KOSRAE

Kosrae is one of my favorite places in the entire mission! It is really like a mini, cleaner pohnpei but with the addition of beautiful beaches! So far we have eaten dog, shark, and yummy fish/rice/coconut soup called soup kosrae. We had a great time watching general conference in Kosraean with the members yesterday. I love the jungle and the ocean and the beautiful people and I'm so grateful that I get to kinda end my mission like I started. 

Last night as I was falling asleep, I had this weird thing happen where I kinda saw my whole mission replay in my head like a movie. It was really like I was watching it all unfold and it was so interesting to see myself progress and become who I am today. I think if my mission were a movie then:

1) it would be full of adventures

2) there would be so many hilarious fails

3) it would for sure be a tear-jerker

4) the theme would be about personal self-discovery through losing oneself in the service of others.  

But of course my mission has been even better than a movie because it's reality. And now at the close I am full of so many emotions, but the number one thing I feel is GRATITUDE. 

I think my feelings can best be described by Ammon in the 26th chapter of Alma: 

1 My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla(AMERICA) that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?

2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

One last story:

 Last night as we were going to bed I felt impressed to check the doors again to make sure they were locked. I was relieved that the spirit had prompted me to do that because we had accidentally left the backdoor wide open. After locking the front and back doors, I felt impressed to then move my bag into the bedroom. Then as I was falling asleep, I had the strange thought "Heavenly Father, I'm a pretty light sleeper, if anyone breaks in will you wake me up?" Well at 4 am I suddenly was awake and staring at a person peering in through the bedroom door way. I thought it was one of the sisters so I just watched as they stared in. I thought something was wrong so I made a move to get up and the person darted towards the front door and I heard the screen shut softly. I sat up confused as I came to realize that all the sisters were still in their beds. I said a prayer and got the courage to get up and check. I hit the door to make a noise and saw a figure dart past the window outside. The front door was left open as they didn't have enough time to shut it. I woke sister Laulusa and she found out she was missing $30 from her wallet in her bag which was out in the living room. Turns out the sisters have been noticing money missing on several occasions within the past month and there is also a spare key to their house missing. It was honestly so exciting. The sisters are getting their locks changed and their house rededicated tonight. I'm so grateful for the guidance of the spirit, because I had a lot more than $30 in my bag!  

One last testimony (over email):

I KNOW that this is Christ's church. I don't just believe or think that there is a God and a Savior, I have had too many times where I felt the presence of angels, I felt the comfort of my Savior through His spirit, and where I felt and know that I was speaking right to my Heavenly Father. He listens and He answers. I cannot deny these beautiful truths. The Gospel is like a big piece of hot chocolate lava cake. I have tasted it and I know that it is THE BEST in the whole world and that nothing else is even comparable and nothing else could make me nearly as happy. I want everyone to have a bite of this big gooey chocolate cake. But I can't force anyone to eat it, I will just invite and I will not stop inviting everyone to come and try it. I know that you will all love it. I love hot chocolate lava cake and I love this gospel even more. There is only ONE church that bears the name of Jesus Christ, there is only ONE church that has His priesthood power and authority, there is ONE church through which we can use the atonement of Jesus Christ to become cleansed from sin, there is only ONE church that has the ability to take us home to our Heavenly Father, there is only ONE church through which we can be sealed with our families for eternity. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the ONE true way. I know Christ is our savior, I have come to know Him and Love him because I have come to understand how much He and Our Father in Heaven loves each one of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN. 

Sipwe pwan chu! Tail nehk tuhpene! 

Sister Kamry Milne

Palau here we come! LAST TRANSFER

BIG EXCITING NEWS.

About 1.5 years ago Sister Laulusa and I were promised by our branch president in the MTC that if we prayed for it, then we would serve together as companions again someday. So we prayed and prayed and prayed. Until we came out into the field and got sent to different Islands speaking different languages. Then we stopped praying because neither of us wanted to learn another language. BUT Heavenly Father still heard our prayers.

This week there was some massive mid transfer changes led by inspiration to our Mission President. Sister Laulusa and I have been assigned as companions and we will be traveling to several of the outer islands to uplift and help the sisters there. We leave for Palau today, then Yap the next week, and Kosrea after that. We are VERY excited and amazed at God's last minute fulfillment of His promises. I really feel like this is just last minute blessings that He's giving us for our faithfulness during the hard parts of our missions. I feel like He's telling me "See, I told you I love you and I promised you I would bless you!" I think He and our mission president are both giddy seeing how amazed and excited we are:) 

Really we are living the dream. Last 4 weeks of the mission and we get to travel to different Islands spreading love and light as best friends. I don't think it gets any better than this.

