August 25, 2014

This week has been lots of meetings and lessons.

Monday we stayed in Ark City. We did laundry at Sister Denise Skibbe's house. We emailed and washed our car at the church building.  Then we had time to have dinner and then go to visit a less active, Brother Been. Brother Been’s wife is not a member but she is willing to have a lesson with us.

Tuesday we had a specialized training in Wichita. This was for all of the missionaries in the Derby Stake. This was a 3-hour meeting then we had lunch. After lunch Elder Nicholes had a 3 hour district leader meeting. I went with 2 other Elders to work in Wichita for the day. We ended up going to the Keeper of the Plains in Wichita. This is a well-known park and river that lots of people go to and get pictures. Then we stooped in at Pizza Hut and we got a referral out of the cashier. Then we meet back up at the mission office. Had dinner and time to try others in Winfield. That night Elder Moyle called to talk to me. Elder Moyle was one of my zone leaders in Topeka for the longest time. He was then called to be an ap for the last 2 transfers before he went home. During this call he thanked me for the time we had to teach together and time we spent on p-day in Topeka. He also bore his testimony and thanked me for all I have done to help him. This was very nice of him to take time out of his last day to call me and talk to me.

 

Keeper of the Plains Park

Troll at  the bridge, Keeper of the Plain Park

Wednesday there was a mini transfer in the mission. There were several Elders and Sisters that had to get home two weeks before the scheduled transfer so the mission made this mini transfer. Elder Moyle was one of these missionaries. We had time to do weekly planning here in Ark City. Then we had time to see several of our investigators. Then we had dinner with the Lawrence family. We showed up an hour early because the sisters did not tell us they canceled on us but they had lots of food so it worked out. Then we had time to see more people.

Thursday we were on our way to service when Elder Nicholes locked the door to our upstairs apartment.  We were able to finally get in when I climbed up the porch and got in through our upstairs door.  We never made it down to service but we made it back into our house. Then we had dinner with the McDowra family and a lesson with the Rupe family.

Friday we had district meeting in the church building in Ark City. Brother Crain, our Branch Mission Leader came and joined us so we could meet with the Sisters in the Building. Then we had time to find 3 new people to teach. Also had time to meet a less active family and placed 3 Book of Mormons.

Arkansas City Sunset

Saturday we had 3 church tours planned but no one showed up. We ended having time to visit less actives and investigators. Met with the Harper family. They are friends of our branch president. Also we were able to see Israel Ortiz, our recent convert.

Sunday we had church. We had PEC before church. We had a small group this week because a lot of people were sick or at the hospital. We also started a Gospel Principle class. I have been asked to teach this class until there is a teacher called. We had a great Lesson about Our Heavenly Father. The sisters had an investigator there that asked several questions during the lesson. Such a great lesson. Then we had Branch Counsel after church.  We were able to have dinner with the England family. The Lyman Family also had dinner with us. Then we visited Aaron Henry another Recent Convert.

This has been along week. Lots of meeting and lessons. It has also been a great week. Thanks for all the letters this week.

Elder Andrew Allen

August 18, 2014

Yes I am in Ark City. Last week on Saturday I was called by the AP telling me that I was moving to Arkansas City. Elder MacArthur was not getting along with Elder Nicholes so President Bell was praying and was told to move me here and Elder MacArthur to Wellington.  So I have spent a week here in Ark City.

Monday we emailed and shopped and then drove to Wichita to the Mission Office. President Bell pulled me into his office to talk to me and we had a great talk about what I am here for and how I can help the branch. Then we talked to the AP and drove back to Ark City.

Tuesday we had district meeting in Ark. In the District we have 2 sets of missionaries. Us, the Elders and the sister Missionaries in our Branch.  Sister Call and Sister Cramer. Sister Call is the same Call that was in the MTC with Benjamin and I. This is fun to be around her again. After District meeting we went to lunch and worked for a few hours. Then we drove back up to Wichita because the District Leaders in the Derby Zone had a PPIs with President Bell and The AP and Zone Leaders. So Elder Nicholes had to be up there. I was with the other companions in the chapel playing the piano and talking. Then Elder Ives talked to Elder Nicholes and I about what he wanted us to do to help us get things done.

Wednesday we had weekly planning then we had time to visit people. We were able to see some of the investigators and less actives.

Thursday we time to coordinate with the sister about our goal for the area. We meet at Braum's in Winfield. The sister Missionaries live in Winfield which is about 20 min From Ark city. When we were ready to cheek out for our Ice Cream a member came up and paid it for us. He doesn't have the ability to have us at his house that often so he took this time to help feed us. This was very nice. Then we meet with the Branch President at his house. President Gott had us over to give us a list of names to see for him. Then we had a home teaching and Visiting Teaching meeting. The Branch is redoing the routes.

Elder Allen and Elder Nicholes

This week on Thursday we were looking to find a new investigator. We knocked on a door of a less active and no one was home so we got into the car and asked Heavenly Father to help us find someone prepared. Then we started to drive to another house of a less active. On the way we passed a guy walking. We felt impressed to stop and talk to him. We did. His name is Cody. We talked to him and read Ether 12:27 with him and it hit him hard. He said that he would love to look into this and we could come back on Saturday to his house.

Then on Saturday we were out with brother McCaslIn trying people. We tried all the people we had planned for this time. We then stopped in at Cody’s house. It ended up that Cody was not there but we talked to his dad, Ham. Ham was working on his truck and took time to talk with us.  He seemed interested. Also  we shared with him the same scripture and left him with a Book of Mormon. That night he talked to his son about the missionaries and about the Book of Mormon. Ham also recognized our team up that we took out with us. Brother Mccaslin had met Ham but they cannot figure out were it was.   This was a great few lessons.

