"A is for Allen"

Hello everybody! 

This week was a good week.  We are working hard! On Tuesday, we had our District Meeting.  Elder Haacke taught us a lesson that was really interesting.  Usually in District Meetings, we work on teaching skills and such, but his lesson was a doctrinal lesson.  We learned all about the Apostasy.  It was so interesting!  We learned the when, why, and who of the Apostasy and the creation of other churches.  Things like that.  It was based off a talk called “Why 1820.”  I learned a lot about the Apostasy and I really felt that God’s timing is perfect.  The Restoration of the gospel really wouldn’t have worked any earlier or any later.  It really was perfect timing.  It was so cool to see all of the details of the Apostasy that led up to the Restoration.  In our lives as well, I know that God has timed everything perfectly.  Sometimes - most of the times I think - God's timing and our timing is different.  Here on my mission, I have really learned to trust in His timing.  I know that His plan is perfect, and as long as we stick to it, we'll be happy.  It will all work out if we follow His timing. 

I learned about God's timing as well this week with Nanay Carmelita.  We were kind of at a loss with what to do with Nanay Carmelita and Tatay Herminihildo at the start of this week.  Tatay is still smoking and drinking and isn't ready quite yet for his baptism.  Nanay, on the other hand, is SO ready for baptism.  Nanay is so loving and loyal and didn't want to get baptized without Tatay.  We, of course, understood and respected her decision and reminded her to pray about her decision.  Although we understood her situation, it was hard not to be a little disappointed.

On Saturday, I was having kind of a stressful, hard day.  As we walked to Nanay Carmelita's house, I wasn't really expecting anything to have changed with her decision, but we went in with hope and faith and just taught her.  We taught her all about temples.  We talked about what temples are, how our families can be together forever, and how her and Tatay - someday - can be sealed for time and all eternity.  It was a beautiful lesson and Nanay wept as she learned of the blessing of the temple.  Towards the end of the lesson she surprised us by saying, "Sisters, I don't want to wait to get baptized.  I am ready now."  As she said those words, the Spirit filled my heart and I felt such peace.  All the discouragement and doubt I had been feeling melted away.  I was so discouraged last week about Nanay Carmelita and all of the push backs she's been having, but that lesson on Saturday made me realize that this was God's timing and that now, this is Nanay's time.  I am so excited to tell you that Nanay Carmelita will be baptized on this Saturday, June 4th, 2016.  Two of our other investigators, Kylene and Angelica, will also be baptized on the same day.  It makes me cry as I write this, because it fills my soul with so much joy. 

Thank you for all your prayers and for all of your love.  Even though you're far away, I couldn't do this work without you.  I love you all so much!  I miss you everyday!  I hope you all have a wonderful week full of love, laughter, and sunshine. 

MAHAL KO PO KAYONG LAHAT. 

xo Sister Allen

Working hard in the heat = ugly tan lines. hahaha!

The little boys from last week playing in the rain.

Sister Escalante, Bro. Roland, and I riding on a kluging standing up!  

It was full of chairs, and there was only room enough to stand.  Whoohoo!

This is how the farmers prepare their rice fields for planting.  

They plow it all out, fill it with water, and then plant the rice. 

The palengke! It's like a big market.  This picture is just part of it.  They sell practically everything!  It smells really bad, and it's really hot inside, but I love looking at all the things people are selling.

Working with the branch missionaries.

Another happy Sunday here in Burogs with my anak, Sister Escalante.