The Book of Mormon

Out here in the mission field we are given this wonderful book, evidence of Joseph Smith's calling, something anyone can hold in their hand, read, and ponder about. I know the Book of Mormon to be true scripture from God! I, along with millions of others around the world, have had that witness of its truth from the Holy Ghost. The Book of Mormon has that power to convert any mind and to strengthen any testimony. Its is one of the only books worth re-reading in the world! There is no way to have a shattered testimony while reading it daily. If there is one thing I have found in common with the people that go inactive at church is they stop reading it! For it would be impossible to leave the church with reading it! It is the strongest tool in the Lord's work! And I promise anyone who is reading this that if they have a desire to come closer to Christ and read this book they will come to know that He is their Savior. That they will grow a greater love and they will know that he has restored his church again on the earth through a prophet today!
This week I finished my reading of the Book of Mormon. It was amazing with over 7,000 references to Christ, its easy to call it "Another Testament of Jesus Christ"! This week has been really fun, we did get two new investigators last week and yesterday we gained two more on the way back from Kitchner, where we had an amazing Zone Conference. OK, so last week we went to a little town south of where we live to drop by a less active member who we wanted to visit, only to find he wasn't home and actually moved out a month ago. So we started walking the area, looking for people to teach. When we cam across a man working on his Cadillac, named Troy. We got to talking to Troy and he didn't seem too interested. Then we asked if he has ever had the chance to read the Book of Mormon, he jumped off his car stool and brushed his clothes and hands off and started heading to the door. He told us to follow him and teach him about it! Elder Bishop and I looked at each other, smiled, and went inside. We talked to him and his wife Janice about the wonderful message Latter-Day Saint Missionaries share, which is that God has called a prophet for us today, just as in the times of old. That the church Jesus Christ himself has formed many years ago has been restored. With it also that proper priesthood power that even Jesus sought for. It is why Jesus had to be baptized by John the Baptist! Anyways, they listened and Troy was almost jumping for joy because he says he has always had a problem with church and what we shared just made perfect sense and answered all his questions, it was music to my heart. After teaching them we went to a park to eat our sack lunches, great way to save money! Then while we were sitting there, 2 ten year-old kids with potty mouths came to play on the playground. One of them hollered, "Hey what are you doing?" I answered "eating an apple." He then asked if e could have one. So, looking at Elder Bishop, we both yelled sure! He ran over to claim his prize and then noticed our dazzling looks, inside out good looking suits, an our amazingly good ooking ties. He asked, who do you work for? I swallowed a bit of my apple and replied, "Jesus." He said, "Oh, do you believe in him?" Elder Bishop spoke up saying,"yup! Sure do, do you?" Then this bright young man started thinking said, "Well, I dunno, I never really thought about it before." Haha! This crazy kid! Elder Bishop while still eating, pulled out a pass along card and told the kid to go there and check out the website. That's my crazy story for the week.

We had Zone Conference yesterday, with about 24 missionaries in our zone, we met down in Kitchner and disussed the Book of Mormon. Ugh! Such a powerhouse meeting! I didn't want to leave, but we closed with our testimonies and took off. Then, on the way up we had Owen Sound's missionaries in our car and we wanted to do a drop by on a referral we got on Sunday. We dropped the Owen Sound missionaries off in a little farm town called Moorsfield, then we drove to see Justin. He was playing out in the front yard with his two kids aged 2 and 4. We talked to him or a bit and then he invited us in. We taught them a WONDERFUL 1st lesson about the truth that has been restored here on Earth. We left him a copy of the Book of Mormon to read with a few sections highlighted for them. Its just so amazing out here. I love this work! I love my Savior Jesus Christ and all that he has done for me. I know it is through my Savior Jesus Christ that I will be able to return to my Father in Heaven on day. I know that as people read the Book of Mormon they too can come to know the truth of our message. Thank you for taking your time to catch up on the ultimate mission life of Elder Allen. next week I will have real pictures of me and maybe my living quarters! Haha! I love you all and I thank you for all the support!
Love,
Elder Derek Allen

Pictures!

