Christmas Day Bonus! Hermana Milligan's Testimony

On Christmas Day we got a call from Lauree on Skype. I asked her to share her testimony with us in Spanish, or as she calls it Espanol. The Spirit knows no boundaries and when it is present it matters not the language you speak it will touch your heart and tell you that what is being said is true. After that it is our responsibility seek after that truth. This is her Christmas present. 

Week 74: Last Letters From Ecuador, To Family, To Mommy, To Daddy, Feliz Navidad

Buenas Tardes Familia!!

Well, I just want to take a few moments to write about a REALLY big miracle from las Monday.

So last week I sent fotos right? Well, we left the internet and when we were leaving our house I realized that I had left my memory card in the computer. I was sooooo worried, but remember how last week I wrote and said that my compa had told me a little about faith and if we have faith we don´t need to worry so much. So with that fresh in the mind I said a prayer soo simple and I decided to have a more faithfilled attitude and we had a full night so there was no chance to go back to the internet and see if my card miraculasly was still there. So my wonderful companion, had the idea to call one of the members here who has a car and see if she could go and see if my card was still there. And the whole night I was fighting the urge to freak out and loose hope, but to my great releaf my card was still there!!!!! I was sooo happy and I know that the Lord gave me a chance to exercise my faith more and more. I am so grateful to say that I was blessed to have a test of my faith just like it says in Ether 12: 6. I know that my Heavenly Father answers prayers and if we have the faith we can see the miracles. I know that my Savior lives and because He lives I can be forgiven for the sins I have commited. In the name of Jesuse Christ, amen.

This week is Christmas week and it is soo easy to get caught up in the hype for the gifts and the little things, but remember that Christ came to the world as a small babe and in the most humble of conditions and He gave us the example, we don´t need the most extravagant nor the biggest Christmas, we just need to remember Christ I invite you all to see the video from the Church that is He is the Gift. You can find it on youtube. and remember are you One of the Inn crowd or one of the Stable few? May this time be filled with the Spirit of Christmas and may you all have the time to recognize the Spirit. LOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Les amo mucho,

Hna Milligan

Wow daddy! Even separated by thousands of miles, we still have similar experiences. I also gave a talk yesterday and I shared a few of the same things about our Savior. and I also did not write my talk down. Jajaja Daddy, I think the Spirit was guiding us both the same day, well that is if the devotional was yesterday..... HOw neat is that? jajaja

Oh and I want you to know how much your letter really helped Hna Redondo. It was like her gas to keep going this week, her parentes don´t really write her much and so she was really touched by your words and for caring for her even though you don´t really know her, she is really excited to be able to talk you to this Christmas, she is practicing english a lot jajaja. 

So I don´t really think I will be writing this next week, so this may be my last letter to you from Ecuador. But Daddy, I just want you to know that I love you sooo much and trully I don´t have enough words to express how grateful I am for your support, for writing me EVERY week. I am soooo blessed to have parents sooo wonderful and loving and helpful. I know many others who don´t have parents who are so supportive and I don´t think that I would have been able to do it without you and your advice and love. KEEP IT UP!!! DADDY YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Oh and CONGRADULATIONS with your grades! we should go out to eat to celebrate jajaja

Just want to share a little thought that came to me this week, I don´t know if it is something that someone has already said, but here is my thought

The Gospel is not a box to be lived in, it is a gift to be shared.

I thought that and I was reminded of you. I also thought it was perfect for this Holiday season, trully the gift of the Gospel is meant to be shared with everyone, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son...." Trully that is the great tidings of Great Joy that we bring to the world, many think that they know Jesus Christ but there is a big difference between knowing of Christ and KNOWING Christ. The Restored Gospel is how we can Know Christ. As an elder once said the Bible is there to help us know that Christ exsists and the Book of Mormon is there to help us know were to find Him. I hope that this Christmas season you can help someone come to know Christ. Oh speaking of which, how is your friend, Matt Liverman doing? How is your friend, I don´t remember his name....oh John! How is he?

well, Have a very happy and Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Te amo muchoo

Tu hija,

Hna Milligan

Mommy you got 100%!!!!!! Woohoo!!!! We should celebrate and go shopping! jajaja Maybe even out to eat! :D I like that plan.

