September 24, 2014- Because of Him

Hiiiiiiiii, how is it going??

Well this it. This will be my final email before flying home 1 week from today! I can not even believe where the time has gone!!!! 

I've been thinking back to the beginning and how much Gods hand is in our lives every single day if we allow it. I remember when I first felt strongly that I needed to serve a mission but had no desire and was too young at that point anyway. Then the age change, I was now qualified to serve a mission ASAP. That freaked me out. A few months went by and my heart was extremely softened and now more open to the spirit which testified to me that I needed to serve a mission. Next thing I knew my papers were in, got my call, entered the MTC, and now here I am. 

I am so extremely grateful for this time I have had to serve the Lord and people here in Southern Utah. More than anything I am grateful for all that I have learned and how much my testimony has been strengthened. I thought I was converted before coming on a mission but now I know without any doubts that I am. The mission is such an interesting thing because my testimony has never been so tried, tested, or denied but with that opposition it has pushed me so much more! 

My favorite thing about being a full-time missionary is the constant spirit and guidance we can have at all times to be instruments in the Lords hands if we allow it. Yes, I know we can do that as normal member missionaries but I believe its different. This is the one time where we can completely devote all our time and attention to serving the Lord. I have loved praying every single day for the Lord to be my companion and oh the miracles we see as we succumb to His and the Fathers will.

I have loved being able to see people change. The atonement and spirit works miracles!!!!!!! I remember teaching Pat who was so stubborn and for the longest time would not allow himself to listen to the spirit. But he eventually did and was baptized and in February can be sealed to his beautiful wife and sons! Or Jay who decided on his own to take out his earrings and stop drinking beer just because he no longer had the desire after reading the Book of Mormon. Ah the list could go on of ways I have seen people change. 

I am grateful for Jesus Christ and for all that He has done for me, you, and everyone! Because of His sacrifice we can all have peace and joy. We can all one day return to live with Him and with our families again. How great is this gospel!!!!!!!! Please watch Because of Him if you haven't before.

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way of life. To the extent we follow it and incorporate it in our lives, to this extent will we be blessed and prospered." -Gordon B Hinckley

I love you all and thank you so much for supporting me during my mission!!!!!!

~Sister Allen
summerallen@cox.net
2432 E Minton St
Mesa, AZ  85213

September 17, 2014, Two weeks to go

Hiya, hows it going??

I am doing fantastic!!!!!!! This week is great, I just love life right now!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

So after last Pday we headed out to Colorado City where we were meeting up with the Kaibab sisters, Sister Davis and Sister Luebbert. Then we exchanged and I got to be in the Kaibab area with Sister Luebbert. It was amazing! We stayed the night with Bishop and Sister Adair for the Mocassin ward and it was so good to see them. I just love them! Then the next morning we went out into Colorado City and visited with people, than off to Fredonia and Kanab. I saw so many people that I love!!!!!! Kaibab is the place where I felt like I really grew a ton. I was there my 3-5 transfers! So I was still a little greenie and that is also where I trained. Which pushed me a ton. Going out there again just has got me thinking of all that has happened in the last 17 months of my life! I will forever treasure this time and Kaibab will forever have my heart. The exchange was amazing. Sister Luebbert is just fantastic! Its amazing to see how much she has grown as well! We didn't have a dinner apt that night so guess where we ate? The Junction!!!!!!!! Mom you should be jealous! ;) But we can eat here when we come visit. It was crazy too because Sister Luebbert got her flight itinerary when we were together. Its becoming more real.. Ahhh anyways..

Monday night was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! We actually found people home! Best.night.ever. We have had so many referrals lately to contact (blessed!) and its been hard to contact them but we were able to contact a few and get like 3 return apts!!!!!!! We visited with this girl named Savannah for a while. Her and her husband got sealed about 2-3 years ago but haven't been too active since. She opened up to us a ton and I am so excited to go back and work with them. You know when you just meet some people and you just connect? That's how it was. It was just so comfortable, like I know we were both sent here for them. I love it! That same night we got a call from a ward mission leader, bishop, and a member all with the same golden referral! We set an apt for the next day (now yesterday) and we were able to pick her up as a new investigator. We were on exchanges again so I wasn't there but Sister Calves says she is so amazing! Did I mention her name is Eve and she is 93 years old. She is living with her doctor and his wife. Haha I'm so excited to meet her.

Sarah is doing great! She is keeping all her commitments and loves everything. She just eats it up. Her mother is still not sure about it all but Sarah is continuing to push forward!

I just love this work. I love being able to see people change and being able to help people feel and understand the spirit.

Oh also something exciting- The Ogden temple is being dedicated this Sunday and we get to watch it! Sister Calves has never seen one so I'm excited for her. And it has been so long for me too.

Picture directory:

- Sister Calves knocking doors

- Sister Luebbert and I with Cocoa

- Good ol' polygamist doors that the sisters heart attacked

~Sister Allen

881 S River Rd.

St George, UT 84790

Friday September 12, 2014

Hello my loved ones! How is it going??

