Hi Family!
We haven't had the chance to find out if any of the less actives watched conference. We did meet with one Sister who has been struggling and she hadn't seen them but two of the talks were perfect for her. We let her know about them and she said she would watch them. We are starting to really develop a relationship with her and we just love her to death and know that by becoming active again she will be able to recognize and feel the Lord's hand in her life which she has forgotten. It was difficult for her because she went through a series of challenges one after the other and didn't have much support from the branch. Then she didn't get along very well with a couple members of the branch and so she has just had a hard time feeling like the Lord was there for her at that time in her life and forgiving the members of the branch. We have had a hard time trying to determine how we could help her in these situations but conference was the answer. The apostles always know the perfect thing to say.
Sometimes I think about what I would be doing right now if I wouldn't have decided to serve a mission and I am grateful I made this decision. It is the hardest thing that I have ever had to go through, I cry at least once a week which is definitely more than I did when I was at home or at school, but I know that it is just forming me into a better person. It's definitely an experience that I will cherish my whole life but it's going to be a struggle, at least for a little while. Sister Johnson said one time that the mission kicks you down to your weakest point which enables you to learn to rely 100% on the Lord, which He then builds you up into an even greater person. I like to think of it like the story shared, I believe in conference, about the Provo Tabernacle. How it burned in the inside and everyone was questioning why God would let one of His buildings burn down. But then in conference the Prophet announced that it would be built into a temple. That is exactly like us, we go through all these trials and challenges to not break us down so we can fail, its to break us down so we recognize that the Lord is the one who can build us into a temple, something much greater than what we could have done ourselves. And He will because that is exactly why we are here. To become like Him. To become the best we can be. I try and remember that as I am going through the hard times.
I should be in this area for at least 6 months. For the first 12 weeks of your mission you get trained and so you for sure will stay in that area for that long, and then I will become a trainer and will most likely train a new sister for the 12 weeks and so I'm almost certain I'll be here for at least that long. Then after that it's up in the air! Just so you know, if you plan on sending any packages they need to be sent priority mail to me if you are sending it to the mission address. If its through another way then I have to pay for it to be forwarded to me. Also, if you don't want to send it priority, it can be sent directly to my actual address which is 604 W River St Apt A-7, Hot Springs SD 57747. That address won't always be the same though. But I'll always let you know my new address if it ever does change.
I am not doing a good job at cooking... for some reason Sister Johnson and I are really bad at cooking things. I'm good at cooking chicken and steak though!
Mervin is getting baptised November 1st! We are so excited! It will be such a great experience. I will send pictures as soon as I can of it once it happens.
Hmm.. so this past week has been quite slow... and tough. We taught a total of 4 lessons. But it had some funny moments. I believe on Sunday we were going to visit a former investigator and we got in and he had 3 other people there visiting him. We all got to talking and there was this one gentleman who was just hounding us with questions. He asked Sister Johnson what she thought about war and then right then asked me instead and I was like uhhh... then I just whipped out some world peace answer. He then was like, "Okay Miss Universe." How embarassing!!!! It was really funny though. He told Sister Johnson he thought I was commercial.... so I guess I could take that as a diss or a compliment. I'd prefer the latter. (:
So... Sister Johnson and I have been really trying to each be better. Being stressed all the time just makes us want to eat a bunch of treats but when we get fed from members we get treats and so you can imagine how much dessert and bad food we eat. So we decided some rules on restricting sweets. So we ate at this ladies house that we are doing service at and they made cake. Well they decided to give us half of the cake... and we were just praying that she wouldn't. So we go home and have this cake and then Sister J decided to wipe the frosting on my face. Yeah, it became a cake war. I won.. obviously (; It was so fun though.. and somehow the cake ended up on the floor, which we took as an answer to our prayers. I'll send pictures (:
Lately though it has gotten so cold! It is saying in the weather forecast that it should snow soon... today to be exact. Which I am not excited for. It too soon!!! Anywho, the other night at 3:30 in the morning Sister J and I were woken up to a very very loud thunder.. It cracked and instantly she was like, "Sister Allen, did you hear that?" It was insane... and weird because I wasn't sure if it was in my dream or not... but apparently it was real! Scary. The lightening illuminated the night sky and our room... I love thunder storms!!
Oh, and sorry I wasn't able to email yesterday... because it was a holiday the library was closed. But get this... ya know how it's Columbus day? Here, it's called "Native American Day." I thought that was quite funny. (: Gotta love South Dakota! Anywho... I love and miss you all. I hope that you all have a great week. I can't wait to hear from you all (: (btw... Mama I did get your letter, thank you thank you! I sent you and Daddio letters as well.) OH, did I tell you I got a letter a couple weeks ago from Launi? She is so sweet! She sent me a talk and another funny little thing as well. I really enjoyed it!
