The most stressful sacrament meeting EVER - September 19, 2016

Zone Conference
9-16-2016
 

This week was great! It was busy and stressful and awesome :) here are some highlights: One of the nights we went with the elders to their recent convert's house to work on her family history (Sister Gibson is an expert). Her name is Angela and she's from the Dominican Republic and she's awesome!! After we met and helped her fill out some of her family information, we helped her make some yummy lime oatmeal juice (sounds weird, tastes delicioso!!) and some crackers with mayonnaise and cheese. Haha quite Dominican! But she was so sweet and it was so yummy! And now we're super tight and she said she's going to teach us how to make tostones, a classic Dominican food made from plantains. Yum!
On Thursday morning we went and served at Habitat for Humanity and then went to lunch at Pollo Pucalor and had some awesome Colombian chicken and delicious potatoes. My beloved companion and our dear elders have decided to call me Potato Girl. Hahahaha. Then a whole bunch of weekly planning, and later a lesson with Silverio, which included a nice walk to the church. But when we were walking back, it was like 8:45 pm and getting pretty dark.. this truck drove past us and honked, and then pulled over a little ahead of us on the street. So we walked up and we're like "hi! How can we help you?" And this middle-aged guy was like "yeah uh, I just saw two pretty girls walking on the side of the road and it's pretty late and I'm drunk and I was just wondering if you could help me. Are you sisters? Friends?" And we were like "no, were missionaries!" And we just smiled and were all chipper and cute hahaha. And he was like "oh, I just wanted to know if maybe one of you would be interested, but I guess since you're missionaries..." and we were like "nope! But we have a message about Jesus Christ, would you like to hear it?" And he was like "uhhh no. I'm good." And drove away. Oh, my, it was so funny.
On Friday morning we went to a special training meeting for new missionaries and their trainers! We aren't really sure why we went, but the APs told us to ...but I guess because Sister Gibson is new back in the mission? Either way, it was great! I love going to meetings and seeing other missionaries and learning how we can improve back on our area. Then we were full of appointments that night and everything went well!
Saturday we had the baptism for Stephanie Meirelles, a cute little girl of a member family in the ward. It was really precious! A ton of friends and family came that aren't members, so us and the elders had a good time getting to know them! We're hoping to start teaching Stephanie's uncle really soon :) and his kids came to church Sunday, so yay! There were a couple kids that bore their testimonies after and it was so cute. One of them said "Stephanie, I know you're going to grow up and be an awesome... kid" it was so cute :)
Sunday was CRAZY. We had SIX INVESTIGATORS at church. Isn't that CRAZY?! It was the most stressful thing ever. But it's a good problem to have: having too many investigators and less-active members at church :) haha but it was great! The Hernandez family got fellow-shipped amazingly, and I think they'll really take off from here. We hope so! We'll see them Wednesday night and that's always fun :) I also played piano in the primary, which is always a good time. we also had dinner with the Bishop and his family and that was nice. We did some people-hunting later that night and found some people we'd been meaning to see and that was good!
And today is Monday, the blessed P-Day :) I'm at a zone activity right now, playing Slap Disk. This email has taken hours to write because our team keep switching in and playing! We're totally owning, BTW. It's way fun! But now Im all sweaty and gross.. ew! But it's so fun!! Anyway, I love you guys! I think about you and pray for you all the time :)
Have an awesome week!
Hermana Milberton

Sister Gibson Takes Dover - September 12, 2016



The Sanchez family
9-12-2016

Hey family! This week was super crazy! It was way fun! The area and
the work and everything seems SO DIFFERENT than it was last week. And
we aren't doing anything different, but with Sister Gibson everything
has changed, and in lots of ways!

On Monday we went to pick her up at the mission home at the end of
pday and we took her straight to the Sanchez house! Haha welcome to
Dover. It was pretty fun! She's been home for just nine months, and
her Spanish is a little rusty. But she's bringing it all back really
fast! Anyway, it was fun to be in a little trio for that night.

Tuesday we went to transfers and that was super fun! I love going and
seeing all the new missionaries meet their trainers. Elder Follett
from the MTC is training! Woo! Then we went back to our cute little
Dover and got to work! That night a cool thing happened: we were
driving home for something and we passed Salvador on our way--the
less-active we were going to see that night! We hadn't been able to
reach him and weren't sure if he would actually hold the appointment!
But we ended up at a stoplight near where he was walking, so we rolled
down the window and yelled and confirmed our appointment! Haha we
probably looked crazy, but that's what missionary work is all about :)

On Wednesday we had an awesome zone meeting-- I love our zone! Our
leaders are so awesome and so down to help us out and have a good
time. We also met with Edwin and met his wife and son! They are so
cute :) but his wife is really strong in her beliefs, so we couldn't
really get her to sit with us for too long. But we also met with his
guy named Alexis (weird, right? That's my name!) that met with
missionaries before, but hadn't met us yet. He randomly showed up at
church last Sunday, so we got in contact with him and made an
appointment! He's so ready to be baptized. He just thinks he has to be
perfect before he is. It's good that he's taking it seriously, but
we're trying to help him understand that it's a STEP, not the
destination.

