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

 

Negative Eleven

That's the temperature. I wish I was kidding. The worst part is, we've gotten used to it. Did you know that when you walk on snow after -20 it sound like burnt popcorn? And that if you run out to the car without putting on your gloves you get these purple rashes on the backs of your hands and they start to bleed? AND when you get out of the car your shoes melt into the snow and you get stuck and trip in front of strangers?

I do. Now.

I've got to say though, things here are pretty plush. I was so concerned about this area at first. I'll admit. I was in the "red zone" for a while. BUUUT the Lord has been POURING OUT HIS BLESSINGS on this area. We got 5 new investigators this week. We should have 3 baptisms in December. AND I got to see an investigator of mine get BAPTIZED! Best feeling in the world! Desiree. Do you remember 3 weeks ago when we met the most GOLDEN investigator of all times? Well she got baptized on December 7th. AND SURPRISE I did a special musical number and played the piano? I'm not sure what is happening out here... HAHAHA. But seriously it was so amazing to watch Desiree learn and grow in the gospel. She has such a solid testimony and I was SO blessed to be a part of it! Although I got transferred out of the area, I was still close enough to participate in her baptism! 

Speaking of transfers.... I'M STAYING! And so is Sister Armknecht! The whole rest of the District got shaken up, but we are here to stay. Thank goodness. This area can't stop. Won't stop.

Uhh I'm sure tons of other great things have happened, but life is a little bit of a whirlwind! Or should I say blizzard?

AAAAANYWAY. 

I love you muito! 

I miss you muito! 

AND stop complaining about 40 degrees!

Sister Haley K. Mills

 

Sisters Armknecht and Mills

Sisters Mills and Gold with Desiree and her family

 

 

 

 

The Fruits of our Labor

This week was amazing. I don't know how it got so turned around but I am thankful fo DAYS. We got a mormon.org referral. (Those never work out). And so Sister Armknecht is STOKED like... WE ARE GOING TO MEET HIM AND HAVE HIM BAPTIZED IN 3 WEEKS. So I try to dampen her spirits with a couple of mormon.org failure stories- involving punk teenagers and some illegal drugs- before we meet up with this guy, so she doesn't cry or something when it was his friends playing a joke on him. We show up and guess what? He AGREED to be baptized in 3 weeks! Holy cow he is amazing. We teach him about the priesthood and he goes- well that makes sense, like Melchizedek in the Bible? Then he shows up to all three hours of church and participates in the lesson about the "scattering of Israel." He goes- WOW. The Mormon church is the gathering isn't it? Then he sends the whole class on a little scripture chase of all these references on it. THEN we asked him to read like 6 chapters and he goes- I read them all (in one day) and the one that really touched me was the one where my faith is a seed. So I need to plant it. HAAAA! Golden!!! So he is on date for December 21st and Sister Armknecht is glowing. She keeps making fun of me for doubting, but the last one I got the man wouldn't even talk to us!

I'm happy everyone missed me... uhhh... I mean had a good time over Thanksgiving! We went to a member's house who held us hostage to play BINGO for prizes? It was the best. Also, I think we should start that tradition? Presents on Thanksgiving. AND 15 rolls for me. The gifts that keep giving. Like a washer and dryer?! Holy cow I hope they realize how amazing you are! I am so thankful for all the hard work you put into raising Andrew and I and the hard work you continue to put into maintaining relationships with us! You are my favorite parents! Like how I am your favorite daughter? LOVE YOU.

Update on Desiree (my little miracle from the 4th ward a couple of weeks ago.) She is still on date for December 7th. She wants me to sing at her baptism? With Sister Gold... I hope. The spirit must really make my voice sound better than it is because people here love it when I sing? One woman started to cry when Sister Armknecht and I sang "Let the Holy Spirit Guide." Not kidding. 

It's amazing to see so much happening here that I got to be a part of! We talk a ton out here about being "successful" missionaries. Success is measured on our commitment to teach, not our results when we do. That's why seeing the "Fruits of our Labor" is so amazing. Sometimes you just need that little boost when you get to see the difference you have made in peoples' lives! We had another investigator on date for December 21st "Laurie" , but she got scared and called it off. She has been investigating for 22 months. She knows it's true. And with a little faith and fasting I know we can help her to take this great step towards living with her Father in Heaven again.

