Feb. 3, 2014

This week was Great. I was able to go to the Temple and have a wonderful week. And I am moving to Great Bend, Kansas. I am looking forward to the new area. I will miss all the people I have met in the Lake Shawnee ward but I know the Lord has a plan for me in the Great Bend Area. I hope all goes well with the transfer.

Monday was a half p-day. We emailed and went shopping and did laundry.  Then we had dinner with the Gifford family. We were able to talk with Brother Gifford about his work and things that we could do to help the ward. Then we were able to visit the Paz family and the visit with Brother Homewood.

Tuesday we had the opportunity to go to the Kansas City Temple.  This trip started at the Jewell building at 9 am with a travel bus. All of the missionaries in the Topeka stake met in Topeka to ride to Kansas City. This was a full bus of missionaries. When we got to the temple we were allowed to go in and get clothing.  Then we changed and waited in the chapel. The Temple President and his wife talked to us about remembering our Temple Covenants and how we need to have the Temple in our life. They said we can do this by going to the temple often and reflect on the Temple and the impact it has in our life. This was great to reflect about the Temple and how important it is in our life. Then after the Temple we went to the Stake Center by the temple to have lunch. Then we got on the bus to travel back to Topeka. Then we had dinner with the Scerbos.  Then had a lesson with the Downs family. 

 

Topeka Zone at the Kansas City Temple

Wednesday we had zoo service. Rick moved zoo service to Wednesday because the Temple. We trimmed tree in the rain forest. Then Rick took us  Missionaries out to lunch. We went to a Coyote canyon Which is a all you can eat. This was very fun to have a lunch with rick and the other missionaries. Then we helped Brother Homewood on his kitchen with his phone line and drywall. Then we had dinner with the buntings. 

Thursday we went with Brother Homewood out to visit Sister Kuhn. Then we went out to eat.  Elder Arend and I went out to try less actives and member in Montara.  Then had dinner and had fun.

Friday we had district meeting.  Elder Arend went with the zone Leaders to a district meeting up in Lawrence.  So I went with the Kaw Valley Elders until dinner. We then had dinner with the Clydes and the Brandon Davis family. Then we saw the Paz family. 

Saturday we had snow. We got up at 6 am because Elder Arend had to go down to Wichita for a training meeting. He left with 2 other Elders from Topeka at 7:30 am.  So I was with Brother Homewood and Matt Davis for the Day. Went to Matt Davis’s house to help with his wood flooring and fix his wall. Elder Arend got back about 5pm and then had dinner with the Davis Family.

Sunday we had church. This was my last Fast Sunday in the Lake Shawnee Ward. Then we had nothing to do after church because of the football game. We ended up doing weekly planning. Then had dinner with the Scerbos and had a great night.

This next week is transfer. I am going to be transferred to Great Bend Kansas. Thanks for all the mail. For this next week you can mail every thing to the Mission Office.

Elder Andrew J Allen

Kansas Wichita Mission

7011 E 13th St North

Wichita, Kansas 67402

Thanks for Every thing. This week the Temple truly help me because of the great time I had with all the missionaries in the Temple. 

Love Elder Andrew Allen.

Jan 27, 2014

This week has been a great week. We had the car and lots of miles to drive. The weather was very nice. Days were in the 40s and 60s.

Monday we emailed at the Stake Center. We had fun playing basketball and volleyball and having fun. Then we had dinner at the Kubies house. The sisters were about 40 min late. They had to drive up to Laurance to go on splits with some of the sisters up there. This was a nice dinner because they had some of their children there and we were able to talk about missions and we can rely on the spirit to help us. 

Tuesday we went to the zoo. Rick had us trimming trees in the rain forest again. This week Rick was able to get us to feed the hippo. All of the missionaries were able to give the hippo a piece of lettuce and touch the hippo’s head. This was a lot of fun. Then we were able to go down to Carbondale.  Carbondale is about 20 miles from our house. I have never been down there in the middle of the day. This was great to meet some less actives.  We were able to have a great lesson with them.  Then we had dinner with the Jacksons. Sister Jackson is a member and her husband is not. We were able to a small lesson with them but it turned in a talk about political things.