Sarah is doing great although no longer on date for baptism for September 27th. Her mom doesn't feel that she is mature enough to make the decision yet. But Sarah has such great faith and isn't letting this get her down. She is continuing to meet with us, read the Book of Mormon and pray every day, and go to her ward every Sunday. And she loves it!!! She was used to going to other wards with her friends but we invited her to go to her own ward and she loved it. She said she loved no longer being a "visitor" and that she felt comfortable there in her ward although she doesn't really know any of the Young Women. I am just so excited for her and this journey that she is on. She will do great things in this life! Pray that her moms heart will continue to be softened and that she will see Sarah's dedication and testimony!

We had Zone Conference and MLC this week with Elder Don R. Clarke from the first quorum of the seventy and ah they were both so great! He is an amazing teacher. Extremely bold but loving. Where to even begin?? So Tuesday at the Zone Conference we talked alot about preparation, true conversion, and what "the work of salvation" is. It was amazing but after the conference I kinda felt chastised. I just realized I still have a lot to work on! People say that you start to get everything down at the end of your mission.. Well I am pretty close to the end and I don't think I got everything down. But I realize that is okay. That is how it should be. We should be learning new things every day and applying them every day. Once we feel we get something down then something else comes up to work on. Its a process but a great process because it causes us to change and repent and try harder to become more like Christ each day. I don't understand people that think we just need to accept Christ as our Savior and then we're saved. I would feel sad honestly. Elder Clarke kept saying "Happy always: Content never." I have felt content at some points in my life but I felt like things were lacking too. We either are increasing or decreasing in something. So I realized that its okay that some of the things he talked about I need to work on still. But I can say that each day I have done the best that I knew to be the best that day. At the beginning of my mission I tried my best every single day but today my best is more and so each day I need to give more. Does the make sense? The next day we had MLC, which is apx 20 missionaries including the STLs and ZLs, President and Sister Center, and Elder and Sister Clarke. Talk about scary and intense. But it was great! Elder Clarke talked alot about how we need to apply everything from the mission to our lives when we return home. We need to continue to set goals and make plans every week. We need to think everyday of "Who am I helping?" If we apply the things we learn from our mission and continue to seek out for those that we can help than our missions never end, which they shouldn't. Ah it was so great and it was just what I needed. I no longer have fears or feel like I'm going to throw up when I think about going home haha! I have allowed my mission to truly change me and that's not going to stop when I walk off the plane. My mission has changed my life and will continue to as I let it everyday.

I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have each and every day to testify of our Savior. We have ran into a few people this week that don't believe God loves them or knows them. It makes me so sad!!!! Because I know God is sooo aware of us, our situations, desires, struggles, everything! If you dont know this than I invite you to pray. Ask Him if hes there and if He cares. I know that we can all know for ourselves. Dont take my word for it.

Thank you all for supporting me through this journey! Love you! Hope you have a great week! My Pday next week will be Wednesday again!

Picture Directory:

- Sister Calves getting attacked by a dinosaur

- Last Pday at the Dinosaur Museum

- Hot Air Balloon early last Sunday morning :)

- We have fun at the Visitors Center (Sister Martin)

- More fun at the VC when its slow- Our new "angry baby" face

~Sister Allen

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

 

 

 

September 3, 2014- "Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto Him continually." -Alma 34:27

Hiya, Hows it going??

Heads up this may be shorter than normal.

Our area has been pretty slow lately.. After we sent in numbers Sunday night we just felt so down. There is so much potential in our area but it's a matter of finding them and meeting with them! It seems like all our investigators have been out of town the past 2 weeks or just busy. So as we knelt down to plan Sunday night we pleaded with Heavenly Father that we could find a new investigator the next day. As soon as we say 'Amen' the phone goes off and we have a text from Sarah! I think I talked about Sarah maybe 1-2 months ago. Catch up: She had come into the Visitors Center with a member friend back in July watched the Restoration DVD and Gods Plan for his Family. She said she wanted to be baptized but wanted to wait til she was 18. Well we have been texting on and off since then trying to meet up. She has been super busy with vacations and now school and volleyball. (She is 16, senior in high school) Okay so in the text Sunday night she said she wanted to come talk to us while we are on shift at the Visitors Center. So she came in and right away she said that she knows she wants to be baptized but still wait til she is 18 because she is not sure of what her parents would say. We talked for a while with her and showed her the Mormon Message "Courage" and then she got a blessing from one of the senior elders. By the end she was in tears and just knew she wanted to be baptized now! Ah miracle! She is just so sweet and ready. She told us she was going to pray a lot and read the Book of Mormon and get back to us. Well she texted us the next day (now yesterday) and said she is going to talk to her mom so we set up a first official appointment. She isn't worried about her mom not allowing her to meet with us but she wants the support as well. And of course we would love to teach them as a family. So we will see :)

Random things from the week:

I went on 3 exchanges since last Pday. Its been crazy but I love it. I love learning from other sisters and being able to love them even more! 

