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! 

Week #98

Dearest Family!

This last week was a great week, and it ended with General Conference. I have to say that I was more excited than normal for this conference. I was just anxious to learn and write down all the answers to my questions! And the first session saturday morning answered all but one of my questions! My favorite talks were by Elder Lawrence, Elder Maynes, Elder Hales, President Uchtdorf(Saturday) and President Monson`s. I did notice some topics that were very interesting to me, but I enjoyed them. I may not understand why I needed to listen to them but I know that it is for my own good! Probably my favorite part about conference was to sit next to A. and S. practically all of Sunday to listen with them. They loved the conference! They were a little down because they still haven't received a new operation date for S. But they are continuing on in their faith. They are going to be married and baptized on Friday! So we are doing everything we can to help them prepare!

I did a division this week with an Elder that has troubles with his self esteem. It really touched me because this missionary is great and he knows how to teach, find people, baptize and he does it all really well! But his self confidence seemed to be small, so it was a great chance for me to share with him some experiences that I have had in the mission, what helped me to gain more self confidence! We were both motivated and lifted up spiritually! The other division I went to Villa Hayes again and I was able to visit some investigadors that I found last time, and they are progressing so fast! They are going to be baptized next week. They were super happy to see me! They kept sharing with me all they have learned in the last month and a half. I was able to feel their testimony and see the conversion that they were having! It was such a testimony grower! A whole family is changing their lives just cause we opened our mouths and talked to them in their house one afternoon. What a blessing to see them progress before I leave!

My trip to the Chaco is still coming up...and I finally convinced Elder R. to come with me! We also have a super strong member in our Branch named W.F. He is a Pioneer of the tribe we are going to visit and helped convert over 200 nivacle translating for the missionaries in the 1980s. When we told him we are heading up there, he was super happy for us! He told us we were going where he recieved his testimony and that there was a super powerful spirit out there. So now I AM EVEN MORE EXCITED! 

Well that is the sum of my week, I hope that it finds everyone in good health and spirits! I love you all so much and I pray for you. I will be writing more next week! I love you!

Love Always,
Elder Miton

Week #97

Hola Familia!

Here I am still, very good and very much alive! Today I write home a little earlier than normal because we have our zone activity today! But I am super surprised and pleased to see so much rain! That is a wonderful thing! This week in Paraguay was scorching hot, but my prayers were answered to be cooled off by rain as well! But overall I am glad to see that everyone is doing good :) Today would be a interesting start to my day to open my email and receive my Itinerary...what a long trip! 

This week was a good week and full of good surprises and bad surprises, first off on Tuesday I received the changes from the assistants...and Elder H. would head out! He was SO sad, he loves Benjamin so I don't blame him! So the beginning of the week we would be going around saying goodbye for him. And my new companion would be....Elder R.! Haha I still cant really believe it but the same one that lived with me a year and a half ago! He has changed quite a bit! He is not the same little kid from Peru that I met a year ago, he is a great missionary and I am excited to have this one change with him. Luckily Elder R. stayed and he is training a new missionary named Elder K. so we have one more change to work as Zone Leaders together! ALL the zone had changes, so there are a lot of new faces to meet and to do divisions, so we will see how it goes! 

Another good surprise that happened this week was a phone call from President McM. Of course I answered and we talked briefly about the zone and the missionaries and then what would follow would be one of the happiest moments of my mission! He told me that in the Chaco (part of my zone that I never visit because it is extremely far away) he noticed that they would be having 8 baptisms this month from the Nivacle Tribe and he wanted me to go out there and do the interviews! I WAS SO HAPPY! I have ALWAYS wanted to at least go out to the Chaco! Its like pure wilderness and many parts are still virgin to modern society. It will be a trip of 3 days this month, so I am beyond excited and more than honored to do so :)

An unexpected surprise was that S. (An. and S.´s daughter) was not able to be operated on Saturday, she got really sick and the doctors did not feel it was good to continue with the operation. They were really sad and down, but luckily with a handful of members we went and visited them yesterday and taught them about the Plan of Salvation and they were extremely grateful! The members helped us so much, it was a powerful lesson with a great spirit! 

