Elder Garret Allen-- December 10, 201

Well transfers have come and gone. Elder B. has now left and i will be
> with a elder from panama...you know where they built that canal haha.
> his name is elder A. he seems preety cool. we will see how it
> goes.Anyways it was sad to say goodbye. More for the fact that i am
> now senor
> comp and have to do all of that stuff....Yea...I am not to excited for
> that. Honestly I have no idea what to do from this area haha. I guess I
> just work hard and have hope that it is all going to work out. It should be
> a new adventure and a lot of stories. We will see how it all works out. So
> it looks like santa was right. I will be staying in good old tucuman the
> same ward as floresta. It should be good. it is a hard area but you just
> got to go forward. there isn´t a whole lot for you to do.
> I just need to go and look for what the lord wants because he knows.
> like you sad to weeks ago, we need to humble ourselves before him and
> he will make are weakness strong. He calls who he calls and he knows
> who he wants. he doesn´t make any mistakes, right?
> Anyways the end of this transfer was pretty slow. It was good to
> finish it off and move forward. I am actually glad that I was comps
> with Elder B...really it was a learning experience. I probably
> wont be forgetting him anytime soon. This week I dont have a lot of
> great story. Most of this week I spent traveling...There was an elder
> that had to go salta like three times and I was called to go with him
> and to make sure he wasnt a lone...maybe the dl should have done it
> but he asked me to and that type of thing doesnt bugg me. you need to
> help and elder out haha. So it was a lot of being in other areas and
> riding on buses. It was great. Besides that this week was pretty
> normal. We had a zone training and also this dec 14th is the christmas
> thing with president. We will be putting all of the zones of tucuman
> together. It should be interesting. we will see how that goes. I will
> keep you posted. besides that everything is just rolling right a long.
> I am 11 days from my one year mark. They say after that everything
> just go´s shooting down hill. we will see if it is true. Hopefully it
> doesnt go by to fast right haha. Anyways thanks a lot for all of your
> great counsel and help in the mission!!! You rock.
> So about the whole friends thing...it is cool. I understand you arent
> in a lot of contact with those people. I just need to write them some
> letters and see what is up haha It is weird...everyone is starting to
> come home now...It is totally going to be like a line of people just
> falling in...Justen comes home soon and caleb to...It is going to go
> by really fast. Only one year left to learn the most that i can and to
> become the best that I can...We will see if i can make it haha.
> SO how are things at home at this christmas time? Christmas here is
> going to be interesting...Mostly it is just a huge party...we get to
> call you the 24 of this month and we can use skype...I just need to
> find a place that has a camera...We will see if that happens haha.
> Anyways besides that everything is chill. The people here put up like
> 2 and a half foot trees and call it good. The cool thing is that night
> they light fireworks off so it might be like the 4th of july back
> home. we will see haha. anyways. everything is good here in
> argentina...I am dying of heat and that is about it. We will see how
> it goes with this guy from panama. i have hope that it will go
> well...it is always interesting when you have your new comp. you necer
> know what you are going to get. i guess that we will see. Anyways, i
> love you guys and miss you. I hope that everything is going well. I
> will be seeing you next year. I cant wait to hear from you and to call
> you. I will try to see if I can skype but it will be hard to find a
> place to do it. Anyways that is all for this week. Take care and enjoy
> the cold while you have it...I so miss the cold haha. LOVES!!!!
>
> Elder Allen
>
> Ps. this week I am going to be studying forgiveness and the importance
> of the book of mormon. Let me know what you are up to. Read pray and
> go to church. haha love you

