August 14, 2014 - Another P-Day Goes By

I am adding comments a couple times in this post so you understand the background of a comment he makes. So, when you see the Italics - I have interrupted again!! - Mom Milligan

Dear Mother,

I totally agree with your letter that the reason I'm having so much trouble thinking of things to say is that I am doing the same thing each day! It is fun and good, but there is only so much that you can share with family about the week's activities if you're in a classroom for at least 10 hours a day...

Well, I have survived another week! It is so odd to think that I have been here 7 weeks already, and that it is practically 1/12 of my mission gone by already! So weirded out! But, I am pretty confident in the language now. All I need to do is get to Finland to start questioning if I can understand even what I think is being said! ;)

I am so grateful that the Lord has put me where I have been in life. At times, yeah, things seemed tough and like they were pointless challenges, but the proverbial "grand scheme of things" that we speak of definitely is in existence!
I am who I am today from my challenges yesterday. That sounds like a quote... let's #VanhinMilligan2014 that up! :)

(David's previous statement came due to an email where I told him that several times lately I have found blessings coming from things that I thought were disappointments at the time. Like not finishing school, and later needing to get a job, ending up as an administrative assistant at an engineering firm because I didn't have my degree, which led to me meeting a dear friend and sharing the gospel with her, and soon going to the temple with her, all because I wasn't able to finish my degree before my miracle babies arrived!)

Now, the important question to be answered: Yes, I rescued the Thor Hammer. The rest of the Finns were wondering how they could break in, going on about how how if they had certain flat metal objects like pins or whatnot that they could get inside. While they were scheming, I went downstairs to get new sheets replaced and found an employee with a Master Key that, once I explained the situation, happily let me into the residence to rescue the precious artifact. Just goes to show what honesty can do! It is currently in the possession of Vanhin Reyes. I'm a little concerned if he's gonna give it up by the end of our stay... I think he plans on mailing it to one of the Hungarians that left, since he thinks of it as a "room gift". I guess it is, since it has been passed down through Narnia Holes and was originally created by some Philippine Elders, but wouldn't it be cool to make it a Zone gift instead?

(Some of you may remember the Thor Hammer from previous posts. I had imagined all the Finn's [now we know what they call themselves!] dressed in black, sneaking into the Hungarian dorms. Love that he took the head-on approach to get the Hammer back!!)

That reminds me! A shout out right now to the Nissen Family! I don't know where they're from or who they are, but Sister Nissen emailed me after her son opened up his call to Finland Helsinki. They went searching around some blogs of Sisters and Elders going to Finland, and they found the one that you're up-keeping and they loved it! She sent me an email with encouragement and congratulations, especially about my charp!

(Sister Nissen and family ~ wouldn't it be hilarious if Vanhin Milligan and Vanhin Nissen ended up as companions?! When does Vanhin Nissen enter the MTC? I would love to write to him as well!)

Oh, by the way, the Charp is outfitted with more rubber bands now, and I have created a harmonizing chair for a guest. It doesn't ever take long to do it, just about 3 minutes now that I have a base-tuned charp that I now just need to match in pitch. The words on the bands of mine are the simple Sulfege words, "Do-Re-Mi" etc. The other is marked C-D-E etc. for the sake of those that want to just play based off of the major key. No, it is not a distraction from mission work, don't worry! We only ever tune it/play it during the times that we have breaks from the language that are cool-down periods/restroom breaks! I hope that it stays intact, though... I might just have to take it with me! Not the chair, the bands. They can go on any slope, any degree of incline, and retain the same note, so I won't need a similar chair to create a new charp.

(If you want to see the Charp ~ There is a picture in the previous post)

Just realized that most of my time was spent talking about the Charp there... I can't think of too much more that has been really cool, though! We haven't had an apostle speak since the 2nd or 3rd week when Elder Andersen came. I have been listening to a few David A. Bednar talks directed at missionaries, and they are SO good!

I need to thank you all for sending more Jon Bytheway talks! My companion has started to perk up his ears when I turn it on, and has started to take note of what Bytheway suggests about doing when it comes to gospel-studies. I need more Jon Bytheway soon! :) I understand if it's hard to just dedicate a CD to one talk, but I promise, it has been helping me a LOT. Oh, and thanks for remembering that I really like the live talks! They're the best.

I'm gonna put my wash in the dryer now, so I'll send some pictures soon! I love you all, bye!

Vanhin Milligan

PICTURES

David: This is the scripture on the Laundry bag. You asked for it a while back and I keep forgetting!

Mom: I love this laundry bag that my uncle made for his first son's mission. It has been passed down through their family and has now been passed down to our family for its fourth mission!

David: Another #Selfie, this one's another cape-shot! Yeah, pretty sure I've taken more pictures of myself in these last few weeks than I have in my whole life!

Mom: I would have to agree with that! AND I LOVE IT!

David: This seems really contemplative, but the cloud shots have been really beautiful around here! I love to just look up and think about stuff.

Mom: We used to do that together...sigh... :)

David: Yep, another cloud shot. They're just so beautiful with the mountains so close!

David: The temple is just SO BEAUTIFUL. 

So glad we get to go inside every Thursday and walk around every Sunday!

David: Father and my siblings will get this reference. I wonder who else will?

Mom: Not me...

David: This is the First Vision story in Finnish. Trying to memorize it! 

I got the copy room to shrink it and laminate it for me! :)

Mom: Brother Bassett...We'll be needing your help on this one!

David: The Hungarians, Finns, and Albanians got together for a prayer with absolutely no encouragement. It was a fun experience, this is from RIGHT before it started! Don't worry, I didn't open my eyes during the prayer! ;)

Mom: His last statement is probably only super funny if you know how long it took us when he was 2 or 3 years old to convince him that you need to close your eyes during a prayer! (and KEEP them closed!)

 David: Finland, Finland, Finland... WHEN CAN I FINALLY GO THERE?!? I love the flag, though!