Monday, April 1, 2019

Elder Allen Week#23 First of all, thanks for all the birthday wishes everyone!!

The week has been good, tranquillo. I had a work visit with my OG Gringo, Elder Jones, so that's always fun. We found a family that the grandparents have been inactive for about 20 years, and are sealed and everything. And guess what...the grandkids aren't members. So that's awesome, we'll see how it goes. 
Sorry about pictures of the baptism last week, they're coming now! 
Wednesday and Thursday were crazy. Absolutely crazy. Midday Wednesday we get a call from one of the Assistants, saying we need to be at the offices at 950 that night because the next day one of ElderViera's converts was getting Endowed for his mission. So we get there, and go out and contact a little bit to help out some other missionaries, and the people in the city have no hearts. Hardest contact of my life. 
The next day was when it really got crazy. From my area to the offices is about an hour and a half by public transport, and the area next to mine is the Stake Center. Thursday we had our interviews with Presidente at the Stake center, so I had to make my way all the way back to right next to my area while my companion was in the temple. But the nice part is is that Presidente has a car, so he drove me, one of the Assistants, and the zone leaders for the other zone. Intimidating car ride. But it gets worse. We spend a while at the stake center for the interviews, and when they're done, my companion is back at the officinas, an hour and a half away. And President decides the best way to do it is that I go back and pick him up. So this time in the car, is Me, President, And the two assistants. That was a crazy car ride. We were stuck in traffic for 45 minutes. But it was cool to see how things work a little bit more in the mission. And then Elder Viera and I had to take the bus back to Mi Peru. We only worked for 1 hour in the Area, oof. 
We have another baptism this week! His name is Angel Olaya, and he's got an Alma the Younger kind of story. He's about 60, and the Ex of a member. He's heard from the missionaries a lot, but never took an interest. But about two weeks ago, we got a call at 630 in the morning, and basically, he wants to change his life. So if all goes well, he'll be the last baptism of my companion. 
It's pretty crazy to be "Killing" a companion, and it's going to be super weird to see how the mission changes with a new one, but it's going to be cool. 
One of the main teachings of our mission president was on Exact Obedience because of Love. And that's really important. If we really love our Lord and Redeemer, we'll do all that he asks of us without hesitation. And we'll do it happily. And that's a hard thing to do sometimes, but the principle is really important. We're all accustomed to a level of obedience, most of us do not have the desire to go and rob a bank. But we all settle at a point less than we should. Maybe I don't need to go to church this week. I don't need to help this person. Most of us are at 80% Obedience, which only brings 20% of the blessings. It's the other 20% of obedience that brings the 80% of blessings. Never forget that. 
I love you all, and thanks for everything! Have a great week over there in cold Utah!
Elder Allen

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