Nov 18, 2013

This week has been fun and very long.

Monday was P-day.  It was cold and sunny. Played basketball and volleyball.

Tuesday was a lot more cold then Monday. It was in the low 30 all day. We still had zoo service.  Rick had us raking leafs around the fence and also around the buildings.  After zoo service we went to the library to email. Then we spent the rest of the day packing and also doing all the last things for Elder Corvalan

Wednesday started at 5 AM. Elder Corvalan got up and still had to pack. Then at 7 AM we left for the Spanish Elder house. We then picked up the Spanish Elders and their stuff. Because we share the car with them we had to take them and their stuff to the bus station. Elder Budge and I went back to the Spanish Elder’s home and got more of the stuff. We were all told that the bus would be at the station at 9 Am but it did not get there until 11:30. It was very late. At 1:30 Elder Arend arrived in Topeka. Elder Arend and I then went to our place and got to know each other and the ward.  The sister missionaries in our ward did not get to Topeka until 10:00 PM. A long day.

Thursday we had Weekly planning. After weekly planning we meet up with the Sisters at the church building. We now have Sister Call and Sister Smart in our ward. We talked about the ward, gave the sister some supplies and also told them about the dinners they have in the next week. It ended up that the sisters have a car but no phone. They did not know when they were going to get it from the mission office. Then we went shopping. Then we went out and meet several member of our ward. This was a good Day. After Dinner we had a question for the sisters but they do not have a phone. It ended up that we were able to call them through the member they live with.

Friday was zone training. This started at 9:00 AM and did not ended until 1:00 PM. This was very long because there are lots of new missionary in our Zone. Then we all went out together for lunch.  There were 32 of us at Chick-Fil-A.  This was nice to get to know more of the missionary in the Topeka Zone. Then after that we had a wonderful time talking with member of our ward.  Then our dinner appointment canceled on us but told us they bring food over for us. This was Travis.   We were looking to have a lesson with them but we could not because he was going out of town. 

Saturday and Sunday was stake conference. Saturday we had a 4 PM and 7 PM meeting. The 4 PM I did not have to go because I am not a district leader. I went on splits with the other district leader’s companions. I was with 2 brand new missionaries for 3 hours. This was fun to work with 2 new missionaries. Then at the 7 PM meeting President Bell and his wife came. They both talked about them being called to be the Mission President and how it changed their life. Then all of the missionaries in the Topeka zone sang our mission song. This was very powerful because of the amount of missionaries that are in the Topeka area. This meeting did not get out until about 9:30 then we took pictures with all the Elders and Sisters. We got home late this night.

Sunday it started at 8:00 AM with The new member meeting, then the regular meeting at 9:00 AM.  This stake conference was all about missionary work and how the members can help the full time Elders and Sisters. President Bell and Sister Bell spoke also the Temple President of the Kansas City Temple came. Then we had dinner and then tried lost of less active members in our ward.

This week has been very good and lots of training and thing to apply to our ward. 

Elder Arend is from New-town, Connecticut.  He has been out on his mission for about 7 months and is also 18. He is glade to be in Topeka.

Sister Smart is from Mesa Arizona. Her brother was in the same Class at Mountain View. Her Parents just moved to Gilbert, around the new Gilbert Temple.

Sister Call is from Utah. She is related to Dennis and Diane Call in Mesa Arizona.

Thanks for every thing.

Love Elder Andrew Allen

Nov 12, 2013

Sorry for this day-late email, we were told the library would be closed yesterday, so here we are doing our emails today.

Monday we had a fun time getting the house clean and also having a good time playing basketball and also volleyball. Then we had dinner at the Landrum house. Brother Landrum is the seminary teacher in our ward and his wife is the Relief Society President.  After dinner for the message we had a big discussion on the book of Jacob and different thing that happen in the scriptures.

Tuesday! Got everyone out of bed in the morning and met the rest of the zone at the church bright and early.  We had to be at the church building at 6:00 am. This was an early day.  The mission chartered a bus to get us over to Salina for a zone conference with Elder Nash of the Seventy. We stopped in Manhattan before Salina to pick up the rest of the missionaries in the area. Elder Nash talked a lot about the Missionary Mantle, what it is, and what it allows us to do. This was a wonderful time because Elder Nash came up to me and talked to me about missionary work and how I was doing. Then after Zone conference we had to drop off the missionary in Saline and Manhattan. We did not get back until about 7:30 pm. That was a long day and no Zoo service, but nice to travel the mission a little.

