September 8th, 15th and 22nd

Sept. 8th

This week was really good! We have worked hard! :D Oh yeah!

We are teaching a lot of new people! "F" She has cancer and also just got out of the hospital from having a blood clot. She really likes the Plan of Salvation. 

La Familia "P" They are awesome and I get to speak Spanish! So.... it's super important to get members out with us because my Companion is a English called missionary. haha. They are so cool and want to be baptized. At the end of the lesson they told us that they wouldn't be able to make it to church this last week so we need to set a baptismal date. They are a Father, Mother, 14 yr boy, 12yr girl, 10yr girl and some younger kids. The spirit is always really strong and love the Plan of Salvation!

La Familia "L" Super cool as well! Mother and 3 children. The father works crazy schedules but they strongly feel the spirit.

"M" She is super awesome too! Going to be baptized on the 2 7th of Sept. Her recently activated husband is going to baptize her! :D Wahoo!! :D

I have really came to love these people. Relationships are one of the reason we are here on earth. To love, help and serve each other. And then for these relationships to last forever, through the eternities. I love you all so much. I pray that I'll be with you in the Celestial Kingdom. Am excited to be with all my loved ones forever! So, Keep it up!  I'll keep up my side of the bargain if you keep up yours.(wink)

Love Elder Allen

Sept. 15

 So this week was really good! We Had Zone Training! :D Wahoo! I loved it! And PS. This next week-end we get our Transfer calls.

We have such good Leaders here in this mission. I learn so much from them.

So we've been teaching one of our recent converts "C" and "L" It's going really well.  We teach her, and so she can remember better, she draws it! Then we have her teach it back to us! So coo! The spirit is amazing!  We are going over there for dinner tonight and I'm excited! Oh, and My Bike Got stolen.... Hmmm..

We drove out to Tuccumcari to do a Baptismal Interview on Friday! (It's about and hour and a half away.) We took the Sister's car, (Sister Christofferson and Sister Pepperdine. Both from Spanish Fork) and drove out there. It was a good trip. And, while we were there, we had a "Subway Feast!" courtesy of Grandma Harris. She's the Best.

It was a really good week! And this one is going to be a really good too.

I love you all a lot! I'm working on getting better at these E-mails! Love you tons!

PS. I cannot get any of my pictures onto the E-mail... hmmm...

Love Elder Allen

Sept. 22

This has been a great week! We did tons of service! It was sweet. On Tuesday we were biking down the road and saw a U-Haul by a house. We rode up to it and asked if the needed help. At first the guy was kind of iffy. But when we got off the bikes and took off our helmets, he agreed. It was fun. Moving people is the best! It turns out he's from Louisiana, a Cajun! He wants to cook us some Jambalaya! Woot! Woot! We will of course teach him about the great plan of The wondrous and everlasting God of the universe! We have high hopes for him and his step son. 

On Wednesday we had dinner with a Spanish family that goes to the Spanish branch. It was really good food! Spicy! I have come to love spicy food! I eat jalapenos all the time. I eat a Habanero in one day over a few meal. It was good!

We've been teaching "C", our newest member. She is just the best. She is getting married on November 14th and I hope I'm still here for that. They both are awesome! I have really developed a love for the people here, more than any whee else on my mission so far. 

On Thursday my borrowed bike had a flat.... so we walked everywhere. It was fun though. That night I patched it up and then we taught "C" again.

On Friday it rained like crazy! It was awesome! It's been raining all week but Friday was crazy. We went to a member's house for some yummy dinner. We then taught their really, really awesome friends. Then... we found out they live in the Sister's area (Sisters Christoferson and Pepperdine, both from Spanish Fork) so we turned them over. We also taught "M" who is getting baptized on the 26th of September. Of course, she's awesome!

On Saturday we helped our neighbor move a bunch of stuff into his storage unit. He's in the Air Force and getting deployed. He's not allowed to tell us what he does. The Air Force has  a Special Operation Base here. They do cool stuff here. Our ward mission leader is deployed but the assistant is a Boss! The we taught "D&R". We have been teaching them since I got here.  They are 15 and 16 and want to be baptized, but we have to work on their parents first. We're trying to teach them too!

