WEEK 11!

Que dice familia y amigos_!

I hope things are going great in Orem, and I hope it isnt as hot as it is here haha.

We had a great week here in Mixqui! Claudia and Maria got baptized on Friday and it was such a cool experience! The spirit was so strong, especially hearing Claudias testimony at the end of the program. I was able to sing (Yo se que vive mi Senor) which I think most of you are able to translate into English without my help haha. But it all went really well! I picked and played the other hymns for the service and I picked How Great Thou Art for the first hymn and the next day Claudia told me that that is her all time favorite song and she almost started to cry when we started singing it! She is going to be such a strong member, she has a great testimony. They both just looked different after the baptism, they were so happy! All of the people she knows have been telling her she has more of a light in her eyes and that she looks different. And most of those people dont even know she was baptized. Baptism is truly a door we all need to enter in to be in the straight and narrow path of the gospel that leads to eternal life!

I've been teaching quite a bit of piano lately! I'm the only one in both the wards in the city that knows piano haha. A lot different from Utah thats for sure haha. But it was so fun to teach all of them! The goal is to have them each play a simplified hymn for the primary program coming up! I was kind of thrown off at first though because piano is spanish is actually a little different! The piano notes are in solfege instead of the alphabet letters haha. So I had to relearn the piano notes in solfege and then teach them all the notes haha. But it{s super fun, and it gives time for some of the young men in the ward to do splits with Elder Howell while I{m teaching.

Guys we have the coolest stake president on the planet. Hands down. President Lozano is super smart, and kind and has quite the background. He used to work for the government, and then he realized all of the corruption that was there. They started ordering him to scam people for money and do other illegal or inappropriate things. He refused to do them and so they send him to jail. Guys this jail was two blocks from his house but he was in there for 20 months before he was proven innocent! In Mexico you have your trial after you spend a lot of time in prison. It{s backwards and its so unfair, and corrupt. But he made the best of the situation and he befriended all the inmates and taught some how to read and some others about the gospel. And get this, he bought a cake for one of the inmates every week. They all loved him! The government ended up offering a lot of money to the inmates if they would kill President Lozano, but nobody would do it because they all loved him! Cake literally might have saved his life. There is no order or rules in some of the Mexico prisons and for that reason they are super dangerous. But Pres Lozano was just telling us how much he learned from his experience. He grew closer to Jospeh Smith and what he went through in jail. I look up to that man so much and his ability to look on the bright side and endure his afflictions. I can't imgagine how hard that would be, especially for his family. And since that experience, he had seen the tv series Prison Break so we talked about our bud Michael Scofield together haha.

We have found a lot of new people this week so every day we are stacked with several lessons and barely any time to contact! But thats a good problem to have haha. Yesterday we had an appointment fall through (Whats new?) but I think it was for a reason because we met a girl named Alicia who is so amazing. She said shes been looking for someone to help her with English for her test coming up, and she also just had one of her family members pass away. God truly sent us in her path so he could help her through our hands. Our first little lesson with her was so spiritual and she has so much potential to be baptized! 

I already feel so blessed here in the mission. Especially with the language. Guys the gift of tongues is real. My comp told me I have better spanish than some of the missionaries with more than 9 months in the mission. He tells me every day how amazing it is that I can already speak about 80% fluent (which I definitely think is too high of a percentage haha) but let me tell you guys, it isnt me! I feel like I've done my part with studying the grammar and practicing as much as I can but God has made up the difference and now all of a sudden I can actually talk really well with these people! I still have soooo much more to learn but I have been so blessed and for that I am very grateful.

Don't get me wrong, the mission is not easy. It gets hard at times. Especially at 6:30 AM haha. But theres nothing The Climb by Miley Cyrus and some solid street tacos can't fix.

Elder Howell and I have been blessed for our efforts. Every sunday theres a miracle with church attendance for our investigators! In order for someone to get baptized, they have to assist the church at least three times so we really like when our investigators attend haha. We had an army of 10 come yesterday which isnt including Claudia and Maria who are now members! Sure, most of the people we invited didnt come, but thats normal here because people are legit so flaky haha. The Reyes family were touched by one of the talks in sacrament meeting and now most of them are set to be baptized on the 8th! We also had a woman named Vicki come! We{ve taught her about three times now and she is so awesome. But we didnt think she was gonna come to church because she always tells us she has her other church! Today she came with two of her kids which really surprised us! After the meeting and after Vicki left, the bishop and another member came up to me and told me about how big of a deal it is that Vicki came to the meeting. Apparently she had been a leader of the (Espiritualistas) and a lot of people know her and look up to her. Her husband was also the president of Mixquihuala and they are LOADED with money and they{re low key famous. Haha I had no idea! But I{m so glad she came, hopefully she can feel the truth of these things during our upcoming lessons!

