Whitefish, Blackfish, Redfish, Bluefish!

Our ward mission leader's wife was driving to work in her Bronco. When she looks over to see Nicole Kidman staring her down at a stop light. It's Whitefish. That's all.

This has been the hardest week of my mission. I won't lie. I'm definitely not best friends with this companion. AKA pray for my VISA? I would give you details, but when you warned me a couple of weeks ago about companions and I laughed because I hadn't had a problem. You were definitely inspired. Oh well, the stories I'll be able to tell when I get home about almost being punched during a Friday night planning session. What I've learned though, is without adversity our character would never be tested. Heavenly Father puts us in situations to learn and grow, wherever that may be.

I was reminded this week of a story President Price (Missoula Stake Presidency) told us at the beginning of last transfer at a missionary breakfast. There is a road next to his house that is maybe at a 45 degree angle. Every couple of days during the winter the snows melt and this road becomes a literal death trap. Parents will go to pick up their kids from various play dates at the bottom of the road only to find they can't get back up. Try as they might they slip and slide and end up rolling back down the hill into Bishop Olsen's driveway. So when they are home they pull out their chains and drag the vehicle up the hill with their truck. President Price went on to explain that sometimes we need that little push. We can almost do it alone, but we need a little extra help from our brothers and sisters. And we as missionaries get the opportunity to be that pull for people. So we leave the breakfast and as we go up the hill Sister Armknecht and I start to fall. All the missionaries run up and start pushing us up this hill. At the end we were all laughing as we realized that even missionaries need a little push sometimes. That went from story to object lesson real fast.

Miracles of the week:

 We stopped by this less active's house "Sharon." And as we go to say a closing prayer her neighbor "Rachel" comes in. Sharon asks Rachel if she wants to pray with us and she says absolutely. So I pray with ALL my heart that I'll say whatever she needs to hear during this prayer. At the end she goes... I just got goosebumps. Afterwards Sharon told us she has been helping them out with some health stuff and was looking for a church. She found this church she loves, but it's only in Whitefish and she has been concerned about what to do if she ever moves. We made a return appointment when Rachel could be there and we are stoked. Some people are looking for the truth and just "know not where to find it."

"Saul." Such a biblical name. We are completely out of miles for the month as usual, and we were driving home on Saturday night. We only had enough miles to get home and it was 8:00 so we couldn't just tract. I ask Sister Wilbert who lives close by that we can visit literally on the way home. She mentions someone who lives right off the road, but hadn't been answering our phone calls all week "Danielle". So we drop in, she lives in the smallest trailer I've ever seen, so we have no where to sit, but she had a friend over named Saul. As we try to share a message I feel inspired to tell Saul what we are sharing the message from- "The Book of Mormon." He asks what the Book of Mormon is about and I then explain the story of Lehi leaving Jerusalem and essentially all the stories until Jacob. The spirit was SO strong so I say- would you be baptized? He goes- why do I need to be baptized? I say- why did Jesus Christ need to be baptized? He drops his head for a second and goes- a light just went off in my mind and the spirit is so strong. I think there is something to this. Let me think about it for just one evening. The next day he showed up at church. He ran away after sacrament with the explanation that he needed to digest all the information (aka he got to come on the week that they talked about baptisms for the dead? They should really submit all talks to us for approval.) I don't know where Saul's journey will take him, but I know I felt the hand of God in his life that night and I know he felt it too. The spirit led us there I am sure of it. Afterwards I had to thank Heavenly Father for letting us run out of miles. It always turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

There are actually like twelve more, but just know that this was a week of miracles- as all weeks are. We just have to look for them and remain faithful. 

I love you so much and hope everything on the home front is going well. I know I never give you homework, but would you read about Abenadi this week? His story can remind us all that we stand for something, and that what we do effects others. Abenadi may have felt his mission was lost when he was killed, but little did he know Alma was converted through his testimony. Only to propel the WHOLE list of miracles that then ensue from that.

I love you!

Sister Haley K. Mills

 

 

White Fish Bound...