Wednesday we had a fun time working in Montara.  Montara is the small city out side of Topeka were we live with Brother Homewood. We worked with the less active families and also the Paz family. The Paz family is a really nice family that likes us to come over because we bring the spirit into their home. This was a good day because of the amount of less actives we were able to talk to. Then we ate with Bill Rensch and his family. Then he took us down south to work. It was very cold.  It was -1 degrees Celsius. Very cold.  We also help him unload a organ into his bank. That was a good day.

Thursday, we had service at the retirement home.  The elderly people and us missionaries played games that involved telling life stories. This was fun to get to know some of the different things that happen to them and different things they did not have. Then we ate at the Craft house. They are a fun family because they like Elder Missionaries more than Sister Missionaries. They are fun and have great stories to tell us.

Friday was a slow day because of all the reports and paper work we need to do because Elder Corvalan is getting transferred. We got the area book up to date. We also made lesson plans for the less actives and the investigators. Brother Kubie had us come over for lunch because his wife was out of town and need someone to talk to. His wife left him with their two children for 5 days. The children had a fun time because they got to stay up from naps and have a good time. Then For dinner we ate with the Jackson family. Brother Jackson is learning a lot and has started to read the Book of Mormon. They are a nice family.

Saturday we had a conference call for the missionary and district leaders. Then we went out to lunch with other missionaries in our zone. There are two sister that got there visa and are going to Brazil.  This was their last American food for about year. They were both sad because they got to know lots of the missionaries and loved President Bell. There was good food but sad to see them leave for Brazil.

Sunday was church. We had the Jackson family at church. This was a fast day because the meeting with the ward and also Brother Scerbo our ward missionary leader. Then we went to the hospital and gave a blessing to a member of our ward. 

This week has been very fun because of all the different things that happened. Hope you all are doing good and staying warm. Right now it is 25 degrees out side. Thank you Brother Phelps For the Jacket. Thanks for all the letters and mail.

Love 

Elder Andrew J Allen.

Nov 4, 2013

This last week has been very fun and lots of fun stuff happened.

Monday was P-Day. Lots of fun. We played volleyball and also basketball.

Tuesday we went to the Zoo. Because of the cold weather Rick had us clean the Rain forest. This was lots of fun planting different plants and also cutting down trees and cleaning out the garbage. Lots of Fun.  We also helped with the food truck. The Bishop store House is cutting down on large orders of food for families. There have been families that get two carts of food for two weeks. Then Brother Scerbo took us out and worked down south.

Wednesday President Bell Came to Brother Homewood’s House and had weekly Planning with us. This took up most of our day because President was late and we also talked a lot with him. He was very nice and also had lots to say about the area and how the ward needs a set of sister also and how we have a lots of potential in this ward. This was a fun time to get to know President and know more about the mission. Then we had a ward party. This ward party was fun and also lots of candy. We had 2 of our investigators at the party. Lots of fun.

Thursday we had a fun time working until 6 pm. Because of Halloween we were told that we could not be out after 6 pm. We had a service at the retirement home. There was a party with lots of candy and food. There were lots of elderly people that came to this party. They all liked the party that we helped with.

Halloween was a lot of fun because of candy we got and the members that we were able to see.

Friday we had district meeting. This was our last district meeting for this transfer because of zone conference this next Tuesday, November 5th.  We took photos and had a good time at lunch. Then Elder Owens and I went together to work The Lake Shawnee Ward. Lots of less active people we visited.

Saturday Elder Corvalan and I went to a family in our ward and helped paint their house. We painted for 6 hours. Lots of fun helping paint and also learning more about the Paz family. This was a big service for this family. Then we had dinner with the Matt Davis Family. We saw the new pigs and also their new car they got. Then we had correlation meeting with Brother Scerbo.

Sunday we had several families at church that are less active and a new family that moved into this ward. Lots of new people at church. Then we ate at a less active family house. The Reeves are a nice family, they come to all Church events but they work on Sunday so they can not come to church. Sunday was a long day because the amount of people we saw after church.

