HELLO EVERYONE!

    So we had transfers last week as you all know, and NO changes were made with Sister Stott and I- we're still together and going strong!
   We had Zone Conference yesterday and it was UH-MAZE-ING! I absolutely loved every minute of it. Every conference/MTE training we have I feel like I just get closer and closer to "getting it" and each time I catch a glimpse of what's possible for this work and what it takes to get there! I took a lot of notes and I'm just so excited to keep going through them so I can improve how we do things in the Helix area! There are so many things I want to improve on and become better and just so many things I want to do!
   I have realized one thing about serving in a singles ward. With making the goal of talking to EVERYONE we see, we receive a lot of referrals for the wards in our area. But then we'll talk to missionaries and hear how they have investigators who are YSA. I think that is definitely one hard thing about serving in a singles ward, but nevertheless, I love every minute of it :) andddd.... I just realized I did the blame game SO scratch everything I just said in this paragraph. Woops- see I am always learning. Things are great :)
   We have an investigator getting baptized on the 10th!! YAY! Deirdre and her boyfriend have been investigating for... about 6 months, I think? And they are finally ready and wanting to make this covenant with Heavenly Father. I'm so thrilled for them! I just love them so much.
   Our less-actives and recent converts are also doing great. Brooke (RC) gave a talk on Sunday about her conversion and it just made me smile and be all giddy inside. She's amazing. She shared her testimony... and was glowing. It's been such a wonderful privilege to help her grow in this way and realize who she really is and the potential that God sees in her.
    I LOVE THIS WORK! And I too am so thankful for each and every day that I've been blessed with to do this work.

    Susie as far as I know is doing ok... she's not really interested in meeting with missionaries anymore. I guess she said she'd rather just talk about religion with one of her friends in the ward. Which is just so sad! She was right there, just SO CLOSE to entering into the waters of baptism and following our Savior. It's just not the right time for her... she'll come around. She know's this is the true church of Christ on the Earth again.

    We've lost one of our other investigators, she too would just like to study on her own. It's sad how many people say that! They don't understand that they cannot do it on their own. It's about being humble, prayerful, and submissive to the will of our Father in heaven. We had an amazing lesson with her about the restoration of the chruch. She was fighting back tears the entire time- I pray every day that she'll stay strong from the deceitful likes of the adversary. But still, it hurts when an investigator says they don't want to meet anymroe and they deny the truth they felt and experienced. I'm sad that she's believe in the lies and will not heed our voice of warning. Our voice that has been carried and guided by the Lord. I just love her so much. And that experience with her has really helped me realize that all I do, think, feel, EVERYTHING has to be motivated with LOVE and the desire toreally do what Christ would do if he were here standing in my spot. and I encourage you all to think of it that way too. If it were Christ raising your children, what would he do if they spilt the milk, or was just being difficult- what would he say? What would he do if he were passing strangers on the street- would he invite them to learn more about their devine potential? More about the amazing blessings that they COULD have int heir life? I think he would. I KNOW he would. There are people out there that need US and need to knwo the things that we know. They do not know the truth becuase they know not where to find it. I invite you ALL to please, step out of the box and do what He would do, literally be His hands and His voice. Don't be too quick to judge who will accept your help, or who will accept your invitation to learn more... just do it, because that's what Christ would do. And after all, that's what we claim to do as members of this wonderful church- We Follow Jesus Christ.

    I love you all so much, you're all so great! I hope you have a wonderful week. Stay strong and do what is right. I love you :)

I'll love you ALL forever,

Sister Kimaree Miller

I'd write more if I had time... but I am OUT. Lata, I love you!

HELLO!! It's a beautiful day in San Diego :) Gorgeous out... as always. Man, it never ceases to amaze me. I guess "they" were right, San Diego really does have perfect weather.. every day.

    So here's an update with the "green shirt" guy we still haven't heard from :( we pray for it almost every time. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's all on the Lords timeline. He'll come around :)

    So things are going really well here, we've been doing what President advised us to do with the members "Who are you bringing to the activity this week" and like I said last week, it's been good so far! We weren't able to go to that activity because we had a lesson with an investigator so we aren't sure how many members actually brought their friends, but hopefully a lot! We are going to be calling them... tonight I think? To follow-up and see if they did or not. And of course to then ask them the same thing for this weeks activity! That's one thing I love about the singles ward is that there are always so many activities going on. It's easy to forget the purposes for all these activities.... it's a low pressured way to invite friends to just come and have fun! And the purpose isn't to "introduce them to missionaries" at all, it's just to have fun and have them meet people and enjoy the night! And plus, there are ALWAYS people in our lives we can invite to these activities, we just have to remember to DO IT. I'm definitely going to do it when I get home!

