The Redmesa Connection

Haha it was way crazy to find out he was from Red Mesa! I got all excited! :D Haha. (side note, Nyla's cousin Renee Price Abbott’s husband Damian is working in the oil fields of Texas and just happened to be in Odessa on Sunday. A young Elder came up to him and asked him where he was from. Damian said Durango. The Elder said he had an Uncle who lived in Redmesa near Durango. Damian asked if he was Nyla’s boy. Hayden was so shocked! Damian asked if there was any message he could send to his parents. Hayden said to tell his mother he’s just fine.)  And I don't think I need anything. Thanks so much for the Package! I hope you got mine too. And don't worry, I shared like a good boy. Haha.

This week has been good! We had some good lessons. Our Most Promising Investigators B and J still have only come to church once and I've been teaching them the whole time. They still attend the Catholic church. And we KNOW that they have felt the spirit. They pretty much tell us that these things are true. What we think is that the Mom thinks that she already got the Holy Ghost from the Catholic church. So we are going to talk about Authority to them and really try to find out their real concern and what’s really holding them back. They are really awesome thou! And they read the Book of Mormon! So that’s great! I got a flat in my tire the other day. So I’m gonna get a new tube, or..... maybe I’ll go buy some goop instead. Not sure yet. Love ya'll! And let me know how your lives are! I got a E-mail from Wyatt! Beast!!! And from the Gutierrez  family! I love you all so much! Keep living the Gospel!

-Elder Allen

This is a Scripture Holder my mom invented for missionaries who loose their scriptures. ;)

This is a little man that I made from pealing my orange. Pretty cool!

This is some BURRITO AWESOMENESS I made!!!!!!! Whoooo!!! I love it! Thanks Grandma Harris for the recipe!

Like Ammon

Dear Family,

          I feel the need to clarify some of the references that Hayden makes in his letters. I’m not sure where the “Whoot, Whoot” came from, but Hayden has been saying that for years. He would use that expression in his text to his friends and it has stuck. He also quotes from a cartoon show called “Phineas and Ferb”. He will put these in quotation marks and name the characters like: Phineas, ferb, Candace, Perry, Isabella, Baljeet and Buford, to name a few. For the 4 months that he waited to enter the MTC he was very careful of the media he watched. This show was always clean and funny. Also he will add quotes from the BYUTV comedy show “Studio C” if you haven’t seen it, you can watch it on youtube. So funny.  Thanks to everyone for the support you give our missionary!

Nyla

This week was good! And we have been having really good success! Our work from last week really paid off! We had lots of lessons with Members Present and we had lots of really good, spiritual lessons. And of course, because of this success, Satan has been working on us. He's been trying to get us to feel down, frustrated, and have bad feelings like that. After I read the Book of Mormon, I always feel better! It's not just a book. I love it!
Also, I've been working on being humble. Like Ammon. I know that I am nothing without the Lord, and that everything good that is going on, the success we've been having is because of the Lord. I need to keep realizing that and working hard. I honestly feel like I'm not being the best companion I know I can be, and the best companion I know God knows I can be. I'm looking for ways to serve Elder Duffy.

I love you all so much! And Tell Jayden and Jared I love them too! I can't wait to hear all about them!

Haha this picture is more for Carter than anyone. But it's cool!

Love ya all!

Elder Allen:)

This is really for Carter.  Texas sized!

Confidence

Wahoo!!! Go Harris and get that Eagle! I miss Harris... Haha he's so funny! Tell him i say Hi! WOW HARRIS CAN ALMOST DRIVE! THAT'S CRAZY! 

Haha I love Brother Jex! I miss him a lot! And yeah... I lost a bunch of stuff at work... I miss work too! I love wood. And Harris is going!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Youth conference is the best thing! I'm way excited for him. I loved youth Conference when I went! I remember the day after youth conference I got the Melchizedek Priesthood! How crazy. That was forever ago. Like a year. Haha.  Harris will have a blast! And when he comes home, I bet you that he will surprise you with how much his testimony will have grown. I love that Kid.