LOVE YOU ALL. Thanks for the prayers:)

Sister Milne

CRAZY Week

This week was full of transfers and MLC chaos which meant pretty much NO Time proselyting. BUT it was so good to see all the sisters. It was my last time seeing most of them and it was strange to say goodbye as I still feel like I will be here for a long time.....

We got to watch General Conference and it was so incredible. We had an awesome stake womens dinner after watching the women's session of conference. The best part is that my recent convert Alice from Yigo came and I got to spend the whole evening with her talking about the prophet and how her life is going. She is SO HAPPY. She knows the power of the Gospel and attributes all of her success and blessings to joining Christ's church. I love her so much and she made my heart so full. Plus it was so nice to see all my other friends from Yigo ward.

Update on Herninta whose husband Joses died: The ward and stake helped her and her 3 kids get to missouri where her sister lives! She made it safely and upon arrival local members picked her up, took her family to dinner, and bought them clothes. I am so grateful for this miracle<3

There have been a few experiences and struggles with some sisters recently that again makes me so grateful for my trials. God's plan is HARD, but it is for our good. He has BLESSED me with experiences that enable me to lift and support others. 

I am still trying to improve and grow. My focus is on CHARITY. Because without Charity I am nothing and mission would amount to nothing. 

LOVE YOU ALL

Sister Kamry Milne

Transfers and TEMPLE!!!!

I'm so sad to not be with Sister Mauga anymore, but we knew it was coming and so we got to spend all week mourning.

She will be going up to Dededo to train!

I am now with Sister Pronarreeekkachon from Thailand and I love her so much, it will be a great last transfer with her!

We don't exactly have an area though....The south part of Guam is a massive struggle so what is happening is we are moving into a new apartment (Its really nice, on the 7th floor of an apartment building with a great view of the beach) and we plus a set of Elders are in our own District and we are in charge of the ENTIRE south half of Guam. We are hoping this will allow us to find more people to teach, it'll be great:)

This past week was so crazy but also seemed like nothing happened...we are prepping for next week of chaos. All the new missionaries, plus their trainers, and also all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders are flying into Guam. 

Best news is THE NEW TEMPLE THAT WILL BE BUILT HERE!!!

It is going to be built in Yigo on the sight of the Church building there were I served for 6 months. I am so happy. I know this will bless the people here so much. MY HEART IS FULL<3

Sister  Milne

HARD IS GOOD

This week was long and hard. It was also wonderful and filled with growth! We are working so hard to find new people and to help the ward and to help our those we teach progress towards baptism. And I know we will see blessings and miracles and the fruits of our labors! I just don't know when...all in God's timing:) 

We are doing SO GOOD at working with the ward members, LOVING those around us, doing small acts of service, loving and serving the other missionaries, and enjoying the beauty around us. Plus we are working very hard to be positive and faithful and happy! 

I love this gospel when it's easy but even more when it's hard! I think that it kinda reflects life, there will ALWAYS be challenges, though the challenges change the answer is always the same: Pray, study the scriptures, take time to ponder, go to church and take the sacrament, and think positively!

Love, 

Sister Milne

I Love Guam

This week felt way long which was good because the time is going too fast. 

On tuesday we picked up 4 new sisters from the airport! 3 from vanuatu and 1 from fiji. They are all converts and they all have giant testimonies and desires for goodness and obedience. Holy cow I love them so much. Working with the new missionaries is such a blessing. We had lots of meetings for them to get them all the things they need. We had 2 of the sisters living with us for the week, but now just one. 

Our baptism had to be pushed back due to something called a "tropical depression" which is when the weather is really sad and gloomy or something like that.... so Charity will be baptized this next saturday! She is doing wonderfully.

We are working really hard with Pwipwi to get her married and baptized. She loves when we come and the spirit is SO STRONG each time we testify about how the gospel will help her has she becomes a mom. (She is 4 months pregnant). 

We have been praying a lot for new prepared people to teach and saturday we felt impressed to visit a chuukese family in the ward. There was an aunt and a niece that had both moved in the night before. The aunt had been taught by missionaries before and really wants to be baptized! They both came to church the next day and we are so grateful for God putting them in our path. 

Alos, Sister Mauga started and finished her driving class and I'm so proud of her:) Hahaha she's way annoyed that she has to learn how to drive all over again because we drive on the opposite side of the road. But she's putting in the work to get her license because she doesn't want to go off Island. 

Saturday night, we were passing some other sisters apartment on the way back down from the driving school. So we stopped by their apartment to bring them ice cream from mcdonalds, but they were so scared when we knocked. They didn't open for like 5 minutes, but we heard them shuffling around. Sister Petrus (from chuuk) yelled "WHO ARE YOU?" and then when she finally opened the door after we replied she had a knife in her hand. It was so funny, but also I felt really bad for scaring them. I guess they have been flashed several times in the past 2 weeks while out walking and have a had some other things happen so they were under strict direction from President to not open the door if anyone knocks. 