    This last week we had some time to go contacting... which Sister Stott and I both LOVE doing!! Not very many missionaries like it, but I think it's a great way to meet people... much better than just knocking doors! So we were contacting down in National City and we met the coolest people. One person that we met.. .I can't remember his name but boy it was an interesting meeting, we refer to him as "push-up boy" Here's the story:  We were walking down the street back towards our car when we see this guy a ways in front of us, kind of twitching out a bit.... maybe it's a new dance move that I'm just not familiar with, but it was weird. So we keep walking just talking to each other, next thing I know we are catching up with this guy and his feet are propped up on an electrical box and he's doing decline push-ups. We stop, thinking he would notice and get up so we could talk. He wasn't wearing work out clothes, just regular jeans, nice t shirt, nice shoes, and a zip-up. So he still doesn't notice us so we make a half joking comment- so you just feel like a good evening workout while on your walk? Silence. Nothin. He stops, glances up and looks back down and is frozen. We make a few more light hearted comments and finally he gets up so we could... we thought... have a conversation. Apparently not so, this was a very one sided conversation. I think we might have gotten 6.. MAYBE 7 words out of him. But ALOT of blank stairs. Finally we part ways (well, when I say part ways I really mean we ended up just walking away from him during one of the awkwardly long silences while waiting for a response from him.) So we walk away and we realized we are going to be late for an appointment so we pick up speed. As we are walking (pretty fast might I add), I hear some footsteps not far behind us.. it's him... and he's going equally fast. We pick it up a little bit more and walk even faster (the sun is going down). It's at this point I realize our car is a little farther away than I anticipated. I'm walking as fast as I possibly can and I am picturing those olympic speed walkers... wishing I had those skills. I'm saddened and discouraged that my untrained legs just cannot move any faster without running. He is about 30 ft behind us. We come up to a cross street, the orange hand is up and we can't cross.... no cars are around.... I consider just going. But I remember that we've been trying to be perfectly obedient in all that we do, including obeying and honoring the law. So we wait. FINALLY we get the little walking guy sign and we are off the walking races again. He's closing in. We keep going as fast as my little legs can take me, finally the car is within reaching and I beep it unlocked and hop in. Saved by the car. Haha it was so weird! Even now when I think back, I'm boggled with his zero responses to us yet quick walking skills to catch up.

     So after the push-up guy we had an appointment back at the Mobatt with one of our investigators. We walked The Testaments and the spirit was SOO strong. I LOVE that movie! I am completely impressed of all the things that our brother and savior, Jesus Christ did for us! Our investigator was equally impressed and is hopefully going to take that next step of following Christ's example and being baptized. I'll keep you posted!

    This week we have also had a lot of opportunities to serve some people in our ward. There's a girl whose family is moving and the house they bought needs a couple up updates than they anticipated so we've gone twice, once to take off wall paper, and the other time to steam drawers and wipe them out and clean the ceiling. Brooke (our recent convert) is moving into a new apartment with a girl in our ward so we were at her house yesterday helping her pack up her stuff. I love serving, it's just such a great way to get to know them a little better and on a deeper level than just at church! I feel like I know them so much better now- I LOVE IT! We are constantly on the look-out for for service opportunities.

    So guess what tomorrow is? TRANSFERS!! I don't think me or Sister Stott are going to be getting transferred, or at least it's very unlikely. We've only been together for this last transfer and that's all, but I guess you'll find out for sure next week :) I COULD be getting a new companion.

   Alright well I have to go, I love you all so much! Have a great week!

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

Sister Kimaree Miller

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Hello my wonderful family (and friends) you're all just so great. I love you more than you can even imagine.

This week we witnessed some miracles, but to be completely honest... it's been a hard week! The progress of the area has really slowed down and Sister Stott and I were both getting frustrated about not knowing what more we could do. So we planned on calling President Donaldson to talk with him and get some advice specific to our area but then he showed up at the Mormon Battalion while we were there, so we talked with him then. He gave us some great advice and we are both really excited to approach the work with the members with this new spin! It's nothing earth-shattering, but man am I excited for it and I really think it will work and get things going here! We've been able to try it out with a few people and so far so good.

I had a good talk with one of the senior missionaries here, Sister Thulin, she's so sweet. She was telling us how some days are just so blan- you don't have ANYTHING planned and it just looks barren. But we just have to remember that we try our hardest and give it our all and then we need to trust God and have faith that things will happen. It's going to be hard, but we do our best and then trust God and keep going. This week has been hard and trying- but I take comfort in knowing that God is shaping me into... a better me.