Well, I´m pretty sure that this is going to be the last letter that I send, because the next monday I have some sort of training and I think it will go the whole day, not to meantion it will be wierd writing just to say that we will see each other in a day or two.... jajaja But I know that things will be okay. So is there snow in the Valley or not? part of me wants snow and the other part will be just fine if there isn´t jajaja

Saddly I don´t think I´ll be here for the baptism...:( she was feeling really pressured and we don´t want that not to mention she doesn´t have all the lessions but that´s okay I know that she will be baptised soon and I know that I had a part in here story, but really I have come to know that the missionaries who are there in the baptism are not the most important, the most important are the ones that got you started and I know that I did that with thousands of people, I know that the seed is there and I know that it is a good seed. Speaking of seeds there is the cutest little old lady named María and she is just the cutest ever! She has a lot of health problems and so she can´t stay for the whole three hours sundays but she is the cutest ever! I love her she also has a baptismal date but in Januaray, I will be getting lots of pictures in Janurary. Honestly there are sooo many people here that are so special to me. I love them soo much. I had a very specail experience this past week that I will share with you later but in that expericne I was told that I needed to come here to Ecuador to learn to love and that I have fulfilled that mission. I can say that I love these people with all my heart. I love them sooo much that sometimes I don´t want to leave but I know that they are in good hands and that all will work out well. 

Well Mommy, we will be talking this Christmas and soo just so you know, I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!  and I hope you have a very happy Christmas!

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!

Te amo!!!

Hna Milligan

Week 73: Christmas Dinner With The President, More Miracles, Wise Words From Hermana Rodondo

So this week we had a very beautiful Christmas dinner with Presidente Chrtistensen, and we had a choir with the whole zone and we practiced and practeced and when it finally came down to it we sang...really loudly jajajaja but we did sing really well at the same time it was really great! I forgot how much I love being in a choir. These past days have been soooo very sunny and hot! Which is a bit strange because we are in winter here but hey I won`t complain jajaja

So this week`s miracle well miracleS, one was these two chicas named María and Fanny, so we met them last week and we passed by their house saturday at night to invite them to church and they said yes and guess what? They went to church and everything!! And they LOVED it! They have a baptism date for the 3rd of Janurary and ahh they are soo great! They take notes during the lesson so they can learn more! How great is that! And miracle number two is the Hna Margarita, so this week she told us that she didn`t want to be baptised at all, and that devistated us, it was like a nice cold stab to the heart. But she went to church this sunday and a few of the members were talking to her and one very bold member asked her and so when is your baptism and Hna Margarita turned and looked at me and asked when would be her baptism!!!! AHHHH I was in shock, literally. I said uhh the 20th not realizing that that is this saturday, and so then I had to change it to the 27th but she has changed soo much!! That was such a wonderful surprise! I love that woman soo much she makes us laugh soo much!

This is on the Trole, kinda like
Trax but worse

Well, my companion shared some very wise words with me this morning and I just want to share them with all of you, she said that worrying and fretting over something is in a way a lack of faith in the Savior. And well ouch, that really got to me, it was just what I needed. For those of you who know me, know that I am a worrier, I worry over everything, but it really got me to thinking, is my worrying getting in the way of my faith? Do I let my worries come first or my faith in my Savior? And well that is what I want to leave you with today.

Que tengan una super linda semana!!!

Les amo tanto!

Con amor,
Hna Milligan

Out shopping

Week 72: Excerpts From Letters to Mom and Dad, Whispering of Mormones, and Miracles for Jose

This is an excerpt from Lauree's letter to me: I thought you might like to hear a follow up on Jose Miguel, but first off I want to share with you an excerpt from her letter to her mother from the previous week.

November 24,2014

this is my viejita favorita her name is carlota
she asked me if i was a gringa
 and when i said yes she said then hug me!
 jajaja gotta love her

So I just want to share an experience with you. So do you remember the youth that I told you about the one who talked to us about the BOM? Well he was baptised yesterday! It was a really crazy experience. So for starters he is from Colombia and is only here for a short time to work and then he has to go back to his country, and well we thought everything would be fine but his baptismal date was 29 of november but he has to go back 1 of december. But the 29th is a saturday and then the sunday after is stake conference and they can´t give the holy ghost that day. Then he leaves. So we went through a whole long crazy process so he could be baptized before. But while we were going through this whole thing I felt really ancious and like it was all too rushed and that his situation that he would just go in active. But it finally came to me that I should pray and ask. So I did that and to be honest I go super confused. And all through the prayer I was even more confused... I couldn´t recognize an answer (how funny is that after helping sooo many others try to recognize and answer...jajaj) but I closed the prayer with well he´s going to be baptised tal day and tal hour. amen. And then I gave time and I felt all the nervousness and anxiety leave. I felt calm and relazed. I know that only God can give feelings of peace and calmness. That was such a special experience for me. I know that this youth, José Miguel is going to be a missionary, and he is going to help sooo many other people come unto Christ. He is a great kid! well I just wanted to share that with you mommy, LOVE YOU!