STOP!!!
You can not cross until you have heard the message of the restoration.
I have prepared myself for this moment, and I will sick the spirit upon thee.

Elder Bishop
Check out my new companion.
Here is is copying down investigator contact info out of the area binder and into his weekly planner.

In case the SPIRIT wasn't enough, HERE'S YOUR SIGN...
This is the sign post in the town of Walkerton that points the way to truth..
Look how studly I am standing beside it...haha




(All words are out of the mouth of Douglas, the older brother, and are not intended to make Derek, Elder Allen, seem silly or irreverent.)

Happy Easter!

Oh wow, okay so this week has been a blast. Tuesday Elder Peck and I went down to Kitchner, and had breakfast at Kora's it was so good, I had an omlet wrapped in a crape. Then I swapped out companions. Elder Bishop is such a great guy. Holy smokes, so its a blast out in finding. We don't let anyone go bye, It's just so much fun when you forget about how awkward it is to run across the street and talk to someone, but rather the thought is, can I sleep knowing I let them go bye. So I have had some nice contacting. My favorite was we were stopped at a red light and I noticed the car next to us had its windows down. So I roll mine down and hung out to see if there was a time we could come visit them to share the message of the restored gospel. However they were not interested, but hey, I didnt let them go by. Elder Bisop and I loved conference, on Sunday the Walkerton branch had a pot luck in between sessions. I made Cafe Rio Pork enchaladas which were a hit, I had two people ask for the recipe. I love cooking, its right up there with studying. There is an old lady who lives across the hall from us, that I make cookies for every preparation day. She loves them too! She is so funny, because I just throw whatever in them and hope they taste good. After they are done I taste them and if they are good, I give them to her. Ugh the only down side of this cooking is I am eating too much I have gained 5 pounds this week alone! Oh and we went to Port Elgin and met with an investigator there, who is a daughter of a less active and is 14. Its so amazing to see her mother's testimony coming back as she is helping her daughter. We also ran into a guy who ran to us. He was like I am a member and I haven't been in forever and I want to go back. Where do I start! I was just jumping for joy! He is such a great guy. He also came to priesthood session! Ugh it was such a great week. My journal however was a little shaky this week by that I mean I didn't write at all. See Elder Bishop and I just talk too much during planning that by the time we are done we have to go to bed. Elder Bishop is a great guy. He made fun of me the other day for a contact. I greeted a guy and he was like, "Sorry man I am an anarchist." so I said, "Okay, well I am dumb and new so I dont know what that is." He then told me they like to go around causing chaos and destruction, and I was thinking "WHAT!" so I replied,"okay so let me see if I understand, you just go around ruining peoples days and breaking stuff." He replied, "yeah, but i am still working on it." the only answer I could manage to get out was,"alright that's cool... I guess." Haha, I guess there is everything out there! Anyways I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Thank you for all of your prayers.
Elder Derek Allen