The Visitors Center has been so slow but we have gotten 3 Asian buses the past week which is super rare! They are so nice and fun!

Last week for Pday we went geocaching. (Google it) It was so fun to do something different! And today we are going to Taco Bell and to the Dinosaur Museum. It's Sister Biery's bday tomorrow and she loves Dinos and Taco Bell so its perfect! I am really trying to live up my last Pdays on the mission. Time is flying!!!!!! Ahhh!

Next week we have Zone Conference and MLC (With Don R. Clarke, from the Seventy) so my Pday will be Friday next week and then will move back to Wednesday the following week.

Picture Directory:

- Sister Calves and I

- Fun at the VC with former comp, Sister Phagwah

- Saw Charlotte (one of my old investigators form Colorado City)

- Exchanging with the Kanab Sisters :)

LOVE YOU ALL!

PS: I know I don't have much time left but yall can still write me! :)

August 27, 2014

Hello familia y amigos!!!!!!! How is it going??

Wow seems like forever since I've been on here, ha its been a whole 9 days. I'm sure so many things have happened so we will see if I remember it all. I'm also kind of running out of time.. Whoops!

Okay we will start with my new companion, Seour Gaell-Morgan Calves from Bretagne, France! I love her so much! Oh my goodness, she is just the sweetest!!!! She is just so excited about everything. She is always happy and just wants to work. It's great :) 

We moved into a new apartment this week, or casita/guest house/mother-in-law/whatever you want to call it. Here in Southern Utah they call them casitas. Anyways, it is sooo nice! The family we live with, The Parrishs, own 10 of the McDonald's here in St.G so to say the least they are pretty well off. So we are spoiled. Did I mention our bathtub has jets?? 

Anyways, Eric got baptized on Saturday!!!!!!!!! Aw so excited!! He just makes me so happy! He changed so much from the first day I met him to his baptism date (7 weeks). His heart was so extremely softened. He went from only wanting facts and proof to going off the spirit and feelings he felt. He is such an example to me of following the promptings we receive and letting them changes us! Unfortunately he moved to another stake here in St.G so he will have the after baptism lessons from other sisters. But that's okay, he is where he needs to be and doing what he needs to do.

Things have been kinda slow lately with lessons. School started 2 weeks ago and ever since it has been slow. Which is weird because you think people would buckle down but they haven't quite yet. But we were able to get in and see Dale and Immi. We saw him last Sunday night, so my last when I was still with Sister Hokanson. At the end we go to give him a handshake and he pulls Sister Hokanson in for a hug but she didn't know what he was doing and so it ended up being this awkward side hug. Then he does the same to me and it ended up being like a "bro hug". As we are walking out he asked why Sister Hokansons hug was so weird and awkward and of course we explained to him that we can't hug males on our mission and he voice his opinion (like always haha) and talked about how weird that is. The next day he calls and I answer as Sister Hokanson is driving and he starts telling me how offended he was because she didn't properly hug him. He made some other weird and prideful comments and after we talked about it for 15 minutes we hang up. So when we go back to see him, now Sister Calves and I, we have to bro hug him. (Dont judge) but oh my gosh.. I have to say that was the weirdest experience of someone getting offended over. We taught him the Restoration the next time and he has lots of questions but still very open I feel... Anyways we will see with them. He has still gone to church every week since they moved here 2 months ago, except once. She has only come once because she likes the Baptist church but we will see.

Funny story: This week we went to one of our investigator families, the Arzates, and as we were talking to her on her porch this wasp flies up right behind me and the little boy freaks out. So the mom freaks out too and is like "come in, come in!" I"m trying to push Sister Calves in and telling her to go in and she says (in her cute accent) "Oh I know.." And she pulls out a Book of Mormon and hits it! Hahahahaha then it got up and started flying around again so we finally all run into the house. Afterwards we were talking about and I guess Sister Calves that we were telling the wasp to go 

in not her. Oh my gosh, it was so funny! #languagebarrierprobs

It flooded last night and it was so crazy! I also was on an exchange with one of my former copmanions, Sister Diaz! So fun!

Okay I'm sure there is more but I am out of time! Sorry, love you all! And have a great week!!!!!!!!!!

Picture directory:

- Transfer day craziness in the rain

- Sister Calves and I tracting

- Our landlord haha

- Driving haha self explanatory

~Sister Allen

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

August 18, 2014- "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." -2 Nephi 5:27

Hello people that I love!!!!! How's it going??

Mission life is crazy and oh so amazing!!!!!!! Today marks day 1 of my last transfer! I can not believe it but can at the same time I can. I have thought a lot lately of my mission and of all the experiences I have had! Oh okay I need to stop getting all sappy but this week was soo sooo great and this week will be too!

