Week 28- Missionary Broadcast and More

Family and Friends,

This has been quite a busy week. We are all tired from all the MLK activities last week, but we still seem to keep pushing forward. We had a zone conference this week. President and Sister Hansen spoke to us, and for the second half of it, we watched the world wide Mission Broadcast. It was very neat to hear from the apostles much information and doctrine specific to our calling. Honestly, the majority of the meeting was focused on getting us back to the basics. Just solidifying our understanding of Preach My Gospel. It was a great meeting and many of my questions were answered.

We met back up with Andrew after not seeing him for a few weeks because he moved somewhere else in our area. I was surprised to see him happy to see us again. I was afraid he didn't want to visit with us anymore, but it was the other way around. He's been through some struggles recently, but we taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he committed to baptism! I was so happy walking out of there. He is going to get baptized.

We also saw Leon the day after the cottage meeting he had a good experience at. He opened up even more and started asking more questions. He told us that he wanted to know what he was getting into before he joined our church. We know now that he wants to join, and is just making sure it's Christ's church. He is a very great guy, and it's been a blessing to see his progression. A lot of the progression came from service. We would help him any way we could, and that helped him realize he could trust us and that we were teaching him out of love.

Wilson, our recent convert, had a very good time at church. He had had a tough week, but he told us that after church, his insides felt cleansed. We also visited him, and had a very spiritual experience. I am so happy to see him with the gift of the Holy Ghost. It has really blessed his life. 

We had a few more good experiences. We had a lot of media referrals that needed to be contacted, and some of them wanted us to come back. I love it when they are open to us and enjoy hearing the word. We met a family, and the mom cried because she felt the Spirit during our first lesson. She was sharing her testimony. It's very neat to see someone increase in faith as they bear testimony. We don't even have to teach them. They allow the Spirit to teach them.

It's just been a busy, but great week. I love my companion and the area I get to serve in. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Love y'all!

-Elder Chandler Allen

P.S. My ponderize: Jacob 4:7

7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

Surprise Picture

It sure is fun getting surprise pictures of Chandler. The parents of some friends of ours(Susie and Mike Smith) are serving in the same area Chandler is serving in right now. I am so happy he gets to serve with them. They are the ones who surprised us with this pic.

Week 27- Charity in NOLA

Friends and Family,

This week has been very eventful. We were able to march in the MLK parade in downtown New Orleans. I could just feel the strong Spirit eminating from us. I know that was a very worth while event to participate in. I hope they all felt our love, and the Savior's love. We were also able to sing at a Baptist MLK presentation. My favorite part of the event was when the organist would just start playing or keep playing while they were speaking. There were some great singers and speakers. It was a very memorable experience. We also went looking for apartments this week since we may be moving. If we do, hopefully it all goes smoothly!

Leon is doing great. We had a great lesson with him last night at a members house in the Downtown ward with some other missionaries and investigators. He said he felt the Spirit very strong and was very happy he came.

Wilson is doing good. His car broke down, but our awesome Branch members fixed his car and helped him out! He is moving to his own trailor. He also got two new dogs to go hunting with. haha. We are going to visit him more and help him feel the Spirit because I feel like he is lacking that. 

Dalton and his family are doing great. His girlfriend is reading and praying about the Book of Mormon! It's difficult to get people to do that sometimes, so we are very happy!

In all, it's been a great week. I've always wondered how I can keep myself from judging others. We are all different, and it's ok to accept that. But I think we should show Christlike love by looking for the best in others and their potential, and helping them get there out of love.

Love y'all!

-Elder Chandler Allen

Week 26- Surprise

Family and Friends,

This week has been great! There's been a lot of surprises. Haha. We were expecting 7 investigators to come to church. We had it all lined up and everything......then everyone, but one canceled. Haha. It's ok though. That's what happens sometimes. Despite them not coming to church, all of them still have great potential.