3 Months

Alright so this week was my 3 month mark on my mission and Elder Pecks 3 month mark left of his mission! So I made a cake, it only took an hour to make, and it turned out great. It was a great week. We had a lot of Bombed appointments, but we did go to Kings Buffet with the Owen Sound Missionaries, Elder Norton and Elder Newkirk, following our District meeting! It was a great District Meeting. We talked about Christ like attributes, and how everyone is really trying to grow closer to our Father in Heaven by being more like Christ! I also dug a grave this week for a great British couple who are in the branch here. They are so much fun, however this week on the anniversary they found out one of their amazing golden retrievers has cancer and need to be put down.... so Elder Peck and I went over and dug the grave for it! Wow talk about hard digging a grave for a just top notch dog, while its walking around you digging it! Ugh, I don't even want to think how hard it would have been for pioneers digging graves in snow for their own children! Anyways on the up side, We found the service project we have been looking for, it is because of this project I now want to stay in Walkerton for the rest of my mission! We met this man downtown just a proper man dressed in excellent clothes, button up shirt vest and overcoat, kinda old english style! Anyways as it turned out he was a friend of a Sister in the Branch. Who when we told her we talked to him jumped with joy! Anyways after contacting him we set up a day to help on his farm! The farm was a blast Elder Newkirk was traveling me that day, so we worked for three hours on the farm. Well when we got there we found out he wasn't there, way sad but we did the work anyways. We raked leaves and picked up rotten walnuts! It way fun. Well we showed up in our suits and ties and asked if there was a place for us to change into working clothes. His wife said yeah and pointed us in the right direction. We then are heading up the stairs in the house when we run into two girls who were taken back by two guys in suits and ties. We told them who we were and what we were doing. then throughout working one of them who is from Germany kept dropping by us and asking questions. Then after our work she gave us a tour of the Farm. First showing us her chickens and her Peacock, yeah she has a peacock in with the chickens, I tried to get a picture next to it but it ran off! But you can still see it in the picture. Then she took us to the cows who were getting milked! Way cool to watch, possible job for next time, ah I want to do it! Hahaha! Oh then she showed us where the baby calfs where and where all tyhe cows sleep. Then she introduced us to all the bulls! and then we met the pigs. One was a crazy beast who loves to get her nose scratched! Then she showed us where they make cheese and yogurt and milk. It was a fun place. We then talked to her and she agreed to hear the first lesson next time we were there, she was also surprised to find out I was the same age as her and doing this! Now the owner of the Farm is a music man, on the top floor of the Barn he as a concert hall. Where it host Symphony in the Barn. In the summer he directs a full orchestra and a choir who perform in there! What crazy! He also had a pump organ in his house! Ugh what a guy, I cant wait to talk to him again! Oh and another crazy thing happened. While tracted a bunch of lake houses, we had some naked guy answer the door and tell us he was busy and not intrested, ah what! I dont see anyone doing that, WHY?
Now this week was great I had wonderful studies on Prayer and Families. Its so crazy how much the gospel just makes sense. It fits so well. I am keeping a study journal, and love it, it helps me so much and is my best friend. Anyways got to go out of time Love you all,
Elder Allen

