Wednesday, July 21st Letter!

Dear Family and Friends,


It is official!!! I have travel plans and will be leaving the MTC to enter the real world again. I am flying out on the 28th of July. My flight leaves at 10:35 a.m. and I will arrive in Houston at 2:35p.m. Look out Houston here I come. I have to be up and ready to leave the MTC by 6:00a.m. I am grateful it wasn't at 3 or 4 like many in my Zone in the past. I will be with both my companions Hermana Stevenson and Hermana Donkin. Mom and Dad I will call you when I get to the airport and am allowed to. If I were to guess it will probably be around 7:30-8:30 when I will call. I am sooooo sorry Mom. I know I will be waking you up. I will call home first and then call Dad on his cell phone because he will probably be at work. So if anyone wants to talk to me they need to be awake at that time. I am so excited to hear everyone's voice so please wake up. I am flying on Delta. This means that I have to really make sure my luggage is not over because of all the airlines, their fines are outrageous. Remember everyone don't come meet me at the airport. I will see you after my mission. You get to pick me up from the airport then.

So that has been the most exciting thing to happen here at the MTC!!! The Spanish is still a work in progress, but I can teach whole lessons in Spanish. Every Saturday evening we do something we call the TRC. This is where you teach fake investigators who volunteer from the outside world. Every week we are given a different task to do and a lesson to teach. This last week we taught the second lesson which is the Plan of Salvation. For our task we had to meet a progressing investigator and give him/her directions to the church in Espanol. The lesson is in Espanol as well. My companions and I did really well. We always have things we could work on, but it went really well. It has been my favorite lesson in the TRC so far in the MTC. We taught someone who is a native of Colombia. It was so cool to hear a native speak Spanish, it was even cooler when I understood what she was saying. And it helped me feel a little more confident in my Spanish because she could understand what I was saying. We have Sisters here who are learning English who are native Spanish speakers. I love these Sisters. I talk with them every night. They help me with my Spanish and I help them with their English. Let me just say I am so glad that I am learning Spanish and not English. English is crazy.

I am glad you are getting my extra letters. I was wondering if our mail box was working here or not. Thank-you to those of you who write me. Your letters are a ray of sunshine. They remind me who I was before I came on my mission. They also remind me how much love and support I have from back home. As I have said before if you write me a letter, I will write one to you. It might take me awhile sometimes, but I will do it. Happy Birthday Mom!!! I keep forgetting to send your birthday card. I did remember your birthday on your birthday, but I should have planned ahead and sent you a card before your birthday. Well, Mom I just want you to know that I am very very glad you were born. I celebrate your birthday. You are the best Mom ever!!! You work so hard and love us all so much. You definitely get the "Best Mom Ever" award!!!

We are having fun here at the MTC practicing teaching, learning or reviewing new Spanish concepts, and firesides that uplift us. It is a good time to be alive. I can definitely tell that it is time to leave the MTC though. Everyone in my District gets really excited about the simplest things. And we think the silliest things are funny. The Elders in my District are leaving the Tuesday morning before us. It will be so weird to be in the MTC without them. But we are so excited to go. Three of our Elders are going to Atlanta GA. One is going to Boston MA. The Hermanas are going to Texas Houston. I don't know if I will get the opportunity to write next week, but I will call.

I love you all!!!!

Work hard and Love the Gospel, Love Always,

Hermana Alaina Mills

PICTURES!!!

Alaina's District 4A (at the moment)

Back Row from Left to Right: Elder Haggard, Hermana Donkin, Hermana Jardine, Hermana Stevenson, ALAINA, Elder Wood

Front Row from Left to Right: Elder Nelson, Elder Cowley

Alaina's and her companion, Hermana Kathryn Stevenson

Alaina's new TWO companions.

"We are tired."

