Week #102 - Final Farewell

Dear Family and Friends,

I personally would like to thank everyone for the love and support during these last two years. Especially all the prayers that peopled have asked for my health, my safety, and that I may be a great missionary! I thank everyone for that love and patience. Especially with how terrible I am of a writer! 

These last two years have been ¨de lujo¨ and I couldnt be more grateful to my Father in Heaven for sending me to Paraguay. I have had the honor to serve and give my all to these people in Paraguay and I wouldnt trade it for anything in this world. I have worked hard to do everything that the Lord expects of me and it was not perfect. But I know and feel that the Lord is pleased with my efforts and I know that He loves each and everyone of his Children. I can honestly say that I have been converted to the Lord. I know he lives and that it is through his atonement that we are made clean. I know that this is the only true church where we can make sacred covenants witht the Lord to gain Eternal life. I know that Joseph Smith is the Lord´s prophet called to restore His church and His ordinances. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love my Heavenly Father and I know that his will is and forever will be what is best. It was an honor and there were many fruits from the labors, and I was blessed to see most of them :) Alma 26: 3-5

 Luckily I dont have to stop being a missionary and I can still share my testimony and help others come unto Christ :) I am sad to leave my family here but I feel that it is time and I cannot wait to be with my family again and share so many experiences :) I love you all and again I thank you for keeping me in your thoughts these last two years! I will see you soon :)

Love

Elder Milton

Week #101

Dearest Family,

I do not have much time because I promised a family I would come to their Family Home Evening a little bit early today, but this last week was a really good week! I felt like I hadnt been in my area for so long! There were people calling for me wondering where I was and coming back a lot of people missed me! Haha they were relieved because they thought I had left without saying good bye! I had the normal divisions and all went really smooth. Yesterday I was surprised to walk into Sacrament meeting and being asked to give a Farewell Talk because next week we also have District Conference. My farewell talk went really well. It was hard to control my emotions, but I felt a genuine spirit that I will never forget as I shared my testimony and experiences. I am going to miss Paraguay! 

I want to thank everyone for remembering my birthday this week :) 21 is a perfect number! For the first time in a while I am going to have an age that I feel that is appropriate! Thank you for the birthday wishes and the prayers. I apologize for the shortness but I cannot wait to talk to everyone face to face :) I love you and I will write one more time next week!

Love Always,
Elder Milton

Week #100 - Pictures

The Abundancia Community Sign

The kids that I interviewed, and then were baptized

The members of the Mistolar Church

Week #100

Dearest Family,

I am pleased and glad to read that everyone had an excellent week! I guess not so much for Kody but I know he is handling it really well and that next time he will beat Trigger haha :) I am glad that Kali is staying focused on school and pushing along. Mike is busy as always so I take that as a good thing. Also CONGRATS mom for passing the 130 speed test! Now time for 140 and I know you are going to get it fast! 

This week once again was one to remember forever. I am so frustrated with myself because I know I will not be able to give it any justice writing. But as you well know I took one LONG trip to the Chaco and I came back changed...in what way I am not sure honestly, but I feel so good and I know it was a good change. I guess I should start from the beginning! So on Thursday I was going crazy, I was beyond excited to have the chance to go the Chaco. The most far away area in the mission, a indigenous language, preaching to the descendants of the Book of Mormon it was just everything that a missionary could want and I couldn't wait! I had no Idea what was to come either, haha! 

Anyways we got to our first stop called La Abundancia (Bountiful) early Friday morning and we were able to work with some people and meet some really nice people of the Nivacle Tribe. There were a few that spoke a little bit of Spanish, and the rest ZERO. It was so interesting! On Saturday morning we prepared the go on our two day trip to a branch of the Nivacle Tribe in a place called Mistolar. In Mistolar, long story short they moved to the middle of nowhere to inherit the land of their fathers. And when I say in the middle of nowhere I mean there was NOTHING. But for a place that didn't have nothing by worldly standards (Electricity, Money, Fun) They were a super happy pleasant people and it seemed that they had everything, which is true! They had the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is what made them such an amazing people. 

We had a lot of problems on the way there and while we were there but we survived! We stayed Saturday and had 8 baptismal interviews and baptisms of the Nivacle children and then Sunday we stayed for their meeteings and headed back to Abundancia in the afternoon and then at night we left for Asuncion and got back this morning! It was so amazing and fun, short but sweet! While I was there I was able to pick up some Nivacle! They also gave me a tribe name which is Yacut haha which means Black. They gave Elder Ra. the name Oyenchey which means Spicy because he is from Mexico. And I truly felt what Hermano W.F. was talking about, I felt a very special spirit there that I have never felt before! I took many pictures and videos, and I CANNOT wait to show them to everyone! 

While I was gone with Elder Ra., Elder Re. took the reins in our area and I know he did a good job so there is nothing I can really report quite yet. But I have to close by sharing my testimony of this Gospel, I truly feel the happiness and peace that it gives to us and to see it in a people with close to nothing humbled me. I know that Christ lives and that he loves everyone, and that he wants everyone to return to the Father, I understand that better now. 

But thank you all for your love and support, especially your prayers! I was truly watched over this Weekend! I love and miss you all and I cannot wait to see you! 2 P-days left! 

Love Always,
Elder Milton

Week #99 - Pictures

After the wedding ceremony(that's my suit!)

Cutting the cake with A and S!

Before being baptized with the whole family! Such an incredible spirit

Week #99

Hola Familiakuera!

I am pleased to hear that everyone is doing amazing! I am sure the fair was as good as ever with the rides, food, and animals! I also hope that all is going well with the Book of Mormon reading, I havent asked in a while but time is coming short. I am happy that President Sanders remembered me haha, the setting apart I am sure will be a good experience!

This week was a rollercoaster of emotions! I will start with the best part...A and S were MARRIED and BAPTIZED on Friday!! It was a day that I have been preparing for my whole mission! To see a young family take hold of the Gospel and really show their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The members helped out SO much with the wedding it was something special and forever memorable. I was so blessed and honored to be picked to baptize them both! There was such a strong spirit, I will NEVER forget how happy I felt. I can only imagine how Our Heavenly Father felt. It was something I feel that I have been working for my whole mission, and I was incredibly blessed to not only see but to participate and receive some of the blessings. I know that this is the Lords work and that he worked through me to teach and convert this new marriage.

On Saturday the following day I recieved a call from a member in San Pedro telling me that one of the less actives I was teaching there had committed suicide on Saturday morning. I was blown away and instantly began to cry. There were so many times I taught her and I thought she was at the point of being reactivated. When I was informed of her death I felt like that I had failed, or that I didnt do enough to prevent her from taking her own life. I fell on my knees and prayed asking for forgiveness, I felt comforted and that all was going to be okay and that it wasnt my fault. I still felt really sad but I felt like less of a failure. But it made me so grateful for my own life, testimony, and knowledge. It humbled me a lot and gave me a motivation to be better. 

Other news, on Thursday I am going to the Chaco! I am so stoked and excited! I really have no idea what to expect, but I know it will be a very special experience and I won't come back the same! I will be sure to take a lot of pictures and enjoy it :)

Well I hope that everyone is healthy and studying/working hard. The time is coming close, and I still cannot believe it! I pray for all of you always and I cannot wait to see you! I love you and I will write more next week!

Love Always,

Elder Milton

Week #98 - Pictures

Priesthood Session! I asked all the Elders of our zone to wear red ties!

Sunday Conference with A, S, L. and S!

I met up with the converts of Mburucuya in Burger King today! They all have callings now and go to the temple twice a month together!