I have seen so many miracles on my mission. Countless small moments, when we followed our plan for the day and so the exact right person was on the street in that moment for us to contact or to serve. I have learned that God is in the details. I would like to record one of my favorite miracles that is happening right here in this hospital room.
My roommate here is 28, a recovering addict who awoke to God 6 months ago after years of despair and not knowing how to get out. She loves God, but her 12 steps with AA have not been enough. Here in our room together we have faced life changing diagnoses, frustrating doctors, scary needles, and have only had God to hold onto as what we thought was our perfect world was crumbling around us. I spoke a lot about God, and she did too. I could tell she felt confused as to why this was happening, and so we talked about trials in the eternal perspective and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I shared Thomas S. Monson's talk from Oct 2013 General Conference and Doctrine & Covenants 121 and 53:2-3. My sweet missionary friends have come and shared messages with me and we have invited her to participate. I gave her a Book of Mormon and told her how important it is to me. And finally, those amazing Elders, Elder Townsend & Elder Leon, came and taught Lesson 3. They asked all of the right questions and as the lesson progressed she talked about the relief she would feel if the Doctrine of Christ is true, and the Book of Mormon, because it would mean something would work to make her really happy. She is excited to be baptized on March 9, 2014. This morning, she received her first priesthood blessing for the sick and afflicted. She told me afterwards that she hadn't felt so safe in a long time.
The work we do is real. God is in the details. When we give Him our hears, He fills them with love and all we want to do is share the Gospel.
Hermana Elise Millward
Dear friends and family-
Sister Millward was discharged from the hospital last evening. We are planning to return to Boise on Thursday late in the evening. We are leaving without a firm diagnosis, but she is safe to travel. She is not coming home a fit and healthy girl. Please be mindful that she has been virtually bedridden for 3 weeks and her energy is sapped very quickly. We have a lot of work ahead of us to navigate her health issues. While we don't have medical answers to what has happened in her body, why she presents with and continues to have unexplained changes in her brain scans, what we do KNOW is that God has heard every single prayer that has been offered on her and our family's behalf. As her mother, I have been blessed to be a witness to the miracles taking place in the hospital not only just with her body but with the miracles happening to her spirit and those lives that she has touched everywhere she has been. We have been ministered to by heavenly and earthly angels. Every single time her spirits would flag, our Heavenly Father sent someone to her bedside that she could teach or testify to. When she was lonely, He lifted her up. When I was weak and tired and discouraged, I was blessed as well. The members of her little branch here have been so good to us. Bringing her treats, giving me rides, making us laugh and visiting. She has been served faithfully by her priesthood leaders with daily visits that were uplifting and full of encouragement and hope.
Sister Millward is returning from her mission on her 1 year anniversary. She has a path to navigate that now involves being restored to full health and strength as we trust in the blessings she has received and at the same time place our faith, confidence and trust in doctors at home. She has been faithful in her service and her mission family is sad to see her leaving. She doesn't want to come home, but she knows it is what she has to do so she can continue to be an instrument in His hands. We don't know what the future holds in terms of her health. We don't have answers. She doesn't know if she is supposed to return to the mission field. She will do what Heavenly Father wants her to do and will be cared for spiritually by a loving Bishop and Stake President. As a family, we do KNOW that The Gospel is true. The work she has been doing for the past year full time is the work of God. Gary and I are truly humbled by the many many acts of selfless service and kindness. For your prayers, for your meals, for your emotional support and encouragement. We will never be able to convey adequately our thanks to you all for your prayers and fasting on her behalf. I am so proud of my other children. They have ALL been so good and supportive and loving from afar. This has been a difficult challenge for them. And hard to be apart and continue to share information and concerns. Our priorities and perspective on this mortal life have been re-aligned and sharpened.
Our love to you all.
Ann & Gary
Josh, Brooke, Hna Millward, Rebekah, Callie & Zachary
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| This is Ida. Best Night Time Nurse Assistant every....oh the things this sweet woman helped us through! She now has her own copy of the Book of Mormon and has asked to have the missionaries come teach her. |
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