Well, we are doing really good! We worked really hard last week, but had probably the worst week in numbers. But that only means that good things will come from our hard work! My comp. is really cool. We work really hard together and he loves the people so much.  He is a really good teacher and we have been working on how to teach together better. I've been working on my confidence. It's weird because and home I had no problem teaching or being confident. But for some reason at the MTC, it was hard. And here too. So I figure that it was the Lord cutting me down so that I can bring forth Good fruit!  So, I'm doing my best to be confident! Especially when I teach! 

 Bishop told me that JT would be in the bishopric some day. I guess that day is now. I love it! Tell them all congratulations! 

We have been working really hard, but our teaching pool is really low. We have like, no one to teach. So we are doing lots of finding and trying to coming up with different and creative ideas to find people. It's fun! There is this one girl that we are teaching. She's 15 and way smart. She's like a modern day, girl version of Joseph Smith! She is catholic (right now anyway) and asked her preacher about the God Head and Trinity. And he kinda told her that she should stop asking questions. And she said that she should be able to ask questions! And we told her that she should! She reads the B of M Almost everyday and we watched the Restoration DVD And she loved it! I know she felt the Spirit! I cannot wait till she gets baptized! Last Monday we also got dropped pretty hard by one of the most promising investigator that Elder Duffy had ever taught. So it was hard on him. But then after he was like, well, I'm not just gonna sit here and mope! Le's go work. So we did! It was really cool to see how converted he is!

Love ya all!

Elder Allen

Conference, Conference, Conference

 We had zone Conference this week and I learned a lot! It was really cool, and then we also had Stake conference! Woot Woot! And we had our new members come. They got baptized before I got here. um....We went on splits last week! It was pretty fun. And I rode my bike! I put it together all by myself! AND IT WORKED! I was kinds surprised! But happy. We are teaching a pretty good amount of people. We have two Investigators with Baptismal dates! Blonca and Jacklyn. Blonca is Jacklyn's mom. They are coo. And we are also teaching this Woman named Anabell. Her mom is pretty against her taking lessons from us but she knows it's true! She understands everything so well! So, will you pray for them? Pray that Blonca and Jacklyn come to church and have a good Experience? And that Anabell has the courage and strength to act on the faith that she has? Thanks so much!

How's Family home evening going? And All that good stuff? I know that you will be blessed from doing it, I promise that the family will get closer together, everyone will be happier, and that The spirit will be stronger with you in your hearts.  Harris will be more prepared to serve a mission and he will grow and be a stronger member. Ah man I miss Harris. He's so.... Awesome Awesome Awesome! Haha I miss Phineas and Ferb too! Hhaha. That's okay i guess... We cleaned our apartment today! Woot woot! I Love being a missionary! There are so many blessing from it! And I hope that you are all being blessed too!
 I'm loosing my Spanish!!! AH! Texas Spanish is so weird! And we barley speak it. But, I will learn! I just need to put in some extra effort. We made some really specific goals this week. I'm really excited to see the outcome of them. I know that faith is really powerful. And I pray that our faith will be strengthend. Love you all and thank you so much for all you do for me! And I am really grateful for all the E-mails I got!
JAYDEN WHITEHEAD! CONGRATS!!!!!!! YOU ARE AWESOME AND WILL DO AWESOME THINGS! I MISS YOU BROTHER! I love getting letters from David (Elder Aust) It's so good to hear from him. And from Joe Cary! He's been E-mailing me and I love it! Tell the ward I love them and that this work, that of the Lord, is the most rewarding thing we can do. So be great home teachers. Give referrals!!! They are so nice! Help out the missionaries there by helping them have people to teach! And Tell Wyatt and his family that I love them! I need his e-mail or something. Wyatt, I'm going to punch you in the face, because I love you! Haha Thanks for all you have done Brother! I love you all! Un-know guy is out! PEACE!

