First Week in Sudley A-email from Elder Allen

So I'm now in Manassas, VA! Wow, what a beautiful place! The center of the city is OK, but the outskirts that we drove through on the way here, and right where our apartment is located, are some of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. Trees and open fields and all green. I love it! The downside is the weather... days like today are just fine. But today is a minority. 90%+ humidity is something I've never expierenced before, and man is it horrible! It's like swimming down the street! I'm on a bike every other day to conserve miles, and at 95 degrees, 90% humidity, and 3 hours worth of tracting... wow, you're ready to go back inside!! And not many hispanics make use of their AC either. Ugh!

But, I'll have you know the work is better than ever. I have never worked so hard in my life!! We already have 4 with a baptismal date, over 15 investigators, and I got to see a baptism my second day here! It's incredible. we only have a branch, and only 15% of the ward list is active, but the active members are strong and willing to help. Our new members are incredible. Elder Tovar, my new companion, only has one more transfer than I, yet is District Leader and senior companion. That little columbian man knows how to work! And I totally love it.

Hardest work brings the most reward, and I've never felt more fufilled in my life! I'll keep you all updated on any new baptisms and events happing here in the Sudley Branch in Manassas, VA. In the mean time, I appreciate all your prayers and support, and wish you all an incredible week!

Love,
Elder Jared C. Allen

DISASTER to INCREDIBLE

So, yesterday at 5:30 we call Obispo (bishop) Matos to ask what time the monthly ward FHE starts. Turns out, he wouldn't be able to come, and so he delegated the lesson to us. He told us that someone would be there to set up the activity after and bring refreshments. We had just gotten out of a lesson with an inactive sister who said she'd come to the activity that night, and the area sister missionaries were bringing three investigators, so we knew the lesson would need to be pretty good! We got there before 7. Most of the participants got there by 7:30. We figured out what the heck we were going to do (mostly) at 7:20, 20 minutes after the activity was supposed to even start. We were nervous, no one came to set up the activity or bring food.

Well, long story short, the lesson on the plan of salvation was INCREDIBLE, my companion came up with (at the last minute) a basketball game that would test their knowledge of the plan, and there just happened to be 5 half-eaten tubs of icecream in the freezer, up for grabs. I was in the kitchen scooping icecream, and I could just hear in the background shouts of laughter and delight from the people playing the game! Everyone was having such a good time!! The non-members and our inactive member were being fellowshiped SO well, and no one left until after 9!

In short, we got to see first hand the spirit working through us, making a disaster of a night into something incredible. The non-members were asking if we did this every Monday, they enjoyed it so much! Our member had a huge smile of delight, and we could see the "thank you" in her face. Her and her two kids are coming to church this Sunday, totally reactivated. So, the church is true, and where there is a will, there is most definitely a way. What an incredible night!

Well, thanks for all your support and encouragement! All's well in Virginia!

Love,
Elder Jared C. Allen

Another Week in the D.C. South

Another awesome week! We taught Jorge Campo, our recent baptizee, just this last thursday before his confirmation on this last Sunday. He wanted me to do it... *heart drops* I was TERRIFIED! Mainly because it was in spanish! But, in all honesty, I did well. And it was so incredible to feel the priesthood and the Lord work through me to accomplish his will. In whatever language we speek!

It looks like this mission is going through some major changes! There's a LOT of missions (including ours) that have all these themes and memorizations and stuff based on case studies of other missionaries, obscure talks on certain aspects of the work, etc. It makes it SO confusing!! But, President just met with the MTC presidency, and they're changing ALL that. Simplifing it. Now, the only focus will be soely on Preach My Gospel. We have more "creative liberty" now to really, well, do what needs to get done! And, most exciting, NO MORE CONTACTING NUMBERS!! Every week we have a quota of 140 "gospel conversations". In all honesty, this leads to 80 "junk contacts" at the end of the week, just talking to people to get numbers. I hate it!! Now, the focus will be simply on talking to people, regardless of number, and just doing our jobs as missionaries! A lot of this hasn't been announced yet. But we have Zone Conference with President, tomorrow!! SO exciting!! Direct revelation for our mission, every 6 weeks. And right after that, general conference! This will be such an awesome weekend!

Anyway, as far as the work goes, we're just pressing along, and getting the work done. Little miricle yesterday - we were a little down and tired last night, did NOT want to go contacting any longer, so we decided to go over our friends the Vallejo family to get some food and teach them a principle, just to not waste time sitting there. Well, just as we were about to leave the house, their friend comes over, and Hna. Vallejo tells us to wait and teach her! So, we did, and she is EXCITED to learn! Shows how the Lord can turn a pointless night into the greatest opportunity. And things like that happen EVERY DAY here on the mission! I love it.

Thanks for all your support, everyone! I'll be here doing our Lord's work! Keep on being great member-missionaries and supporting your local elders!

-Love,
Elder Allen

Transfers, Christmas and the like

Well for all of you who DIDN'T know...Elder Allen has been transferred to the Washington D.C. South Mission, which I'm told is more Northern Virginia than anything else. Here's a recap of his time in the MTC.
*Going to the Temple once a week
*Getting the Swine "flu" which left him incapacitated for a week or so
*Winning the "Brag Board"
*Getting involved with very COMPETITIVE four square
*Losing his trench coat
*Finding a greater love for American Sign Language and deciding that's what he wants to do when he gets back

But most importantly he learned to love the gospel at an all new level and learned how to speak Spanish!