I know that I do not give any of my stories any justice, I am not the greatest of writers but I am so excited to share and reshare these experiences in person! It will be a lot better :) but thank you for the patience and love to keep reading anyways. I love you all so much and I hope that everyone has a wonderful week! I will write more next week :) 

Love Always,

Elder Milton 

Week #96

Dearest Family!

I was able to score a computer today and I have been blessed with some time to write you this week! I am glad that the week went smooth and that everyone is doing good in their normal routines. 

This week was a good test! It was an INFERNO! I cannot believe that Paraguay does not have winter for more than a week! But as we always say the work goes on! And we are giving it our all here in Benjamin! Our investigators A. and S. are doing really good, they are preparing for their daughters operation this Saturday and we are teaching them and helping them learn the gospel. We recently taught them the Word of Wisdom, and they already follow it! It was amazing and probably a first here in Paraguay! The reason being because they dont have ANY money to be wasting in things like that, is what they said to me. So I told them that is alright with me! So we are excited to help them progress and  I can feel a better spirit around them! Another investigator that we are focusing on is a man named V. D. He is an interesting case, his wife recently got baptized in July but he didnt think his time was then, or now! So we are trying to help him realize that his time is right now. He comes to church every Sunday and reads in the Book of Mormon every day. So slowly but surely I think he is coming around! Yesterday we left him homework to study what the difference is between Having a Testimony and Being Converted. I am interested to see what he discovers, and I think it might open him up a little bit more! 

The Zone is doing good! It has its difficulties as all do, so this week the divisions were focused on helping missionaries solve their own problems and offer up solutions when they cant handle it by themself. Also this week starts up a new change! I am positive that I am not leaving, because its my last change but Elder H. I feel might be leaving so we are anxious to see what will happen tomorrow! 

Well that is all I will report this week! Thank you so much for always reading and responding! I love you all and I pray for you all always! I hope that this is a wonderful week, and I will write more next week! Chau!

Love Always

Elder Milton

Week #95

Hola Familia!

I am so happy that everyone is doing good! Especially happy to hear that Kody is alive and active again! And that everyone is healthy and studying or working :)

Today I do not have that much time, but this week was a hard one! There were ups and downs and everything in between, but the important was this weekend we had planned for a fundraiser to help A. and S. C. with their marriage plans and for their daughter S. who has a condition :) it was amazing to see how many members came to help us with making Pizzas and then selling them to their friends and family to earn some money to help them out :) They have a baptismal date and marriage date set next month so we are eagerly helping them with the whole branch behind us to support us :)

I hope that everyone knows that I love them and that I appreciate all that they do for me :) I pray for you all the time and I hope that this week is the best week! I will write much more next week :)

Love Always,
Elder Milton

Week #94 - Pictures

Service Project, building the house for the R. Family!

Elder R. and I showing off our v-neck sun burns!

I borrowed Elder R's capris to go bowling...haha it felt so weird!

Elder R. asleep on the job after a visit!

Week #94

Dearest Family!

I am super happy as always to read that the week went relatively smooth! I am sad to hear that Kody got another ear infection and I hope that the natural remedies help him get back to one hundred percent! September is here! And its not so much BER here as I would like! This week I actually got sun burned for the first time my WHOLE mission after doing a service in a V Neck :( it was painful! 

As I always love, the week was busy and full of work and blessings! I was able to do the two divisions for the week and one of them was interesting. I went to an area called Remansito with Elder G. And it was good to be with him, because he has been having some problems being motivated and excited about the work, due to some previous companions that weren't the best. But I was able to help him pick up his spirits and we got along and worked really well together that day! He doesn't have a shower so it was bathing by cups of water, haha something I wont forget soon! 

