Dec 2, 2010

First, we had a leadership training in Salvador the past few days again.  I didnt know about it till i got a phone call friday!  so that is why i havent responded. (We didn't hear from Kevin until Thursday....instead of his normal P-Day on Weds)  im in the office right now using the internet to send emails.  The internet has been out most of the day, for some reason.  The training was really good.  Still the same as last time but everytime u learn something new.  We were practicing on trying to let the spirit guide us with asking inspired questions to solve problems.  I dont think i really ever did that before, so it was really hard just tying to follow the spirit, but i really felt it so strongly when i tried.  I wish i had ``learned`` about this a long time ago.  Maybe i would of been more successfull in the past.  So ill try to put it into practice!!

Mom, did we do the paper work to have my spot saved for BYU.  Elder Morris had to do his application for BYU and he was having PResident do the ecclesiastical (sp?) endorsment, and i went to see if president could do mine and my info didnt show up.  whats going on? am i still in the BYU system?  could you check for me please and let me know.  maybe send president vecchi an email to figure out whats going on.

(Coincidentally - I was on the computer the same time this email came in.....so....I was able to give Kevin the information he needed to talk with his Mission President before he left to return to Itapatinga!! Wow! This would qualify as one of life's little miracles!)

Have you received any of the packages yet?  Just wonderingŠŠ.  It is the
topic of discussion on the email boards!

No, i havent received any packages.  i did receive a letter that dad sent.  Thank you Dad!!

How¹s the contacting going this week?  Any new prospects?

So far nothing with contacts, all of the people we find end up not being home or what not.  its quite frustrating!

Don¹t forget to send a postcard of this area.  What is different about this
area than Vitoria Conquista?

i found some, but wasnt able to buy them at the moment, but i will send one here in the next week.  Its a city, much smaller.  Its alot hotter, since its sits lower then Conquista, and its the capital of farming.  so lots of farm lands around the city.

I will not be adding any extra funds to your account until later in the
monthŠ..so be wise. Are your needs being met with the mission funds?  I have
been trying to keep your account around $70 to $100Š.but that has been a
little difficult to do.  So ­ keep us posted on your needs.

im doing fine with mission money so far.  im trying to not use my home money for things that arent neccisary.
 
I remember you asking about the black spots on your clothes.  Did you get
that resolved?  The problem is most likely with your washing machine....This is a typical problem for high humidity areas.

i havent had time to scrub them.  i was planning on doing it yesterday, but since im here in Salvador, its not possible. haha next week.  unless im transfered.  i wont know till monday.

Are you going to be transferred before ChristmasŠ.or will we have our
Christmas phone call from Itapetinga?  You probably don¹t know that info
right nowŠ..

i dont know yet. haha
 
How is your Book of Mormon reading going?  Reading it in 30 days is quite a
tall order!!

i was doing well till sunday.  i havent been able to read since then so....im not sure how its gonna go now. im really far behind.  ill try my best.


Are the people getting ready for Christmas yet?  Do they decorate?  Have
Christmas trees and cookies?

Yes, they are getting decorated, haha.  sometimes people have a few lines of lights and a fake christmas tree.  nothing like at home.  Could you take pictures of all the decorations and the Tree when u guys do it.  it would be cool to show to people when im teaching and such.  an i dea.  i havent put up my decortations yet, since ive been in salvador this week.

Well, i love you all.  Last week i didnt get to write what i was greatful for, and i want you all to know.....IM GREATFULL FOR U ALL!!!! i love you all and i wouldnt be who i am today if it werent for you all.  Im also greatful for the atonement of Christ.  Without it i would never be able to be cleansed of my sins to become a better person.  i would never be able to progress and i wouldnt be happy.  im greatful for this church, for the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  they are guides in our lives to return to our heavenly father.  im greatful for all the blessings i have received.  I am truely a blessed son of God.  I have an Awesome family, the priesthood in my life, and i have these two years to make miracles happen in others lives.  Nothing is better then a mission at this point of my life. 

Well, i love you all and i got to go!!!

Elder Allen

Nov 24, 2010

MAn, im missing the BYU snow now after hearing about this Blizzard buisness. haha  oh well, atlest i wont die from the black ice.  ill just sweat my socks off here, since its getting hotter. haha

So how are you?