I know we are not supposed to get content in the gospel because we need to be constantly progressing, but I feel so content and happy with where I'm at! I wish it could stay like this forever, but that's not what God wants so I will keep working to better understand His will for me. His plan is always better than my plan and it has never once in my entire life not worked out and been okay in the end. 

Sister Milne

After The Storm

This week was way slow getting back to work after the storm. We finally got our power back Thursday night. There wasn't anything too bad that happened here on Guam, but the little island Roda next to us got like wiped out. We have been busy visiting people and making sure they are all okay. We have a cute little girl named charity getting baptized this Saturday and one of my favorite people ever that we taught a ton in Yigo is also getting baptized this Saturday! I'm so happy, I love them so much. I love working hard to teach repentance and baptize converts. Coming up on the Last 2 months of my mission, I have been thinking a lot about my lions share. What it it that I will claim as mine. A lion doesn't eat the leftovers, he takes what he wants and claims it. That was from a zone conference.  For me, it's not a certain number of baptisms, but rather it's joy and light. That is what I am claiming as mine. Not just teaching the joy of the gospel but truly LIVING it. 

pics: thanks for the facemasks mom, also we got to celebrate our friend's 4 year old birthday, she got to pick the rice color. She thought it was blue.

Love you all!

Sister Milne

Typhoon

So this past week was crazy. We had tons of missionaries coming in for MLC (which was awesome, lots of big changes that I'm so excited about). Then Saturday we took our investigator charlie who is super shy on a tour of the church and he loved it. He came to church with his mom who is a recent convert and had a great time. I got to speak in church on joy thanks to Sister Mauga volunteering me. She's such a punk but I still love her for her accent:)

Then the biggest news of course is the typhoon that hit. It was supposed to be a level 4-5 so everyone was freaking out. The calm before the storm was eerie and beautiful. We had to evacuate, first to sinajana, but then due to other complications we had to drive another 45 minutes up to Dededo at midnight sunday night. It was a grand adventure. The storm hit monday evening and lasted all night, but God blessed these people and it turned into just a level 1 typhoon. Lots of rain and 97 mph wind. The power went out, but we were in an area where it was only out for like 6 hours. We are moving back down to our area today and the power is still out down there but it'll just be fine. We really just sat inside eating, studying, singing, and laughing. Being stuck inside for 24+ hours with 2 chuukese people, a pacific islander, and a Thai person is one of the funniest things ever. I love these sisters so much. We also enjoyed sitting on the back porch which was like a little cave where no wind or rain hit and we watched the storm. Nature is so amazing and powerful. 

We were honestly a little disappointed that it wasn't bigger, but I'm mostly just grateful. There is too many people that I love a lot that live in little tin houses. 

There was mostly just a ton of downed trees and power outages and some flooding.

We are hoping to find some great opportunities for service!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS (Especially you mom <3) 

Sister Milne

The South is BEAUTIFUL!

So it turns out we live in the prettiest part of guam, and there's a delicious little taco shack like a minute away from our apartment. Those were the biggest highlights of this week and they made us so very happy:) Sister Mauga discovered what a burrito is and she loves them! I discovered pangi popo which are these sweet coconut milk on buns stuff that a samoan member made us at Sister Mauga's request and it was heavenly. 

We didn't get to spend too much time in our area because we had SO MANY MEETINGS. I had meetings with the stake president, meetings to help advance the mission in terms of technology stuff, meetings for new missionaries, meetings for trainers, meetings with ward leaders, and meetings to plan zone conference. It was all way good and important but I really just want to teach. I love teaching. 

There is a recent convert here in Talisay who bore her testimony for the first time on sunday and it was so wonderful. She was so passionate about the book of mormon and its power in our lives. We just started teaching her 11 year old son and we are hoping to eventually be able to teach her husband as well. 

Our bishop has given us a list of 14 children of record age 9 and older that have not been baptized. We are so excited to visit these people and their families this week. We strongly feel that there are people here in Talisay waiting for us. We know we will baptize, because He told us so. 

I think I was meant to live on an Island and am considering doing so for the rest of my life....

I know Heavenly Father lives and loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us so that we can live with Him again. He wants us home. He wants YOU home. I love having this sure knowledge. I feel it every single day in my heart and in my mind. 

Limpoak sang,

Sister Kamry Milne

Heartbreak

This week started off so great. We found an amazing new area, we talked to tons of people, and got many new investigators. There wasn't too many meetings so it was nice to be able to just work, work, work. 