Leon was the one that came to church. He had a question about polygamy, and it was resolved, so I feel like he will be baptized in two weeks. He lives and believes everything we do, he is just a little nervous to join because it's a big commitment.

Andrew and Kiora split up, so that's sad, but I think it will turn out for the better. It will give us an opportunity to focus just on Andrew, and once he's good to go, we can help his whole family. They are such nice people. Andrew especially yearns for greater spirituality.

Dalton and his family are great! They really love having us over. They weren't able to come Sunday, but I'm certain they'll come next. They all want to be baptized!! Such a blessing. There are a couple things we need to help them through, but they have a great desire, and I know it will bless their family so much.

Wilson is back in the hospital with pneumonia, so hopefully he heals up quickly. He'll go to rehab to help him walk on his leg afterwards. That will be good for him. We got a call while we were there. The AP's said that Elder Wilson was getting transfered! It was really sad and I was nervous to get a new companion again. I really loved Elder Wilson. We got along great and his strength matched my weaknesses. It was just really good. But I met my new companion today, Elder Schaffer! He is a really nice quiet kid. I'm excited to work with him. He only has 4 or 5 months left. We're going to help him end with a bang! Haha. I love him already. I can't wait to get out and work with him.

This week was a great building and learning week. I've tried hard to fulfill my goals. It has been such a blessing to me to grow and do better. Personal study is very uplifting and rewarding. It gets me through the day. It was honestly such a good week. I realized the secret to life is the atonement. If we can master applying the atonement to our lives, we will find the greatest peace and happiness, and as we experience those blessings, we will want to help others experience those blessings. I also realized how much joy and happiness comes from obeying the mission rules and the commandments. I was set apart from the world this week. I had an increase in faith and charity. I knew God was working with us. I was blessed with a great week.

Love y'all, Elder Chandler Allen

Week 25- Back to Work

Family and Friends,

This week, we got right back to work after having some fun holidays. This week was awesome! Leon, who has been investigating for 2 years, came to church for the first time. He is making a lot of progress. He felt the Spirit at church and thinks of us as friends. I hope we can be friends to all of our investigators. He wants to continue visiting with us for sure. 

Andrew, the investigator that the Spirit lead us to while tracting, met with us and told us that his family was probably going to split up because things weren't working out between him and Kiora. It was sad and hard to comfort him. I didn't really know what to do. But Elder Wilson brought the Spirit by sharing with him how we actually were lead to him by the Spirit and that God was looking out for him and his family. We promised that if he kept the commitments we extended, and had his family learn as well that they would find a lot more peace and unity, and that everything would work out. Keep them in your prayers please. 

While visiting with Leon, one of his nephews friends started to participate in the discussion and then told us that he wanted to meet with us! He said that God lead him to us. I know our prayers have been answered. It was such a neat experience. And he has such a nice little cute family. He is very interested. I know he is prepared for baptism. I hope we can bring the Spirit to him and that he has the desire to be baptized. And it was sooo cool to see his little 4 and 5 year old's get excited to learn about Jesus. They even brought out their little Bible.

Tyrone and his Mom, Lordus, came to church as well. They both really enjoyed it and are making a lot of progress. I'm so excited!

We are getting a ton of media referrals, so we are going to be following up with a lot of them. 

It has just been a great week, ending with a few investigators at church. It's been awesome! New Year's was crazy cool. We stayed up and saw the fireworks at midnight. There were soooo many all around. the skyline just lit up. It was the coolest unplanned firework show I've seen. And we did 2016 pushups to celebrate the new year. I'm still sore. It was awesome though!

I've made some goals for this year. Here they are:

1.Follow the set morning routine so that my studies are effective.

2. Always pray for faith and charity.

3. Memorize my ponderize scripture every week.

4. A limit of 1 dessert a day(haha)

I hope these things help me administer the Spirit in greater abundance.

My ponderize scripture this week is Moroni 6:4. I hope you check it out.

I love you all and hope you have a great New Year! Happy 2016!

Love, Elder Chandler Allen