Im doing good.  A little tired, but thats normal.

Tell me a story or two about the people you are serving?  Investigators?
Members?

Well, the people here are really lame, sometimes, the people here dont like setting appointments.  they dont let us in their houses and they arent at home when we set an appointment.  kind of annoying.  The members are decent.  They really help the members.  we havent had a lunch fall yet. so thats good. and all of our new investigators come because of members.  so its not too bad here. 

Are sunday meetings just like our meetings?  Sacrament?  Does your ward have
a Ward Mission LeaderŠ.and do you have those meetings every Sunday?

Sundays are normal.  They had meetings with the ward missionaries, but all of them are young women, who dont like to help.  Our WML helps us alot though.  He is really cool.  he is 25 and single. so we are trying to contact some single women to baptise for him. haha jk.
 

Any new foods or cooking experiences?  Member meals?

not really yet, just the normal rice beans and occasional changes.  Elder Salla likes making hot dogs.  So we buy lots, boil them, and eat them on bread loafs ( the kinda like in the story of Christ feeding the 5,000)  its good.

I put another $50 in your account.  Use it wisely. You said you go to
Conquista every week.  Why?

Every friday is district meeting, and district meeting is there in Conquista.  So we have to go there every week.  so thats why.

Well, we baptised again last sat.  We baptised a lady called Celma, she is 38 and the mother of the 18 yr old we baptised the first week i was here. 

President Vecchi Challenged us to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days starting tommorow.  So ill try to do it, not sure if i will in english or portugues though,  ill try port this time.

Well, not much else is going on.  i miss you guys.  Enjoy your thanksgiving.  Next year, ill be eating that pumpkin pies with you guys. haha  gtg Love ya

Nov 17, 2010

I dont have very many tracting stories, because we havent really had time to do much contacts on the street.  Im trying to plan in more time, since our minimum is 70 contacts and we are averaging half that so far.  So i got to fix that some how.  it doesnt help that our appointments are a bit far away from each other and we are working on working through the members so far.  We got a reference from our last baptism, the brother of our bishop, to teach his son, and he is really excited.  He just has to be legally married though before he can be baptised.  Its not hard to do, just get the papers, hold a little ceremony, then baptise afterwards.  so we will see how long that takes.
 
Itapetinga is the farm capital of Bahia, i believe.  they have lots of cow farms (should bring some memories back for dad). its a real city though, not like where dads from though (Malad, Idaho).  Also, money seems not to really last here, so this will be interesting with your guys´ short budget.  i dont plan on buying anything any time soon, unless its food if our money runs out.  We got to Conquista everyweek and that eats up R$ 40  everyweek.  we get reembursed for it, but still, the money seems to dissappear because of something.  it will be interesting though, but ill survive.  We get fed lunch everyday, so we just will eat alot at lunch if we dont have something to eat at home. no worries though, i want to loose that little bit of fat on my stomach so i can start doing toneing excersise and have real abs. hahaha
 
Yay!! 4 packages.  yay!!  hey, my cotton shirts have black dots starting to grow around the collars and areas that rub against me the most, i think it may be like mold or something.  i dont know how to get ride of it. they dont go away in the washer. im gonna try to do a good old fashion brasillian cleaning (scrubbing them) next pday and see if that helps.  Any other ideas?
 
I have had alot of dreams lately of me being home, coming home, or some wierd twist of me being home yet still a missionary.  its really annoying me and making me trunky.  Im trying to not think about that stuff, but my subconcious likes to think about it.  Its nothing like at the beggining of my mission.  Salla and i talk alot, but it still seems to pop into my subconsious.

Haha, (Dad) what are the odds, you being called the Gospel Doctrine Teacher. haha I guess you didnt have to go too long without teaching time. I guess thats what u get for showing off your Doctrinal knowlege to your new ward. haha im positive you will enjoy it. so im not worried.

man, a new office in the new auditorium (BYU- Idaho). haha thats pretty cool. Is this job kind of like your old job at VT (Virginia Tech) or Gary´s job at BYU, or is this different? Send pictures of your work and such!!!