This week has had fun and lots of work.  I have heard a rumor that I will be staying in the Lake Shawnee ward for another 6 weeks on November 13th. The sisters will be coming on November 13th. This ward is working lots with us to prepare for the sisters with investigators and less active members to work with.

I miss all of you and hope you all had fun this Halloween. I love you

Elder Andrew Allen

Oct 28, 2013

Hello

This week went well. This week we helped several families with service projects.

Monday we had a wonderful p-day. We went bowling and played volleyball. Most of the Topeka Zone came down to play and have a fun time. That evening we ate dinner with the second counselor in the stake presidency. We ended up talking about both of their missions and how they liked them. Also saw pictures of their missions.

Tuesday was zoo service. Rick this week had Elder Robinson and I split wood again. This week we had a bigger pile of wood to split. This was a fun project to do because of the time I had to talk to Rick and Elder Robinson.  After the zoo we went with the Spanish Elders to meet a referral they contacted but is not Spanish speaking.  Nicole is this referral, she is very nice and loves to talk and tell different stories. Then we were able to visit Brother Shovar. Brother Shovar is working on going to the temple. He has a date to work to. He want to do his son’s work after he goes though. Then after dinner we went down south with Brother Scerbo. We do not get down south because of the miles we have with our car. We were able to visit Sister Ryan and help her with some of her questions she has because she can not come to church because she had a stroke about 4 months ago.

Wednesday we ate dinner at our new investigators house. Travis is a nice and loves to talk. He is in the Army and has served in Iraq and around the world. His wife Jamie is a member and they have two children. Their oldest is 7 and young one is 2. Travis has come to church for the last 7 weeks. About 3 weeks ago we found out he was not a member but he still likes to come to church and learn. They are a nice family. They asked at the end of our lesson with us if there was someone in the ward that could look at their dryer because it was popping the breaker. We told them that Brother Paz could look at it.

Thursday we help Bill Reinsch move. We had a fun time working and helping move different things. They are moving their daycare down south because Wal-Mart bought their land and is building a 4th Wal-Mart in Topeka. This was a fun time helping them. Then we went to the retirement home and helped them with crafts. The old people like to help us and share different stories from their life. There are two members that live at this retirement home. Then we went out on team ups with David Kubie.  David Kubie knows lots of the ward members because his family grew up in the ward. His sister Joanna Kubie also came out with us because she told us she needs practice before her mission in January. We were able to meet lots of less active members that were down south.

Friday was district meeting. After district meeting we went on splits with our district leaders. I went with Elder Every and Elder Corvalan went with Elder Owens. Elder Every and I went to the Sherwood ward and had a wonderful time talking to the members in that ward. For dinner we went to the ward missionary house and had dinner. He found out that we did not have a dinner and he had lots of food. They are a nice family they both served missions and are now going to school. Lots of fun with Elder Every.

Saturday Elder Every woke up sick. Elder Corvalan also was not feeling well. That put Elder Owens and I together for the day. The sick Elders stayed home and slept all day. Elder Owens and I went and helped a family put up their decorations on their lawn and had wonderful lesson with them after the service. Spent lots of time in the Sherwood ward these last two days. That Evening Brother Paz was not able to help the Jackson Family with their dryer so we went over to help them. In the end, the dryer and washer ended up welding themselves together because of the way it was wired. The dryer was wired Red To Red, Then Black To white, Then White To Black. The dryer outside metal was charged and the washer metal was grounded so the two made a loop of electricity. It is interesting what can happen when someone does not know what they are doing.

Sunday we had church. They announced that the ward is getting a set of sister missionaries and still will have a set of elders. This was wonderful news because the distance of our ward. We were also told that we were able to ride with sisters that are over the age of 50 and approved by the bishop. Then Bishop dropped of food for the Spanish elders and us.

This week has been a wonderful. Lots of lessons and service. There are some great things happening in the Lake Shawnee Ward. I am doing great and still working hard.

Love Elder Andrew J Allen

Oct 21, 2013

This week has been a lot of service for the members in the Lake Shawnee ward.

Monday was P-day. We had dinner with a sister in the ward that has 2 children. Brother Homewood came with us because it was a Single sister and he did not have plans for dinner. This was a exiting because the children really love the missionaries and love to teach us the lessons.

