Jan 26, 2015

This week has been great. 

Monday was a holiday. We spent time at the west-link building here in Wichita with all of the missionaries.  Then we had dinner with the Barker family then we helped JC Parson move a couch to his house. 

Tuesday we had a full day of contacting people and meeting new people. We had time to also start filling out paper work for our apartment office. Then we had dinner with Brillharts. Then we had time to go out with Brother Hunt. We were not able to see any people with him so we ended up having family scripture study with them as a family.

Elder Clay

Wednesday we had District Meeting. Before district meeting we had district interviews with Elder Hoak. Then after District meeting we were able to see a few of our investigators. Then we had dinner with the Cardons. Then we had time to help clean up after YM and YW.

Thursday we had weekly planning. Then we went over to the apartment office to finish the paper work to live there. Then we went up to Colwich and Andale. These towns are about 8 miles and 12 miles from Wichita. We were able to contact less actives up there. Then we had dinner with the Marshall Family.  Then we had a lesson with Byron but he did not answer when we went by.

Friday we went on exchanges. Elder Hoak came to my ward with me. I went to the doctor for my knee and we were able to have Caleb Hunt, a priest, come out with us for a little bit. We had a great luck with contacting people and having luck with people talking to us. We had dinner with the Van Skiver family. Then we went with Brother Van skiver to see Lafe. This was a great lesson. 

Saturday we went to morning sports at the stake center. We exchanged back after sports. Then we had coronation meeting with the Sisters and Brother Cardon. Then we up to Colwich, Andale and Sedwick. We were able to meet lots of less actives and people that now live in the homes of moved less actives. Then we had dinner with the other Marshall family. Then we had time to see Peterson up in Maize.

Sunday we had church. We had meetings before and after church. We also had a baptism in the building for the Spanish branch. We were able to attend the baptism and this was fun because it was all in Spanish. President Bell and the APs also came to the baptism. This was fun talking to President Bell.  Then we had dinner with the Threlkeid Family. 

Cool Story. The day I got transferred in to this area here in Wichita we went shopping at Wal-Mart. I met Peggy. She was a recent convert when I was in Wellington. She ended up moving to Wichita when I was still in Wellington. Then when I ran into her in Wal-Mart we talked about church and her life and every thing. It ended up that she has not gone to church after she left Wellington. Finally this last Sunday she went to church. We were able to help her get a number for the bishop of her new ward and she was able to get a ride to church.  The funny thing is that she in not even in our stake here in Wichita. Now the ward knows her and is helping her get a ride to church now 

This week has been very nice because we had the car and the weather was not to cold. The area is starting to pick up and we have a great week planned for this next week. Thanks for all the letters and emails. 

Love,

Elder Andrew Allen. 

Here is an email I got this week. It is funny that Benjamin got to meet them.

Hello Elder Allen!

I was going through our past letters and finally found your email address. We've been looking for it since Christmas to send you an email.
Guess who we met at Christmas time in Iola?! You probably already know by now, but we wanted to send you photographic proof that we did meet and hang out with your twin over the holidays. It was great to meet him. We had to constantly say, this isn't the Elder Allen we knew in Larned because we would start joking around with him like it was old times. You guys REALLY look alike! But we could easily kid him about table saws like we did you! ;)
Anyway, we want to let you know how proud we are of you and your brother! Your parents raised you both very well.
Thank you for the Christmas card and for keeping in touch with us on your mission. It's been great to hear from you.
Keep up the great work you are doing for the Lord! The Gospel is true and it brings true happiness. Have a great new year.

Sincerely,
Tessa and Glenn McMillan

Elder Benjamin Allen and the McMillans

Jan 19, 2015

This week has been interesting.  This week was also bike week for us. Lots of tracing because we don't have lots of investigators. The weather has been very warm and nice. 

Monday we had p-day at the stake center. We spent time also playing games in the building. Then we had time to tract around our house. We ran into a few people that have talked to missionaries before and they were very nice. 

 

Pond by apartment

Elder Caly and Elder Allen

Elder Allen

Tuesday we had district meeting. Then we had time to tract.  Then we meet a few members that we traced into. This was fun to knock on their door and they let us right in.  Then we had dinner with the Simmons family. They are a younger family that has 3 kids and he is a mechanic in the air force. They are a great family that is working on going to the temple to be sealed as a family. 

Wednesday we had weekly planning and the plumber came over to fix the tub. Then we had time to talk to people. Not to many people wanted to talk to us. It was a nice day. 

Thursday the zone leaders went on exchanges with us. This was fun because they called when we weren’t having lots of thing happening. I went with Elder Hughs and found a few people that are interested in talking with us. Then we exchanged back and had dinner with The Hunts. Then we went over to the McKnights. We had scripture study with them. 

Friday we had time to bike around the Area seeing former Investigators. We were able to met lots of people. Then we dinner with The McKnights. This was fun because we were able to talk to their daughter that is back from Idaho on break. Then we had time to also see Bryan and a few less actives. Today was very warm. 

Saturday we went up to Maize. There was lots of wind when we were biking and it was very warm. A very nice day. We were able to talk with the talk with members. Then we saw Nyles and Lafe.  

Sunday we had church. There were lots of changes in the ward because we had a few families that moved in and moved out. We saw Nyles with Caleb Hunt. Then we had dinner with The Cocannours. Then we visited a man in the hospital with a member. 

This week we had tots of time to contact people to build our teaching pool. We also had time to meet the members. This week we get the car. Thanks for every thing. Have a great week. 

Love,

Elder Allen

Jan 12, 2015

This week has been very interesting. I am now in Wichita right now. 

