Well hello from RAINY California!! This last week and a half has been CRAZY! Wind + Rain + Cold + HAIL + Flooding streets + Dark clouds = a gloomy week. It definitely made working on the grounds no fun, even just walking from our cars indoors to our appointments was crazy! As soon as you step out side you get demolished with rain and wind. Forget spending time on hair, there is NO point! On night in particular, I woke up to a LOUD crack and thunder and then immediately it started down pouring hail! I sleep right next to the window so I peaked out and sure enough, dime-sized hail is coming down! It only lasted a few minutes, but it was intense! I guess there was also a tornado warning.. but of course we don't get the news so we had no idea what was going on!! Long story short, it was a very eventful week! Luckily, it's all passed and sunny again- phew!
  Mormon Battalion is opening THIS SATURDAY! How exciting! It's the big Old Town celebration, and they say whether it's ready or not, it's opening! We get trained this week, we're there for the majority of the day so that'll be fun! This morning we even had to go and get fitted for our "bloomers", yeah we're legit. You'll get pictures, don't fret.
  But guess what we're doing today for pday! We're going to the San Diego Zoo, soo I'll obviously have to use my debit card for that. But I figure, while I'm down here, I have to do it!
  So sorry it's such a short email... we don't have much time this week. I hope things are going good! Hey we were reading an ensign the other day, and there was a really good article in there- it's called Family Home Evening for Two. I'm not sure what year it was or month... so hopefully there is SOME way to find it. But everyone should read search around for it, and read it! I love you all and I really hope you have a fabulous week. Gahhh President is here, I have to go! I love you!
Quick spiritual though- strive to have your own personal devotional, EVERYDAY. It's in those moments that you get close to your Heavenly Father and your testimony of the restored gospel is strengthened. I love you!
Love,
Sister Miller

This last weekend was Stake Conference and we had a broadcast from Salt Lake.. I guess they do them once a year or so? Anyways, we had President Uchtdorf speal, Elder Holland, Sister Matsumori, and Elder Edgley, and then in person we had Elder Richards (from the 2nd quorum of the 70) and well the whole meeting was just really good! The number one thing that I loved, was advice at President Uchtdorf gave. He said that we need to be focused on Praying DAILY, Studying Gods word DAILY, and being worthy of a temple recommend. I know these things are often repeated in the church, but it just goes to show how essential they truly are. I pray that you're all doing these things and in turn becoming closer to our Heavenly Father, if you aren't yet, then start. We can't afford to pass up the blessings that come from doing this.

I hope you have an incredibly amazing week!
Love,
Sister Miller

HELLO!! It's been such a fabulous week! I hope it's been a great week for you all as well :) SO FOR THE BIG NEWS... I didn't get transferred. Which is great! I'm ok with that :) Sister Ploeger and I already know each other, our strengths and weaknesses, we know the people in the ward and have trust and good friendships with them... this is when we'll really be able to work hard and reap the fruit. We've already been able to witness some miracles! During weekly planning we were setting goals for how many people we're going to baptize this month and we set the goal of 2. And would you guess what?!!? WE'VE GOT OUR TWO! Well they aren't baptized YET.. but we have an investigator that has a baptismal date for the 24th and we have another investigator and hopefully we'll set the same date for her this week! Can you tell I'm a little excited about this!? Bailey randomly came to church yesterday and introduced herself this way "Hi my name is Bailey and I'm not a member, but I want to be!"  MUSIC TO MY EARS! So keep them in your prayers, I know Heavenly Father is trusting me with these two and I just hope and pray that I'll be a literal tool in His hand and the spirit will work through me, Ohhh I just hope that things will go well. We're so blessed in this mission!

  So as you can tell, things are going well :) I don't know if I've told you this yet.. but here's a couple of things that I've learned since I've been on the mission. 1) I talk in my sleep, I'm guessing this is because we do so many roll plays that I just continue doing it while I'm sleeping! 2) My eyes twitch, I'm guessing this is because I've reached a new level of stress. 3) Headaches, I never used to get them, but uhh well I do now! Good thing I have ibuprofen (however you spell it). I've obviously learned a ton more, but these are a couple of new things going on with me!

  We also helped a couple move out (S. Ploeger knew them) last Monday night and boy did we inherit a lot of housewear, it was amazing!! Get this, we got a fondue thing (not sure when I'll ever use that!), an ice cream maker (we're very excited about that, what a great pday activity! YUM! There's even recipes for frozen yogurt!), George Forman Grill (amazing, right), blender (yay for smoothies!), a food processor (not sure what we'll do with that, but S. Ploeger says she has a hummus recipe!), pots and pans and Tupperware (always nice to have around), and a lot of other things too! I'm pretty sure they just gave us all their wedding presents, but hey I won't complain!