On Sunday "D&R", "C" and her fiance, a less active family and "M" and her husband all came to church! The sister brought "I" and said he had a baptism date! Then we had 2 member lessons and then we got "C" home teachers over to her house for a lesson. Sunday was THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!

Today I found out who stole lmy bike! Yay! The guy tried to sell it to a person we've taught a couple of times. He got all of the guys info and we called the police. They are working on it. So maybe, Yay?!

Our Stake is being reorganized and our Zone is also. We are going to be in the new Zone so I'm not sure if I'll still be a District leader. I'll find out tonight. It is all done in inspiration, I know that for a fact.

Everything is well in Clovis South! I love you all and we are hastening the work!

Love,

Elder Allen

"Well hi theeeeere :)"- Alex the Lion from Madagascar. (That's for Alex Delbar :D)

This week has been really good! On Saturday we set a goal to have 20 Morning Teachings. (Morning teaching Includes: Talking to someone outside, Bearing testimony, teaching Unique/restored truth, and leaving a commitment.)

The most I've ever gotton in one day was 24 or so. So to prepare ourselves for this task, we role played morning teaching and discerning their concerns and using the Book of Mormon as much as we could. So when we found a question, or concern we addressed it with the Book of Mormon. And that is actually what I instructed on in District Meeting (Using the Book of Mormon in contacts and as much as possible) and so we were doing our best. We picked out our "Arsenal" of scriptures and went to work. And we got 30!! It was pretty awesome! When we prepare, the Lord provides. We met some really cool people!

"J" (The one who just got baptized) Passed the Sacrament on Sunday! Wahoo! It was sweet! He's a boss! And Elder Engstrom (My Companion) is a natural born teacher! It's pretty awesome! Being a trainer is fun andiIt's hard. haha but I like it. I've been blessed with him, he's excited, converted, and is a good teacher! So it's kinda easy. I guess the hard part is that these two transfers will set the tone for his whole mission.... Dun dun dun!  He's a really good missionary.

"E" (One of our investigators) moved to California.... and then texted us and asked if, "If one of you were to baptize me, would I need to go back there? or could you come to California?" haha it was pretty cool!

Welp, I gotta go! Or "... Blow this Popsicle stand!" As Phineas would say. 

Remember, The church is true, The book is blue, and you have work to do. And... Families don't slip away. I love you all so much! Keep and remember the covenants you made in the Temple! :D

Con amor, Elder Allen :D

 PS.... "Am I sweating milk?"

New Trainer!

8/11/2014

This week has been really good! We have been teaching this one girl, E, now for a little less than a month, and she is ready! Soooo ready! She goes to the Spanish Branch with her Sister. She knows the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet! She's awesome! She has prayed to know if this is what she needs to do and she said that every time she does, she feels happy. :D YES! And she likes it! The only thing is, she's moving back to California in 2 weeks. So she's deciding if she should get baptized here, or in California. I honestly thing she should get baptized in California so she will have fellowship from the ward so we are fasting about it. She's scared about how her mom will feel because her older sister (The one she is living with) got baptized and her mom was sad. So, we are also fasting about that. It'll all work out. Some of the most spiritual lesson I've had were while teaching her. :D

And, also big news, every Saturday we get texts of all the people that have been baptized that week. One of them was someone that Elder Duffy Baptized (My trainer) And.... dun dun! We started teaching her together and she finally did it!  :D So awesome! :D Haha!

Other big news, we got our transfer calls Saturday night, and... I'm staying here in Clovis NM. And I’m getting someone from Provo. Yup! I'm training and he's an English speaking Elder! As in, doesn't speak or teach in Spanish! So, I'm going to be teaching all the Spanish lessons. We have a couple people we are teaching in Spanish (Haha) so this will be fun! :D Well, I love you all! Keep doing missionary work and sharing the "Good News"! And then refer them to the Missionaries :D Yehaw!

Con mucho amor, Elder Allen  

Baptism!

8/4/2014

Haha this week was good! We had a Baptism! :D Yehaw! And Also, a confirmation! So that’s good that those both happened... :D

And, Also at church, one of our investigators bore his testimony! I'll set the stage.

His Girlfriend, (R) Got up to go the bathroom or get a drink or something, and I turned to him (D) and said,
Me- "I totally thought she was going to go bear her testimony!"

