Wow, last post was December from my mission, and since I've been married for 2 years now, that means that this blog hasn't been updated for almost 3 years.
So, a little update about me, my life and what is going on.
I married my best friend, J, September 2012, after our journey through all the hoops that are our very broken immigration system (if you disagree, try the painfully slow and paperwork laden process), J finally got his visa, we moved to the US to be closer to my family, and to be able to take advantage of the more advanced civilization that is the US. Then 6 months later he finally got his green card and started to work. About that same time work finally came through for me, and I was offered a part time-which transitioned to full time- job at the regional hospital. J started the education process and got his CNA, and has since been employed between part-time and full time. He also has some money making hobbies that have been surprisingly productive.
So its just the two of us, and our friendly border collie.
We've set some goals, which we hope will make our lives more meaningful. Mostly financial, because honestly money is such an interesting topic to me. I'm not saying that it means everything, but once you understand the power of compounding interest, and decide to put it to work for you, instead of against you, well the results are amazing!
But to put it out there our financial goal this year (we're going year based on our housing contract, not calendar year) 1. To save $3000 a month for a future down payment on a house. 2. To put 25% of the bigger paycheck into 401K. and 3. Decrease all other spending to enable the above two goals. We also are working on other revenue streams, like J's hobbies, and my dabbling in the world of investments, but we aren't counting those into out revenue streams, as they aren't as certain.
Some other goals we have, J and I would like to start a family, and we hope that this coming year brings pregnancy, and an addition to our family.
We have dedicated every other week to serving in the temple as spanish temple workers. We can do that until we have a baby, then we will be dedicating our time and talents more to our family.
We have big plans to go on a vacation to visit J's family in Central America toward the start of the calendar year, and have invited my parents to come with us. My dad won't be able to due to some health issues with his business partner/brother, but my mom is planning to join us for our adventure.
J has been working on figuring out how to continue with his education. At first we thought he'd have to take the GED, but after speaking with some advisors, we discovered a company that may validate his "high school" education. We've got the transcripts, and the diploma, now we just have to translate, send and pay for the validation. We hope it all works out, and that he'll be able to start taking some general classes this fall/winter.
I think that about sums us up!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Friday, December 30, 2011
¡Feliz año nuevo!
Hey Y'all
I hope you had a very merry christmas and that new year will be great. I hope everyone has put a few goals and a few other plans to achieve your goals for this year.
My week has been interesting as all weeks are for me. We are preparing for 10 new missionaries the first part of this change and in the course of the change we are preparing for another 5 the 3rd week and another 9 the 6th week and then the next group will be another 9 the first week of next change. Strange, but that is what we are preparing for. So changes are next week, 2 hnas go home from belice so we'll be sending 2 hnas, and we also will be sending at least 3 elders because 3 elders go home from belice this change as well. I think it will be more than 3, but we'll see next monday. Lets see tuesday we worked a mas o menos normal day, a little rough, all our citas fell, all of our plans fell, and contacting didn't pan out with anything. pero asi es de vez en cuando. Wed we had meetings and then we worked more (yeay) Thurs I went to San Salvador to be with one of the nurses from the other mission to learn more about the hospitals that they use there in San Salvador. We were there for all of the morning, and came back to santa ana about 3 and we went to the office so I could look at the ingrown toenail of an Elder who was there for training. We got back to the area about 530 and of course we worked some more. I got a calendar for the next change so I can know when things are and where and not put apointments when there are other things.
Well, thats about it for my week, love y'all,
Hna Allen
I hope you had a very merry christmas and that new year will be great. I hope everyone has put a few goals and a few other plans to achieve your goals for this year.
My week has been interesting as all weeks are for me. We are preparing for 10 new missionaries the first part of this change and in the course of the change we are preparing for another 5 the 3rd week and another 9 the 6th week and then the next group will be another 9 the first week of next change. Strange, but that is what we are preparing for. So changes are next week, 2 hnas go home from belice so we'll be sending 2 hnas, and we also will be sending at least 3 elders because 3 elders go home from belice this change as well. I think it will be more than 3, but we'll see next monday. Lets see tuesday we worked a mas o menos normal day, a little rough, all our citas fell, all of our plans fell, and contacting didn't pan out with anything. pero asi es de vez en cuando. Wed we had meetings and then we worked more (yeay) Thurs I went to San Salvador to be with one of the nurses from the other mission to learn more about the hospitals that they use there in San Salvador. We were there for all of the morning, and came back to santa ana about 3 and we went to the office so I could look at the ingrown toenail of an Elder who was there for training. We got back to the area about 530 and of course we worked some more. I got a calendar for the next change so I can know when things are and where and not put apointments when there are other things.
Well, thats about it for my week, love y'all,
Hna Allen
Friday, December 23, 2011
Feliz Navidad!
Hola familia!
Feliz navidad y prospero año nuevo.
This week has flown by, we've been working in trio in both my area and the area of Hna Montalvan. The hard part is my investigators aren't in the house much before 5 and Hna Montalvan's aren't either. We managed to do divisions a few times so we could both teach our investigators, but it isn't the same as working in your area all day. We have found some very positive investigators this week. It has been a great time to contact because people are in the house, they are also a little more stressed so they are more willing to accept help. Last night when we got back from doing divisions all day we didn't have electricity, so we planned, and ate by candle light, and we went to bed early. This morning we cleaned the house, and while we were cleaning Elder Molina(one of the assistants) called me to tell me that today Hna Martinez(the Hna who had dengue) was going to go to Juayua to be with Hna Ellis, where my companion Hna Salazar was, and Hna Salazar was coming back and Hna de Leon was coming back and 2 sisters were coming from belice, and one was going to where Hna de Leon was and the other to a different area. So we got ready for the day, and headed to Rio Zarco to pack Hna Martinez' bags and then Elder Beaton(other assistant) and one of the Zone leaders in Juayua took us(the tree of us) to Juayua to take Hna Martinez and bring back Hna Salazar. Now we are in the office waiting for The Hnas from belice so Hna Montalvan can go and bring back her comp to her area. Whew what a day, but it has been fun.
This week I have been studying in the Liahona from General conference, I loved the talk by Elder Uchtdorf about that we are so small and insignificant in comparison to all the creations of the universe, but that we are so important to our Heavenly Father. I also have been reading in Alma, I started into the war chapters, but it is a liitle slow, because I keep having to pause to look up words. The words are very different than what we use talking everyday.
Love ya
Hna Allen
Feliz navidad y prospero año nuevo.
This week has flown by, we've been working in trio in both my area and the area of Hna Montalvan. The hard part is my investigators aren't in the house much before 5 and Hna Montalvan's aren't either. We managed to do divisions a few times so we could both teach our investigators, but it isn't the same as working in your area all day. We have found some very positive investigators this week. It has been a great time to contact because people are in the house, they are also a little more stressed so they are more willing to accept help. Last night when we got back from doing divisions all day we didn't have electricity, so we planned, and ate by candle light, and we went to bed early. This morning we cleaned the house, and while we were cleaning Elder Molina(one of the assistants) called me to tell me that today Hna Martinez(the Hna who had dengue) was going to go to Juayua to be with Hna Ellis, where my companion Hna Salazar was, and Hna Salazar was coming back and Hna de Leon was coming back and 2 sisters were coming from belice, and one was going to where Hna de Leon was and the other to a different area. So we got ready for the day, and headed to Rio Zarco to pack Hna Martinez' bags and then Elder Beaton(other assistant) and one of the Zone leaders in Juayua took us(the tree of us) to Juayua to take Hna Martinez and bring back Hna Salazar. Now we are in the office waiting for The Hnas from belice so Hna Montalvan can go and bring back her comp to her area. Whew what a day, but it has been fun.
This week I have been studying in the Liahona from General conference, I loved the talk by Elder Uchtdorf about that we are so small and insignificant in comparison to all the creations of the universe, but that we are so important to our Heavenly Father. I also have been reading in Alma, I started into the war chapters, but it is a liitle slow, because I keep having to pause to look up words. The words are very different than what we use talking everyday.