Hermana Donkin and Hermana Stevenson

The Guatemalans

They were in Alaina's district for 3 weeks

Left to Right: Elder Udall, Elder Porter, Elder Bench, Elder Fullerton

The Hermanas

Left to Right: Hermana Donkin, Hermana Jardine, Hermana Stevenson, Hermana Mills

At the MTC

Wednesday, July 14th Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Hello!!!  Well it happened Hermana Jardine went home on Thursday.  It was very sudden.  We thought we would have her for at least the weekend, but it was not to be.  We helped her pack and sent her on her way.  It is weird being in our room and doing things without her there.  As well we now know that she has Type I Diabetes.  She has written us and says it is weird to be alone.  We miss her but know she is where she needs to be.  So we are now a three-some.  Still Hermana Stevenson, me, and Hermana Donkin.  Hermana Donkin is from Portland Oregon.  I thought that might intrigue Dad since he served in Oregon.  She is from a very big family.  There are ten kids in her family.  She is very loud and happy.  She has been a welcome addition to our companionship.  She helps Hna. Stevenson not get as annoyed with me.  It has really reduced the contention.  Also this last Sunday they released me from being the Coordinating Sister.  They like to give as many people as they can the opportunity to lead.  I served for six weeks.  Usually they have you only serve for 4.  Hermana Donkin has been called as the new Coordinating Sister.  She is already doing a fabulous job.  She is a great support to me and I love having her around. 

 

Today has been a little crazy.  We had to go to the front offices so Hermana Stevenson could do somethings for her job back home.  If she takes some test online she will still have her job when she gets home.  It took forever.  So that is why I am writing you so late.  Also today we had the opportunity to clean the temple.  It was nice to go to the temple.  We haven't been since they closed the temple.  We have missed it greatly.  The spirit is still there.  The peace I feel in the temple is so wonderful.  I love the temple!!!  I am very glad that I will be able to attend the temple in my mission.  The temple is in my mission, Hna. Donkin says. 

 

We had a fireside on Sunday with Jenny Oaks Baker.  It was amazing.  For those of you who don't know Jenny Oaks Baker is a very accomplished classical violinist.  She is married with 4 children.  She attended College in Philadelphia and went on for her Masters in Juliard (spelling?).  She shared with us many experiences where music has helped her to rely on the Lord and gain a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ.  Of course, she played songs.  She played "Amazing Grace", "I need thee every hour", "Believe Me", "Be still my soul", "This is the Christ", and "I know that my Redeemer Lives."  Her father, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, was in the audience with his wife.  It was a great experience that I will treasure.  I love music and this fireside was really special.

 

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well.  I love the letters I receive.  They are such a support.  So thank-you everyone who has written me.  Continue to believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to live as he would live.  I know we will never completely succeed, but we should always be striving to become more like Christ.  Again, those of you with boys help them to find their own testimony of this amazing Gospel.  Have them read Preach My Gospel before they enter the mission field.  These things will benefit them greatly.  I love this Gospel.  I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today.  I know it.  I know that Jesus Christ is supporting me on this mission.  He is the best friend and best older brother anyone could ever have.  Let us all strive to be more like him.

 

Adios,

Love,

 

Hermana Alaina Mills

Wednesday, July 7th Letter

Hola Everyone,

 

First off Mom I did get your package. Thank-you Thank-you!!!!!  I love the skirt and the other Hermanas say it looks really cute on me.  I know that must have been hard with how busy you are Mom and I want you to know that I appreciate it.  The language is going pretty well.  This is the second week that our teachers are only talking to us in Espanol.  Also we have three days a week that we only speak Espanol.  Those days are Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.  I wish I could say a lot more, but I just keep working at it.  I know when I arrive in the mission I will feel like I learned nothing in the MTC because people will talk so fast.  But I know with the Lord's help I will be just fine.  It will be difficult and frustrating but that will just make me stronger.  My companion and I keep working on being good companions for each other.  She told me that in her setting apart blessing she would be blessed with sweet companions.  I just kept thinking about how my blessing told me to be patient with my companions.  That seemed to be the biggest message to me before my mission was that I would have some difficult companions.  But I love my companion she is awesome.  Yeah sometimes things get rough but we work things out.  So my district is now the oldest district in the zone.  We have four districts total in my zone.  My district is the only one with Sisters.  It feels weird to be the 'oldest'.  But at the same time I am excited to be that much closer to going to Texas.

