Week 31 - Pictures

Baptism of GR with his family

Baptism of AC with his family PC and Hermana C 

A gift from E! I promised him I would wear it on my first date back with Kelly haha :)

Helping Hermana C cut up some papaya to can!

The last district meeting of Elder R.

AC and GR :)

Week #31

Dear Family.

This week sounded really relaxed and good which is always good! I am glad to hear that everyone is engaged in their summer activites and are taking advantage of the free time they have! I wish the best of luck to Megan and her trip to Nashville and also to Kali and Kody who are doing their music camp! Mom and Mike sound super busy as usual and I hope that you guys continue to work hard! Thank you so much for all that you do! 

Sadly I havent recieved any letters of the package you guys sent! But I have picked up some stamps from Paraguay here that I will be sending shortly! So look for a letter that I will send international instead of through pouch! 

Sister McCormies of course is doing amazing! She has a super special spirit and she will soon see how the Lord will work through her! I am excited to hear and read all her experiences! She will change New York :)

This week started out really good with the baptisms of AC and also GR both which asked me to baptize them so it was a huge honor! Both are really good kids! Hermana C was extremely grateful and begged me to send the pictures to her son so of course I did! And the Mom of GR confronted me and really thanked me for helping her and her family come back to the church! The goal with them now is to enter in the temple and to be sealed for time and eternity! I am excited to work with them! This was all tuesday! So Wednesday Elder R left for his new area so it was pretty sad, but he will definitely work his heart out! He has been like the son I have never had haha. 

Last week President Mc. talked to our zone about something that Elder Ballard told him in an area conference. The need of missionaries to open their mouths more and talk to EVERYONE: Elder Ballard taught that missionaries should AT LEAST talk to 10 people daily ask for references! This really hit me because I dont do this! And an apostle of Jesus Christ said this so I have been thinking alot lately  about this, so what I have devised to to have a little sticky note in my planner because I really dont have any more room, and write down the names of the people that I talk to or contact so that I can have names instead of numbers and pray for them by name in my personal prayers! I really have seen a huge difference in a little time! We have been teaching more new people and the people are desiring to know more! 

One example is this family that we encountered named the V. family. They had a golden question which was Why arent their prophets in the world today like there was in biblical times? Of course we answered their question and I sense a future with the family because they were interested! So I will continue to follow the Apostles counsel: 10 people every day!

This week we found an apartment and we moved! More importantly it has HOT WATER! I was so happy! And today I enjoyed my first hot shower in ages! It felt so good! Also we finished the service project with Hermana P. and she was extremely grateful! :)

This week was a good start to the new change! I am excited to continue to work hard and also with the new people that we have encountered and will encounter! Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! I love you and I will write you more next week! :)

Love,

Elder Milton 

Week #30 - Pictures

We customized zone jerseys! They have our names and favorite numbers on the back!

My first time at McDonalds! It was so good!

The house we had service, this is me chiseling a chasm for the electrical

Week #30

Mi Querida Familia,

 

Happy fathers day once again! I am super glad to see the pictures of Mikewazowski smiling and enjoying his gifts! Holy moly it still surprises me that is June! It is so interesting here in Paraguay, the weather is like California winter but a little more cold in the mornings! But I am sure you guys are enjoying the Heat of the summer which I am not jealous!

 

Well this week was a good week! Elder G. and I worked hard and we had a huge opportunity to serve with the Ward on Thursday! There is a Sister named Hermana P. and her son suffered a really nasty motorcycle accident about a year ago. His name is D. and he cant walk by himself, he is blind, and he also is missing the front part of his skull. Well the ward put together this activity to make their house a little more comfortable! So I had the opportunity to help with some electrical stuff and we also plastered their wall with cement(it used to only be bricks) because dry wall does not exist down here haha. But it was really good! I learned how to a bunch of new things! Without tools haha but it was really good and the gratitude of Hermana P. was unforgetable!

 

On Friday we recieved a visit from the Mission cleaning lady! And she was not happy with our house...our house was clean! But she was not happy that we were living in such a wreck! In fact she told the office and now we have to move again...haha when she was telling us how ugly our house was because the humidity is peeling the paint, we dont have a sink, it is really small, and we shower with cold water, right in the middle of this speech a rat ran right between her legs and hid somewhere in the house(we would find out later in the closet of Elder G. eating his garments) she screamed so loud, it was priceless. So we are on the house hunt again! Haha

 

On Saturday we encountered a grandma walking down the street in the pitch black at night! Also there was a bunch of mud from all the storms we recieved this week, so we had the feeling to accompany her home. She was extremely grateful and on the way home I tripped and ate some solid mud! So she also got a little entertainment on the way home haha. Well she spoke pure Guarani and when we tried to leave her house she got mad and asked us to come inside her house, well we went inside because her nephew was working inside so we didnt sense any problems! This nephew also translated for us and told us to wait. So we waited about 15 minutes and all of a sudden this lady walks in(the daughter of the grandma) then the grandma tells us to teach them! Turns out they had been investigating some churches so we taught them and the daughter translated for us, they didnt attend on Sunday only because they had to travel to for Fathers Day so it was really a people prepared! It was amazing!

