionaries were driving and a wave hit their car and tossed them but they are fine. He said he figured I was worried and I said it wasn't like he had a cold or something. I told him that Sage was warning me throughout the day that he would be mad if he knew I was worrying. Sage said she now understands why we pray every day and that it does help. Thanking you all for your nice words of comfort and love. I'll let you know if anything new comes of Elliott's life changing experience. Angie

Quote

"The most effective way to share the gospel is to live it. When we live like disciples of Christ should live, when we aren't just good but happy to be good, others will be drawn to us."
Sheri Dew

Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God

Not being around my daughters for a few days - and knowing the older two will be gone more and more as they go off to college - has made me really miss them this week. Below is the song I used to sing to them. It was my favorite 'lullaby.' [I don't recall singing to the boys (sorry guys), just humming whatever came to mind.] I learned this song as a teenager at girls' camp. I was listening to it this morning in the car and got a little teary. I just want them to know that it is still my wish for them as they move on in life.

Walk tall

Be strong

Remember who you are.

Love, Mom.

"Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart,
A prayer for each of you there is a special part.
That you remember who you are and He who lives above.
Please seek for him and live his ways; You'll feel his love.

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Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

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Long before the time you can remember,
Our Father held you in his arms so tender.
Those loving arms released you as he sent you down to earth.
He said, "My child, I love you. Don't forget your great worth."

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Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

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This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way his path we may not see.
But remember always that you are not alone.
He'll take your hand, He loves you! He will guide you home.

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Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand."

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You can here it and other songs by clicking here. They sing it a little faster than I do. But, they're not thinking lullaby.

Thoughts

"I know that I am not what I must become. I pray that I might be willing and moldable to the Lord's tutoring and correction." - Neil L. Andersen. from this talk

Thursday's Thought

I thought Shawn's thought was really great. Go here to read it.

Thursday's Thought

"Individual recognition is rarely an indication of the value of our service. We do not know the names, for example, of any of the 2,000 sons of Helaman. As individuals, they are unnamed. As a group, however, their name will always be remembered for honesty, courage, and the willingness to serve. They accomplished together what none of them could have accomplished alone."
From Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk "Lift Where You Stand."

Thursday's Thought

While I was reading Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk "The Power of Covenants" this scripture really stood out to me:

"...willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice..." D&C 97:8

Sacrifice implies an awful lot. So, I had to stop and ponder...

Am I willing to sacrifice to keep my covenants? to obey the Lord's commands? Do I jump in whole-heartedly - with both feet? Am I going for the "A"?

No, I'm sorry to say ... I think ... I'm often guilty of more of a ... half-hearted attempt ... doing just enough "to pass." Sorta skating by.

Now, don't get me wrong. Just passing might be really great for some people, it might be all they can do, their best effort. But, I don't think I fall into that category. I could do better. I need to do better. I want to get an A. I want to graduate with honors.

And that made me think of another quote, this one from Lawrence E. Corbridge's talk "The Way":

"He paid the price of our education." meaning the Lord, of course.

So, not only am I away at school, getting an education, I'm here on scholarship. I'm here on scholarship and I've been slackin off. Time to repent and get back to work.

Thursday's Thought

"I delight in the examples of those in the scriptures who walk by faith on their earthly journey. Each time I walk with Abraham and Isaac on the road to Mount Moriah, I weep, knowing that Abraham does not know that there will be an angel and a ram in the thicket at the end of that journey. We are each in the middle of our earthly path, and we don't know the rest of our own stories. But we, as Abrahan, are blessed with miracles."
Susan W. Tanner
See or hear the rest of this talk from the Sunday morning session of April 2008 Conference here.

Thursday's Thought

"As I learn a new tidbit of truth ... I find that the Lord tests me as to whether I will apply it and use it."

That's SO true. I think the adversary tests us too, to make sure we don't. 'Cause his work is so much easier if he can stop us BEFORE we make it into a habit. I got this quote from this site (specifically from this post) which I just recently discovered by checking out the links on this site, which is also good. It's a journal of sorts with lots of really great lessons on love, charity and Christ-like qualities and how he's learning about them and applying them in his life. It's REALLY GOOD. So check it out when you have some quiet time to sit and read something spiritually uplifting. Loved it!

Conference Quotes

From the Saturday Morning Session:

"reverence is profound respect mingled with love" - David O. McKay (Margaret S. Lifferth).

"know and know that you know" - Allan F. Packer

"in times of trial let covenants be paramount, obedience exact" - D. Todd Christofferson

"a trial is an invitation to grow" - Henry B. Eyring

From the Saturday Afternoon Session:
"You're gonna text your talk?" M. Russell Ballard's grandson

"if we desire more faith we must be more obedient" Kevin W. Pearson

From the Sunday Morning Session:
"Discipleship is not a spectator sport" Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"The Lord will shape the back to fit the burden" Neil L. Andersen quoting Pres. Monson
And Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was so good I got sucked in and forgot to take notes.

From the Sunday Afternoon Session:
I liked the GPS analogy with the "Warning: Lost Reception" by Jose A. Teixeira
"Decisions determine destiny" Elder Teixeira quoting Pres. Monson
And also by Pres. Monson - regular temple attendance gives us "strengthened resolve to keep the commandments"

What were your favorites?

Go here to see/hear them yourself.

Thursday's Thought

"The same Everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday. Either he will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings."
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Here's a Thought

"Every relationship - husband and wife, parent and child, best friends, colleagues - is dependent on trust. It is not possible to have a relationship with someone you cannot trust. The only thing you can have with someone you can't trust is a strategy." Sheri Dew

I've discovered that I'm not any good at strategy - and I don't want to be.
I prefer relationships of trust.

Spiritual Thought

"...when we focus on the important and forgo the frivolous, we gain confidence and our spirits are lifted."
Sis. Beck, MAR 2009 Ensign

spiritual thought

"Satan trembles, when he sees the weakest Saint upon his knees." William Cowper