Dec 16, 2013

I am staying in the Lake Shawnee ward for another 7 weeks.

This week has been very long and lots of meeting and ward events.

Monday we had good time with the missionaries in the area. We did a $5 gift party. I took a box of band-aids and in the end got a pair of gloves. This was fun to see what people found in their apartments or at the store.

Mars Plant

Tuesday we to the zoo and helped in the rain forest. Then we had several lessons and went down south with Brother Scerbo. One of the members we saw on Tuesday had not come to church for about 2 weeks because she was sick. When we got there she thanked us for coming because she needing a blessing before her operation on Thursday. This was nice to see how us missionaries felt that we need to visit her and she was wanting someone to come to give her a blessing. 

Wednesday we traveled to Manhattan for a meeting and lunch with our mission president.  This meeting started at 1 pm for all the zones. The Saline zone had interviews before the meeting. The drive from Topeka to Manhattan is about an hour.  Brother Broz from our ward drove a 15-passenger van down with us missionaries in it. It was nice that he would take time out of his day to drive us and stay to take us back. In this meeting we had a testimony meeting and lunch and a few games. One game was to act out an event from the Book of Mormon or missionary life and get you district leader to get it right. After all this we finally got to the church building at 6 pm 

Thursday we had interviews for the Topeka zone.  The Lake Shawnee district and other missionaries that live in Topeka had interviews after 12 pm. President Bell was ruining late on the interviews and we did not leave the church building until 5 pm. My interview with President Bell was nice. He talked about the area and how I was doing and the things I can do to help the investigators in the area. After interviews one of the assistants took Elder Arend and me to Walmart. Elder de Leon needed to get an anniversary card and flowers for President Bell because his anniversary was on Thursday. This was fun to see 3 elders in suits getting flowers. Then we had a lesson with Dale and Shawn. They are learning lots. Their mother and grandmother read with them every night. They also study out of Preach my Gospel a few times a week.   

Topeka Zone - November

Friday we had a ward party. This ward party was nice because lots of less active members came to the party. There was lots of food and tons of desserts. It was nice to get to see the ward members fellowship the less active members of the ward. 

Saturday was the day of service. First we helped the Paz family fix the gutter and trim boards outside of their house. Then Matt Davis picked us up to help him with his outside siding. About year ago they found that their roof was not shingled properly.  They then had to redo the siding and 2 by 4s and the roof. This was a big problem. They are finally getting it all done. He needed help and ideas to fix the outside. So we talked and got one board up and the siding started for him. This was nice for us to have time to help people in our ward. Then before we went home Katie Davis gave us some jerky from the buck. Then we got to see the buck’s rib cage. See picture. They then feed it to their pigs. 

Sunday we had church. Our investigators did come to church. Elder Arend gave a talk and we had great time at our dinner. Our dinner lives down south about an hour. This was the second time going that far south in our ward. 

This week has been cold and snow last Sunday and Monday. I am staying warm with the jacket. Thanks Brother Phelps. We can us Skype to call home. Thanks for the gifts from all of the family. 

I love you all.

Elder Andrew J Allen. 

Dec 9, 2013

This week has been very cold. There has been snow and rain and below freezing temps.

Monday we had a fun p-day at the stake center. Brother Homewood took the sisters and us out to breakfast. This was nice to eat at Cracker Barrel.  Brother Homewood like this because this was the first time he was able to meet the sisters. The last couple of Sundays he was in Mesa so he was not at church. Then we had dinner with the Clark family, dinner was at 6 pm. The sisters in the Lake Shawnee ward did not get to the Clark house until about 6:40 pm. They got lost on the way from the stake center, but they made it to dinner.

Tuesday we went to the zoo. Rick had us missionaries moving thing from one building to another building. The zoo was getting ride of a building that was old and never used. They were removing all of the small things they wanted out so on Thursday they could start remove it. This was fun because the missionaries moved animal tanks and cages and food containers and even wood. Then after the zoo we went and helped a family in our ward move couches and also get ride of them. This took a long time because both members can't hear and talk a lot. Lots of fun. Then we had dinner at Brother Homewood’s son house. After dinner we put 2 boys on date for the 24th. Dale and Shawn are grandsons of a member that has been less active for years. They loved our lessons and are happy and want baptism.