we played larping- if you don´t
know what it is like i did,
you should look it up jajaja

12/1/2014
we are having problems with the power here there was a total power outage and we had to leave to another internet que loco! well i don´t think i´ll get around to writting a general letter so here are few of the happenings of the week.. one we went and sang at an old folks home and it was such a neat experience, i saw one old lady who didn´t want anything to do with us, she kept whispering under her breath mormones, mormones. well we sang and then we were saying good bye and at the end she changed completely she was so grateful she kissed my hand out of gratitud and to see how just a simple hug could change them soo much. there was an elderly man who thanked us for bringing christmas early to them. that was the highlight of the week. i loved it soo much! also there are more miracles when it comes to josé miguel, so he has to go back to colombia tomorrow and the thing is that he lives 2 hours away from the nearest church and there are not any missionaries there. but, get this we has stake conference and it just so happens that a family that lives in the ward that he would need to attend just so happened to be there yesterday and they met him and traded numbers and how perfect is that. everything is working out perfectly to help that kid out. i think that spencer´s words about how the gospel will get to places that it is currently, well where jose lives it is in a lot of conflict and so there are not missionaries there but he will be going there and i know he will bring the gospel wherever he goes. i love this gospel sooo much. it is amazing! trully amazing!

well love you bunches and bunches! you can do it, i know that it is hard to keep up with the homework but i know you can do it! I love your thoughts they are trully inspirted, just wait you will be giving a talk in general conference ya mismo! jajaja love you daddy sooo much


tu hija favorita,
hna milligan

Week 71: A Baptism, Much Progress In The Work, The Book Of Mormon Given For Gathering Of Israel

So well I just want to tell you about this crazy week that I had. So do you all remember the story that I told you about José Miguel? Well he was baptised and confirmed yesterday, I´m going to send a foto (even though in the foto he doesn´t look very happy jajaja) It was such a neat experience, he shared his testimony after and it was very simple but he said that he felt so light and clean. It was such a powerful testimony that he shared! It was a crazy process that we had to go through though. I´ll let my mom fill in the crazy details. But that was such a great experience. 

Right now we have a lot of people progressing! it is like a Christmas miracle, before Chrstimas! jaja there are sooo many people who are prepared to recieve the Gospel of Christ ya! We have Henry, who is going through a lot of changes in his life but his is doing it! There is Mariana and her children who have gone through soo much but are trusting in the Lord. She is such a strong woman. There is Margarita who has sooooo many questions but has such a good heart, she wants to know! I love these people soo much. It is something soo incredible to know that the Lord can use me to help others come unto Him. The mission is up until this point in my life the best thing that I have ever done. It is also the hardest thing that I have ever done. But I love this work soo much!

So well we had an incredible training this week about how using the Book of MOrmon is how we can see the fulfilling of the Abrahmic covenent. It was powerful. The Book of Mormon was given in our time to bring to pass the gathering of Israel in our days. The Book of mormon is our strongest tool in helping bring others to Christ. We should make it our standard. I challenge each and everyone of you to find your way to make the Book of Mormon your standard each and every day. What can you do to help others come unto Christ using the Book of Mormon? 

Les amo mucho!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!!

Hna Milligan

Week 69: Food Baby, Zombie Dog, And Blessings Of Obedience...A New Person to Teach

Okay so I haven´t gotten much time to write a general letter.. so I am going to write this one first! :P

So first things first, last monday was a holiday here, día de los difuntos. Or day of the dead and also it was my companions birthday. they have a few traditions here for this day and most of them involve food. they have a drink that is called colada morada, it is like a thick beverage that is purple and has a lot of fruit, like strawberry, pinapple, and a few that they only have here. It is really yummy! But they like to give it with bread in the shape of a baby. I don´t really know why and no one else does either jajaja but it is really filling. REALLY filling and the thing is that EVERYONE gives it to you this day. And well Hna Redondo wanted pizza for her Bday and so we bought and ate pizza and then some members called us over to eat lunch with them. Chuso. We were full with the pizza. Then get this we had a FHE with members and guess what? They give us colada morada with rice and chicken. AHHH I was dying. But just wait that is not all. We went to another family and they knew that it was the birthday of Hna Redondo and so they gave us cake AND rice and some sort of meat. NOOOOOOOO we almost exploded from an over dose of food! If any of you have seen the movie about the sister missionaries, Errand of Angles or something like that. Well I can relate, when they give her plate after plate of food. I am going to come home with a lot more to love! jaja.