Last Friday Mary (from my last area-Bloomington) got baptized!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! I was able to go to the baptism service and it was so great. She is hilarious! She is older and so kinda loosing it but nonetheless she was ready and prepared for baptism! She has been welcomed into the ward so great and awesome fellowshippers as well. There is a picture of us below and of course her dog, Tinkerbell is in it. She has to bring that dog everywhere. Except surprisingly never brought it to church but needed to have her watch her be baptized. As Mary came up out of the font, she said "Did Tinkerbell see!?" Hahahaha oh my goodness, it was so great!

Ok next exciting news- Remember George and Bonnie from Fredonia ?? THEY ARE GETTING SEALED THIS THURSDAY IN MANTI! And I got permission to gooooooo! Our senior couple in our stake, the Hensleys, are being so kind to drive us up there. I'm so stinking stoked. And Sister Hollander and her companion will meet us there!

Oh (tangent) that takes me to companions.... Transfer calls: Sister Hokanson is going up to Manti with Sister Pene. I will be staying in Washington Fields and Sister Calves will be my new companion. I am sad to have Sister Hokanson go and so far away but excited for Sister Calves!!!!!! This will be the first time that I will be companions with a sister that I actually know pretty well. We have served in the Visitors Center with each other before. She is from Brittany, France and has the cutest little French accent ever. Oh my gosh she is just so cute I'm excited!!!!!!!!! When President told Sister Hokanson and I we both just screamed on the phone. Haha! Sister Hokansons first area was Fountain Green which is not too far from Manti. We even guessed it because Manti was going to need a new STL up there. She is excited to go up north and to a small town again. 

More exciting news- Eric is getting baptized this Saturday, August 23rd!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH! Yes we have seen him multiple times this week but the first time we followed up and we asked if he had talked to his family about being baptized. He said "No.... but I still want to set a date." We said "Okay so when are you thinking?" There was a pause... So I said "Eric we know that you are ready now...." Then he cut me off and was like "Woowww I'm not ready right now. How about anytime after next Wednesday?" Hahahahaha Sister Hokanson and I were in shock. Apparently Eric thought I meant like that day? Haha who knows? So yes this Saturday he will be baptized! We have already seen the adversary come in since he picked a date but he is so strong and so ready!!!! I'm so stoked!!!!!!!! Ekkkahahaha!

Oh my birthday was this week and it was so great! Thanks for all the birthday emails, letters, and cards. I appreciate it! My birthday was as great as it could have been. It started out with our Sisters Training Meeting (VC sisters meeting every week) at 7:30AM at the Jacob Hamblin home where we got a tour from a senior couple, the Dabbs. So then we can tell more people at the VC about going there for tours. Then we went straight to Zone Conference which we had a few trainings on faith and miracles and then a testimony meeting. It was so fun, there was 4 zones there so a lot of missionaries and sso i got to see so many peopple I love on my birthday. Then we just went out in the area and did normal missionary work but it was great. Had dinner with one of WMLs, the Maclellans, and they are so funny I love them. Their sense of humor reminds me of my family.

Ahhh okay there is probably so much more that happened but I have to go. Love you all!

Picture directory:
- Marys baptism!
- Face masks :)
- Next few pictures are from Zone Conference :)

~Sister Allen
881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

August 11, 2014

Hellllooooo, how is it going??

This week has been so eventful!!!!! And a week full of many emotions!

So this week I had my first MLC. It is a 6 hour long meeting with President and Sister Center and the other leaders in the mission. I was terrified for who knows why, I just get nervous. President at one point asked what I liked about a story in the scriptures and I just sat there because I honestly didn't know the story that well.. and so I told him I wasn't sure. I felt so stupid for not knowing this story better, because I know I've read it and even know what chapter it was in, but my mind was just blank. Anyways, I was called to repentance by the spirit because it was a huge slap in the face that I should know the scriptures more. So i'm working on it. My memory is just horrible but I have been writing more in my study journal so it should help me to remember more. Anyways, The trainings were really good though! One was on working with members and the other on the importance of the Book of Mormon in conversion. It was fantastic and always a good reminder of these things! We had to do part of the training the next day at Zone Meeting so I got to study these things even more. It was great! I'm grateful for this transfer because it has pushed me so much to be better.