Wednesday we helped with the bishop food truck. This was a big event this week because the bishop’s store house in Kansas City has been closed for the Thanksgiving. This made this order for the family large. There was lots of family there to collect but most of them did not help with sorting the food for the family. Then after that we went out to lunch with the Spanish Elders in Topeka. Then Elder Arend and I went out to try several less active family and also some referrals. Lots of these people were not home but we tried to contact them. We were able to get in with a few members all day.  Then we had dinner with the Gifford family.  

Thursday we had weekly planning and also had time to call our investigators and members for the next week.  Then Brother Scerbo took the sisters and us out to dinner at a pats pig BBQ place. We went with the sisters to one of their investigators to give her a blessing with Brother Scerbo. 

Friday we had Zone Training. This was from 9 am to about 2 pm. Then we had lunch and went back to the stake center for their nativity display. At zone training on Friday, President sent out a fake voicemail to the whole mission about a letter from the First Presidency, saying that all of our missions were going to be reduced by six months due to the huge influx of missionaries. There would be a lot of missionary that would of gone home at the first of the year. Then the zone leaders finally revealed to us that it was a joke and the letter was fake. President Bell had done this as an object lesson, to have us feel what it would be like if we were suddenly at the end of our missions. This somehow even made it onto Facebook through a member somewhere in the mission, so President had to go out and do some damage control.  This was a good example of how our time on our mission is short and we don't have time to waste on our missions.

Saturday it was very cold.  We went out in the morning and had breakfast with a member in our ward. Then we went out to work and had a great experience with members of other faiths and how we still believe in same thing. Then for dinner we had dinner at the Washburns and Davis house. They live in the country. That day at 4 pm Brother Washburn and one of Davis children shot a buck. During dinner the buck was out in the truck and after dinner they went over  and gutted it and skinned it. This was fun to watch. 

Sunday we had church and lots of snow. There was about 3 inches of snow at or house at the end of the night. Elder Arend had a fun time driving from dinner to our house in the snow. Church was good but we did not have any investigators at church. 

This week was good, lots of fun. Hope all of are doing good. Love you all. Thanks for all the mail and packages. 

Love Elder Andrew Allen

Dec 1, 2013

This week has been very fun. 

Monday we had a wonderful p-day. We played basketball and volleyball. Then we ate at the Thompson’s for dinner. They had all four of us over and also 2 friends that are not members. Then for the lesson we were talking about what we were grateful for in our lives.  The parents then told us that they are grateful for the plan of salvation. They then went on to tell us how they lost a daughter. This has truly helped them see the big picture of life and how a family can be forever. It was very nice to hear their testimony on family and how they will be able to be with their daughter again. 

Tuesday Elder Arend was sick all day. This was a very slow day of sleeping and watching movies with Elder Arend. But by dinner Elder Arend was doing better. We then went to dinner with the Scerbo Family.

Wednesday we went with a member of our ward and went down south to try different members and a few referrals. Brother Nasca has received his mission call and going to Utah.  So he is trying to go out with us to learn some teaching skills. The first person we visited was Amanda she was a referral from mormon.org. She has gone to church and also has several friends that are members. Her friend in Missouri told her that she would send over some missionaries and have them teach her so she could be baptized.  The first thing she told us is that she wants to be baptized into the church. We had a wonderful lesson with her. Amanda is now on date for the first of the year.  Then we were able to the visit less active in Burlingame, Kansas 

Thursday was Thanksgiving. Lots of food. We first went over to the Paz family for a Thanksgiving lunch. There were 4 elders and then 2 sisters there plus 12 children and 6 adults. This was wonderful to talk the children and grandchildren of the Paz's.  This was at 12:00 and we left at 3:00 PM. Then we went over to Travis’s house at 5:00 PM. Travis had his parents and also his aunt and grandmother there. Travis and all of his family are not members but they had a great time talking to the sisters and us. They also had a lot of food and pie also. Travis really liked us coming over and talking with his parents about what us missionaries do and what we teach people. Travis knows a lot about the church and should be baptized shortly.

Friday was district meeting. This was the first district meeting since transfers in November. The last 2 weeks here has been zone meeting and also other mission meetings. Our district is the elders and sisters in Lake Shawnee and the elders in Kaw Valley Ward. Our district has 10 people on date and also several others that will be on date later this next week. Then after District meeting we went out and visited several members that are up in the ghetto part of Topeka. Then we had dinner with the Downs family. Sister Downs has two grandsons that are now ready to be baptized and we started to teach them. This is nice to see a family that is coming back to church and having children that are over 8 taught the gospel. 