So I didn´t get to tell you about the week before last or Halloween... Well Halloween isn´t really a

think here. They do have parties but it is just an excuse to have parties. But that good old halloween day we were walking along and we see this dog, that was sooooooo very dead, it was left on the side of the road and had its legs in the air the head at a strange angle. needless to say it was VERY dead. and well we passed by a few hours later and the dog wasn´t there. But I look over on the other side of the road and there is the dog and it was breathing!!! AHHH Zombie dog! That was a halloween scare for sure :P


So, I have to share an experience that was really neat with you. So we have a district leader that is really awesome, he does everything above and beyond. But any way. He gave us a challenge as a district to carry a Book of Mormon in the hand for one whole week. And that is all and well, but it rains here like no other, that makes things a little complicated. But well my companio gave up on that after one day or so but I kept going and one day we were walking past a few chicos working, and well the habit is to ignore them, because the whistle and say anyoing things, But one chico calls us over and for some reason we go over and then he starts asking us about who we are and all that and then he sees the Bood of Mormon and asks us what it is. And well it turns out he is golden. Trully, he went to church yesterday and in prestehood they talked about consagrated oil and passed out the little containers for the oil ( I don´t know what they are called) and well he has his little flask for the oil. First sunday he came with a nice button up shirt and dress pants. That hardly happens here. WOW. The Book of Mormon is really a great great tool we have to help people become interested and to gain a testimony.
I have a question for all of you, you ready for it? How is your study of the scriptures going? I know what mine was like before the mission, almost non existant. I do believe that many many many of us as members take for granted the things we have, we think that we know the scripture stories and that

yeah we don´t need to keep reading. Well I can say that because that is what I thought. But think about it. Are you keeping the commandment to read the scriptures? It doesn´t take much just a little bit and you can have so much help in the day. So this is your challenge for this week. Will you read the scriptures everyday? For at least this week and then just tell yourself one more week. and then write down the blessings you are able to see more clearly. I can promise that you will be able to see a change it your week. I know that God listens, I know that He knows me personaly. I know that He is aware of where I am and how I feel. I know that Christ is my Savior, I don´t fully understand what He did for me, but I do have time to learn more and feel His love more. So for now I will know worry myself but I will work to understand the Atonement of my Savior better. I bare my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.


Les amo,
Hna Milligan

Week 67: Big Temptation, Glorious Tacos, A Frog, Finally A Real Missionary, Why Is The Secret To Perfect Obedience

So this week a lot of little things have happend. One, one of the biggest challenges of my mission. So every saturday, we eat lunch in a restaurant owned by members and well it is a restaurant and they have a huge big screen tv. But normally they just watch football or WWR or something like that and so there is no temptation jajaja but this saturday was a different story.... That´s right. Lord of the Rings, right there in front of me. AHHHH it was aweful. I died a little inside but I was strong and didn´t watch it jajaja

Another event in the mission, this tuesday our momita couldn´t make us lunch so we called another family and well they made us tacos!!! We about died of happiness! I think I ate about 8! hahaha I was about ready to roll out the door jaja after day after day of rice and soup I was sooooo happy jaja! They know how to make two missionaries happy! Just give us tacos! 

Another little thing, after 15 months of my little brother Matt asking me if I have seen a frog (a live one) I can finally say that I have seen a live frog! It was a land mark moment and well I did not have my camara. Jajaja But hey it happened.

As for event number 3. I got bit by a dog!! Dumb dog. It wasn´t anythig big, it didn´t draw blood or anything but I was just walking in the door when this ugly little thing just comes up out of nowhere and bites my leg! What the heck! But now I can say that I am a real missionary jajaja The thing that makes me more mad is that my new pair of tights now have a great big hole! Ahh jajaja 

Well this week I have been reading in Mosiah for the chapters with Abinadi and it really makes me think a lot about obedience. (especially Mosiah 13) This is when he teaches the 10 commandments and it is really an interesting thing obedience. We have soooo many rules in the mission sometimes I couldn´t help but think that there are too many but I have come to realize that the rules don´t matter, now now don´t get me wrong! We have rules and commandments that we need to obey. But trully what does it do for us if we obey but our heart is not in it? The thing that really matters is why. Why are you being obedient? Because you are afraid of the consequence? Because you want blessings? Or because you love your Father in Heaven and want to do all you can to please Him? I know that obedience when it is perfect obedience comes from love for my Creator, my Father, for my Savior. As Abinadi said that the salvacion does not come from the law but that we must obey but with the spirit of Love. That has been one of the things that I has really called my attention this week. I invite you all to read Mosiah 13 and think about it. I know that The Book of Mormon is trully another testement of Jesus Christ and that we can draw closer to our Heavenly Father when we read and study the teachings in that book. I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Les Amo mucho!