Tuesday we went to the zoo for service. Because it is turning cold here in Topeka, Rick needed to transplant plants and also do small planting projects. Rick also needed some firewood split for the Saturday boo at the Zoo party. He asked Elder Robinson and I to split the pile of wood for them. This was very fun to do. We were able to split a big part of the pile; we even split more wood than Rick thought we could. After lunch we went to the Jewell building and helped with the bishop storehouse food. This was a good time because we were able to help the family in our ward. Her husband is not a member but is coming to church and also meeting with us. We are working very close with him to get baptized on his son’s 8 birthday and also have his son be baptized.

Wednesday was weekly planning. We had a fun time planning for the different towns to visit this next week. Then we had a productive day with teaching the less active family and the members of our ward. We had 8 lessons that day. Lots of work is being done to help the less actives in our ward and help them come to church. The families out here a beginning to love us and wanting to have us over because of the spirit we bring into their homes each time we visit with them. Had dinner with the Kubie family. The Kubie family has a son on a missionary. Their daughter, that turned 19 in September, received her mission call and is going to the San Fernando mission in California. This family is helping us with people to teach and helping with us with fellowship for the less active members. They truly know what member missionary work is.

Thursday we went to the elderly home to help with crafts. There are 2 members of the Sherwood ward that live there that come to craft time. We have a fun time helping them with the simple projects. This is a small service for us but it is a great thing for them because they cannot do it without us. This evening we went a baptism in the Sherwood ward. This was a wonderful baptism because there were several investigators there. The investigators were very touched by the spirit in the chapel. We also had a flat tire. The tire was flat because of the wear on the tire and how old they are.

Friday was zone training with the zone leaders. We meet at the Jewell building at 8:30 for a 9:00 am meeting. This meeting did not end until 1:15 pm. We did not leave for lunch until about 2 pm because of passing out supplies and mail. After lunch we went and got 4 new tires for the car. The nice thing is that the car has good tires for the snow season. While waiting at the tire shop we were able to talk to the mechanic about the Gospel and about the church. He said he would call us if he ever wanted to learn more. It was raining all day and very cold.   It got to the 30 that night. I am glad to be able to drive.

Saturday we were out working when one of our members called us and asked if we would be able to go to the VA hospital and give his Friend a blessing because he is from Walmego which is about a hour drive from Topeka. We were able to go down and give him a blessing. At the hospital they thought he had an intestine infection and would have to stay at the hospital for 6 weeks. We had to put on the yellow robes. About 40 minutes later he called us and told us that he was being released because all of his test came back negative. This was a remarkable change in his life from being told he be there for 6 weeks to being released from the hospital.

Sunday we had a ward correlation meeting with Brother Scerbo, which is the ward missionary leader, and Brother Davis from Elders Quorum and Sister Clark from Primary and Sister Hit from Relief Society. We were able to talk about the members of the ward and which ones we would like to work with as a ward. At the end of the meeting we had a list of 10 people that Each Quorum is going to work with and help come to church. The Downs family did come to church and stayed for all 3 hours of church. The Downs family is really liking church and the fellowship of the ward. We then had dinner with the Scerbo Family because it was their son’s birthday. Lots of fun this Sunday.

This week has been very cold but nice weather. I am still doing well and having fun out here in Topeka Kansas.

Love Elder Andrew J Allen

October 14, 2013

This week was good, we had some great things happen to us this week. This week we had the bikes. We walked and biked a lot this week.

Monday we had a fun and played basketball, went shopping and also had dinner. Dinner was with the Paz family. The Paz’s are from California and have several grandchildren. They are a nice family because they are willing to do everything to help the missionary's.

Tuesday was service at the zoo.  Rick was back this week.  He told us that last Tuesday he was thinking of us when he was in a conference in Mississippi. This next few weeks at the zoo we are clearing out a lot that was over grown and lots of trees. After the zoo we went to the Paz house and help them with their lawn. We then had a wonderful lesson with them about the importance of coming to church and helping share the gospel with others.