So just when you've got a good thing going...

The spirit guides. As in it guides you straight to White Fish for transfers. That's right. For the first time ever. I am being transferred on an actual transfer. In fact. All three of us are. 12 days. The ward is furious, but the Lord's plans always make more sense in retrospect. When I look back on all the places I have been so far- I remember being upset when I left Cody, I remember being upset when I left the institute, I remember being numb when I left 3 ward. Not to say I didn't know it was the Lord's plan, but looking back I KNOW it was the Lord's plan. I know the people I have touched and that have touched my life were there with me in the right place at the right time.

I sincerely love my companions. I am sad to see Sister Jackson go to Townsend and Sister Sherratt leave me for my beloved Wyoming (Worland though, not Cody), but I know that we made the impact on each other that we were supposed too. That we learned and grew from each other. And laughed. Well mainly we just laughed. A lot.

So I bet you can guess, this week has been CRAY. We received like 50 referrals. And had ZERO time to contact any of them. We went to this house to visit a former investigator only to find out that she had moved. Instead we found a woman named "Alysa." When we realized it was the wrong person we go- Oh, well can we come in? She goes- Sure! And opens the door and just walks into her house. So the 4 of us are just standing in her foyer all awkwardly until I finally say- well do you have a couch or something? HAHA. We teach her the first lesson and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. 

 

 

Missionary work is sometimes so uncomfortable, but I've learned when I do things out of the ordinary good things come. The out of the ordinary part was obviously just standing in her foyer awkwardly for 5 minutes. 

We met this other woman this week named "Elizabeth." Now. Let me help you to understand why she is my new favorite investigator of all times. She wants to know more about the church because her HERO Mitt Romney is a member which must mean it's true. Not kidding. She agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it on the basis that if Mitt Romney was a part of it... it must be stellar. We are obviously best friends now. We aren't allowed to talk about politics, so I sat on my hands, and beamed. Legit.

As for my Portuguese. Eu practico todas as dias! ...quasi. Sundays are hard, we have MINIMAL study time! 

Love you and miss you muito!

Sister Haley K. Mills

Transfers, Companions, and Throw up

I threw up probably for the first time in like 5 years. And then I threw up some more. And more. So much so that my new companions got special permission to go out without me. Then me, the hangout-a-holic that I am, ripped myself out of bed the next day to make sure I didn't miss anything. AKA I walked around like a missionary zombie and infected people. Awful for business. Sorry not sorry. The missionary work must go on! 

My new companions. What to say what to say. We will start with Sister Sherratt. She is 20 and from Diamond Bar, California. She is a temple square sister who just got sent here for her 3 months of a "real mission!" Yeah... I just said that. She came out on her mission the same day as me, but so far her whole mission has been tours and mormon.org chats, so it is a HUGE change for her. She is also crazy. Like... louder and more talkative than me. It's a little insane. But I kind of love it? Also fun fact she made it on American Idol a couple of years ago, but broke security by telling someone so she got kicked off. AKA she is my twin. In being a blabber mouth NOT in singing skills obviously. Sister Jackson is my other companion. She is 30 and from La Mesa, California. She is the sane one. Very... very sane. And possibly our mother? She has been out for 5 weeks and she has already cleaned up my vomit like a CHAMP. I'd say her training is more extensive than most peoples. HAAA. 

So with everything going on we haven't gotten to do much, BUT we did move into our new ward, which is Missoula SECOND WARD! WOOO! We got lost one day and met a crazy hoarder woman who didn't want to hear about the gospel, but wanted to show us all of her hoardings? We also almost got crashed into by an SUV fishtailing on PACKED SOLID ICE. We helped them escape with some ice melt and a little directional push (and some prayers and gospel talk). Then WE almost ran into others on the same road trying to leave our dinner appointment? Really a perfect week all around!

Boring for days. It's okay though, because I have become boring myself? It's missionary work all day everyday over here.

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU MUITO!

Ice Ice Baby...

Uhhh.

So...