In my own area Benjamin is going well! The J. family has been difficult but we haven't been able to keep in contact with them, so we are considering dropping them for a while to see if interest sparks again...but we did find another young family that we are teaching! The couple A. and S.. They are SO cool but also SO poor...we have to help them get married before they get baptized and money is definitely needed, so we are planning what we can do to help them get married and baptized. As for my companion Elder H. and I, we are still getting along great. He is a hard worker and he keeps me working :)

Every month we meet up as Zone Leaders, Assistants, Hermana Training Leaders, and President to talk about goals and things we need to do as a mission to improve. So today was that chance and it was really good! We talked about The Atonement, Repentance, Taking upon us the name of Christ, and The difference between a Testimony and a Conversion. I was so filled spiritually! I enjoyed it so much! And afterwards we went Bowling! It was something new that President gave us permission to do, so we were the first in the mission. I still am awful, but it was fun! I wont say my score just because anything less than 300 is embarrassing to some people...like Scooter haha.

I am overall doing good! I am super blessed everyday with all aspects of the mission and my life. I cannot sufficiently thank my Heavenly Father for all that I have. I love you all so much and I hope to hear more from you next week! I pray for you and hope that this week is the best!

Love Always,

Elder Milton

Week #93 - Pictures

Cleaning the most beautiful font of Benjamin :)

I's Baptism and his family!

Elder P, Elder R, Elder H and I in the conference yesterday!

Week #93

Ha`upeicito!

SO to start out this email with a funny story...In the office I was able to learn a lot of things, one being the schedule of the Secretary(knowing what he does, what days in which weeks) so this week I knew he would be trying to call me (Elder T) being week 3 of the change to find out my ¨final destination¨ and so this week I avoided his calls for 4 days and having people mislead him so he couldn't get a hold of me to coordinate my flight plans. Haha well after 4 days of frustration I finally called him back and he was happy and asked me if I was ready, so I told him yes and he asked ¨Elder Milton, what is your final destination?¨ and I responded honestly ¨The Celestial Kingdom¨ haha. So he finally got me and I asked him if I could please land in Tuscon, Arizona! I am surprised that he was able to get it done so fast but now the secret is out!

I am glad that all is going well for Kali and Kody! I hope they continue to progress in their Faith In God! I still have my book and I laugh at my first Testimony I wrote! Also The Al Fox Carraway lady sounds cool! I would like to read her book as well! 

The week was really busy! We have to do at least two divisions every week so that makes it a little filled! But also this week we had Zone Trainings, which something that Elder R. and I had to get together to plan to focus on what we were going to teach the Zone during interviews with President McM. So we decided to teach about Dispensations and Apostasy. That was on Friday, and it was a good training, it was awesome to practice and see how the zone teaches and to learn and teach them how to be better! At the end of the Training I finally had my interview with President (last as always!) and it was really good, he told me he was happy to see me out of the office...then he laughed and said that could be taken two ways, the way he meant was that he was happy that I was back in the field working hard. So that was funny! We shared some good stories and he made sure that I would finish these last months off right and of course I told that was how I was planning!

On Saturday we had a very special baptism! One of the recent converts named A. A. was able baptize his son named I, and we have been able to teach him since I got here! Poor A. was so nervous to baptize his son that he begged that one of us would do it, but we bore our testimonies that he needed to do it, and that it would be unforgettable! So he agreed and did a perfect job! It was a very special spirit, and now the whole family are members and preparing to enter in the temple next year!

Sunday was a special satellite conference, but before we got special permission to confirm I. beforehand. So I. went up and asked me to confirm him...I was so nervous! The whole District of Mariano was there, 300 or more people! But the Lord blessed to calm my nervous and the confirmation was excellent and I felt the Lord speak through me! After, the conference was really good and talked mostly about Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. So I enjoyed it and everyone needed to hear it! 

As always, I enjoy countless blessing of health and energy to name a few. I know that the Lord is hearing our prayers and blessing us! Thank you for always keeping me in your prayers and thoughts. I am still working my hardest and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I love and pray for you all! I will write you more next week!

Love Always,
Elder Milton

P.S. I have pictures...but right now my tech savvy companion is fixing my card reader and memory card so please have patience! 

Week #92

Hola Familiakuera!

Finally I am allowed time to write and try to explain myself these last two weeks! As you well know that I am in this new Zone of Mariano Roque Alonso which is the biggest zone by land! there are 24 missionaries and they are all super awesome and I am super honored to be their Zone Leader along with an Elder named Elder R. 