We went on exchanges this week with the Kaibab sisters! And I was able to go and stay in Kanab!!!!!!! Ah it was amazing! Like I didn't realize how much I needed it, but it was so sooo good! I love Sister Davis and it was our second exchange so we were just alot more comfortable with each other this time around. But she is a fantastic sister! We got there at like 4pm and had a lesson than dinner with one of the Bishops there! It was so good to see him and his family and catch up. Then one of my RC lives across the street so we got to go see them- Sue and Jim! Ah it was amazing to see them and see how far they have come since I left 8 months ago! Then we had another lesson with someone I didn't know but then we went and visited the Robinsons!!!!!!!!! Ah it was just amazing! It was so good to see these people that are so dear to me. I didn't realize it until I got there how hard it has been for me with these last 2 transfers. Last transfer Sister Garcia and I white washed and then I was transferred to Washington Fields. Its been hard to start over 2 transfers in a row. Because you really cant get too close to people in that short time and you don't get to see people progress as much. But going to Kaibab and seeing these people really helped me. It brought back so much to my remembrance that was really good. And to see as well how much I have changed since I have been there. It is hard sometimes to see if we have changed just day by day but going there and thinking of all the times there just got me thinking alot. Anyways, I'm just rambling now but it was amazing! Kaibab will forever be my home :)

But I am loving Washington Fields though! We have transfer calls this Saturday and I am really hoping that I will stay, I don't want to start over for my last transfer, but of course whatever happens is meant to happen! God knows best right!

So we had a fantastic lesson last night with Eric! Oh my goodness he is so close to baptism!!!!!!!!!!! Bishop Thibault and his son (who just returned home from his mission last week) joined us as well. We taught tithing and fasting, which by the way he has already fasted 3 times!!!!! WHAT who does that before we have even taught about it!? But he does have a fantastic fellowshipper and just finished reading the Gospel Principles book so it doesn't surprise me coming from him! It was so funny, Bishops son would start to say "Well we invite you to..." and then he would be like oh my gosh I cant do this I'm not the missionary! hahahaha it was so funny! We told him to continue though because they were great commitments! Anyways, Bishop asked him if he had set a baptism date and then just opened it all up, it was perfect. Pretty much long story short, Eric wants to get baptized but wanted to know how many lessons were left. We told him 2 and then he said he will talk to his family (who are not too crazy about the church) and next lesson we will set a date. Ahh woohooooo we were freaking out! So ecstatic for him!!!!!!

We also picked up 3 new investigators this week!!!! The Arzate family! They are so cute! We have just met with them once so far so more details later on them.

I am running out of time as always, but know that I love you all! I hope you all have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Picture directory:

- Sister Hokanson, Sister Vergara, and I at MLC

- Sister Leota and I at the VC

- Our sisters at Zone Meeting

~Sister Allen

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

August 4, 2014- "..the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness." -Alma 44

Hello everyone, how's it going??

Today is officially my parents last day of their mission!!!!! Insane right? I just can not believe where time has gone, but I am so grateful for this opportunity I have had to serve at the same time as them and to share all these experiences. It will be weird for them to be home and not missionaries, but at the same time it will be weird to go home and know that while I was gone they were missionaries. They left after me and will return home before me. Crazy!

Anyways, this week has flown by but at the same time some things seem like they were forever ago. For example, our interviews we had this week. We had interviews with President and Sister Center. I was nervous as always, and not feeling too well that day but they were really good actually!! I just love them so much!!!!!! Its kinda cool being at the tail end of my mission for one thing- that I am finally starting to feel comfortable around them and like we are just friends! I love them. I am maybe starting to feel excited for my first Missionary Leadership Council which is good because it's this week. I have realized so much lately about how we need to be a mission family! Its easy to go through our missions thinking of ourselves, our companionship, our maybe even our district but it just has hit me how much we need to be strengthened as a mission family. Maybe if we do that we can then be a church family. We talk about that but don't see it too much here. So I am excited for zone meeting this week and zone conference next week (on my birthday)!!!! I hope it pumps us up as a mission because it seems like everyone has been down lately.

On a good note- Eric has a testimony!!!!!!!!! YES Eric, our military, tough, no touchy feely investigator! We had a lesson with him the first part of this last week at the Visitors Center. We had him watch the Joseph Smith movie: the prophet of the Restoration. He told us afterwards that he didn't disagree with anything in that movie. Haha he's so funny. He always beats around he bushes when we ask questions like that. He likes facts and proof of things. Anyways,after we left we saw him like 2 blocks down just walking. We knew he had to be pondering on the things we had talked about! We then pulled over to pray for the great spirit we all felt and that he would be touched and recognize his answers. Then our next lesson he told us that he went on a walk after our lesson to ponder! (eeekkkk!) then he decided to walk around the temple!!! And that's when he told us he believes he has a testimony! He said its little but hey we got to start somewhere! Then the bishop texted us yesterday and said he got up and bore his testimony!!!!!!!!!!!! We are seeing him tonight and I am so excited to see where he is now. We having been slowly having him pray more specifically so tonight we are going to pray about a specific date to be baptized on. He has been slowly progressing but he is coming along :)

We picked up a new investigator this last week-Dale. He has gone to church the last 3 Sundays and paid his tithing all 3 times. Ya what the what!? Him and his wife, Immi, just moved here 1 month ago from Tennessee. A x-mission president and his wife in our area told us about them and had us go stop by. The first time we met Immi, she is Korean. We talked to her on their porch for maybe 5-10 minutes. They were baptist but looking around at churches here. She has gone to church just once so far. Anyways, Dale was sleeping at that time but we went back and met Dale Saturday. They both are liking it here so far and liked church but unfortunately she went to the baptist church yesterday. But funny- Dale came and he said he hopes she doesn't like the baptist church here and oped that they would have bad speakers. Haha anyways, they are super open and we are so exited! Hopefully we can pick up Immi as a new investigator as well. We did get her a Korean Book of Mormon so she was super excited for that! We shall see..