 

The news about the changes...I am staying another 6 weeks! I am super happy! I told just about everyone in the ward yesterday that I was leaving so many of the members were preparing to give some souvenirs to remember them and all the members wanted us to visit them before I left, I was 100 percent sure I was leaving! Well we recieve the call this morning that Elder G. and I are both staying another 6 weeks! YAY! Which means I will have 7 and a half months here. It is really rare I guess! Elder R. is leaving to the border of Paraguay and Brazil so he will have a great opportunity to learn Portugues! Speaking of Brazil the world cup is nuts here! It is funny to listen to the entire country talk about it! Tonight the USA play against Ghana and I hope they win!

 

Tomorrow we have 2 baptisms with the ward. One of them is the son of Hermana M. and his name is A. and he asked me to baptize him! The other name is GR from a family that we reactivated! So I am excited and so are the families! We are also contiuning to work with part of the congregation that we taught! Three of them are progressing really good! Their names are RN, R., and J.! So we read the book of mormon with them and they really liked it! So we have a lot of hope for them!

 

Well this is my report for this week! I am super happy and blessed to stay in Salado one change more! The members are also really happy! So we are going to work really hard this change and make it worth it! Thank you guys for checking up on me and I hope you guys enjoy your week! I will write more next week :)

 

Love,

Elder Milton

Week #29 - Pictures

Fixing the transmission with Hermano S.

Playing a rigged game of baseball with some kids! I fell and ate some dirt!

Cleaning the house and my precious cement floor! 

This is "real" BBQ - Paraguay Style! 

Week #29

Mi Querido Familia!

This week sounded really busy but really amazing for your guys! The time has really flown by. Heather is now married and now Sister McCormies is on the edge of starting her mission. I reallly am without words for Sister McCormies, she has done so much for me and for you guys that I am forever grateful for. I know she is going to do amazing work! She has been a huge example to me and she will change lives :) she is amazing! Thank you guys for supporting her and including her in your lives. Please continue to have her in your prayers!

The pictures that you sent me are great! Thank you :) the gift that you made Heather looks super nice! I am sure she loves it and will hang it up in her house :) Also with the Car map! Man I forgot about that, that was my favorite thing to play with! haha I am sure the kids love it!

The projects that are planned out for the Kids sound good! Its good for them to have something to do! I am sure Kali will love her dance class and Kody for sure will love his Day camp! I will also look for some stamps around here! There is one close by so I will check it out for you! 

Today I went around with one of Elder G.'s old companions who is going to finish his mission next week. His name is Elder M. and we went around visiting an area that he had served in and the people we talked to like members, recent converts, and some less actives he worked with all were emotional! The people here have such a genuine love for the missionaries here. All the Moms in the ward call the missionaries their sons and it just really amazes me the value and the love they have for the missionaries. They really understand the love we have for the people here and why we sacrifice 2 years of our life for their happiness! It is something I love about Paraguay. Not because I expect every person to love me and cry for me when I leave, but the value they have for what we do and what we teach, and for the changes in their lives, and for the gospel! It is amazing! 

The week started out really good with the Spirit that we felt from the past weekend. Elder G. and I were pretty busy with the service projects! We cut down three trees this week from the roots and also we repaired a auto transmission in a Mercedes! And when I say we I mean Elder G. but he taught me along the way. So I know the basics of a transmission but it is sooo complicated! Hardly any of the Mechanics here know how to work this kind of system because it is expensive! So they resort to standard or manual systems. So Elder G. taught this Mechanic how to diagnose and repair transmisions! It was really cool!  Also this week we ecountered this group of teenagers reading the Bible together so Elder G. and I took that as a sign to teach them! And they recieved us really well and we taught them the Restoration. They understood really well! They are really Bible savy so It was a lesson pretty detailed! But the best part was they invited us to return to their house on Saturday to teach them. So on Saturday we arrived at their house and we were surprised to see a congregation of 15 with their pastor! The funny part was they were expecting us! So it was a surprise and we thought that we would be arguing with different Doctrines but it was the opposite! They all listened to our message of the Restoration and had really good questions! Including the Pastor! So we invited them to Church and they all were pretty excited to come but this Sunday it was pretty cold and rainy. So that is why I think they didnt come, but we will pass by their house this week to see what really happened! 

Also this week I returned to an area named Piqute Que which is the area I had my first division with the crazy grandma! We went to Piqute so that Elder G. could interview someone for their Baptism! Well the funny thing was that one of the members in the street recognized me from the grandma incident! So it was funny to think about that and realize how fast time flies!

Well this week is the last week of the change and as usual I feel that I am going! I really dont want to so who knows! But this is the report for the week! It was good and I am ready to start another so I will write you guys more next week! I love you guys and you are in my prayers! 

Love,

Elder Milton 

Week #28 - Pictures

With the C. Family!

With Pat!

With the people that attended the baptism of Pat.

Week #28

Dear Family!

