San Fernando...Here I come!!!

Sis. LeuLuai and Me, my new Companion

Us sisters at transfer point.

Jan 27, 2013

Well....not sure really where to start....I got transferred...so I still haven't been lucky enough to get to go to Baguio...where they say it's actually cold....(not quite sure if I believe it yet) .....but I'm pretty close...i'm right next to it, so meaning that if we have a trizone conference or interviews- maybe i'll get to go there in the next 2 months and visit. I'm soo excited...hopefully!!! They also have some really pretty sites down here in San Fernando- so we're gonna try and go to them too....It's pretty...but it is more of city life here in San Fernando....i just told my trainee (Sis. LeuLuai) yes...Im now a follow up trainer...President doesn't want to give me a break....I still have never experienced a co-senior companionship my entire mission. haha that she was spoiled....because there are some shops here....and there was NOTHING like that especially in Lingayen area. haha
So...I told Sis. Valera before I said goodbye to her that I had a feeling that Pres. Monahan was gonna give me another challenge for my last companionship...that it'd be a foreigner. Well...i guess that was revelation, because friday I met my new trainee...Sis. LeuLuai. So....she is Samoan by blood...but born in raised in the US...in Utah to be exact...which is gonna be really sweet because some day when we become RM's....we can chat and stay in contact when we go home. Anyways...I just absolutely LOVE her...she is soo sweet, and just a really great missionary. My first day here...after studies and we ate...we left the house at 1 o'clock...and we worked till 9:30.....(this is a normal schedule for me).....it wasn't a normal schedule for Sis. Leuluai.....we came home and had 14 appointments and contacted 4 referrals- which will turn into new investigators. When we got home....she just said....she has never worked like that before....and she didn't know that was possible. Well....that was a rewarding feeling for me. That was a time when I realized okay....even though I work hard on my mission, and often times feel like what I'm doing is not enough, and I need to work harder....it made me feel like I was fulfilling my purpose as a misisonary. I just told her yes. I said there are different kinds of happiness...you can come into the mission and explore all the cool area's and buy lots of neat things....and kind of work too.....but not be as diligent or as obedient as you should....but it just isn't the same satisfying happiness that comes from obedience and doing what you're supposed to. It's soo true, sure...missionaries get tired....but...SULIT TALAGA. It's worth it...it's also the greatest kind of tiredness...?! does my english make sense...i don't even know. haha
Anyways, Sis. LeuLuai is great, and she is soo smart, and diligent....but she is still new, so she still doesn't know a lot of tagalog.....I'm impressed that she knows most of what she wants to say with gospel language...when we're in the lessons....but the conversational tagalog is always the last to come and the hardest to accomplish...but....we'll work on it. You should just see how many heads turn at us though now. First....you have this TALL samoan girl...who is darker colored skin....coloring like a filipino...but she's big and doesn't speak tagalog fluently....and then you have this White American with blonde hair....who when she opens her mouth its in tagalog....they're not quite sure what to make of us. hahaha :) It's really funny....but...i have been asked numerous times if i'm from a different part of the filipines....hahaha it's kinda funny.
Anyways....this week has been good- we're starting from scratch again, because they don't have any current progressing investigators or baptisms...but it's okay- it'll all work out. The leaders here are great- and they're all supportive.
It was bitter sweet this week leaving Sis. Valera....I will miss her soo much....we cried like babies..haha I also cried because I left 4 families that Sis. Valera and I found in Binmaley that were progressing and all have baptismal dates for this March....I won't be able to see them now.
I did however follow in my mothers foosteps. That mother, is Sis. Fajardo- my trainer. Her last area was here in Sevilla, San Fernando....so we'll end our missions in the same area. :)
Before I left- we had a ward FHE- we presented our plan to the ward- so now it just needs to be led in action....I"m sure that Sis. Valera will continue what we started...I know there's a reason for me transferring...even if sometimes I don't completely understand it.
Well, another great week from me here.
xoxoxo
Love,

                      I'm Gonna Miss Binmaley!



Aww...I surely will miss these sisters!!!



Book of Morman in Pangasinan....In Bishop's office saying goodbye!