Sister Armknecht is getting mid transfer adjusted! :( We just found out through an email from President. She is getting sent to train two other sisters in a tripanionship in Bozeman. She is perfect for the job, but I will miss her dearly. She's quiet, but man that sister CAN TEACH. The spirit always abounds where she's involved. Funny story with her- we visited this house to look for someone. Turned out to be a group home? She goes, "What's a group house?" HAHAHA. After I tell her she panics and the whole rest of the night every prayer was- thank you for our safety. thank you for this safe car. thank you for our safe house... HILARIOUS.

Speaking of hilarious. I slipped on ice and landed STRAIGHT on my back (movie style) twice this week. I don't think Montana is my place? HAHA. The first time we were at a less actives house and her 3 year old daughter comes out yelling "ARE YOU OKAY?!" Over and over while I just laugh and laugh. Sister Armknecht thought she'd have to take me to the hospital FOR SURE. The second time it was at the ward mission leader's house and I fell out of the car onto my back. My legs were straight in the air. It wasn't very lady like. I was just so excited to see our ward mission leader (Who had been out of town for 3 weeks.) You don't realize how lonely missionary work is until you are LITERALLY doing it alone.

We had the coolest experience this week! We were tracting (because we dropped our two most progressing investigators this week) and we came up to this house where we had previously chatted with a 13 year old girl. We knock on the door and her older brother answers (around 18 years old) all of the sudden the first thing out of my mouth is, " Do you think there could be prophets now days like there were in Bible times?" (Not something we ever start a conversation out with?) And he goes... "Yeah, actually, I was just thinking about that lately." BOOOM. Then his mom came out and yelled at us and pulled her son inside, but it was amazing knowing that I had asked an inspired question without even knowing it. The Holy Ghost really does put what we should say in our hearts and minds. In the very minute, in the very hour which we need it!

 

Love you muito muito muito!

Sister Haley K. Mills

Preacher Girl

I mean it. I gave a talk on Sunday and woaaah hidden talent? PULPIT POUNDING. Sister Armknecht and I were given the topic of "Decisions for Eternity." I don't know if I've described Sister Armknecht well yet, but she is quiet. Like a church mouse quiet. But SUPER intelligent. So when it comes to giving talks she gives this great little talk- and I mean little (5 minutes). Realizing her talk was so short she starts just sharing quotes.... then leaves me with like 35 minutes.CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.And that's how I became a preacher girl. I ad libbed and spoke no problem. I knew the Lord had to have been helping because public speaking is NOT a talent of mine. Anyway, I called everyone to repentance and filled our dinner calendar for the next month because everyone now thinks I am a good role model for good choices? Awkward. I just embrace it.

Speaking of awkward. We almost drowned Trinity? AKA I got soaking wet climbing half way into the font and calming her down after her 2nd dunk when she was under for like 20 seconds- with the baptizer trying to push her the rest of the way under? To no avail. 3rd dunk is the charm. Or maybe it wasn't? But the good news is the witnesses took pity on her and pronounced her baptized! (The millennium is to fix those kinds of mistakes right?) She finally stopped screaming "I DON'T WANT TO GET BAPTIZED ANYMORE!" And I had that cute little doe eyed convert run up and hug me at church on Sunday. All worth it.

Hmmm lets see. Oh yeah, CHRISTMAS! Believe it or not, NOT my favorite holiday as a missionary! People were appalled that the only family tradition I could think of was being out of town? Preferably somewhere sunny? ALSO I had the flu. In Montana culture if someone is sick you pretend they are the devil himself come to personally get you. AKA we had like zero appointments all week. BUT the good news is I am feeling WAY better and we had 2 new investigators at church on Sunday!... that we are meeting with this week! Don't be surprised if we drown them in this next month. Baptizing is our new favorite thing! Bringing people through the gate so they can walk the strait and narrow path to God- there is no greater joy. "And lo- he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might. The same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul."

