Tough Week!

Well, wish there was more to write this week, but there isn't really a

ton to report. Still can't believe Marissa is getting married. She is

officially on my bad list!

Last night we were looking at our numbers, and were not happy at all,

and we knew the zone leaders had wanted to talk to us about how our

week had been going and about zone goals, so we went out and went hard

in the paint. We got 9 declarations, which are basically door

approaches, or first time we talked to someone, which brought us up to

20 for the week, which is the "standard of excellence" for the

mission. So that felt really nice. We felt like the zone leaders had

been on our case for a few weeks. So that shut them up really fast. ;)

Now the moment we have all been waiting for. MOTHERS DAY. Yes, there

is still a week or so, but we have to be prepared. It looks like the

only time we will be able to call is after church. Due to time

changes, Hermana Martin is going to take the first hour, and I will

take the second one. It will be right around 6:00 our time, and I will

have about an hour. That should be at 8:00 your time. Middle of

the day church makes things difficult. If that doesn't work for you

let me know.

The work is moving forward here in Paso Robles. Between us, and the
other Hermanas, we want so badly to make a difference here, and so the
last half of this transfer is going to be dedicated to that. We have
exchanges tomorrow, so that will be an exciting thing to look forward
to, and hopefully we will get to see some miracles happen.

Can't wait to see what this week brings!

Talk to you all soon.

Tell Marissa I need details ASAP

Court

Easter Week

What a week! I have a lot of pictures, and a lot to say, so hold on to

your seat belts, because we are going for a ride!

This week really did start out like any other, and I guess there is

not really a lot to report on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

The random stuff you find in Paso. This made me extremely happy!

Friday, Hermana Martin had her appointment in Morro Bay with the

chiropractor, so we got to trek down there. Have I ever said how much

I love the beach? For those of you who can not fully appreciate the

torture I went through, let me fill you in on a little secret:

Missionaries can not go to the beach. But we did get to admire from

afar, which will have to be enough for a while. 15 months to be exact.

Wow time is flying! Okay, getting back on track now. One miracle we

did see this week happened on our way back from Morro Bay, at In-n-Out

burger of all places. We were waiting for our food, when someone asked

us if we spoke Spanish. We told him yes, and started talking. It turns

out he is one of the nearly inactive members of the branch, that no

one had heard from in nearly 6 months. We were able to find out where

he is living now, and a little bit about his situation, and hopefully

will get to visit with him soon. It was just such a great case of

being in the right place at the right time, I know the spirit guided

us there for a reason. And partially for the double double animal

style. The voice of Steve Miller was popping into my head as I ordered

this. :) But lots of fun pictures and such from Morro.

Yay for Morro Bay!

It's Casual

The last view of the beach for a while (sigh.)

After Morro we got a chance to go on Mormon.org. My profile is up and

running, so you should all check it out:

www.mormon.org/me/DRVS

Also, and amazing gem from this last Easter Weekend:

www.mormon.org/becauseofhim

I really hope that video is still up. It is so powerful, and such an

amazing video about Christ. I am in love with it.

Then the real highlight of this week was Saturday. We had our

conference with Elder Russel M Nelson. We had to leave Paso at around

8:30 in the morning, and spent a lot of time in the car getting there.

We scheduled enough time to get some lunch there, so what else would

we get besides Chipotle? We then had our mission conference. We got to

hear from President and Sister Castro, as well as Elder and Sister

Bowen of the 70, and Elder and Sister Garnes, also of the 70. Then

Sister Nelson gave an amazing talk on missionary work, and then it was

Elder Nelsons turn. We all expected him to give a wonderful talk, but

instead went up, and said, "I would like to talk to you today, but

first, does anyone have any questions." It then turned into this

amazing hour and a half question and answer session. Not only were

Elder Nelsons answers truly inspired, but I was blown away by his

eloquence and knowledge. I know I had so many questions answered, and

I am sure others in the mission feel the same. Trying to pick a

highlight from my 6 pages of notes is impossible, but just know it was

great, and a lot of fun. He loves to tell fun stories, and laugh as

well, so it was a great time. I can not get over how amazing it was. I

forgot to say, as well, at the beginning of the conference, we all got

to shake all of their hands. Truly an amazing experience. On the way

back, of course we had to stop at Panera (would you expect any less?)