Eu te amo. MUITO. Sento suas faltas.

Tchau tchau por agora!

SISTER HALEY K. MILLS

PS I am going to buy some winter stuff today. I can't survive on only cardigans and nylons anymore!

 

Sisters Mills and Gold

Sisters Armknecht and Mills and a llama

 

Uhhh...

Words are eluding me as I try to describe the last week of my life.

The phrase "ups and downs" would be appropriate I think. 

We'll start with the Institute. WE SAVED IT! We doubled the enrollment in the Thursday night class and the Friday day class (their only two classes) and so... the building stays! You are right about that assignment being tailor made for me. I have never in my life felt the spirit so strong and felt so inspired in my every footstep. As we worked on the institute we randomly fell into teaching situations where people were SO READY to hear The Gospel. 

One of those people was a married woman in her late 20's named "Desiree." She has been going through a lot lately with her husband having some addiction issues (some is an understatement) and pretty much having to raise her kids alone. She keeps telling us she never thought she would be in this situation, but that she KNEW once it happened that something had to give. Well her husband's aunt has been a member of "our church" for 50 years and suggested they start coming. So. On their own. Her and her husband have started attending one of the wards. Well we happen to be at church the 3rd Sunday they attended and none of the missionaries had met them or set up a time to meet with them yet. We met with Desiree on Wednesday of this last week and taught her about the Restoration of the Gospel. She immediately says, "Well God spoke to Moses, so why wouldn't he speak to any other Prophet?" FOR REALS. Golden. So we extend the baptismal invite and her baptism is set for the 7th of December. We went back and taught about God's Plan for us on Friday and she just SOAKED IT UP. She started tearing up when we talked about the resurrection and how we can one day be perfected. 

STOKED.

My first baptism that I will finally get to teach all the way through and see right? 

FALSE.

The Lord has bigger plans for us, and though we don't always understand- we always receive a witness after the trial of our faith.

So President comes to do interviews (I had one last Tuesday so I was just waiting for Sister Gold to get hers). When President was done interviewing everyone he shakes my hand and goes- "Did you hear?" 

.... hear what?

He pulls me into a room and tells me he is SO PROUD of me and sees so much maturity in me since I've been back (probably because I'm not fighting stomach pains every second of every day). He wants me to finish a Sister's training and sort of... liven up an area. Sister Gold told me later, during their interview he looks at her and just starts laughing. He got an impression that I should go help this area he had been worried about. Then he tells Sister Gold it is because I "get stuff done." 

PRESSSSURE.

So I pack my bags and head over to Missoula 3rd ward. I am with Sister Armknecht (arm-connect) (let the jokes commence). The area is what I consider a... fixer-upper, but I love the people already. Since I've been here (for a day and a half) we have found 2 new people to teach, and I can see the potential of the area. The current struggle is we are out of miles. I know that the Lord will provide a way for this area to progress. I know that the Lord has prepared people to hear The Gospel here, I just hope those people live within walking distance?

Also, stop with the weather jokes, it is 25 degrees today. I'm also not wearing a jacket? 

So glad to hear that Aaron and Chelli and Jess are having a good time. Where are Aaron and Chelli staying? Tell everyone I love them. Especially the whole Thanksgiving crew! I'll pray for sun-sun-sun over there! 

Love and miss you so much!

Sister Haley Kristina Mills

Back and better than ever

HEYYY!

So I'm back! And holy cow did I miss it. Not the weather though... we can definitely count that out. It's been snowing for days here in Missoula and I am freezing like a little fritter. (I will buy a coat if I really need too, but I'm going to try to hold out for as long as I can, coats are expensive!) But really. I love Missoula. I love my assignment too. Being the Sisters over the institute is so amazing because we get to pick and chose lessons we teach and we get to share two wards with the Zone Leaders, it's sort of EPIC.