Funny story: So we came home one night and there was a ginormous spider on the wall right outside our door. It was terrifying oh my goodness! (There is a picture of it below) Anyways I didn't know what to do so I finally mustered up the courage to grab a basketball to throw at it. We had nothing else, okay!? So I threw it and I hit it perfectly and it just fell down dead! Ah God helped me with that one because I'm sure it wouldve attacked us if I didn't kill it the first time. Sister Hokanson got it on video so someday I will show it to you mom! Hahaha so funny! I think it was just preparing me for scorpions back home. Ugh anyways...

Sister Hokanson cut her finger this week and all we had was sticky notes. Hahaha she didn't think it would work but I convinced her that it would and it did! Hence the picture below!

Today we went to the temple and it was so good to go again. It had been like 3+ months since I had gone before. I love the temple!!!!! Just what I needed :)

Well I better get going but know that I love you!!!!!!!! Have a great week :)

~Sister Allen
881 S River Rd.
St George, UT 84790

July 28, 2014- "..and I did find peace to my soul" Alma 38:8

Hiiiiii, how's it going??

The gospel is here to bring us peace and happiness, hello!!!!!!! If we aren't happy then lets look at our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Christ and improve it! I love being able to see the difference in peoples lives as they live the gospel.

Today marks day 9 for Eric to be off coffee!!!! Pray that this will be an eternity thing though. He only committed to 9 days so we will see. But his fellowshipper/girlfriend, Debra is such a great support!!!! She has committed as well to live the Word of Wisdom better by being in bed by 10pm. Haha her and Eric made that deal. Debra left out of town this week so we had another lesson at the Hensleys, who are the live-in senior couple missionaries here for the stake. We decided that we needed to focus more on the atonement with Eric. He believes in the atonement and repentance but he feels like he is not worthy to repent. He thinks he needs to suffer more before he can be completely forgiven. Of course we know that repentance can be a process, sometimes longer for some sins than others but I know that repentance is real! If we say we can not repent we are disregarding the atonement and all the Christ has done for us! Anyways, we are trying to have Eric see and understand this. But Heavenly Father is smart and has his hand in everything. Last night Eric texted us and said "There was a good conversation in Elders Quorum today and on what? ...The atonement" Haha I love it! We will keep pushing forward with him though. We are kinda excited to have lessons without Debra there so we can touch more on the importance of eternal marriage, hahaha but really :)

Oh the Mechams are progressing so much!!!!! As we met with them this week we talked alot about how they have come closer to Christ as they have been reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and keeping other commitments. I just love them! Jay is just awesome! He told us that he loves the Book of Mormon and cant put it down. All time favorite thing to hear as a missionary. And Kerry isn't quite there but she does enjoy it as well, maybe just doesn't see the importance of it yet. She told us that she is concerned of what her family thinks of her meeting with us but great news- Another way Gods hand is in all things. So Kerrys parents work for a man who just got home about 1 month ago from being a mission president! Kerry said that they (The Morbys, mission president) are wanting to get together with Kerrys parents. And Kerry was like I think they want to teach them about the church too! Hahaha I'm sure they do :) I love sweet tender mercies of the Lord!

Danielle is one of our investigators as well. Not sure if I have mentioned her yet but she was supposed to get baptized last month but is living with her boyfriend, Klint. And they have a 2 year old son together so that stops her from moving out and shes not so sure about getting married yet. Well Klint is a member but not active and wasnt really ever. He never sits in on our lessons but we had dinner this week there and he came in for it! He opened up and told us about how he was raised in the church. He said his mom would take him to church but just drop him off and not stay. So he has just always had a bitter taste in his mouth about the church because of that. He hasnt felt God work much in his life, or answer his prayers. But it was so sweet because Danielle testified to him about how she has seen God answer her prayers. Klint doubts that and thinks its all just coincidence but thats okay, understanding comes through time right? We had another appointment with them last night but they cancelled. 

Pioneer Day was this week! We got a call the day before that the town was putting on a parade and celebration at the park downtown. There was just like 7 companionships that got called to go help down there. We got to walk in the parade, and then give tours of historic sites down there. It was pretty fun! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures but I will get some from the other missionaries next week.

