The Abundancia Community Sign
The kids that I interviewed, and then were baptized
The members of the Mistolar Church
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
Elder Milton
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
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
Elder Miton
Hola Familia!
Love Always,
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
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