 

I have some really sad news about one of the Hermanas.  One of the Hermanas has been sick every since she got here.  She got a cold, hurt her foot, etc.,  Well this week they finally sent her to a specialist for her foot.  She has tendinitis ( I think that is how you say it.)  She is a runner so this is very common.  This was on Monday.  On Tuesday morning they took some of her blood to do some tests because they were worried about some of the other symptoms she has been having.  Symptoms like being thristy all of the time, using the bathroom alot, and multiple charlie-horses in the while she is sleeping.  Well during our morning class a nurse came and pulled her and her companion out of our class.  We knew this could not be a good sign.  Well, the diagnosis is that Hermana Jardine has Type II Diabetes.  I was worried this was what it was because I know what the symptoms are.  Her blood sugar level was over 500.  It should be around 100.  They did some more tests on her urine.  There was a lot of things in her urine that should not be there.  I don't remember what they were.  But they sent her to the hospital to stay over night.  Her companion went with her.  She won't leave her to do this alone she says.  On top of this she also has an appointment with an OB-GYN for a reaccuring yeast infection.  This poor girl.  So the doctors say that she will be sent home.  They say we will have about a week left with her and then she is going home.  She has been crying and crying.  I have not even seen her or her companion today.  After she leaves Hermana Donkin will join the rest of us and we will form a tri-panionship.  I don't know what we will do without Hermana Jardine.  They have been gone all day yesterday and today.  We miss them and notice greatly their absense.  Things just don't feel right without them. 

 

I pray all of you are well and healthy.  I love you all.  I keep working hard to prepare to share this wonderful gospel with the world.

 

Love,  Hermana Mills 

June 30th Letter

Buenos Dias Familia y Amigos,


It is so good to write all of you!!! I love you all very much and appreciate the prayers that are said on my and my brother's behalf. I am so grateful for those prayers. First, Grandma sent me some pictures of your trip to the Manti Pageant. I really really really didn't like the pictures of my one and only sister bleeding from the mouth being placed in an ambulance. Dear Baby Sister, Take it easy!!!!! Drink lots of water!!!! You have to let your body have sometime to heal before you can do all the things you are use to doing. You are worrying me. I know you are independent. I know you can do everything by yourself, but you have to stay down for this one. Love, The Big Sister. For those of you who don't know my little sister had her tonsils taken out June 8th.

So as for me I am doing much better. I am all better from my lovely Pink Eye. And no one has come down with it either. So it was worth all the handwashing. I washed my hands so much that the were cracking and bleeding. This week the new mission presidents were here at the MTC getting trained. This meant that the 1M building which is the main building was closed for us except for laundry and the cafeteria. We had a special fireside on Friday night where Elder Oaks spoke to us. Elder Christofferson, Elder Bednar, Elder Cook, Elder Scott, Elder Holland, and Elder Nelson also were there at the fireside. It was so neat to see all the apostles. Elder Oaks spoke about the importance of having a firm testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. How the world is beginning to question his divine mission and life, but we know who he is and should not hesitate to testify of it. The first presidency was here but we didn't see them. They blocked off half of the cafeteria. Those of you who have been to the MTC know how crowded the cafeteria is. Imagine the same amount of people squished into half the space. It was very crowded.

Life here at the MTC moves on. We continue to practice teaching and learn the language. This week we are starting to teach the lessons completely in Espanol. I am surprised that I can kind of teach. But I still need a lot of work. I just keep working hard and have faith that God called me to this mission and he will help me accomplish what I need to accomplish. I would just like to thank everyone for the love and support you all have given to me. I appreciate those of you who have written.