Thursday was a crazy day full of weekly planning and service. We had a
good time at Habitat for Humanity in the morning with the Elders, and
then we walked back to the church. On our way we saw another
less-active member who recommended a good Columbian place for lunch!
So we went and I got this yummy garlic chicken, and my beloved
companion got TONGUE. Ew. We finished our walk to the church with full
stomachs and did our weekly planning there. It was fun to talk to
Sister Gibson about all our people and help her see how flipping
awesome this area is. We also made goals for this area and for
ourselves for this transfer. It's going to be a good one :) we also
met there with Silverio, but he was pretty late, so we just had a
quick talk with him. But it went well! And then we had about a half
hour walk ahead of us, all up-hill and pretty dark, and a member drove
by! Leonor Sanchez! She stopped and offered us a ride home! Miracles.
It was so sweet :) the Lord takes such good care of his missionaries!

On Friday we did some knocking around a place where on google maps
there was a plane (so rad) but the people there weren't ready. But we
did have dinner with a family, the Meirelles, who gave us THREE
REFERRALS. so awesome, right?? And sister Gibson totally talked and
connected with them really well! She was so cute, it was the best
lesson she's had in a long time! Then we had a crazy half hour trying
to find someone to take our investigator to go play soccer in
Ledgewood and ended up on the phone with the wrong Rafael and that was
awkward. But, eventually he wasn't able to go anyway, so it was
alright. So we went and shared a message with the guys that play and
that went well.

On Saturday morning we started by getting lost with the Elders trying
to find our ward picnic. Haha! But we made it there, and it was super
fun! We sat and chatted with everyone and had hamburgers and it was so
lovely. Then we served for a little bit at Habitat, and then ran to
the Hernandez family. We tried to teach them about faith and
repentance, but it was tough. We thought it was going well until we
started talking about baptism and we asked their thoughts and they
started asking us about the nature of God.. What?! Anyway, that
family. They're crazy. I love them, but they are teaching me patience.
Haha. But they also fed us dinner with their family, which was really
sweet.  We had another lesson with Alexis and Noe at the church that went well.

On Sunday at church we had three investigators! Woo! That was pretty
crazy but pretty fun. We also spoke! All the missionaries spoke about
the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I think it went well! My Spanish is
coming along, don't worry :) the third hour I got to play piano for
primary again and that was a blast! The primary kids also drew us
pictures the week before and they were SO CUTE. I died. Anyway, after
church we went over to the Sanchez home for some hot dogs and that was
nice. After trying some referrals, we went to see Fergie. We had a
good time with her and she told us she wants us to start teaching her
boyfriend! And he was there and they said they'd come to church on
Sunday! Woo! So that'll be interesting :) she's so awesome, though.

Anyway, this week was good! Super crazy. But super awesome :) I
learned a lot about myself, about this area, and about missionary
work. I'm blessed to be in this area and have all these amazing people
to work with. I love you guys and I pray for you all the time! Keep
reading your scriptures, they're awesome :) also i read in Acts today
about that guy (Ananias?) that lied to the apostles and was struck
dead. So remember to be honest :)

Love you!!

Transfers - September 5, 2016

August 22, 2016
Zone Fun

Hey family! Holy cow, I can't believe this transfer is already over!!
So here's the news: Sister Troconis is being transferred to Morristown
English, and she's being doubled-in! This is the THIRD time she's
being doubled-in to an area! Crazy. And I'll be getting a new
companion, Sister Gibson! It'll be really fun to get to know her and introduce her to the
area and everything :) yay! But that means today is pretty crazy for
sister Troconis, trying to get everything done and packed and go see
some people.

So this week! It was a pretty good one :) on Tuesday I ate Doritos and
Nutella, which was kind of weird, but not too bad.. Haha that was
exciting. I also went to Walmart and got my eyes checked! Woo! So now
I have my glasses and I can see when I'm driving :) it's a whole new
world out here! And the leaves on the trees! So pretty(: haha we did a
little contacting and met some people, but nothing too exciting there.
We had a couple Facebook lessons that were pretty funny too,
technology is the bomb!

On Wednesday we went to serve at Bristol Glen again, and we did
trivia this time. The other missionaries made me read the questions
because my English is the clearest, but this one old guy Roy, who
asked us where we were from about 6 times, couldn't hear very well. He
kept saying "if I could just hear the question, I would know it. It's
not that I don't know the answer, I just can't understand what you're
saying." But he was SO GRUMPY. Anyway, I was literally yelling every
word, I probably woke up all of Bristol Glen from their afternoon
naps. Hahaha and all the other missionaries were like "yeah, Sister
Millington! Speak up! We can't understand you!" Oh man. So rough. We
had some good lessons though, and we ran into some members too! Good
stuff all around.

