New Photos

Kumusta!
   Now that I have a camera again I can start sending pictures.  Like these:

My new companion Elder Volpe.

Sunset at Naguillian

Me with Elder Betancourt after his first baptism.

I love you all.

Mahal ko kayo, 

Elder Allen

20 Questions

Kumusta!

I actually got the package you sent on Feb. 2 earlier today!  Elder Needs called and said "Guess what. Your Package is here!" I was so excited.

So we don’t have to worry about that anymore. It cost me 1,575P ($38) personal money though because of the stupid taxes and stuff.  I don’t dare to check my bank account from here because I don’t trust the computers. There are some crazy bugs and viruses.

I love you. Thank you so much for the package. We opened it and immediately threw all the candy in the freezer to harden up. We are going to party later tonight!

Eli, here are some questions that have accumulated, which you can answer if you have time:

Have you felt any earthquakes?

There have been a few earthquakes lately, but I haven’t noticed them.  I just hear about them from others. I don’t know how I miss ‘em.

Elders Ilagan, Needs (in squint mode), Coronel  and me.

Have you eaten dog?

I actually ate dog about two weeks ago, but I forgot to tell you. It’s very interesting. Not actually very meaty but it doesn’t taste very bad. Yum.

Do you still love the fruit?

I still love the fruit. It’s not really much of a fruit season right now though. In the fall is when I get excited about the fruit. I’m afraid that I wont like fruit when I get home. I’ve been spoiled for two years. haha.

What do you have for breakfast? 

For breakfast I usually make a bowl of oatmeal and add some slices of banana. It’s delicious. I’m still skinny though.

Tell us about your new companion.

Elder Volpe is from Cary, NC.  His dad joined the Church when he was 17, just like my dad. And his mom goes back to the pioneers, just like my mom.  He was very homesick when he arrived, like most of us, but he is getting better.

Who is the nicest Filipino you have met?  

The nicest and most impressive Filipino I have met is definitely President Carlos. haha.  But besides him, missionary wise, Elder Ilagan.  People wise, Brother and sister Fernandez (the man that baptized the Gumaru family) and the Gumaru family. I love them.

Do you have access to laundry in Cauauyan?  Or you still doing it by hand?

We actually have a laundry shop here, and we can give them everything but our delicates.  We still wash those by hand.  Way easy... just don’t smell me.

Where would you like to go finish your mission?  

I actually want to go up to the north end of the mission.  Go die in the hotness.  I haven’t been assigned up in the north half of the mission, yet. I’ll be okay if that doesn’t happen though. “I’ll go where you want me to go.”

What was the best training you have had on your mission?

Elder Arden came and gave a super wing-it lesson to a few of us at the mission home one time. It was all about learning by the Spirit... which is what every general authority speaks on, I’ve noticed.

We get to talk to you on Mon, May 13 (your time, Mother's Day our time.) We are terribly excited.

I can’t wait to talk to you all on Mothers Day either.  We'll chat then.

I like it more when there are specific questions to be answered. Feels more like a conversation.

Hope you enjoy this email. ;)

Mahal ko kayo,

I love you All.

Elder Allen

The Gumarus are Baptized

 Kumusta!

The Gumarus are baptized! Including Mikaela.  Behold the effects of your prayers!  I asked Brother Fernandez, a recent convert, to baptize them. Their journey of faith has begun, but they can always use your prayers.

Elder Oldem, Bro. Fernandez, Edison holding Heart,
Josephine, Mel, BJ, Mikaela, AJ, and me

Happy birthday Grumps! But there is no St. Patricks Day in the Philippines.

I hope you are all doing great.  I am doing great out here. I love you all.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

Interesting Change in Missionary email Policy:

Date: February 27, 2012

To: General Authorities, Area Seventies, and Mission Presidents

From: Missionary Department (801-240-2222)

Subject: Adjusted Missionary Email Policy

Missionaries are to write to their families each week and are also authorized to communicate by email with friends, priesthood leaders, and new converts. Mission presidents should allow sufficient time on preparation day for missionaries to write emails and letters. While in the mission field, missionaries should receive authorization from the mission president before entering into communication, including via email, with converts and others of the opposite gender within the mission boundaries (see Missionary Handbook, 36–37).

