Monday, August 18, 2014

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

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Week 56: Everything Is A Blur, The Same But Different, My Testimony...

So, well, to be honest I don´t really remember what I do during the week. It is all starting to blur into one and I don´t really remember anything....

But I do remember what I have studied this week, so I am not forgetting everything woohoo!  I really should eat more fish or something....jajaja But something that I studied this week that really struck me was in a talk by Elder Holland, called "cast not away therfore your confidance" And it lead me to Hebrews 10: 32-39. I don´t really have much to say about this you just need to read it. It helped me a lot this week. A lot a lot. It has been a bit of a struggle in this sector. It is one of my favorite sectores but we don´t have a lot of anything to show for all the work we did her before. When I was here with Hna Vélez we worked our butts off and now we are doing the same but it is different when we are here all day everyday and it is just all around different. We were trully blessed before with wonderful people. And now we are searching for more people and trully there are great people here, they just work a lot to maintain their families. I just want to let everyone know that I know this is the Lord´s true church. I know that we have a living prophet who guides us and he trully does recieve revelation from God. I know that my Father in Heaven is aware of my needs and of the needs of the people around me. And you can pray to Him for help, you can pray to Him to recieve answers. He will respond. I know this is ture, I have seen it happen in my life. And I know that if you take the leap of faith He will be able to reach out to you and answer your questions. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Crist. Amen.

Les Amo bastante,

Hna Milligan