Our assignment is to save the institute building here. Although President hates that term, I don't know what else to say. We enroll more than 50 people by Friday- we get to keep it. We don't- well... let's just say the world might end. It is the most unique missionary work I have ever participated in. It is the work of salvation, just a different work of salvation, you know? 

My companion is Sister Jordan Gold. She is from Jacksonville, Florida! She is sort of quiet, but then also not? I can't even describe her really. She is a sass. That's all you need to know! We are hoping after this assignment is done we will get to stay here, but we aren't sure, so I would send all the mail through the mission office for now!

Now for the miracles of the week. We went from 28 people enrolled in institute to 36 in our first 3 days. We taught a lesson for the Elders our first night here and got them a solid new investigator. There was a family that started showing up to church by themselves and now they want to get baptized. It seems as though the more we try to focus on institute the more people we accidentally find to teach. I know this is God's work, and that he is sending us those who are prepared to hear his word. What a wonderful blessing it is to be a part of. 

I love you so much, and miss you already!

Sister Haley K. Mills

Finally - An Update...

So - for anyone who doesn't know - Haley was forced to return home due to her health concerns.  The Church wanted to make sure she was completely well before she could return to her temporary assignment in the Billings, Montana Mission.  She was home for 3 weeks - but her Dad was out of the country during that entire time and did not update the blog...

She has returned to Montana and here is her current letter...

I'm in MISSOULA!

And it is cold. So cold. Frigid actually. If I come home again it'll be for frost bite.

I'm serious.

Anyway, I love being back! It is sort of weird, but my health has been amazing and I have just been embracing life as it comes! And it came on Tuesday when I returned to the field and got a "special assignment." That's code for - we are trying something new, but we don't want you to feel like a guinea pig. That something new is we are not over a ward. We don't have investigators, or less-actives. But instead, we share two wards with the Zone Leaders (aka take their overflow) but really we are over the INSTITUTE! It is the weirdest assignment ever, but we love it! The Institute here in Missoula is going to be shut down if they don't have 50 people signed up in... less than a month. They are currently at 28. SO.... if you can imagine my life right now. STRESSSS.

My companion is Sister Gold by the way. Aaaaand we have to leave right now, but I will write you on MONDAY!

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!

SISTER HALEY K. MILLS

WTMI

Oiiii! It's been a long week! BUTTT we made it! And that's a blessing.It looks like we have reached the end of the "health probs" rope! I spent the whole weekend twiddling my thumbs{slash}taking 3 bottles of laxatives and not eating in prep for my colonoscopy on Monday! Don't worry though, I kept the missionary work up and made best friends with all the nurses and doctors. They want me to come back? What they don't realize is they'll be getting a gospel lesson next time.

The results for my colonoscopy aren't all in, BUTTT he said it was healing great and I'm so excited I ran out of their and danced in the snow. In only a v-neck. And Sister Taylor (who came with us and is maybe my favorite person in the whole world right now. Sorry not sorry.) was worried I was going to catch a cold and die... or fall over. I was still a little loopy from the anesthetic! Ohhh well! Yolo! Sort of...

I have to tell you about "Brian." This Less Active who is in LOVE with me. Wish I was kidding. He is 60 years old, and hadn't been to church in a long time, but the missionaries came and visited him every week. Welllll, we go visit him my first week here, and he has been to church ever since. Never missed a Sunday. On Friday we were meeting with him and he goes, "Now, what if God sent me a younger woman to get me to heaven. I mean way younger. But God wanted us together, so we would have to get married right?" Silence. Me, "wellll you always have your agency." Brian, "But we could even have children, like Abraham and Sarah." Silence. Brian, "She would be in her twenties, and have Sister Mills' personality.... and looks."BAHAHAHA. We booked it out of there. I just kept thinking. He is a child of God, he is a child of God, he is a child of God. We told the Elders and they wanted to come with us next time and protect me? I assured them I was in no danger, but if they wanted an invite to the wedding they better not joke about it! HAHAHA.

