Greetings From San Jose

Hello Everybody,

Well another transfer has come and gone and changes have been made. I was able to travel up to the mission office in San Jose with my companion I've been with for only 6 weeks and see him off. Elder Reay was his name and he was ready to go home yet uncertain what to expect for the future. Also going home was my companion right before him, Elder McKenzie. They're both going home to Utah to make their mark on the world I guess. It was really almost emotional to see two of the missionaries that I have served with stand up in front of everyone along with the others departing and see them all as accomplished missionaries. They have served and done it well. So that was a great start to the day so far. An even better start was finding out who my new companion is. I had a somewhat narrowed list of people that I thought might become my companion and I got my top pick. Our names were called together and I felt like I had won the lottery. President Watkins stood at the podium and was announcing by region the missionaries serving there, grouped into companionships. "Elder C. Miller and Elder F. Miller" No joke, it happened! I stood up from the side pew I was seated at and with eyebrows raised and mouth agape I got super excited and gave a fist pump into the air. I always figured it was bound to happen. This transfer actually marks the arrival of the 5th Elder Miller to enter the mission. My new companion, Elder Clifford Miller from Wisconsin goes home in two more transfers so it looks like I'll be sending off yet another missionary. He came out at the same time as Elder Parker Miller who actually served in the area that I'm in now long before I got here. I come next in seniority being two transfers behind them and then right behind me is Elder Zach Miller. And I believe coming in this transfer is Elder Alexander Miller. CPFZA. So it seems like it was inevitable. I'm really grateful to have my new companion though. So far it's been fun to get confused over our names but then again it's only been a couple hours so it may grow old fast. He is a stellar missionary and will be a grand asset in this area where I am still out of my element and we can learn it all over together. Elder Reay and I depended heavily on the GPS device we had in the car but unfortunately it was Elder Reays' and is now leaving with him back to Utah. Elder C. Miller doesn't have one so we are going to have to remain very aware and on top of where we want to travel and plan it out on the big map on the wall of our apartment before we get going.

So that was all the big news of today. This past week was kind of dull. With a missionary who is going home we spent a lot of time helping Elder Reay prepare for his departure. He wanted to go home with only one suitcase, which at least in our mission is a pretty impressive feat. He mailed home a bunch of stuff and threw away even more. And then he got to say goodbye to a bunch of the members and people he's worked with. On Sunday evening after church and a brief dinner we went up to San Jose for the Missionary Outgoing Fireside. All the missionaries going home share their testimonies and there are many musical numbers. There were 19 missionaries departing this time so that was a lot. Lots of testimonies and songs and it was really neat. We actually went early so Elder Reay could have his exit interview with President Watkins. Normally the interviews are done the night after transfers when the missionaries are already going to the mission home for dinner before they leave but since the departing group was so large President tried to meet with a bunch of them on this evening. Those get togethers are always enjoyable, I was just waiting around for Elder Reay to finish his interview so I got to catch up with other missionaries and it was just great.

Yesterday on our Preparation Day, Elder Reay actually abandoned me so that he could hit up all the skate and surf shops around here and pick up some souvenirs. Okay, he didn't really abandon me, we kind of traded companions for a few hours due to a conflict of interests. I wanted to stay at our apartment in order to make a shirt and I hate going to the skate shops cause I'm never interested in buying any of the merchandise. Meanwhile my district leader and his companion had the same situation. So I got to hang out with my district leaders companion and work on my Santa Cruz shirt. So actually I like the merchandise in the skate shops but am too cheap to buy them so I just made my own. You lose a bit of quality but my self esteem is greatly heightened. And I guess that is all that is up with me.

I wanted to let everyone know that our mission rules regarding e-mail were revised by our mission president. He wants companionships to spend less time on the computer so we are to only send two e-mails, one to him and one to our families. So this massive e-mail that I send to my Mom each week will be my only response to any individual e-mails I get. I think this gets put on a blog somewhere so it's like I'm still writing to you but not directly. This last part is mainly for my immediate family who send me e-mails. Just to let them know that I can still read and enjoy their e-mails to me but can't reply directly back to you.

Have a delightful week everyone,

Sincerely, Elder F. Miller