Love ya
Hna Allen
Thursday, December 15, 2011
¡Feliz Navidad!
Feliz Navidad de Santa Ana!
THis week has been packed with crazyness and adventure. Last thurs one of the Hna started having a headache and fever, we treated as we would a normal flu, and she rested and slept and drank water and gatorade and took tylenol until sunday when she suddenly got a bloody nose, poor thing, we became concerned that it could progress to be hemoragic dengue, and we took her to the hospital where they ran tests and she was diagnosed with dengue clasico, so she has been in the hospital since sunday and all day yesterday and last night I was with her there in the hospital so her comp could go get clean clothes and a few other things that they need, and also be freed from the square of a hospital room for a while. Today her platelets started to increase finally and she'll leave the hospital to come and stay with me for a few more days. In addition to her a few other sick elders and sisters has made this a very complicated week. Sunday night another compañerismo came to stay in my house and we wound up having to do a lot of arranging and yesterday one of the Hnas and My comp hna Salazar went to Juayua to the area, and the sick one stayed in the house with Hna Montalvan and Hna Villatoro(comp of the one who has dengue) went and did all the things she had to do with hna De Leon(comp of hna Montalvan) and the mess continues today. We'll see what happens with that, also another elder went to San Salvador for toe surgery(ingrown toenail) and another for follow up after his scope, and whew what a week for the nurse and all who have the (mis)fortune to live with her.
But Tuesday we had capacitacion again, and I learned a lot, and then I stayed in the house with the sick hna and read and read and read, and then yesterday in the hospital again I read and read and read and read. I think if this continues I'll finish Alma before the end of the week. I have enjoyed the time to read, but it is hard to be inside all day when you know there is so much to do outside.
Tomorrow is our multizona navideña and I will be singing :D and we'll play games and it will be great. I hope that all goes well and in the end I'll be able to go(AKA that I don't have to stay here in modelo with the sick ones)
I have loved reading the stories about themissionaries in Alma and (after 3 days of the fundamentals) being able to see, yes this is this fundamental, this is how you teach tal principio, what inspired questions, teaching lesson 2 because that is what they need, etc.
I've been learning a lot and I have been enjoying the holidays here. It is deffinately different, just like everything else. I thought at first that things being so different would make me homesick, but things are so different that they don't even remind me of home, so at times I find it difficult to believe that it is december(my mind goes DECEMBER? WHERE IS THE SNOW?) that it is christmas time(I am in short sleeves and quite comfortable) etc. I have been enjoying the more traditional foods that they make for christmas, which againare nothing like home.
My time is up love y'all tons
Hna Allen
THis week has been packed with crazyness and adventure. Last thurs one of the Hna started having a headache and fever, we treated as we would a normal flu, and she rested and slept and drank water and gatorade and took tylenol until sunday when she suddenly got a bloody nose, poor thing, we became concerned that it could progress to be hemoragic dengue, and we took her to the hospital where they ran tests and she was diagnosed with dengue clasico, so she has been in the hospital since sunday and all day yesterday and last night I was with her there in the hospital so her comp could go get clean clothes and a few other things that they need, and also be freed from the square of a hospital room for a while. Today her platelets started to increase finally and she'll leave the hospital to come and stay with me for a few more days. In addition to her a few other sick elders and sisters has made this a very complicated week. Sunday night another compañerismo came to stay in my house and we wound up having to do a lot of arranging and yesterday one of the Hnas and My comp hna Salazar went to Juayua to the area, and the sick one stayed in the house with Hna Montalvan and Hna Villatoro(comp of the one who has dengue) went and did all the things she had to do with hna De Leon(comp of hna Montalvan) and the mess continues today. We'll see what happens with that, also another elder went to San Salvador for toe surgery(ingrown toenail) and another for follow up after his scope, and whew what a week for the nurse and all who have the (mis)fortune to live with her.
But Tuesday we had capacitacion again, and I learned a lot, and then I stayed in the house with the sick hna and read and read and read, and then yesterday in the hospital again I read and read and read and read. I think if this continues I'll finish Alma before the end of the week. I have enjoyed the time to read, but it is hard to be inside all day when you know there is so much to do outside.
Tomorrow is our multizona navideña and I will be singing :D and we'll play games and it will be great. I hope that all goes well and in the end I'll be able to go(AKA that I don't have to stay here in modelo with the sick ones)
I have loved reading the stories about themissionaries in Alma and (after 3 days of the fundamentals) being able to see, yes this is this fundamental, this is how you teach tal principio, what inspired questions, teaching lesson 2 because that is what they need, etc.
I've been learning a lot and I have been enjoying the holidays here. It is deffinately different, just like everything else. I thought at first that things being so different would make me homesick, but things are so different that they don't even remind me of home, so at times I find it difficult to believe that it is december(my mind goes DECEMBER? WHERE IS THE SNOW?) that it is christmas time(I am in short sleeves and quite comfortable) etc. I have been enjoying the more traditional foods that they make for christmas, which againare nothing like home.
My time is up love y'all tons
Hna Allen
Friday, December 9, 2011
Salú
Hey Y'all,
Greetings from El Salvador, This week has flown by, we almost haven't worked with all the meetings we've had this week. Monday of course I was in the office, Then we came back, and made baliaras with a less active family( the tortillas were excellent and I made them thank you) tuesday we had fundamentals of preach my gospel which is training to help us be better teachers, to work more effectively, and to see where we need to be better. I love the capacitaciones, because I learn so much, and we practice too so you put in practice how to teach people. In the begining(my first few) I felt a little weird, but now I love them because I always learn so much from the other missionaries, they might use different scriptures to address a problem, or they might teach a principle with a different object lesson, or just the way they teach that helps me learn so much, not to mention then I get to practice applying what we are learning and I become a better missionary for it. After Fundamentals we came back to the area, and made baliaras again, with a different family from the ward, we were supposed to have FHE and recieve references, butthe last moment the references couldn't make it, so we made baliaras with the family and taught the family about how they can prepare other people to hear the gospel. Wednesday we had our district and zone meetings. President changed the schedule a little so now we'll have training with our zone and district every week in addition to the normal meetings and anouncements. So we finished our meetings went back to the house, ate made the dough for baliaras (again) and went to work. Then in the night we had another FHE with a less active family and had baliaras again. Thursday we had Fundamentos de predicad mi evangelio again, and when we came back to the area, we didn't eat or make baliaras, we just taught investigators and less active families that we are working with. And now it is friday. We came to the Stake center early to practice because next friday we have a multizona navideña and all of the zones are going to sing a hymn, also on sunday after that is the fireside for the stake, and the missionaries are singing for that as well. I have been asigned to sing soprano because no one else can reach the notes (and sound marginally pretty) for Joy to the World.
Next friday, because it will be the multizona navideña we'll probably write on thursday.
I hope you got the package that I sent with Hna Woods, and I hope as well that it makes sense.
I got the christmas package. Thankyou for the christmas music. I guessed that I shouldn't open the other things because they are wrapped in christmas paper. If I guessed wrong please correct me. My companions are very very curious to see what is inside these packages. They are the only presents under our little tree. and I think that adds the the curiosity. I think one of them is a rewrapper(opens the presents to see what is inside and then rewraps them to put them under the tree) if I had my guess with her 'just open them what is inside?'
This week in one of the capacitactiones president showed us a video on LDS.org of the dedication of the Temple in El Salvador. It is a great glimps of the culture and way of life of those who live in the city. Not so much for those del campo.
Hey mom, Do you work the 24th or the 25th? When would be the time/day that I could find the most people in the house Christmas day is sunday I get out of church at 12, andI could call after that, or I can call in the night on the 24th after 830 here.