Andrew and the Hippo

Wednesday we were able to go down south to Pomona. There is a Pomona lake also. We received a referral of a member that is less active down south. This sister is going through lots of difficult thing in her life and that is helping her come back. Then we had dinner with the Thomason’s in our ward. Brother Thomason is in the stake presidency and we had a great lesson and discussion about what the stake has in mind for the missionaries. 

 

Lake Pomona

Thursday Elder Arend and Elder Heath had to go to Wichita for MLC. All of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders and some of the District Leaders went down for a meeting with the Mission President and some General Authorities from the mission department. So the Mission sent a bus up to Topeka to pick up 6 Elders and also 4 sisters. They left at 8:30 am from Topeka. So I went with Elder Hughes, which is Elder Heaths companion. We spent the day visiting members in both wards. We had two dinners and also went on splits with my ward Elders Quorum. This was a great day. Then at 8:30 we went to pick up our companions back from the church Building. 

Friday we were able to have district meeting and also go down south. We were able to see the Youngbergs and Sister Ryan and other families in the Scranton and Burlingame area. Then we had dinner with the Gifford family. Then we were able to see the Clark family.  This was the day of driving everywhere.

Saturday we were able to go down to Carbondale again. We were able to see a few members that were not home on Tuesday. Then we had the ward correlation meeting with the sisters and Brother Scerbo. Then we went to visit the Moore family and also the bishop. 

Sunday we had PEC in the morning at 8 AM then Church. This week we had lots of less active family there. There were about 30 less active members that don't come to often. This was a great time at church. Then we went over to Matt Davis’s house to give Kyle a blessing. Kyle had a pitchfork go through his lip on Saturday and had to get stitches to close it up. Then we went to dinner at the Bishop Lambs house. Then we had a missionary fireside. Brother Scerbo with the help of the Elders and Sister created a fireside to help the youth and adults with missionary work. This was a great fireside. We had role-plays and testimonies and also message. This was a great night. 

This week has been great. Had lots of fun. This next week we are going to the temple in Kansas City on Tuesday. 

Love Elder Andrew Allen 

Jan 20, 2014

This week has been long and difficult. We did not have the car. We were blessed to be in Montara all week. Montara is the small community down where we live. There is about 1080 house in this old Air Force base. 

Monday we emailed and played basketball and had good time.

Tuesday we had zoo service. Rick had us trimming trees and cleaning in the rain forest. Once every year they trim the trees. They usually do this in the winter because it gives the Mormon Missionaries something to do when it is cold outside. This was fun to trim trees and still stay warm inside. Then we were able to try several people that had missionary contact in the past. Then we had dinner with the Eldridge Family. After dinner we went to the Downs family. We were able to talk to Dale about YM and Wednesday activities. Dale said that he would like to go to mutual this week.

Wednesday we had weekly planning. Then we were able to visit with Sister Scerbo. We were able to talk about the creation and missionary work with members. Then we had dinner with the Paz family. Then we were able to go with Bother Scerbo and Alex, his son, Dale and a non-member. The ward had a combined mutual and were playing bishop ball. Bishop Ball is crab soccer. You play with a big yoga ball and try and get the most points while traveling like a crab on you hands and legs. Elder Arend and I were on the side that won. This was a fun night. Dale and the non-member really liked it. Everyone had fun.

Thursday we were able to do some service for Ray Homewood. We fixed a hole in the drywall and help do other projects around the house. Then we talked to some of our neighbors and then had dinner with the Scerbos. Then we had the 3rd new member lesson with Dale and Shawn. We heard that Dale talked a lot about mutual. This was a great lesson. 

Friday we had district meeting and then splits with the Kaw Valley missionaries. The Kaw Valley missionaries are in our district. So Elder Arend went with Elder Hamelwright and I went with Elder Murphy. We were able to visit Travis Jackson and the Siefferts and the Paz family. Then we had dinner with the Downs and then got Elder Arend back from Elder Hamelwright.

Saturday we were able to go and do service at Matt Davis’s house. They are building a pig pin for their 4 pigs. We were drilling holes for the post with the help of a tractor. We were not able to drill lots of holes because the drill broke the bolt that held on the bit from the PTO shaft. Then we had dinner with the Ross family.

