Week 17: The 3 Miracles, Specific Prayers, 5 Steps In The Plan of Happiness

Hola Familia mía! ¿Como les va?

I want to say thank you for your support and for writing me and for your love. I am really grateful that I have such wonderful people in my life and for the encouragement and example you have given me. Gracias. Y también puedan enviar cartas por pouch..... Every Monday they send out the pouch so if you get the letter in to the church offices before then I can get it fairly soon. Jajaja. I am so grateful for all the support you give me though in all honesty it is just what I need every week. I don´t know how that happens but every week I have some sort of struggle and I can find an answer in something that someone has sent me. Thank you for being an answer to my prayers and for being in tune to the Sprirt in order to be an answer to my prayers. 

This week has been a great big emotional rollercoaster. Again I had a whole bunch of bug bites that had again become infected and my foot was swollen again. I was scared that I would have to take another three days off and I didn´t want that for anthing. So I did the only thing I could. I prayed. Specifically. There is such power in specific prayer. I prayed that in the morning my foot would be better and I would be able to go to work without problems. Then next day my foot wasn´t completely healed but the swelling had gone down and I could walk on it just fine. It is true that we don´t recieve a testimony till after the trial of our faith. I had a testimony of prayer before but it was strengthened as I acted on what I believed; that my Father in Heaven could heal me. And so I asked, and I was blessed. That is one miracle. 

Second, we have a baptism this thrusday. For a young man se llama Oscar. He is awesome! Hna. Aldás had contacted him before I came but because of complications had lost contact with him for some time. It wasn´t till a little before my first transfer (semana 4 o 5) that we started to vistit with him again. Last night he told us that before he met the missionaries he had been looking for a church to join but he didn´t know which one was the true church and didn´t want to just join any church. And he knows know that this is the Lord´s true chruch. I am really grateful for him. He has been through a lot. But he still goes about life with a smile and a good attitude. It is so wonderful to see people as they grow in light and knowledge of the truth. 

Third miracle. I can understand and speak spanish. I know that there is A LOT more to learn but in all honesty it is a miracle. I have only been here for 11 weeks and I can sit next to someone on the bus and talk with them. For me this is a miracle. I can say that I have improved a lot. I even can use the subjenctive! Woot! I don´t always use it right but when in doubt I usually opt for that and if I´m wrong Hna. Aldás corrects me. But lately she hasn´t had to correct me as much or translate for other people jaja. Also I have noticed that people respond to my questions. This is something that helps me a lot to know that I am speaking better. I know that there is a lot to work on but I am grateful for what I do know. 

Mi pensamiento espiritual por la semana (My spiritual thought for the week):

El Evangelio de Jesucristo o en ingles The Gospel of Christ. Okay I know that seems like cheating because that encompases everything. But I have come to understand this a lot better. In all honesty before the mission and even in the MTC I didn´t really know that Gospel of Christ was. (I can only say this now because you can´t see my face turn red). In my search to understand this better I truned to the Bible Dictionary. in the Definition of GOSPEL dice que gospel means good news; good news that  Christ has made a perfect atonement for all of mankind. That through Him all will be saved from the grave and all will recieve a reward according to their actions in this life. But more speicifically the Gospel of Christ is 5 steps that with and through Christ we can become like Him and live in the pesence of our Loving Father in Heaven. 

1. Faith in Jesus Christ

2. Repentance

3. Baptism by those who are in authority

4. Recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost

5. Endure to the end

This is the Great Plan of Happiness. This is the only path that leades to Eternal Life. It is through our Redeemer and Brother Jesucristo that we can returne to life with God.  We always present this as our central message. That today because God loves us we have a living prophet to guide us and help us. Through the prophet Joseph Smith we have the fullness of the Gospel of Christ. I know that this is true. I also know that I have so much more to learn. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He lives. He live so that I can live again. He suffered all of my pains and insecurities todo. He knows what I need when I need it and He gives me guidance through promptings of the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for this knowledge. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Con cariño,

Hermana Milligan

Week 16: Too Much Food, A Good Laugh, And God Knows What You Need

Due to volcanic activity
President Ghent told them to
wear these masks.

