November 11, 2013 Its P-Day P-Day, gotta get down on P-Day!

Well it's been a pretty awesome week. We have a lot of good things going for us in our area, and if things play out correctly, we might be able to baptize weekly!!! It would be pretty cool if that happened, because it never seemed possible before, but now it might be! 

We the baptism for Ryan and Marc, and yes now the whole family are members! I hope that I can be back in this ward in a year so I can be there when they go through the temple and get sealed together as a family. That would be amazing. 

So that was just 2 days ago, so I'll go back in time a bit now to Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't remember exactly what day... But we started teaching Elena and Nancy more frequently! It has been pretty amazing to see them just absorb the gospel. 

Then we had Zone Meeting. Which was cool... I honestly forgot what it was about. I think about committing people to be baptized? I think. It was good, I promise! I love our Zone Leaders, Elder Cassiano and Myler, they are great guys. 

Then we went on splits with the Elders Quorum on Wednesday night,and that was cool because we got to go and meet some of the less actives in the word that I don't already know. We talked about the significance of the Sacrament Prayer, and what it really means. How we can basically be baptized again every week through that sacred ordinance. Pretty cool if you ask me. 

Then we had a Church tour with 2 of our investigators and their families. The first one was with Elena, Nancy, and Carlos. They seemed to like everything and Elena came to church, but Nancy and Carlos didn't :( It was sad. Then we gave another Church tour to Oscar and his whole family (his wife and 5 kids). And they seemed to really like everything. Then they all went to the baptism! (Elena, Nancy, Carlos, Oscar and his family) and so we had a ton of investigators there to see how a baptism works! It was so cool. And I gave one of the talks on the Holy Ghost! I basically just broke down one scripture, 2 Nephi 32:3. It went well, I think haha. 

Then on Sunday we heard the best news. We were just welcoming people into the sacrament hall like we always do, when Gicela (Our recent convert, my first baptism) walks in with her daughters (Kassandra, 11 and Jaykeena, 9 who's father won't let them get baptized). We welcome them like normal and Kassandra goes "we have good news!" so I reply with "What is the good news?" and she says "Our dad said we can get baptized!" And so clearly, I start freaking out. So we are really hoping for, and pushing for, them to be baptized this Saturday. I really hope it happens!!! 

Anyway, that is my week!

It has been an amazing week, and I love you all so much! Love you!

Elder Allen

November 4, 2013 What an Amazing Week!

Well this has been an amazing week!

Monday we got in contact with a Potential Investigator named Oscar. He was a street contact, who doesn't seem like the person who would want to learn about God, when you first see him that is. Once you get to know him, you realize that God and Jesus Christ are such a huge part of his life. When we started teaching him, we asked him what his expectations were from us being here. He said "Man... I just want to be able to teach my kids about how to be a good person, like you guys are!" So we have taught him a few times, and he seems really solid. I think he could get baptized with his wife, and 5 kids, but only 2 are over the age of 8. 

On Tuesday we had our first district meeting with our new district leader, my new companion, Elder Aranibar. It was great, but it got cut short because the guy who was going to paint our new house had to go and get new paint, but he only speaks Spanish, so we had to go with him to translate for the housing coordinator, Elder Davenport. 

On Wednesday we received our Hastening Devices, aka iPads. It is pretty crazy, not going to lie. There is so much potential in them! We had to install a whole lot of stuff on there that makes it so we can't do anything bad. It is actually really secure. I am slightly in love with iOS7... It is so pretty! And so effective. Anyway, then we came home after the iPad training from Brother Lee Donaldson (the inspired questions guy from The District 2) and we set up all of the stuff we need in Gospel Library. There isn't a ton in Spanish, which makes me sad, but being in a more humble area, it makes me have to use my paper copy of the standard works, which makes us look less rich!

Then we had Halloween on Thursday, and it was super weird. We had to be inside at 4:30pm! And guess what we did while inside? We put all of the people in our area book into our iPad. For 5 hours. It was such a drag to be honest, but it has to be done! 

Then on Friday we had weekly planning, with the iPads. It was legit. It is hard to get used to the app, and it is slow and I'm pretty sure it is in Beta or maybe even Alpha to be honest. And then after weekly planning, we moved into our new house! It is so cool! I will email some pictures home today! 

And that is pretty much all that happened! Saturday and Sunday were fairly standard in comparison 

I love you all so much and I have you all in my prayers!!! And I know that this is exactly where and what I need to be doing. I hit 5 months as a missionary 2 days ago.... What???? Crazy!!

Élder Allen

208 W. Darrow Road
Phoenix Arizona 85041 

NEW ADDRESS

Trevor has been transferred to a house.  His new address is:
208 W Darrow Road
Phoenix Arizona 85041