Alright so now for the big news that all of you are you patiently waiting
for. I'm sure you've all been dreaming about it, thinking day and night
about possibilities of things that could have happened this last Friday.. well let me just say, you're all wrong :) Drum roll please.......... I MET ELDER HOLLAND.. I SHOOK ELDER HOLLANDS HAND!  Ok so I'll tell you the whole story... We started off the morning with Sister Smith and I picking out our BEST outfits.. after all, we're meeting an APOSTLE. We did our hair as nice as we
can. And then we sat patiently in the chapel at Mission Valley Stake
building. All missionaries we suppose to be there at 9:30 sitting and
reading their scriptures patiently, well we got there at 8:40 and apparently we weren't the only ones wanting to go early to get a good spot. We pulled up at there were already 8-9 cars in the parking lot, we were all just a little excited about it. This is a once in a life time opportunity, to meet an apostle of the Lord in such an intimate and personal setting. We were told that he would instruct us for about 2 hours... so until 12. I sat in the second row, just diagonal from the podium. At about 9:35 President Donaldson came in and told us that Elder Holland would be here in just 3 minutes and that he had asked him if we wouldn't mind if he shook our hands to start the meeting off... UH YEAH! OF COURSE!
   When he walked into the chapel, a hush fell into the room and
instinctively we all stood up in respect and reverence for an apostle of the Lord. He was on the stand... not even 10 ft in front of me.. what a
marvelous site. Although I do have to admit, he's smaller than I imagined and he's thinner, graying hair, deep and sunken eyes, he looked tired. He truly is a prime example of wearing out his life for the Lord. We are told to do that same thing... to truly use up all our energy, everything we have, to literally ware out our lives for the Lord.
   So we went row by row. I shook Elder Holland’s hand and his wife, Elder Hinckley’s hand and his wife, Elder Jensen’s hand and his wife.
   His address was INCREDIBLE! He is such a powerful speaker! He gets so emotionally involved in his talks. You can truly see his emotions and his feelings towards the subjects. He expressed his thanks and how we are truly all on the same mission, working side by side on building the kingdom of God. He mentioned how we ourselves have to be truly converted if we plan on converting others. And that's why Preach My Gospel was designed, to convert US. He promised we could all have at least ONE convert on our mission... and that was us. And it's so TRUE! We ourselves have to be truly converted before we can expect any successful results. All in all, it was amazing!
   After he finished addressing us, he went to lunch and all the Mormon Battalion sisters we instructed to also go home and eat lunch and be sure to be at the historic site at 1 to get our assignments and again greet Elder Holland. It was the dedication of the historic site. He did an amazing job! adfklahdf There is just so much I want to say about it! But I'm afraid I'm running low on time and there is still a lot of other things I want to talk about!
    So transfers are this week and we already know that Hermana Smith will be getting transferred... so yep- that means I'll be in my area for at least one more transfer and with a new companion! Transfers will happen Wednesday morning so I won't find out OFFICIALLY until then. So stay tuned!

Have a great day everyone. I LOVE YOU! And thanks for the emails and letters, you're the best! It really means a lot to me that you take time out of your busy day to write :) I love you!
Love,
Sister Miller

Sunny California :)