Hna Lauree Milligan

Week 65: Transfers In Comes Hermana Redondo, General Conference, Much Gratitude For The Blessings Of The Gospel...

Buenas tardes a todos!

Well just to say the least transfers have come and Hna Negro left. And now I am with Hna Redondo, she is from Honduras. She has soooo much energy, I love it! she will be a good reminder in these last couple months and a good help along the way. I feel that good things are in store, we are going to see a lot of external miracles! Woohoo!

Wow, this General Conference was amazing!!!!! I LOVED the talks in their native language, that was one of the most amazing things ever! And it was a blessing to be able to hear it in spanish as well. I love it! 2 Nefi 31:3. The Spirit was felt very strongly. It was fantastic!

So the past week we had a family that just showed up at the church just because they wanted to and well they loved it and want to keep going. They are great! I love them so much even after just one lesson with them. The only problem, they live outside of the sector, by a lot. So well, we just have to pass on the reference, but I know that the power of the Spirit to guide those who are trully searching for the truth is so strong that they cannot or will not say no to the promptings that they are given. This family is waiting to buy a house in our sector so a few prayers for that would be really appreciated or that they can continue recieveing the missionaries for where they live.... :) I love this Gospel sooo much and I am forever grateful for the blessings that I have recieved, the miracles I have seen, and the changes I have experienced. I know that my Savior lives and that He loves you! That´s right you! What things has He given you, that show you He loves you? What are you going to do to show your love to Him?

Hope you all have a fantastic week!

Les amo mucho!!

Hna Milligan

Week 64: 4 Seasons Every Day, Remembering Bishop Ryan, General Women's Conference, What Are You Giving To Christ This Year?....

Well we are experiencing all four seasons in one day! It starts out all pretty and perfect, like spring. Then by lunch we are dying of heat, like summer, and then right after lunch (I mean right after) it pours like no other, I mean there are rivers in the street! It´s not really like autum, but we will just say that it is. And then in the night it is soo cold that is is almost like winter. Well really, it is more like autum, but for the sake of the story it is winter. Jajaja. We have gotten soo wet these past few days, we had to return to the house to change because we where just sooooo wet and it was so cold. What can I say it is an adventure every day. :) There is a saying in the mission, that every time we are out working in the rain our future husband gets better looking. Well by this point, I should be marrying an Aman or Nefi. Jaja. 

This week we helped a family prepare their new house so they could move. It was fun I got to use plaster and it riminded me of Bishop Ryan a bit, but ssshhh don´t tell him that. jaja. 

This week we also had the wonderful opportunity to listen to the General Women´s broadcast! Woohoo! It was the best! I was really touched by the video of all the testimonies of the temple. Especially one about a young girl who her mom passed away, and the girl and her family got baptised and then she went and did the temple work for her mom. That story really hit me hard, because right before the conference we were visiting with a mom and her daughter and they told us their story and five months ago the father had passed away. The mom was a less activ and her daughter just got baptised. It really struck me that, these conferences are made to touch the heart of every person. Just like that message was especially for that family, there is always something that is directed epicifically to YOU. You just have to be prepared to recieve it. 

One of the other talks that really struck me was just a one liner, it wasn´t even the main theme of the talk but she just said "make a Christmas gifot for Christ"  and well we still have time between now and Christmas but I want to leave you all with the challenge to pick something that you want to do to give a gift to Christ this Christmas. It could be many things, give up something or even better make a habbit of doing something good or do something special for you Savior this Christmas. There is pleanty of time to decide and start doing it so. Go for it! I still have yet to decide but I leave you with that challenge and I will be home around Christmas to ask you all in person so you can´t just ignore my followups! :P jaja

There are trully many many miracles in every day. Are you prepared to see and reconize them?

LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!!! 

Hna Milligan

Week 63: A Long Awaited Baptism, John 4:37, 2 More Transfers...

Well this week we were able to finish with a very beautiful baptism of a wonderful sister named Inés. 

So for starters this ward has quite a few eternal investigators, that in many cases are more active than actual members. Hna Inés was one of those. But because of a chain of, what some may call, unfortunate events, and what others would call miracles, she was at last able to be baptised. She had been waiting 3 years! Right three years, she had only missed one or two sundays in the whole process, and she was just waiting for the time to come when she could be baptised. And Septemper 20, 2014 came. During the whole process I was reminded of a scripture John 4:37. More or less it says, that to some it is to plant and others to harvest. My companion and I have been planing A LOT and we were given the oportunity to harvest. Honestly she knew everything, she knows more than some members, and so we just set up the interview with the DL and yeah. Lights. Camera. Action. She was just ready. It was such a special experience, she had been waiting for quite some time and at last it came. It goes to show that, truly, it is soo important to keep on keepin´on. Keeping the commandments even when you don´t see the results(blessings) you want right away. Sometimes we have to wait 3 years or more. But the blessings will come.

