Week #1

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has definitely been a long week! I wake up at 6:30 and I dont get done with all my classes until around 10. And my bed time is at10:30.  haha so not really any personal time. My companions name is Elder McClelland. And its freaking hilarious because NONE of the latinos can say his name. They just call him Elder Mack! Me and him get along good! Hes from Salt Lake City and he loves football so thats okay with me! We have two other roommates and they are both from Peru so the language barrier is pretty thick. One of them snores louder than ANYONE I have ever heard. Its crazy. Not only is it loud but he breathes so fast! Haha i feel like im in a missionary movie! Well hes a pretty big boy and he sleeps on the top bunk. The other night he rolled off his bed! It was so freaking scary but hilarious at the same time! I could not go back to sleep because i was laughing so hard!

Thursdays are our P day and every Thursday we go to the temple! We are literally 20 feet away from it and it so beautiful. Look up the Buenos Aires Temple. It is one of the prettiest ones! I definitely enjoyed it very much! Also today we are having a turkey bowl :) hallelujah! There is one good football in Argentina! I will be starting QB for the Moroni District if you happen to catch it on BYU tv ;) haha. Our district has gotten really close for only being here for 7 days. But they are all way awesome!

Spanish. I eat, drink, and sleep spanish. Surprisingly all the stuff i learned in school is helping me! Thank you Senor Jones! First day we had to teach a lesson to our teacher in Spanish! Somehow me and my companion made it through! My mouth was just filled with words that i thought I had forgot! I was freaking nervous too haha. My teachers are legit! The one we have in the morning his name is Brother Pederson. Hes from argentina but he just got home from his mission in St. George! So he speaks really good english and me in him have a bond because he served in Cedar for a little bit too :) Our second teacher is amazing and his name is Brother Vargas. We all describe him as an angel or a truly exalted being. Honestly this guy is cute. He reminds of a little kid but he awesome! I wish i could send you pictures of him. You would understand haha. I love the pictures you sent me! they turned out good!

Christmas Package details. Large boxes will be held up in customs and there will be a cost to retrieve them. Unless the contents is really valuable we will not retrieve these packages.

Small video boxes seem to arrive here okay. The best way to send a package is the following: The contents must fit inside a padded 9x13 shipping envelope. It must weigh less than 4 pounds. Indicate missionary supplies on the outside. Secure package with Scotch tape so it will not break open.

Address:

CCM/ Templo de Mormones

Puente 13 & Ricchieri

Cuidad Evita

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Marco Milton

Those are instructions straight from the President :) thank you 

Well Mom, email time is done :( but it is so good to hear that everything with the family is going well. I miss you guys so much! I pray for you every night! Thank you for the support :) give everyone a big hug and kiss for me! I love you and I will be back to write you next week! Happy Thanksgiving :)

Love,

Elder Milton

P.S. Sorry about my grammar! I cant find half the puncutation marks haha :) i love you !

Safe Arrival

November 21, 2013 - At about 5:30 pm Wednesday, I received a phone call from an unknown number.  It was a woman calling me to tell me that Elder Milton had safely arrived in Dallas.  What an angel!   She will never know how much that 2 minute phone call meant to me.  One more connecting flight to go!

On Thursday morning at about 8:30 am, I received an email from Elder Milton telling he had been allowed to send a quick email home to his family to tell us that he had arrived to Argentina safely.  He said he would write as soon as he can.

As MJ sends updates, I will post them here for you all to read.  Thank you to all of his friends and family for your support.  If you are reading this blog, you have had a positive impact on his life somehow and he wants you to share in his experiences as he serves.  This is the day MJ has waited for and prepared for.  Now it begins.....

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

November 20, 2013.  Today was the big day.  Today we took Elder Milton to the Tucson, Arizona International Airport to depart on his mission in Paraguay.  He had a connecting flight in Dallas to head to the MTC in Buenos Aries, Argentina.

Heading out the door

Because MJ is officially set apart, there were no movies to be played in the car, no radio to listen to, so we found some piano music on Pandora to enjoy.  It was a quiet, but enjoyable car ride.

MJ and Megan in the car on the way to the airport

We stopped and had lunch at MJ's favorite place, In and Out, before we went to the airport.  I am positive MJ savored every last bite of the 4x4 he ordered!

Thumbs WAY UP!

Today was a bittersweet day.  The sadness at saying goodbye is inexplicable, but the pride is overwhelming! All of us cried as we said our goodbyes!  It was a very emotional time.  We each had a few moments to say our goodbyes and take a final picture before he went through the security gate.

MJ and Kody

MJ will never know how hard Kody cried when he left.  Kody will miss his big brother!

MJ and Kali

Kali loves her big brother!

MJ and Megan

MJ and Megan have a special bond.  Megan will miss him so much!

Megan, MJ, Kody, Kali

MJ and Mike

Denise, MJ and Mike

Me and my son, Elder Milton!

A final wave goodbye

There he goes!

Godspeed Elder Milton.  You will be missed, but the Lord has so much in store for you!  You will be a magnificent missionary!

Final Football Practice

Wednesday morning, November 20th, 2013, before we loaded the car to head to the airport, MJ, Kali, and Kody went outside to throw the football around.  MJ and Kody usually throw the football in the afternoon after Kody gets home from school. Sometimes Kali joins in.  MJ has been teaching Kody passing routes and teaching Kali how to throw the ball.  This will be the last football practice for two years.  Notice MJ is wearing his dress shoes and socks because the rest of his life and wardrobe is either packed away in the attic or in suitcases to head to the airport!