Diligence: 'The secret to Missionary work is WORK!" -President Ezra Taft Benson

Wow, its been a busy week of over 30 hours spent on foot tracting! However it has paid off, we stayed in Hanover for the week and had such blessings. Erica is doing good, she came to church on Sunday however is still smoking and not wanting to set a date again yet! We had a great lesson with Gary this week, Yeah we dropped him because we didn't think he was sincere, but then we get a surprise phone call from him as what is this in Nephi about the tree of life. He want us to some over to explain it! So we do and in talking with him we found he is really not active in church because he hears about this testimony of the Holy Ghost that he really has never felt, but he believes in God because it makes more sense to him, but he wants to feel this power of the Holy Ghost and that is what he is looking for! So we have another appointment with him and are doing just what our purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ! We taught a less active's daughter at the branch presidents home this week her name is Sally and is 13, She is not a member but took on the commitment of reading the Book of Mormon. We also picked up a new investigator named Brian who is a great guy, not really sure how much he is there, he is a heavy smoker! Like holy smokes walking into his apartment i think I picked up lung cancer, I walked right into a cancer cloud! Hopefully next time it will be all gone! We met with a much of members this week too, this branch is just so wonderful. It feels so much like a family, there is no contention within the active members (give there is some contention give to divorces) but over all everyone settles their differences and work together as a branch. They all love the missionaries and are eager to help us! Spring is hinting out and everyone is just so happy! Ok so there is one family called the Kebicks my favorite, I know I am not suppose to have those, but they are the greatest! Brother Kebick is just a scholar in the scriptures and his wife is the kindest lady ever! The fed us last night and feed us about once a month. Sister Kebick is such a great cook, when going over there we know we will have a great salad and a wonderful dish that is just amazing to the taste that I have never had before! They have two kids who are just the best kids ever, always on their best behavior yet real. I mean I have met people who just have computer perfect kids, and then there are kids that are off the wall. In this home the kids know there is a time and a place for everything and the kids are best friends! Ah I love their home, it is such a blessing to go into a clean home, the spirit is just so strong there! I am doing great, I am way sore and tired we had a great week and I am ready to work my hardest this week I am hoping to keep the diligence but just more lessons, I love teaching, I love setting the bar high and making myself work harder, after all this isnt my time its the Lord's time. I work to make myself better everyday and really that's all I can do. Its so much fun being a missionary and I love doing it. Really I believe I am made for being a missionary, Its something that fits what I love to do so much, talking too at least 80 people a day, getting to know them and teach people about something that is so important to me and them! I see myself growing threw helping others grow, its almost as I am there to teach them so they can teach me. It makes me wonder if they were prepared for me to teach or were they prepared to teach me something. There comes Investigators who just aren't ready to commit or aren't ready to come unto Christ just yet, then I wonder why did I meet them then if they were not ready at the time, yeah sometimes there is a need of planting seeds, but I learned there are so many lessons learned from the people we meet everyday! In my study this week I was reading in Mosiah and I cam across a scripture that jumped out to me, well because it was what I learned in my daily efforts. It was in Alma chapter 1 verse 26 when it talks about the teacher being no better then the learner! We are all called here to do a work that was set for us to do, and we are all working for the same thing! ok no pictures of me this week because I wanted pictures of these horses outside my apartment and the cool buggies they race with here, and then I was out of room in my camera!

Hope you enjoy them! I love you all and hope all is well for you!

Elder Derek A. Allen

News from Elder Allen

Well Hey everyone.

So procrastination is a horrible thing. You skip one week of writing or even one day and its so hard to get back on track! Well, starting with the week I missed. It was a great week. We came across two wonderful people who were interested in meeting with us. One I grew very fond of, she was a mother of two kids and was struggling with some horrible habits! Yet it was just a few days later she got anti-ed by her family and didn't want to meet with us! Ugh, she felt the spirit so stong too... its just really hard to see people fall away! Erica wasn't baptized she slipped and now is back to smoking... she really has lost that sparkle, but is still holding on! We also had a wonderful power houser Zone Conference! It was on the Book of Mormon, What a great tool given to us in the world today! It truly has such powers that nothing else can take! I love being out here and bringing people the chance to hear about this! President Middleton then gave all of the missionaries a challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 6 weeks, and to mark every reference to Jesus Christ, I am not even finished with 2 Nephi and I have over a thousand! What a wonderful record of Jesus Christ!

This week has been great, spring is in the air, we don't have to wear heavy coats during the day! The sun has been just shining away. People are loving to talk I am feeling closer to the people! I love it out here, and can't wait for all the trees to turn green and the green grass to reappear. Ok so saturday Elder Peck and I were out tracting and we were called into a home, Its amazing how when people want to talk they will let you right in! Well anyways it was an elderly couple and the husband was just so interested in our religion. We started with the first lesson and then the wife got up, I thought she didn't want to hear any more, however she soon returned with blueberry bread with a lemon sugar glaze on top, and two glasses of milk for us! Wow perfect investigators, Elder peck injoyed this because he was on a sugar diet this week! Anyways the lesson then took a turn when she asked what our belief of what happens after we die! We didn't even get to Joseph Smith! We then talked to them about life after death, they liked it! Haha, by this I was just taken back by these people, but another curve ball comes when we start to read from the Book of Mormon and He goes to the other room to get his triple combo so he can follow along! What is this I am thinking these people have to be members, but no they are actually 7th day! Anyways they took our commitment and we have a follow up appointment this week! We then met with Erica and talked about the Prophet and the 12 apostles! Then she tolds us she was coming to stake confrence with the Staff family on Sunday! However Sunday came and no Erica, she had a stomach ache! Ugh whatever, really I am sick and tired of her excuses, but we do have agency! Stake confrence was wonderful, Elder l. Whitney Clayton came to talk with his wife, the whole meeting was just great. I came out with the realization of how important scriptures are in teaching.