He has absolutely no problem with the transfer and feels quite confident about it. He arrived at his post on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas!! And a lucky few of us were able to speak to him via telephone. In his particular mission they transfer every 6 weeks, and his P-Days are now on Wednesdays. He's very lucky, he has his very OWN bathroom. Not only that but apparently he and his companion also have a car. He loves the area and the members.



Here's a quote from one of his last emails.
"First off, we probably have the nicest apartment in the mission. For missionaries, it's amazing. Seriously, I even have my own bathroom. Awesome! The members down here in the spanish ward are AMAZING! I swear, nicest people. I've been told by three families already that their house is mine, and already they feed us every time we're over and are just so nice! We have some AWESOME investigators...............I've got the DC South part in my hair (yep, elder allen with a part. I'm not going to be able to go back to normal any more). And ready to go do some work!! Thanks for all your prayers, and I'm doing all I can in this work!!"




Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years.

Hello all!

Hello everyone sorry its taken me SO long to update!! But here I go.... So Elder Allen left Temecula, 3 weeks ago as of today. And has been IN the MTC for 2 weeks and 4 days. And to let you really know how he is feeling and doing I'm going to include quotes from letters and emails.




10-22
"The MTC here is CRAZY!! So much energy, and if your willing, endless spirit. Unfortunately I'm still pretty 'deer in the headlights' right now. But its getting better. Once I get into a solid routine I'll be able to focus more and learn this language!! It's hard but I know if I do my best and try, the Lord will bless me with this language."


Elder Allen and ELder Peterson

So need less to say week one was hard. But that's to be expected. Elder Allen has had the opportunity to visit the Temple once a week, he said.

"Starting week two of my MTC stay on Wednesday. It's getting
MUCH better now that I'm in routine. The language is still tough, but i'm
learning every day......Today me and my district got the opportunity to go to the temple again. Such a great thing to do each week. Me and Elder Peterson went early to do 9 initiatories for some family names I had. It's so much more meaningful when you have a name to do from your family!"


missionaries infront of the temple :)


P day!

He absolutely loves Pdays and doing his laundry. He's turned laundry time into "see how many letters I can write" time. He also HIGHLY recommends the chocolate milk.

Laundry time!!

Its amazing to those of us who are writing him-to even after a few weeks-sense a change in him. He truly is growing up, learning more, and absorbing every detail. I don't know about you, but I know for me the transition was hard. But in one of his letters he wrote,

"It feels like I'm leaving but that my Heavenly Father will take care of everything I'm leaving. And knowing my family and friends are in the most capable hands, I'm comforted. Sure, I can't see everyone or hear my friends voices, but that doesn't mean you're gone. I have no idea what my future holds for me. But I KNOW this- as long as I continue to do my Father's work and listen to his counsel, I WILL be taken care of. Whatever happens to you, to me, to any of us. The Lord has a great work for great people who've been prepared to do it. We are his children and as such we will be cared for. Whatever may happen, trust in the Lord and I know you will see such great works come forth from you and your example, and blessings greater than you can possibly imagine will be yours."



So that's all I am going to write for now. But Elder Allen would much appreciate prayers and letters. If any of you want to receive the email's he sends out or write him a letter let me know. Thanks

Final Night

Well, hello all! It's officially Elder Allen now. Pretty intense, I know. My report time is 12:45 (11:45 PST) tomorrow afternoon. So, effectively, this is my last night of my partially un-responsible "teenage" years. (Minus the fact that I was already ordained Elder two days ago.) Or, rather, tomorrow is the first day of the two years that will totally define my future life.

My greatest support, my brother Kent, gave me a quote that stuck with him through his mission - "I would rather take your body back home in a casket than to receive you home early having lost your virtue." Yes, it's an intense example. But there is great importance behind it. These two years of my life are not mine, but my Father in Heaven's. Sure, I could goof off and just enjoy being in Canada, but then I've only cheated myself and everyone who is counting on me to perform this great work. If I let one day slip by without purpose, I've halted the work and let down those who need me.

D&C 4
" 1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen"

So, here I am. And tomorrow, I will begin a great work. I'm reminded of the Elders who knocked on the door of Tai and Truman Allen so many years ago. Without that great service, where would I be now? The legacy of all those of my family who have served missions, the legacy I will create in my own mission, would never exist if it were not for those two Elders serving their God with all their heart, might, mind and strength. That is the great work I hope to do. To give all those in darkness the light of this gospel. To give the children that will start their lives here on this earth that opportuinity to feel God's love.

So, how's that for an epic last post?

Thanks so much for all of you who've supported me so much to get to this point. Special thanks to Brianne for helping me help all of you stay posted via Blog power! My prayers will be with you, and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me soon.

-Elder Allen


(DearElder.com)

appendectomy

Hello all! This is Brianne, and I'll be keeping this blog up and running while Jared is out in field. But I just thought all of you family and friends should know Sunday at 3am Jared was taken to the emergency room. And at 10 am, the same day, he had an emergency appendectomy.

The surgery went well, and they're letting him come home today(a day earlier than anticipated). But there's been some complications with the insurance company and jazz. So we'd all really appreciate prayers on his behalf. So he can have a speedy recovery and be able to leave on time to his mission.

Thanks!!
-Brianne