Also, sorry, you start to realize how much you talk when you write letters. desculpNAOdesculp. We got a new investigator this week, "Heather." When they talk about golden investigators they mean her! Remember that inn we have been painting? Welllll we were helping for the 3rd week in a row when I meet the owner's daughter (recent divorcee) inside cleaning paintbrushes. She tells me that she had been looking into the church in Montana before her and her husband got divorced, but he was anti, and the elders couldn't come in when she was alone. So she moved to Cody and starting praying one night that something would happen to let her know what to do and the next day one of those Elders messaged her on Fbook and said he was thinking about her and wanted to send the Cody Elders over (he didn't know WE were here!) So she was considering it when we showed up to paint the first time. Then her mom tried to talk her out of talking to us. Then the second time she KNEW it was a sign. Then the third time she was trying to decide how to approach us when chatty kathy (me, obviously) struck up a conversation. I sincerely hope this all works out, but it was a miracle and we are so blessed despite all the health stuff we have had to deal with lately.

LOVE!

Sister Mills

Sisters Helm and Mills

Blizzards bring Miracles - and not the Dairy Queen Kind

Things I'm still waiting on... my VISA, mom's Pumpkin Bread recipe, and now her crepe recipe... BUTTT all is good in Cody this week! Someone in the ward (who knew of my fervent love for reading) informed me that Tom Clancy died?! Whaaat?! Saddest event of my mission so far! He will be missed by all of us true fans who consider his books classics! Hahaha.

This week was PRETTY amazing, despite my... sickness. (I'm worried it won't be gone after the anti-biotics, because it's still going strong! But we'll exercise some faith and go get tested again on Thursday. Get tested... boy does that sound awful! Haha.) It snowed! Like... 8 inches. SNOWED. And different members of the ward called us over to pick out some winter clothes because they know I was in no way prepared for this! And in October of all things! It's a running joke though, because I LOVED it, and I ran straight outside to take pictures and chuck snowballs at Sister Helm. She loved it. I hit her with one outside of an investigators house and she goes, "AND SHE'S GOT AN ARMMMMM!"

My favorite miracle of the week is Mary Kay. Her friend formerly lived in our ward, and moved the DAY we arrived. She had been praying for sisters as SHE served a mission herself and knew some of her friends would be PERFECT for the sisters! Well she met us at a wedding and gave us a ton of referrals, but didn't have their addresses, so it was like getting to peak at your Christmas presents, only to find out you have to wait til Santa gets home to South Wyoming and looks up the addresses to open them... wait. I think that metaphor might have just gotten real. Hahaha. So I get on Facebook last week and in my inbox is Mary Kay's address!

We were so excited! It was snowing hard core outside and she lived up like 10 miles on the South Fork (aka in the mountains), but we know we receive blessings from contacting referrals right away so we took a chance! HA! As we drive up the hill, the snow is getting worse and worse til it is practically a blizzard (I say practically because it was, but I don't want to freak you out). We get to her house and thank GOODNESS she was home.

We knock and wait a while, and then she finally opens the door but not the screen and goes- " WHO IS IT?!" "OH MY GOODNESS YOU GIRLS! GET INSIDE RIGHT NOW YOU ARE GOING TO FREEZE!" Then she proceeds to show us the gun she had pulled out when someone knocked on her door in a blizzard. Ohh the life of a missionary. Anyway she let us in and we talked for about 2 hours. We answered her questions about caffeine and taught her about the Restoration of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then she tells us- "I just don't think it's right that if you are raised Muslim or something that you would be punished for not knowing the truth! When you never knew any better!" I answer- "You won't be, everyone will have an opportunity to accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ, buuuut, if you had an opportunity and you didn't take it..." She goes- "OH MY GOODNESS WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE THEN! OH NOOO, LEAVE!" Hahaha. First person I have ever taught that has ever made that connection. That this is her opportunity. Anyway, she promised to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and said we could come back and visit with her husband too next time (who was hunting. Like everyone. In the whole state of Wyoming.) Then her son goes, "we should let them spend the night! Now, Sister Helm, I don't care if people behind you are going HONK HONK, you drive as slow as you need okay?!" ... he's 9.

I just love the people here. I love them so much, I never knew I could feel this way about everyone in a certain geographical area despite their troubles and pains. I can feel the Savior's love so deeply, and I know this is his gospel.