Elder Garrett Allen-- December 3, 2012

> Hey flia,
> Well another week has come and gone in the mission. At the need of
> this week we will see what happens. It will be interesting to see how
> everything works out and to see who is going where. Mostly likely
> nothing will change and it will all be the same. I guess we will have
> to see.
>
> This week has just been a slow one. everything is just pretty much
> slow. I need to find a way to get things going again and get it all
> picked up. Basically I am in need of some serious revelation from up
> stairs. The most exciting part of the week was with Elder Viñas. He
> gave a great talk. He pretty much just made us feel good about the
> work. We talked about a lot with repentence and with the atonement.
> Basically he said that every missionary is a good missionary(yes even
> the missionaries that mess up) and that we are all trying in the same
> cause. Now we can do better haha. It was crazy...I was busting of
> scriptures left and right just out of no where. It was pretty
> impressive. He explain simple doctrine in a deep way. That is the best
> way to do it in my opinion haha. It was just great. I got to see a lot
> of my friends from the mission again and catch up a little. Elder
> Gallardo had a surprise for me.. He had his family send me a soccer
> jersey from the team where he lives. There is a photo attached to just
> email of that. It was Awesome! He is a great guy. From there it was a
> pretty normal week. We are doing a lot of walking because the people
> are never home when they say they will be. It gets annoying at times
> because I know that they wont be there but my comp is obsessed with
> the whole "they told us to come" so we end up going past the house
> like 3 times just to make him happy. It is a lot of walking back and
> forth from place to place. It is a great way to devolop patience I
> guess haha. But really I dont mind it. We can do it if it makes him
> happy. Plus it is fun to see him get pissed about them not being
> there...He calls them 3 times and everything. I dont know...for me it
> is whatever... I cant force them to listen to me. I can only try. And
> if i have to walk and knock the same door over and over again to save
> a soul then I will do it. It is worth it to me.
> from there everything was pretty chill. My comp and I are still
> there...I think that I might have made it through to him but we will
> see. He is a good guy. Just not some one that I could live with for 24
> hours a day and seven days a week but sadly for right now I have
> to...Whatever. He is great. I hope the best for him and everything. We
> will see if he leaves at the need of this week.
> So this pday we did a lot of cleaning. Cleaning here is
> interesting...It is nothing like it is back home. To clean the floors
> we basically pour bleach everywhere and throw buckets of water around.
> From there you us a things to push all of the water outside. It is
> like cleaning the windows of a car at a gas station but with the
> floor. Maybe it isn´t the best or easiest way but it kinda works
> right? haha. Cleaning here is just a battle. Anyways from there some
> other elders came over to the pentation and we ate together. We did
> this mostly because the transfer will be ending this week. It is like
> the last time to see everyone before they leave. So It should be good.
> Anyways, that is about all for this week. I have been studying dandc
> and the second coming. We are getting a lot of questions about that so
> I guess I have to study it. Mostly it is just making my brain hurt.
> Haha I think I just need to find the spirit of prophesy and then I
> will understand it. Like Mcconkie says, We need to look 5 minutes into
> heaven to learn more then all of the things that have been written in
> this world. Anways I am safe and doing good. I just need to find a way
> to beat the heat here. I think I am going to buy a hat haha. Anyways I
> hope that everything is going well. I would still like an update on
> Josh. I heard that justin got out of the hospital and everything is
> good there. It is crazy to think that he gets home in ten days....it
> goes by pretty fast. If you see him tell him Hi and that I love him.
> It would be nice to hear from him haha. Anyways For now I have To go.
> If there is anything that you need just let me know. I will try to
> help. Only one more year to go and then I will be seeing you again!!!
> Until next week.
>
> Your Son, Elder Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- November 18, 2012

Well another amazing letter has been sent from my amazing mother. take you very much for that amazing insist into marriage. Seriously on of the best parts about this whole mission thing is knowing that every monday I am able to go and read an amazing letter from a women that i respect and love so much. Really mom you are the best and thank you for everything that you did for me and that you are still doing. It meand so much and I am eternally gratefully. I LOVE YOU!!!