Con amor- Elder Allen  

West Odessa, TX

1/21/14

 Everything is going great! My Companion is Elder Duffy and he is the district leader! He loves to work hard and so do I so it's been good. We get along pretty well. We have two investigators with Baptismal dates! And we have a couple other pretty solid Investigators. We cover three wards. Spanish, 1st and 2nd ward. We don't speak a whole lot of Spanish in our area. Most of the lessons we've taught have been in English. But I'm getting better. It's kinda like Cortez out here. Lots of dirt. Except there are no mountains! None. Haha but there are a lot of Pump jacks. Pretty much everyone out her works in the Oil fields. There a quite a few less actives around here. So we are getting to work! Knocking is pretty fun too! Haha. Kinda miss Spanish, like in the language. But we do have our study time. Love you all! Do your best and have faith! Love you mom and the rest of my family! And Go 4th Ward!!!! Woot! Love you all!!!! As we put our trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ, he will take care of the rest. Keep doing your part! I read 3rd Nephi 17! Read it and study it! It's great! Love you all! And I would love some letters.... You can just send them to the mission home, and they will forward it to me. My Mom has the address for the mission home.( and mom, I need a new set of scriptures! I lost them in Mexico!! I need them in English! Please!! Thank you! Soon as possible! And some more CTR socks too! Long ones! Love you! We have a Dinner appointment tonight. I gained 13 pounds in Mexico. So.... we've been working out and trying to eat healthy. It's been good. We have been doing "Insanity" work outs in the Mornings! Woot!

I haven't been riding my bike yet. It's all been driving and walking. I put my bike together myself. Haha So... yeah it looks pretty good to me! And my companions bike is broken I think.

Elder Allen

Just a few lines

Wow! That's a way crazy week! The Cook's house burned down?! Are they okay?  It's been good here. My comp is great! I don't have much time. Sorry mom! I'll e mail you next week! Love you!!!

Elder Allen

Day before Texas

Love you mom! Everything is going great! I cannot wait to get to Texas though!!! Oh yeah! Just like Phineas said, "Candace, have you been around wild parsnips again?" I love you! Thanks for all you do! You and dad! You are the best parents out there no doubt about it!

 Love you all!

Elder Allen

This is for Bishop

My District. The Elder on the left is the one who tore my ACL!

Elder kings teddy bear, Amos, Reading about Amman in Alma 17

Almost to Texas!

I just have to say from Phineas and Ferb, 

¨There is no candy in me, there is no candy in me. Your mother is blindfolded so she cannot see. I´m just a little boy there is no candy in me! Nerd an't no piñatá!¨ 

Ok, back to news,

Dad said that everything he is hearing from the people in Arizona are good! I know it´ll work out! Oh Grandpa... I love him so much! And Grandma too! I hope they get feeling better!  Today we went to the visitors center at the temple because the temple its self was closed. It was pretty cool! We were taught how to use a visitors center in our discussions! And it was really sweet! How's Relief Society?  Remember, this work, that of the Lord, is all about Love.

When we can be outward and serve and worry about others, when we would usually turn in and worry about ourselves, we can be immensely blessed! I leave next Monday! Woot woot!!! El 13 de Enero!! Getting super duper excited!! Everything is going great! Love you so much and tell Joe Cary to write me! I miss that kid! Thanks again! Le Amo muchisimo! En El nombre de Jesucristo, Amen!

Elder Allen

A letter to the Priest

1/7/14

This is a letter Elder Allen wrote to the Young Men in his ward:

¨You gotta love this. Like seriously. You have to have a love for the Gospel. It was a lot harder than I thought. I really got humbled out here. You need to prepare yourself. We watched a Devotional Broadcast by Elder Holland and he told us that ¨This world needs better missionaries.This world needs the best missionaries. Go home tonight and ask yourself, do I really love God?¨ (Then he talked about peter.) ¨Do you love me?Yea Lord.Peter, do, you, love me?Yea Lord, I love thee.Peter, for the last time, do you love me?Yea Lord thou knowest I love thee.Then feed my sheep!!