Oh, I almost forgot conference! WHAT THE BEST CONFERENCE EVER! Not kidding, I can't pick a favorite talk! I LOVED THEM ALL! We had the opportunity to watch Elder Holland's talk with our member who has had MS for 25 years and is just so amazing about it. By the end we were in tears and I gave her a big hug and said, "NORMA, YOU'LL BE WHOLE!" We laughed for a good 5 minutes after that.

I also LOVED President Uchtdorf's talk. I want everyone in the entire world to hear that talk. Everyone. Because we've all have doubts. We've all wondered why. And here we are, getting the answers through our loving Heavenly Father.

"Whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." D&C 1:38

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2013/10?lang=eng&vid=2721983168001&cid=12

I've included it so everyone can watch it again. Because WOW. This church is true. I love you very much and am so appreciative of all the prayers. I can feel their influence and impact on my life!

LOVEYOUMISSYOUMUITOMUITOMUITO!

 

Sister Haley K. Mills

The flesh is weak...

.... I have C-Diff. HA! It has been sent straight from the Devil I am positive. Butttt, I know I am here now for a reason and this is a trial I needed to have. My new favorite line from the ward is- "I would hate to see you well!" Hahahaha. I got some antibiotics on Monday to start the 14 day recovery process, and then on Wednesday had a HORRIBLE reaction to them. I honestly saw my life flash before my eyes. I know what that means now. My throat closed up, my tongue went numb, I couldn't talk, and my throat felt like it was being ITCHED raw! The most disconcerting of those symptoms was obviously the not being able to talk. I started BAWLING and poor Sister Helm still doesn't know her way around so I'm just pointing at every stop sign where I want her to go! We grabbed some Benadryl and I called a former bishop of the singles ward here (who reminds me soooo much of Dad) to give me a blessing. I tried to call Bishop first, but he lives 15 miles away on the South Fork, so I knew I needed someone close. He gave me a blessing that I would be healed according to my faith and that the Lord knew my circumstances, so that's no problem. I'll be good as new in 14 days!

I have hated being on "light duty" because this is the Lord's time. I could be sitting around at home. Just because I am sick doesn't mean people don't need the Gospel. So I told Sister Helm we could stay home unless we had a set appointment (which is almost all the time). So we go to all of our appointments and almost all of them cancel on us! I just had to laugh because the Lord truly is in charge of my life. Ward members have started calling and asking what I need and commanding me to go sleep. It's the weirdest thing. I am in so much pain all the time I have had literally EVERY side effect listed on these hard core antibiotics. Sister Helm has just excepted that I will be vomiting, aching, and falling over in public. My back started to hurt soooo bad and I was like- oh no not anything else! Then we read the side effects again and lo and behold- back pain. What a miracle modern medicine is riiiight? But the good news is I am giving the Mills Family a good name. All the hard core ranchers out here are like- I would hate to meet those parents who raised you. I bet they are a devil to contend with!

So although I was on "light duty" all week we had a lot of miracles as usual. One started when I decided to go to the dentist since I am already down and out and teeth cleanings make everyone feel better right? (Also, the dentist is one of my fave ward members Bro. Taylor and lets us come in for free when he has cancellations.) Last Saturday we had been at a wedding reception and recieved a referral of this woman named "Mary Kay." She lives 20 miles up the South Fork so we hadn't been able to go visit her yet, AND the Sister who gave us the referral was getting us her EXACT address. Well it turns out she works as a hygienist for Dr. Taylor and as I'm getting my teeth cleaned she pops in to tell my hygienist how much her headache is killing her and how she doesn't think she'll make it through the day. Sister Helm pops up (inspired of course) and goes- I have Excedrin at home and we live RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. Let us go get you some! She of course turns us down nicely, but after my appointment ends we run home and bring back Sister Helm's monster bottle. Mary Kay DIED. She was SO appreciative and apparently she called her friend and FREAKED out about how angels were sent to minister to her. It was just a simple thing, but the opportunity to serve was amazing AND she told us to stop by with a movie that Sister LaRose wanted us to take over there! (about the restoration of the church) so.... that is the story of how the missionaries in Cody 2nd ward became drug dealers...? I KID.