Sunday we had church and dinner. Then we went to a priesthood meeting with Andy Homewood Sunday night. 

This week we were able to see the Lord's hand in helping us find the members that were home and needed us to come over. Lots of hard work but a nice week. Thanks for all the letters. Thanks for every thing. 

Love Elder Andrew Allen

The Pigs at Matt Davis’s house are nice and fun to see. 

Jan 13, 2014

This week has been great. Lots of meetings and lots of fun. 

Monday was really cold.  The cold was -30 with the wind chill. We stayed inside the Stake Center all day. Had a nerf fight and basketball.  Then we had dinner with the Paz family. After dinner we went over to the Wright’s house to talk about the baptism and to have the interview. 

Tuesday we had zoo service and visiting less actives.  This was our first time at the zoo this year. Rick has been gone the last 3 weeks and finally made it back this week. Because of the cold, Rick had us come inside the rainforest and trim the plants. We trimmed small plants to big trees. It was lots of fun.  Elder Arend and I then went out and delivered invitations to the ward movie night. The movie night was on Friday. We were planning on showing 17 miracles. I was able to get permission from president Bell to watch this movie at the ward party.  Then we had dinner with Andy Homewood. He is the son of Ray Homewood who we live with. We then were able to go out with Brother Homewood to the Downs house to visit with Dale and Shawn. 

Sloth at the Topeka Zoo

Wednesday we helped with the Bishop Storehouse. Then we had dinner with Ray Homewood. And then we went to deliver invitations to the members. Then we were able to talk with Bishop and Brother Scerbo and Brother Kubie at the church building during YM and YW. 

Thursday we had a zone conference. President Bell came with the Ap. This meeting was from 9am to 5 pm. lots of talks and training. This training was all about becoming better missionary with the things we have been given. Working more with the area book and setting better goals and working with the ward leaders. President and Sister Bell also talked a lot about the age change and how much closer Elders And Sister ages are so close. This has leds to a lot of flirting in our zone and has led to transfers of missionary that should not be happening. This was a big talk they had with us, they told us that we came on a mission not to find a wife or husband but to share the gospel to others that don't have it. President Bell told us that we would be able to see miracles if we follow the mission rules. 

Friday the District Leaders and Zone Leaders had a meeting with president Bell. This meeting was for DL and ZL to talk about the new rules and new thing in the zone. So I went with the other missionaries that their companions had to be at the meeting. So I went with Elder Bird and Elder Maisey. We were able to have a lesson with Brother Shovar of my ward and try other people in Topeka. Then we went out for lunch. President Bell took all of the leadership out for lunch. Then we had a movie night. We showed 17 miracles and had several members and investigators come and watch it with us. This was a nice video and great time.

Saturday we had a baptism of Amelia Wright. I first started out teaching her then we gave her to the sisters to teach when they came into the ward. Amelia is 10 and it was nice that her father was able to baptize her. This was a great thing to see the family change from inactivity to working to go to the temple.

Sunday we had Ward Council. Ward Council was great. We were able to talk about several families that the ward wants help with and the families the missionaries are work with. This was the best Ward Council I have had in this ward. Church was great and had lots of people come to church. Then we had dinner with the Hollingsworth family and had time to visit the Sister’s investigator and give her a blessing. Great day. 

This week has been great. Lots of meeting and a baptism. Thanks for every thing. 

Love

 Elder Andrew Allen

Sisters Smart and Sister Macovichuk and Amilia.

Sloth in the rainforest in the Topeka Zoo.

Jan 6, 2014

This week was very fun with the New Year.

Monday we had a fun P-day with Brother Homewood. Brother Homewood took us out for lunch and out to see a new part of town. We then had dinner also with Brother Homewood. 

Tuesday Elder Arend was sick. We stayed in most of the day but were still able to go on team up with the ward members. A set of missionaries called us and gave of some info on a member that wanted a blessing. This member was Billy Arnold. About 4 months ago we ran into him in Carbondale.  He gave us his info. We tried to find his membership but was not able to find it. This week I was able to go out with Brother Broz. We were able to find him and talk with him and give him a blessing. That night Brother Broz was able to find his membership with the new info he gave us. Then I went out with Brother Scerbo to dinner and a lesson after. Brother Homewood stayed with Elder Arend all day. 

