Saturday, November 29, 2014

Thanksgiving

Our first holiday without our Chase. It was hard! I miss him so much. Everything reminded me of him. I will admit that I did cry on several occasions. I wondered what he was eating? What he was doing? Was he happy? Was he sad? Did it feel like Thanksgiving? So many thoughts of my sweet missionary! The next day as I was scanning through my Missionary Mommas site, I saw this wonderful post that just made my day! Wished that I has seen it sooner (may have calmed my heart a bit) but was so thankful to know that my son and so many other missionaries were able to spend their Thanksgiving holiday with amazing people! This holiday I am thankful for so many missionaries out serving in the world. I am thankful that my son is one of them. Our family is receiving blessings daily because of his service and his faithfulness. I am thankful for wonderful church leaders who spend the holiday with my son to uplift him! And I am thankful for moms who post pictures and messages that brighten my day and make me feel a little closer to my missionary! Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 24, 2014

6 weeks !

"Well, the time has come for another P-Day letter to my friends and family back home. I don't think there is too much to talk about this week. But I do have some pretty exciting news.

So, the districts ahead of us got some news that their visas are only going to be delayed a week or so. They are going to stay at the MTC for an extra week before they go. But they are not being reassigned so that means that they will get to go right to Taiwan. Which means, according to quite a few people, that our district is more than likely going to get to go to Taiwan right on schedule. No reassignments or delays!!!!!!! WOOT WOOT! And while I am excited, IT IS NOT GUARANTEED, JUST VERY VERY LIKELY!!!! So yeah. We are all pretty excited about that.
             Ummm...... as for weather, it's typical Provo weather. It snows a few times a week, but not enough to have it stick. But it is fun to see some snow, and it makes the temple look even more beautiful.
          The language. I am having so much fun with it. I can hold at least a halfway decent conversation in Chinese at this point. But I still have a long way to go before I start speaking like a native. But it really is a fun adventure. I've learned more here than in the 4 years I took of high school Chinese. It is incredible. 
The district. The district has become like a second family to me. We all love each other so much and we all have our little quirks that we love about each other. 
We have Momma Kwong. We call her that because if we have any problems with laundry or something that needs sewing, she helps us with it. We have Qiu Bao Bao, (Baby Quist). We call him that just because he is always doing something laughable. Those are only a few of the funny jokes that we have as a district. We love it so much.
I have to thank you guys for the Thanksgiving and Christmas package you guys sent me. It is so fun. I love the little tree and the lights, and all of the little notes you guys wrote to me. But I especially love the Calendar you put in there. That was a special thought. I know that as we approach the holiday season, we need to remember to "Keep the Christ in CHRISTmas." Thank you so much for all that you guys do and I hope to talk to you soon.
LOVE YA,
Elder Thunder Millett
Chase"

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Surprise

What a blessing to have 21 missionaries arrive in Taiwan this week (no, not Chase yet) but these missionaries have been waiting quite a while for Visas that finally came through. As I was reading through Sister Blickenstaff's blog, who is the Mission President's wife,  I was surprised to see a picture of my missionary! Sister Blickenstaff's mother just entered the MTC at age 84, and will be serving in Taiwan. There are 3 generations serving at the same time....Mom, Sister Blickenstaff, and the Blickenstaff's daughter in Korea. Cool that Chase was able to take a picture with Sister Blickenstaff's mother.

Three Generations of Sister Missionaries Serving Concurrently: My Mother Has Entered The Mission Field!

At age 84, my mother was called to serve in the Taichung Taiwan Mission!!!

On November 10, Sister Madeline Jin Chao (far right), entered the mission field as a Senior missionary. She was the first one in my immediate family to accept baptism thirty eight years ago, in 1976. Our entire family was sealed in the Los Angeles temple in 1978, leading the way for all of her four children and three of her grandchildren thus far (soon to be four) to establish their own eternal families:) Sister Chao has had two sons, one daughter, two grandsons, and two granddaughters serve full-time missions.

What a legacy she has established for the Chao family!
 

Monday, November 17, 2014

All is Well- and that's what counts

It appears that Elder Millett is settling into life at the MTC. His letter this week was fairly short, to the point, and answered the questions that I had for him. BUT, I did get a few pictures this week..yay for pictures!
Excerpts from his letter:
So another P-day has come and we are past the halfway point of our MTC stay. WOOHOO!!
I love the MTC, well, at least for the most part. The schedule is very rigorous and at times kind of stressful. But that's to be expected.
 How am I? I'm good. Still keepin on keepin on I guess. I just keep getting more and more used to the schedule. 
How is everything? Everything is pretty good.
Weird that I am halfway? Dui. (That means correct)
Weather? It snowed three times this week. It was fun because Elder.... has never seen snow until now. He got a kick out of it. And we get a kick out of him. I am staying warm. It is pretty chilly, but the snow only stays for a few hours or so and then it's gone. But it's been fun to see some.
Visas? Nothing yet.
Language? It's coming quicker now. It seems like we were climbing, then we hit a plateau. Now we are climbing again. It just kinda happens that way.
Things are going well here. I am loving the time that I spend here. The teachers are helpful and they are like our best friends.
I love you guys and I will talk to you soon,
Elder "Thunder" Millett








Monday, November 10, 2014

P-day #4

It does a mom good to hear from her missionary on Monday, especially when he has had a rough week the week before.  It was great to hear that he had such a great week this week! He was able to work through some challenges, and I am so proud of him. Miss that boy like crazy, love him even more, but couldn't be more proud! He definitely sounds like a missionary! He has 4 1/2 more weeks in the MTC, but he so wants to be in Taiwan now, other than the language part of it.

"I just wanted to write and let you know that this week has been a lot better than the last one. I have definitely been blessed with confidence and the spirit is strong with me now. I know why I'm here and I know that I am meant to be here."
"yes, your packages are still very cheesy. I'm starting to think that you find every single cheesy mission-mom website where you can send your missionary candy and other sugary treats that you can. But as I said in previous letters, it's so you.... I want you to know that I am doing very well. My brothers and sisters in my district are such a wonderful support group to me. I love them very much. They have become some of my best friends. "
"I had some revelation that I feel helped turn my emotions for the better. I know why I'm here and I know that I am supposed to be here.  I know now that I CAN DO THIS!!!"
"So. Every e-mail I have been sending I've ended by saying what I thought was my Chinese name, Mi Zhang Lao. It turns out that I have been saying it wrong. My name is actually Lei Zhang Lao. Do you know what the meaning is?
In Chinese, Lei means thunder.
. I know that my mission on this earth is to continue to be vocal about the truth of the restored gospel. I am preparing now to fight on the front lines and to help bring souls unto salvation. I will be a booming voice of the Lord and allow his message to echo across eons of time. And that is why I'm here.

We all have a mission in life. THIS IS MINE!!!! I will serve in faith and from now on, whatever is thrown my way, I will never look back and I will never give up. My time is now and my mission has begun.


I love all of you and know that I am very proud of all of you. I am filled with spiritual vigor whenever I think about you. I hope to hear from you soon and know that we are on the Lord's side, and we can't lose.

Your Son, Brother, and Eternal Friend,

Elder Chase Joseph Millett (Lei Zhang Lao)