Happy Events

Hi,

This was a very full week of happy events. I was able to Skype my family on Saturday morning and then later that day had a baptism for two of our investigators. That following Sunday they received the gift of the holy ghost and it was also my birthday. We made pancakes after church and that's how we celebrated.

Skyping home gives you a lot to think about, especially near the end of my mission. That was the last Skype home that I will have and I will be going home on the 18th of July. That is in nine weeks to come.

We gave some new investigators a baptismal date that is in July. It is all just getting so weird and the end of a mission is so indescribable. I will work hard to the end though.

Thank you to everyone that wished me a happy birthday. It was a unique one and I won't have one like it again probably. I am also grateful for my mom and wish her a happy Mother's Day.

Sincerely,
Elder Allen

Short & Sweet

Hello, 

Not much time today to write.  This week was full of Holiday Cheer.   Skyping the family only inspires you to work harder as a missionary in hopes to meet their expectations. My family thinks that I am the best missionary in the world.  So now I need to try and be that.

I was able to skateboard for the first time on my mission this last week. I was talking to some kids on the street and asked them if I could try skating their boards. Then I did a kick flip in my Doc Martens. 

Sincerely,

Elder Allen

Opening Christmas Letters and Gifts

The Ghostbuster's Car,

Alexander Family for Christmas

Christmas Festivities

Christmas in the Field

Zone Conference

Skyping on Christmas

TEXT from Sister Alexander, a member in California who had Sam over for Christmas!!

"I am from Arizona so I gave him the cactus socks and because he is back West. I sure love your son. He is so kind and gentle. I love having his spirit in our home. Not always when I meet the Missionaries do I feel like they are a special one.  But when I saw him I just knew he was a very special young man.  He truly has a light in him. You are welcome.  I know how hard it can be to be separated.Merry Christmas. Sister Alexander."

I Can Feel His Love

Hello,
This week has been wonderful and hard at the same time. I got to speak to my family on Skype which was great.

Also the end of the transfer for us has come and my Companion Elder Wilson is heading to Tana. I am staying in Tamatave and Elder Todd Olsen is coming up to me. It is his last transfer so I am killing him here in Ambolomadinika.  I will probably need to stay for another transfer to show the next guy the area. I love this area though so it is all good. I also lived with Elder Olsen before in my last house so this transfer should be great.

My area is doing pretty good right now. We just had some baptisms so we are kind of in a phase of searching for and finding new investigators. Although, the branch here is really strong and full of really spiritual people.

I have a testimony that there is a God, and that he loves us very much. I know that because I can feel his love and know that every one else can as well when they follow his will. Faith is one of the most important aspects of the Gospel. It is actually the first Principle of it. If you do not have Faith then nothing else matters. There are many people that believe that Faith is believing in things that we cannot know are true. That is false. Faith is a hope for things that are not seen however are true. Also Faith is truly related to a seed. It becomes nothing and sometimes dies if you do not nurture it. If we do not give faith in God a chance and follow it, then we will surely lose it. I know that this is true, I have experienced it myself. It is not good enough to have a simple belief on its own. We must act upon it. I can surely testify that if anyone has a desire to know whether there is a loving Heavenly Father and that he continues to guide his children here on earth today, then you need to try and obey all of his commandments and apply all the principles of the Gospel in your life. Until we do so, we will continue to have doubt and be unsure. But as soon as we do so we will instantly feel the power of his holy spirit in our lives and will not be able to deny the answer that we receive.

Sincerely,
Elder Allen

Christmas & Disrespectful Chickens

Hello,

Christmas was very nice. We went to Church, then went to a members house after. I ate a four course meal and almost died I was so full.

We hung out for a while then went back to our Church and saw Elder Bingham doing his skype.  I did my skype on Christmas Eve. Seeing my family was the greatest thing ever.

Before skype, was my ward's Christmas party. I showed up a little late and it looked like they did not plan anything and were just winging stuff it was funny.  Then they asked if the missionaries would come up and dance for every one. We awkwardly walked up and they started playing music and we danced in front of everyone. It was awful. Then the guy came up with another idea and asked the primary to come up and sing a Christmas song. Then, they called on random people asking them to share stuff. The party was a little bad.


Funny Story of the Week:
Earlier in the week we were teaching a family when a Chicken walked in. We were perfectly fine with it, but the family acted like this Chicken was disrespecting us or something so the dad grabbed it and threw it out the window. Within 5 seconds it would come back in and we would tell them that it was no problem. But these guys would not have it. So the dad grabbed the chicken and put it in the shelf and shut the door. 20 sec later it found its way out and walked right in front of us. The dad grabbed it again and it would squawk loud every time. But this time he didn't know where to put it so he just chucked it under the bed really hard, it came walking out from under the bed again and he just kicked it out the door. My comp. and I were laughing that whole lesson.

I really do love my mission. I love the crazy people, and the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

I am so grateful for all who emailed me this Christmas Season and sent me some love from home.

Love,
 Elder Allen

Grandma Jeanne sent it to Sam.  So cute.  

Sam's comp, Elder Randri. 

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Then Sam's feet and a chicken.