Mosiah 2:41 teaches us that those who keep the commandments of God will be blessed both temporally and spiritually. It tells us to remember the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments. I have seen these blessings in my life and in my mission. If we have faith that God will bless us, if we follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, then we will receive those blessings. Strive every day to learn more about what we can do to follow and become more like Christ, then, as the scripture says, we will dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness. I love you all!

Les quiero muchisimo,

Elder Millard

Week 10!!!

Aug 20 at 2:50 PM

Que honda familia e amigos!_

I hope al lis well in O’Town. It's crazy to think some of my best friends are about to start their senior year and I'm just chillin in Mixquiahuala haha. I hope all the best for good ole MV this year. I miss my second home haha. Once a bruin always a bruin. Amen.

Wow things are so good here in Mixqui!! Elder Howell and I are having a freakin blast out here, and we are working so hard. We've met so many people that have so much potential! God has placed us in the path of so many people that want to hear the message of the gospel. Elder Howell and I now have about 9 people with a baptisimal date! And so many more that are progressing! I've really been banking on the promise in my mission call that I looked back on recently that says "As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized."

This past Thursday, Elder Howell and I had another meeting with Claudia and Maria and we were planning on asking them how they were feeling about their baptisimal date that is coming up. Now understand that we had been pretty nervous to see what their thoughts are because they have had a lot of doubts. But then CLAUDIA TOLD US SHE DIDN’T WANT HER WATER TOO HIGH IN THE FONT FOR HER BAPTISM. Hahaha I've never been happier to hear those words. Claudia and Maria were already planning for their baptism! Haha we were so stoked the entire rest of that night. They are going to be my first baptism! They will be baptized this coming Friday! We're so excited for them!

We have been teaching a little girl named Lily and she is just a little champion. She is eight years old but knows literally everything and she's just so cute haha. Her mom and grandma have been inactive for 15 years but they came to church the past week and we have had great lessons with all of them where they have felt the spirit strongly! Long story short they are basically active again and Lily accepted to be baptized! Since her mom is technically a member, and she is 8 years old, she is actually under the jurisdiction of the ward to get baptized which makes it complicated for us to baptize her. But the last lesson, when we proposed a date for Lily's baptism, Lily's mom told us they can't because they'll be out of town for HER 9^THBIRTHDAY!! Haha this means that since she is turning nine, she'll technically be a "convert" which means we can be in charge of baptizing her! She's planning on getting baptized on her birthday on Sept 3^rd!! We're so glad to have contacted her grandma on the street!

We had exchanges again this week, but this time I stayed in Mixqui and another Elder came to take Elder Howell's spot. This means that I was the leader, and had to schedule everything and know where everything was. A little nervewracking but I was able to do it! It was nice to be able to see the things I need to work on personally since I didn't have my trainor to help me out with things.

It's absolutely insane that it's already week four of this cycle. And yesterday was my two month mark! It's weird because it feels like it has been an eternity but it has also flown by haha. Especially in the field, time basically doesn't exist anymore haha. But things are really good out here. The people are so kind, the food has been legit incredible (well other than the pig skin I had this week haha), and we haven't even been robbed yet! Haha but Elder Howell and I were saying it's gonna be really hard to leave this area when the time comes, even though we do have tadpoles in our water hahaha. It's just such a cute little town with such amazing people, and a center that's always bumpin with different activities. Reminds me of the Orem summerfest haha. Gotta love Mixquiahuala.

This week at church we had an army of 12 investigators come! We were running with our heads chopped off trying to show them all their classes haha and it didn't help that I had to play piano for the Progreso sacrament meeting during the other meetings of our church haha. But we were so happy! Also 10 minutes before the meeting started, bishop told me I had a 15 minute talk on missionary work. Hahaha so I had five minutes to prepare the talk and I felt pretty jipped haha but I guess he had sent us a text, we just didnt get it. But its ok! It went really well and Im grateful for the opportunity!