ROAD TRIP

 8 hours later, and our lovely driver was still holding strong!

I laugh because everyone who wrote this week asked about Easter. I

wish I had something to report, but I really don't. Welcome to a small

Spanish Branch. We sang the two Easter Hymns in the Spanish Hymn book,

but that is about as easter-y as it got. The talks weren't on Easter,

the lessons werent, really nothing to set it apart from any other

Sunday. I didn't even get any deviled eggs! What a shame! But the work

goes on!

After this weekend, Hermana Martin and I are ready to go out, and go big!

Happy Easter Weekend from Ventura! -- Hermana Martin and Hermana Miller

Here we go week three of the transfer!

Happy Monday everyone!

Hermana Miller

(ps. I promised I would get better at writing more!)

Really Feeling Your Prayers!

I appreciate all of the support I have from all of you reading this.  I can feel it all the way over here.  It is such an amazing thing.  

True joy is a full mailbox after a long day. :)

This has been such a great week, and I know the coming week will be great as well.  I can hardly wait for this weekend.  Friday, my companion has to go see a chiropractor named Dr. John Watson.  I wish I was kidding. (Sherlock fans!)  When I found out his name, I laughed for about an hour, on and off.  It still makes me giggle like the little nerd I am every time I say it.  He is down in Morro Bay, which I am super pumped about, because I will finally get to see the beach again!  

This is what happens when you get lost in Paso. Gorgeous! 

Then, on Saturday, we have our Mission Conference with Elder Nelson.  It will be about 6 hours on the road, but with the girls I am with, that is going to be the best thing ever!  Not to mention, there is a Panera on the way.  Hallelujah!  Prayers really are answered!  :)

But I really am super excited.  I can not wait to write all about it next week. 

Diet-besity, salad style

The new district

The Hermana next to me is from Blue Springs!  Yay for Kansas Citians!  We discovered that we were in the Temple Cultural Celebration together.

Love you all!

Okay, I am over on time now.

This hour FLEW BY!

Talk to you next week.

Write letters!

Court

Oops I did it again!

Cut it all off for summer

Transfers--Staying in Paso Robles

What is up everyone!?

Time is flying around here! Today is officially the first day of a new transfer! We got calls this morning, and both Hermana Martin and I are staying here in Paso Robles. I am so excited! I would have been really mad if they tried to take her or this area away from me. I am absolutely in love with it, and time is going by way too fast.

This is the view from the front door of one of our investigators. Have I mentioned that I am glad to be staying?

I wish there was a lot more to report around here, but we just wound down the transfer last week. Pretty standard. We are super excited to start this new transfer. It is great to have this fresh start and a new 6 weeks!

This last week between the four of us Hermanas we got the chance to go out and visit every member of the branch, which was so much fun. I love getting to know them all better! But because of that there are not too many other stories to report.

What a wonderful sight. Our investigator A. is the best!

Three day old kittens. I may or may not have cried just a little bit. It was pure joy!

I can hardly believe it is already April! General Conference was so amazing this weekend! I have never gotten so many answers and felt so inspired! Around here we are not allowed to watch it in members homes, so we got to watch it up at the chapel. I loved the atmosphere there, so it was great. We had district lunches in between sessions as well, so it was great to get to know our elders a little bit better. Still don't know of them who is staying and who is going. Hermana Corniea is being transferred, and Hermana Rubow is staying.

Paso Robles District

Hermana Rubow is obviously a sports star!

Every week I say I am going to get better as far as things to report, and every week I have a short post, so I apologize. I hope that as we start this new transfer we will have some more fun information.

 I do have some pictures from this week, so no fear there. 

Hope all is great wherever you are!

Love you all

Hermana Courtney Miller