He continued to say something to the affect of, ¨You cannot be a missionary who teaches this Gospel, teaches commitments, covenants, and then comes home and goes astray. You will break the very heart of God! Feed my sheep! You cannot go back to doing the same things you did before your mission. You cannot!¨ That is NOT what his gospel is about! It is about Change! Transformation! Being better! If you think you are doing everything right, then try harder. If you think that this work will be easy because you read your scriptures every day, and go to seminary, then try harder. Because this was a lot harder then I thought it would be. You need to go to Church every Sunday for the Entire three meetings. You need to decide today, if you Love the Lord. "If you love me, then keep my commandments." Feed my sheep! Just because you have a Testimony does not mean it is enough. You need to convert yourself every day! Study the Book of Mormon. Study Preach my Gospel. (I really really wish I would have done this more!) Go to seminary and be actively engaged. Be the kid who reads the Book of Mormon during Class. You will be blessed. Go to mission prep. Do everything that you can possibly do. Before you can teach the Gospel, you need to live the Gospel. And this Gospel is center around our savior, Jesus Christ. And He loves you all so much. Be the Missionary, The Son of God that he wants you to be. I know you can do it. I love you all so much.

Have love for one another. The first great commandment is Love God, And the second is like unto it, love thy Neighbor as thy self. If there is any back biting, evil speaking or hard hearts in this quorum, repent, make amends. Talk about it and get over it so you can be the Missionary God wants you to be!!! One thing that Bishop told me before I left was that "This isn't about you. It´s about the people.

And the Lord. Love them!" So now go. Get to work! This work that God has for you! "Tu eres mi hijo, y tengo un obra para ti.¨""You are my son, and I have a work for you." It pains me to see all the blessing that people throw away. And I know I cause pain for God when I Throw away blessing. Le's not discard these magnificent blessings Anymore! I will work with you! Lets get to work! We are as the army of Heleman, we have been taught in our youth, and we WILL BE THE LORDS MISSIONARIES TO BRING THE WORLD HIS TRUTH!

I Love you all so very much. And I know Christ does to. I know, without a doubt that your leaders do too. Listen to them. Listen to their testimonies for they are from their hearts, and from the Spirit of the Holy Ghost! Feel it. Yo sé que Jesucristo vive. Yo sé que El Libro De Mormón es la verdad! Y el tiene nuestro salvation! Lean lo!

Yo sé que José Smith fue un Profeta verdadera. Yo sé que Jesucristo lo ama. Y, yo sé que Obisbo Garzand es un Obisbo llamé de Dios. Escucha a él. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen Con amor- Elder Allen 

12/31/13

To answer all your questions:

 1. Elder Christensen is my comp. and he´s from Riverdale Utah! He´s pretty funny. We study kinda differently, but we've been working together pretty well so far!

2. Yeah the food is good! This morning we had bean burritos haha. And they have a peanut butter and jelly line! Woot!! And They have a APPLE JUICE FOUNTAIN!!!

3. We get to go into the city when we go to the temple. We get to drive though the city, but no, we really don't see any of the city. I´ve never set foot in the actual city since we were at the airport. All the other times have been in the Temple Grounds or the CCM (MTC) 

Oh Christmas Tree

What?!

Yum, Gum

Ah! Colorado! I miss you! Tell all my cousins that I love them!! And be safe as you drive!! I miss driving too! Love you so much! Have fun at her wedding! One of my room mates Elder Davis, is from Lacey Washington! Tell her I say good luck! And I love Aunt Margo!!!!!

How's dad been doing? Is he ready for surgery? I hope this takes away all his problems! Tell him I love him! 

Thanks mom! Love you tons! You are the Best Mother Ever!!!!!!

-Con Amor, Elder Allen

Merry "Little" Christmas

12/25/13
It´s so hot here. I miss the snow! And today is a suite day. So it's hot! Pretty much everything I need I brought with me. I did buy a new note book. Hey I gotta go! Love you a lot! Hasta la bye bye!

Elder Allen

VOCAL POINT!!! WOOT WOOT!

12/24/13

Hola Familia! Yo amo ustedes tan mucho! Comó estan ustedes? Habla me! 

I got to listen to VOCAL POINT!!! WOOT WOOT!  I love Vocal point! Haha, it was their Nearer My God to Thee! Oh yeah! Entoces. This week was pretty great. Sunday was probably one of the best days so far! Yo sentí el amor de JesuCristo tan mucho! Y yo tengo que dar gratitude a el por servioso con fureza y diligencia! So.... Christmas is tomorrow!! Woot woot!! I can´t wait to open my present!!:) Love you all so much. Tomorrow for Christmas we are making humanitarian kits for the babies thingys ... That should be fun! Haha. Gracias otra ves por su amor y su espiritú! Will you please get this E-mail to Joe Cary, and pretty much everyone else? Thanks! This Church is true!! En el nombre de Jesucristo Amen.

