Striving for Perfection in Jones

Kumusta!

Cute kids from Jones.

A woman said to me this week, "My sister is a Mormon and a returned missionary, but she married a non-member, so now I know the church isn’t true."  So I thought about it and said, “It is important to understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect, the people trying to live it aren’t."

We got new desks...
guess which one is mine.

You must know the Gospel before you can judge the Gospel, and you cannot judge the Gospel by the mistakes that men make because the Gospel is of God, the Gospel is perfect and designed to help us become perfect. It takes more than a life-time and the Grace of Jesus Christ to achieve, but you have to start here to achieve it.

Elder Elgan puts a brave face on failure.

My favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon so far is Alma 34.  Amulek is teaching the Zoramites about the need for a Redeemer, prayer, faith and works, and to not procrastinate. I strongly encourage everyone to read it.

I sent pictures of some cute little kids from Jones, and Elder Elgan’s culinary humiliation. Elder Elgan tried to make something but it turned out to be just blackened, caramelized, pig fat. Yum. The dogs wouldn’t even eat it.  I also included a picture of some local drink for kids which is shaped like a gun and you drink through the barrel.  Who thought that was a good idea?

I love all of you, and I pray for you as much as you pray for me.

A drink shaped like a gun.
For kids. Seriously

Mahal Kita,

Elder Allen

Great People

Kumusta!

So we have an investigator, Sis. Conception, that is golden and awesome and smart but she refuses to stop believing in the Nicene conception of the Trinity, instead of the New Testament description of the Godhead.  We’ve used everything on her and she just refuses and we have made no progress since I got here so we may have to drop her.

We also have the Miquies Family that we are trying to get married so we can baptize them. We also have two younger girls that are the shyest people I’ve ever met (and I’ve met Jonah); we taught the entire Law of Chastity lesson to them only to have them ask at the end “What’s sexual sin?”

Service project: Mowing the lawn with a machete.

One of the common service projects we do for widows and old people is cutting their grass.  Of course, we mow the lawn using a machete (what is there this amazing implement cannot do?)  Then we pile up all the grass and burn it in a very smokey fire.   People are grateful to see their houses. 

I went on splits with Elder Forrest on Wednesday. I met him in the MTC, where he was 6 weeks behind me. He’s a super nice kid, but a little hyper. He’s awesome and super friendly, and speaks less Tagalog than me.

We went to Elder Katoa’s and Tangi’s farewell party today, they’re going home, that’s why I’m so late emailing tonight.

I love and miss you all.

Elders Nielson and James,
my MTC room mates.

Elder Allen

Working in Jones

Hello family,

The elegant Elder Elgan.

Jones is a fun place. Elder Elgan is an awesome companion.   We’re working with the small Branch of Jones and finding that none of our investigators or less actives will keep their promises. I take that back, there is one hopeful investigator, Tay Ebarra. (Tay is short for Tatay, meaning dad). If someone looks old enough to be your mom or dad you call them Nay or Tay... ay is an 'i' sound.  If they’re old enough to be your Grandma or Grandpa you call them lolo (gpa) or lola (gma). Just one of those closeness things of the Philippines.  We usually refer to everyone else as Kabsat or sibling in ilokano. 

Downtown Jones.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tagalog is Ang Simbahan ni JesusCristo ng mga Banal sa mga Huling Araw which literally translates to the church of Jesus Christ of saints in the last days. I think we sound cooler as 'saints in the last days' rather than 'latterday saints,' but that’s just me..

A refrigerator full of fish.  I am grateful, but I would be
slightly more grateful if I liked fish.

Matt Has got called to RUSSIA?  I am incredibly excited for him and slightly jealous. 

I miss you all very much and love you all very much. Have a great week you crazy family.

Mahal Kita,

Elder Allen

First Transfer

Me and all my worldly
possessions on transfer day.