Well, I love you all... you are all in my prayers each and every day! Keep me in yours! I really need em (:
xoxo,
Sister Allen
We haven't had the chance to find out if any of the less actives watched conference. We did meet with one Sister who has been struggling and she hadn't seen them but two of the talks were perfect for her. We let her know about them and she said she would watch them. We are starting to really develop a relationship with her and we just love her to death and know that by becoming active again she will be able to recognize and feel the Lord's hand in her life which she has forgotten. It was difficult for her because she went through a series of challenges one after the other and didn't have much support from the branch. Then she didn't get along very well with a couple members of the branch and so she has just had a hard time feeling like the Lord was there for her at that time in her life and forgiving the members of the branch. We have had a hard time trying to determine how we could help her in these situations but conference was the answer. The apostles always know the perfect thing to say.
Sometimes I think about what I would be doing right now if I wouldn't have decided to serve a mission and I am grateful I made this decision. It is the hardest thing that I have ever had to go through, I cry at least once a week which is definitely more than I did when I was at home or at school, but I know that it is just forming me into a better person. It's definitely an experience that I will cherish my whole life but it's going to be a struggle, at least for a little while. Sister Johnson said one time that the mission kicks you down to your weakest point which enables you to learn to rely 100% on the Lord, which He then builds you up into an even greater person. I like to think of it like the story shared, I believe in conference, about the Provo Tabernacle. How it burned in the inside and everyone was questioning why God would let one of His buildings burn down. But then in conference the Prophet announced that it would be built into a temple. That is exactly like us, we go through all these trials and challenges to not break us down so we can fail, its to break us down so we recognize that the Lord is the one who can build us into a temple, something much greater than what we could have done ourselves. And He will because that is exactly why we are here. To become like Him. To become the best we can be. I try and remember that as I am going through the hard times.
I should be in this area for at least 6 months. For the first 12 weeks of your mission you get trained and so you for sure will stay in that area for that long, and then I will become a trainer and will most likely train a new sister for the 12 weeks and so I'm almost certain I'll be here for at least that long. Then after that it's up in the air! Just so you know, if you plan on sending any packages they need to be sent priority mail to me if you are sending it to the mission address. If its through another way then I have to pay for it to be forwarded to me. Also, if you don't want to send it priority, it can be sent directly to my actual address which is 604 W River St Apt A-7, Hot Springs SD 57747. That address won't always be the same though. But I'll always let you know my new address if it ever does change.
I am not doing a good job at cooking... for some reason Sister Johnson and I are really bad at cooking things. I'm good at cooking chicken and steak though!
Mervin is getting baptised November 1st! We are so excited! It will be such a great experience. I will send pictures as soon as I can of it once it happens.
Hmm.. so this past week has been quite slow... and tough. We taught a total of 4 lessons. But it had some funny moments. I believe on Sunday we were going to visit a former investigator and we got in and he had 3 other people there visiting him. We all got to talking and there was this one gentleman who was just hounding us with questions. He asked Sister Johnson what she thought about war and then right then asked me instead and I was like uhhh... then I just whipped out some world peace answer. He then was like, "Okay Miss Universe." How embarassing!!!! It was really funny though. He told Sister Johnson he thought I was commercial.... so I guess I could take that as a diss or a compliment. I'd prefer the latter. (:
So... Sister Johnson and I have been really trying to each be better. Being stressed all the time just makes us want to eat a bunch of treats but when we get fed from members we get treats and so you can imagine how much dessert and bad food we eat. So we decided some rules on restricting sweets. So we ate at this ladies house that we are doing service at and they made cake. Well they decided to give us half of the cake... and we were just praying that she wouldn't. So we go home and have this cake and then Sister J decided to wipe the frosting on my face. Yeah, it became a cake war. I won.. obviously (; It was so fun though.. and somehow the cake ended up on the floor, which we took as an answer to our prayers. I'll send pictures (:
Lately though it has gotten so cold! It is saying in the weather forecast that it should snow soon... today to be exact. Which I am not excited for. It too soon!!! Anywho, the other night at 3:30 in the morning Sister J and I were woken up to a very very loud thunder.. It cracked and instantly she was like, "Sister Allen, did you hear that?" It was insane... and weird because I wasn't sure if it was in my dream or not... but apparently it was real! Scary. The lightening illuminated the night sky and our room... I love thunder storms!!
Oh, and sorry I wasn't able to email yesterday... because it was a holiday the library was closed. But get this... ya know how it's Columbus day? Here, it's called "Native American Day." I thought that was quite funny. (: Gotta love South Dakota! Anywho... I love and miss you all. I hope that you all have a great week. I can't wait to hear from you all (: (btw... Mama I did get your letter, thank you thank you! I sent you and Daddio letters as well.) OH, did I tell you I got a letter a couple weeks ago from Launi? She is so sweet! She sent me a talk and another funny little thing as well. I really enjoyed it!
Well, I love you all... you are all in my prayers each and every day! Keep me in yours! I really need em (:
xoxo,
Sister Allen
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