Monday we had a zone P-day in Lawrence. We all went to a sport complex in Lawrence to play soccer and basketball and volleyball. This was lots of fun because the Topeka Zone also came to Lawrence. There were a lot of missionaries. On the way back to our area Elder Arend, one of the Aps, called and told me that I was not going to go to El Dorado but Maize First ward in Wichita. Then we had dinner with Brother Gibson in Wetmore on our way back to Falls City. 

Hiawatha Missionaries

Tuesday we had a day of packing. We saw Teresa and Norma and Sister Meints. We also had time to take pictures as a District and say by to the Senior Sisters. Then we had dinner with the Rasmussen family. Then we stopped by the Larsons. 

Sister Gunderson, Sister Willams, Elder Riddle

Wednesday we packed the car and drove down to Wichita. In Hiawatha we followed the sisters to Wichita. We stopped in Horton so Elder Riddle and Sister Gunderson and Sister Williams could sing to the Allen's in Horton. Then in Wichita we had lunch and Music Fest. We also had time to sing to President Bell because it was his Birthday. Then we had a Transfer Devotional and then a left for our new areas. I am now with Elder Caly here in Maize First in Wichita. Had time to shop and unpack and get ready for the upcoming week. Then we meet the Clark's, which live up a floor from us. They are the closest members to us.  Elder Caly has been out for about 16 months and has been in the area since November. 

Thursday we had weekly planning. We then went to leave our apartment our car would not start. We then tried to jump it with the Clark's car but it did not work. We ended up waiting for a tow truck. We spent that time cleaning our apartment because the tow truck was late.  It ended up being our battery so we ended up taking it to Firestone. Then we saw Nick, the Recent Convert in the Ward. Then we dropped off our area book to our district leader.

Friday we had Zone Training. We then went to lunch and came back to eat as a zone. Then Elder Clay had to go to the chiropractic office. He is a member of our ward so it was nice to talk to him and hear his conversion story. We also had dinner with our ward mission leader. The Cardons feed both us and the sisters in the ward. Then we had correlation meeting with Brother Cardon. 

Saturday we had time to meet people in Wichita. Brother Cardon was able to come out with us to visit a few people. Then we saw the Bennett family. Then we had dinner with Bishop. It was very nice to meet with bishop and talk with him about the area. It turned out that Bishop Chris Broberg is my dad’s second cousin. He pulled out a book at his house and was able to find that we are related through Owens line through my dad. 

Sunday we had church. We had a great turn out for church. In this ward there is about 150 people that come each week. It is also the ward with the Rich people in Wichita. There are two sets of missionaries. There is a set of sisters here. Then after church we rode our bikes around town meeting with people. We saw Nick and the Stake President Willimas and Brother and Sister Cocannours. Then Ccoannours are also going to be in the Mission Office when they get their call from Salt Lake. 

This has been a long week. This area is going to be a difficult area. The area book has not been updated in a year and the last missionaries have not worked as hard finding. This next we are doing lots of finding here. I hope you all are staying warm and dry. Have a great week.

Thanks,

Elder Andrew Allen. 

Jan 5, 2015

This week has been Great. I am now moving down to Wichita, Derby area this next week. I will be serving in the El Dorado Branch. We live Augusta, Kansas. This is going to be a long day on Wednesday. But I will be in Kansas.

Elder Andrew Allen

Monday we spent time in Hiawatha. Had dinner with the senior sisters and had a great day. After dinner Sister Williams had a family Home evening lesson. She used Ice cream to represent Sunday. Then she had mustard and ketchup and hot sauce. These are different toppings that work for Hot Dogs but not for Ice Cream. We talked about the importance of keeping the Sunday holy and always remember the actives that help us turn to the Savior. Then we stopped by the Rasmussen. 

Tuesday we had district meeting then we had lunch. Then Brother Carrillo came out with us. We were able to see Adrian and then we tried Steven but he was not home. Then we went to see Brad but he was not home also. So we had about 15 min before Brother Carrillo had to leave. We ended up knocking a door next to Brad’s house. The lady there ended up knowing Brother Carrillo and let us in to talk with her. Then we had dinner with the Larsons. At dinner Sam, the sister’s Investigator was there. After dinner President Larson came out with us. We were able to see Bryan. 

Wednesday we went down to Topeka. I was able to see the ENT doctor. He said my ear looks better and is healing. There is a small membrane over the hole. He said to come back in 2 months and he will look at it again. Then we had time to see people on our way home. We saw the Routybushes and Brother Gibson and Steven. Then we had dinner with the Senior Sisters. Then we had to be in by 8 pm. So it was a quick night. 

Thursday we had weekly planning then we were able to see Teresa before we left for Seneca. In Seneca we saw Allan. He has gone through all of the cds of the Book of Mormon. Then we went over to the McGiffins to paint their Daughters Room. Then we had dinner after painting.  Then we had time to try a few other investigators but they were all not home. 

Friday we had time to work in Falls City. We were not able to see lots of people because every one went out of town or were out shopping or spending time with the family. But we were able to see Jess from Subway. Then we had dinner with Sister Meints. Then we had a Branch Game Night. This was fun we had several Less Active families come. This was a great night. 

Saturday we were able to contact every one that we were not able to see on Friday. We saw Jamie and Norma and Teresa and Lyle and The Rasmussens. 

Sunday we had a Great Fast and Testimony meeting. We had a few Less Active families there. This was a great Sunday. One of the largest groups of people. Then we went to Hiawatha to have dinner with the Senior Sisters. This was the last time we were going to be together as a district. Then we had time to see people in Horton. Then we drove to Lawrence. We ended up staying the night with the Zone Leaders because we have zone P-day today. 

Kansas sunset

Thanks for all the Letters. This next week is going to be great. Lots of Driving. Hope you all have a Great Week. Thanks for every thing.

Love,

Elder Andrew Allen.