Thursday we did a ton of weekly planning, plus a spontaneous lesson
with Juan Manuel. He's so awesome. But if he doesn't find a job soon,
he has to go back to Colombia:( aah! But then we did TAC (transfer
something cleaning..?), and cleaned our whole house! We spoke Spanish
the whole time and ordered pizza and that was pretty good (: but it
took up our whole day! Ugh! Good thing we only do it once a transfer!

Friday was a pretty crazy day, but it was so awesome. We went out to
Ellis Island in the morning, and it was great! I met this lady, Helga,
who found the ship she came over on when she was 1 year old. So cool,
right? And the ship manifest with her name and everything! I also
helped this cute couple from Ireland find some of their family. I sat
with them for the whole half hour session and they just talked and
talked about all their relatives in New York. When they left, they
tried to tip me! Haha it was so cute. But of course, I said I couldn't
accept anything (: so darling though! After Ellis, we went to an
appointment with the Hernandez family. It was good, but they just
REALLY love to talk. Haha! And on our way to the chapel after that, we
saw a BEAR!! It was SO CUTE. I just wanted to jump out of he car and
cuddle with him. So cute. But I don't think that would have been a
good idea.. Hehe.

Saturday was good as well, we did some service in the morning and some
contacting that afternoon! We had a couple good lessons and ran into a
member family accidentally that we've been trying to see for like five
weeks! But they have an uncle that just moved in that's not a member,
and they put themselves on our meal calendar a TON for this month!
Woo! The members are way too good to us, our calendar is so full!

On Sunday we had a ton of people at church! A whole less-active family
came, and that was sweet. We also had five people who weren't members
(including some of our investigators and some brand new people that
came with friends), so that was crazy. But we left early and went to
Elizabeth--one of Sister Troconis old investigators got baptized! Woo!
And guess what I did? I sat at the piano. Boom. Slayin. But it was a
lovely little service and he people were all way nice :) then we went
to Bishop Haro's house for lunch, and that was great as always! We got
on their Facebooks with them and they all found friends to share the
gospel with in little ways--articles, scriptures, videos, etc..
President Taggart is really pushing us to use technology with the
members! And they got so excited about it, it was sweet! We then went
to the Sanchez home and had an FHE with the Hernandez family, and that
was cool. It was really awesome to watch them connect and see their
kids playing together and everything. The Sanchez family is killer.

But anywayzzzz, life is good out here! I got a little bummed out when
we were talking a lot about going to the baptism on Saturday because I
still have yet to get anyone in the water. But cool news: this guy
Sister Smith and I found back in Lakewood (Gabriel) got baptized
yesterday! Isn't that so awesome? I'm so happy for my little Smithy.
And we knocked on his door, so it counts as like half a baptism for
me, right..? Haha jk :) but yeah, I was just getting a little down
about that. But I know that whatever happens is what needs to happen
here for me. I might not be baptizing like crazy, but I'm growing and
changing in a lot of ways. I'm coming closer to my Savior every day,
and I'm learning more how to rely on Him and His grace.

I love you chickens!
Hermana Millington

Temple, Elder Dube, and Arepas! - August 29, 2016

 

Edwin, Jaun and Noe
Philadelphia Temple open house

Hey family! This week was awesome! It was super crazy, but every day was great!

On Tuesday after some service at habitat for humanity, we went to the
temple in Philadelphia! We went with the Sanchez family and brought
Noe, a recent convert, and Edwin and Juan, both investigators. They
all loved it! Edwin and Juan both especially loved the celestial room,
they felt the spirit so strong. We were so thankful the Sanchez family
helped us bring all of them! I went in the car with their daughter,
Leonor, who just came back from her mission in Utah in December. We
picked up this other guy, Arturo, but I didn't know they'd been dating
for like four years and everything, so I was super taken aback when
every other word he said was "my love" or "baby" or "mi amor." Hahaha
so awkward. But he isn't a member and she was hoping to change his
feelings about the church by going to the temple with him, but I'm not
sure what will come of it! Maybe one of these days we will accidentally
knock on his door, I know where he lives (; anyway, it was really
amazing. The temple is so beautiful there and I was so blessed to be
able to go again and bring some amazing people to see it with us.

On Wednesday we went to do service again, and we played scrabble with
some elders and the elderly(: it was way fun! Except hard for Sister
Troconis who is learning English -- but good stuff! Then we had
this crazy lesson at Walter's house with three of his friends! So we
were sitting in their backyard trying to teach three investigators at
a time with totally different levels of understanding, and it was
pretty crazy. But we stayed for a couple hours and taught the
restoration and the plan of salvation and it went well! Those men were
pretty funny, they loved to agree and testify with us. We've been
having a good time teaching them and are hopeful we can get some
baptisms real soon! It's crazy to think this is the last week of the
transfer.. Time flies! Ah!