Well I am super sad to hear what happened to Kalis arm! It sounds relly painful! But I am sure she is being tough and I hope she heals rapidly! Also the last year at girls camp for Megan! Holy moly that is crazy! I am sure it is more crazy for her! But I hope she enjoyed her time and made the best of it :) also the activities for summer sound super fun! Basketball and Dance! I hope the Kids have a lot of fun!

Yes Kelly Jo is heading out in one week! I cant believe it! But I am so glad and grateful that she has included you guys and invited you to these events and also took Kali and Kody to the movies. She is amazing! Please give her my love this week :)

Yay! You recieved my letter! That is super good! I am glad that Kali enjoyed her letter! I will have to write Kody one next! And no I havent recieved the package yet but I am waiting for it! I am excited to recieve it!

Very interesting with Kyle. I hope he is doing good! I have been thinking about him lately and I hope he continues in his progress! I want him to email me! 

So this week was good! But the highligts were of course this weekend! Well we had 3 baptismal services! On Saturday we had planned for 3 baptisms at 5 o clock in the afternoon. But what happened is one of the families misunderstood and thought it was at 7. The mom couldnt come any earlier because she doesnt get off work until 6 and then an hour bus ride home! But the funny thing was Elder G. and I were at the church baking a cake for the baptism when we recieved word of the miscomunication and we heard this at 4 o clock. My companion looked at his watch and said all is good! We said at 5 which is 6 o clock Paraguayan time because people are always late so we will just ask everyone to wait for a half an hour! Not even 5 seconds after he said this one of the families walked in at 4 o clock! 1 hour early! It was hilarious! But the problem was we asked them to wait but they didnt want to. It was actually really frustrating, one family was willing to wait but one wasnt. So We continued the Baptismal service for the two. One of the baptisms was ours with the L. family! Sadly the family that was hard headed! They baptized their daughter who is 8 years old and the Dad performed the ordinance. The next was another little boy named O.M. who was baptized by Elder R. It was his first baptism so it was sweet. After the ordinances and the rest of the service right before the closing prayer the other family, the C. family, walked and and prayed with us to bless the refreshments. They only had to wait 20 minutes! Ah I was pretty frustrated. But we ate the refreshments and started the next service! Which was really good also! The baptism of a youth named R.C. and she asked me to perform the ordinance so I was super honored! The water was freezing cold because the hot water was dirty so poor R.C. was shivering so bad! But luckily only one dunk was sufficient! 

Next Sunday I woke up at 5 o clock to get ready for the Baptism of Pat. Hers was at 7 o clock in the morning so we cooked a little brownie for afterwards because we didnt have time the day before. I also was honored to perform the baptismal ordinance and it was amazing! And reaaalllyyy cold haha. But I didnt have to be completely submerged! So I felt bad for her! But Pat. all week has been expressing her excitement for the baptism which was super awesome! She really has changed since I met her 6 months ago! And now she is expressing desires to serve a mission! She is 18 so she has a little time so I hope she continues to prepare and express desires to do so! It will be awesome!

Well that was the highlight of my week! It was really spiritual and a blessing to have 3 baptismal services! I was honored and humbled to be a part of it. The ward was really excited and I think motivated them to work more with us which is always good! But this is my report for the week! I love you guys and I will write more next week! :)

Love, 

Elder Milton

Week #27 - Letter Home dated May 19, 2014

Dear Family,

Well, another week has gone by in the mission, and I am close to having six months!  Honestly, it scares me how fast time passes.  Luckily, I have been working hard and I don't have any regrets, but I know that I have much to learn and improve.

This letter was written about a week after we Skyped and I am still really happy and filled with motivation from our video chat.  I really enjoyed talking and seeing you guys!  It is a great blessing to see everyone is healthy and doing well.

This week was a pretty all right week.  Our work was hindered by rain and then my companion got a little sick and we also had interviews with President McM.  This week made for a short week.  My interview with President McM was good.  It was in a Spanish language, meaning with talked in English, but used a lot of Spanish adjectives.  President McM got a good laugh out of that because I couldn't help it.  He offered to have the interview in Spanish but I hold him I needed to practice my English!  All in all, the interview was good.  We have one every three months and it was great.

Well, the story for this week happened yesterday, Sunday.  Elder G. And I had just finished our studies and we headed out with our plans for the day.  Well, we passed by this Hermano's house who is less active and he was sitting on his patio with his wife who has been really sick lately.  Well, the wife is not a member, but the husband is.  So, we decided to stop by and talk with them for a bit.  We talked about baptism and how it is our first covenant, but there are more waiting for us in the temple.  After this lesson, the brother told us that he had prayed for us to pass by his house today and to teach his wife.  That is why they were outside waiting!  The sister wants to be baptized by her husband.  It was a really neat experience.

Well, I am going to cut this letter a little bit short because I realize that I haven't written Kali a letter.  So that is why there are two if you haven't realized yet.  But I love you all very much and I am forever grateful for your support and prayers!  I will write you more next time!

Love,
Elder Milton

P.S. I hope Megan liked her birthday presents!  Happy late birthday!