My time is about up but Just real fast This week I have learned about how to work better with the members. President put the example that now is the time of the harvest, and we as missionaries if we aren't working with the members we are just cutting by hand, which isn't as effective, he said the members are like combines, and sometimes we work with them but not in the way that is most effective, like we are feeding the grain to the machine to thresh, but we aren't using the combine to cut. Then he said, if we work more effectively with the members we can triple our results. He said we need to help them, teach them, train them like we've been trained and help them work with us. When we do this it is like now we let the combine do its job to cut the grain. The harvest is mucho mucho mas eficaz. Family, work with the missionaries.
Here is a game we've been playing with our members to help them see that they have friends and family that the lord has prepared for the gospel. Make a list of names of people you know.
Members, non members family friends etc the more names on the list the better and the one who has the most names on their list wins. (for us when we ask for the list we just write the names down ourselves becaus many people can't read or write) Then we sing a hymn, pray, read some scriptures about missionary work, and then invite the head of the family to pray to know which of the people who's names are written on this list to kneel and pray to know who the lord has prepared to hear the gospel. We say the prayer, and they mark the names then we put a plan for how we will invite them to hear the message(invite them to FHE one night Dinner with the missionaries etc) and practice with the member what they will say, how they will invite these friends, and help them feel more confident to invite their friends to their house, to learn about the gospel.
We're working for a white christmas ;D
Love ya
Hna Allen
Greetings from El Salvador, This week has flown by, we almost haven't worked with all the meetings we've had this week. Monday of course I was in the office, Then we came back, and made baliaras with a less active family( the tortillas were excellent and I made them thank you) tuesday we had fundamentals of preach my gospel which is training to help us be better teachers, to work more effectively, and to see where we need to be better. I love the capacitaciones, because I learn so much, and we practice too so you put in practice how to teach people. In the begining(my first few) I felt a little weird, but now I love them because I always learn so much from the other missionaries, they might use different scriptures to address a problem, or they might teach a principle with a different object lesson, or just the way they teach that helps me learn so much, not to mention then I get to practice applying what we are learning and I become a better missionary for it. After Fundamentals we came back to the area, and made baliaras again, with a different family from the ward, we were supposed to have FHE and recieve references, butthe last moment the references couldn't make it, so we made baliaras with the family and taught the family about how they can prepare other people to hear the gospel. Wednesday we had our district and zone meetings. President changed the schedule a little so now we'll have training with our zone and district every week in addition to the normal meetings and anouncements. So we finished our meetings went back to the house, ate made the dough for baliaras (again) and went to work. Then in the night we had another FHE with a less active family and had baliaras again. Thursday we had Fundamentos de predicad mi evangelio again, and when we came back to the area, we didn't eat or make baliaras, we just taught investigators and less active families that we are working with. And now it is friday. We came to the Stake center early to practice because next friday we have a multizona navideña and all of the zones are going to sing a hymn, also on sunday after that is the fireside for the stake, and the missionaries are singing for that as well. I have been asigned to sing soprano because no one else can reach the notes (and sound marginally pretty) for Joy to the World.
Next friday, because it will be the multizona navideña we'll probably write on thursday.
I hope you got the package that I sent with Hna Woods, and I hope as well that it makes sense.
I got the christmas package. Thankyou for the christmas music. I guessed that I shouldn't open the other things because they are wrapped in christmas paper. If I guessed wrong please correct me. My companions are very very curious to see what is inside these packages. They are the only presents under our little tree. and I think that adds the the curiosity. I think one of them is a rewrapper(opens the presents to see what is inside and then rewraps them to put them under the tree) if I had my guess with her 'just open them what is inside?'
This week in one of the capacitactiones president showed us a video on LDS.org of the dedication of the Temple in El Salvador. It is a great glimps of the culture and way of life of those who live in the city. Not so much for those del campo.
Hey mom, Do you work the 24th or the 25th? When would be the time/day that I could find the most people in the house Christmas day is sunday I get out of church at 12, andI could call after that, or I can call in the night on the 24th after 830 here.
My time is about up but Just real fast This week I have learned about how to work better with the members. President put the example that now is the time of the harvest, and we as missionaries if we aren't working with the members we are just cutting by hand, which isn't as effective, he said the members are like combines, and sometimes we work with them but not in the way that is most effective, like we are feeding the grain to the machine to thresh, but we aren't using the combine to cut. Then he said, if we work more effectively with the members we can triple our results. He said we need to help them, teach them, train them like we've been trained and help them work with us. When we do this it is like now we let the combine do its job to cut the grain. The harvest is mucho mucho mas eficaz. Family, work with the missionaries.
Here is a game we've been playing with our members to help them see that they have friends and family that the lord has prepared for the gospel. Make a list of names of people you know.
Members, non members family friends etc the more names on the list the better and the one who has the most names on their list wins. (for us when we ask for the list we just write the names down ourselves becaus many people can't read or write) Then we sing a hymn, pray, read some scriptures about missionary work, and then invite the head of the family to pray to know which of the people who's names are written on this list to kneel and pray to know who the lord has prepared to hear the gospel. We say the prayer, and they mark the names then we put a plan for how we will invite them to hear the message(invite them to FHE one night Dinner with the missionaries etc) and practice with the member what they will say, how they will invite these friends, and help them feel more confident to invite their friends to their house, to learn about the gospel.
We're working for a white christmas ;D
Love ya
Hna Allen
Friday, December 2, 2011
Ya estamos en Deciembre
Greetings from El Salvador
This week has passed by rather quickly. Saturday we worked like normal. Sunday church, and bastante comida as usual. Monday in the office, Tuesday we worked like normal, Wednesday district meeting and worked like normal, wednesday in the afternoon I started feeling not so good, and went to bed early, even though enfermos called me up until 10:30, so I didn't get to sleep, I just got to lay down. Thursday I woke up in the middle of the night sick. With fever, my body hurt, etc. Don't worry I consulted the nurse and I'll get better(LOL). Today yay no fever, but I feel weak, and a little dizzy, and my head, back, arms and legs still hurt but I am getting better.
To clarify, here in El Salvador(and all of central america) they don't celebrate thanksgiving. We celebrated thanksgiving because Hna and president Cordon decided to have thanksgiving multizonas and we ate thanksgiving dinner. Were it not for that Thanksgiving would have passed without comment.
I con't really think of to much to write today. Sorry.
Con mucho cariño
Hna Allen
This week has passed by rather quickly. Saturday we worked like normal. Sunday church, and bastante comida as usual. Monday in the office, Tuesday we worked like normal, Wednesday district meeting and worked like normal, wednesday in the afternoon I started feeling not so good, and went to bed early, even though enfermos called me up until 10:30, so I didn't get to sleep, I just got to lay down. Thursday I woke up in the middle of the night sick. With fever, my body hurt, etc. Don't worry I consulted the nurse and I'll get better(LOL). Today yay no fever, but I feel weak, and a little dizzy, and my head, back, arms and legs still hurt but I am getting better.
To clarify, here in El Salvador(and all of central america) they don't celebrate thanksgiving. We celebrated thanksgiving because Hna and president Cordon decided to have thanksgiving multizonas and we ate thanksgiving dinner. Were it not for that Thanksgiving would have passed without comment.
I con't really think of to much to write today. Sorry.
Con mucho cariño
Hna Allen
Friday, November 25, 2011
Feliz Dia de accion de Gracias!(un dia tarde)
Hello y'all. Happy late thanksgiving!
This week was changes Sat we we worked (yeay) we sent Hna Estrada wih the other Hnas and we went and worked with one of the young men. He likes to accompany us. Sunday we knocked a ton of doors to remind people of church, but unfortunately all of our investigators 'had conflicts that came up suddenly' and couldn't come, and a few Recent converts and Less actives that we have been working with also said the same thing. Sunday afternoon worked some more-in trio, which is not the most effective if you want to know the truth. and Sunday night surprise surprise Hna Estrada had changes, Hna Salazar stayed with me, and Hna Sierra had changes and Hna Montalvan is training.