Algún día voy a escribir completamente en español y ustedes vayan a necesitar un diccionario. Pero hoy no es el día. 

Today I am going to be focusing on more personal letters for my family and they can then decide what they want to share with everyone. But I want to leave you with one funny experience and one spiritual with a challenge.

Funny experience:

So, one day we were in one of our sectores that is really far and we don´t get to visit very much. But for some reason or another EVERYONE decided to give us food. All sorts of different food. And it just so happens that it is a mission rule that we cannot turn down food. Also it is a sign that the people are really comfortable with us and all in all it is a very good sign if the people give us food (I think I have gained 10 lbs.) But one of the sweet old ladies gave us milk fresh from the cow. remember "Los gringos son bien delicados"? Yeah. Well I couldn´t stomach it. Needless to say it wasn´t a pretty picture. But the worst part is that I threw up in front of the house of a family that we were teaching. So yeah that happened and I thought nothing of it untill we go back to that area and we were back at that same family and at the end of the lección they tell me that they thought I was pregnant. Okay I know I have gained weight but ¡Ay caria! En serio. Hahaha it made me laugh so much. 

Lauree Says this is the biggest chicken
she has ever seen. Bigger than a turkey.

Pensamiento Espiritual:

So this week has been great! Rough but great. One day that was a bit harder that others and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything I opened the scriptures and encontré 3 Nefi 13: 32-33. Verse 32 says that God knows what you need. And verse 33 says "first seek the Kingdom of God....and all things will be added unto you." I was told somewhere that when we pray we are speaking to our Father in Heaven and when we read the scriptures is when Our Father can talk to us.Yo puedo testificar con todo certeza de mi corazón que en este tiempo mi Padre Celestial estuvo hablando a mi. This gave me such peace. I want to challenge you all to remember the scriptures and the value they have. And then think of your friends who don´t have this valuble gift and you don´t have to give them a Book of Mormon unless you feel so prompted but think of how much The Book of Mormon has helped you in your life and share an experience with someone today. Share a scripture with your mom, your dad, brother or sister, friend you know just anyone and then share how this scripture has helped you.

Con mucho cariño y oracion,

Les amo mucho,

Hermana Milligan

Happy Halloween!... Creepy monkey

Matt keeps asking Lauree to get him a
picture of a frog. She hasn't seen one yet
so she sent him this picture to satisfy him
until she could find a frog. haha

This is a bird that was at the
zoo. Lauree said this was one
of her favorites. 

 Lauree wrote more personal letters to us. I tried to share what we could through the pictures. I hope you enjoy! 

Week 15: The Mountain Rumbles, Thank you all, and Living in Paradise

So the other day I had this dream and in my dream there were these really loud booming noises and I didn´t know what they were and so I went around asking everyone what it was. (en español woot) Then I woke up to a martching band and the same loud booming noises. I don´t really know why there was a martching band, but I found out that the booming noises were the volcano. ¡Ay caria! But do not fear Baños is quite protected I don´t know how but that is what everyone keeps telling me. And I´m going to believe them. I am more and more convinced that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. 

Today we went to the zoo!! Woohoo! And it rained on us the whole time. But it was So pretty the amimals were suprisingly active that was neat to see. I´ll send pictures.

I want to thank Brother Frances for sending me updates of what is going on in the ward I love hearing how things are going. Also thank you all for your support and friendship, I am sorry that I wasn´t able to write you all before I left but just know that I love and care for you all so much and am so grateful for your love and support that you give my family.

Mí pensamiento de hoy: DyC 138: 29-33

These versículos are about the spirit world and how it is a time that those who are in spirit paradise are teaching those in spirit prision the gospel. And it got me to thinking that. If we live our lives right and accept the gospel of Christ we will be able to beinparadise, a place of rest, a place of joy. And in this place of paradise we will be doing missionary work! So in a very real sence I am in paradise right now. No, I am not dead. But I am doing the Lord´s work and that for now is enough of paradise for me. Find your own paradise in this world by helping others. 