D - "Me too. I would, but I don't know how."

Me - :D (This is probably what my face looked like) "Oh, well all you gotta do is go up there, say what you know is true, say 'in the name of Jesus Christ amen. And go sit down"

D- :O (His face) "Oh okay"..... Hey what’s that guy’s name who translated the plates into the Book of Mormon?"

Me- "Joseph Smith"

D- "Oh yeah. I forgot." "If I faint up there, just come pick me up and leave."

Me- "Yeah okay, Just don't lock your knees"

 He was really nervous haha. He got up there, and what he said was, "Oh my!" haha it was funny! "Elder Allen, I locked my knees!" Then he went on to explain how he first met us. He goes on to say, "I was walking to someone's house and I was in a really bad mood, probably the worst mood I've been in all summer. And then Elder Bradley and Elder Allen came up and talked to me. And they said 'Hey, we are coming to your place on Monday, so be ready.' I said, Okay. And then they actually showed up! Since then I've been able to understand the Bible more, and God more. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I'm going to go sit down now...."

My District

 

It was really cool! Lots of people came and talked to them after that. And Also to C (The one who got baptized). So it was really good! They all have lots of fellowship!

And, on top of all that, I met one of Skyler Hardman's Mission Companion! He's down here selling Vivint. It was pretty sweet! So he took a picture and sent it to Skyler. He said he was going to tell you guys, hope he did!

Microwave before

It was been a good week! I cleaned the Stove, Tub, and Microwave today! All before E-mails!

Microwave after

Oh, And, Sister Christofferson's Companion went home :/ But she will be getting the care and help that she needs. So that’s good. Her new companion is from Spanish Fork too! But I don't know her. She was home schooled so I don't know her. But she looks kind of familiar.

 District meeting went really really well! I had one person out of each companionship teach on a principle that I felt would help the District, then had the other bear testimony on a principle someone else taught. It was really cool! And then I went on Exchanges with the Zone Leaders and It also went really well! We taught this guy who had a dream of the Spirit World! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO! My jaw was on the floor. Pretty sweet!

But yes! All in all, a great week! I love you all so much! :D thank you for the Birthday wishes! I hope it was a good day for you too! :D Tehe! I love the Lord and This work. The Book of Mormon is true and is the most perfect thing that has been on the earth Except for Jesus Christ himself. I invite you all (All of you. Yes you) to read it and do as Moroni councils, to read it, ponder it, and pray about it to know if it is true! And then to act on the answer you receive! (Be Baptized, or live the Gospel more fully). Love you all! This Gospel is Happiness :D

Con amor, Elder Allen

Sweet Crash

7-21-2014

This week was really good! We have been Teaching D and R a lot and they have progressed a long way! D told us that he prayed and felt the spirit really strong and knows that the Book of Mormon is true! And they have a baptismal date for the 16 of August. It was originally for the 2nd but we moved it back because they have some questions and R mom is catholic and doesn't want her to be baptized. They are both 14.

I also had a pretty sweet Crash. We were cooking down the road to go in for the night and the stop light turned red so I started to slow down and down shrifted so I could have a better start when the light turned green. So I turned onto the sidewalk and unbeknownst to me there was this patch of gravel, I went on it sideways and my front tire gave out and I did a Ninja Roll and stood back up! My backpack saved me because it was so nice and soft :D it was pretty sweet!

Also! This week was Zone training and it was really good. We have really, really good Zone leaders! The spirit was really strong and we also got a new investigator named, C (Haha it's just a letter, Haha) Her baptismal date is for the 2nd. She has a  desire to be baptized. So we just need to help her understand everything. It's kind of hard for her to learn but she has that Desire! :D Woot, woot!

We helped this guy in our ward who has been coming out with us a TON by laying sod! So fun! I have missed yard work! We also helped the President of the Spanish Branch do some service for his friend who has Leukemia, and then yesterday we went and gave her a blessing. She is really nice and has a lot of faith. We are going to start teaching her soon hopefully.