Monday we went to the office after lunch( Pres asked me last mon if I could change my horario to accomodate the other responsabilities of the elders in the office on mondays so now it is 2 until I am done on mondays which is fine, it is a little less crazy in the pm and won't be eating fast food with the frequencia that I was before yeay for my arteries). The news came and I did their health interviews and all the things that I needed to do with them before we went back to the house. But fortunately we were in divisions so even though I didn't work, Hna Estrada and a member were working. Whoot!
Tuesday was the new people meeting, we left before noon, and got to work all the afternoon. Tuesday night Hna Woods came and Slept in the house, and she took a small collection of stuff for my family(I hope it makes it through customs) she's going to mail it to you.
Wednesdaywe worked all day and in the night two other ex companions came and slept in the house Hna Fuentes and Hna Bermudez before they left on thursday. Thursday we planned in the AM and in the PM we were supposed to have a thanksgiving multizona, but Hna Salazar and I had to take a misionary to the hospital for xrays, and we got back just in time to eat yay! we got back to our area and worked for an hour, and now it is P-day. Oh and midst all of this Wednesday night we sent an elder with severe abdominal and back pain to the hospital and he was passing a kidney stone. He was treated for that, and they did some exams to see if he had more, and yes he did, so he's coming back today to finish passing them in his house here in santa ana.
In my cleaning of the house I came across a great talk by President Benson-beware of pride(it was in spanish so it was called cuidaos del orgullo) wich was a great talk. I learned a lot, and as I shared what I was learning with my companion she also wanted to read it. It really helped me see that pride such a huge weakness, for everyone and I am definately not an exception.
Look it up it is from one of the conferences 1989 I don't remember which one.
Thats All I have time for.
Love ya
Hna Allen
This week was changes Sat we we worked (yeay) we sent Hna Estrada wih the other Hnas and we went and worked with one of the young men. He likes to accompany us. Sunday we knocked a ton of doors to remind people of church, but unfortunately all of our investigators 'had conflicts that came up suddenly' and couldn't come, and a few Recent converts and Less actives that we have been working with also said the same thing. Sunday afternoon worked some more-in trio, which is not the most effective if you want to know the truth. and Sunday night surprise surprise Hna Estrada had changes, Hna Salazar stayed with me, and Hna Sierra had changes and Hna Montalvan is training.
Monday we went to the office after lunch( Pres asked me last mon if I could change my horario to accomodate the other responsabilities of the elders in the office on mondays so now it is 2 until I am done on mondays which is fine, it is a little less crazy in the pm and won't be eating fast food with the frequencia that I was before yeay for my arteries). The news came and I did their health interviews and all the things that I needed to do with them before we went back to the house. But fortunately we were in divisions so even though I didn't work, Hna Estrada and a member were working. Whoot!
Tuesday was the new people meeting, we left before noon, and got to work all the afternoon. Tuesday night Hna Woods came and Slept in the house, and she took a small collection of stuff for my family(I hope it makes it through customs) she's going to mail it to you.
Wednesdaywe worked all day and in the night two other ex companions came and slept in the house Hna Fuentes and Hna Bermudez before they left on thursday. Thursday we planned in the AM and in the PM we were supposed to have a thanksgiving multizona, but Hna Salazar and I had to take a misionary to the hospital for xrays, and we got back just in time to eat yay! we got back to our area and worked for an hour, and now it is P-day. Oh and midst all of this Wednesday night we sent an elder with severe abdominal and back pain to the hospital and he was passing a kidney stone. He was treated for that, and they did some exams to see if he had more, and yes he did, so he's coming back today to finish passing them in his house here in santa ana.
In my cleaning of the house I came across a great talk by President Benson-beware of pride(it was in spanish so it was called cuidaos del orgullo) wich was a great talk. I learned a lot, and as I shared what I was learning with my companion she also wanted to read it. It really helped me see that pride such a huge weakness, for everyone and I am definately not an exception.
Look it up it is from one of the conferences 1989 I don't remember which one.
Thats All I have time for.
Love ya
Hna Allen
Recuerdo del cumpleaños de la hermana Allen. F E L I C I D A D E S
My birthday in the house of our cocinera! (really it is tuesday but I got to celebrate my birthday almost all week)Fwd...
cumpleaños feliz, hna. Allen. Que El Padre Celestial le bendiga siempre, reciba abrazos 
flores 
y muchas sonrisas de quienes le rodean
, espero le gusten las fotos.
Friday, November 18, 2011
P day again!
Hola familia
I'm writing a little early today because... we're going to the temple!!!!
this week has gone by really fast. Let me think Friday after we wrote we went and made baliaras with Pres and Hna Cordon, then we had our ward mission activity which went well. sat was a pretty normal domingo as well, monday I went to the office and we changed my hours of office for mondays, so I'll get to work a little in the morning. wohoo! Tuesday we did intercambios in the morning, but in the pm we had to go to the office for an interview for one of my comps, and then we came back and worked some more. Wednesday (Hna Estrada and I) went to Ataco and Hna Salazar stayed and worked in the area with a member(divisions), we left about 8 in the mornign and got back at almost 6 at night. We took Hna Bonilla's things to her and Hna Estrada packed her stuff and we brought it back to our house, and went and worked for 2 hours. Thursday we planned as a district in the stake center, and after we planned we made tejadas(another food from Honduras, its what happens when you are the only non honduranian in your district.). Yummy! went back and worked, and today WOHOOO we're going to the temple.
We've got some great investigators, that I love so much, but they haven't come to church yet. They unfortunately have a busness on sunday they go to the concha(soccerfields) and sell things to the hungry and thirsty jugadores. We also are teaching the wife of a less active member, who unfortunately her greatest challenge is her husband. He doesn't want to come to church, and she doesn't want to come with out him. We also dropped one of our investigators, it is sad, but she had no desire to know if it is true, let alone come to church. :(
I hope that I get to send a package with Hna Woods when she goes home(Wed). She said she'd mail it to y'all from arizona. Lucky me I live in the house where she'll sleep the night before she leaves, and where she will rearrange her bags for the plane.
Changes are this next week. I don't have any idea what will happen. I do know that I won't be in trio for another change(4 hnas come, 3 go so we'll be back to even numbers with the Hnas). Whohoo. Trios are difficult to teach, to tract, to arrange everything, but at times very convenient because we only have to find 1 sister to be able to do divisions.
Love y'all tons
Hna Allen
I'm writing a little early today because... we're going to the temple!!!!
this week has gone by really fast. Let me think Friday after we wrote we went and made baliaras with Pres and Hna Cordon, then we had our ward mission activity which went well. sat was a pretty normal domingo as well, monday I went to the office and we changed my hours of office for mondays, so I'll get to work a little in the morning. wohoo! Tuesday we did intercambios in the morning, but in the pm we had to go to the office for an interview for one of my comps, and then we came back and worked some more. Wednesday (Hna Estrada and I) went to Ataco and Hna Salazar stayed and worked in the area with a member(divisions), we left about 8 in the mornign and got back at almost 6 at night. We took Hna Bonilla's things to her and Hna Estrada packed her stuff and we brought it back to our house, and went and worked for 2 hours. Thursday we planned as a district in the stake center, and after we planned we made tejadas(another food from Honduras, its what happens when you are the only non honduranian in your district.). Yummy! went back and worked, and today WOHOOO we're going to the temple.
We've got some great investigators, that I love so much, but they haven't come to church yet. They unfortunately have a busness on sunday they go to the concha(soccerfields) and sell things to the hungry and thirsty jugadores. We also are teaching the wife of a less active member, who unfortunately her greatest challenge is her husband. He doesn't want to come to church, and she doesn't want to come with out him. We also dropped one of our investigators, it is sad, but she had no desire to know if it is true, let alone come to church. :(
I hope that I get to send a package with Hna Woods when she goes home(Wed). She said she'd mail it to y'all from arizona. Lucky me I live in the house where she'll sleep the night before she leaves, and where she will rearrange her bags for the plane.
Changes are this next week. I don't have any idea what will happen. I do know that I won't be in trio for another change(4 hnas come, 3 go so we'll be back to even numbers with the Hnas). Whohoo. Trios are difficult to teach, to tract, to arrange everything, but at times very convenient because we only have to find 1 sister to be able to do divisions.
