Change of Heart

So this week has been very event filled. It started out pretty rough and I think that it was mainly because of my attitude. I DID NOT want to be in a trio ever again after the first time, so finding out that it was going to happen again made me a little upset, but I was determined to accept the will of the Lord. As the week progressed, I learned to just turn to the Lord and only care what He thinks. I needed to be humble to receive counsel from Him, and focus on what He would have me be. When I begged Him to help our relationship, everything changed. We are doing great and we can work so much better than before. Our new companion has been in the mission for 7 months so she knows how to teach, and we are planning to always go on splits with members. Hermana Albright and I both know the area, so it is the perfect opportunity. I am so blessed. The Lord is so merciful and wonderful to teach us and perfect us every day. I love my mission more than ever before. I wish that I could share with you all just how great it is to feel like you can rise above anger and frustration. More than anything, I feel like Satan doesnt have power in my life. It is an amazing feeling that I wish for everyone, which makes me want to work even harder.

The activity that we had for flag day was great. Erica (the member that is living with our investigator) danced with her daughter (camila who is the most adorable little girl). They danced folklore which I think is the same in english. For folk music? You all understand me right? Ok, well it was great and I learned how to make a buttload of noodles. I wonder if they have the machines to do so in the states.  I would imagine so right? I want to do it so that it can be gluten free. I would buy one here and take it back, but the good ones weigh a TON so that wouldnt work out. Anyway, I love you all and hope that you are doing great as well. THANKS TO THOSE WHO SENT PICTURES!!!! I loved them. 

Les quiero un montón!!!

Hermana Allen

THE NEXT WEEK

So this week I have considered what it really means to be born again of the spirit. I was reading this article Experiencing a Change of Heart in the Ensign and realized just how much I have changed on my mission. The way I lived my life before, I realized how much of my purpose I had lost in the rush of everyday life. The purpose we are here is to complete the work of God. We focus on His will and keeping His commandments, and everything else that we need to do in order to live, will work itself out. I firmly believe that if we want to keep the sabbath day holy, he will provide a way to help us do so. We just need to have the faith and not doubt that He will provide the way. All the things that we do should be focused on God's purpose and then the things of the world come next. When we change our attitudes to be like this, we find happiness that never ends. It seems so simple to me now, which makes me continually think why I didnt realize it before. I am so incredibly grateful to understand the plan of Heavenly Father and be able to help others. I finally understand what the prophets were talking about when they said that we should focus of the simple things of life.

As the members have been coming out with us, they have had more desires to read their scriptures and learn the things of God. If the spirit is what helps us to have our hearts turned to Him, then we need to ensure that everyday, we have a spiritual experience. Sometimes, that experience may just be looking down at your child and thanking Heavenly Father that He sent you such a gift. I now understand what the purpose of the mission is. I had never understood just how much God can change you when you give yourself to Him, but it is something amazing. 

This week we changed apartments and I realized the difference of the spirit that can dwell in a dirty home and a clean one. When we finally organized the new apartment, the spirit came back like a fireman hose. I am so grateful for His love and His gospel. I have been able to literally see the difference in the countenance of someone who suddenly begins to pray and read their scriptures when they are struggling. I also have seen the long term affects of not doing family home evening and daily scriptures/prayer, which helps me understand just how amazing the Lord is to give us servents to help us understand this. I hope everyone has an amazing week. 

MY FOURTH WAS GREAT!!! we all celebrated with our clothes. the jump drive is not working to send pictures so I will have to send them next week. I feel so tall next to my comps. It is pretty sad how tall I'm considered here. Anyway, I love you all!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

Hermana Allen

PS. world cup is crazy, but I'm starting to catch the fever of it.

Argentina: Week 44

So my sister stopped posting the last couple months of my mission, but I want you all to hear about those experience as well so I will put them up now :).

So I was considering what to write to reply specifically back to someone and realized that my reply would be something that could help everyone, so I am sending it to you all to ponder and learn from. I have pondered many times why missionaries attain a state of just being completely and utterly happy, you feel like you are literally a part of the angels in heaven and not an earthly being. We still have trials but it seems to be easier to handle them. Well lately we have been discussing on how to help the members to be more converted and we were discussing that they probably dont understand that the Lord requires us to put Him before everything, even our families (like Abraham sacrificing Isaac). Our families are a huge part of His plan so when it is within His plan, you are obviously putting the will of the Lord first according to what He would have you do with your family (in some instances not so much, such as spending family time camping when you should be at church, that isnt ok for Him). I hope I am making sense. Well, as I was pondering about the sacrifices Heavenly Father asks us to make, I realized that is the reason missionaries are happy. We are completely completing the law of sacrifice. We have sacrificed everything to come on a mission and when you hit the point where you actually deliver yourself to Him, you are celestially happy. It depends on the attitude you give as well because there are missionaries who with-hold part of the offering and therefore dont reach that same level of happiness, but I think this is an example of what we all want to achieve. We all want to be happy beyond imagination, and that comes from completely following the will of God. I would invite you all to consider what is something that you may be holding back as an offering? It could be pride, time, an attitude, etc. Even a missionary who is completely happy and content with how their life is, still has a ton to improve. There is always something that we can offer to Him and I invite you all to consider what you could offer to the Lord that you arent at the moment. There is a great change in our state of being as we grow closer to Him and follow Him more closely. I have been able to see that in myself and in our investigators.

This week Eduardo (our investigator who is living with a less active) is going to get married to Erica next month! He is definitely progressing and changing and it has been so great to see! Erica's dad is going to baptize him as well, so her whole family is in on it! That was a great change, but we will see what happens. I think he might struggle with some commandments that we havent taught him yet. :/ Pray for him! 

Transfers came this week and I am going to be in a trio. Hermana Albright and I are going to have a Peruvian companion so it will be interesting. Our pension doesnt really have room for a third person, so I wonder how that is going to work out, but I dont feel like I am staying for the whole transfer, but I'm ok with whatever Heavenly Father wants. Anyway, I love you all soooooo much!!! Please let me know how you are doing! Sometimes I dont have time to write you all back, but I really enjoy your letters! AND PICTURES!!! por favor, MORE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a great summer while I suffer in the cold!! :D

Hermana Allen