Wednesday Elder Arend was not felling all great so we stayed in. We did weekly planning and also calling our members and working with the area book.

Thursday we went out and walked in the cold weather. It was very cold and not a lot of people home.  We were able to get in with the Paz family and also Kaleb. It was a very cold day. Then we had dinner with Brother Homewood and the Sisters came over also.  The Zone Leader allowed us to have the Sisters and a team up come and have dinner with us and Brother Homewood. 

Friday we had Zone training. This was long. It was 4.5 hours long and also lunch after the training.  In training the Zone leaders told us that 49% of our missionaries have been out for less than 6 months, which is incredible! A sign of the hastening of the work. So, they are now working to train us missionaries working on all aspects of missionary work all the time.  It was good and it took all day. Then we had dinner with the Davis and Clyde family. Both of these families are living in one house. Sister Clyde is having a baby this next few weeks and there are lots of children. This was fun because we were able to talk to Brother Davis about our investigator and about deep church facts and trivia. 

Saturday we help Matt Davis with his wood flooring and also his outside siding. This was nice to help him put in the flooring. Matt Davis was very grateful for all the help we were able to help him with. Then we had dinner with Matt’s family and the Washburns and the sisters. 

Sunday was snowy, cold and church. The church building was very cold. It was 61 in the chapel and outside was 5 and with wind chill it was -15. We still had church but it was very small. All of the people that live down south were not able to make it to church because of all the snow and the cold temperature.  But it was a wonderful Fast Sunday. Then we had dinner with the Scerbo family and had fun time at home because of the cold. 

This week was very good. One thing that has really stuck to me this week was, how the mission has changed the training and goals to fit with the new missionaries and new mission. This is what we need to do in our life is change our goals and habits to fit the direction that we what to take in life.  This might be changing our work, or hobbies or spending more time with the scriptures and at the temple. I am really looking foreword to the end of this mouth when we get to go to the Kansas City temple with our mission president. 

Hope all of you stay warm and safe. Thanks for every thing.

Love Andrew J Allen

Dec 30,2013

This week was a great week. A baptism, food and family.

Monday we had P-day then we the interviews of Dale and Sean Siddons. This was a great time to see them ready for baptism the next day. 

Tuesday there were 8 baptisms in Topeka. There was a baptism at 12 and 5 at the stake center and one at the Jewell building at 6:30pm. The baptism of Dale and Sean was at 5 pm. The meeting started late because a family was late and people were slow changing into the jumpsuits. This baptism was nice because the Stake President and the Mission President we able to make it. The mission president was able to drive from Wichita to make to the baptism. There were 4 people baptized at the 5 pm session. After the baptism we were able to have dinner at the Scerbo house. Sister Scerbo is a great cook and loves to cook for us because she was a chef once in her life. This was a great day for us. 

Dale and Sean

Wednesday we had time with Brother Homewood opening gifts. Then we elders went over to the Scerbo house to Skype with Benjamin and my family at 11 Am. This was nice to see them and see how they had changed and the things that are happening with them. This was the best time to see my family and also Benjamin at the same time. Then at 2 pm we went over to the Bradfields house. The sisters Skyped their parents at this house. Then at 2 we ate a Dinner / Lunch. Then we played games, opened a few gifts and talked. They had us write a letter to our self of what we were grateful for this last year. This was nice to reflect of the things that have happened in my life. They told us that when we are done with our mission that we had to come back to visit them and then we can get the letter from them. Then we went with all of the other missionaries to go caroling to members in Topeka. 

Thursday we had weekly planning and saw several members in the ward. We visited the Kubie family. The Kubie family is one of the largest family in Topeka. They have had several children serve missions and one, Joanna Kubie leaving at the first of the year. We had a great lesson with them about missionaries work with their friends. They are a great family and have several people that they are working with. Then we had dinner with the Clark family. The Sisters were 20 min late. The Clark family was great having us over at the last second.  The family that was going to feed just the elders could not have us over so the Clark feed us. Then we followed the sisters out to the ghetto part of town to make sure that they made it safe to their appointment and back home. 