Also, I've sang at a wedding and NOW I've painted the outside of an inn? A woman called us and asked us if we could help her friend paint her inn so she could sell it. We of course jumped at the opportunity! Then we arrive to find out the inn is in the canyon (CRAZY WINDS) aaaand we are painting the outside. It was two story. We had a sketch 14 foot ladder. AND 4 crazy 18 year old elders. Just envision this. It was awesome to help this woman who was SO appreciative and had just had neck surgery so she couldn't do it herself. She started bawling thanking us and kept force feeding us "caffeine free soda" because she KNOWS we don't drink caffeine. What a sweetheart.

The work is moving forward. I love you guys and miss you a tonnnn.

I am stoked for General Conference and I hope you have a question in mind while you watch it. Please pray for me. I'm not above begging the Lord for relief from this pain AND for my VISA. There are some things you just want you know?

I love you forever,
your daughter,

Sister Haley Kristina Mills

Quick Health Update...

Haley's aching belly was diagnosed as C-Diff...  Apparently she got more than dinner at a member's house...  She has a good doctor and is being treated so her tummy won't hurt anymore...  Poor girl.

A Little More Haley...

I'm not sure what to even name this week.  We'll start with Doctors trips. (we took three).

So I've been feeling sick for about 4 weeks, but we'll start with Sister Helm, who started feeling sick this last weekend. We both went to bed at 9:30 and woke up at 10:00 on Sunday and were almost late for church! AWKWARD! We brushed it off to the members like we were busy doing missionary activities, of course, but secretly we were both DYING and I was totally off my game and I'm pretty sure offended a member (which SUPES surprise, I hadn't done yet!). So Sister Helm had this monster ear-ache and asks me if I could try to clean out her ears. We go to the Walgreens on the corner (on Monday, who do you think we are, sinners?) and get some supplies and I spend Monday night after we come home trying to drain her ears (with all my practice as a doctor under my belt to help, obviously). AKA we could have been hurting or helping her, we weren't sure. We had our member GOOGLE different ways, it was QUITE the night. So finally we broke down on Tuesday and went to the Doctor and guess what? She had an ear infection! So he cleared it right up and started her on some antibiotics. Problem solved.

Well this quick fix inspired me to call mission medical and finally admit that my stomach had been KILLING me for 4 weeks, and I didn't call because I didn't want it to stop me from going to Brazil. Elder Diem (mission med) talked through my symptoms and was stumped so he sent me to the doctor! Shout out to Bro. Peters for seeing us errry day this week! Hahaha. But, we show up, and I start joking with his nurse about her praying for us to come again, and she was laughing so hard she couldn't do anything for like 5 minutes. The good news is I must have gotten my grove back? Anyway, they did some blood tests and we'll know next week, but don't be surprised if I say I'm fine- go to Brazil- and come home with a baby dragon in my stomach? I'm not above that.

In other news, we DID get missionary work done this week. We got DROPPED by our favorite investigator and it was so sad! Jerri said she was too stressed out trying to quit coffee and tea and couldn't do the "mormon" thing. It STINKS because she totally knows the church is true, and has been off coffee and tea for 2 WEEKS! She kept telling us she wasn't addicted, but now she is saying her head-aches are unbearable. I'm hoping she comes to her senses, but when we prayed about it we just got this feeling to let her go, so I guess everything will work out how it should. She still has her agency after all!

In other GOOD news, we have a new investigator! Michael! Michael's wife is in-active, but was converted in Michigan like 5 years ago. She still believes the church is true, but her hubs was super against it. WELL then he met me! BESTIES! During her prayer at the end of our lesson she goes- "thank you for sending the sisters to soften my husband's heart. Please help them come over and do puzzles more often." So obviously we are in! Hahaha. He has already read to 4th Nephi and just really hated the Elders in Michigan, soooo we're working on that.  

Sorry our week sounds pretty lame! It wasn't, but some missionary moments just stay here you know? Mostly the ones involving sketch homeless men and bathrooms.  Don't worry about me, I've got the Lord on my side!