Saturday we had a service day. We also had lots of lessons with members in our ward. We also had a meeting with Brother Scerbo. The sisters were very late to the meeting. Then we had dinner with the Wright family which is coming back to church. They have now come for 3 Sundays.

Sunday we had church then a meeting. The fast and testimony meeting was very wonderful. We had lots of us missionary and those planning on missions bear our testimony. There was us 4 missionary in our ward and also a recent missionary, Brad and also his sister, which leaves on the first of the year. This was a great testimony meeting. Then we were asked to go to the youth fireside. This fireside was Brad Kubie, a returned missionary from Pocatello Idaho mission.  He talked about the things he learned on his mission and how the youth can prepare for missions and how they can invite their friends to hear the lessons from us elder and sisters in the ward. This was very nice to see how he changed and the things he did that I can apply to my mission.  In our ward we have 4 that are working to go on missions. Joanna and Gerard both have their call and 2 other have their papers in.

This week we had lots of food and many great lessons. 

Hope you all are doing good and staying warm. I am doing great and loving the people I meet out here in Topeka. 

Love,

Elder Andrew J Allen

PS the dog is my new friend.  Thanks for the cookies and the tie.

Nov 25, 2013

This week has been very fun.

Monday was a long day. Elder Arend was playing basketball at the stake center after lunch. During this nice friendly game, Elder Arend messed up his foot. So the zone Leaders told us that we would need to go to the Urgent care. So we spent 3 hours there waiting for an x-ray and the doctor to tell him that it was not broken but sprained.  That was a long night.

 

Elder Allen and Elder Arend

Tuesday we had zoo service. Rick had us bagging leaves and also cleaning out the hay barn. This was a nice fun project because it took us not long and we got to drive the golf cart. Then we worked at the Red Cross blood drive till dinner. The four LDS wards signed up with the First Congregational Christian church and had a blood drive. This was held at the Fist CC church building.  This was nice to help the churches in the community and also see and talk to other members of other churches. Then with Brother Scerbo, we went down south to try different less actives and a referral. This was a long day.

Wednesday the district leaders had a training meeting in Manhattan. This put me with all of the other companions. I was with two new missionaries for the day. We had lots of lessons with members of the Cooley creak ward. This was a wonderful day. Then we ate with brother Homewood and his son. We also had weekly planning at 7 pm. 

Thursday we had a special training from the AP’s and also President Bell. This training was about using the Book of Mormon with our members and investigators and less active families in our ward. This was one of the longest meetings I have been in with President Bell. This meeting was 5 hours long but we were able to learn a lot and also have good time with the missionaries in the zone. Then brother Homewood took us Elders out to lunch. He tried to have the sisters also but they went with other sisters to an expensive lunch place. Then we were able then to have a wonderful dinner with the Kubie family. The Kubie family is one of the largest family in our ward. They have ten children and the oldest is 38 and the youngest is 11. Their son Brad came home from his mission on Tuesday. They also have a daughter leaving for her mission. This was wonderful to talk to Brad Kubie and see the different things they did in his mission. They are a wonderful family because of all the work they do for the ward. 

Friday we help the Paz family fix their outside siding of their house. Then we went with Brother Paz and help the Reinsch family move all Sister Reinsch sister’s stuff. Sister Reinsch’s sister passed away this last Friday so they need help cleaning out the apartment. This was a sad time for the family. Then we had dinner at the Paz house. All of the Reinsch family also came to the Paz house for dinner. This was a large dinner.

Saturday was the funeral for Sister Deason. This was a nice funeral. There was lots of family and ward members. Then Brother Kubie had us clean the church building.  Then we went out with Brother Kubie to try some family in the ward. Then we had dinner with the Washburns family and the Matt Davis family and also the sisters missionaries. This was big dinner, there was 15 people out in the middle of our ward. These families we had dinner with live about 30 min from the church building. They were a nice family to eat with then talk about missionary work and how they can help. Then we had ward correlation meeting with Brother Scerbo. 

Sunday was church. Only the Elders came to church. Sister Smart was sick and so the sisters stayed home all day. We had 3 investigators come to church and also 5 less actives also came to church.  After church we help the Bishop give a blessing to Sister Smart. Then we had dinner with the Bishop’s family. Dinner with the Lambs was very nice. 

This week has been very cold out here in Topeka, Kansas. I am doing great and loving my new companion Elder Arend. Hope you all are doing good and staying warm. Thanks for the letters. It was 15 when we got up to day.

Love Elder Andrew J Allen

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