Friday we had district meeting. We then saw less actives and former investigators. We were able to see several people and invited them to church. Then we had dinner with the Fisher family and the sisters. We were able to talk about several family that the elders quorum wants us to talk to and help get to the temple. This was nice to see some members wanting help from us to help their friends in the church. 

Saturday we did service for the Davis family. They had us over to fix some of their siding on their house. We were able to talk to them about their friends and who would be interested to have us talk to them. Then we had correlation meeting with brother Scerbo and the sisters. 

Sunday we had lots of things to do. Our ward missionary leader was not at our ward so we did several tasks that he would of done before the confirmation of our new members. I was able to confirm Sean Siddons and Elder Arend confirmed Dale Siddons. Then we had dinner with the Ramsey family. There was lots of people at the Ramsey family, the sisters and their married children all came. Then we went to the youth fireside that a return missionary was speaking at. It was nice to see how his mission was different in London then here. 

This week I hope all of you can reflect on the different things that you are grateful for and things you can do to help you this next year. Hope you all have a great New Years and are all having fun. 

Love,

Elder Andrew Allen

December 23, 2013

This week has been cold

Monday we shopped and emailed.

Tuesday we had Zoo service and work with less active people. At the zoo some of us were painting Santa snow sled. The zoo was doing a fundraiser with pictures with Santa and need their sled painted red and black.  Then we help feed the animals in the rain forest with Rick.  After this we then went out to visit less actives in the ward. The ward is doing a big thing about working with the less actives in the ward.

Wednesday we had Bishop Storehouse, transfers and a ward move.

The Bishop Storehouse is held in our church building. They bring the food from Kansas City to Topeka. In Topeka the members and missionaries help fill the food orders. This took about 4 hours. It was lots of fun with the members. After the food order we went to visit Brother Shovar.  Brother Shovar is a member that is having a difficult time in life so we keep in touch with him a lot. Then we had dinner at 4:30 because of transfers. Dinner was with the Landrum family in our ward. There were 3 sisters and 2 elders and then the family. Sister Call got transferred from our ward to another ward in Topeka. The new sister arrived in Topeka about 6 PM. The new sister in the ward is Sister Macovichuk. She is from California and Alberta Canada. After dinner the Ward asked us elders to help move a family. This family was moving down to Texas. They rented a big truck and we filled it up with all of their stuff. They had lots of stuff and could not fit it all in before 9 pm. so we had to come over on Thursday. 

Thursday we help move more and also did weekly planning. We went back over to the Batmain’s to finish the move. Then we had weekly planning and studies. Then Brother Homewood took us out to try on Elder Arend’s new suit that Brother Homewood gave him for Christmas.  Then we went to dinner with the Thompson family. They had us over we ate and talked and had a good time. After dinner we had a lesson with the Downs family. They are ready for baptism on the 24th. 

Friday we had district meeting and I went with one of the zone leaders for the day.  I went with Elder Moyle. We had a full day of work. It started out with a baptism interview and then a doctor’s appointment with an EMT, then delivering ward baskets of food to less active ward members and then cleaning house before the APs came to visit. 

Saturday we had a snow day. We went over and had a lesson with the Downs family and then with Brother Scerbo. Then after lunch the cars in the mission got parked because of a storm that came to Topeka. This storm had rain, then frozen rain, then snow. 

Sunday we had no church and lots of service. We had 3 inches of snow when we got up. There was no church and no meetings. We ended up helping members shovel their driveways. We did 7 driveways. We were at the Thompson house shoveling their driveway when we were invited to have lunch. We had lunch with the Thompson family and also the Scerbo family came over also.  When we got home there was 3 packages for me on my bed. Lots of fun opening them but every thing was wrapped inside.  Then we got a voicemail telling us that we could now drive our cars. Then we had dinner with the Lamb family. After This Elder Arend and I went over to the Wright house to do a baptismal interview. Amila Wright is a member’s daughter that Elder Pack and I taught but gave her over to the sisters. She is going to be baptized on the 24th. 

I can’t wait to see you in two days. Love you all. Hope you are a having a fun time. Thanks for every thing.

Love Elder Andrew Allen