MJ and Kali

Kody catches a pass

Kali, Kody, and Elder Milton (notice Kody's gloves - a gift from MJ)

Packing Elder Milton

On the night of November 19, 2013, after MJ's setting apart and Kyle's baptism, we went home to start getting MJ packed.  With checklist in hand and with Mom's expertise, we were able to pack everything needed and a few extras, like peanut M&M's and a few Kit Kat bars.  We were even under weight and had room to spare.  If there would have been too much extra space, I am certain we would have found Kody in one of his suitcases!

Getting Organized (while talking to Uncle Lawrence on the phone)

Elder Milton's First Baptism

On November 19th, 30 minutes after MJ was set apart as an official missionary, he performed his first Baptism.  Our neighbor and MJ's good friend, Kyle Carver was baptised a member of the Church.

MJ and Kyle before Kyle's Baptism

MJ, President Sanders and Kyle

MJ has been a great friend and example to Kyle since the day our family moved to Safford.  Kyle has been to and will continue to go to church with our family and become active in our ward.

The full-time Missionaries in our ward taught Kyle the discussions in our home with MJ present to assist.  MJ was able to get to spend a lot of time with these Elders who served as great examples to him of what is to come.

MJ with Kyle and the Elders

The "Official" Elder Milton

On November 19th, 2013, MJ was "officially" set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints tonight.  He was very excited.  He invited a family and a few close friends to be there.  Our Stake President, President Sanders set him apart with the assistance of Bishop Hancock and MJ's step-dad, Michael Cochran.  We were all touched by the Spirit that was felt as this special blessing was pronounced.  Elder Milton will be a great missionary!

Our Family

MJ with step-sisters Fallon and Darcy

MJ and Kyle Carver

MJ and the McCormies Family

MJ and Kody, our Future Missionary

The Farewell

On Sunday, November 10th, we had MJ's Mission Farewell.  MJ gave a wonderful, memorable talk.  Not suprising, he used several metaphores relating to (what else) ...  FOOTBALL!  I hope to have the video or audio soon to share with everyone.

MJ had many supporters at his farewell, including family, friends, and co-workers.  It was a packed house.  Hugs were exchanged, tears were shed, but it was a fantastic day with a fantastic talk given by a wonderful man, soon to be Elder Marco Milton.  Here are some photos from the occasion...

Elder Marco L. Milton, Jr.

 MJ's Grandma and Grandpa Chubbs from Las Vegas, NV

 MJ's Uncle Jeff, Aunt Dixie, Raychel, Nate, and Karsyn from Chandler, AZ

 MJ's Uncle Lawrence, Aunt Tracy, Jake and Connor from Las Vegas, NV

MJ's Close Family Friends, James and Michelle Ruesch with Sydney and Brooklyn from Riverside, CA

 MJ's Aunt Donetta and Peyton from Las Vegas, NV

MJ's Best Friend, Kelly Jo McCormies from Thatcher, AZ

MJ's Close friend and adopted "dad" Brian Williamson from Cedar City, UT

MJ's friend Shalene Allen

The Whole Fam-Damily:  Darcy, Fallon, Tara, Ryann, Marco, Kali, Megan, Kody, Mike and Denise

MJ and his siblings:  Megan, Kody and Kali

MJ and Megan

MJ's Family:  Denise, Marco, Kody, Kali, Megan and Mike

and of course... MJ and his Mommy  :)

You can plug in your own caption here!

Mission Mailing Address

When MJ has left the MTC, letters and packages can be mailed to him in Paraguay to the Mission Office.  He will eventually have an address at his first assignment, but mail will always be held for him at these addresses below.

There is some information you should know.  According to the guidelines received from the church:
"Small packages of nominal value may be sent through the regular mail.  Photographs, tapes, CD's, thumb drives, etc. may be included in these packages.  Please use padded envelopes when sending these items, as they may damage postal equipment or be damaged during transit if placed in flat envelopes.  Packages sent to other countries often do not reach their intended destination.  When they do arrive, they are subject to customs duties (taxes) that the missionary must pay from his own personal funds.  This amount may be equal to or greater than the cost of the items being sent."

If you want to send a package via private carrier (instead of the USPS), let me (Denise) know because you have to have some additional information.

Argentina Mission Office Mailing Address (Letters):

Elder Marco LeRoy Milton, Jr.

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission

Casilla de Correo 1871

Asuncion 1831

Paraguay

Argentina Mission Office Mailing Address (Packages):

Elder Marco LeRoy Milton, Jr.

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission

Av. Santisima Trinidad No. 1280

c/Julio Correa

Asuncion 1831

Paraguay

MTC Mailing Address

If you wish to send MJ an letter while he is in the Buenos Aires MTC, the address will be posted below.  Don't forget the mail will take 5-10 days to arrive and he will only be at the MTC for about 6 weeks. Currently, International First Class Mail is $1.10 for up to 2 ounces of mail (3 sheets of paper or so).

MTC Mailing Address:

Elder Marco LeRoy Milton, Jr.

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission

Argentina Missionary Training Center

Autopista Ricchieri y Puente 13

1778 Ciudad Evita

Buenos Aries 

Argentina

Email Address

While away, MJ will have an email address.  We are not sure, however, how often he will be able to check or respond to his emails.  Feel free to drop him a note.

marco.milton@myldsmail.net

Called to Serve

Elder Marco LeRoy Milton has been called to serve in the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He departs from Tucson, AZ on Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 to spend a few weeks in the Buenos Aires Missionary Training Center.  (MTC)  Here, he will learn his Spanish to prepare him for his work in Paraguay.