AND

DyC 123: 16-17

This is regarding the Duty of the Saints(in realation to persecution PERO también en todo). Remember that those small and simple things can bring about a great things. And when you cheerfully do those small things such as sharing your testimony, reading the scriptures, praying, going to church (you know primary answers) you CAN know that Heavenly Father is please with you. 

Espero que todo este bien con ustedes! Les amo muchísimo y siempre yo oro por ustedes. Por favor recuerde quien son ustedes. Un hijo de Dios con potencial divino.

"Dios no nos prometió días sin dolor, risas sin tristeza, sol sin lluvia, pero Él sí prometió fuerzas para cada día, consuelo para las lágrimas y luz para el camino" 

Cuídense mucho!

Hermana Milligan

Week 14: Bugs Of The Orient, Delicate Gringos, Takes Faith To Gain Faith

Hola BUENAS TARDES!!!

¿Como estado? Me encanta escuchar a su trabaja con los misioneros! Me pone muy feliz! 

Here are the hemanas de Baños!
Hermana Jones is the blonde
and Hermana Rivera is the brunette

Well this week was quite the adventure. Our area is in part of the orient and as such there are a lot of bugs. Like a lot! I got a bug bit the other week and it itched so I itched it and thought nothing of it untill my ankle began to swell up. And it turns out that the mosquitos here have different bacteria and when "los gringos" scratch it can cause an infection. I can´t tell you how often I heard something along the lines of "los gringos son bien delicados" Jaja. Que bueno. Also because of the increase of missionaries they are adding another area to Baños this next transfer. It is so needed. Our area is so spread out it is hard to visit everyone. But it makes me so happy to hear about the growth of missionary work and of member missionary work especially. I love love love conference. It was a spiritual feast and my spirit still wants more jaja. We had to travel to the stake center in Ambato and sad to say that the family from last week, weren´t able to make it. Their youngest got sick. :( But There was such a surprise in Ambato, Hermana Carter! My airport buddy! She got trasfered to Ambato and it was sooo great to see her. Because there are so many of us non native spanish speakers they had conference in english for us. Which was a blessing, even though I was prepared to listen in spanish, it was great to understand what was being said and not only relying on the feelings that came. But in all honesty I do believe I am getting better with spanish. It is a step by step process. And I had to tell Hna. Aldás to stop trying to understand me and straight up say that what I´m saying doesn´t make any sense. Jaja she has the gift of translation I am sure. She can tell what I´m trying to say when no one else can. 

Espiritual Pensamiento de la semana: Tenga fé

I know it is said over and over but I want to emphasise the importance of faith. It is with faith that we pray, it is also with faith that we recieve answeres. I loved the talk given by Elder Bednar it was seariously one of my favorites. It is with faith that we are able to see those significant but subtle blessings that come as we keep the commandments of our Father in Heaven. Something that really stood out to me during conference was that we

HAVE to exercize faith in order to have faith in the first place. The greatest blessings come after the act of faith. Here is is really hard to help the people understand the importance of keeping the sabath day holy but it really struck me that when we act on what we have learned then is when we gain a testimony, I need to take this and use it to help our investigators. And it takes faith in order to act on what we have learned. It is all one big cycle, I know I didn´t explain it very well. But any who I hope everyone takes what they learned in General Conference and applies it. Whatever it may be that you learned HAGALO! (That´s what I tell Hna. Aldás when she can´t make up her mind if she wants to buy candy or not) Go forth and be conquerers in the Lord. Go for walking in faith. Letting the light of Crist shine in you be a guide for those around you who are stumbling. 

I love you all and am soooooo happy to hear about Amber and Eric´s date for the temple! Such wonderful news! I was practically dancing when I read that. 

I know that the Lord is watching out for you (DyC 100:1) That verse has brought me lots of peace  in this time. Please give grandma Davis a hug from me and tell her that I love her.

