SURPRISE!!

Hello my wonderful family!

So we got our new schedule for the visitor center training, and with the new schedule we got a new pday. So lucky for me and my companion, we had to go a week and a half without a pday. But the training so far has been really good! It was a little rough at first, our Elders from our district left Tuesday morning so that was a sad day. Our district was just so close, we instantly became good friends so it was a sad/happy goodbye. It was a learning experience though, I'll probably have lots of experiences like that in the field, leaving a good ward or extra good companions! And it was basically just really weird going from a district of 10 to a district of 30 sisters. Lots of estrogen!

   But things are going well and I'm learning a lot! Last night we had a TA (teaching appointment) and we set up this room to look like a visitor center, it actually looked pretty legit. So after all the volunteer investigators came in, I stood on the stage to welcome and introduce the Christus presentation- while I was up on the stage I realized that Clayton Anderson was among the investigators! Crazy right? After the TA was over and we were cleaning up things we ran into each other again and caught up for awhile. He called Jud and bragged to him about who he was with and then I had him call Mom to brag to her too! Haha sorry mom, looking back that was kind of mean to do to you. I apologize. But yeah it was really cool running into  him! The whole night went really well, I'm starting to be more and more comfortable with teaching and giving tours so that's good, it's about time! Just in time to leave.

   Here's some little details about my flight plans. I report to the traveling office Tuesday at 5:00am, my flight leaves at 8..ish. I'm told that we are allowed to call home while at the airport, except I haven't really asked a teacher that yet so I'll do that probably tonight at class and find out for sure if that's allowed. If it is, do you want me to buy a calling card here at the bookstore or do collect? Write me a dearelder and let me know which! I'd probably call moms cell around 7, so have it charged up.. not that we'll be able to talk much, but you know what I mean!

   So guess who arrived at the MTC Wednesday? Elizabeth Smart. We saw her at the cafeteria for lunch... she looked terrified! And it was kind of sad, a lot of people were looking at her.. I'm sure she felt like a museum exhibit. It was sad. But I've seen her since then and she looks like she's warming up to the place and doing well. By the way, she is beautiful! She's a good example of a strong woman.

   Speaking of good examples, I keep forgetting to mention who we have at Devotionals every Tuesdays and Firesides every Sunday and Relief Society on Sundays. So far we've had Sheri Dew, Sister Oakes, and guess what... apparently Holland is coming this Tuesday  :( Bummer I leave that morning! They call it the "hollandays" because he always comes at holidays. So I'm sad that I'll miss his talk, but I'm very excited to get to the field at the same time! I've received another letter from the mission president.. basically it said that I better be studying as much as I can and come prepared because they really need me to be ready to jump right into the work. Talk about pressure!! I've been trying extra hard to learn everything I can and actually remember it! Its hard to know exactly what to study though.

   But like I said, things are going really well here! I can't believe I leave in 4 days! Crazy! Oh and just to share a quick spiritual experience. On Wednesday we met with our new teacher Sister Murphy. We did this one activity that was so awesome! She had us close our eyes and then she read to us D&C 84-88 and she had us picture Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ standing literally by our sides knocking on doors and having His angels round about us, including our passed ancestors and future children. Holy cow, the spirit was so strong I felt like I could just reach out and touch it! It was an amazing activity, it definitely started a tear festival, which was like dominos with that many sisters in such closed corners!

   Well I hope you're all doing well, I love you so much! This last Monday night our district had FHE with our teacher so we all brought pictures of our families and shared stories. It was fun. Alright well keep me up to date on things around there. For instance- what's going on with the house? And where did Shell and Kurt move? That's just ya know, a minor detail? And what are people doing for vacations! ok ok that's enough. I have to get going. I love you all so much! Have a FABULOUS week. Next time I write you an email it will be in warm San Diego :)

Love,
Sister Miller