I'm gonna miss this kid :(  saying goodbye to Bro. Esteven





The Trisome, Sis Valera, Sis. Lagrimas and Me

 



Our Apartment in Binmaley



Malamig na dito sa philipinas!

Jan 20, 2013

Well hello there wonderful family! What another wonderful week here in the Filipines...it has been soo cold here...its probably only like 75 degrees...but i have literally had the chills at night time...i think I'm gonna have a hard time adjusting back to Utah weather...haha :)

This week we had another sister added to our area, we became a trisome...Sister Lagrimas was our companion, and we absolutely love her. We call her my "ampon" or my adopted daughter...she is very sweet, her companion got sent home- so she was without a companion- I am really grateful for this past week, and for the opportunity that we've had to be together, I just love her.

This week....my "friend" left me....I'll spare you the details and just say that...I no longer have a parasite in my body....and I am feeling much Much better now that my 15cm white-pink worm is no longer in my body. haha

This week- we had a lot of miracles happen in Binmaley. First and foremost, I finally got the opportunity to have a workshop for the leaders here in Binmaley...and it was sooo successful.  A few weeks ago they announced the 2013 philipines area goals at a conference- and so we focused our workshop there. You have no idea...it was one of the clearest- distinct impressions that ihave had on my mission when I was brainstorming ways of how we can get the ward working and meeting the area goals- the impression came that we need to focus on families. So...we put a chart together so that every family in Binmaley ward can have a copy so they can keep track of their daily family scripture study & prayer, their weekly FHE, and their tithing & fast offering. Not to mention we presented the idea of organizing "FHE groups" according to where they life- so they can build relationships with the other members and in turn their goal is for every family to meet and pray together- as a family and pick one additional less active family that they want to rescue as a family. They are to invite them to their FHE goups...it will be composed of 4 or 5 families- and each month they will rotate which family is in charge. Also...we put together a study plan for the ward to all be on the same page. Because sometimes, even the active members don't do everything that they really should be doing. As in....here in the mission field, i have had some pretty strong impressions come from the spirit...but as the spirit whispered that we need to develop a step-by step plan for them and focus on families- the prompting was soo strong and clear- so I know this plan will be successful.  This next Thursday we have a ward FHE scheduled- so we will announce our plan to the whole ward. We announced it a little bit last Sunday- but that was just a sneak preview- we'll have printouts and tools to help them change and grow a firmer testimony. This Saturday we also have a RS VT workshop scheduled with the RS. We got to finally have a meeting with the RS presidency yesterday and we're getting the VT worked out. I also suggested to the RS president that we organize meaningful rs activities for them- like doing a family home evening chart they can put on the wall...or making a 'quiet book' so their kids can flip through it in sacrament time- they're used to just activities where they all get together and eat....it needs to have more meaning. Anyways...this last Sunday was busy...we also taught the primary class about being a 'child of God'- then about 5 min before sacrament meeting started they asked me to be the speaker- for about 20 min...Sis. Valera and Sis. Lagrimas just gave that assignment to me...haha so that was fun. It has just been a really busy week- but we have got so much accomplished. I am really grateful too because I don't know if I will be the one transferred this week- or if Sis. VAlera will be. It will be a surprise for both of us. She has finished her training program this week- so we know we will be saying goodbye. I will be sad to see her go- I've really loved it this last week because we didn't have enough beds for 3 of us- so Sis. Lagrimas is in the nice bed- and Sis. Valera and I took the floor....so its been more of like a 'slumber party' than anything- ah how I will miss her. She will do great things for Baguio, that's for sure. She is trained. She is ready...and I can't wait to see what she does while she's here.


We also had to laugh because one of our preach by the ways yesterday- were to teenage girls and their names were "kimberly & camille'....that's mine and Sis. Valeras' names. haha :) it was cute...lets see...we also got chased by dogs again...and had 8 dogs surround us...i seriously thought i was going to get bitten...it's a miracle we didn't. haha all that kept flashing through my mind as i was waving my umbrella at them was 'rabies' 'rabies'...it's true...all the adventures come towards the end of your mission. haha
Anyways I'm out of time. I love you very much....and i attached the forms...which are simple---but you can see what we're doing with the ward
till next week
Love,

Reunion with the Reyes family.