Being a Zone Leader is going really well! Our main duty is to represent President McM. in our zones by teaching, demonstrating, and leading by example in what President McM. teaches us! Every week I do at least 3 divisions with different companionships in the Zone to give me the chance to see how they work so I can help them be more efficient and effective. So far it is going really well, thanks to the prayers and patience the Lord gives me :)

My new companion Elder H. is from South Carolina, and he is a funny little guy! He has been on the mission for 8 months and works super hard! The Lord has blessed once again with an amazing companion who knows how to work! 

Well to sum up the two weeks we have been getting to know members (the best I have ever had) and also finding new people to teach and help progress! The best news is finding a Family named the Family J. and teaching them with some family members that are family of theirs and setting a baptismal date for September 19th! They understand very well the message of the Restoration and the importance of Baptism by Immersion, they only lack receiving the confirmation that it is true! The only downside is they are a family of 7 that are only together every Sunday, so we teach them every Sunday AND we have to walk about 5 miles to get to their house! But the sacrifice is worth it and I see a future in them! :)

I understand that my time is coming short...but I am still super motivated to work hard and help this Branch grow :) I am so blessed to have this Gospel in my life and I never want to stop sharing it, so I am taking advantage of all the time I have left and putting that shoulder to the wheel. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers! I pray for you every day! I hope that this week goes well and I will write you more next week! I love you!

Love Always,

Elder Milton

P.S. I have some pictures! But for some reason my card reader isnt working...I will send them next week! 

Week #91

Dearest Family,

Well somehow I got the short stick and I don't have much time to write due to lack of computers and time...but yes changes came again! I am now in an area called Benjamin Aceval with a guy named Elder H. from South Carolina! And they called me to be a Zone Leader out here in the Mariano Roque Alonso Zone! I LOVE my new area and the branch. Everything is going extremely well, and I wish I had more time to share the cool experiences, but that will have to wait until next time! I feel bad that I don't have time, but I promise that I will write much more next week! :) Thank you for the patience and for your love. I love you all so much and I pray for you all the time! 

Love,

Elder Milton 

Letter from the President

August 16, 2015

Dear Brother and Sister Milton,

   We are very pleased to inform you that your son, Elder Marco Le Roy Milton, has recently been called to serve as a Zone Leader in our mission.  The call comes as the result of his faithfulness.  He has been an example to his fellow missionaries of obedience, diligence, and charity.  He is, therefore, both respected and loved and we have the utmost confidence in him. 

   The call to a position of leadership in this mission is an honor; however, with that honor comes great responsibility. Your son will be expected to ‘lead from the front’ by establishing and maintaining a successful proselyting program of his own, as well as training and assisting other missionaries in their efforts.  He will be working very hard and will be blessed in his efforts by your special prayers and by your support through encouraging and uplifting correspondence. 

   Thank you so much for preparing such a wonderful young man to serve the Lord in our mission.  We love him dearly, and wish to send you our warmest regards and gratitude.

   Kindest regards,

GHMc

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission President

Week #90

Dear Family,

Well officially I am out of the office and into the field! Last Thursday during District Meeting, President McM. pulled me aside and told me to pack by bags, I would be heading up to Emboscada! Those that remember, I went there a year ago for a division for a day and I have now returned. BUT President also did inform me that it could possibly not be my final destination....so we will see tomorrow on Tuesday for where the Lord finds me most useful! The special change took out Elder C. and sent him with the Office Elders for a few days and sent me here with Elder G. from El Salvador! It has been an interesting change...and extremely different! I really got used to the company of my office homies so Its been interesting but not in a bad way! 

In Emboscada it is 100 times more humble than the neighborhoods of Mburucuya so the lessons have all been really well and easy to walk into peoples houses! It is a Branch but it has its own meeting house so that is really cool! The members all seem nice and I get along with them so far! I also get along fairly well with Elder G. so there is nothing really stopping me from giving it 110%. 

I guess this is all I have to inform this week! I know it is not much, but next week for sure I will have loads to write and I feel that the weirdness of the special change isnt over yet! So I love you al so much and I cant wait to write you more next week! Have a wonderful week!

Love Always,

Elder Milton 

Week #89

Hola Familia!