So the first thing is about the whole empty house thing...so I think it is time to let you into my plan...well better said me and brandons plans. So we are thinking about moving into your home and living there for a while to finish school and get are lives started again. So if that is cool with you that would be sweet haha. It is just and idea but it will probably happen. So we could just live in the basement. Obviously i will be but it would be sweet with brandon too haha. Also we would help around the house so you would have to extra hands haha so that is in the works maybe it will work out and that way you wont be so lonely haha. We could put all of the box out of the way and basically just rock it up hah. so yea. that would be the plan...if we had to we could play rent haha so yep. Anyways just think about it. I dont want to sound trunky haha but it is just some plan that popped into my mind when you talked about be lonely. Anyways, so if brandon gets home before me you should let him live in my room until we get home and he can be like your son for 6 months bahahaha.

So about the whole coming to argentina thing....So if that is super exspensive then i dont know but it would be pretty dang interesting to have you guys come here and to show you everything...I am not sure how it all works if the parents come to pick you up so we woulf have to figure all of that out some how but yea. It would be pretty cool. It would be really cool if some how we could get to chubut to go the elder gallardos house but that would be hard to do. It is on the otherside of the country. so we will see...honestly if it is alot of money you shouldn´t do it...honestly i will have absolutely nothing in the area of money when i got home so that will be my challenge but god has my back so i have faith. I will just have to work hard. I lot of people thinks life gets easier when the mission is over but i only see it getting harder haha.

Well now to tell you about the crazy week that i had haha. So it started out pretty normal and then it turned out everyone has a lot of problems and as a missionary there is a whole lot that i can do. When family doesn´t have food to eat so it is go talk to the bishop, the second problem was my husband beats me so we say go talk to the bishop. After that the week got crazy. We had to prepare for the baptism and get everything ready...the problem with that is that the founts here done drain by them selves they pump them out but luckly for us the pump is broken and they didn´t fix it so we and my comp got to get the water out by buckets!!! Heck yea!!! Another thing to remember!!! so basically i spent 3 hours getting the water out. It was crazy and we both ended up some what wet. The things that we do to get it all worked out and going well. Crazy. haha. After that the baptism went well. So after that day i was blessed to go see M. and N. get married friday. That is right. i got promission to go see there wedding!!! It was amazing.M. and N. are my good family that threw me the birthday party and everything. so those are the pictures. It was so good to see them again...it was like a taste of coming home and seeing my family and friends and just being in that again. It was a huge blessing an now i am so very greatful to be so close to my old area. The lord really is watching out for me. It is a nice feeling. also I gave Elder Gallardo his jersey there an he basically freaked out. He is super happy and thankful for it. He says thanks. There is also a photo of that :) He also says that he will send you a present mom from the south of argentina so some day you might end up with a random package from Chubut argentina haha. Thanks for sending it. It meant a lot to him. So after that adventure we had a pretty slow week. it was hard for me to get my head into the game for some reason but hopefully this week will be better.

So about where I am at. I leave in a house now. the houses here are all pushed together and all of that stuff. Basically where I am is city. There are very busy streets and a lot of people. The house i live in is pretty goo. We have ac so that is a total plus. The shower doesnt work and when it rains here are ceiling is full of holes so are front little room feels with water. It was interesting this week because we had a super strong storm that turned to power of for a while and dumped rain. The room basically became the great salt lake bahah. It was fun. there is a picture of that also. I dont know if you will be able to see it but it is there haha. There are still motos here but more people drive cars so that is different and the people are super different. It is only 15 minutes away but it is super different for some reason..it strange how it works out haha. As for beds we have bunkbeds so i am up off the floor. So everything is going well. It is weird to be in a house but it isnt to bad. The ac makes it all worth it haha..

So that is basically my week. I will be printing off your email for later to copy haha. There are some good things in there. It basically makes me happy. I am super glad to be in the work of the lord. The truth is that right now I am struggling but you just got to stay positive and look for the lords will and not yours. There is a great mormon message about a gardener with that by Christofferson. If Josh reads this I think that he should wash it. It helped me out this week. I am very thankful for all of those people that are helping and praying for my. I am so very greatful for all of you and for everything tht you do for me. Take care of yourselves and be safe. I love you all and the church is true!!!! look for the lords will in your life and all we work out. Try to be better everyday and find the things that you have to imporove. The lord will help you. That is the gift of the light of christ. Be strong in the faith and sure the scriptures. HAVE FAITH!!!!