Friday we had time to visit people in Ark and Winfield. We then had a lesson with Aaron, a Recent Convert and had Brother England come out with us. That was a great Lesson. Then we had dinner at the England's house. Then we went out to the Priesthood activity at the bowling ally. There were 11 of us from our branch. This was a great night. We were all having fun with each other. To change things up I bowled the second game with my left hand. I got a score of 37. This was lots of fun.

Saturday we were able to find people and contact our investigators and see less actives. The city police captain came out with us for a team up. Brother McCaslin was able to go out with us for a few hours. Then we had time to invite people out to church.

Sunday we had church. This week it was very small. Lots of people were out of town. But we still had church. We then had dinner at the Lyman family house. They invited us and the Englands and the missionaries. This was a large group of people.  Both the Englands and The Lyman are new to this area.

Thanks for all the mail and emails. Hope all of you are having fun at school. Thanks for everything.

Elder Andrew Allen.

As for the shower curtain picture … this one was long past that point (washing). The whole apartment is that dirty. I have had to do lots of cleaning this last 10 days. The house has not been cleaned in the last 6 months. I am great full you taught me how to clean and work hard. Thanks for every thing.

It is an Apartment. It is all right place. It is lot smaller then the place in Wellington and it only has a window unit ac. It gets really hot in there when we cook. Other than that it is nice to have a apartment to sleep in.  We are in a Branch. There is about 80 active people and we are growing.

August 11, 2014

This week has been a very interesting week. I am now in Arkansas City.

Monday we had time to email and then we went over to the Sudekums and talked with them and then went out to visit Sister Gregert. Then we had dinner with Bishop Porter and bishop came out with us after dinner. We were able to see a few members of the ward.

Tuesday we had to take the car into the body shop and then we rode with the senior couple to Wichita for district meeting. Then we had time to stop by the mission office on the way back to Wellington. Then we stopped in Bell Plain and saw some members and then had dinner.

Wednesday we had time to work with the Sudekums. We went down to Anthony and tried everyone that lives down in that neck of the woods. We were able to have a great time and meet several members that have not been seen in several years. Then we had dinner with Sister Mock and had cake because it was Elder Sudekums Birthday. And we had the Scripture study class.

 

Elder De Jong, Elder Allen, Sister and Brother Sudekums

Thursday we had time to get ready for the movie night and prepare the building for the ward movie night. Then we had dinner with the Stamps and then saw Sister Shaw.

Friday we had zone training in Wichita. We left at 8 Am and were up in Wichita until 1:30. Then we drove back to Wellington and set up the chairs and projector for the movie night. Then we went to pick up the car. When we got there you could still see the hail damage so we left it to have them work on it more. Then we had dinner and started the popcorn. We had 32 members there. 5 of them are less active in the ward.  Even the bishop came. In the beginning he didn't want to be there but after the video he truly liked it. We showed “17 Miracles.”

Saturday we the Aps called and told me I was getting transferred to Arkansas City. The set of missionaries were not getting a long so I was sent to be with Elder Nicholes. This was an interesting day of packing and unpacking and moving.

Sunday we had church in the Arkansas City branch. It was good because we had lots of people there. Then we had dinner with the England family in Winfield. Then we saw a few Spanish people.

Thanks for every thing.

Love,

Elder Allen

Picture is of the Sudekums and Elder de Jong and Elder Allen. 

August 4, 2014

This week has been great. Lots of service in the ward. 

Monday we went to the zoo in Wichita with the Sudekums. It was lots of fun to see the animals and walk around at the zoo. Then we had dinner with the Porter family and had time to go home and pack for our move on Friday. 

Tuesday we had district meeting in Wichita. After lunch Sister Sudekum needed to go shopping at the mall in Wichita so Elder de Jong and I went in to hand out Books of Mormon. The Mall police asked us to follow them because we were breaking rules in the Mall. We talked to the assistant manager and she told us that we could not solicit in the mall.  So we ended up waiting for the Sudekums to finish. Then we had scripture study class with Sister Mock and the Sudekums. We ended up talking because we were the only ones that showed up.

Wednesday we helped Suzi Trotter move all of her stuff into a trailer. She is a less active that is moving out west because she got a job teaching in Ness City Kansas. So we spent 6 hours helping at the Trotters place. Then we had time to start cleaning the church building. The Sudekums and us volunteered to help clean the church building that has not been cleaned in 5 months. 

Thursday we spent the whole day at the church building. We were able to get the building presentable for church tours and for the ward movie night this next Friday. Then we had dinner with the Brundages and had s’mores with their grandchildren. 

Friday we moved to Wellington. We have a nice apartment and nice stuff from the mission office. We had time to unpack and then we went down south with the Sudekums to Caldwells.   The summer county fair was happening and we were able to see the animals and also talk to a few people. 

Saturday we had exchanges with our District and Zone Leaders.  I went with Elder Swenson and Elder de Jong went with Elder de Loen and Elder Nerdin. We found 8 new investigators and 4 of them were on date for baptism in 2 hours. We can truly see the Lord preparing people down here to hear the gospel. Then we had lunch with them and went out to Bell Plain. 

Sunday we had church and lots of comments about the building and about how the sacrament was passed. When we were cleaning the Building we rearranged the chairs in the chapel to look like a normal chapel and not like a school auditorium room. And we worked with the deacons to help pass the sacrament with 4 deacons instead of 2. This was great to see the ward change and see good come out of change. Then we had dinner with the Taylor family. They have a fun family. They also have lots of stories from Mexico. 

Thanks for every thing.

Love,

Elder Andrew Allen