On Thursday we went over to Morristown for a half-mission conference
with Elder Dube of the seventy. He was way awesome! He's from
Zimbabwe, and joined the church when he was twenty five. He has a ton
of energy and fire for missionary work, and is an amazing scriptorian.
We learned about teaching and finding and all that good missionary
stuff. It was emphasized again and again how short our time as
missionaries really is--a year and a half isn't long at all! So we
should make the most of every day and every opportunity to find and
teach and love and serve. Oh and also, my lovely companion and my
lovely trainer who love me so much helped me out with a musical number
that the AP's asked us to do the night before. Haha so I'm glad I can
continue serving and helping with musical things here and there (:
After the meeting, we went on exchange with the STL's! Did I tell you
Sister Pace is our STL here? So awesome! So sister Troconis went with
her to Morristown and I stayed here with sister Rogers. We had a good
time teaching a couple lessons and finding some people. She's really
sweet and kind, I loved serving with her for a little while! We also
tried to find ice cream that night, but ended up with banana
milkshakes. This blasted Hispanic town with no Dairy Queen. Haha(:

 

On Friday we taught a lesson in the morning in front of a bagel shop
with the guy Juan we went to the temple with, and he told us the whole
Joseph Smith story! So great. Then we exchanged back and went to a
lesson with the Hernandez family. It went well, we finally finished
the plan of salvation with them! And they fed us burgers and flan, and
gave us a frozen Cornish game hen to take home and cook. It was
delicious (: haha! Then that night we went with the elders to meet a
potential they'd found in our area named Jose Flores. He's from Puerto
Rico, and he's here selling some books and CDs and stuff. He was
having a reading thing at some restaurant, so we went to meet him!
Long-story-short, Elder Mendoza ended up giving the opening prayer and
everyone clapped for him, and then we left. So Funny - I love it!

On Saturday we spent like ALL DAY making empanadas and arepas!
Empanadas are typical Hondurian food, and arepas are from Venezuela.
We made them for the Sanchez family to thank them for all their help
with the temple trips and finding people for us to teach and having us
over to eat and everything. Their family is seriously amazing! But we
didn't realize how long it would take to make like 30 empanadas and 30
arepas. But now I know! So when I get home I can make those for you
guys :) they were SO good! And so worth the hours of cooking and
setting off the fire alarm. Haha oops(: we did have a couple lessons
that day too, which were really good. We talked more with Joel, one of
Walters friends from Wednesday, and he said a beautiful closing
prayer. The spirit was so strong! He has such a sincere and amazing
desire to repent and change. He wants to start over again and erase
all his past. We're excited to keep working with him and help him do
that(:

Sunday was awesome, but stressful! That's usually how Sunday's are out
here.  But we had stake conference with Elder Dube and it was
great. We had Silverio and Edwin both come, and they both really
enjoyed it! I think it was cool for them to see a little bit more of
what a big deal this church really is. We aren't just a little 100
person congregation in some awkward chapel in Dover (: after the
meeting we took some cute pictures (you probably saw on Facebook!) and
then rushed home. We put the arepas and empanadas in the oven to heat
them up for a couple minutes (literally 5 minutes) and then ran out
the door to get to the Sanchez home. We had a lot of their family
there, and it was so great! We all ate and sat and talked and had a
really good time (: then we came home and pulled into the driveway 5
minutes before studies. So we joked and decided to take a 5 minute nap
in the car. But we were both so exhausted that we actually
accidentally did! Good thing Sister Troconis woke me up, I was
totally out! We had a good lesson that afternoon with another one of
Walter's friends that went well. We discovered that he doesn't really
have a sincere desire to know if these things are true and change, he
just wants to know to know. So we said we'd see him around, and if he
has questions he has our number :) we finished the night with dinner
and some Facebook lessons and that was good. Facebook is so awesome.
Seriously, so many miracles have happened all over the mission because
of it! It's crazy. I was really anxious and bugged about getting it,
but I've become converted. I testify that Facebook is a good thing. If
used wisely of course (:

Anyway, it's been a good week! And this coming week I'm going to the
eye doctor on Tuesday and going to Ellis island again on Friday! Like
I said, I can't believe this transfer is almost over! Next Sunday we'll
have transfer calls and find out what's happening. I think I'll stay
here, but I don't know about Sister Troconis. She's actually in the
English program and she talked to president about that, so she might
be moved back. Ugh! I don't know! But we'll do everything we can this
week, and if we get another six weeks we'll keep working hard here!
We're doing a lot and loving this area and this work. We've been so
blessed (:

I love you all! Have an awesome week!(:
Hermana Millington