I love you all and until next week. Paz Fuera.

Your beloved, Elder Allen

P.s. this transfer is over and i am still with elder bryner in the same spot so nothing has changed. I love you.

Elder Garrett Allen-- November 12, 2012

Well it was good to hear from you this week. Honestly this week was super slow and challenging. I dont know why but it just kinda kicked my butt. So it is always good to have a p-day and pull yourself back together and get it all working so you can go and try again this next week. Pray for me that it will be a good one haha.

This week did have a lot of good pionts. First is that one of are investagators will be getting baptized this week!!! Her name is A.  and she was stuck living with a guy because she didn´t have money to leave and live somewhere else and she didn´t want to take her daughter away from her dad. It was just a crazy situation and luck it all worked out. This past week we have been passing by her house but no one is ever there. About the fourth time that we passed her nieghboor came out and told us that she doesnt live there any more and we asked for her new addrees which she luckly had. So we basically busted down there and asked around until we figured out what house it is and found her. She invited us in and basically we took out the date with out a problem and she has all happy and we were happy and because a miricale happened. It was awesome. She is now living with her sister and everything is going to be sweet. So one more soul for God. Second is just a cool story. So when it rains here the streets just turn into rivers and lakes, It is just how it is here in Tucuman. Everytime it rains at least one street gets turned into a river. This tuesday it was raining pretty hard and we just finished a lessen and were heading home. We decided that we didnt want to walk because of the rain so we flagged down a taxi. The ride to the house was one to remember. As are crazy grunting taxi driver was speed through the streets puddle jumping. The lightining was striking around us. I saw it strike a pole for a good 10 seconds and everything and the ligthining was so close that there wasn´t a whole lot of difference between the flash and the thunder. Anyways we get close to are house and the streets around are house are always full of water. The driver just goes in like there isn´t any problem. The water is up to the doors by this point. There is a turn of up a head so i tell him to turn or do whatever to get out of it. He replys with a grunt and keeps a straight forward path into the deeper part...This whole time I am unblievable suprised that the car is still running seein how some water is straighting to lick into the doors. The engine flouding wasnt the really problem. The car started to loss traction. So yea, I pretty much thought that I would be getting out of the car and walk throught the knee deep water. but some who this guy rocks it and jumps the crub and puts two wheels on the side week so the tires have something to grip. So the driver side feels with water while the side i was on was up in the air. Some how we made it. He pretty much slammed the gas to get us out at the very end but we made it haha. It was the most crazy taxi ride of my life.. It was such a good experience haha.

Anyways that is about all that i really have for this week. I love and miss you and hope that everything is going well back on the other side. just so you know I am dying for some letters. Tell me brothers and sisters to step it up and help a brother out haha I would at least like a once very three month update. Jenie is pretty good at it and Mom to so good There!! I love all of you and we will see what this next week brings. Get me updated on all of the good stuff. Tell everyone that I say hey. Oh and do you guys still do the mom lunch and get together or has that kinda fallen apart..anyways that is about it. Stay good and pray for missionary chances and all of that. All the missionaries need your help and your prayers. give them a hand!!! I think I will be studying presonal revalation if you would like to join me haha. LOVES!!!!!