So that was the high light of the week. The funny moment of the week: when an investigator told us that he milked a dog. Umm Akward....jajajaja we died laughing, the poor hermana that came with us was dying of laughter. That was one of the funniest things ever! I can´t look at the dogs the same anymore. Bajaja. 

So, this week we had interviews with Pres. Christensen, and well he told me that I have two transfers left. Ouch. What did I say? "Presidente, that hurts more when you say it." Honestly, the time is going by so fast, but in the words of a very wise person I know "the mission is the MTC for life" I feel like I am being prepared to become someone far better than I was, maybe there won´t be much of a change but I feel like I am being molded so much in this time. This is truly the Lord´s work here on the earth. It is the most amazing ever. 

I love you all sooo much and hope you have a wonderful week and keep on keepin´on! SMILE!

les amo,

Hna Milligan

Week 62: WWJD?, Listen To The Still Small Voice, And I Found A Hobbit Hole Here In Middle Earth...

Oh the good ´ol What Would Jesus Do. I have been thinking about that a lot in these past days. How would Jesus respond to critisms? How would He handle a bad day? What would He do if he wasn´t feeling well? That has been a big motivating factor this past week. We are here to follow His example  and to do as He would. Work on becoming more and more like Him. It is hard but if we continue in a life of repentance it is more and more possible.

So I just want to share a little experience with you. So Sunday I felt the need to bring a Book of Mormon with me to church, normaly I have a lot more books to carry in my backpack and we are in meetings most of the day so I almost didn´t give heed to  this small impression. But in the end I put in in my backpack. Half way through the sunday meetings. They call us out of Gospel Principles to talk to a señora. Turns out she is a member from the Galapogos islands and she came here to recieve an opperation but didn´t have time to bring her book of mormon and she just asked us if we had one so she could read it while she was recovering in the hospital. And well, I had that book of mormon in my backpack.

And we gave it to her and she went about her way  but trully it was an amazing experience for me to help me recognize the promptings of the Spirit. It is a lot of the time hard to recognize these small, quite promptings. But we are blessed when we listen. I know that this is the Lord´s true church, restored on the Earth. I know that God answers prayers and that he wants to guide us in this time. For this we have Prophets. This is an amazing Gospel and I am soo grateful for the opportunity to help others in the Gospel.

Love you all soo much and I hope you have a geat week! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

Hna MIlligan

After a year of exploring and adventuring I have finally found evidence that Ecuador is trully "Middle Earth".... IT¨S A HOBBIT HOLE!!

Week 61: Broom Of Destruction and Other Funny Translations, "Oiga Gringa!", Just Keep Smiling....

So for starters reading Isaiah in spanish makes it funny. I was reading this week and in 2Nefi 24:23. In english it almost doesn´t make sense (at least for me) but in spanish is says "escoba de destrucción" I about died during personal study. It was soo funny! I love translating some of the things here. There is a street here that is called "Josefina Barba" barba means beard, so Josefina has the last name beard. I don´t know if anyone else finds that funny but I do. Or a church that is called "La iglesia del Señor de los puentes" o sea the church of the Lord of the bridges. It makes me think of Lord of the Rings but with bridges.... I don´t know if anyone else is going to find any of that funny but así es.  

This week has been really full of funny experiences. We were with an investigator and he asked us "If I am chastity, where do babies come from?" Oh my goodness, I know it wasn´t very profecional but we couldn´t help it and Hna Negro and I laughted out loud. It didn´t help when he tried hitting on the hermana that went with us that day. But wait. It gets better. I was saying something, I don´t remember what but the investigator interrupts with some other topic and so trying to bring it back to topic I interrupt him and what does he say "Oiga gringa escúcheme!" Or in english "Hey gringa listen to me!" I died laughing to this day my companion says "Oiga gringa!" Oh good times. It is always great to find the funny in life and there is a lot of it here. And remember SMILE (Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal) 2Nefi 9:39. We have something that others don´t even know they want and if you smile when you´re happy and smile when you are sad they will begin to wonder what they are missing and what it is that you have. You have no idea the power of a smile. 

I love you all so much and I want you all to know it! Keep SMILIN´!

Les amo mucho!