The Lopez family.

The Souvenir That I'll Never Forget

Yes...that really is a car.....and yes....I really did get to ride in it!

 

 

 

Jan. 13, 2013

Well...are you wondering what the souvenir was that I mentioned...that I"ll never forget?! Well...it's the parasite that I got this week....yay. haha (that's sarcasm btw) Oh my goodness, I seriously thought I was going to die this last wed, thurs, & fri. I have no idea how I got a parasite....but I never want to experience that pain again. So....Thursday- I was running to the bathroom like...every 4 minutes. It was actually pretty funny, cuz my head hurt, and my stomach hurt really bad, but of course....we had to study! So...I endured personal study, trying to focus. And then....companionship study....okay...I'm the trainer...so if I'm sick...there's no training. haha So....luckily we had little video segments that we had to watch from the PMG DVD's that they use, so I would play a segment...and while it was playing all of a sudden dash to the bathroom....then come back and by the time I came back it was over. I just sat down, acted like normal and asked "So, what did you like there that we can apply in our teaching?".....I didn't think anything of it until after studies and Sis. Valera and I just laughed thinking about that scene....even though I was trying to hide my problem...it wasn't working very well.  haha By the afternoon- I was even struggling to sit up. But...I said a prayer, because we had appointments that we needed to go to. By some miracle, I was able to work...but it only lasted a little while long...because by night time, we were at the Arenas families house and I just nudged Sis. Valera and told her she needed to close the lesson- I was starting to feel light headed and she said Later on that at that time I was turning white. I sat up and left their house and just outside I had to sit down on the dirt- I about fainted....ok...that's when I leaned my lesson and told myself that I really need to follow MOsiah 4:27...mom's favorite verse. haha So...we started our walk home haha...there were no tricycles cuz it was dark at night and we were at one of the farthest parts of our areas. Luckily we saw the Melendez family, whom I absolutely love, and they took us by the pharmacy to buy busopan (cuz we thought that'd solve my problem) and drove us home. They're soo sweet. Even though they're so far away all they said was. "Just call us Sisters if you need anything." I just love them! They're some of the kindest people I've ever met. Anyways, Thursday, I seriously still wasn't able to sit up...so we still had studies and weekly planning...but on our beds. haha That was a first time...because of course it's BAWAL....but it's okay...at least we still did what we were supposed to. NO rest for the wicked...right!?...isn't that what dad always said. just kiddin.
This week...Sis. Alvaro and Sis. Navarathna moved out to a different apartment....we were soo sad to see them go....our apartment is a lot quieter....but it's what President wanted...they had to find another apartment and move them so that they could become 4 sisters instead of 2 in Manat area, and 4 sisters too in binmaley area instead of just 2...it's soo great- with the lowering of ages, they have a LOT more sisters coming here...we're expecting an increase of 30 this march....sadly....It will probably not overlap my time here. :(

We also had Stake Conference here this last weekend, I was shocked when I saw another white person...then quickly realized that Pres & Sis. Monahan, and a new missionary couple that just arrived came!!! It was fun seeing them, oh how I love them! The best part about conference was..I got to see all of my dear family from Lingayen 1st ward!!! Oh my goodness....I was soo excited...they were surprised to see me again! We took soo many pictures....sad part is, I forgot my camera- so next week I"ll have to send all the attachments. OH my goodness....I was soo proud too when they announced the priesthood holders that were advancing to the Mel priesthood- and 4 of them I got to see baptized just last year when I was assigned in Lingayen 1st ward. It's hard to think of a more satisfactory feeling than see them advance in the gospel. I found out that 2 of them are working on their mission papers right now! :)