Talking to A^3 (Andrew, Ali, Aurora) was the BEST! Sister Armknecht was dying laughing the whole time. Apparently we are hilarious. Also- the Conrads (who we skyped at) LOVED Rory. I talked her up for a good hour and then I get on and ANDREW LET HER NAP!!! So I just talked really loud and woke her up? It's FIIINE.Concerning the VISA. Ali is getting the police letter on Wednesday she said, so SLC should have it by Monday. I've started getting emails from my ecclesiastical card with how much Brazillian money I have on it? AKA I'M PRETTY POSITIVE IT'S HAPPENING! Oh ye of little faith! We can all learn a little something from the Brother of Jared, eh? You want to see his hand in your life? LOOK FOR IT!

I have to go, but I am so happy you are doing sketchy things on Cathedral roofs? So proud.

LOVE YOU MUITO!

Sister Haley K. Mills

PS I've become OBSESSED with "Jesus the Christ". I made the mistake of perusing during personal study and now I can't stop reading it! AHHH!

Good News...

Let me share with you some "good news" from this week:I got a call from the mission home that I needed to immediately send in some paperwork. Notarized paperwork. AKA THEY ARE WORKING ON MY VISA! Not kidding I started crying in a van full of 14 missionaries.

We were all in a van because we were at CHRISTMAS ZONE CONFERENCE for the "West-Side." Where we had a BOMB lesson on faith. Faith to perform miracles. Peter walked on water. He only started to fall when he got distracted by the boisterous wind. We must have faith, and we must stay focused on the "prize." Which is living eternally with our families and with our Father in Heaven.I started crying because I had decided in that meeting that I would stay. That I would be okay here, that I liked the cold and the people and the language. That I would accept my fate. Turns out Heavenly Father might have a different Christmas gift in mind for me. We all have the gift of our Savior's sacrifice. Through him we can be saved. But soon I may get to share that message in Brazil. Oh happy day.It will be a happy day because I can't speak a lick of Portuguese, and I will get to experience the amazing power of my Father in Heaven to bolster me, to hold me up when I would otherwise fall.I would fall because I am just a woman. With weakness and trials. But as I lean on the Lord to help me, those weaknesses can become strengths and I can be comforted in time of need.

Let this be a Merry Christmas because your Savior paid for your sins. Your Heavenly Father came up with a plan for you to return to live with him. And you fought for and accepted that plan. THAT'S where we came from, THAT'S where we are going, THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE.

Now... on a hilarious note.I was using the analogy seen on "The District 1" where they are teaching about the authority from God to baptize. AKA the priesthood. Also, I think I should disclose that we were teaching this woman. And we were talking to her 6 year old and 4 year old daughters at this point. So I go- "If someone in an ice cream truck pulls you over and tries to give you a ticket, do you take the ticket?" "You don't take it." "GOOD! Now if a police officer pulls you over, do you take that ticket?" "No, you have to give it back!" WE DIE LAUGHING. Apparently they were taught well not to take things that aren't theirs. THEN we are talking about how after Jesus Christ died that authority left the earth. I go- "So now if Jesus Christ AND his apostles died who has the authority to act in their name?" The 4 year old goes- "THE COPS!" HAHAHA. Sister Armknecht goes- "WOW! You are such a good listener." And we literally laugh the whole way home.

We go to contact this mother/daughter with the last name "Daniels". We show up at their trailer and lo and behold a male answers the door. I go- "Is this uh.. Sister... uh I mean the Daniels?" He proceeds to tell us they moved out over a year ago and it's just him and he lives alone. So I go- "Well would you be interested in hearing more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ restored on the earth today?" He says thanks, but no thanks and we bustle along back on our merry way. Well when we sit back in the car I see that the contact also has a number! LET'S CALL THEM! The phone rings once and a guy answers. "Hi, is this Sister Daniels?" HAHAHA. Same guy. We have a festive little chat and laugh about how hilarious that was. Then I get off the phone and turn to Sister Armknecht and go- man, that must have been pretty awkward for him. OHHH the life of a missionary.