Hna Milligan 

Week 60: Pleasant Surprise, Making It Through 2 Nephi,

Hot dogs Chulean style!

My hot dog!

So we had a very pleasant surprise this week. One of the investigators that we were visiting she is about 75, and has problems with her back, told us that we shouldn´t keep visiting her for a list of reasons. And when we left we were a little mad because they were all just excuses. But we stopped visiting her and then a week later we both had the impression to go back and visit her. And when we knocked on the door she came out says "Heavenly Father listens to my prayers! I was praying that you would come back!" She then tells us that she can hardly remember how to recite prayers anymore because she has been praying like having a conversation with God. It was such a sweet experience and she is a really sweet lady, she has a lot of fear when it comes to getting baptized because her back hurts her a lot but we are going to see what we can do about that. :) She is such a sweet little old lady. 

"the church of the lord of the bridges"

Our District Leaders
are the best.

So right now I am in 2Nefi in the Isaias chapters and it is just as hard in spanish. So I set the goal of reaching 2Nifi20 this last week. I started in chapter 9 or por allí. and today I am in chapter 21! Woohoo!! Yeah baby! And I didn´t understand most of it, if I didn´t understand I asked my comp and she would eather tell me what it was or say that she didn´t know jajaj but hey! Woohoo!! blessings..

Keep praying! Keep studying! Keep Smiling and going to church!!! 

Les amo mucho!!

Hna Milligan

Week 59: Changes, But No Changes, Member Support Is Awesome, Talking To Drunks, Repentance Is Not Just For Doing Bad Things...

So 6 weeks have come and you know what that means....Changes! But no. There were no new changes WOOHOO!!! I am still here in San Rafael with Hna Negro! Yay baby! Things are going really well here in this sector. There are really great people here. All we have to do is tell the members that we are visting someone and they ask for the direction and go and visit them or invite them to Family home evening. Wow. Estoy bien asombrada y feliz :) I can´t believe how fast the time is flying trully it is going by before I can even say "hola" I don´t know, it is just going by too fast. Well I had a lot that I wanted to say this week but I don´t know I always seem to forget...

P-day fun

Oh yeah! So my companion likes to talk to drunks and it makes for a really interesting time jaja. So one day a drunk man contacted us, he was living in New York and so he spoke english and he started to tell us about some dreams he had when God told him to stop drinking and then Satan came and told him to drink and do drungs and whatnot and at that point my companion asks him, so who are you listening to? SHNAP. Machete! But it is true, many people want signs but when they have them, do they listen. No. But we have a lot of experiences like that. It makes life interesting :)

Reminds me of Utah!

So this past week I decided to study repentance every day. And you know what, it was amazing what I was able to learn and I now have more goals and just wow it was amazing. I still don´t really understand a lot about repentance but it gave me a nice strart to really be able to put it in practice more in my life. I realised that repentance is a word that I grew up hearing and I thought that I knew what it meant, but I don´t really understand what it means in my life. It is an everyday act. Not just after doing something bad. In True to the Faith it says that every night we should do a self assesment and ask The Lord to help us know what we should do to start getting better. It doesn´t say that we need to do that on just the "big things" but every night. And so well I tried it and to be honest I fell asleep. Jaja But it was a start, and tonight I am going to do it again and I am going  to keep trying till I can do it right. I really love this Gospel. I love that I can continue learning and improving everyday. I love that my Savior made it possible. This is truly the Lord´s true Church and that we can have real happiness, real peace, families that can be forever. It is amazing. It is possible to really change. Well that is my spiritual thought for the week. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

LES AMO

Hna Milligan

My Awesome District

Week 58: Earthquake, Emergency Transfers, Familiar Faces, People Are Watching You, But Not In A Creepy Kind Of Way

Okay so the earthquake wasn´t that big but I did feel it pretty well! It was cool. A little scary only because it was the first earthquake of my life. And everyone says that there are a bunch of little ones but I haven´t felt those ones. But it really wasn´t that strong where I was.

But for the big news the, big good news. There were emergency transfers again. And guess what, I am with Hna Negro otra vez!!!!!! Woohoo!!! It is fantastic! We are in Los Chillos, and the ward is called San Rafael. It is HUGE! Like I´m not kidding. the attendence is like 300 plus. Woah. And there are two elders from the seventy and it is just ginormous. But it is a fantastic ward and the awesome thing is is that it continues to grow and it has good retention and I am amazed by this ward. We are doing really well, the people here really are wonderful. They understand the message and they want to learn more. It is wonderful.I love it here! I miss my Vargas a lot, I finaly had a sector for almost 6 months. After all those transfers that was quite a pleasant change. I love my barrio de Vargas muchísimo. But I know that I am here for a reason. I am really happy here and I am so grateful to be here. 

