Mission Week #7

"It feels like Christmas all the time in the mission. That is because Jesus Christ is our Savior every day--not just in the Christmas season. I wish you all a Merry Christmas! I could say something cheesy like "remember the reason for the season," but I hate rhyming. I think you'll get the message otherwise. Thanks for all your love and support!"

The Miracle of the Lost Cell Phone

My companion and I lost our missionary cell phone. This is a huge deal because we are unable to contact anyone without it--like most cell phones, I'm sure. Luckily we were at a conference, so we didn't need it for anything, but we knew that we couldn't get right back to work when we were finished because we had no way to communicate other than randomly stopping by places (which isn't always successful). Although it seems silly, we prayed that we would find this phone. Then we got to work by tearing apart our apartment and car. We looked at the church which was the only place we had gone that day. After hours, it was nowhere to be found. It was the end of the day, and we were just going to give up, and ask the office for a new cell phone and get in trouble for losing our old one. I half-heartedly said, "maybe we threw it in the garbage." Then it wouldn't leave our minds because that was the one place we hadn't checked. The thing is, we had already thrown our garbage in a dumpster. But we were desperate, so we drove to the dumpster, ready to get our hands dirty, and lo, and behold--our cell phone was just sitting on top of the snow on the ground away from the path we had taken.

IT WAS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!!

This seems like a typical experience, but it really was an answered prayer. God cares about the seemingly insignificant things in our lives. He often requires us to exercise our faith by going to work. It wasn't until we were ready to dig through trash that our cell phone appeared. This experience might not have mattered in the grand scheme of the universe, but it taught me a lot about how God works in our lives. We go through hard times--not so that God can sit back and watch us suffer--but so that we can realize how he guides our paths. I know God is very involved in the details of our lives. It is only when we are stretched to the limit that God can help us grow and become more like Him.

Mission Week #5

Being a missionary is so hard sometimes. For example, yesterday was fast Sunday, and one family scheduled us for lunch and another for dinner. However, the lunch appointment was changed to an hour later and the dinner appointment was changed to an hour earlier. And Sunday lunch is more like dinner anyway. This basically adds up to having to eat two delicious dinners and two delicious desserts within an hour and a half. I was so full, I wanted to cry. I don't know how I fit the second dinner in, but it was definitely a tender mercy. I have it pretty bad here in Canada sometimes.

Mission Week #4

Time goes by so fast in the mission! Eventually I want to put pictures on this thing, so I hope that isn't too complicated for my mom who updates my blog.

The mission does some really weird things to you. I actually got talked into singing a solo; I rejoice when it's only 0 degrees Celsius; (almost) anything tastes good after 5:30 p.m.; I want to knock on every. single. door; I don't push the snooze button anymore. What is going on?

The only thing I can come up with is that having an attitude of happiness and gratitude in our lives changes our perception. I've really learned a lot about what is important and what is not these past couple of weeks. I've realized that God truly is loving and merciful, and if we take the time to look around, we can see that He truly does guide our paths. This journey of learning and teaching and giving is the greatest journey I could hope to have.

I love you all!

Mission Week #3

"I'm in Canada now! I don't have a lot of time today, but I just have to say that the Canada "eh" is real. I thought it was a joke, but EVERYONE uses it. And people think I have an accent here, which is cool I guess. I've also experienced the coldest weather of. my. life. This isn't even the worst of it, I hear. But I haven't complained of the cold yet! That's my goal--to not complain and to be nice in cold weather. I become the world's meanest woman when I'm cold if you didn't know. Flannel sheets are my best friend! I've actually been quite happy because teaching people about Jesus Christ gives me more joy than I could have imagined. I sleep like a rock every night because I'm so exhausted. I love being exhausted for a good cause!

Well friends, I'll be a little more thoughtful next week, but I hope you all are happy! Happiness and joy are possible in this life because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Just know that you are never forgotten."

Mission Week #2

I'm still living the MTC life! I'm learning a lot about myself and what kind of person I want to be, which can be quite exhausting. I'm learning even more about helping and loving others. If I could say anything to anyone stumbling across this, it would be this: Believe that there is a God in heaven who knows you personally by name and who loves you. Believe that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the light. Believe that through Him, we can be better today than we were yesterday.

Check out mormon.org and you can search my name under the "meet people" tab.

I would love to hear from anyone! You can email me at tanya.milburn@myldsmail.net, but leave your address, so that I can write you back! Or you can send me a letter to my Canadian address because I'll be there in less than a week!

Peace!

Mission Week #1

Hey Everyone!

I've been in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) for a week now. It has been the longest week of my life--in a good way. We have 16 hours of our day scheduled out six days a week. Pretty crazy huh? Being busy is one of the best feelings though, I think.

There are a lot of rules at the MTC, and you will be surprised that I've kept the feisty to a minimum, so I've followed all of them. If you know me, you'll know that I can sometimes be a rule-bender, but I'm breaking that habit.

I live with four girls in one room, which could be asking for trouble drama-wise or swine flu-wise. Luckily, we haven't run into either! I don't really believe in swine flu anyway...

Best Quote of the Week--

Sister Jones (while looking at the cover of one of our church/mission booklets): Why is there a Hispanic on the cover??

Me: Sister Jones, you can't just ASK that...

Disclaimer: She's not racist; she promises.

Well I love you all! And God does too! You should ask Him just to make sure though :)

Peace Out.