  I love all of you and I pray that you're doing good! I'm so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life to strengthen and support me! There's another thing I want to mention that I've learned... How crucial member missionary work is. In San Diego, 80% of the member referrals are baptized. I know there are people in your lives that are placed there for a reason. And I can't help but feel that part of that reason is for you to share the gospel with them. The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives, and brings peace and happiness that cannot be experienced any other way. I encourage you all to pray that you'll have missionary opportunities and then be on the look out for this unexpected opportunities and be bold :) I know you guy can do this. As a missionary, we need you're help!

You're all so great, I sincerely thank you for all you do. You're amazing! Remember to communicate with your heavenly father, he wants to talk with you and bless you. Remember to study the scriptures. These two things are fundamental to experiencing joy and happiness. We've also inherited a ton of old Ensigns- they're all so great! It's amazing to see how the counsels still apply even though they're 10+ years old. Read them, they're great. Everything is great (can you tell I've been saying that a lot, I just noticed it. I think it's because we've just been blessed in so many ways. And when you make a point to notice the blessings around us, it's hard not to praise and thank our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And I definitely thank Him for all of you. I love you! I hope you have a fabulous day, and look for all those great things around you. Talk to you next week!

Love,
Sister Kimaree Miller

HAPPY RENEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Gosh, 2010- really!?!? I cannot believe it. Where does the time go and why won't it just slow down a bit! Good grief. My New years was good, we had to be back in our apartments by 4:30 and in bed like usual by 10:30 sooo we celebrated Chicago's new year at 10 with Martinelli’s... delicious! I love that stuff. But yeah it was a good day! We street contacted down on Garnet in Pacific Beach area... there's actually a lot of bars on that street so we saw all the people that started celebrating a little earlier, there were more than I expected! It was crazy, every hour on the hour there would always be a couple of hoops and hollers from inside the bars. Yeeeah, they like their alcohol here just as much as anywhere else! But for the most part, it was a good day.
  So transfers are this week, yup- I've been in the field for a full transfer already! Tomorrow night we'll get a phone call to let us know if we're getting transferred or not. But nothing will change as far as pday and where mail is sent, so don't worry about that! Cross your fingers that something good will happen :D (I'm not saying what I want.. I don't even know what I want.. I just know that whatever happens will be right.)
  But yeah, not much has changed, another week has flown by! We're stlil working on visiting less actives, former investigators, and potential investigators. But we are still doing a lot of street contacting and door knocking. And it seems like all we're able to get out is that we're missionaries and we have a message that will bless their lives and bring them peace and joy- in which they quickly answer back that they've already been saved or they go to another church, or they're just busy. They come up with a lot of excuses!
  For example, here's a story for you- we knocked on a door and a guy in his 20's answered. We introduced ourselves and he said he was catholic but thanks anyways. "So I said, oh that cool! I don't really know much about that religion, what are some of your beliefs? What do you like about that religion?" And he had seriously NOTHING to say!! So I was like, "do you believe in God and Jesus Christ" and he said yes. And I asked "if he know's that Heavenly Father has a plan for him", and he said yes. And I asked "if he believes that there's life after death" and he said yes. Um clearly something is wrong, he was just agreeing with us and had nothing to say other than yes! Grr. So we just gave him a pass along card and told him to have a good day. It's ok though, I know that one of these days they'll be ready to listen, now's just not the time.
   Ohhh well you all are just so great. Thank you for all you do, the letters and packages are great! I love you!
  I know the church is true and I know that although the church can seem demanding, it's all worth it, and it's all for experience and growth. I know that we are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. I know that He has a plan for us and wants us to be happy and have peace and joy in our lives. And I also know that the ONLY way to return to our Heavenly Father and to live with each other for all eternity is through his son Jesus Christ, and because of the atonement we are able to be forgiven of the sins that we so often commit. But I know that it is possible, and the forgiveness we can recieve is attainable. I've felt the power and fogiveness of the atonement in my life and I'm so extremely grateful for it.
  I love each of you. You are in my prayers and I hope you're doing well :) You're the best. I hope you all have a wonderful week, full of joy and laughter :)
Have a FABULUOS WEEK!
Love,
Sister Miller