Surprise, Surprise...I am still in the office haha. But I have a personal testimony that changes in missions are truly directed by God through his called mission Presidents. Anyways, I dont have much time this week! But we have been really finding some really good people in our area to teach! We are contacting almost anything that walks! And the Lord has blessed us with some good people we think we are going to pass by and teach :) There was one couple named F. and R. that listened to us and really had good desires that we are going for our second visit tonight! Also yesterday we helped out with another open house in the San Jorge ward in my district. So I was out on the street trying to help people come participate and get to know the church and its beliefs and values, it was good and we had a good attendance! Other than that just a normal week! I am sorry to cut it short but I love you all and I pray for you all ALL the time! I hope you enjoy  your school shopping and visits! I will write more next week! 

Love Always,
Elder Milton

Week #88 - Pictures

In the morning after we egged Elder J!

The New Office Crew  (Thanks SelfieStick)

Week #88

Dearest Familia!

Well this week once again special changes came out of nowhere! But for whatever reason I am still staying around the office haha...I saw 3 special changes for their special reasons but in the end President has still decided to keep me here in the office. The change that affected us the most is that Elder B. is now with Elder V. and Elder T. in Campo Grande and an Elder named Elder J. has joined Elder P. and I in another trio. Which was surprising because he left his companion who is now in a trio and made another trio with us! So I thought that I was definitely going to be shipped out to kill both the trios, but I guess not yet!

This week was good week, nothing too special happened besides the special changes! Last Sunday I did have the great honor to Bless the Sacrament with J.B. for the first time! It was way good! Also with a last minute surprise talk by me about Keeping The Sabbath Day Holy. Proselyting wise we have been getting out and working, but there are hardly any visible fruits. We are looking for Prepared Investigators and it is a faith developing search for sure!

Two funny stories! Today is my new companions birthday(Elder J.) so we all woke up early without him to fill our whole hall way with balloons! It was super cool and Afterwards we told him that we had his Birthday present outside(Sour Patch Kids) so he went outside and meanwhile we armed ourselves with flour and eggs and just egged him and dumped flour on him! HAHA he had no idea! And it was so cold that the eggs just bounced off of him and didn't crack, so we might have welted him a few times! But he absolutely loved it!

This morning we had staff meeting with President and I really did not want him to see my long hair so I ran to the barber to get it cut and the barber cut it way tooo short his first stroke so I made him just buzz the rest off and it looks so awful! Anyone knowing the mission rules will know that we cannot buzz our hair either! So I was even more scared to see president! Luckily he mus have thought it looked ok on me or something because he did not say anything! WHEW!

Well I will end this note for now! I am so grateful for all the prayers and thoughts. Whatever moment, once again, I will be back to the field and finishing as hard as I can in wherever I go :) (1 Nephi 3:7) I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week.

Love Always

Elder Milton 

Week #87 - Pictures

In one of the houses we cleaned out, someone left a selfie-stick! It was a good swipe and we haven't stopped using it yet! It makes for funny videos! :) These selfies are from all our moves this week!

Week #87

Hola Familia,

Well here I am again! Still on Saturday! I am feeling however at whatever moment I could have a special change :) I have trained Elder P. as much as I can I feel! This week we have been BUSY, never have I been so busy in my life I think! We had to clean 7 houses completely out and store all the things for having so many go home last change! So finishing that up really was the only thing left that Elder P. needed help with, and now I am just a dead weight in the office, waiting for him to finish his work so we can go proselyte! 

Yesterday we had a good proselyting day, we were able to have one walk in lesson which it has been a LONG time since I have had one. This guy was pretty cool! His name is L. and he has a family with a good solid Christian background, as of right now he does not have a certain church he goes to but he was really interested in what we had to say about the family! Other than that our contacting efforts have been thus far fruitless. 

But J.B. got the Aaronic Priesthood and J. and him are going to get their temple recommends for Baptisms on Sunday! So I am so excited! They have so many good questions and are growing so much after this short while I have known them! The trio is still bumpy but we luckily get a long really well! Teaching is just really different! The District is doing well, Sister missionaries are super awesome! I wish I had a lot more of them in my other districts! They bring a special spirit! 