This last week we had MTE- Missionary Training Evaluation. We met together Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning from 8-12 for personaly and companion study, and then for the last two hours get training from President Donaldson and Sister Donaldson. It was SOO good! We have been focusing on FAITH, DILIGENCE, & HEED. And I cannot tell you how much I feel like my faith has increased already! It's been so uplifting. There are some BIG THINGS happening! President Donaldson made the promise that if we have true FAITH then our investigators progress will hasten. And I've been able to witness that already. There are some great things going on in the mission. I feel so privileged to be apart of the work in this mission at this time. What a thrill to be able to see the Lords hand so evident in the missionary work here. They call the San Diego Mission as the "pilot" mission. They try out a bunch of new things on our mission to see how it works. Including new "truth restored" cards, MTE sessions, etc... there are so many great things going on right now! It's so exciting :)
   Chas has a baptismal date for THIS WEEKEND! AHH how exciting! He's progressing great and the ward is fellowshipping him... they love him!
   This week we also had some anti-mormon men standing outside of the Mormon Battalion handing out anti-mormon literature. Grrr dumb Satan. Right when things are going great and really picking up, he picks up his efforts too. Doesn't he know he's going to lose in the end no matter what? Give it up man.
    Alright well I hope you all have a fabulous week, I love you! I know that our Heavenly Father is watching over you... I ask him to every single day :) Have faith in Jesus Christ- that he lives and loves you. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he does. God is a God of miracles, always has been and always will be. Have faith that miracles truly do still happen, they can and will if only we have faith that they will. I love this scripture in Alma 32 "Look towards him in all you do... and he will direct your paths.." we are constantly faced with decisions to make, temptations, and hardships, but remember your Savior and Redeemer and he will not abandon you. I love you all so much, I miss you and wish you a GREAT week! Take care :)
Love,
Sister Kimaree Miller

    Hello everyone :) You are all the best. I know I probably say that every week, but that's just because I truly think that every time I sit down to write you guys. It's so sad to meet other missionaries here in the field that don't really have anyone that writes them or anyone for them to write! Just reminds me how blessed I am to have such a great support system of people that love me, and boy do I love you right BACK! Dont you ever forget that :) You've got a sister down in Cali that thinks about you often... and with working in the temple so frequently I can't help but put some of your names on the prayer roll. You're being watched over :)
    This week has been a GREAT week! We had a referral... his name is Chas. We met him for the first time last Tuesday and well- he likes having DAILY contact! So we've met with him EVERY DAY since then EXCEPT Thursday. He's fabulous. Oh and did I mention we set a baptismal date for him in our Friday appointment?!!??!!?!?!??! YEP! We sure did! March 21! He's great. His grandparents are members and he remembers going to church with them when he was a little boy and liking it. But he was never baptized or anything, so he wants to change his life around. Isn't that great?
   We've also been working with another investigator we love.And I think she is starting to love us to? But well, her mom doesn't. In fact she might hate us, or at least the church. She is a strong catholic woman and refuses to let her investigate another church. But she has a Book of Mormon that her friend gave her and READ IT IN 3 DAYS!! She's incredible. I just hope her mom's heart softens :( Her and her mom are super close so it hurts her to have to go behind her back :( hang in there! THIS IS TRUE!!
   We have another investigator, Chad. He grew up southern-baptist. He said he was raised to be closed minded and to look down on other religions. His roommate is in our ward and just asked him to come to church with him- so he did! And well he's pretty open-minded now! He said he's been working on it... so far so good :)
    Things are going really well here and I know it's in response to all of your prayers and also mine. Sister Smith and I have been focusing extra hard on being 100% obedient, and I know if we do this consistantly- and JOYFULLY- that he will bless us and our efforts.
   So the other day Sister Smith and I were talking about "Our favorite _____". She asked what my favorite fast food was-- gross. Uh no thank you, I'll take water. Anyways she continues on to tell me how fabulous Chic-fil-a (I don't even know if that's what it is really called) But apparently I'm a bit of an outcast because I've never even heard of it!? Am I the only one that has never heard of this place? Was I deprived as a child?
   This morning for personal study I was reading the new March Ensign- it's GREAT! I love it!! There's a talk in there about gratitude and I just can't help but encourage you all to look it up and read it. I know that by being a little more grateful for EVERYTHING we have (even our trials) that we will truly live a happier life... and lets be honest, who DOESNT want that!? No one. That's what I thought. Read it, it's great :)
   Alright well I'm sorry it's short, Sister Smith is getting ansy to go write letters! I better get going. I love you guys, every single one of you :)
Love,
Sister Kimaree Miller

Ohh the things that happen on a mission...

Alright so last week I forgot to fill you in on some of the fun and exciting things that happened here! So buckle up, there's a lot to talk about!