Wednesday we had weekly planning for the next 10 days. During this planning we review the plans for Thursday through Sunday then we plan for the next week. This is a fun time to study about our investigators and the members that we are going to teach. After lunch we went out and were visiting less actives and active members in our area. This day I finally meet the mom of the convert that was baptized in May. She is always gone when we come over to help him and review what he has learned in seminary.  Caleb is a nice kid but it would be nice and helpful for him if his mother and sister would listen to the lessons and become a members.  This evening president Bell was up here for a meeting with the stake presidency.  After this meeting he asked several companionship to come down to the stake center and have a surprise interview with him. It was wonderful to talk to him about the area and things we are working on with the ward.

Thursday we went to the old folks home in Topeka. The missionaries go over and help with crafts and different small projects to make this retirement home look more bright and colorful. This week we made ghost and other bats for the October season.  After this craft we were able to have a lesson with a returning member of the church. Brother Shovar is an older man that has lots of medical problems because of his weight. We had a awesome lesson about the power of God in our life and how we need to seek for the Holy Ghost in our life. Then we had a lesson with the Brase family. We talked about member missionary work. 

Friday was district meeting.  Elder Owens had a great lesson on using the Restoration when teaching members about doing missionary work with their friends and family. This next mouth President Bell wants us to help motivate the members to missionary work. President Bell promised that if we would work with the members we will see people prepared to be taught the gospel. Today the Thompson family feed us at the lake. We ate on the tables right next to the lake. Brother Thompson was a missionary in the ward he now lives in. He moved back to Topeka and dated many of the members he met on his mission.

Saturday we first help mow Brother Homewood’s lawn and do his yard work for him.  Then we biked 9 miles down south to a small town of 20 houses. This was a fun bike ride because Kansas is very flat and has small parts of the ride were it was not flat. Kansas also has wind and clouds.  We tried several of the members that live there but they were not home. Dinner was with a part member family that is less active. The Downds family is very nice and kind to feed us. They feed us a wonderful meal and had a wonderful lesson. We then asked them if they would come to church. They said yes. Lots of happiness.

Sunday was church. The Downds Family came to church and had a wonderful time at church. We were asked to talk about missionary work in Relief Society. The sisters asked us questions about how to bring up the gospel to their friends and family. Church was great.

This week was a great week here in Topeka Kansas.  I am loving the letters you are sending to me. Thanks for everything. 

Love Elder Andrew Allen

Oct 7, 2013

This week has been a fun week but not that many lessons that we were able to teach.

Monday was p-day. I was able to go play disk golf. Shopping for food. Dinner was with the Clark family.

Tuesday was service at the zoo. Rick was paid to go to a convention on Monday so he was not back on Tuesday. Stacy was then in charge of the missionaries because Rick was gone. Stacy is Rick assistant at the zoo. This week at the zoo Elder Every and I got the job of trash.  This made it possible to see all of the park.  After the zoo I went with my district leader to work his area while Elder Corvalan went with Elder Budge to the Spanish branch area. This was fun to work and help my District Leader, Elder Owens. We also helped with the bishop storehouse food drop off. It is fun to help the stake with this service every other week.

Wednesday Elder Corvalan went up to Laurence for his doctor appointment. Elder Corvalan went up with the Spanish Elders to Laurence so I stayed in Topeka with Elder Owens and Elder Every. This was fun to spend a night at their house and be able to work a several days with other missionary's.

Thursday was weekly planning for the next week. After planning we went to an elderly home and helped make crafts with them. It is nice to be able to help the elderly with these simple things that are fun to see after they are done. We had dinner with the Scerbo family. Sister Scerbo is over the family history center and is working a lot with the members to help them do their family history. She gave us a booklet that is published by the church to help member have a spot to write down stories and their family stories. She wants us to give this book out to help families learn about the importance of families.

Friday we were able to see different families and less active members and remind them what was happening this weekend and the importance of watching and hearing the prophet words. This was a very good day. This night we had a big storm come in and brought with it lots of rain and wind.  We are getting nice weather out here in Topeka.

Saturday and Sunday was conference. We were able to watch it at Brother Homewood’s house. The Spanish Elders came over also to watch it with us. For the priesthood section we went to the Jewell building, they had Ice Cream for us after. Conference was very wonderful, to learn the thing we need to do in our life.

Hope all of you are doing great and had a fun time this last week. Hope fall break will be fun and relaxing. Thanks for every thing. 

Love Elder Andrew J Allen