Hello everyone!
Kumusta po kayo lahat? I hope everyone's happy! As in I sincerely hope everyone is doing great and having the time of their lives, wherever you are. I love you all so much and pray for you all the time. Just know that:)
This week went by fast! It was great- I learned a lot, we're working hard and everyday my testimony is strengthened. It's so neat to learn new things from our own lessons! I know that sounds funny, but as we teach, either the Holy Ghost confirms again these truths that we teach or I realize new things about the gospel that I hadn't realized before:) It's super super neat:)
This week I want to talk about families. My family. Your families. Every family.
The other day we had an opportunity to visit an active family here in our branch. They have 9, (soon to be 10) children and they live in some of the humblest situations I've ever seen. Dirt floor, a tin roof that sometimes leaks...I cant describe it.Yet they are so faithful. They pay their tithing every week and are faithful to their temple covenants. The father is a counselor in the branch presidency. After their lesson I went to sleep thinking about all the blessings I have in my life and my family. I'll be honest, our families pretty well off- we have a nice house, cars, we can go on vacations...but here is this family in the Philippines that have so little money that they really have to save to have money for their fare to go halfway across town for church and they can't even afford soy sauce for their food. So I was just thinking about them and what I could give them. If I could do anything, it would be to take them all to Lake Powell (our families favorite camping place) and spend a week with them there because I know their kids would love it and it would be a blast, but of course I can't. So what can I give them? What can I give to all these families here? What can WE give to all these families and people here on earth? Well, one thing that I do have that I can give is the opportunity for them to be with their family forever. That's what I can see in their eyes when I talk with that family- that even though it's sooo hard, they struggle, they pray...they are so filled with hope and faith for eternal life. That it's coming and one day they will all live together in the kingdom of their Heavenly Father. And when it all comes down to it- that's what we have. right? No matter where we are in the world, how much money we have, who we are...the one thing that unites us and that we all share at the very core of who we are is this:
WE ARE CHILDREN OF A HEAVENLY FATHER. WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE WITH OUR LOVED ONES FOREVER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS OR HEARTACHES WE FACE NOW....THEY WILL BE MADE UP. I PROMISE. ACTUALLY GOD PROMISES.
So hold on. Don't give up. We'll be together forever IF we are faithful and follow the commandments a loving God has given for us to qualify for His kingdom. I love this gospel with all my heart. I love all God's children. I love YOU. So so very much.
Thank you for everything, again, all I want, and all God wants, is for you to be happy, because you matter so so much to Him.
Take care always,
Mahal ko kayo,
Sister Allen
P.S. I also just want to say that I know this church is true and that the gospel is here to help us. This is not a work of numbers, but of souls and people and I love this people so so very much with a love I've never had before. I've only been here for about 2 weeks, but I love them so much my heart hurts.
I'm also grateful for repentance. I'm not a perfect missionary and I know we're all not perfect people, but thankfully we have a perfect Atonement that allows us to start over everyday, every minute if we need to:)
And I'm also grateful for my testimony. Sometimes people don't want to listen or they deny the Holy Ghost, but I'm just so grateful that even if they don't want it or don't know about it, at least I do.
That's all:)
Love you!
Kumusta po kayo lahat? I hope everyone's happy! As in I sincerely hope everyone is doing great and having the time of their lives, wherever you are. I love you all so much and pray for you all the time. Just know that:)
This week went by fast! It was great- I learned a lot, we're working hard and everyday my testimony is strengthened. It's so neat to learn new things from our own lessons! I know that sounds funny, but as we teach, either the Holy Ghost confirms again these truths that we teach or I realize new things about the gospel that I hadn't realized before:) It's super super neat:)
This week I want to talk about families. My family. Your families. Every family.
The other day we had an opportunity to visit an active family here in our branch. They have 9, (soon to be 10) children and they live in some of the humblest situations I've ever seen. Dirt floor, a tin roof that sometimes leaks...I cant describe it.Yet they are so faithful. They pay their tithing every week and are faithful to their temple covenants. The father is a counselor in the branch presidency. After their lesson I went to sleep thinking about all the blessings I have in my life and my family. I'll be honest, our families pretty well off- we have a nice house, cars, we can go on vacations...but here is this family in the Philippines that have so little money that they really have to save to have money for their fare to go halfway across town for church and they can't even afford soy sauce for their food. So I was just thinking about them and what I could give them. If I could do anything, it would be to take them all to Lake Powell (our families favorite camping place) and spend a week with them there because I know their kids would love it and it would be a blast, but of course I can't. So what can I give them? What can I give to all these families here? What can WE give to all these families and people here on earth? Well, one thing that I do have that I can give is the opportunity for them to be with their family forever. That's what I can see in their eyes when I talk with that family- that even though it's sooo hard, they struggle, they pray...they are so filled with hope and faith for eternal life. That it's coming and one day they will all live together in the kingdom of their Heavenly Father. And when it all comes down to it- that's what we have. right? No matter where we are in the world, how much money we have, who we are...the one thing that unites us and that we all share at the very core of who we are is this:
WE ARE CHILDREN OF A HEAVENLY FATHER. WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE WITH OUR LOVED ONES FOREVER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS OR HEARTACHES WE FACE NOW....THEY WILL BE MADE UP. I PROMISE. ACTUALLY GOD PROMISES.
So hold on. Don't give up. We'll be together forever IF we are faithful and follow the commandments a loving God has given for us to qualify for His kingdom. I love this gospel with all my heart. I love all God's children. I love YOU. So so very much.
Thank you for everything, again, all I want, and all God wants, is for you to be happy, because you matter so so much to Him.
Take care always,
Mahal ko kayo,
Sister Allen
P.S. I also just want to say that I know this church is true and that the gospel is here to help us. This is not a work of numbers, but of souls and people and I love this people so so very much with a love I've never had before. I've only been here for about 2 weeks, but I love them so much my heart hurts.
I'm also grateful for repentance. I'm not a perfect missionary and I know we're all not perfect people, but thankfully we have a perfect Atonement that allows us to start over everyday, every minute if we need to:)
And I'm also grateful for my testimony. Sometimes people don't want to listen or they deny the Holy Ghost, but I'm just so grateful that even if they don't want it or don't know about it, at least I do.
That's all:)
Love you!