  Story #1 Alright so last sunday we arrived at church early so we could meet with the Elders who we share the La Jolla Singles Ward with to split up the work. Well, they have a family ward too that they are in charge of, so when they finally got there they were all bragging and smiling. Of course we were curious and asked what happened! Apparently, Mitt Romney came to their ward today and they got to shake his hand! I FREAKED OUT.. probably a little more than what was necessary. But seriously, no one can possibly understand how many times me and my roommates sang the "Mitt Romney Rap- during and after his running for president! So of course, I wanted to shake his hand too! I just out of the meeting we were just about to start to go track down the famous Mitt Romney! Just as I walked out of the meeting room, I saw him walk out the doors of the foyer with his wife and into the parking lot. UHG IM SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY. Meanwhile I have million thoughts running through my head- "Yell! Yell mitt romney!" "No, you can't do that, your a missionary, think about how that would look, don't go." "No! I have to go, I'm so close! Victoria has to know about this" So before I know what I'm doing, I'm chasing poor Mitt Romney and his wife down the stairs and in the church parking lot. Now my next thought is- what do I call him? Mitt Romney? Brother Romney? Mitt? Bahh! I don't know! Finally I let out Brother Romney... So here I am, missionary attire, his ward just let out so there's tons of people in the parking lot, and here I am runing like an obsessed school girl to greet him.  HE TURNS AROUND! I introduce myself, and we shake hands and have a short conversation. I use all my will power and self control to not blurt out and start singing the Mitt Romney rap! Hahaha I was successful though and got to meet him! He's nice. Anyways I was pretty embarrassed of how I acted after that so I went straight back into the building and in the room we were meeting- refusing to look up and make eye contact with those around me... I knew they were looking at me, I could feel the stare. It was fun though, and I'll never be able- nor would I- do that again.

   Story #2 We set up a booth on Mesa College campus, it was AMAZING! I've done it before, but only once, and that was with Sister Ploeger. We called the other sisters to see if they wanted to do it with us, but htey already had plans! So we would have to carry EVERYTHING and walk about 3 blocks... which really feels like 20 blocks when you're having to carry all this stuff. SO no thank  you, we did not want to do that! But so we showed up at the mission office (where we would park our car and start the trek) but I felt like maybe we could go inside and ask for someone that might be willing to drive us down and drop us off, and drive back and walk, then come back and get us again when we're done... alot to ask for, I know. So we went in, explained the situation, and they were more than willing to take us down!! YAY! We got there, and we got 4 potential investigators right off teh bat!! So had Sister Littlefield not given us a ride, we would have completely missed them! Aw, the little miracles make me happy :) We met quite a few who are really interested in learning more, it was GREAT! Aw it's just so nice to see the Lords hand in the work, it's so comforting to know that I'm really not alone in doing this work.

   Story #3 We were down doing some contacting at Mission Bay park. Here we were, walking along and we saw this guy just standing there. He was maybe in his 70's and looked nice! We approached him and he told us he was waiting for his friend who was inside using the bathroom, we stood and talked with him for awhile. Next thing I know, his friend is coming towards us asking what such beautiful girls could be doing. After talking with him (mostly him complimenting us) and his friend trying to get him along and moving along the bike path again, he refused to leave without kissing "these beautiful girls". Next thing I know HE'S GRABBED ME BY THE ARMS AND HE'S COMING TOWARDS ME! I quickly turn my head just in time for his lips to barely brush my cheek. I'm now completely mortified and feel extremely violated with my missionary bubble now being completely shot to nothing. He grabs Sister Smith and does the same thing to her. Ahh! Creepy old man! What in the world makes you think that we want creepy mans lips on our cheeks, sick! We were in shock and headed straight back to our car.

   Story #4 I'll just keep this one short. This last week while working at the Mormon Battalion, we had a guy come in informing us that he is psychic and he wants all of us women as his wives... after all that's what the "mormons" do. Uh no man, I think you're a little confused....

   So there you go, a couple of the funny things that have happened recently! Things are going good, my companion and I are working hard and getting along great :) The days are good.... and always interesting!

I love you all! The church is true :)

Love,
Sister Kimaree Miller