Transfer day

Ricci Cook wrote "We just love these sisters! Good luck in St George Sister Allen ! —

May 26, 2014- St George bound

Hi, How's it going??

Transfer calls: I will be going back down to St George, serving in the Bloomington stake and also the Visitors Center. I will be in a trio again and will be with Sister Garcia and Sister Arnold. I served around Sister Garcia for 1 transfer before I came to Moroni so I know her pretty well. Sister Arnold came in the transfer I came up here so she just finished training. It should be an interesting transfer that's for sure! Oh and Sister Diaz will be staying here in Moroni and training a Colombian sister! I am so excited for her. She will be a great mission mama! 

We told the Cooks about our transfer calls during the day and so that night after we got home they all came running down the stairs with marshmallows and we all had a good 15 minute marshmallow fight. Ah I love their family so much and will miss living with them!!!!! I just have really felt apart of their family and like their kids are my own nieces and nephews I could never express my thanks for them enough!

I have mixed emotions! More so sad now than anything else.. I was doing okay and felt like it would be good for me to go a new area.. Well yesterday was just a really really good day! I have felt so much love from everyone here.. Every single meeting they announced I was leaving and I guess I just didn't realize at how much I was really appreciated or had really helped. (I'll thank stupid satan for that) The spirit was so strong in all our meetings though, especially our stake missionary coordination meeting. I feel like things are now starting to change and progress.. All the ward councils have been getting so much better and our stake missionary coordination meeting! Haha of course as I am about to leave. Then we went to go say goodbye to some people and that was the worst idea ever! I do okay until people start to cry. We went and visited with Linda and her girls and we all just stalled me leaving and having to say goodbye. Her 3 year old girl, Tera just started balling and wouldn't let go of me. Then her 7 year old, Kate, started crying... Then Linda and then me. Oh it was a cry fest. I have loved this time I have had to work with Linda! She is so sooo strong! She used to be less active but is just on fire right now! She wants more than anything to be sealed in the temple and and have the priesthood in her home. Unfortunately her husband is gone a lot rodeoing (yes thats a word here in Sanpete County) so he has a hard time making the gospel more apart of his life. ) I hope and pray so badly that one day they will enter into the house of the Lord!!! 

We had a lesson with Ashley this week where we just read from the Book of Mormon, because she's been struggling to make it a habit. It went really well and she has such a desire to change and become more active as well. Also, Ashley taught the lesson that we had with her family this week!! It was so great!! She talked about getting along and loving others (from the Ensign), then had each one of her 5 boys say something nice about everyone else. They threw fits occasionally, insulted each other more than a few times, but as the lesson went on, the Spirit really came, and I think that all of the boys felt better by the end. Ashley was such a trooper! And she hasn't let how difficult it was discourage her, either. She said that she's seen a difference in her house since the lesson. And guess what?? They all came to church yesterday!!!! :) The last time they came together was over 4 months ago, and who knows how long it was before that! Yay!!!!! So exciting!

This week we went over to C house as K was having a meltdown. We had no idea and just showed up- perfect timing AKA the spirit!! But kids can be mean, and she's having to learn that not everybody is going to be her friend, and it's been really hard on her. C gave her a lesson using a mason jar of random change. She first had her decide what makes a good friend, then name all the really good friends she has. Then she put one quarter for each person in a jar. Next, they talked about what makes bad friends, acquaintances, and enemies, and puts a ton of pennies in another jar. Then she talked about the value of the people in our lives. We can listen to all the pennies and weigh ourselves down really easily, focusing on the wrong things. Too often, we ignore the advice and compliments of the quarters who try to help us. We can't listen to both voices. Listening to the quarters gives us a lighter load. :D I'm so proud of C! Tonight we are having a BBQ with them and Sister Diaz informed me I might want to wear water proof mascara this time. Ugh too bad I have none. But I am preparing myself for another cry fest!

I sure am going to miss Darwin and Mary soooo much! We had dinner with them this week and they told us how they first met! Hahaha so funny and cute and perfect for them! Darwin said that when he saw Mary he was at work but he walked right up to her and said, "You know you're my soul mate, right?" Then later, when her sister came back, she said that Mary had been thrown for a huge loop and had been thinking about him all the time since that day. Then they dated. Then they got married. And now look- they are headed to the temple!!!! :)

I am going to miss the Moroni stake a lot. I have learned a ton here! I think it has pushed me a lot as well. Teaching active members the lessons and teaching Gospel Doctrine was terrifying at first but it has been so good for me! Not saying I ever want to be a Gospel Doctrine Teacher as my calling but I know that I could do it. Of course I had faith that I could through the help of our Heavenly Father and Christ but I have seen that now. 

