I am going to use this one post to catch up with Elder Milne's awesome emails and experiences. Despite still being under restrictions on contacting people directly, Ty and his companions are finding ways to teach members and nonmembers alike. I love to hear Ty talk about how awesome it is to teach and feel the Spirit testify to the truthfulness of what they are teaching. He shared this past week that he had an incredible experience teaching an investigator friend about Alma the Younger and his conversion story, and how Ty felt the Spirit so strong that it felt someone had their arm around him the entire time. He said it was equal to the feeling he had experienced in the MTC to know if the Book of Mormon was true. He was on cloud nine, and he said he would be in Heaven if they could spend every hour of their days teaching about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Another super exciting thing is they have a baptism scheduled for August 29th, and everything with that is going as planned. They are also teaching a woman who's husband is a less active member that is very interested and progressing, and the young woman who came to the church and found the missionaries they had to give to the missionaries in the singles ward, but as soon as they did that, some other missionaries called with another referral for them. This referral is a man from Morocco. Ty has loved meeting with this man and teaching him. He has so many questions and keeps them on their toes. They are also meeting with a brand new member of the church every Sunday afternoon, and he brings his 16 year old daughter who is not a member. Ty and his companions have also had some wonderful experiences in members homes as they share spiritual messages and sometimes a meal. The members are only allowed to feed them on weekends, so this is a bit disheartening, however, they do schedule visits to share member messages throughout the week. Ty has realized how important it is to strengthen the members, especially during this time that attending church is not possible. He has been surprised at the number of members who are not regularly partaking of the sacrament in their homes, and he and his companions have been strengthening the members by sharing their testimonies concerning the importance of partaking of the Sacrament as often as possible. He has shared with several members the example of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane with His apostles whom he asked to wait with him and they all fell asleep, and he asks them, "could you not wait with me one hour?" Ty compares this hour to spending an hour each week renewing our covenants and reflecting upon the Savior and His atonement while participating in the ordinance of the Sacrament. He said that as he shares this the Spirit is so strong and the members are really touched by this. He said he learned this example from an experience I shared on Dallin's mission blog. It was when Blaine and I were visiting Laguna Beach and we attended sacrament meeting there, and someone talked about this while sharing their testimony.
Elder Milne also received a new companion this past week. He is still with Elder Provencio, but Ty has been called to be a trainer by his mission president. His new companion is straight out of home MTC. We will find out more about him tomorrow. He is from Ogden, Utah. Here are some of the letters from the past few weeks:
Letter from Blaine:
Hello Elder Milne,
I hope this email finds you well. I hope you have been able to find
purpose for you being there. I hope you have discovered the Lord’s reason
for you being in the Newport Beach mission and how you can be of service to Him
there. If you haven’t yet, I am sure it is more than just giving you an
assignment to serve.
I hope you can get into the work and find joy in the journey.....this is the
key to life...
I am positive this same thing holds true for missionary service even though I
wasn’t wise enough to serve myself.
I started a story in your family search file for you.
I will have to write in it every so often so it can have some content.
Love you Ty and God bless you
Dad
Letter from Ty:
Hey, thanks for the message Dad. There is a purpose for
me to be here. It's a good feeling teaching others the gospel. Just tough when
we have days when we don't have anyone to teach. Just trying to stay positive
and treating my companions like they're my brothers in battle. And that's nice of
you to do that on family search. Love you dad - have a good week!
Letter from Blaine:
Buenas Dias TY,
I thought I better write you an email today. I
hope you are doing well. You have now returned to the mission field for 1
full month.
Congratulations!
I hope you can get recharged to do the next month in
the Newport Beach California mission. You are so blessed to get this
opportunity to bless people's lives.
I watched a cool movie last night. At the end
they put a scripture up.
Psalms 82: 3-4
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to
the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the
hand of the wicked.
It was a movie about a black woman and her daughter
whose husband who was black died fighting for the Union in the Civil War and
his soldier friend who was white promised him he would take care of his family
when the war was over. The black soldier died in this white Union
soldier's arms on the battlefield.
The movie is about this white soldier and how he went
home and took care of this man's widowed wife and daughter and the struggle he
had with the people around him keeping his promise.
It was a triumph in the end.