I want to share some knowledge that we have in the church that I'm super grateful for. This knowledge  can be used as our motivation during our hardships and trials. Romans 8 says "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." WOW what a cool scripture. Guys if we bear with patience our afflictions, and endure to the end, we will become joint-heirs with Christ which means we will have everything that Christ has. What an amazing opportunity. Don't take this life for granted, we need to better ourselves everyday and serve our fellow people always.

I love you all, and I'm so grateful for your example and support in my life. Enjoy your hot showers, clean water, and washing machines because I sure miss them haha. Our house has been having serious issues but hopefully we'll get at least our boiler going again soon haha. Have a great week!

Que les vaya muy bien!

Elder Millard

This is our drunk friend who doesn't know his name and says that he has an extra body at his house for when his current one runs out haha

Week #9

hola familia e amigos!

How are you all doing_ I love hearing from home, you guys seem to be killing it. Also not a big deal but MY SISTER JUST GOT MARRIED!!! Congrats best  friend, I love you so much. Best of luck to you Maddi and Jarrad!

Things are great here in Mixqui! We  had exchanges on Wednesday because my comp is zone leader so I went to Progreso with Elder Javier and it went really well! It reminded me of my Latin district in the CCM where I couldnt speak a word of English haha but the day went really well. We went to a place called Moreno which was way up in the mountains. Pachuca is already 8000ft elevation but this place was even higher and it was gorgeous. At the end of one of the little lessons we had, I was saying goodbye when I noticed the lady sneaked a picture of me hahahaha. She was trying to be so sly but I definitely caught her. Didnt say anything but I thought it was so funny, I dont think shes ever had a guerito like me visit her house. At the end of the day, Elder Javier told me about his time in the Mexican army. He told me about how committed he was to his leaders in the army and about how now he is completely committed to the Lord. I really respect him, and I{m glad I got to spend the day with him.  Let me just say though, I was excited to get back with my comp. Elder Howell teaches and contacts so well, and I'm glad I have small little exchanges to help me realize how good of a trainer and missionary he is. I really need to  take advantage of my time with him.

Here are some other highlights of the week. One day, Elder Howell and I were walking back from a little pueblo called Taxquahda (the names of towns are legit all insane, imagine how hard it is to write down directions of houses lol) and next thing you know this huge water balloon smashed right beside us and got us a little wet. We looked up and saw a girl hide behind the roof. She barely missed us but it caught us off guard, and it was so frickin funny. We walked to the other side of the street to get a better view of her and she just kept on peeking to see if we had left yet. I cant imagine if the balloon wouldve actually hit us hahaha. 

There are so many drunk men who tell us to go back to $%&#$ America, and sometimes theyll try and pick a little fight haha but dont worry we are always smart enough to just get out of those situations.

Guys soccer is life here. In fact, Soccer in Central America originated in and near Pachuca! E Howell and I have played with a bunch of little kids and they are always so fetchin cute. I always look forward to times we get to play with them. 

The food has been sooo good so far and I've been adjusting really well! Some Elders have gotten sick and have been throwing up so I{m knocking on wood. But we eat so many different foods. We have a lot of [tuna[ which is the fruit from cactus and its super good! We also had some chickin feet called [patas[ and those I wasnt the biggest fan of haha but maybe not as bad as youd think. Just not the biggest fan of the sound of the cruch of the toes when you bite them off haha. Its a no for me haha. But guys the churros, tacos, bread, and tamales are hands down the best things Ive ever tasted. Unbeatable. I love Mexico haha.

We have watched the restoration movie three separate times this week. It really is a great tool to teach the restoration and our investigators have loved it! I love to use the videos and media of the church but here in Mixquiahuala most people dont have phones-internet. When/if I'm in Pachuca, everyone will have them so it will be a lot easier to show stuff haha.

So we have some pretty bomb investigators. Claudia and Maria have a date to be baptized on the 25th of August! We have faith that theyll be able to be prepared for that date, theyre progressing super well! This past saturday they came to a  baptism with us, and we all felt the spirit super strong. I had the opportunity to play the hymns but also sing a musical number for the baptism! It went really well, and I think they have a greater desire to be baptized now! We started teaching them about the plan of salvation and when we showed her the scripture in the bible and taught her about the kingdoms of glory, she lit up and started laughing from joy and said that she understood. I loved to see that immediate joy from this amazing knowledg that we have. In our last lesson she started crying when talking about how she felt when taking the sacrament. They could very well be my first baptisms, and it'd be way cool because they were actually my very first lesson in the field as well! 

