February 15, 2016

Happy Valentines Day from a nice elderly man in their ward :)

Eating a "pamper". She says it's a good reason to gain weight :)

Hello! Aw man! I was so excited to see where Christopher was going! But that's ok. It's testing everyone's patience... even mine. :) This week was an emotional roller coaster and we were just absolutely exhausted by the end, but it was still really good! Because we're doing the training program we have an extra hour every week to study something that will help us in our lessons and this week we were focusing on "Teaching people, not lessons". It was exhausting because it takes so much effort to really listen and take the time to dig deep and find out their concerns and doubts, but we saw so many miracles as we tried hard to do it! We really tried to apply every lesson to them and really let the spirit guide us to know what to share, what to read, what to ask, etc. As we did that, we saw many people start opening up to us and we were able to help them with doubts that they hadn't ever mentioned before and we were able to help them feel the spirit and the importance of this message in their lives.

One example of this was last Monday. We had a family night with our recent converts, (K. and H.), their newly reactivated husband/dad (C.), and the parents of C. (who had separated for several weeks because the husband was pulling away from the church and just barely got back together again). So it was a group with a lot of different needs and problems and we weren't really sure what we should focus on. But we prayed really hard to know what to share and we decided that we needed to teach the plan of salvation. As we taught we were inspired to explain it in ways that I've never used before. We read new scriptures, asked new questions, and focused on points that I had never focused on before. And at the end of the lesson, C.'s dad was in tears as he bore his testimony of what we had shared. Afterwards, C. bore his testimony as well and talked about how much that lesson had strengthened him. It was incredible that the spirit helped us know what to do so that we could help each of them with their individual needs. It was such a huge miracle and am so grateful for the guidance of the Spirit!

One day this week, we didn't have any appointments so we were just contacting most of the day and it started raining and we didn't have our umbrellas. So we got so wet! After a while of hoping that someone would let us in their house, we ended up stopping in a bakery to wait it out a bit. As we sat in the bakery, freezing cold, exhausted, hungry, and a bit downhearted, one of the workers came up to us and said "you guys want some food?" She then started preparing a plate of rice and chicken for us and then said "Don't worry about paying. Enjoy!" And then walked away and went back to work. It was the sweetest thing! It completely changed our day around and I really gained a testimony of always going about serving others because you never know who may need it that day.

This week was freezing cold with LOTS of rain! You're going to laugh, but this week it got down to 65 degrees which is the coldest it's ever been on my mission so far. And we were freezing!!! When we got home we changed into our warmest pjs and then wrapped ourselves in blankets and socks and sweaters and whatever we had that was warm. Bendito.... I think I'm going to freeze when I get home..... :)

I haven't gotten your package yet, but I know I will on Wednesday. Thank you! :) also, did you guys get my card? I hope Heidi feels better soon and good luck with the wedding tomorrow Dad! I'm so glad you guys got to see Cokeville Miracle. It's so super good and I just remember feeling the spirit so strongly when I watched it. I'm glad you like it! And I hope you guys had a Happy Valentines Day! I love you all so much and am so grateful that I have such a wonderful family!

It's been awhile since I've sent anything in spanish to you guys, so I'll give it a go this week. :) Yo se que este evangelio es verdadero. Ha bendecido mi vida en todos aspectos y estoy bien agradecida por el conocimiento que tengo de ello. Se que Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y que por Su amor, nos envio Su Hijo Jesucristo. Se que por medio de el, podemos ser libres de pecado y vencer nuestras debilidades y faltas y en el fin, vencer aun la muerte para volver a regresar con Nuestro Padre en los cielos. Este Evangelio cambia vidas. Ha cambiado la mia. Es la unica cosa que nos brinda gozo y felicidad duradero y eterno. Hay tanto paz, consuelo, y esperanza esperandonos. solo tenemos que seguir adelante con fe y nuestro Padre Celestial derremara sobre nosotros estas maravillosas bendiciones. Se que eso es verdadero y no hay nada mejor en nuestras vidas. Amo mi Salvador. Amo el Evangelio. Amo mi mission. Y les amo a ustedes! En el nombre de Jesuscristo, Amen.

~Hermana Allan