We were meeting with a family that is becoming more re-activated in the church with the last name of "Tracy." They were baptized about 4 years ago, and after they were baptized they got scared and RAN FOR THE HILLS. Well after 4 years of inactivity they decided that they liked what they had seen. But just in case, they wanted to keep going to this other church while they checked ours out so all their kids could still get some "sound doctrine." They were telling us about this experience because (they only did it for a couple of weeks) every Sunday they would go to our ward. Then they would brief their kids on the drive to the other church- "Don't TALK about the Mormons! Do we all have the other Bible? Turn your Book of Mormon in." "We are HERETICS!" HAHAHA.

I have another baptism on Saturday! STOKED!And I am giving a talk on Sunday? SURPRISE, being a missionary is the best!

LOVE YOU!

Sister Haley K. Mills

Planning Pie

It was a fabulous week really. We had 3 people on date to be baptized, then 2, then 1, then 2 again, then we were dropped by the 3rd, but now he is back on, but without a date. Woooh. Breath needed. But really it was a fabulous week and it all stems from "planning pie." 

The week of Thanksgiving Sister Armknecht and I were in Walmart and found this Dutch Apple Pie that had NO DAIRY! I was stoked obviously! I spent the next week gaining 500 pounds eating pie everyday during planning (when we get home at night.) The next week we run to Walmart only to find out they don't have it anymore! MUCH to my dismay I came to believe "planning pie" was a thing of the past. As you can guess- it wasn't! We get to our dinner appointment last Tuesday and they bring out this pie they bought for me - "It's DAIRY FREE!" So they send it home with us on our merry little way and I am happy as a Lark. Then we get to our dinner appointment on Wednesday and they bring out this pie they bought for me! GUESS WHAT? PLANNING PIE! They were out of planning pie at Walmart because all of our dinners had bought me planning pie! It's the tender mercies that make it all worth it! So... now I might weigh 500 pounds? Disregard the pictures where I actually look only a LITTLE chunks, that is an illusion. But for reals, can you say blessings of serving a mission for the Lord?! 

This week Sister Armknecht and I had a "WOW" experience (credit: Rory (niece). So glad she has such a great fave word these days!). We were setting our goals for baptisms. We both felt like 2 in the month of January was the goal. Soooo we call the Zone Leaders and report our goals and they both get super deflated. "FAITH sisters! Where is the FAITH?!" Alright fine, we will pray about it again, but our answer was 2. I can promise that. SO we pray about it... probably for the next hour. Both of us are wanting a higher number, but we just can't find one we like. I start to joke that maybe we aren't going high enough? 12? 15? 27? So finally I say, "Heavenly Father, We WANT more baptisms this month, can we get more than 2?" So I start talking to Sister Armknecht and she goes- you know, nothing else is feeling right. I say- what about 5? She goes... YES! So then I tell her the impression I had just had that we COULD get 5. Heavenly Father was GOING to give us 2, but I was impressed that we could get 5, but we have to redouble our efforts. Work harder, work longer, work more efficiently. So we called the Zone Leaders back and told them we "wrestled with God in Almighty Prayer." HAHAHA. But seriously. Heavenly Father hears our prayers. He cares about everything WE care about, simply because we care about it. And he answers our prayers if we only listen, of that I am sure.

I will also tell you about our favorite people we met this week. The "After Buffalos." We knock on the door and the Dad asks, "Hey, what's happening, what's up?" Like 3 times. Sister Armknecht and I say... nothing much every time. So finally he goes, ALRIGHT I know why you are here. I am inactive. There is no two ways around it. HAHAHA. We died. Then he proceeds to tell us that his daughter has been wanting to come to church and be baptized and asked if we could arrange a ride for her. AKA he is staying inactive? We are working on it.

Well, I can't believe there are so many missionaries out from our ward! I am so proud to be a member of the "Monument Army" ??? 

 

Well, I love you! Miss you!

Sister Haley K. Mills

And in honor of Elder Wilson (from my MTC district who got his VISA this week) "STAY GUCCI" (And Sister Evans did too!)

 

Missoula, Montana Sisters Mills, Beckstrand, and Armknecht