Love y'all tons
Hna Allen
Friday, November 11, 2011
Greetings (otra vez)
Hola familia!
This week has flown by. I had a great birthday. Went to church and the hermanas of the ward (who remembered or who were told that it was my birthday) congratulated me and gave me hugs, which was nice. Douglas was confirmed. which was great, and then in the afternoon we went and had a very yummy lunch with one of the sisters of the ward, all new food, but all very yummy. it still surprises me that I have been here for almost 8 months and still am eating new food every so often.(with amazing regularity to tell the truth). Then in the afternoon one of the niñas of the ward was baptised, and we helped with that, so I got to eat cake on my birthday, and then the night of my birthday with 4 honduranias in the same house they celebrated my birthday in typical honduranian fasion, they ambushed me and broke eggs over my head, and then poured eggs and flour over my head. So at 1030 at night I was showering to wash the egg and flour out of my hair. (picture included). Monday I was in the office, my two hondurania companions made baliaras(very very yummy) and I did a ton of health things to prepare for those coming week after next. We have been going to pt every day with hna estrada and the therapist says she thinks after tomorrow hna estrada doesn't need any more therapy just to take precautions. that means that (I hope) that next week will be normal. worked hard all week, today we went to pt with both of my comps, and then after we write we are going to the house of Pres and Hna Cordon to make baliaras for them(they were in belize on mon so they didn't get to try the baliaras in the office). Today we are also going to have a ward mission activity.
The honduranias joke that they will teach me how to dance punta and sing the honduranian national anthem. With all the honduranians that I've lived with its about time LOL. My district right now consists of me, and 6 honduranians. (2 elders, and 4 hnas.)
Thats all I have time for now, thank you all for all the birthday wishes, and for the updates on your lives,
Love y'all
Hna Allen
Happy birthday!
This week has flown by. I had a great birthday. Went to church and the hermanas of the ward (who remembered or who were told that it was my birthday) congratulated me and gave me hugs, which was nice. Douglas was confirmed. which was great, and then in the afternoon we went and had a very yummy lunch with one of the sisters of the ward, all new food, but all very yummy. it still surprises me that I have been here for almost 8 months and still am eating new food every so often.(with amazing regularity to tell the truth). Then in the afternoon one of the niñas of the ward was baptised, and we helped with that, so I got to eat cake on my birthday, and then the night of my birthday with 4 honduranias in the same house they celebrated my birthday in typical honduranian fasion, they ambushed me and broke eggs over my head, and then poured eggs and flour over my head. So at 1030 at night I was showering to wash the egg and flour out of my hair. (picture included). Monday I was in the office, my two hondurania companions made baliaras(very very yummy) and I did a ton of health things to prepare for those coming week after next. We have been going to pt every day with hna estrada and the therapist says she thinks after tomorrow hna estrada doesn't need any more therapy just to take precautions. that means that (I hope) that next week will be normal. worked hard all week, today we went to pt with both of my comps, and then after we write we are going to the house of Pres and Hna Cordon to make baliaras for them(they were in belize on mon so they didn't get to try the baliaras in the office). Today we are also going to have a ward mission activity.
The honduranias joke that they will teach me how to dance punta and sing the honduranian national anthem. With all the honduranians that I've lived with its about time LOL. My district right now consists of me, and 6 honduranians. (2 elders, and 4 hnas.)
Thats all I have time for now, thank you all for all the birthday wishes, and for the updates on your lives,
Love y'all
Hna Allen
Happy birthday!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Saludos
Hola familia, mando saludos de Santa Ana
This week has flown by and much has happened, sat was a normal day, I was finally able to go to work with all three of us and we had fun. Sunday was stake conference, and President gave a very good talk about how all the members are missionaries, and all should be working to get to know people who aren't members, and to share the gospel with all. After Stake conference we went back to the house, president called me and said that he wanted one of the Elders to go to the hospital, so I went to the hospital with one of my companions, and left the other with the other two missionaries in our ward with the hope that they could find a sister to divisions, and we stayed at the hospital all afternoon waiting for why he sisn't recover with the medications we had given him, and why he was getting worse, turns out he had amoebas and intestinal infection, and the antibiotics just weren't enough, so he got dehydrated and weak, but we started him on a different antibiotic and an antiparasite med, and he's getting better, he left the hospital early on Monday, and after he left the hospital Hna Bonilla and I headed to San Salvador for immigration(for her) we got back about 7pm and only had time for one lesson (FHE with some recent converts!) before we had to go and let a couple of sisters in our house, One of the sisters had an x-ray that said she had fractured her foot about 5 weeks ago now, she thought she had only sprained it because she could walk on it, but she was concerned because it was still swollen. She says it doesn't hurt at all now, but the Dr ordered physical therapy and that is here in santa ana, so Hna Bonilla went to Ataco with Hna Pappas and Hna Estrada is my new third wheel for then next week or so. So tuesday we started therapy with Hna Estrada and to the office to do the things that I needed to do there, and Hna Salazar was again in division with a future missionary. Wednesday we left Hna Estrada in the house with a member and we went out to work, but we had to go home early so the member could go home. Thursday Hna Salazar had to go to San Salvador for immigration and I was with the companion of another missionary for all day, and with Hna Estrada, We only got to work for a few hours because of the Physical Therapy and because we couldn't find anyone to stay with hna Estrada in the AM, but in the PM we went and taught a few lessons and then went and traded companions, and when we came back the member had to go back to her house but we did divisions for a little bit of time, and I stayed in with hna Estrada. Today we've gone to therapy, and pulled out money, and after we write we'll go back to the house and leave Hna Estrada with one of the members.
This week I think I have been being taught about sacrifice and to use my time more wisely. My desire to work and find and do all the things that are responsibilities of normal missionaries have been frustrated with all the crazyness of this week, and the little time we have had to work we've had to try to use even more efficiently than normal. Plans a-d for all times of day, and put things close together, things like that.
Thats all I have time for this week, but Love Y'all
Love Hna Allen
This week has flown by and much has happened, sat was a normal day, I was finally able to go to work with all three of us and we had fun. Sunday was stake conference, and President gave a very good talk about how all the members are missionaries, and all should be working to get to know people who aren't members, and to share the gospel with all. After Stake conference we went back to the house, president called me and said that he wanted one of the Elders to go to the hospital, so I went to the hospital with one of my companions, and left the other with the other two missionaries in our ward with the hope that they could find a sister to divisions, and we stayed at the hospital all afternoon waiting for why he sisn't recover with the medications we had given him, and why he was getting worse, turns out he had amoebas and intestinal infection, and the antibiotics just weren't enough, so he got dehydrated and weak, but we started him on a different antibiotic and an antiparasite med, and he's getting better, he left the hospital early on Monday, and after he left the hospital Hna Bonilla and I headed to San Salvador for immigration(for her) we got back about 7pm and only had time for one lesson (FHE with some recent converts!) before we had to go and let a couple of sisters in our house, One of the sisters had an x-ray that said she had fractured her foot about 5 weeks ago now, she thought she had only sprained it because she could walk on it, but she was concerned because it was still swollen. She says it doesn't hurt at all now, but the Dr ordered physical therapy and that is here in santa ana, so Hna Bonilla went to Ataco with Hna Pappas and Hna Estrada is my new third wheel for then next week or so. So tuesday we started therapy with Hna Estrada and to the office to do the things that I needed to do there, and Hna Salazar was again in division with a future missionary. Wednesday we left Hna Estrada in the house with a member and we went out to work, but we had to go home early so the member could go home. Thursday Hna Salazar had to go to San Salvador for immigration and I was with the companion of another missionary for all day, and with Hna Estrada, We only got to work for a few hours because of the Physical Therapy and because we couldn't find anyone to stay with hna Estrada in the AM, but in the PM we went and taught a few lessons and then went and traded companions, and when we came back the member had to go back to her house but we did divisions for a little bit of time, and I stayed in with hna Estrada. Today we've gone to therapy, and pulled out money, and after we write we'll go back to the house and leave Hna Estrada with one of the members.