Getting Ready for Baptism

Kumusta!

The Gumaru family did not get baptized this last week but are ready for their March 16 baptism. Except for Michaela, who doesn’t want to be baptized and wants stay in Iglesia ni Cristo, but we heard that second hand from her father after she had passed the baptismal interview.  It’s going to be interesting, but I’m going to bring it up with her and the Gumarus.  However, brother Edison and sister Josephine are more than ready with BJ too.  So I’ll let you know what happens this week, next week.

I am good.  We never think about daylight savings over here. No affect on us.

This picture is awesome. 

What are the chances of you being able to send me a tie exactly like the one I’m wearing in this picture.  It’s the one you sent me for Christmas.  It’s a 'Jonathan David' tie.  You know its good because the guy has 2 first names.

Mahal ko kayo,

I love you all.

Elder Allen

Watch Your Backpack

Kumusta!

The lesson with the Gumaru family with Elder Ardern didn’t’ go through because of travel problems he had. Too bad.   But they are still awesome and it seems like everything is going awesomely with them. 

The Smiths have Twins? Did I know that? mabye. I hope they are doing okay.

Mom, I think you should hire a clown to do magic tricks just to change things up in Utah County meetings.  It would Make it less boring. Maybe get a bouncy house, too. Politicians and bouncy houses mix well.

Feel free to paint my room any color you want. I cant wait to see how it turns out.  Well, maybe not pink and stuff, but the brown and light blue sounds cool. It was always white and boring. Now it will be not boring.

Speaking of my room. How is looking into applying to college going? I’m hoping that I could get into BYU Idaho I would get the fall/winter track. But that means you have to apply soon.

I guess I have some bad news. My backpack was stolen. Luckily there wasn’t much in it.  In fact, ZERO things of monetary worth. But very sentimental.  One being my broken camera with the SD card.  All the pictures from my mission since I was with Elder Elgan was on that. The other thing is the triple I’ve been using since the MTC.  The cool one I had bound with my name on it and family picture in the back and 16 months worth of missionary notes. That’s what I want.  Along with some money, an umbrella, and other small things, only that backpack was taken.  Sister Carlos keeps insisting that it will show up, mostly because its disappearance make no sense at all.  But that is the most frustrating thing about it.  It’s gone, but no one understands how.  So just letting you know. Sorry about the pictures.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

The Gumaru Family

Kumusta!

Thanks for asking about and praying for the Gumaru's.

The Guramu family consists of tatay(dad) Edision, nanay(mom) Josephine, and their five children; Mikaela (11)f, BJ (9)m, AJ(6)m, Mel(4)f and Heart(2)f. They are progressing wonderfully. Elder Oldem asked President Carlos if we could have a family home evening in the Mission Home with them.  President immediately took that chance to have Elder Ardern of the seventy sit and observe.  So this Satuday night, we are going to teach a lesson with the assistance of President and Sister Carlos, and Elder and Sister Ardern. Plus the Assistants to the President. I'm stressing pretty bad about it, even though I know I shouldn't.   I had a nighmare about it last night. 

Anyways. It looks like they will be baptized on March 9th.  Hopefully, I'll find a member to baptize them. 

That's how they are doing.

I love you all.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

Sis. Flory tries balut for the first time.
She downed it like a champ.

I interviewed the young woman in this picture for baptism.

Look Up

Kumusta!

Elder Huffstatler and me
making eggrolls.

I think the most beautiful thing God created was the stars.  We don't see the stars much here. Smog, fog and rain. but when we do they are beautiful.  We can look at the stars and realize how small and insignificant we are, and at the same time remember the glory of God, to give us the stars.  Why would we ever aim for anything shorter than the farthest star? Satan can promise you anything on this Earth, but Heavenly Father has promised us the stars if we only follow him. Why would we settle for anything on this Earth, any amount of temporary happiness, when we could simply look to the stars and know the condescension of God?  Look to the stars, and think of the Work, the Will, and the Prize. It's as simple as following Jesus Christ's example.  Let us all think "the Stars my Destination." 

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

The sisters practice teaching me.