Hello everyone!!! :)
Kumusta po kayo?? (How are you?)
I hope everyone is happy and healthy! How's life?
This week has been so crazy! I can't even begin to describe the emotional, spiritual and mental process that it is to progress through the mission- sometimes I feel like it's all a dream- you know how the more you think about a dream, the less you can remember about it? Sometimes I feel like that haha, that if I over-analyze all my thoughts and feelings, it'll all go away or it'll all be too much to handle haha. It's a good feeling though...just confusing to explain ;)
This week I've been thinking a lot about discipleship- meaning being a follower of our Savior. My first couple weeks out on the field were so rough because I forgot about those basic principles that I already knew and believed in. But sometime I've realized this week is that serving a mission is not exclusive from the responsibilities of Latter-Day Saints, or anyone who is trying to follow Jesus Christ really. Our 13th Article of Faith says
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
These principles don't just apply to missionaries only, or leaders only, but to ALL of us. The only difference really between living the life of a missionary and living the life of an every-day Latter-Day Saint is that we have different full-time jobs. That's it really. We should ALL be striving every day to develop Christlike attributes, serve others, learn more about the gospel, work hard and strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Regardless of where we are in the world or what our calling is, we are all working towards the same thing: to bring ourselves, our families and all around to eternal life:) It's the greatest goal ever!!! :) And super super SUPER happy one! :)
Yesterday in Relief Society, our teacher showed us a Mormon Channel video called "Flecks of Gold." Before she started she defined the word 'fleck'...she said is means "a small patch of color or light." Color and light are basically some of my favorite things, and so I loved that! In the video, Elder Ballard says that small, everyday acts of serve and goodness will accumulate into a lifetime of small, flecks of gold. I wish I could fully describe the joy and light that comes with living the gospel, there is no better way! So watch the video...it's so great:) https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-09-016-flecks-of-gold?lang=eng
And as for an update on the work- we have a golden family...so golden! :) The mom and her two sons ( I think I've already talked about them before), are getting baptized in 19 days! They are sooo good and love the gospel and already want to share it with their families and friends. But then the best thing was last night during our lesson with them. For the past couple lessons, their dad has sat in but then has to leave to take their daughter to work. His kids and wife have been praying that he'll come to church, but so far he hasn't yet. Last night though, we invited him to be baptized and he said yes!!! He said he's been seeing the blessings the gospel has been giving his family, and so yeah...his baptism will be in April! He's excited and wishes is wasn't so far away still haha! But then you should have been there to see the faces of his kids...they were soooo happy too:) And then we talked about missionary work and how in a couple years their kids will be able to serve missions! Last week I said I've never believed in miracles before, or at least didn't know what they looked like I guess, but last night I saw the miracle of the gospel changing peoples' hearts and bring families together. Man...again I can't express the joy and the peace that's in my heart to know that this family can live the joy of the gospel for the rest of their life, and for FOREVER!! I don't even care about myself anymore...as long as I can help other people receive the same blessings and joy from the gospel as I have, I'm happy :)
I'm so grateful for this gospel...it's the way to true and lasting happiness, no doubt about it. I know that the Savior is always there for you and that He loves you individually and independent of any mistakes that you've made. I thought about is this week, that if He performed the Atonement just for ONE PERSON, He would've done it because He loves us all individually so so much:) If you have time, or actually just do it anyways, read the hymn "Reverently and Meekly Now", it sums up so well how the Savior loves you:) https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/reverently-and-meekly-now?lang=eng
I love you all so much!!! I used to want to go home but I kinda don't anymore just because I know there's too much I still need to learn and do here! but I love you all and I hope you're all happy! :)
Love love and more love,
Sister Allen!! :)
P.S. Sorry I never send pictures...you'd think a former yearbook editor would take more photos, but I don't haha...so forgive me. I'll try to do better ;)
Kumusta po kayo?? (How are you?)
I hope everyone is happy and healthy! How's life?
This week has been so crazy! I can't even begin to describe the emotional, spiritual and mental process that it is to progress through the mission- sometimes I feel like it's all a dream- you know how the more you think about a dream, the less you can remember about it? Sometimes I feel like that haha, that if I over-analyze all my thoughts and feelings, it'll all go away or it'll all be too much to handle haha. It's a good feeling though...just confusing to explain ;)
This week I've been thinking a lot about discipleship- meaning being a follower of our Savior. My first couple weeks out on the field were so rough because I forgot about those basic principles that I already knew and believed in. But sometime I've realized this week is that serving a mission is not exclusive from the responsibilities of Latter-Day Saints, or anyone who is trying to follow Jesus Christ really. Our 13th Article of Faith says
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
These principles don't just apply to missionaries only, or leaders only, but to ALL of us. The only difference really between living the life of a missionary and living the life of an every-day Latter-Day Saint is that we have different full-time jobs. That's it really. We should ALL be striving every day to develop Christlike attributes, serve others, learn more about the gospel, work hard and strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Regardless of where we are in the world or what our calling is, we are all working towards the same thing: to bring ourselves, our families and all around to eternal life:) It's the greatest goal ever!!! :) And super super SUPER happy one! :)
Yesterday in Relief Society, our teacher showed us a Mormon Channel video called "Flecks of Gold." Before she started she defined the word 'fleck'...she said is means "a small patch of color or light." Color and light are basically some of my favorite things, and so I loved that! In the video, Elder Ballard says that small, everyday acts of serve and goodness will accumulate into a lifetime of small, flecks of gold. I wish I could fully describe the joy and light that comes with living the gospel, there is no better way! So watch the video...it's so great:) https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-09-016-flecks-of-gold?lang=eng
And as for an update on the work- we have a golden family...so golden! :) The mom and her two sons ( I think I've already talked about them before), are getting baptized in 19 days! They are sooo good and love the gospel and already want to share it with their families and friends. But then the best thing was last night during our lesson with them. For the past couple lessons, their dad has sat in but then has to leave to take their daughter to work. His kids and wife have been praying that he'll come to church, but so far he hasn't yet. Last night though, we invited him to be baptized and he said yes!!! He said he's been seeing the blessings the gospel has been giving his family, and so yeah...his baptism will be in April! He's excited and wishes is wasn't so far away still haha! But then you should have been there to see the faces of his kids...they were soooo happy too:) And then we talked about missionary work and how in a couple years their kids will be able to serve missions! Last week I said I've never believed in miracles before, or at least didn't know what they looked like I guess, but last night I saw the miracle of the gospel changing peoples' hearts and bring families together. Man...again I can't express the joy and the peace that's in my heart to know that this family can live the joy of the gospel for the rest of their life, and for FOREVER!! I don't even care about myself anymore...as long as I can help other people receive the same blessings and joy from the gospel as I have, I'm happy :)
I'm so grateful for this gospel...it's the way to true and lasting happiness, no doubt about it. I know that the Savior is always there for you and that He loves you individually and independent of any mistakes that you've made. I thought about is this week, that if He performed the Atonement just for ONE PERSON, He would've done it because He loves us all individually so so much:) If you have time, or actually just do it anyways, read the hymn "Reverently and Meekly Now", it sums up so well how the Savior loves you:) https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/reverently-and-meekly-now?lang=eng
I love you all so much!!! I used to want to go home but I kinda don't anymore just because I know there's too much I still need to learn and do here! but I love you all and I hope you're all happy! :)
Love love and more love,
Sister Allen!! :)
P.S. Sorry I never send pictures...you'd think a former yearbook editor would take more photos, but I don't haha...so forgive me. I'll try to do better ;)