Buena Choro, the chilean way of saying hello. I love hearing nothing but great news from home each week! The new room is coming along great, I love to see you guys painting as well. The most popular service that we do as missionaries here in Chile is painting. Maddi, I could not believe my eyes when I saw those homecoming pictures. Your date was one lucky guy! This week has been one of my favorite weeks of the whole mission so far. It has been so full of miracles and fun.

This last Saturday, our branch had our celebration for the 18th. We all got together, ate lots of meat, played lots of typical chilean games, had cueca music, and just had a blast. We had 4 investigators there. Very successful activity.

On Friday, Mauricio was baptized. His whole family was there, which was incredible because they have not been to church for a long long time. They came up to us after the baptism and told us thaty they want to come back to church. I played and sang I stand all amazed for the musical number. Mauricio Cortes, the Young mens president baptized him. I love baptisms because you feel the spirit so strong. We had a few investigators there that are now thirsty for baptism.

Let me tell you about the miracle of Erica. We have not been Abel to find her for the last few days. We have not been able to get Ahold of her or anything. Next thing you know, on Saturday, she called us and asked us what Atonement means. She was apparently Reading the book of Mormon all afternoon! We were so excited to hear that she was Reading so much. Erica is one of my favorite investigators because she is really intelligent, is always super super happy, and is a proffessional Singer. Incredible voice! She kinda reminds me of all my sisters!! Maybe thats why there is that connection there. So on Sunday, Elder Young and I had the opportunity to teach the Gospel Principles class. It was on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We had lots of investigators attend, including Erica and Daisi. We asked Erica during the lesson, “Erica, how did you feel when you came into the churhc for the first time?” She then went off and explained that she felt something that she has never felt in her life. It was an undescribable peace and a warm feeling. She then told us that she felt something special when she was Reading the book of Mormon yesterday. We have been helping her to try feel ready to be baptized for the longest time. She told us that after Reading the book of M ormon all day yesterday, and praying to God that he would answer her prayer through the Holy Ghost, she recieved an answer to her prayer. After recieving the answer, she knew that she was ready to be baptized. So she told us all in the class, as a surprise, that she has made the decisión to get baptized the 8th of October. She put her own baptisimal date! When we Heard that in the class, we were so surprised and so so happy!! God has answered her prayers and she is now sure that this is what she wants to do. She does not have any support from her family, actually, they all think she is crazy. But she is strong and said that she will endure to the end. She has always told us that she did not want to be baptized then just go innactive right after. She wanted to be sure. And She is now sure, bec ause God has answered her prayer!! Erica will be such a great member! Definitely a future relief society president!. I could not stop saying, WOW, the whole day! I do not know what we did to deserve such a miracle! Now I understand why it says so many times in the scriptures that the Holy Ghost is the teacher. He is the teacher, and we as missionaries are the listeners.

Daisi said something this week that gives us even more of a tesimony that the Lord is in this work. She told us that ever since we have arrived at her house, she has seen the biggest difference in her life. She confronts all of the hard situation with more calm, because she has this new perspective of the góspel. She told us that she feels happier, and feels like every aspect of her life has gotten better! She told us that she KNOWS that these things are true. Now she just needs to get married so she can get baptized. The Holy Ghost, the comforter, is real. He testifies of truth, Comforts us in times of trouble, guides us, and is the third member of the Godhead. By feeling the presence of the Holy Ghost, it is the closest thing that we have to being in the presence of God in this life. I have seen uncountable testimonies of this in my mission. Even the most hardened hearts can be softened by the whisperings of the spirit.

There are so many miracles to write and so Little time! I love you all!

Elder Millard

some shots in Ovalle

September 2011 in Ovalle All this food was part of Independence Day Celebrations. Yummy!

Some scenes in Ovalle 2011. Good work Elder Millard!

Chilean Independence Day

Hola Hola!! How is the fam holding up after the BYU Utah tragedy? I´m just glad I’m on the mission right now so I don´t have to deal with that. It’s been kind of crazy here in Chile these last few days, because of the 18^th of September. The 18^th is always crazy here. I could not write on Monday because everything was closed. We had a capacitation on Tuesday, so here I am on Wednesday. Let´s get started on all the adventures of the week!

On Sunday, we had little hope of a good attendance at church. Everyone leaves to their little farmland villages to meet up with the family. We, Elder Young and I had the opportunity to give a talk to the whole 15 people that were there. After church was done, we went to go eat a huge BBQ with a family. I love the 18^th weekend because the whole week, everywhere you go, you can always smell a delicious BBQ going on. Everyone cooks tons of meet this time of the year. Everywhere you go, you see Chilean flags waving in the wind. All the little kids with their families are flying Kites, and playing with tops and marbles on the street. It really is a fun time to be in Chile. Elder Young and I like to stop for a couple of minutes to try and throw the tops with the kids that are playing on the streets. They are a lot better than we are. They all laugh at us when we make an attempt at spinning them like they do with the top and string. Its a lot of fun because then all the kids think the missionaries are cool and they have a good perception of us. The only bad part about the 18^th is that everyone is drunk and nobody wants to listen to the missionaries. But we kept going and going, and we ended up finding at least 1 new investigator, and teaching some quality lessons. Its hard because everyone is gone or busy partying. This has been a really fun week though with an exciting and energetic environment.

This last week, we had the privilege of going to a conference in Coquimbo to hear Elder Corbridge speak to us. He is a member of the quorum of the 70 and President of area Chile. All I need to say is that he is a powerful man. When he speaks, people listen. We all learned so much valuable information that will help us all so much as missionaries. The basic theme of the conference was “the most important thing.” We came to the conclusion that we should focus more on receiving the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost when we teach our investigators. The most important thing is the Atonement, and through the atonement, we can receive all these things with Eternal Life. In our lessons, we should refer to it, teach to it, repeat it, and help them understand at least this; that they can receive a remission of their sins, and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the most precious gift that Our Heavenly Father can give to one in this life, by repenting and being baptized. This is our message, that the authority to accomplish all these things is on the earth again. I´m still trying to contemplate all the incredible things he taught us.

Mauricio is getting baptized this Friday at 6. He is an eternal investigator that is finally ready to get baptized. We are excited for him and he is super excited as well!

I love you all! Until next week!

Elder Millard