Les amo,

Hermana Milligan

Week 13: Menos Activos, Don't Say I Told You So, Follow The Lord To The More Fertile Parts

Primero: Hermana Aldás envia su saludos!

Wow! Things are going so well, things are really starting to pick up here in good ´ol Baños! We are finding menos activos all over the place and relatives of members, which is great. Today we went to buy ice cream and the lady working there is a member but menos activo. She recognized us with our tags and everything it was really awesome. And last night we were returing to our house when this cute little old man comes up to us and shakes our hand and we begin to introduce ourselves and he explains that his son is a member turns out his son is the branch mission leader! There are people every were who are being prepared for this gospel. It is such a beautiful thing. Makes me all happy inside.

Ayer, tuvimos 6 investigadores en la capilla!! Woot! It was such a miracle. One family and two others. It was simply amazing! Nancy came she is such a sweet heart. We have been teaching her for the whole time I have been here and she doesn´t have a desire to be baptised but she is doing everything. She even came to church yesterday even though her knees have really been hurting her, but she came. She understands that in order to recieve blessings you need to keep the commandments. But she still needs to understand the importance of the priesthood. She recieved a priesthood blessing for salud ayer, espero que le ayude understand the importance of the priesthood. Family Portilla, they are amazing! The only problem is that they need to get married. Carlos y Veronica, they have three boys and they are soo cute and smart! We had a tour of the capilla with them and before we talked about bautismo as anything other than bautismo he said "yo quiero seguir el camino de Jesucristo" wow. Did I mention this kid is 10. The parents know that in the world there are not very good examples and they want more for their children. They stayed for all of church! Not just sacrament! And they want to come for General Conference!  And then there is José, he is the brother of Carlos and he is 19, it was so great that he came becuase he we tried to visit him but he had his friends around and didn´t want anything to do with us. But it was quite a surprise when he came. Hna. Aldás y yo hemos trabajado muy duro these past 7 weeks. And it is such a blessing. 

Speaking of blessings. It is so strange but the food that I normally don´t like I can eat just fine here. I don´t know, it is strange. Por ejemplo, rasins. I like this brand of granola that has raisins and I don´t know I just got lazy one day I didn´t want to take out the raisins and they tasted good...Now I don´t want to hear I told you so. The food is different here and it tastes better... jaja. And mayo.. they put it on the french fries and I eat it. Also bananas, I like them quite a lot....it is strange oh and hot dogs. I don´t necessarly like those but I´ll eat them. It is quite strange indeed. But one thing I am not used to is partially cooked eggs. That still gets me. Jaja. 

Mi pensamiento por la semana: 1 Nefi 16:16

In this verse Nefi y su familia are guided to the "more fertile" parts of the wilderness with the lehona (no sé como escribir en ninguno idioma). Following the Lord´s plan doesn´t mean that everything will be easy and it doesn´t mean that everything that happens will be good. Nefi had many trials, his family was living in the wilderness things were not peaches and cream. But because they followed the counsel of the Lord there were guided to the "more fertile" parts. Just like Nefi, if you follow the counsel of the Lord, you will be guided to the better in your life. I know that it isn´t always easy to be obiedient, some days I want to sleep in or wear pants but I know that the Lord´s ways are not my ways and if I follow along the Lord´s path I will be lead to those people who are waiting for this marvilous, fantastic, life changing message. Go forth with faith knowing that as you choose the right your Father in Heaven will guide you to where you need to go! And help others find this message too! when members give referals it is so much more effective. I challenge you this week to give the missionaries referals and just see what happens. So, will you think of someone who doesn´t have this gospel and give their name to the missionaries this week? I want to hear about how it goes. Por favor write me and tell me about the experience.

Con mucho cariño,

Hermana Milligan

P.s This past week we met someone from the U.S who is living here and it was so hard to speak english! There are somethings that are in my head as spanish and I can´t think of some words in english! Woot! This makes me happy. Just wanted to share that with you. :D

Week 12: No Change, Hard Work Rewarded, Was Understood, And Answers To Mommy

Esta semana es la semana de camios.