We have an investigator named Bryan who we almost dropped because he hasnt been home and hasnt been answering but I felt that we should call him one more time. We called him and he told us we could come over right then and there to teach him! We went over and taught him and his mom and aunt. The spirit was so stronng and him and his mom started to cry. There are no  coincidences and I'm so glad we were able to get a hold of them and teach them in this time. Bryan has had some serious problems with drugs and so we gave him a blessing and he has been able to start taking less and less. He is progressing very well and we have good hope for him and his mom!

We feel so blessed here in Mixqui. We started off with nothing guys. But God has blessed us and now we have mas o menos 20 progressing investigators and many other contacts with potential! Things are rolling here in Mixqui! We have been working so hard to find the people that are ready for this great message. I{m so grateful for this gospel and all that it teaches us. We  have so much knowledge and hope that some people havent been blessed with quite yet. Thats why we are here as missionaries.

I love a talk from Elder Holland that talks about the difficulty of missions. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, missionaries often have questions such as, why is this so hard president_ Why is everyone rejecting us president_ We know our message is true so why doesnt everyone just flock to the font_ Why is this so hard president_ Then he saidÑ Why did we ever think this was going to be easy_ This life, and this work, is not easy and will never be easy because salvation is not easy. Salvation is not an cheap experience. Christ suffered for our sins. It was never easy for Christ, so why did we ever think it would be easy for us_ Sometimes we may ask ourselves if there is another way but Pres Holland testified that someone much greater and much better already asked that question. But Jesus after asking, said that his fathers will, not his will, should be done. We, likewise, need to do not our will, but the will of him who sent us. We have to feel at least the smallest token of what Christ felt in order to appreciate and understand the atonement better. But take peace in knowing that during the hard times, we are standing side by side with Christ, because he already went through our trials. He is there for us, and by him, we can do anything.

3 Nephi 27:33 says Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it. Guys we need to realize that we are an elect people. It is hard to follow the path but wow it is well worth it. Keep being strong in the gospel and share it with everyone!

I love my mission. I don't know how many times I'm going to say that throughout my mission haha but it's true. My testimony is growing ever day. We forget so often about the grace and beauty of God and I'm blessed to be able to live in the midst of it every day. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Jesus Christ lives. Study his life, search for him, live like him, and you will be become perfect like him one day. This is our goal and our purpose. This is what will give us joy.

Que esten bien mi familia e amigos, !les amo muchisimo!

Elder Millard

Week 8!!!

Hola familia e amigos!!

I have absolutely no idea where to start! I love it so much here in Mixquiahuala!! It's just a cute little outskirt and it really is only dangerous in certain parts at certain times. It's soooo humid and hot though, wowza. So me and Elder Howell started here with basically nothing. Just a few references and our mission leader to help us around. Lalo, our mission leader, is the absolute best though! His family is bomb and they have been a great help to us! And get this guys, our first two days here, we set four baptisimal dates!! Haha we were killing the game those first two days! Things then kind of slowed down. We get rejected so much, and yelled at so much from random people driving by. Haha it kind of makes sense though, we are just two gueros that everyone stares at because we definitely stand out haha. Things have been a little rough though. My comp says it's been his hardest area. People are just so flaky and will never be there for lessons. But guys there is definitely potential and we have been working so hard! God has blessed us with some bomb people to teach and they always seem to appear at the end of the day. That's because of the scripture that says, God will bless you after all you can do! All the miracles seem to happen at the end of the day when we're wasted and have done all we can do. We have just been like contacting machines and are trying to find the people who are prepared!

Guys my comp is such a stud! I definitely scored a bomb trainor. We get along so well and it's actually kind of a curse because we never want to speak spanish to each other! We'll get there though haha. He's taught me a lot already and I really appreciate his example. There was one day last week where I did an exchange with some other Elders because Elder Howell had a zone leader conference in Pachuca and it was then and there that I realized how lucky I am to have him. It was still way fun to be with the other Elders but they simply just don't work as hard! I'm glad I'm with a workhorse because that's what I came here to do. Work and have fun!

