New President

Weston Lincoln Watkins, 49, and Rebeckah Ann Gillins Watkins, five children. Alpine 2nd Ward, Utah Alpine North Stake. Brother Watkins serves as a branch president at the Provo Missionary Training Center and is a former counselor in a Provo MTC branch presidency, ward executive secretary, high councilor, elders quorum president, assistant high priest group leader, ward Primary worker and missionary in the Mexico Mexico City South Mission. Retired director, Credit Suisse. Born in Bronxville, N.Y., to George Elwin and Geraldine Swensen Watkins.

Sister Watkins serves as a volunteer at the Provo MTC and is a former counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, ward Primary president, counselor in a Young Women presidency, counselor in a Primary presidency, counselor in a Relief Society presidency, ward and stake single adult adviser, Primary worker and Young Women camp director. Born in Las Vegas, Nev., to Gerald Robert and Lois Etta Rollins Gillins.

Hey everyone! Things are going well in Heritage Oaks ward. This last week we did a lot of tracking, and while many people don’t listen we were able to talk to a lot of people. Elder Gaonos English is coming a long and he learns more every day. But lately I have been doing most of the talking. It is interesting because just 12 weeks ago I was letting Elder Peterson do all the work. I am teaching a few people but no one that is ready for baptism. It seems that when we extend the commitment the people we are teaching just are not willing to accept. But we had a Valentines party this last Friday and it was way fun! The weather has been about 70 all week but today it is raining. I am still not complaining because it isn’t that bad. I am learning some Samoan and I am finding out that it is pretty cool to have a foreign companion. That’s about it for my week thank you everyone for all of your support. I love you all! Happy Valentines Day!

Elder Miller

Hey everyone! This week has been pretty crazy. I got called to be a Trainer, so I had some leadership meetings to go to. My companion, Elder Bludworth is being transferred to Santa Clara to be my new Zone Leader. I am excited to still be serving around him. Alix Penning’s baptism is this week, and I am really excited about that. I have been teaching her since I got here, so it’s great to see the lord bless those who are searching for the gospel. So tomorrow is transfer meeting and I will not be with my new companion until Thursday. So for the next few days I will be with this Elder from Sunnyvalle who is also training. I did not think I would be training; I was the youngest one at the meeting. It’s crazy how fast things are going! Well I am doing well and just want to thank you for all of your support and letters it means a lot. I love you all!

 Elder Miller

Hey everyone it has been a while since I have posted anything new on my blog. But that is because hardly anything new has happened. This last week I was able to see some miracles; First this lady named Alix that I have been working with pretty much since I have gotten here, that I found tracting is going to get baptized on February 5th! Her husband wouldn’t let her be baptized, but last week he said it was O.K for her to be baptized. So I am so excited for that. Second, one of the young men in my ward invited his friend to meet with the missionaries, so this last week we went over and taught his friends family. They are the Savu family and they are straight from Fiji. They had a Work and the Glory DVD and a Book of Mormon so they were ready to learn. Three of them have a baptismal date for February 19th! So I am really excited for February. Transfers are this week(February 1^st) so I am nervous to see what happens. So on Saturday we did some service for the family we are living with and we broke up a concrete patio with a sledge hammer and a crow bar for 7 and a half hours! It was crazy! Things are going good and the work is great I love California. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and that writes me! I love you all!

 Elder Miller

Well this last week was a pretty good week. It has been really slow but that’s what happens when you have baptisms and you do not focus on keeping your teaching pool full. So most of my days are spent tracking and visiting a lot of potentials, formers and part member families. We are teaching a few people but the people we are teaching have not accepted a baptismal date. We are not making a whole lot of progress. Plus my companion has been having some problems with his girlfriend so you could say that this week has been one of the harder ones of the mission.  But that’s just missionary work for you. On Thursday we had this really good multi zone meeting where our president revealed what is called the vision statement which has me pumped for what is to come in the future. This has gotten me really excited. On Saturday I went on an exchange with Elder Peterson, which was awesome. I had a lot of fun and it definitely added to the week. Well that’s about all for this week. Thank you all for your support I Love you all,

Elder Miller

December 20, 2010

Hey everyone it was a great week in California, it is still raining like crazy. And being on bike is pretty challenging because I get soaked! But it’s still way fun. Over the last week I have been on a lot of exchanges. On Thursday I went with the Spanish elders for the day and I discovered that I would not do that well in the Spanish program. I had no idea what anyone was talking about most of the time and during dinner this family kept on asking me questions. And since I didn’t understand any of the questions so I said si to everything. Then Thursday night to Friday night I went on an exchange with the Zone Leaders in Santa Clara. That was fun and it was nice to get out of my area for a few days. I came back on Saturday and had my double baptisms , which was amazing! The spirit was so strong and I felt so much joy watching them get baptized. It was pretty nerve racking baptizing the first person baptized on my mission but it was still awesome! Everyone was pretty excited about it because in the last year my area had only seen one baptism so we have started to pick up the area. Then on Sunday we went to a member’s house and played bingo with Michelle our recent convert and some friends. I won so many games it was so sweet. Well Christmas is coming and I am pretty excited, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. I love you all so much, and want to thank you for all the support you have given me.

Elder Zach Miller