P.S. I can´t call on Christmas butIi can write again!! 

-Elder Allen

Look how great I made my bed Mom!

These are my room mates! Starting from left to right

Elder Christensen ,Elder King (He´s the tall one), Me, (And on the right of me is Elder Davis)

The mirror says ¨Tu eres mi hijo, y tengo un obra para ti.¨ It means, ¨You are my son, and I have a work for you.¨

Spanglish

12/17/13

We have taught this sister named Juanita (She´s actually a member just pretending to be an investigator) And she is getting baptized and coming to church and reading the book of Mormon! So that means she must have kinda understood us:) 

I miss the snow!!!

I´m now the new Zone Leader, So that's pretty awesome! I haven´t done much yet. When one of the branch presidency asked me and my companion my comp. thought he ask us to be the ´´Song leaders´´ Haha So he said yes and so did I, but I knew what he was talking about. Oh and I taught in priesthood la proxima semana! (Last week) And it was all in Spanish! I´m getting better! It'

s hard to fall asleep on time because my room mates say funny stuff and it wakes me up. No Bueno. So I've been trying harder. How are the priests doing?? How is our ward? How are the Kays? Love all you guys so much! I haven´t heard from Bro. Strong yet so someone get on that please. Thanks all so much! Love you!!;) OH AND I SAW DAVID AUST!! HE WAS SINGING IN ONE OF THE DEVOTIONALS THAT WAS BROADCASTED!!! I MISS THAT ELDER!!
Elder Allen

P.S. Tell everyone to go the temple!!!!! It is so important! Love you! Nos vemos!

This is for the Gutierrez Family

The book is true!

Me 

Me Dustin Ivers

Not Enough Info..

12/17/13

Haha No, I haven´t opened my Christmas present it yet! I love you too Ma! Thanks for all you have done for me! I´ve noticed how lucky I am to have you as my mom and teach me so much! Lots of these other Elders don´t even know how to make their beds or do laundry, it´s weird. So, Thanks so much!! I´m the New Zone Leader! Pretty sweet eh?? I Love you so much!

-Elder Allen

From the Mexico City MTC

12/10/13

Love you Mom and Dad!! It's been really good out here! Tell Harris I´m proud of him and to keep it up! And that I love him. I miss the snow!

Haha. It´s pretty crazy when when we go places outside of the MTC! We almost got in lots of crashes but, I not driving so its okay! Tell me how things are going and DON'T FREEZE And I hope that Dad isn't riding the bike! Ha because that would be no bueno! love you all so much!

We went to the temple today and it was awesome! They gave us head sets but I had one ear open so I could listen to all the Espanol! Yeah! I helped one elder give a book of Mormon at the Salt Lake airport. I translated for him! How sweet??? It´s been great! Then in Atlanta ME and the Elder I was with gave her a pass along card. She said she was so happy and that she would read the book!! Then she said that when I speak better Spanish that I should teach her about it! So I got her email and I´m going to try to get it to the missionaries in Spain! Our second day we taught a lesson all in Spanish! And I was amazed at how much I knew! It was sweet! And then yesterday we committed her to be baptize and to read and pray that the book of Mormon is true! It´s been so much fun! I love you guys so much! Read "We are all Enlisted" by Elder Holland! Tell everyone!

 Haha. And It´s been good and hot. I really miss the snow!! I want to go snow snowmobiling....

 Love you all! Keep writing!!

-Elder Allen

Short and Sweet

Hola mama! I'm safe and happy! I already place my first libro de mormon. My comp is Elder King! He´s cool! This is so awesome!! :) I Love it! Y flying was muy facil! Love you Ma! And Love you Dad! Wahoo! (I sorta hope my letter don't sound like Levi´s, but, it's awesome! Like Seriously;) Hehe:) Well, I gotta go! Love you!!

-Elder Allen:)