Here's some exciting news, WE HAD ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE last night!! I haven't heard yet how big it was or where exactly it happened. We were in the middle of night planning and all the sudden there were a few jolts (sounded like someone was running down the stairs outside our door) and after that was over we just kept swaying for a good couple of minutes! It was SO COOL! But of course I'm worried for those who got it worse and pray that they are ok. But uhh... where we were, it was fun!

This morning I went to the mission office and ran into one of the senior missionaries there, Sister Littlefield, she caught me before leaving and told me that she is Aunt Carols new home teacher! She updated me on some of the recent health concerns Carol has been having. How sad! Oh it just doesn't sound very good :( I hope her wounds heal and everything gets better. So I wrote a quick note and she's going to drop it off to Aunt Carol for me later this week, I thought that was nice of her. What a small world, I always get so excited to hear things about Aunt Carol, it seems to happen at least once a month where people will ask me if I know her, haha isn't that funny?

Well I love you all, and you're all in my prayers off course (mm... could you maybe keep "my area" in your prayers?... I would love that. Gosh, I really don't think you understand how much your prayers really help. They make a huge difference in the work here, how I'm doing, and how things are going in general.) So I hope you all have a wonderful-- filled with joy and laughter. AND one more thing... will you also pray that you'll have missionary opportunities where you can invite them to meet with missarionaries?... we missionaries need you and your finding so much! It's so great to be able to help build the kingdom of God here on Earth... I LOVE IT and I really want you to feel the same joy I feel when I bring someone a little closer to the truth. It's incredible. Ok for reals now, I have to go! I love you all and wish you the very best week :)

With all my love,

Sister Kimaree Miller

Ps. HAPPY EARLY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!!

Hello to everyone :)

    Greetings from sunny (well, today it's overcast... but usually it's sunny.. so just roll with it) California! It has been another GREAT week. I cannot believe the week is already over and we've started a new week! Is the time going by as fast there as it is here? It amazes me every single week.

   So today is a GREAT day... yesterday wasn't, but today is! Yesterday I got sick. I hate getting sick! I don't like being sick... I'll tell you the story... I was at the Mormon Battalion and I was in the middle of the tour when all of the sudden I felt like I was on FIRE and my stomach did not feel good at all! So after trying to fight through it and give the tour through a couple of more rooms I decided I couldn't hack it anymore- I left the tour early and found another sister to finish it for me. I went back to the break room where fortunately, Sister Stutz was (she's one of the senior couples that serve here... she's so sweet! She's been like a grandma to me- I just love her) Anyways, as soon as she saw me, she asked what was wrong and told me to sit down. I asked her to feel my forehead and when she did she instantly said that I had a fever and to lay down. I had zero energy and just felt ill. My companion quickly came back where we debated whether or not to go home. I fought to stay there for a little bit but I realized we had to go and I would be no help there tonight. When we got back to our apartment I flopped on my bed (6:00pm) where I passed out until 9:30 only to wake up to turn over and slept until 10:30 when my companion was getting into bed. I was out the whole rest of the night. So my first time getting sick on the mission.. oh I just hate getting sick! I feel so worthless. I can't fulfill my purpose when I'm laying in bed!! I'm feeling much better today, thank goodness!

    A less-active that we've been working with is just doing AMAZING. We've been working with him a few weeks now and we've talked to him about serving a mission and he said he's just been praying and searching for an answer of whether or not he should go. This last meeting that we had with him we asked him if there was anything we could do for him and he goes... "Well, you could write me while I'm on my mission" Haha isn't that AWESOME! HE'S GOING ON A MISSION! He is going to be a stunning missionary! I'm so excited! He's been through so much and he's really going to be able to relate to the people where ever he goes.

Boyd K Packer said...   

"The Lord has many ways of pouring knowledge into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, to correct us, to warn us. The Lord said, 'I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart' (D&C 8:2).
"And Enos recorded, 'While I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again' (Enos 1:10)."