On Thursday, we went to say goodbye to sister memmott (who I will miss VERY much, ai tongonuk pwipwi), and she had just come from saying goodbye to our recent convert and his wife Herninta. SIster memmott ran up to me looking devastated and just hugged me sobbing and said "Joses is dead." That phrase has been on repeat in my head over and over again ever since. 

Joses was baptized about 6 weeks ago. It was so cool being able to teach him and help his family start their path towards being sealed in the temple. We are also very close to his wife Herninta. She is left with no family on Guam with a 5 year old girl, 2 year old twin boys, and she is seven months pregnant. We have been helping her meet with the relief society president and the Bishop so that they can try to help her get food and pay for the funeral and hopefully get her to Missouri where her sister lives. God has really provided me with the gift of tongues has I have had to translate for her in regards to all the arrangements and such. I'm competent in chuukese when we are having gospel conversations, but non church related things are hard, but God helped me be able to be a bridge between her and the leaders of the ward. It was an honor and a blessing. Please keep Herninta in your prayers, I love her and her family very much. I loved Joses very much too and I am so sad that he is gone. Though it isn't hard to see God's hand in it all. Joses found out he had liver cancer 3 weeks after he was baptized, 3 weeks later he was gone. Looking at it with mortal eyes, the situation seems harsh and unfair. Why couldn't he know sooner so that they could've helped him? But Joses was not a sick man who was baptized because he knew he was dying. He was a truly converted man who changed his life because he knew the church is true. Plus, with most of our investigators it is likely that they will fall once or several times after they are baptized. They will fall back into their old habits and have to work their way back up to worthiness. Out of all my recent converts, Joses is perhaps that one that I am 100% certain will be in the kingdom of God. I'm so grateful for the plan of salvation and for God's wisdom and love. 

My heartache continued as we got a call Saturday morning that we had to pack all of our bags and clean our house in preparation for transfers. It was so hard saying goodbye to all the people I have come to love so much in Yigo ward. They are so close and precious to me. The good news is that sister Mauga and I are still together. We will be whitewashing an area in the south called Talisay. We had no hope that we would stay together, so I feel very blessed that our prayers were answered. I think God just knows that I couldn't do it without her. 

In all these hard things this week, I've been reflecting on the song "temporary home" by Carrie Underwood. I had a giant reminder this week that this place is not my home. I'm just a visitor to Yigo, Guam, Micronesia, and even to Earth. I often wish that I could stay here, especially in Yigo, forever as a missionary. But that's not how it is meant to be. My home is with my family and my home is with God. How blessed I am to have had so many wonderful temporary homes here in my mortal journey. I'm sure I will have many more. Its amazing getting to feel the Love of God for so many people. And to feel His love for me.

Sister Milne

It's the little things

Miracles:

• Got a text from an investigator saying she was in an emergency situation. We went right over to pray and uplift her because her bakery was going to be taken away if she didn't pay $2000 by lunch for the rent. We talked to her about how God will provide a different way for her to make money if she  loses the bakery. We told her to pray and that God has a plan for her. One hour later we got a call from her, "Guys! I just wanted to tell you my miracle, God answered my prayer!" She prayed, felt to call up a certain friend, the freind lent her $1200 and she was able to pay that and sign a contract that she would pay the rest by the end of the month. Sometimes God and His miracles blow me away because to be honest, I had faith that God would help her somehow, but I did not expect Him to provide money like that so fast!
• We need to increase our teaching pool so we've been finding people we don't know from our member list. We kept seeing an area called Gillbreeze and Gillbaza which we were able to find with a senior couples help. Its a really poor area that is hidden at the back of a nicer neighborhood. We walked around for an hour and EVERY person we talked to set a return appointment. I had been stressing about the work and not having a lot of progressing investigators, but that day I had made a conscious decision to slow down and focus on my companions and lifting them and God blessed us for it. Faith is not fast or intense, but firm and calm and steady. 
• Our investigator Dayneen is still waiting for the father of her 5 children to finally marry her. I have been praying for opportunities to talk to him and possibly teach him. Due to a serious ramen spill, we got to our language study appointment at our recent converts house late and I had to take a chuukese sister with me instead of my companion. I was a bit frustrated at things not going the way I had planned. When we left the appointment and Dayneens husband pulled up to visit his cousin that lived nearby, I saw how God does have a plan. Sister Petrus was able to talk to him and turns out his cousin was her neighbor back in Chuuk. We invited him to church and to learn more and it was one of the most positive experiences we have had with him. What I consider a set back, was actually a blessing. 
• We had a devotional with President Gay from the presidency of the seventy and the Presiding Bishop and it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. It was seriously life changing. 

Love, 

Sister Milne