This week I think I have been being taught about sacrifice and to use my time more wisely. My desire to work and find and do all the things that are responsibilities of normal missionaries have been frustrated with all the crazyness of this week, and the little time we have had to work we've had to try to use even more efficiently than normal. Plans a-d for all times of day, and put things close together, things like that.
Thats all I have time for this week, but Love Y'all
Love Hna Allen
Friday, October 28, 2011
Saludos
Hola y'all
greetings from El Salvador.
Just got back from San Salvador again. (went yesterday for migration things as well) Hna Salazar had an apointment with a neurologist about her bells palsy. She is getting better. The process is slow, but is is happening. The Dr said she can work again. I am really excited for that, that we don't have to keep doing divisions with the ward, and finding a sister who can stay in the house with her. Also her PT wil change from every day, to 2-3 x a week. Yeay MWF and we'll be able to work the otherdays normal.
This week has flown by, and sadly I can't think of anything really interesting that happened this week other than our trip to migration(really just the police station in San Salvador) for immigration paperwork. But even that was pretty routine.
we're closing in on week 4, I have got to get on buying the parts for the emergency backpacks. President has been out of the mission this week, and luckily(knocking on wood here) nothing big has happened.
I'm trying to teach my companions english. I understand so well how they feel as they try to say a word, and it just doesn't come out the way that it should, and they can't hear the difference. I remember saying words(and still do say words) and people say the word back to me to correct me, and I say it again, and they still correct me, and I can't figure out why because I think I say it just like them, and they can't help me know why I am not saying it the same as them or how to correct it, just that is isn't right. But we are all stubborn and we'll get it.
This week I have been studying in Mosiah. I'm working my way through the book of mormon in spanish, and it has been a bit of a slow process. But I am reading about King Limhi, and how the lord helped them escape from captivity and guided them to live with King Mosiah. But before that I was struck by the part where he asks Ammon(not the one with the arms) about who could translate to they could learn about this people who were destroyed and why they were destroyed. What a wise man, to want to learn from the mistakes of others. That we may be so wise to learn from the mistakes and successes of others so that we don't have to suffer the same things they did. We have such abundance of sources to learn from. I have also been thinking(and teaching) about the way we use our time. Where are our priorities? The things that are most important to us are the things on which we spend the most time. One of my recent converts was telling me about a conversation he had with a coworker about the sabbath day. His coworker asked him why he gives up a day of fun or a day to earn more money every week, and Lisandro asked him how much time in a week does this coworker give to our heavenly father? He told him heavenly father has given us our lives, and only asks for us to give him one day a week. He said, I don't think that is to much to ask, that I dedicate one day a week to my heavenly father and serving others.
dani thanks for the letters. Did you know that the dear elder letters don't come one letter per page, but stretched over a whole bunch of pages so I recieved 7 letters, pasted into one long letter it was about as tall as me. Thanks it was great. And that talk was a great one too. I really enjoyed it.
Love yáll
Hna Allen
greetings from El Salvador.
Just got back from San Salvador again. (went yesterday for migration things as well) Hna Salazar had an apointment with a neurologist about her bells palsy. She is getting better. The process is slow, but is is happening. The Dr said she can work again. I am really excited for that, that we don't have to keep doing divisions with the ward, and finding a sister who can stay in the house with her. Also her PT wil change from every day, to 2-3 x a week. Yeay MWF and we'll be able to work the otherdays normal.
This week has flown by, and sadly I can't think of anything really interesting that happened this week other than our trip to migration(really just the police station in San Salvador) for immigration paperwork. But even that was pretty routine.
we're closing in on week 4, I have got to get on buying the parts for the emergency backpacks. President has been out of the mission this week, and luckily(knocking on wood here) nothing big has happened.
I'm trying to teach my companions english. I understand so well how they feel as they try to say a word, and it just doesn't come out the way that it should, and they can't hear the difference. I remember saying words(and still do say words) and people say the word back to me to correct me, and I say it again, and they still correct me, and I can't figure out why because I think I say it just like them, and they can't help me know why I am not saying it the same as them or how to correct it, just that is isn't right. But we are all stubborn and we'll get it.
This week I have been studying in Mosiah. I'm working my way through the book of mormon in spanish, and it has been a bit of a slow process. But I am reading about King Limhi, and how the lord helped them escape from captivity and guided them to live with King Mosiah. But before that I was struck by the part where he asks Ammon(not the one with the arms) about who could translate to they could learn about this people who were destroyed and why they were destroyed. What a wise man, to want to learn from the mistakes of others. That we may be so wise to learn from the mistakes and successes of others so that we don't have to suffer the same things they did. We have such abundance of sources to learn from. I have also been thinking(and teaching) about the way we use our time. Where are our priorities? The things that are most important to us are the things on which we spend the most time. One of my recent converts was telling me about a conversation he had with a coworker about the sabbath day. His coworker asked him why he gives up a day of fun or a day to earn more money every week, and Lisandro asked him how much time in a week does this coworker give to our heavenly father? He told him heavenly father has given us our lives, and only asks for us to give him one day a week. He said, I don't think that is to much to ask, that I dedicate one day a week to my heavenly father and serving others.
dani thanks for the letters. Did you know that the dear elder letters don't come one letter per page, but stretched over a whole bunch of pages so I recieved 7 letters, pasted into one long letter it was about as tall as me. Thanks it was great. And that talk was a great one too. I really enjoyed it.
Love yáll
Hna Allen
Friday, October 21, 2011
Hola de Santa Ana
Hola familia
THis letter I hope is a liitle longer because I won't have tantos personas talking to me. I realized that I didn't say much about what has happened the week of changes and this week even more things have happened. Last week ( ithink I told you that my companion Hna Sanchez had changes) and I was with hna Bermudez who is from El Salvador. She is a great misionary and will finish her mission this change. Friday was a crazy day, with problems with the computers among other things. Sat and sun passed a little more stressful than normal mostly because of the suspense about what was going on in our mission, the tues before changes it started to rain, and we didn-t see the sun again until this wednesday. Many areas here were flooded, and many people's houses melted with the rain(some of the houses are made of adobe, and with a lot of rain the dirt washes away and the walls disolve). Also alot of people build next to the rivers and canals and with a lot of rain the water leaves and floods the adobe houses and washes away everything they have. Here in my area it wasn-t to bad. We have mostly houses of cement and aluminum. and a few of adobe with plaster on the outside, its the adobe that have't been plastered that melt. Lunes was a long suspenseful day in the office, and I was infomed of multizone for thursday. All of the mission on the same day at different times. Tuesday I was informed that Hna Bermudez was having changes, and my new companeras are Hna Bonilla(from Columbia) and Hna Salazar(from Honduras) Hna Bonilla just got here to our mission, she had visa troubles and has been working in Columbia sul for 4 months. She is trained as far as missionary work, and it is great to learn from her as far as that goes. SHe just has to be oriented to our mission and the things we do differently. Hna Salazar is the Hna that has Bells Palsy, and she is gradually getting better. SHe is here in Santa Ana for PT and we are doing divisions almost everyday so she can go to PT. Also the Docs told her she can-t 'andar por ariba and abajo' which means she is resting for this last week and for this next week. She has some ability to move her face a little wich is great. So Tues in the PM Hna Bonilla came in from COlombia, and Wedesday in the AM Hna Bermudez and Hna Stegelmeir went to their area, and Hna Salazar went and packed all of her belongings and came back. Thursday was a very sad day, as we had our multizona and Presidente informed us that 8 missionaries returned home dishonorable released. We recieved a lecture on obedience and President put emphasis on a few rules for our protection. As well as told us that from now on we will only have 45 minutes on the computer on P-day.