 Y todavía estoy en Baños y todavía con Hna. Aldás! Woot!!!! I am sooo incredibly grateful for this. Because we finaly got things going in our area and FINALY have investigators who are progressing. It only took 6 weeks. But all our hard work is starting to pay off. This sunday we had 4 investigators attend sacrament meeting! I know it is a small number but it is quite a change from the 1 we had all the other weeks. This week has been quite a blessing! We have found some really great people but it has also been really challenging. We have this one investigator and she is 19 and has the cutest little boy. She also has had a horrible life. It is so sad to hear what she has been through. But she has such a strong desire to change and help her son have a better life. It is so amazing to see her push through all that has happened to her and want to change. In one of her prayers at the end of a lección she wanted to be baptized and after she asked what she had to do in order to be baptized. Wow. She is so strong. We are working really hard to help her.


Tambien this sunday I gave a talk. And of course it had to be the day that our little branch, that usually has maybe 30 people, was FULL. Like 100 (or maybe 80) people full. Yeah. I was so nervous. But thankfully Hna. Jones took a lot of time and I only needed to speak for 5 minutes. Jaja. And of course after my talk I was reminded of all the things I could do better. Oh and did I mention that I only had like 12 hours notice. Yeah. It was great. But the best compliment ever came from one of the members and she said that she could understand the whole thing! Woot! I was so happy to hear that. It has been one of my struggles not so much to speak but to speak something that can be understood. 

Thought for the week comes from 2 Nefi 32:1-5. In versículo 2 dice que if you have recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost you can speak with the tongue of angels. En versículo 3, angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost because they TESTIFY OF CHRIST. Y en Alma 13:24 it says that The Lord has sent angels to prepare people for the work. In other words those of you who have recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost (all members) are sent to prepare those around you to recieve the gospel. Missionaries can do a lot to progress the work of the Lord but members can do soo much more. References and helping the missionaries teach lessions are fantastic! But the best thing to do is just share your testimony with your neighbors, friends, coworkers. Set the example or in other words plant the seed. You don´t need to be a missionary with a name badge to help someone accept the gospel and come to Christ. I love you all soo much and am so grateful for your letters and support. I love hearing about the missionary work my family is doing. It makes my heart all happy and light. I know that there are so many blessings that come from opening your mouth and speaking those feelings of the Spirit.
Les amo muchísimo,
Hermana Milligan

                                                               Letter to Mommy

Haha Mommy it is either a weekly update or answer to all your questions haha. No, I will try and answer all your questions as best I can. First things first. I ABSOLULTLY LOVE LOVE LOVE your letters they are perfect. It means so much that you write me at all. I know how hard it is for you to write and feel good about what you write and so anything at all is wonderful wonderful wonderful. But that doesn´t mean you can write less now. Haha I love you so much and I miss your hungs and talking to you about how I feel, but rest asured I don´t build up the tears here. I am like a fountan without an off switch. Poor Hna. Aldás she doesn´t know what to do with me sometimes. Haha. 

Speaking of Hna. Aldás. She is great she is a convert. Her mom came to know the church when she (hna. Aldás) was 8 and she was baptized then too. Her family writes her and are supportive. They are having some struggles right now but they are supportive. Her grandma passed away this past week. But Hna Aldás is so strong and it is so hard but she is doing her best to be in good cheer. She is really outgoing and friendly and she likes to be punctual. Haha I need to work on liking that. I think we get along really well. I mean there is still a language barrier and sometimes I feel bad because she has the same desire to be understood that I do and sometimes I just can´t be that person she can talk to. and that is hard. But she is great great all the way around. I love her so much and am soo glad she is my compañera. To be honest about the location of Baños I have no idea. I think it is twoards the bottom but I am not so sure. 