But really, there is no goodbyes. I will back to visit.. See you later Moroni!

~Sister Allen

107 S 1470 E STE 304

St George, UT 84790

Picture Directory:

- Just a little picture break in Chester (S Diaz)

- Seriously best weather and lighting ever :)

- Kate, Lynzee, Linda, and Tera- Sure going to miss them!

- Jumping for joy because of the beautiful weather

May 19, 2014- Be not spectators but participants on the stage of service

Hiya, how's it going??

This week was kind of slow... But we are staying positive as always!

We got super sun burned this week and have the worst missionary tan lines ever so I'm not even going to send pictures where you can tell Haha but it's baaadddd.

Good news: Maria came to the Relief Society Cinco De Mayo Activity and a few members of the ward came up and talked to her! Woohoo heaven points for them! We also met with her quite a bit this week. She even made us yummy tacos for lunch one day. She has been progressing so much and I was sure she was going to say yes to baptism! Kinda bad news: She told us she just remembered that she might have been baptized. We looked up her records and sure enough like 45 years ago she was baptized! But of course that doesn't stop us from teaching her. She needs the gospel just as much as anyone and she is just so hungry for it!

We got to have a lesson with just Ashley this week and we talked about temples! It went really good! She has such a desire to become worthy again to go. Her oldest boy is 12 and has done baptisms for the dead before so we are trying to get her ready to go do that with him. How awesome would that be!!!!!

Things have been slow with Jenn but we did have lunch with them yesterday after church which was awesome because her non member mother was in town from Texas! She will be here for a month so we'll see if we can get her more comfortable with "the mormons" whiles she is here. She was surprised we didn't show up in bonnets and ankle length dresses to church yesterday. Haha little confusion with us and the polygamists I think! Haha

I have realized so much on my mission of how much of a big responsibility we have as members of the church. We know the truth, and God puts people in our path to share the truth with that He knows we can help. Are we taking advantages of these experiences and helping those around us?? I've looked back at pre-mission life and realized that God trusted me with some of his children and I missed opportunities where I could have shared the gospel more. I found this really great quote this week by President John Taylor: "If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty? There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of service." Are we doing all we can to hasten the work??

We have transfer calls coming up this Saturday, ya I can't even believe it is that time again. We know one of us is leaving because they are going to bring a Spanish speaking sister in. Either one of us could leave so whoooo knows. 

Picture directory:

- This is what happens when you try to run away from Zombies, a twisted ankle and weird bruising on my foot

- Beautiful Fountain Green :)

- Kallie, one of the girls we have come out with us 

- The Turkey Trot District

- "Feed my sheep" just became so much more real

- Took a roadtrip to Jerusalem this week :)

~Sister Allen

107 S 1470 E STE 304

St George, UT 84790

May 12, 2014 The day after Mother's Day

Hi, how's it going??

This week was really good!!!!!

We had interviews with President and Sister Center. Which I always get super scared about but they always end up being good. This was probably the best yet though! :) It was so relaxed, and not even scary! President and I talked a lot about the Hispanics here in our area and how to best integrate them with the members. He helped me set some goals of what else I wish to accomplish on my mission and how I can be the best mission I can. Sister Center is awesome I just love her! We talked a lot about the things I've learned on my mission so far, what else I want to accomplish, what I want to be remembered by, etc.. It was good and just what I needed honestly. 

We went on exchanges this week with Hermana Rodriguez and Hermana Moyano. This time we got to go to their area, in Fillmore. We first drove to Nephi (20 min) picked up other sisters than on to Fillmore (1 hr). We got to have a sleep over us 6 sisters because the Nephi sisters were meeting with President and Sister Center the next day there in Fillmore. So Hermana Rodriguez and Hermana Moyano are in a Spanish area (obviously) so half our lessons that day were in Spanish but I would just add when I felt I needed to and Hermana Moyano would translate. It was good!!! Hermana Moyano and I were in the MTC together so it was fun to be with her for the day. I was reminded at how important it is to talk to everyone and not be afraid to just jump into the first lesson! On the way back home we listened to the new Nashville Tribute CD "My Call to Serve" that the Hermanas got and oh it was so good!!!!!!!!! 

We are still meeting with Maria! We were finally able to get her a Book of Mormon in Spanish! So when we got there I said "Maria guess what we have for you!?" and she replied so excitedly "My book!!!!!!!!" It was the cutest ever. I love her! We read the first chapter of Nephi with her and she is so excited to keep reading. I felt extremely prompted to invite her to be baptized even though we hadn't planned for it yet. But she thought for a minute and said she would think about it. We challenged her to take it to God, to pray if she should be so fingers crossed! She is so open so I think she will come along soon :)

Jacob got baptized Saturday! It was an awesome experience and to have his dad, Nathan, baptize him too was even better! 