Exchanges were really great this week! We got to go with the Kaibab and Kanab sisters. Yes my stopping grounds!!!! I actually didn't go in Kaibab but we did meet up in Colorado City so that was fun. And then later in the week I went with a sister into Kanab, and we actually spent all day up in the mountains in Alton. It was really fun and such nice weather, away from St George. I am learning so much doing this, being able to learn from other sisters! I think mroe than anything Ive learned that we all have struggles, we all have challenges but God is there for us. We preach that everyday but do we realize that He is real and that He can answer our prayers as well as those we teach? I think sometimes we can become nonchalant with the gospel but why? We shouldn't be. My studies have been improving lately and it makes me so happy as I feel like that is something I have struggled with. I love being able to read from the Book of Mormon and Preach my Gospel everyday. Especially the application parts in Preach my Gospel. Do you all have a Preach my Gospel? Missionary or not, I hope you do and study from it! I encourage you all to read Alma 36-38 and apply it as well. I just read those chapters this morning and my heart is so full. 

Picture directory:

- Switching back after exchanges with the Kaibab Sisters, Sister Davis and Sister Duval

- Mason, Danielle and Klints little boy

- Beautiful Alton, Utah

- Got to cross through Arizona and my old area this week :)

~Sister Allen

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

- Erika and I for the last time for 1.5 years. She is heading to the MTC this week, then off to Germany! So proud of her!

July 21, 2014

Hellloooo, hows it going?

This week has been so extremely eventful that I cant even hardly remember a thing. Ha lets give it a try..

Last week I didn't even talk about any of those we are teaching so I'll give you the low down now.

So we have Jay and Kerry! Jay is a less-active member and his wife, Kerry is not a member and they have 1 kid together (Zoey-2) but he has 3 from a previous marriage. Anyways can I just saw how much I love this family! Sis Hokanson and her last companion had started teaching them just a few weeks before I came in. Jay referred himself on mormon.org so obviously he is just so ready to become active again! And his wife, Kerry wasn't super open at first but she is totally warming up and had been keeping her commitments! She works at Walmart on the weekends but tries to get off for just 1 hour so she can make sacrament. So far she has succeeded once! This week for one of the lessons we taught them the Word of Wisdom. They both have a problem with coffee but have committed to pray about it.. I know, not as committal as we would like but we will see. When we were talking about the Word of Wisdom Jay said something like "You know I haven't even drunken beer since I started meeting with you and reading the Book of Mormon? I don't even know why, I just haven't." He is truly becoming converted and its not because of us but because of the power of the Book of Mormon! He is so into it right now and it just makes my heart melt! He just has a non-stop smile when we are there. 

We are also working with Trish, and her 2 kids- Berlin and Cruz. Trish and Berlin are less-active and Cruz (9) has not been baptized yet. It has been so fun to teach them because although Trish has been a member her whole life she has had so many questions! The Plan of Salvation lesson has been my favorite so far with her. There was a few times where she would say something like "Oh that makes so much sense!" I love when they recognize the Holy Ghost working on them to help them remember these things they once knew! Funny story with Trish. We were supposed to have another appointment Saturday night and she texted us cancelling because their hamster had been missing for 1 week but they started to smell him AKA they had a dead hamster missing somewhere in their house!!!! Luckily she had her dad come over with his dog to find it!

Another investigator we have is Eric. Ooohhh Eric. He is a hoot! He used to be in the Marines so is very much a logical thinker. We are trying to get him to listen to the spirit rather than his mind but hes getting there. Unfortunately I have missed the last 2 lessons with him because of exchanges. But he is progressing for sure! And he has the best fellowshipper, his girlfriend and her little 5 kids. Eric is currently not having coffee for 1 week. Pray for him :)

We are also teaching a cute girl named Bree(11). Her mother is less-active but is so ready to become active again! Bree is on date for August 9th! We had a fun lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the Visitors Center yesterday using pictures so we had a walking tour/lesson. She is so cute, always asking what she can read before we come back again.

Yesterday (Sunday) was crazy at the Visitors Center! We got there for our shift and all the sudden 4 French buses and 1 Italian bus pulls up! The lines for the bathrooms were insane! So Sister Hokanson and I marched them over to the church building across the street. Hahaha you should've seen us! We had like 25 French/Italian women following us and neither of us speak either of those languages and there was church going on. One lady asked what the building was and we told her it was a church. And she said "Church you teach? Temple you pray?" It was so cute! Afterward we had her go talk to a french sister to explain it more and she was just so happy! I just wish so badly I could have talked to them. Next time I'll pray for the gift of tongues ;)

Well, I wanted to talk about my exchanges with 2 of the most fantastic sisters but I am running out of time! I am so grateful for this opportunity though because I have just learned so much from both of them, and we got 2 more this week!

~Sister Allen

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

July 14, 2014- Welcome to the Fields :)

Hiiiii, hows it going?

This week has been pretty fantastic, super long but thats okay.. time can slow down now plleeaassee :)

So my new companion is Sister Hokanson. She is from Battle Ground, Washington. Born and raised. She has been out 1 transfer less than me so apx 13 months. This is now her 3rd transfer as STL and here in the Washington Fields stake. She is so great! We get along really well!!!! I was nervous just because I didn't know her very much at all but we actually have a ton in common. And her greenie area which she was there for like 7 months was Fountain Green AKA part of the Moroni stake. So on our down time (ha, like we have any) we talk about people we both knew and taught there. Its been fun! 