So, in total, we gave three blessings this week, two people with Cancer, and one to this lady who is going to be a new investigator. She already knows who's going to baptize her and everything! She was raised in the church but was never baptized, we are way excited! :D   Yesterday In church I gave a talk about  obedience. I used the Story of the Stripling Warriors! One of my favorite! :D

This week has been great! Elder Bradley and I are getting along really well (:D) and we are working hard and teaching people! I love it! Thank you so much for all you do! Help the Missionaries! Get them people to teach! I love you all so much!

con amor, Elder Allen

Clovis, NM

So Clovis is still pretty flat. It's actually not as hot as San Angelo and it's a pretty small town. Kinda the size of Spanish Fork. Maybe a little bigger. It's been a lot easier to know my area! I like it. My new companion is Elder Bradley. He's from Delta and Grand Junction Colorado. He's doing good! We are talking to a lot of people and working hard. There are some things that we are working through but it is going good. He listens to my advice and I listen to his so it's good. I've been a lot more sensitive to the spirit! And yeah, as a District Leader I have late nights, tons of planning and praying a lot. And needing to be bold and be clear with the rules. And really know who I face. The congregation, or the Brethren. And I'm doing my best to face the Brethren. And sometimes I feel like I'm standing alone. But Just like in the talk "Cost and Blessing of Discipleship" By Jeffery R. Holland, He talks about how we need to defend our faith.
 "Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them. A long history of inspired voices, including those you will hear in this conference and the voice you just heard in the person of President Thomas S. Monson, point you toward the path of Christian discipleship. It is a strait path, and it is a narrow path without a great deal of latitude at some points, but it can be thrillingly and successfully traveled, “with … steadfastness in Christ, … a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.”¹⁹ In courageously pursuing such a course, you will forge unshakable faith, you will find safety against ill winds that blow, even shafts in the whirlwind, and you will feel the rock-like strength of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fall.²⁰ In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen." I really like this talk! :D 

So, about the Camera. I haven't got one. And... It would be really really nice if you could get me one... :) and just take out money from my account for it. I would love that:D I haven't gotten my package yet. It went to my old address. It should, "Should" come this week. I hope so! I'm a two pant guy right now! haha. OH, and I've lost around 24 pounds since coming from Mexico! I weigh about 159. CRAZY!!!!!!!! I need to start doing lots of push-ups now so I can get more muscle. I love you too mom!

"Regular Gum!"

sorry.... I don't have any time for blogging! This week was good! I went on my first exchange as a District leader and It was successful! I also had my first District meeting! Funny story, Sister Kadee Christofferson is in my District and during a meeting I called her Kadee. Super embarrassing! And I have stuff to work on :D haha. So this next one will be better. Tomorrow we go to Roswell (Alien land) to meet the new mission President! WOOT WOOT :D I'm pretty stoked! We have been talking to almost EVERYONE that we see. (Levi would write like this huh?) haha and we have a bunch of return appointments! Pretty sweet! :D Sorry for the short Blog. But I love you all tons!

Elder Allen

Sister Kadee Christofferson, Hayden's Senior Prom date. He is now her District Leader.

"Oh yes honey, It looks like a rhesus monkey wearing a powdered wig."

"Close your mouth honey, flies might get in"

This week has been really good! We have been talking to everyone that we can and I love it. I can't wait to go and follow up with the people that we've met! Elder Bradley and I are getting along really well and are working hard. I'm really excited to work with this District! :D I love them already!
We met this really cool guy this last week. His name is K. He's a less active and hasn't gone to church since he was like 14. He has had a really hard life and also made some wrong choices. We met him as we were biking and talking to people. His Mom let some people park their trailer in their yard

 and stay there for a little bit if they didn't cause any trouble, but they did, and the cops got called and there was just a really big mess. So K was outside picking up garbage and decided to kneel down and pray for help.  When he opened his eyes we were biking up to talk to him. He told us his story and that he really wants to come back to church and to change his life. He is willing. We told him that the first thing that he needs to do for the repentance processes is to Talk to the Bishop.  He said he knows and that he'll do it. I have a lot of faith that he will change his life! I'm so excited!

This ward is pretty great! It's a air force ward so soon lots of things are going to change. The church kind of reminds me of the old 4th ward building.

I love you all,

Elder Allen

MILK IS SO EXPENSIVE HERE AND SO IS LAUNDRY. But, that’s okay! Haha. Who needs clean clothes any way. :D

Agent Allen

Toilet exploded