I think your mission has been full of struggles and
disappointments, but you must have faith that in the end you will triumph.
"Keep your chin up"
Love
Dad
I thought of you and what you are doing at this time.
Letter from Ty:
Buenos dias mi padre
It's been a month, and I have learned a lot. It's been
really good for me. I believe I've seen that movie, I don't remember the title,
but it is great. Appreciate you writing dad, I always love hearing from you.
This past week was good - we had a lot of success. Hope it continues. I've just
kept in mind what our Prophet said to the youth about the gathering of Israel.
How this is the mission I was sent to earth for and how this gathering should
mean everything to us. That has been a motivator. Hope you have a good work
week dad, sure appreciate all that you do. I hope you are taking time to pray
and read your scriptures. If not, I invite you to apply that this week .
Love you Father,
Elder Ty Adams Milne
Letter from Home:
Good
Morning Ty,
I hope this
finds you happy and well rested. I've been thinking a lot about our
conversation on Saturday, and it reminded me of the many struggles I
experienced as a missionary thirty years ago. So, then my mind went to
"what helped me get through the more challenging times?" and I think
it was this: During our premortal existence, our Heavenly Father presented His
plan, and 1/3 of His children rejected it and chose to follow Satan. I know
that He wept, and perhaps even we wept. Surely, we knew many of them. He also
weeps when His children here on earth choose to not follow His plan. Our job
here, just as it was there, is to make sure we do our part in sharing His plan
with all of His children in hopes of reminding them of the choice they made
long ago to follow our Heavenly Father's plan, which of course includes
following our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jacob 5 we read about gathering scattered
Israel, and so many times, when the Father witnesses His children not choosing
his plan, He weeps. But within that chapter there are a few powerful verses
that always kept me motivated:
70 And
it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant (YOU); and
the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants;
and they were few.
71 And
the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard,
with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my
vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if
ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall
lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And
it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and
the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the
commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. (Always remember that
the Lord is laboring alongside of you - This is His work and He will help you
succeed)
73 And
there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural
branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to
be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top
thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.
74 And
thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the
Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the
vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become
again the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body; and the
fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the
natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
75 And
it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was
good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and
said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and
thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the
natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art
thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and
have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit,
that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye
shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.
I also like
these verses from the Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 81
3 Therefore,
verily I acknowledge him and will bless him (YOU), and also thee, inasmuch as
thou art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you
(MISSIONARY), in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in
private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the gospel in the land
of the living, and among thy brethren.
4 And
in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow
beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord.
5 Wherefore,
be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor
the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
6 And
if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of
immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the
house of my Father.
7 Behold,
and lo, these are the words of Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
I hope these
verses help you TY! I love you and pray for you every morning and night! Press
forward with faith and courage, and I promise you that miracles will follow!
Take care of yourself and I'm looking forward to speaking with you later today!
All my
Love,
MOM
Letter from Ty:
I loved all
of this mom - thank you so much. Was much needed. We had a successful day
yesterday, and yes, I will tell you about it later. Love you so much I'll be
calling around 2 or 3 my time.
Letter from Blaine:
Hello Elder
Milne,
We are here in New Mexico this weekend together. Carley and Carter came with
your mom and Millie Friday night. I came down from Bloomfield after working
there Thursday and Friday of last week. They didn’t get to Albuquerque until
after 2am. I woke up at that time after hearing some noise in the lower floor
of the house but figured it was them getting here.
I decided to go see them because the noises kept up. I got downstairs to
find Carley and Carter but no momma. Millie was even there. They said
your mom was at the ER after getting the fishing pole’s hook stuck in her foot.
I was completely upended in disbelief. How could that happen? Well long story
short, Carter and Carley went and got her at the ER around 4:30 am after the
hook was removed. She will send you a picture of that frightful
injury. What a trip for her.
Last night
we went down to my practice at Celebrate dental and put Carley’s implant crown
in. It was nice to see her tooth go in. Your mom will send a picture of
that too.