But because of these tranfers I wouldn´t be in Vargas for the baptism of Jared Miño. But Presidente Christensen gave us permision to go to the baptism. It was so awesome to see that. It warmed my heart. I love that family sooo much! 

Okay quisiera hablaros concerniente vuestro ejemplo para los demas... or in other words I would like to talk to you about the example you have in the lives of others. But trully it would surprise you all if you knew just how much others are watching what you do. And not in the creepy, "I´m watching you while you sleep" kind of way. But others know that you are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and they know very welll what your standards are, but do you? A lot of the time they think we can´t dance or do anything fun. but then other times they also know that we don´t drink, smoke, dress immodestly, use bad language. What they don´t know is that we, all of us, as members are representing our Saviour in our actions, words and deeds. Many people here have seen a member do something that they shouldn´t and because of that they don´t want to have anything to do with the Church. And others because of good friends and neighbors have seen how we should be and because of this example they have been inspired to change and "come unto Christ". If you ever think that what you do doesn´t matter, that no one knows you. Remember that you are a child of God and whether someone sees what you do or not you are setting an example for others. You can turn the day around for someone just by smiling and imagine what more you can do if you share the Gospel with them. 1 Tim 4:12 and DyC 123:17. I love you all and I know that wherever you are you are being an example of the believers. Thank you for helping me prepare to be here. Trully for you help and example I am who I am. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, and act like it!!!

Les amo bastante,

Hna Milligan

Week 57: Happy Birthday Daddy, Struggling, But Making Progress, Fake It Till You Make It, Sometimes I Just Need My Mommy

Wow. Daddy I am soooooo happy for you!!! And for your new job! Wow Daddy, I may not see a lot of the things that I pray for here in the mission but I am seeing so many answers when it comes you my family. Daddy I know that The Lord is watching out for you and Mommy soo much I love it. I love seeing these blessings.

You probably have the worst missionary daughter ever... FELIZ CUMPLE AÑO!!!!! Sorry it is soo late, honestly I remembered, I even wrote it in my agenda but I forgot to write it in an email.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST DADDY EVER!!!! Daddy I love you even if I didn´t write happy birthday... Daddy you are my favoirte ever NUCA JAMAS TE OLVIDES ESO. I don´t have much to say from this week so I´ll see if I get a big email out... But daddy, I know you and mommy see a lot of things in me that I don´t, but why do you say that I am a leader? That is the last thing I see in myself. I am struggling with this whole being a trainer thing. I remember that in my first interview with Pres Christensen he asked me if I thought I could be an example for others and I said that I know I can be an example but it depends on the people if they will notice my example... It is a struggle for me. But we are starting to find people to teach and that is great. I love that part we just need to help the progress.

TE AMO CON TODO MI CORAZÓN,
Tu hija favorita,
Lauree

Mommy, well I don`t have a lot of time this week eather it has been a bit of a crazy day. But I was able to get my suitcases all sorted out and I have cleaned out my clothes a bit. I started with just a little bit and now I have a suitcase just full of clothes. Shhh don`t tell Daddy, he will only say that I have too much clothes and then he will want to get rid off all my clothes at home! Jaja Don`t let him do it! :P I love you and I want you to know that you keep me going so much of the time. So much of the time. I am grateful that I have the support of my family in this. I know quite a few sisters who don`t have the same kind of support and I know with out a doubt that I wouldn`t be able to do this without your help. Mommy, I want you to know that you were able to talk to me through Hna Christensen the other day, even if you didn`t know it. She called to ask us something and I had had a rough day with my companion and so she asked how things were and I just kind of spilled everything and one of the things she said was, wait for it, wait for it... "Fake it till you make it" I thought that was just something you said. But that really helped me a lot, that day, she even sounded like you when she said it. Mommy, I love you and I don`t really know how to say how much, but I love you so incredibly much. Mommy, I need a lot of prayers right now. Pray for Fabiola as well, she needs it. Also, the family Miño says hi, I get to go to the baptism of their son Jared. And it makes me sooo happy to be able to see that. The dad is going to baptize his son. Just throwing that in there. :D I know I am 21 and all but I sometimes I just need my Mommy. I thought that time and distance might have changed that but, no. Mommy you will always be my mommy and I will always need you and your way to make me cry and laugh all at the same time. Jajaja

Well Mommy I love you and will always love you. Para siempre y mas.

Te amo con todo mi ser.

Tu hija,
Hna Milligan