All's Quiet in the Santiago South Zone

Kumusta!

There will be no changes in our zone this cycle except my companion and an elder going home and a sister getting transferred.  Besides that it will be pretty much the same but better next cycle. Elder Needs and Elder Nay and a bunch more will be heading home tomorrow.  I have two cycles left in my mission and I want to make them count. I have been having a lot of fun lately helping elder Zhang learn english and figuring out the area. Not much is going to change except I'll have a new companion to do it with.  I love you all.

Mahal ko Kayo,

Elder Allen

Elder Nay Gets Hit by a Motorcycle

Kumusta!

Elder Nay in the hospital

We were half way through district meeting when we saw through the window that President Ralhf had come to check on us. That put everyone on edge, especially the district leader, Elder Marshall, who, despite not really planning, taught a great and very helpful lesson about companionship inventory.  Afterwards President told us that the real reason he came was to check on Elder Nay because he had been hit by a single motor (motorcycle) down in Lamut the night before and was rushed up to the hospital in Santiago.  As they left, I caught up with him to see if i could go check on Michael.  President Ralhf instructed me to check up on him every now and then to keep him company.  He was battered and bloody, but sustained no broken bones.  The accident happened just two weeks before he goes home.  So we spent some time and got to chat and learn a little about each other's missions. Michael's last two cycles have been the only time in our missions that we were even on the same side of the Cauayan mission, although we live just a couple of blocks apart in Utah.  That's how we ended up there.  It was good.  As you can see from the picture, he was in pretty good spirits for a guy in a Philippino hospital.

You can get all the details on the accident and see some great bloody pictures on Elder Nay's blog: http://eldernay.blogspot.com/

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

The Rules are Changing

Kumusta!

The Rahlfs were at the Worldwide Mission President’s Training in Provo last week, they said it was great.  Technically, we will be allowed to use Facebook pretty soon here.  I have never once opened my Facebook account on my mission. Very very few missionaries haven’t opened Facebook at least once.  I’m not going to until we get a definite “Go” sign from up high.

I’m glad Jonah made it to Timberline.  That’s hilarious that my scout uniforms were way too small for him.  I was tiny then, but I just kept growing slowly until I came on my mission. I tell people when they ask that I am 5' 9 1/2" just to make myself feel better. I don’t actually know, I haven’t been actually measured in two years.

The Carlos’ leaving is tough, but something I always expected. I love them like I love you, and I’m going to find them after my mission. I called Pres Carlos out on my challenging companions one time. He just smiled and said it wasn’t anything he thought I couldn’t handle. 

Now I am excited to see how President Rahlf works things.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

Elder Zhang, Me and Elder Phippen

Happy Birthday

Kumusta!

Sunrise in Baluarte

My new companion is elder Sulla (ryhms with julia). We live in a compound with Elder Phippen, from Salt lake, and he is training Elder Zhang who is from way-north-border-of-Mongolia-forgot-what-its-called China.

Fun facts about china;

1. Its communist.

2. Christian religions are forbidden.

3. Names are backwards. For example, elder Zhangs name is Zhang Jia Feng. the family name is first.

4. There are only about 100 family names in China. That’s why we always hear about Fa's or Chang's, or Li's. There about 3,699,999 people walking around with your same Chinese family name.

5. China is big.

Elder Zhang is the first Chinese missionary in the Philippines Cauayan Mission.

President and sister Carlos left today. But on birthdays, they call you and sing happy birthday and talk to you for a second in the morning. Before they got on a plane today, they somehow found time to call me up and sing happy birthday to me, them and the Rahlfs and the APs and whoever else may have been there. Elder iIagan told me afterwords that it was the saddest song of happy birthday he had ever seen. Sister Carlos told me she would never forget when my birthday was, and president said he would see me sometime in America. Everyone was in tears. You can imagine how the song sounded. It was wonderful.  It made my mission. I feel their love all the time. 

As of yesterday, we have had a new mission president. The Rahlfs from Ohio.  I’m so excited to meet them and get to know them. I wont get to meet them till next week though; we will be one of the last zones to be interviewed.  I love you all.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

My new companion Elder Sulla, Elder Zhang, me Elder Phippen

Transfers This Week

Kumusta!

Me on the right at the Zone Leaders Conference

I’m doing pretty good.  Transfers are this week and there are going to be a lot of changes in our zone so I’m working on that stuff right now. The zone is being overhauled this cycle, and my area is being split so I will be showing three elders around and figuring that out while juggling the rest of the zone. I’ll definitely get something good to write about out of transfers.

I moved again earlier this morning. Haha. That’s the fourth move between transfers I’ve made in the mission I think.

I guess Noah figured Boys State out better than I did. That’s my boy!  I haven’t seen Elder Allred since he came in last transfer but I have been trying to talk to him.  I will get to see him tomorrow though, and finally get a chance to say, "Hey, we are somehow distantly related through marriage. How’re you doing?"  It’ll be great. Elder Volpe is doing much better, I’ve actually seen him a bit this cy

Me photo-bombing Elder james

cle.  He just wants a new companion because his comp right now it the trunkiest kid on the planet and still has a cycle to go.  He calls me dad. So yep…I am a mission parent.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

Elders James, Proctor, Nielsen and Me...eating!  Yay!

A Few More Questions

Kumusta!

Here are some answers to recent questions:

When is the next Transfer Day?

Next Transfer Day is June 19th, I will be getting a new companion, and will be splitting the area once again. (like Ramon).

Who are you teaching?

We have a bunch of investigators but none that are progressing. We are doing our best.

What do you like about your new area?

The best thing about Baluarte is that it is close to the big city of Santiago but its far enough away that we are working in the fields and mountains and forest of the Philippines.  The fresh air with the convenience of the city.

Have you seen any interesting animals lately?

We have seen an unusually large number of smushed cats in the road lately.  That’s a strange animal.  And we found a crab in our bathroom. That was weird. No idea where that came from.

When are the Carlos’ leaving?  Are you prepared for that?

The Carlos's leave on July 1st.  But I think it will be fine. There isn’t much to worry about. I think the new president will be great in his own way. But as President Carlos pointed out in my last interview, President Rahlf will love me, but not like President Carlos loves me. Ha!  It’s true.

Pres & Sister Carlos

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

Pres & Sister Rahlf

New Area and Companion

Kumusta!

My original MTC batch 18 months later. Elders Nielsen
Proctor, James and me. 

I am in a new area with a new companion.  My new area is Baluarte, just south of Santiago.  My new companion is my old friend Elder Proctor who was in my batch in the MTC.

This last week started with a very intresting P-Day. We had a lock-down (meaning we were not allowed to leave our apartments) that started at 12pm and lasted the entire day.  All because of the elections. They get pretty heated.  But it was also the day we get to Skype our families to talk on Mother's Day. So it was a great day to talk to my family for the last time in the mission before I see them face to face.  After Skyping briefly in the morning, we ran around getting a few errands done, and then, since we were locked in our appartmens for a ridiculous amount of time, president allowed us to watch some Disney movies.  Wreck-it-Ralph is awesome. 

This week Elder Proctor and me have been chased by children, dogs, crazy people, members, and girls.  It was a great week. It's interesting how different people act or treat two Americans as opposed to 1 American and 1 Philippino. but me and Elder Proctor are keeping things together here in Santiago North Zone and having a blast. I'm Elder Proctor's first American companion too, so you can imagine the fun we are having. I love you all.

Mahal ko kayo,

Elder Allen

My new companion Elder Proctor and me.  If I look
apprehensive, its because I know him well.