So this week I will do my first exchange! I would be nervous but my first one will be with Sister Roth in her area. Sister Roth and I were companions about 1 year ago in Kaibab so I am excited to be with her for a day :) And then my 2nd exchange this week is with Sister Luebbert and in her area also. Which is Washington East. Yaayyy I get to be with my MTC companion and in one of my old areas. I honestly didnt think I would go on an exchange with either of them because we are good friends but as Sister Hokanson have prayed and pondered about it we feel like this is right. These are both great sisters so I am excited to learn from them! Oh and next week we are headed to Kanab. Ekk excited for that. I am excited for this opportunity I have to be an STL. Although it is scary and exhausting I love that my thoughts are directed more toward other sisters than myself. And I am going to learn so much from these sisters! Who isn't happy when they serve?

So we have already seen miracles happening in this area! Sister Hokanson said it was pretty slow but the last month or so it has been picking up and I have seen that in just this 1 week. 

One night we were on shift at the Visitors Center and a non-member girl from our area came in that we didn't know but luckily some sisters had showed her he Restoration DVD and Gods Plan for his family. When we heard she was living in Washington Fields they had us come close one of the movies with them. This girls name is Sarah she is 16 and said she wants to be baptized! Hello miracle! She says she will probably wait til she is a little older but is still open to the lessons now. She just needs to get permission from her parents and then she will contact us. We shall see :)

Also another night at the Visitors Center is was about 8:50pm. 10 minutes before we were closing and a guy walks in the back and introduces this couple to us. One was from Sweden and the other from Croatia and they were both very interested in family History! (Mom will be proud :) So I got them on familysearch.org on the computer we have there and we were able to find her grandmother. She loved it. We also found the closest family history library to them in Sweden so they could go there when they return home. We also got her contact information to followup and teach her more about our beliefs! Awesome!

I also had a chat the other night in the teaching center from a guy in Nigeria and I was able to call him the next day and I am now teaching him! How cool is that! In the Visitors Centers across the world we get to keep in contact with people from all over and teach them! Its the best ever!!!!!!!!

I just love doing the Lords work!!!!!! 

I got to go, but hope you all have a great week!!

~Sister Allen
881 S River Rd
St George, UT 84790

New mission office address

Our mission office is moving by July 17th. So all mail needs to be sent to:

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790

Nathaly Spörl came to see her at the visitor center. She was her first companion is the mission field. 

Hi, hows it going??

I hope everyone is doing well and had a great 4th of July! Ours was pretty good. It was weird because it was supposed to be a normal proselyting day but we were worried we wouldn't find anyone home. We did have a shift at the Visitors Center and it was so slow that we were able to watch 17 Miracles and Ephraims Rescue! It was so great! Ah loved the movies! Those movies give you so much more an understanding of what the pioneers did for us! They had so many trials but such great faith!!!!! One of my favorite parts is when Brigham Young is asking some of the brothers who can go to save some of the handcart companies. Some of the men say "I can go next week" or "I can go Thursday" but Ephraims says "I can go now." Would we be ready now if our prophet was to ask us to do that? Guess what? He has! He has asked us to save our other brothers and sisters. Those that need help! We need to hasten the work. What are you doing to prepare your brothers and sisters to come closer to Christ? Think about it :)

Transfer Calls: I am being transferred again. Yes this will be my 6th area and hopefully my final as I only have 2 more transfers left.. Ah okay we are not talking about that. So I am being transferred to the Washington Fields Stake. Its here in St George so we will be at the Visitors Center still. My companion will be Sister Hokansen! I don't know her too well but know she is from Washington state and she technically was not called to the Visitors Center in her call but she was transferred there last transfer. Interesting huh?Also... we are going to be STLs. Ya I'm freaking out! But I just need to have more faith. I know I am being called for a reason, and I know its what I need. This last week I really felt like I needed something more. I have been working my hardest my whole mission but still felt like something was lacking. I needed something to push me more and so here it is! Haha God is funny but He knows what we need!

I honestly dont remember much from this week but as I hear news from Sister Garcia throughout the transfer I will continue to update you on my Bloomington peeps :) That is something I love about serving in the Visitors Center- that we can see sisters all the time. Ones we have served with and just ones we have learned to love while serving there!

Well gotta go, love you all. I pray for you all hope you will pray for me too!!!!!! 

Picture Directory:

-It poured this week! And of course we had to run out in it!

-We played volleyball with some sisters last Pday!

-The worlds best corndogs!!! 

-4th of July movie time at the VC

-Sister Waiane goes home Wednesday!!!! So sad!

-More 4th of July fun :)

-My mission mame, Sister Sporl, came down to visit!!!!!!!!

~Sister Allen

New mission office address:

881 S River Rd

St George, UT 84790