But it made me think about the purpose of rules and commandments. It reminded me of the general conference talk where a cow gets into the wheat and bloats and dies because she was pushing the fence. That is what happened to these missionaries they were pushing the rules, seeing if they could just reach a little farther if they could maybe taste just a little bit of that wheat on the other side. and they succeeded in tasting it, but it had dire consequences. The commandments(and for us misioneros the mission rules) are like the fence. We as members who have these protections should see them as a huge deterent that we shouldn-t be anywhere near them. Don't push them, don't see how close you can get or how far to the other side you can reach. They are there for our protection, not for our restriction.
I need to write president still, but I love you all, if you've heard about the flooding here before I mentioned it, don't worry I am fine and the sun is shining and we are drying out.
Oh something funny We were talking the other day about how many companions and areas we've had and I realized that I have had 4 areas and 8 companions in my 7 months in the mission field. Chistoso. :)
Love y'all,
Hna Allen
THis letter I hope is a liitle longer because I won't have tantos personas talking to me. I realized that I didn't say much about what has happened the week of changes and this week even more things have happened. Last week ( ithink I told you that my companion Hna Sanchez had changes) and I was with hna Bermudez who is from El Salvador. She is a great misionary and will finish her mission this change. Friday was a crazy day, with problems with the computers among other things. Sat and sun passed a little more stressful than normal mostly because of the suspense about what was going on in our mission, the tues before changes it started to rain, and we didn-t see the sun again until this wednesday. Many areas here were flooded, and many people's houses melted with the rain(some of the houses are made of adobe, and with a lot of rain the dirt washes away and the walls disolve). Also alot of people build next to the rivers and canals and with a lot of rain the water leaves and floods the adobe houses and washes away everything they have. Here in my area it wasn-t to bad. We have mostly houses of cement and aluminum. and a few of adobe with plaster on the outside, its the adobe that have't been plastered that melt. Lunes was a long suspenseful day in the office, and I was infomed of multizone for thursday. All of the mission on the same day at different times. Tuesday I was informed that Hna Bermudez was having changes, and my new companeras are Hna Bonilla(from Columbia) and Hna Salazar(from Honduras) Hna Bonilla just got here to our mission, she had visa troubles and has been working in Columbia sul for 4 months. She is trained as far as missionary work, and it is great to learn from her as far as that goes. SHe just has to be oriented to our mission and the things we do differently. Hna Salazar is the Hna that has Bells Palsy, and she is gradually getting better. SHe is here in Santa Ana for PT and we are doing divisions almost everyday so she can go to PT. Also the Docs told her she can-t 'andar por ariba and abajo' which means she is resting for this last week and for this next week. She has some ability to move her face a little wich is great. So Tues in the PM Hna Bonilla came in from COlombia, and Wedesday in the AM Hna Bermudez and Hna Stegelmeir went to their area, and Hna Salazar went and packed all of her belongings and came back. Thursday was a very sad day, as we had our multizona and Presidente informed us that 8 missionaries returned home dishonorable released. We recieved a lecture on obedience and President put emphasis on a few rules for our protection. As well as told us that from now on we will only have 45 minutes on the computer on P-day.
But it made me think about the purpose of rules and commandments. It reminded me of the general conference talk where a cow gets into the wheat and bloats and dies because she was pushing the fence. That is what happened to these missionaries they were pushing the rules, seeing if they could just reach a little farther if they could maybe taste just a little bit of that wheat on the other side. and they succeeded in tasting it, but it had dire consequences. The commandments(and for us misioneros the mission rules) are like the fence. We as members who have these protections should see them as a huge deterent that we shouldn-t be anywhere near them. Don't push them, don't see how close you can get or how far to the other side you can reach. They are there for our protection, not for our restriction.
I need to write president still, but I love you all, if you've heard about the flooding here before I mentioned it, don't worry I am fine and the sun is shining and we are drying out.
Oh something funny We were talking the other day about how many companions and areas we've had and I realized that I have had 4 areas and 8 companions in my 7 months in the mission field. Chistoso. :)
Love y'all,
Hna Allen
Friday, October 14, 2011
Hola Y'all
Hola,
changes were this week. My changes were interesting. My companion went to chalchuapa. Which is weird because we were only together for one change. and I was training. But now my companion is Hna Bermudez. SHe is from here. THings that are weird that have happened this week, One on the things is that one of the hnaas has bells balsy, and an elder had a suspected dengue. But all is well, and all will recover. ALso Hna Montalvan is is my house now. She is in the other half of my ward.
I am of course growing and loving hte mision.
SOrry is it so short
Love ya
Hna ALlen
changes were this week. My changes were interesting. My companion went to chalchuapa. Which is weird because we were only together for one change. and I was training. But now my companion is Hna Bermudez. SHe is from here. THings that are weird that have happened this week, One on the things is that one of the hnaas has bells balsy, and an elder had a suspected dengue. But all is well, and all will recover. ALso Hna Montalvan is is my house now. She is in the other half of my ward.
I am of course growing and loving hte mision.
SOrry is it so short
Love ya
Hna ALlen
Friday, October 7, 2011
Saludos de Santa Ana
Hola familia!
This week has passed by rapidly, for the most part we have been healthy and working hard(I haven't been sick, don't worry, its is my comp) Monday I had a video conference with Dr Drake the area medical advisor, and assorted mission nurses from all of central america. It was very informative and helped me understand a few things that we need to do, and a few things that we need to stop doing.(or rather we get to stop doing) After that we had interviews with president, and he helped me see a few areas that we need to be working more efficiently. Tuesday the zone leaders had their monthly meeting with president and from what I understand the ax came down and the pressure was turned up, needless to say we've been asked to give more.
Conference was amazing of course. A little interesting for me, as I have come to realize I don't understand very well when I know they are speaking english, but I am hearing spanish. I got to listen to the last session in English(I finally found a sister to be in the room with all the north american elders.) and it was amazing. I am so excited for the Liahona for November.
Changes are this next week. It will be interesting to see what will happen.
I have been thinking about pressure this week. And I remembered a story about the potter and the clay. I'll butcher it, but it goes something like the potter applies pressure to the clay from the outside against the hand that is inside, and is able to form a beautiful vase. So if we feel as though the pressure is too much or that we will collapse under the pressure, maybe the problem isn't how much pressure is being applied, but rather how much of the potter's hand we have permitted inside our lives.
Love ya all
Love Hna Allen
This week has passed by rapidly, for the most part we have been healthy and working hard(I haven't been sick, don't worry, its is my comp) Monday I had a video conference with Dr Drake the area medical advisor, and assorted mission nurses from all of central america. It was very informative and helped me understand a few things that we need to do, and a few things that we need to stop doing.(or rather we get to stop doing) After that we had interviews with president, and he helped me see a few areas that we need to be working more efficiently. Tuesday the zone leaders had their monthly meeting with president and from what I understand the ax came down and the pressure was turned up, needless to say we've been asked to give more.
Conference was amazing of course. A little interesting for me, as I have come to realize I don't understand very well when I know they are speaking english, but I am hearing spanish. I got to listen to the last session in English(I finally found a sister to be in the room with all the north american elders.) and it was amazing. I am so excited for the Liahona for November.
Changes are this next week. It will be interesting to see what will happen.
I have been thinking about pressure this week. And I remembered a story about the potter and the clay. I'll butcher it, but it goes something like the potter applies pressure to the clay from the outside against the hand that is inside, and is able to form a beautiful vase. So if we feel as though the pressure is too much or that we will collapse under the pressure, maybe the problem isn't how much pressure is being applied, but rather how much of the potter's hand we have permitted inside our lives.
Love ya all
Love Hna Allen
Friday, September 23, 2011
Well, this has been an interesting week
Hola mi familia,
this week has flown by with a series of very interesing things. the week end was pretty normal, Diana got baptized and confirmed :D Monday we went to the office, which was an interesting day, it took me all morning to find a computer that would let me access missionary medical, and I had to see if someone had sent me a picture of their rare skin thing in my personal email, which also took me all morning to access. The mission is handing over the responsability to make sure that all the missionaries are legal to offices in San Salvador next to the temple, and the woman in charge of that was there to check on that, which was rather enlightening to see how many are here legally, but with out their documents to prove it.