Ok guys. I didn't realize how annoying Jehovah's Witnesses are! They are such an issue here because they are everywhere and are never willing to hear anything about our message! Haha but most of the people here are Catholic and thats where we really thrive. So we have a new investigator named Axel and he is quite the guy. He is soooooo nice and wicked smart when it comes to the bible. He cites several scriptures by memory during our lessons. He doesn't have a specific religion because he can't find any that will answer his questions. When we had our second lesson with him, before he came into the room, his wife came in and told us that we can try and teach him, but he is not going to change, his goal is to change our beliefs haha. He has talked to countless people from countless religions and he is just so smart. He asks us some deep questions about our religion that would be very difficult to answer in english let alone spanish! But he is honestly so cool and we have confidence in him. He would legit be a stake Pres. Our other investigators our low key just not committed. They are always working and it's hard to progress with them. Claudia and Maria are the only ones that made it to church this past sunday even though about 7 people said they'd be there haha. But teaching all these people is so fun, Elder Howell is a great teacher, and I've learned a lot of analogies and ways to teach. We're unified and ready, now we just need to find the people who are ready!

We got to go to Pachuca this past Saturday because one of Elder Howell's old investigators asked him to baptize him! It was so fun! We legit contacted the entire bus both on the way there and back haha. Pachuca is so awesome guys. I low key can't wait to serve closer to there. Here there isnt a lot to do or stores to get stuff. We are more of a small town. But pachuca has everything haha. 

It was fun to go to our ward this past Sunday to meet all the members! Pres Kimball came to our meeting and told them that he sent his two strongest missionaries to this area because he wants to see it grow in the gospel! There are a few that are just the best and give us references and stuff. I played piano for the sacrament meeting because no one else could haha. I'll probably start teaching the primary kids piano too which will be fun. We've had some members attend lesson and their testimonies really add to the spirit. Plus we get to eat with a different member every day and guys the food has been so good! I thought I'd have a problem with it but I'm embracing the spice and it's actualy been way good! I've definitely been blessed haha,

This place is still so gosh dang hard to navigate. There is only one landmark, and that is the center. Everything else looks the same and it's so hard to know where we are! We have like no other resources! So we have definitely had our fair share being lost haha. It took us no joke two hours to find our house the second day. But we'll get it with time, our area is just so big! 

This is just such an adventure! Just two 19 year old gueros preaching the gospel in little Mixquiahuala. We have seen the hand of the Lord. We are trying our best to be led by the spirit. I have already grown so much closer to the savior because I have experienced a little bit more of what he went through. Being here I realize how freaking good my life was back home. I had everything, and at times all I want to do is hot tub or spend time with friends or go for a drive blasting music. My family and friends mean the world to me and it's hard to not be there with them. But this is more important! And I'm loving it! It's just very very hard at times haha. I'm up for the challenge though, and I know the Lord will lift me up. 

One of my favorite things is all of the music here! Everyone I swear owns their own little street business and all of them have their own music so when we walk down the streets, there's just all kinds of bumpin music that keeps us motivated. Miley Cyrus definitely gave me the little boost of energy I needed last Thursday lol.

Today we had a combined zone activity with two zones! We went down to the river in Progreso and it was GORGEOUS. Guys that place was so cool! We did a little hike to a cool bridge and played lots of soccer and ultimate frisbee with water baloons! Haha it was fun to get to more people and spend time with them! A nice little break from the work. They were definitely blasting the greatest showman music the whole time and all the latinos knew all the words even though they couldnt understand them haha. But dont worry, our pres is so chill and he lets us listen to anything we would feel comfortable listening to in front of Pres Nelson. Also, one of the zones got permission to watch coco and greatest showman for an activity haha. Our pres is so chill and I love him so much haha.

But guys things are great here! I love the mission field, I love my comp, I love Mexicans, and I love my God. People are so humble here, and there are definitely some that are ready for the gospel, and we will find them! It's kind of overwhelming thinking that I still have 22 months left haha but time is already flying and I know it's just gonna keep getting faster and faster. I love you all so much and I hope you are all doing great! Make sure you are reading the Book of Mormon every day, it is essential to read from every day. But at the same time guys we really do need to be reading the bible. People out here know so much about the bible and I kind of wish I read it a little more than I did. Especially the New Testiment, that book is powerful. I miss you all so much but I appreciate the support! I am praying for all of you daily, and I love you all so much!

Elder Millard

 

Already!?

Elder Howell and Elder Millard take Mixquiahuala!