LOVE YOU/MISS YOU!

Sister Mills

Missionary Work, What's That?

They should call it missionary play? Because - when done correctly it is - FUN. (How cheesy am I getting? Let's get real.)

So today is transfers... Just kidding. It really is transfers, but Sister Helm and I escaped them! Hollaaa! Cody is ours for the taking! Although to be fair we both got transferred here in the middle of a transfer so we deserve more time riiiight? Plus I could get my VISA any day now. I'm to the point where I just love it here and don't want to leave. Everyone says that's when the VISA comes. I'm starting to panic about teaching in Portuguese, English is just so EASYYYY. I KNOW English. Hahaha. Oh well.

So now that I know I am staying with Sister Helm I can tell you guys what I've been living with for the past 3 weeks. This girl. So I am making myself something for lunch (and usually we have appointments or Bro.McDougall force feeds us so this never happens) and Sister Helm starts talking about how bad she wants French Toast. I tell her to stop whining (but sooo super nice like a missionary should) and make some! So she goes- well what's in French Toast? I'm like- bread, eggs, and milk. So about five minutes later I walk over to the stove and see her mixing this huge mass of like... 1 egg to 4 cups of milk. In a pan. That isn't hot yet. And then she goes- when do I put the bread in? HAHAHAHAHA. At least she is an amazing missionary. We'll work on the cooking.

Speaking of I LOVED THE PACKAGE! Holy cow you should have seen me running around the living room holding that bag of cookies! You guys are seriously the best. And the cookies are too. Would you send me your pumpkin bread recipe momma so I can make bread for all the people we serve? They would love it! …AND the Bowler cookie recipe too. Obrigada.

Also- Sister Helm was browsing through our "Lehi Monument" and saw that Thomas Godfrey is in her mission! Kentucky for the win - apparently? She was like ask if he's ever served in Corbin? (She's from a small town in the South-East part. Although she doesn't think it is small...)

So I am running out of time (we have zone P-day today and no time to do anything) buuuut I will tell my favorite story of the week. We get out of a dinner appointment a little late and, trying to be as obedient as possible, BOOK it out of there when we get the chance. Well, we get out, and Sister Helm announces she has to go to the bathroom with a VENGENCE. So we decide to go to some members on the street so she can use their restroom. NO ONE IS HOME. Not a single person of like... 100000. But really like 5. Still it is a Tuesday night what could they be doing?! Anyway, I finally say to Sister Helm- The Lord wants us to visit someone. Who is it? And I look down at the ward list and there is one last family who lives in the last house on the street. And has been inactive for 25 years. I had visited them before and they were NOT super friendly. I'm like fiiiiine. So we go knock on their door. They let us in and I talk to the wife, Kathy, for 3 hours and make the most headway anyone has... ever. She told me she knew she needed to come back, but she was just offended and God knows where her heart is. I told her he did know, and it wasn't where it should be. A little tough love is what she needed. It just testifies to me that the Lord knows whose hearts are softened. The Lord knows each one of us. And he knew she needed us at that time and he made Sister Helm have to go to the bathroom and no one else be home? HAHAHA. But there is no such thing as coincidence and I am convinced more and more of that every day.

I love you and miss you MUITO!

Keep up the good work and prayers, Let Katie (Wagner) know she is in my prayers! .

Sister Haley Mills 

Sisters Mills and Helm with their neighbors Elk

Sister Mills remembers 9/11

The Sickness of 1000 zzzzs

So this week has been AMAZING. We got 3 new investigators! WHAT WHATTTT! Well, technically the Lord got them, but we facilitated, so that makes us feel pretty great! Sister Helm has this new joke (except it isn't really a joke?) that I can get into anyone's house. It's sooo awkward. People will answer the door and tell us we are the devil and that we sacrifice children and women (what are we?) and then I will subdue them with my charms and they inevitably let us in. Now I don't want you running off and telling everyone I'm amazing at missionary work because of this. False. Buuuuut it is one of many talents that I never knew I had! Slash never had reason to use back in the AZ? When I get home we'll have to think of reasons for me to go into random people's houses? Sketchhh.