Love, Hermana Mills

Wednesday, June 23rd Letter

Buenos Dias Everyone,        


This week started out pretty fun.  Wednesday night during Zone Teach ( This is where we practice teaching each other the lessons we are working on) my eye started to really bother me. I thought it was just my contact irritating me at the end of the day.  But it wouldn't stop.  It was distracting everyone in our lesson. They said my eye had gotten really red.  One of the Elders mentioned that he thought I might have pink eye.  He said that Elder Mulleniaux had pink eye and maybe I had caught it. Elder Mulleniaux is one of our Zone Leaders. As the coordinating sister I am in a lot of extra meetings with them.  So that night I took out my contacts. Used some eye drops and received a blessing because I wasn't feeling well.  The next morning my eye was still red and felt swollen and sore.  So my companion and I went to see the Doctor.  Surprise surprise I was diagnosed with Pink Eye.  I have never had pink eye before and I do not recommend the experience.  My companion and I were authorized to walk down to BYU pharmacy to pick up my perscription immediately.  It felt weird to go off of MTC campus.  I was given eye drops for my eyes.  I have to put them in my eyes every two hours.  But thankfully I don't have to wake up to do this.  I also had to throw away most of my makeup.  My contact solution and container and the contacts I was using.  I had to buy everything new.  I wasn't allowed to shake anyone's hand..  I was really careful not to get anyone sick.  And I pretty much all better. Tomorrow I get to wear makeup and contacts again.  The Zone Leader and I are all better and no one new has pink eye.              


As for the language I learned a ton of new conjugations this week.  We learned future, past participle, preterit, and imperfect.  The language is coming pretty well. I continue to practice and memorize the scriptures I am asked to memorize.  I continue to work on my teaching skills, especially applying the lessons to investigators lives and focusing on commitments.  The gospel is true and I am grateful for the spirit I get to feel here on a mission.  Missions are hard no doubt about it.  But they are well worth it.  The lessons you learn on your mission will bless you your whole life.  For those of you preparing to serve a mission, gain a testimony.  Your own firm testimony that Christ lives and loves you.  Make sure you are converted to Christ. That is the best thing you can do.            


I love and miss you all.  Continue to do good things.   


Love Hermana Alaina Mills           


 P.S. Happy Father's day to all the men out there!! You all are and will be wonderful fathers.

June 16th, 2010 LETTER

Dear Family and Friends,

Hola from the MTC!!! This week has been alot easier than previous weeks. My companion has really made alot of effort to try to open up and to stop focusing so much on her feelings of homesickness. I really think it all began after she received an amazing blessing from our District Leader, Elder Wood. She has been able to handle her homesickness so much better. Also, we actually feel like friends now. We laugh a lot and find our differences to be very entertaining. Charity and Patience really do work. And I think everyone was inspired before my mission to give me wonderful advice on how to deal with difficult companions. The most useful advice I have had is to serve them more and to not take offense to anything. Even if your companion means it offensively, decide to not take it that way. Remembering that you, like them, have been called to represent the Savior helps you to see them the way the Savior does.

This week I had an opportunity to try out for a special choir that will be performing for many of the meetings with the new Mission Presidents who will be coming soon. We will have the first presidency here as well as many of the twelve. I think we all fantasize of hearing from the prophet. I didn't get into the choir, but one of my Hermanas did. If it had to be one of us, I am glad it was her. I was disappointed but it really I was just fine. Being in a choir is not the most important thing I am here to do. Today we are getting a new district of 12 Elders. No new sisters for me to coordinate, so I just keep trying to help my Hermanas in my District. We had a whole 15 people leave our Zone this week - 8 from the oldest district. There were two Elders in particular from this District that I will miss greatly. They were very helpful and always willing to listen. There names were Elder Bailey and Elder Champagne. Then we had the Three Nephites (as we call them) get temporarily assigned to the Salt Lake City South Mission. They have been in our Zone for 16 weeks. They have been waiting for their Visas to go through. One of them is pretty close. So they left us as well. And lastly the Four Guatemalans from my District left. So now we are a District of 4 Hermanas and 4 Elders. This is very odd and doesn't happen very often. We will miss our Guatemalan Elders but they are bound for the Guatemalan MTC.

Well as for the Doctrine, I am starting to practice teaching the 2nd lesson on the Plan of Salvation. I have the first lesson down now. Also I have my purpose and the first vision memorized in English and Spanish. I can contact in Spanish. This week we are working on Following Up On Commitments in Spanish. As for conjugations I have learned present, conditional, commands, and preterit:regular. Today is the last day we will be able to go to the temple because they are closing the temple for 5 weeks or so. This has everyone very sad. My companion was sure we could convince them to bus us to another temple, but it was not to be. Also the gym will be closed beginning in July so we will be exercising only outside or in our rooms.

I love you all!!! Love, Hermana Mills