Anyways, this week was another great one. I do have to say at the area broadcast that we had this weekend, they announced the area focus this year for the filipines- and part of what Elder Teh said was they want to focus on tithing and fasting with every family- and also their goal for temple marriages with all their YSA here. Many of them just marry a non-member. Part of what he said was something about the effect of "There are 2 ways to get through life"....I immediatly thought of Dad...how he always said "There are 2 ways to get through life....the hard way....or my way...the easy way. haha I just laughed at myself and I think thats what our Father in Heaven also thinks. There are 2 ways to get through life. His way- or the hard way. Let us choose the His way.
I am so grateful that...that I'm still alive..haha I am grateful that this week, even though it was different, it was a great week :)
I love you all and pray for you often!
xoxoxo
Love, Sis Allen
P.S., If Sis. Morton's reading this... remember when we were still in the MTC< and we joked and said that if we got a parasite on the mission...we should at least get it toward the end of our mission- like the last 2 months before so that we could get skinny again. Yeah....that wasn't a funny joke. I never want to joke like that again. haha :)

An experience I will NEVER forget

Jan 6, 2013

This week was a fantastic week and one that I don't think I will ever forget. This week, not only did we get to celebrate the beginning of a new year, but we also had a lot of happy and sad experiences this week. This week we walked around for a little over an hour in an area that hasn't been visited much by the missionaries in years because it's so far away- but we wanted to explore and see about the less active members that were there. We wandered around completely lost for about an hour and a half- and it was getting dark, not to mention our fellowshipper (Bro. Ammon) had no idea either about the place we were in. Nonetheless, I felt safe- I felt like we were okay- we prayed earlier that morning, and that’s where we felt that we needed to go. Anyways,  along the way (while we were lost) we found some other less active members and preach by the ways that turned into new investigators- so of course it wasn't for nothing- when finally we found the house of the less active member that we were looking for. We shared with them- for the second time and Bro Pedro's heart was soo hard, he just said no matter what he would not come back to the church- he likes it much better being catholic because there aren't as many "bawal" or things rules or commandments that he needs to follow. And, if he only gives a peso to the "pari" or priest he is happy- its much harder to give 10% and pay tithing. At this point, I just decided to be frank, because he continued to go on about how he would return to the church if we gave him land so he could build a house. I just frankly, but nicely told him the church is not a business, it doesn’t work like that. We are members, and we keep the commandments because we have faith, and we love God. The reason we have tithing, is to test our faith because God doesn’t need our money- but I assured him that not a single one of the leaders he will meet at the church have a sallary. And then…I told him that we should not become part of a religion because it’s easy. Keeping the commandments isn’t meant to be easy, but that it was worth it in the end, when you receive eternal life as your reward. Anyways…I think that was the first time that Sis. Valera has really seen me be frank. Haha the personalities of the people in my last area were different- I was pretty frank most of the time…but here for the most part you don’t need to be…but this time…I seirously felt he needed to hear that, before he shut the door and didn’t come back.
Anyways…after  that depressing experience…and my companion was in tears because that was her first time experiencing a less active who just flat out told her that he didn’t want to come back, that he shut the door…took it pretty hard…anyways…as we were walking for a long time…and the area we were in was kind of scary- first time namin jan kasi. Anyways, as we were walking- it was now about 8pm at night…trying to find a tricycle so we could get a ride home (because this area was really far) there was a tiricyle driver there and he called to us (we also had a member fellowshipper with us- bro Ammon) and motioned to us to come over. Then He drove us…we heard Ammon talking to the trike driver but didn’t think anything of it. When we got out of the tricyle, after he had already left Ammon told Sis. Valera something that I don’t think I will ever forget. He told us that the tricycle driver asked him where our “kasama” or the people that were with us earlier went to. Ammon asked him “what people?” and the trike driver said “You know, the 3 big american men  wearing white shirts that were with you earlier.” …Ammon just tried to play it off like normal…but…the trike driver continued to explain that he parked his tricyle and decided to wait for us to come back, cuz he thought that we’d need a ride home when it got darker at night- but then was surprised that there were only 3 of us that came back.

I have absolutely no explanation for what happened that night… although I can guess at who those 3 men are, I will never be sure.  But I do know that we are never alone in this work. I know that God is involved in the intricacies and details of our life. And I do  know that this is HIS work.

I had a lot of other great experiences too but no time to tell about it...next week na lang. I love you all, and think of you always
Love,