I'm Coming Home!!!

Week104- The End and The Beginning

Friends and Family,

It's the end!!!! I can not believe it. Seriously. It's been hard and there are lots of trials, but I will certainly miss sharing the gospel with the beloved people of Louisiana. I can say that part of my heart will be here when I leave. The worst part is that right as I'm leaving there are so many good things going on here in Metairie!! Haha. We just met with a recent convert and her boyfriends family. They are looking for the right church. Great religious, believing people. I really enjoyed the visit. We also have two people lined up with baptismal dates. They have made it far from where they came in life. A success story for sure. And so many great families here in the ward. I will miss it a lot. Great area to finish off with. And Elder Smith has been a true friend. He has been patient when I've been hard headed. Haha. He has worked hard when I wanted to work hard. He has taught me a lot. I love him, and hope the best for the rest of his mission.

One of the biggest things I have learned from my mission is to love others despite their looks or circumstances. When Christ was weary and wanted to rest, there were more people that came to him for help and wanting miracles. Instead of turning them away, He had compassion. Compassion was his motivator. There have been times when compassion had to be my motivator. I was exhausted, discouraged, tired. But I was able to press on because I loved others. I'm still working on it, but I've have gotten better.

I have also learned and become deeper rooted in the doctrines of Christ. Through faith, repentance, making and keeping covenants, we allow the Saviors Atonement to cleanse us and raise us to immortality and eternal life. Have you ever wondered the secret to happiness? That's it.

I have learned how I can continue to grow closer to Christ in my life after I get home. There are many examples of faithful saints here in Louisiana. They have committed themselves to serving Christ and others, and they have grown so much over time. You can feel a strong Spirit about them. They have a glow about them, which is the light of Christ. I hope to have that glow.

Luckily, towards the end of my mission, I'm learning to be ambitious and passionate. I've learned to be even more motivated and confident. It feels good. It's all because my Savior is helping me out.

I have many weaknesses I have realized. haha. The scripture in Ether 12:27 is true. When you come to Christ, He will show you your weaknesses. I have been humble like no other time in my life on my mission. It has been so hard. I've realized I'm self centered, prideful, discouraging to others at times, I get anxious and stressed easily, I'm certainly not a perfect teacher, and I'm not the best with meeting new people. But the other part of that scripture is also true. When you turn to Christ in humility, His grace with turn our weaknesses into strengths. It is true!

I love y'all! Thank you very much for all the prayers and support. Thank you for cheering me on. I can't thank you enough. It has helped my life and has certainly helped so many other's lives, because you helped me tough their lives. I hope to keep bringing others to Christ when I come home. I hope you do too. As you do, you will also come closer to Christ. That's a promise.

Love y'all!

-Elder Chandler Allen

Week 103- Sprint to the Finish

Friends and family
This week has been great. We found a younger family. They said we could come back. We taught the wife the restoration already. She agreed with it. Really exciting. 
Yesterday was also full of adventures. Haha. Ups and down. Stephanie said she didn't want to be baptized. Then she texted us later saying she still did. And just other stuff. We had a great dinner appointment though with a younger family in the ward. Good day. 
The Lord certainly knows how to help us follow the Spirit through experiences. As I followed the Spirit we were able to receive the revelation needed for a couple of our investigators. A really neat experience. As I act on promptings the Lord leads us in the right direction. I just need to put my mind to it and confidently follow the promptings. 
Love y'all! Hope y'all have a fun 4th of July!
-Elder Chandler Allen

Week 102- Can't Even Comprehend

Friends and Family,

There were a lot of things this week that I couldn't quite comprehend, like they weren't real to me. I saw my mission President and his Wife for the last time yesterday. So strange. They leave for home on Saturday. They came down for interviews and Stake Conference during the weekend. It also hasn't hit me that I'm going home soon after them. We pretty much had my go home interview. Still can't comprehend what's going on. Haha. I'm just working like usual.

We have had a pretty good week. We met a new lady that wants to come closer to God. She ordered a Bible and Book of Mormon. She has had a lot of trials in her life recently, so she is reaching to God for help. A lot of potential.

A couple of missionaries and I were able to sing in Stake Conference. We first sang in the youth session, and since President Stock liked it so much, he asked us to sing it again in the general session. I was nervous, but it was fun. It was just a powerful song. We sang called to serve. It brought our mission president to tears. The Spirit was powerful.

We've had fun. It's been a good week.

Love y'all!

-Elder Chandler Allen

Week 101- Slpash!

Friends and Family,

This week has been great. Very rainy, and more to come. Haha. I guess that's what the summer is like down here. We had a great week though. Lots of hard work. Yesterday was a great day. One of our investigators, Stephanie, wants to be baptized and we set a date for her for the 1st of July. She is very excited. The adversary is working hard on her. We will have to fight against him.

Someone gave us some cupcakes while tracting yesterday. haha. They were having a father's day party. Really nice people.

We had a great lesson with the part member family we have been visiting. We brought a member of the bishopric with us. They connected well, and he is going to have the family over at his house this week. The husband of the family, the nonmember, has some good questions, and just wants to get closer to God. Really nice guy. I really love that family.

I went on exchanges with the district leader over in New Orleans. We were on bikes. He was pedaling pretty fast. haha. I was just trying to keep up with him. We ended up getting caught in a storm. haha. A nice man let us stay underneath his porch. We were able to stay there until we could go see an investigator right around the corner. A little miracle. And perfect timing because the investigator just got home from work when we showed up after the rain. Pretty fun!

It's going great out here. I know it sounds a little funny, but the missionaries down here are starting to get into chess. haha. I like it too. Gives us something fun and challenging to do with our free time.

Love y'all!

-Elder Chandler Allen

Week 100- Fire in Metairie!

Friends and family,
Metairie is starting to catch some fire. The members are seeing the missionary work increasing, and they are getting excited about it. We have made a good impression on the ward, and I feel their support. Such a great missionary ward. All about missionary work! There was a lot of adversity this week as well. Friday and Saturday, almost everything fell through. It was crazy. Kind of frustrating, although we still tried our best. We were able to start meeting with one part member family. They are great! They are going through a tough time right now, but they are willing to try and get through it with God's help. They have opened up to us a bit. We are trying to teach a lady named Stephanie. She is very busy, but she wants to be baptized and she's been taught everything. Really neat lady too. She is very nice and is very happy at church. I can't wait to help her be baptized! I saw the Saints practice facility this week as well. It would be really neat to go see them do their mini camp or something. Great week though. Thanks for all the prays and support!
Love, Elder Chandler Allen

Week 99- Week 1 in Metairie!!

Friends and Family,

This week has been great! I was transferred to Metairie with Elder Smith. Really nice companion. This is his 3rd transfer. He is a motivated missionary. 

And neatest thing of all, we had an investigator get baptized this Saturday here. It's always nice to go to an area and have someone being baptized. Her name is Kristy. Very nice lady. She is actually blind, along with her husband. So we were able to help her be baptized down in the water since her husband was baptizing her. The Spirit was very strong there at the baptism and during the confirmation on Sunday. A wonderful weekend.

It's great getting used to this area. There is a lot of work to do. I feel very fulfilled because we are getting a lot of things done. Really neat. We have another lady named Stephanie that wants to be baptized. We are going to set up a date for her. She's very nice as well and has a couple connections in the ward. 

I love the ward already. They are very involved in missionary work and provide ample opportunities to tie our investigators to the ward. I really like them.

Just a great week! I loved it. Hope this week is as good, if not better!

Love y'all,

Elder Chandler Allen