Well I think that's all the big updates for now. It was so fun to be able to skype you, mom and dad!!!!!!!!! 

Love you all!!

~Sister Allen

107 S 1470 E STE 304

St George, UT 84790

May 5, 2014- Feliz Cinco De Mayo

Hiya, how's it going??

This week was good! I just love everyone here in the Moroni area. They have all become like my best friends and family to me.

Marcuan got baptized on Saturday!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! It was a fight with his biological dad but it happened. This was his 4th baptism date but it finally happened! He was so ready for it and wanted it more than anything! I am sooo happy for him!!!!!!! Have I mentioned how much I love his mom (Ashley) too?? She is semi-active now and we have been doing lessons with her as well during the day when all the boys are at school. She has just opened up to us a ton and I just love her and her family. Funny story- We went over to their house one night this week and I guess one of their boys (Jordan-6) had been ringing the doorbell right before so when we rang the doorbell Pat, Ashleys husband, says "Go away!" And then he comes and sees us and he was so embarrassed! Hahaha of course, I just gave him crap for it. We all had a good laugh!

Chanley also got baptized on Saturday! She is not considered a "convert" baptism but Sister Diaz and I count it just as important as any other baptism. We have been working with her parents (Tyler and Lacey) and their family ever since I got here. They have become active and Tyler was able to baptize and confirm Chanley! It was so amazing to be able to see them both in the water and make this huge step!!!!!! Best day ever with Chanley and Marcuan both baptized!

That night was quite the experience too. There is a LA/Non-member lady, Jessica we decided to go visit. We aren't sure if she just says she is not a member or if she really isn't. She's crazy... Just read on.. Ok so first off she was at the neighbors when we rang her doorbell so she comes over to talk and as we are talking she makes this car stop as its driving by and she starts yelling at them for speeding. (Which they weren't at all) Luckily as she was talking to them a lady in one of our wards, Linda, comes up and so we are talking to her.. Finally Jessica comes back and just picks up Linda's dog and starts talking about how she used to have a dog that looked just like this but died. Well Linda feels intrigued to talk about how she got the dog and how she rescued it. It was a nice conversation. Or we thought so... Jessica all the sudden links our arms together and tells Linda "Sorry to cut this short but I need these girls." And she drags us away to her neighbors. She takes us into her neighbors workshop thing and that's when we realize she is totally drunk. She sits up on the counter and starts playing with everything and says how she used to be an officer. Okay I know you are all probably thinking how did you just realize she was drunk. But shes crazy so it was hard to tell but I definatley smelt the alcohol on her breathe. Eventually she drags us back over to her house and asks us if we want to hold her "$3 million" book. She goes on to show us all these really old books. It was hard to get a word in especially when you trying to make sure you don't step on the loose turtle in her house. Hahaha then she decides to get out her whiskey and says "I know you are missionaries but I'm not a Mormon and I'm a sinner. You need to know the real me." Anyways, I'll stop there but oh boy it was an experience I will never forget. And don't worry we did eventually get on gospel discussion but it was even more crazy haha.

Hey! Jacob is still on date for this Saturday! Pray that all will go smoothly! :)

Also, remember Sue who I taught in Kanab? She got baptized yesterday!!!!!!!! It was so exciting to hear today that she got baptized and even better, she was baptized by her recently active, husband Jim!!!!!! Oh I love them and am so excited for them to one day be an eternal family!

Eternal Families rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The gospel rules! It's just true as true can be and I love it! Speaking of.. have I mentioned how grateful I am for my mom? I figured since Mothers Day is coming up it was a good time to throw a shout out to the best mom ever! Watch this video about Mothers! :)

Here is a scripture I read today in my personal study that I love:
Jacob 3:1- But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

Picture Directory:
-We were driving this week and found someone pulling a horse behind their car #classicMoroni
-On our way to Zone Meeting in Mt Pleasant
- Sister Diaz hit her 1 year mark this last week so we blew up some skirts :)
- We ended our 1 year celebration with Sparkling Cider and Chocolate Icecream with PJ and the fam :)

- Tyler, Lacey, Chanely, Brailee, and Treyson

- Sister Diaz, Tyler, Chanley, and I at Chanleys baptism

- Us with Marcuan in his baptism outfit that he loved ;)

- Marcuan and his family :

~Sister Allen
107 S 1470 E STE 304
St George, UT 84790