   I know that we are not left here alone on Earth to figure things out by ourselves. We have been blessed with the Holy Ghost to lead us and guide us and to know what is right. It's simply up to us of whether or not we want to listen. There is a work to be done and it can only be done with the guidance and promptings of the spirit. That's definitely one thing I've been really trying to work on is listening to the still, small voice of the spirit. We are counseled to seek guidance, and when we get inspiration, to then write it down and take it to the Lord to confirm it's truth and then to ask if there is more. I love each and every one of you, and I encourage you to turn the music down, the t.v. off and you will be amazed at what promptings comes into your mind- whether it's to write an old friend or do some type of service. He is wanting to talk with each one of us. I'm going to really focus on this this week and next week I'm going to report back to you on the miracles that happen when I heed the promptings... and I want you to report back to me the same thing!! Alright? We can all work on this together. Deal!

   Anyways, my time is short, I have to go! I love you all so much! You all amaze me. Have an absolutely great week! I'm excited to read about your experiences next week :)

Love you LOTS,

Sister Kimaree Miller

    Hello everyone!! Things here have been oh so BUSY and MIRACULOUS! So remember how I told you about how we felt that there was someone prepared and ready to get baptized? Alright well we have seriously been on the look out- serously like hunters in a forest... which is funny because a couple of weeks ago at a district meeting we came up with a district name! We've been talking alot about having unity in the mission so we thought having a name might make us more unified! So the name is Tulimanu- we have a samoan in our district and apparently Tulimanu means hunter and it also means cornerstone. Cool, right? Well so back to my story... So we have been searching for our guy. Having faith that we'll find him. So Thursday the 27, we had some contacting time so we had to choose either Main st. or Park ave. we chose Main st. then said a prayer to make sure that was where we should go. After the prayer, we didn't feel like it was wrong, so we went ahead and went for it. As we were driving, we spotted a guy just sitting in his car in a parking lot so we pulled over and started talking with him. He was an interesting guy but not REAL interested so we gave him a card and went back to our car. Before we started driving we said another prayer-Sister Stott was saying it and during the prayer I had a thought that "our guy" would be wearing a green shirt, and right at that very moment of when I thought that, Sister Stott asked that he would be wearing a green shirt so that we would recognize him! We were soo on the same page :D

    So here we are, driving down Main St. looking for our green shirted man! Next thing we know- BAM! There he is! Standing outside this place talkign with some other people. We quickly pulled over and approchaed the group. Turns out he's 28, his ex-wife was mormon, his 2 kids were mormon, and he studied with the missionaries for 2 years and just never got baptized! Are your jaws dropped yet? Alright so  during his 15 minute break at school adn that's the only place we could fit in a time that worked for both of us. So during these 12 minutes we were suppose to find out how much he remembered AND commit him to be baptized on that coming Sunday- in 2 days!  So we begin to teach about faith and how important it is to follow Jesus Crist and his teachingts and examples. Before I know it, I'm saying the words- "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority?" and he said yes! So then I continue to tell him how we're holding a baptismal service on that sunday... but unfortunately before I could finish that sentance he said he had to work on Sunday but that there were other Sundays!! Uh I LOVE miracles! This has defnitely been a trial of my faith and I've learned alot from this experience.1) Be specific in my prayers 2) Even if something doesn't happen- weneed to remain faithful and full of hope 3) sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers right away (we had been praying to meet "our guy" for 2 weeks!) but that it's all on the Lords timeline- but he DOES answer.. it might just be 3 days before  the deadline. But in everything there are learning experiences- but most of the times we just have to look for them.

    The other day at the MoBatt I had another really cool experience! We had a middle aged man come in but we had a few minutes before the tour could start so I took him back in the theater to show him a few videos before the tour. I showed him the first one and afterwards he started telling me how impressed with the church he was and we ended up having a GREAT conversation about prophets and the entire time he was just AMAZED. Well, he left the Mobatt excited for missionaries to come over to his place! AND get this.. he's a bishop of his christian church. How AWESOME! Ahh I loved it! ]

    The other day Sister Stott and I also ended up doing some service for a girl in our ward- she's so sweet. It was just the funnest time! It's funny how you go somewhere not really expecting a whole lot, but it turns out being a complete blast! I feel like we not only were able to help her and her family out, but we were able to get to know each other on such a deeper level. It was just so great!

    Being a missionary is the BEST. I don't ever want it to be over :( I am just so so grateful and amazed that I'm able to be apart of something so great! It completely amazes me and makes me wonder what I ever did right to be able to deserve this blessing in my life. I've been able to learn so many great life lessons and I continue to be impressed with how much the restored gospel of Jesus Christ really does bless our lives when we make that special effort to come unto him in every thought and action.

    Well I'm afraid I am out of time, I love you all so so much and I am SOOO glad I have such a wonderful family and friends! I love you!

Love,

Sister Kimaree Miller

Ps. Mom and dad, happy anniversary!