I've been transferred to the Alicia Zone, the town of Jones is my area. Way up north from Aritao. But Jones itself is pretty far from Alicia, and closer to Santiago, so we are emailing from Santiago. My new Companion is Elder Elgan.  He is my third companion in my 3 cycles here. Elders Proctor, Nielsen, and James are all on their second companion now, but remained in their first areas. I’m just the special child.  The Jones branch is interesting because there is about a 20 women to 1 man ratio.  Not much priesthood around there.

My old zone, all together.

On Wednesday I took everything I owned and left it with the Bambang elders while we travelled up to Cauayan to hear Elder Liens farewell and say goodbye.  We hung out with him and hopped on the bus headed to Manila and talked to him for a few hours.  We hopped off the bus in Bambang at 11pm, got up the next morning at five to ride back up to Cauayan with all my stuff.  Then I ended up in Jones.  It was all pretty entertaining.  Elder Huffstutler is now my Zone Leader here in Alicia and my companion, Elder Elgan, is the District Leader.

and that was my week…

...until next time. good night, and good luck.

Elders and sisters singing in church. 

Mahal kita,

Elder Allen

Zone Conference

The week was slow as usual until Thursday when we had zone conference up in Santiago Zone (about two hours north). It was weird to be in a big city.  And I thought Solano was one of the biggest cities we had. Turns out that Elder James, my companion in the MTC, is in Santiago Zone. We talked for a long time and caught up. It was good to see him. He told me of life in Santiago and I drooled on myself. It’s so interesting how different each experience can be for each missionary in the same mission. 

Heavy rains flooded the road.  The view out our front
gate into the flooded road.

Well, Aritao is the last stop in our mission on the  way to Manilla. There’s actually a bus station here that is sort of the half way point for buses going between Manilla and Cauayan (of course, its only 4 hours to Cauayan from here and about 6-7 to Manila).   So on Friday night at about 10 o’clock, Elders Abitona and Galang showed up at our door. Elder Galang was about to head to Manila by himself and he was dropping Elder Abitona off with us. So we have been a Tri-panionship since then and possibly till next transfer (this Thursday). Elder Galang had an xray of his chest about a week ago, and apparently he was dangerously close to having Tuberculosis.  Sister Carlos told him to hop on the next bus to Manila.  

I’ve been kind of sick too this week, but I refuse to go to the hospital in Manila. 

Me on my way to see the Great I Am.

Like I mentioned before, transfers are this week, it will be interesting to see if James, Nielsen or Proctor are training. 

I will let you know next week if I have been moved or beaten or enlightened. 

I love you all.

-Elder Allen

A Lot of Fellowshippers

Kumusta!

It's me.

We went on splits yesterday and had 11 fellowshippers to split between the two of us. Those are the nice church members who want to go out and help the missionaries.  I got 8 and Elder Averion had 4. And I still got more lessons than him!  ha ha.  I don’t like having more than 2 fellowshippers because if you have more, you can’t fit in as many places and you have to keep track of them so everyone always knows where you are headed. Anyway, that’s the only interesting thing that happened this week. Elder Averion was a little sick all week.  But he survived.  Not much at all happened this week.  We are slowly gaining back investigators. Hopefully something interesting will happen this week that I can tell you about next p-day.  I love you all.

Mahal kita,

Elder Allen

Work, Serve, Work

Kumusta and how is everybody doing today?

My new scriptures,
custom bound locally.

A few weeks ago we had the area Presidency talk to us about church statistics in the Philippines.  There are about 659,729 members of the church in the Philippines, but only about 114,443 (17%) are active. The good news is that 58% of the members that go to the temple remain active.  So we will change how things are done and shake things up.  We will get more people to the temple.  We are out to do some good.

The school in Bambang where we did service Monday.

We had 15 lessons just yesterday after church to less actives and investigators.  It was a good day.  

Last Monday we did a service project for a school in Bambang.   I got my first sunburn in the Philippines working in the school yard.

Take care of yourselves.  I love you all and I miss you all still.  I can’t wait to get your letters.

Sorry there's not much to talk about again this week.

Mahal kita,

Elder Allen

My first Filipino sunburn.
(Yes, I have sunscreen,
why do you ask?)

My machete is the utensil of choice
for most household tasks.