Ok so this week I started something new a study Journal, wow what a blessing they are, they help increase the study by so much. I love my study journal, and you know it is such a blessing not only for me but for my future generations, so they can read and know that I did have a love for the word of God, and they can know how I felt about my favorite scriptures! I am not reading any talks lately because of the Book of Mormon challenge, and oh how great that is, I encourage anyone who is reading this to go get a new paperback copy and read through it marking every reference in the Book of Mormon to Christ! Not only will you love of the Book grow but your testimony of Jesus Christ our Savior will too!

Ok pictures: Sunset, this is over frozen Lake Huron just an amazing view and wanted to share the beauty of Canada with everyone!
Ok here is the picture of my missing eyebrow, yeah way to go Elder Allen, leave it to me to shave half my eyebrow off! Sister Middleton had a good laugh about it, hopefully you will too!
Ok this is my favorite dish I make it for Lunch and Dinner every day! They are called progies, not even sure if I spelled that right!
Ok last one is me on our back porch, look at the wonderful snowy Canada! Sorry not a lot of pictures but my camera wont hold anymore!

Anyways I love you all, and thank you for all your support hopefully you have fun looking at my week and I didn't bore you too much,

Elder Allen

I love Walkerton!

hAha! Its been such a great week! I am loving it here in Walkerton! Its a huge area and full of adventures! I found my new favorite shop in a little town called Mildmay. It is called the Cheese Haus! I have grown a love of cheese lately and really don't know where it came from, its getting to the point where I think it might be an addiction! I gave a talk in sacrament meeting this week! Wow now that was something, so I wrote this talk but when the time came for me to give it I started out in a different way and gave a completely different talk! I gave the talk on the importance of member missionary work! Us missionaries are not suppose to be finders anymore but to be teachers and the members are to be the finders! The prophets and apostles having been calling to the members of the church to be better missionaries in the everyday life for 51 years now! It started with David O. Mckay! Anyways, It was amazing because I don't think I could have ever written a talk like that! It is such a blessing to have this spirit guiding me in action and in words! I love being a missionary! I know this work I am doing to be the most important thing for me to do!
Erica is doing great, by my next letter she will have been baptized! She gets baptized this Sunday! Its so exciting to see her change! She has become very active in the activities committee in the Branch! We have found many more people to teach! We have a long list of potential investigators! We also had a very special moment happen this week! There is a Lady know through out the mission as a tough one to crack! She is very hard to get to work with the missionaries! She puts on this nativity thing at our building that is open to the public and is world known! With thousands of people coming to see it. Idk google Walkerton Nativity! You will prob find it! Anyways during this Nativity she keeps missionaries away because she doesn't want it to be a finding tool for us! However this week she opened up to us! She told us of how she brought some of her friends to the missionaries years back and how they shattered her trust! She then went to say that, every time she hears me sing its like an angel singing and that Elder Peck and I carry such a sweet spirit with us! And that she has some friends she wants us to meet and possibly teach! I almost broke down in tears at this moment! I know personally I have been working so hard to get to the heart of this lady all last transfer and oh what a blessing it is to have been worthy of her trust! We have a fun relationship she plays the organ and I direct for Sacrament meeting so we communicate on the music very often! She is an older lady who I just found out went on a mission herself. So now with the trust of the branch I know there will be more miracles heading towards this branch and just hope I am lucky enough to witness it!
This week was rough though we did spend 26 hours tracting this week! We did find some people to add in our teaching pool! Thanks for all the support, I love you all!
Elder Allen