Anyway, the reason I tell you about my secret talent is BECAUSE... I got us into this man's house yesterday night (don't worry his wife was home) and he started telling me all his problems with the "Mormon Church." I usually try not to "Bible Bash" but I honestly felt like I should answer all his questions. So I did. And at the very end he asked about the Word of Wisdom. He said that coffee has some medicinal qualities and all this other stuff. Wellll we have another investigator who is STRUGGLING with quitting coffee and I finally just told her it is an obedience thing. Maybe coffee has some medicinal qualities, maybe the world is wrong (like we have been so many times before) but I know that if you obey God's commandment and stop drinking coffee you will be blessed and your health will improve (she has like 1 million and 1 probs). So I tell this guy "Wayne" the same thing. That we follow it because we are asked to, and if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God (which he was) and he received this revelation through God (which he did) then all we have to do is obey. Sister Helm was literally holding her breath because she always worries when I am so blunt with people. HA! But then he goes... "You know what, I've asked that question of a million members of the church and they've all given me these different explanations... and I've never had it explained to me like that. I agree. I think that God doesn't ask too much of us, but like with Eve eating from that tree, I'm not sure if that fruit was even bad for her to eat, but the point was that God asked her not too." And then Sister Helm took a breath. Then he asked us to come back and told us he would read! HOLLAAAA! The Lord has been preparing the people of Cody for me to come. Isn't that crazy?

It's good that awesome things are happening here, because the majority of our week I spent in bed! I have been SO sick, and Sister Helm thought I was just tired because I was covering it up REALLY well, but I told her I needed a nap or I would die. So we go home one evening and I jump into bed an hour early, then I wake up at 10:30 the next day. AKA 13 hours. Then we get up and go meet with the Bishop. I come home again EXHAUSTED and sleep from 3 until the next morning at 6. AKA 16 hours. Then I rip myself out of bed for church and (former) Bishop Taggart (our dinner appt from the night before that we had to cancel on) gave me a blessing. It was amazing. He pretty much told me the Lord knew I was working my hardest, and that I should slow down a little and let my body rest and that I would be blessed. THEN that night, we got 2 new investigators. Woahhh. Blessings. The nice thing is Sister Helm updated our area book and got a ton of personal study in? Anyway, I'm feeling way better and to be honest, Sister Helm might be a more positive person than me even, so anything that happens to us is good! HA!

So one night one of our favorite families "The Taylors" couldn't feed us because her mom went into the ER. Well her husband forced money on us (we tried to run) and told us to go to the most expensive restaurant in town. We weren't going to go, because he gave us like our monthly allotment and we were freaking out, but he said he would follow up and see what we thought. Totally a returned missionary. Well, we had enough to pay for the elders too, so we convinced them to come with us, and us four waltzed into this restaurant. Within like 10 minutes we had received 2 referrals. Sister Taylor freaked out when she heard and called her mom and told her it was "okay" that she messed up their dinner with the missionaries, because it was all part of God's plan! HA! The things that happen here... I die. The moral here is... ehhh the Taylors just rock.

It's been monsooning here. As in they don't believe in monsoons. People are always laughing at me because I am freezing, well you should have seen the panic when the rain hit! HAHAHA. We were walking down the street in a rainstorm and everyone else was sitting in their car in the middle of road waiting for the rain to stop! Hilarious.

Last one, promise. We visited this woman in the hospital (which we do about once a week) and she kept forgetting who we were. She was like... and who are you again? Halfway through a story she was telling. Everytime I told her I was from Arizona she would tell me she spent every winter in Sun City West(?) until her husband died a year ago. Then 5 minutes later she would go... and where are you from again? It was hilarious. 50 first... missionary lessons? New movie ideaaa! Ha! But it got even funnier when we mentioned it to the workers there and they said she didn't have memory problems? Sooo pretty much I'm offended because we aren't memorable? We could not stop laughing. Probably the funniest visit of my life. And then when we got home and told the woman we live with "Norma" she waits 5 minutes into our conversation and goes... who are you again? I die.

I love you and miss you dearly!

Sister Haley Kristina Mills