Con recipes just anything from scratch will do and without the oven. (because we don´t have an oven) As of right now I eat cearal con yogurt with fruit for breakfast and dinner. I love it though so don´t be worried. I just want to be able to contribute more for food wise. And yes I have been eating bananas it is a crazy miracle that has happened here. I like things that I didn´t like before and one miracle in particular there is this fruit here that tastes like honey dew and I can eat it!!!! Woot it is quite amazing! I am doing fine with money. Everything here is really cheep like a dosen bananas for a dollar or a pound of rasberries for a dollar. The blankets ar great they keep me nice and warm I have like 5 though.... jajaja When it comes to the shoes my favorite are my boots the other ones are okay but I always roll my ankle with them and I like my boots because I feel like it is a protection against dogs jaja. And cloths I wish I had brought more things for cold weather. More sweaters. but all in all it is fine. 

I love your hair super cute!! Joel did a good job. Please give grandma Davis a big hug from me and send my love. oh and Hna. Aldás send her love and greatings. Good luck for the 5 K you will do great! Love you soooooooo much

Have Spencer give you a hug from me and give one to daddy and Matt

Tu hija,

hermana Milligan

Did I answer all your questions?

Week 11: Snow!?!, The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues, And Hold The Higher Ground

Harmana Milligan with her Zone.

Yes, indeed there was snow this past week the 10th to be exact. ( I wrote it down so I could tell everyone). I guess the weather is just going crazy all over the world. It has rained almost every day here, and the natives say that Baños usually has really great weather but so far I think there has been maybe 3 days of sun shine and brightness. Every other day has been cloudy and raining. Which I am okay with personally, pero esta poco frío.

This week has been a bit of a trial. Pero also a blessing. We had a zone conference and it was AMAZING. Hermana Ghent spoke to us about breaking cycles of discoragement and finding missionary princibles en El Libro de Mormón. It was pretty much amazing. But the most wonderful, amazing, fantastic part of the whole conference was that I was able to understand almost all of it! I think I have developled a super power or better yet I think I have the gift of interpretation of tounges. Pero slightly different. This is going to sound strange. But I don´t ever really know what people are saying but I can feel what they are saying. It is really rather strange because I think back on it and I don´t know what they said or how to respond when I think about it but some how I know what is going on in the moment. I know that the Lord is blessing me bastante. Yeah that´s right, I have super powers. 

I love hearing from you all soo much! Daddy I love your thoughts a LOT, muchas gracias!  Y Hna. Aldás les saluda. Y ella dijo que ustedes son muy buenos y ella esta agradecidos por mi familia. Yo tambien. Estoy muy muy muy agradecidos por mi maravillosa familia! Gracious por su apoyo y amor. Es difícil para expresar en palabras. Les amo muchísimo. y you quero que ustedes sepan mi amor para cada uno de ustedes. 

This week I want to share my study en 3 Nefi 3. Versículos 1-11 are the treatings of the leader of the Gadianton robers. I want to point out that in v. 7 lo dice "become like us" this is exactly what Satan wants. He wants us to be miserable como él. He uses flattery, treats and tries to make us doubt our divine worth. But in versículos 12 is the response of a rightous leader who "could not be frightened" and therefore did not listen to the treats. He then had his people pray for strenght not to have the challenge go away but for strenght to be conquerers. Next he had them gather to one place, like church. Church is a place disigned to give strenght one to another and help combat satan. Then last he preached repentance. This is really important. Repentance is change, becoming better. The only way we can become like Our Father in Heaven is by becoming better through repentance. I loved this whole chapter. Also another insight in versículos 20 y 21. The people went to the prophet for guidance ( they wanted to go to the land of the robers to fight) but the Lord tells them that if they do that they will fall into the hands of their enemies. 1. The Lord didn´t say don´t do this. period. End of story. But rather if you do this here is the consequence. 2. Never lower your standers. ALWAYS seek higher ground, not the gound of your enemy. You cannot win that way. The challenge I leave with you this week is seek for higher ground. Turn to the Lord in all you do and then listen even if it isn´t what you want to hear.

Les amo! You are always in my prayers.

Hermana Milligan