I liked the pictures I received this week! Kody is such a stud! Pioneer day is soon, but I guess the celebration came early? Either way it sounds super fun! I am glad that everyone is doing so well! I am healthy and enjoying the mission maybe a little too much, but please tell Nick and Presley I said hi and to write me! Scooter also comes home this week so I am freaking out haha but I am so happy for them and their families :) I love you all and pray for you all the time! Have a wonderful week!

Love Always,

Elder Milton

Week #86 - Pictures

My Office Homies!

The Kolipoki District!

Week #86

Dearest Family!

How is everything going?! I hope super well! I am happy to read that the Payson trip was good even if it was a little shorter, sounds like everyone enjoyed the break´i as they say in Paraguay :) How was the 4th of July for you guys up there?! Good Fireworks this year or the just decent? 

Those books that Mike has been reading I have heard of! I would be interested in reading them one day when I get back :) He sounds like he was a busy guy! 42 hours is A LOT of overtime!

This week has been a really interesting one for Elder P., Elder B., and I. We have been coordinating to close 9 houses down mission wide, meaning taking the stuff out of all the houses, storing it, and then terminating contracts. We did only two this week and it was hard! Poor Elder P. has already had his fair share of Landlord fights. I showed him a few pointers so now he is almost pro! Elder P.´s training is going really well, it reminds me how overwhelming it was for me when I first got here, and it helps me appreciate the office work even more! Just Elder P. alone does so much for the mission and most of them do not even know! I feel I will be here for a few more weeks and there should be a special change for me between now and then! So we will see how everything goes!

Yesterday and today Asuncion and maybe all of Paraguay has been SHUT DOWN. The Pope is visiting and people are going crazy for this guy. I have seen some really interesting things, and I really have seen that there are some people that are so lost in this world. President McM. has given us good instruction not to talk to anybody going to go see the Pope so we can avoid unnecessary conflict. I feel it is a once in a life time chance! The Pope hasn't been here since the 80s I believe. But once is too much for me! haha Now I can see all the people I need to teach grouped up together! 

This week was LONG but full of office work, So there isn't too much to write about, sorry I am SO boring! But thank you everyone for praying for me and keeping me in your thoughts, I pray about you all everyday and I love you all so much! I will write more next week! Adios! 

Love Always,
Elder Milton 

Week #85 - Pictures

Giving Elder P. the keys to the office and the cell phone!

Happy 4th of July! AMERICA!

Adios Elder J.

Week #85

Dearest Family,

Once again I am asking myself: Where to start? Well last Sunday I was in the office working on some things for the big changes we would have this week and sending 32 people with the Assistants, when President walked out and invited me to come in and take a look at the changes he made on his change board. I would look and I would find out that President decided that I would be training the new Fichero this change! Meaning my time in the office is limited now! He told me that he thought that I would like my last 2 changes in the real field...and he was absolutely right! So two big changes, I am training an Elder named Elder P. from LA for the new office position and an Elder named Elder B. from Germany is joining us in a trio! Man poor Elder P. has jumped into a busy time! We have to close down 9 houses and figure out where we are going to put all the stuff, and on top of that learn everything I have to teach him! But I know he is here for a reason! I am a little nervous about the trio but everything should be good, as long as we understand why we are here and what we are called to do. 

Elder V. and I were sad that we wouldn't be companions anymore, but him and I are the only district leaders of the whole zone! Wow, I have a district full of Hermanas! Its so weird! But they all seem like they will work super hard so far no complaints :) 

This week has been a week full of late nights, planning changes, airport runs, and other odd end jobs to have a smooth sailing week! But the most memorable was taking 22 of the 32 home on Thursday morning, I didnt realize how many friends I have in the mission! But the hardest was sending Elder J. off through that Security Gate. It was tough to see that guy go! I shed some tears haha like a baby...but he emailed me today with a picture of his family and he is doing good! Already scheduled his first date! Thats my boy! haha

So we have a lot of office work to do, its a lot even when there is two to do one job! We still are fighting to get some lessons but as of right now we do not have any investigators that are progressing. So we have to find some more people to teach also! But other than that I am doing excellent :) thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts! I love you all so much and I will write more next week! 

Love Always,
Elder Milton