How are you
doing? I hope you are doing well. I hope you have been able to find
meaning to your call to Newport Beach. I remember some of the most important
words that have ever been spoken to me. Some of those words came from you. The
time was when I walked into our home in Minnetonka, Minnesota in late January
of 2011 after having totaled my car on that iced winter day being pushed up the
interstate highway by a semi-tractor diesel truck. There was no
explanation why I escaped that horrific car accident without a scratch. I
walked in the door with your mom after she came and got me at the car repair
shop. You said these famous words, “Heavenly Father has a plan for you.” You
were but 10 years old and in primary. Those were incredible words spoken to me.
You were right. God did have a plan for me. After all the effort to form a
dental career it seemed at that time everything was a failure. I now had totaled
two vehicles while living in Minnesota and now was never going to be an Oral
Surgeon. I thought I had paid enough price to get the support from the staff
there I needed to finish Oral Surgery, but I was wrong. I was going to now
create a new life for my family. We ended up moving to St George and life
changed for us all.
I bring this up because “Heavenly Father has a plan for you too.” I think
perseverance on your mission is maybe Heavenly Father’s plan for you. I
think this might be the experience that can give you some identity and value to
your life going forward. I hope you feel the same way.
Got to go for now. Carter is doing home sacrament for us right now.
Love,
Dad
Letter from Ty:
Dad, thank
you for thinking of me and reaching out. That's crazy on what happened to Mom -
sure hope she’s okay! I am glad they were able to come down and spend some time
with you! Happy that you are all having the sacrament. Dad i invite you to
reflect on all that our savior has done for you. And make time this week for
scripture study so you can be strengthened spiritually. It's awesome how you
brought up the time in Minnesota, I was looking over my baptism picture today
and saw my big grin with us dressed in white. I too thought about when I told
you God had a plan for you. I'm so blessed to have you and our family. I am
learning more everyday, and I've had some great spiritual experiences that have
strengthened my testimony on that I need to be here. I will be training this
upcoming transfer which is in 2 days, so I'm excited for that. Love you and
appreciate your love and hard work. Have a great week!
Letter from Home:
Greetings
Elder Milne!
How’s my favorite missionary today? I hope this finds you happy and well!
I on the road this morning with Carter, Carley, and Millie, heading back
to Utah! We stayed in flagstaff last night. We had a fun weekend with dad,
despite the fishhook incident- LOL! We had the Sacrament Sunday afternoon then
had a nice Sunday dinner and dessert - chicken fettuccine Alfredo, salad, corn
on the cob, watermelon, and garlic bread. We had that peach dessert you like
with the ice cream, peaches, Carmel sauce, and biscotti cookies. We FaceTimed
Dallin and Hayley and visited with them. They are doing really well. Kobe got a
haircut. He looks so cute. We then headed to Flagstaff as dad gave Buster a
bath.
Well, it looks like you’ve made it to your first transfer in your new mission,
and it sounds like you’re staying in a threesome, but getting a brand new
missionary that you’ll get to train. That is exciting. We will look forward to
hearing all about it. It also sounds like you e got a lot of good things
happening in your area - a baptism coming up and other people to teach; that is
so awesome!
This past week I had a lot of therapy clients. I am learning so much, and I
hope I’m helping my clients at least a little. Two things have stood out to me
as I have encountered different people with different problems: 1. There is
safety and happiness in keeping the commandments, and 2. The Atonement of Jesus
Christ is real, and it provides hope and healing for all who will accept it.
Many of the problems I witness are a direct result of not keeping the
commandments. All choices, good and bad, have consequences. Many of my clients
are dealing with the consequences that come from a series of poor choices
either they or their loved ones have made. The saddest thing I see is how
Innocent children are affected by the poor choices of their parents. However,
there is healing that can occur. Bottom line is, we all are in need of the
effects of Christ’s Atonement, and there is safety and happiness found in
living the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Everyone needs to know this - this is why
missionary work is so important. So much suffering can be erased by choosing to
accept Christ and His gospel and by keeping His commandments!
We are so very blessed to have the knowledge we have and to be part of this
great gathering of Israel. Enjoy the time you have to do this full-time.
Love you Ty! I can’t wait to talk to you today!
Mom
Letter from Ty:
Thank you
for another great letter mom! I love you dearly, and I'm sure your clients love
you and the spirit you bring. I'm glad everyone is doing well and y'all were
able to spend time w dad! I am loving spreading the good word of the atonement
to everyone and am looking forward for this upcoming transfer. Keep these
coming - love it!
Photos from Home this week:
