Hello everyone!! I love you!!! :)
This week was so great!!! and so fast! There must be some weird time warp that happens when you go on a mission- I feel like it was just a couple hours ago that I was emailing you last week! So crazy...but I hope everyone is going well! :)
I found the secret to missionary work! Except it isn't a secret because everyone who's gone on a mission has told me this...I just didn't listen and believe them I guess haha. But honestly, the keys to a happy, productive mission are these:
1. Love and serve your companion. A happy companionship= happy days:)
2. Love the people! The first couple weeks I was out here I struggled a lot with the culture, I won't lie. I was scared, a little judgmental and was FIGHTING the culture, instead of embracing it. I didn't know how to get over it! But this week I've really been praying for charity, and I'm falling in love with the people...and has I've loved the people, I'm coming to love the culture and the language! :) It's been so great! The people here are always so kind of friendly and hospitable...always willing to smile:)
3. WORK!!!! Change requires effort I've realized, so if you want to be happy, if you want your companionship to improve, if you want anything to happen, you need to make the effort!! At my high school, our football team's theme was "Hard work pays off"...and it's so true! We experienced so much success and progression this week, all because we were wiling to work a little harder and give it all our each and every day. I honestly didn't believe in miracles on the mission field, but they're happening! They're small but they're so beautiful! :)
Really, a mission is just the greatest thing! Our area is progressing and doing so well- it's really funny because this week we've found out that all the people we're teaching right now, know each other! And they talk about their lessons to one another...it's so great! We've also been able to find so many people through their friends and family, and all the efforts that we've made the last couple weeks, even in just smiling and saying hi, are paying off!:)
I know this is the true Church. I know that it's a choice to be happy, but that we can help ourselves be happy as we work hard and fulfill the promises that we've made with our Heavenly Father. One of my favorite things ever is still "Endure to the End" (remember my ring), and I know that it's only through enduring our trials, the hard times, and those dark days, that we can earn the privilege of an eternity of happiness:) The light will come, I promise:)
Thanks again for all your love and prayers, I love you all and think about you all the time (but don't worry, I still work hard;).
Have a great week! Stay close to the Savior:)
Love you forever and ever and ever :)
Sister Allen :)
This week was so great!!! and so fast! There must be some weird time warp that happens when you go on a mission- I feel like it was just a couple hours ago that I was emailing you last week! So crazy...but I hope everyone is going well! :)
I found the secret to missionary work! Except it isn't a secret because everyone who's gone on a mission has told me this...I just didn't listen and believe them I guess haha. But honestly, the keys to a happy, productive mission are these:
1. Love and serve your companion. A happy companionship= happy days:)
2. Love the people! The first couple weeks I was out here I struggled a lot with the culture, I won't lie. I was scared, a little judgmental and was FIGHTING the culture, instead of embracing it. I didn't know how to get over it! But this week I've really been praying for charity, and I'm falling in love with the people...and has I've loved the people, I'm coming to love the culture and the language! :) It's been so great! The people here are always so kind of friendly and hospitable...always willing to smile:)
3. WORK!!!! Change requires effort I've realized, so if you want to be happy, if you want your companionship to improve, if you want anything to happen, you need to make the effort!! At my high school, our football team's theme was "Hard work pays off"...and it's so true! We experienced so much success and progression this week, all because we were wiling to work a little harder and give it all our each and every day. I honestly didn't believe in miracles on the mission field, but they're happening! They're small but they're so beautiful! :)
Really, a mission is just the greatest thing! Our area is progressing and doing so well- it's really funny because this week we've found out that all the people we're teaching right now, know each other! And they talk about their lessons to one another...it's so great! We've also been able to find so many people through their friends and family, and all the efforts that we've made the last couple weeks, even in just smiling and saying hi, are paying off!:)
I know this is the true Church. I know that it's a choice to be happy, but that we can help ourselves be happy as we work hard and fulfill the promises that we've made with our Heavenly Father. One of my favorite things ever is still "Endure to the End" (remember my ring), and I know that it's only through enduring our trials, the hard times, and those dark days, that we can earn the privilege of an eternity of happiness:) The light will come, I promise:)
Thanks again for all your love and prayers, I love you all and think about you all the time (but don't worry, I still work hard;).
Have a great week! Stay close to the Savior:)
Love you forever and ever and ever :)
Sister Allen :)