Tuesday we got to work the whole day(which has turned out to be a rarity), but it turned out to be a late night, because one area of Hermanas came to sleep in our house because of problems in their house. Wednesday we had our second meeting of the news, and we had a pretty good day after that, Thursday we had our zone meeting, and planned for the next week, and then we did intercambios with the 2 companionships in our ward. I had sick missionaries calling me until about 11, and then we had some emotional (drama) to deal with in the house, and I got to sleep about 11:30, and was awakened at 2:45 when one of the missionaries called me because his companion was writhing in pain with clasic symptoms of apendicitis. So I called a whole bunch of people at a ridiculously early hour of the morning to get him to the hospital (only the assistants and president have a car in our mission, and president is in Belize again and Hna cordon can't drive because of a problem with her knees.) so we looked for a member who could bring them to San Salvador(about an hour in car from where they were) early in the morning, In the end the assistants went and brought them in , and I had to wait until 5:30 when the first bus passed through our area to get to another bus stop to get to san salvador. We came back after visiting him in the hospital. and now I get to write to you all. I hope that this next week is a little less crazy so we can focus more on the missionary work than the missionaries.
Mi tiempo se acabó.
Les quiero mucho
Hna Allen
this week has flown by with a series of very interesing things. the week end was pretty normal, Diana got baptized and confirmed :D Monday we went to the office, which was an interesting day, it took me all morning to find a computer that would let me access missionary medical, and I had to see if someone had sent me a picture of their rare skin thing in my personal email, which also took me all morning to access. The mission is handing over the responsability to make sure that all the missionaries are legal to offices in San Salvador next to the temple, and the woman in charge of that was there to check on that, which was rather enlightening to see how many are here legally, but with out their documents to prove it.
Tuesday we got to work the whole day(which has turned out to be a rarity), but it turned out to be a late night, because one area of Hermanas came to sleep in our house because of problems in their house. Wednesday we had our second meeting of the news, and we had a pretty good day after that, Thursday we had our zone meeting, and planned for the next week, and then we did intercambios with the 2 companionships in our ward. I had sick missionaries calling me until about 11, and then we had some emotional (drama) to deal with in the house, and I got to sleep about 11:30, and was awakened at 2:45 when one of the missionaries called me because his companion was writhing in pain with clasic symptoms of apendicitis. So I called a whole bunch of people at a ridiculously early hour of the morning to get him to the hospital (only the assistants and president have a car in our mission, and president is in Belize again and Hna cordon can't drive because of a problem with her knees.) so we looked for a member who could bring them to San Salvador(about an hour in car from where they were) early in the morning, In the end the assistants went and brought them in , and I had to wait until 5:30 when the first bus passed through our area to get to another bus stop to get to san salvador. We came back after visiting him in the hospital. and now I get to write to you all. I hope that this next week is a little less crazy so we can focus more on the missionary work than the missionaries.
Mi tiempo se acabó.
Les quiero mucho
Hna Allen
Friday, September 16, 2011
Hola fam!
Hola familia! saludos de Modelo!
This week has flown by, and this day is flying by too, Today I am going to learn how to make atol which will be for an activity of the ward. We have to be there at 2 and we also have to go and get glasses for hna sanchez. Tomorrow we have a baptism of Diana Lora, we are so excited for that. I am amazed how much my spanish has gotten better solo because I live with 3 latinas. I am learning so much and I am loving the people and the mission.
Happy late birthday to Jake and Zac.
Yesterday was a holiday here, like the 4th of july, it was hard to find people in their houses because they went to the parade, and all the festivities. I still am not sure what they were celebrating exactly, but when I asked my latin comp and roomates they didn't really know why either.
This change so far has been very divertido. We smile and laugh a lot.
The rest of the Hnas are waiting for me to finish, and I am waiting for Elder Guirola to finish passing all the numbers from one phone to the other. The phone that I was using stopped reading my sim card, but it reads his, so we are switching, and he's putting the phone numbers that are important for the nurse in the other phone.
Love ya tons,
Hna Allen
This week has flown by, and this day is flying by too, Today I am going to learn how to make atol which will be for an activity of the ward. We have to be there at 2 and we also have to go and get glasses for hna sanchez. Tomorrow we have a baptism of Diana Lora, we are so excited for that. I am amazed how much my spanish has gotten better solo because I live with 3 latinas. I am learning so much and I am loving the people and the mission.
Happy late birthday to Jake and Zac.
Yesterday was a holiday here, like the 4th of july, it was hard to find people in their houses because they went to the parade, and all the festivities. I still am not sure what they were celebrating exactly, but when I asked my latin comp and roomates they didn't really know why either.
This change so far has been very divertido. We smile and laugh a lot.
The rest of the Hnas are waiting for me to finish, and I am waiting for Elder Guirola to finish passing all the numbers from one phone to the other. The phone that I was using stopped reading my sim card, but it reads his, so we are switching, and he's putting the phone numbers that are important for the nurse in the other phone.
Love ya tons,
Hna Allen
Friday, September 9, 2011
Hola bien rapido
Hola y'all, this week has been a crazy one. With a lot of nursing and not much missionary work, my poor entrainee, I just hope I can help her separate my responabilities as the nurse from the responsibilities of the normal missionary. This week we have to go and get an eye exam(for her) so she can 1 study with out getting headaches, and 2 work with out getting headaches.
We get along well, and we are working as well as we can with all the caos of the health of the missionaries.
of course I am enjoying the work, and am learning to depend even more on the lord.
We had a meeting with Elder Amado on wednesday, and I learned so much, and it made me want to be such a better missionary.
Here attached is a pic of me and Hna Sanchez. Yes she is taller than me(and in this pic she is slouching).
I have been studying about the restauracion so I can teach it better. I have learned more about the apostasy this last week, and about the dispensations. I love the pattern there, God calls a prophet to teach the people, sometimes they accept and sometimes they reject the message, and when they reject the prophet for a time there isn't a prophet, but He always calls another. I have also been Studying about the atonement. I love studing about the atonement. My testimony has strengthened so much through my studing and testifying about the atonement. Of all the miracles that Christ did here on the earth, the atonement is truly the most amazing. That we can all be healed from the casm that we have between us and our Heavenly Father. How great is the plan of the Lord.
Love Y'all, but my time is up.
Hna Allen
We get along well, and we are working as well as we can with all the caos of the health of the missionaries.
of course I am enjoying the work, and am learning to depend even more on the lord.
We had a meeting with Elder Amado on wednesday, and I learned so much, and it made me want to be such a better missionary.
Here attached is a pic of me and Hna Sanchez. Yes she is taller than me(and in this pic she is slouching).
I have been studying about the restauracion so I can teach it better. I have learned more about the apostasy this last week, and about the dispensations. I love the pattern there, God calls a prophet to teach the people, sometimes they accept and sometimes they reject the message, and when they reject the prophet for a time there isn't a prophet, but He always calls another. I have also been Studying about the atonement. I love studing about the atonement. My testimony has strengthened so much through my studing and testifying about the atonement. Of all the miracles that Christ did here on the earth, the atonement is truly the most amazing. That we can all be healed from the casm that we have between us and our Heavenly Father. How great is the plan of the Lord.Love Y'all, but my time is up.
Hna Allen
Pictures from the mission
Here's a collection of pictures Mem sent home.
This first is a couple of pinatas, the other Hna's bought them, that reminded me of my nieces.
This is my first companionship, Hna Clark & Hna Woods.
The next two are from our Hna activity.
Three of our baptisms. Claudia, Lisandro, and Jonathan.
Love, Mem
This first is a couple of pinatas, the other Hna's bought them, that reminded me of my nieces.
This is my first companionship, Hna Clark & Hna Woods.
The next two are from our Hna activity.
Three of our baptisms. Claudia, Lisandro, and Jonathan.
Love, Mem
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