Elder Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- October 8, 2012

Dear Mom,

Obvilously the whole coming home at christmas is refering to the next year hahaha. Yea my comp is killing me but if I make it to one year there really isn´t a point in goin home haha. Anyways I am sorry about the whole computer going crazy. Dont worry about it to much. It is ok if everyone forgets about me haha. That is kinda how I feel right now. It is weird to be on the other side of the world...But all is good. All of my friends are busy and all of the rest are living life haha. Also about the pin, that is cool just let me know and the packages I still dont know. Yes I have packages...I just dont know who from or anything like that. They came to argentina but they are just staying in to offices until presdient comes to are zone. That wont happen until the 16th of this month so I wont be able to tell you until after that so yea....Anyways, I hope that they made it and thanks for doing that for gallardo! What did i cost you to do that???  I can get it to him because he is still super close to me. Anyways about packages, THere are things that all need to understand in sending packages. First, Whatever you send me they will charge me for here again. It is how it works here on forgien things for some reason. So if you put expensive things inside you need to hide them some how. Maybe but it in a box of so other cheep thing so they can´t see it and the close to box again in a secert way. I dont know how but you can be creative. Also it will take some time...it is really good about getting to argentina but once it gets into the mission hands that is when it gets tricky....the only get to tucuman when president comes or when the zls go to the offices...so you just need to wait...me to and I hate it. It basically is the same with letters...Now I dont want this to discourage anyone so please dont let it. Every letter and package is like heaven to me. Serious. I am so unbeilevable greatful for every single one! so That is that about packages. Just got to go with it and after the 16th I will let you know how it worked out It is kinda exspensive but that is that.... Anyways about what for christmas I reall have no Idea...I feel pretty good with everything....maybe so treats and stuff. I dont know...It is hard for me to say...I have got super chill to the life here so it just feels normal...i am not sure what I would want...I dont feel like I am missing anything less then american food and you cant really send that haha. um yep letter from everyone and pictures are always a plus. Mostly I just miss you guys and everything else is just there...That is one good thing about the mission....It sure has given me a greater appreation for my family...We will talk about you last comment by the way a little later in this letter. anyways a flash drive would be nice but that will cost a lot if you send it. So if you do that is one thing that you have to hide. Like 4 gbs or something. Also maybe so other stuff...honestly I will let you know haha. I have to think about this...that is a a hard one. but I will tell you next week.

So It has just be a interesting time. plus conference always makes me a little homesick...It makes me think of my old job haha. but conference was amazing...the voice of Holland is still ringing in my ears, "Do you love me?". Luckly I got to see 3 of the 4 sessiones in english so it was all of the more powerful. I dont think that any other conference has hit me as powerfully as this one. I loved it all.  I love the talk by ucthdorf was one of my favorites!!! It was all about making time for the things that are really important and not having regrets. That is something that I think that we could all us and take action in. conference week is one of the best in all of the mission. It is such a great time to learn and get feeled with the spirit and to feel good. It was great to hear all of the stories of emery. She sounds like a big ball of joy haha. It sounds like she likes to play. It is sad that she likes football and not soccer but what can you do haha. Also I like ucthdorf more also bahaha.

So the whole comp thing has chilled a little. I have resorted to messing with him a little to clean time. Maybe it isnt the best thing to do but oh well haha. It is the only way I can make it...I just have to laugh at all of the crazy parts haha.

Tucuman is going well. Are area is still really slow and I have now learned what the ward thinks of missionaries from the past because of my president. Appearently they had a bad experiene with some elders or something so that is now the new challenge. I am not going to let it affect me. I have a lot of hope for this haha. It use to be a zl area so it had to be good at some time right? I just got to stay nice and positive and that is about it. And thanks for all of the prayers. They are helping I think haha. It is faith turned into power for sure!

sorry about the whole empty nester thing....that has got to be super hard. but you can chose to endure it well. Plus with all of the free time you can do whatever the heck that you want bahaha. so enjoy it while it lasts! and you are totally celestial materail mam. Dont lose faith in that. YOu can do it and the lord wants you there by his side and I want you there. Dont worry about all of the mistakes or anything like that with the whole fam. It wasn´t like anyt of us were angels either. Honestly I have done some pretty stupid things and deserved a lot of the things that happened haha. I had the perfect and only mother for me and her name is Lafon Simpson Allen and I am proud to call her my mother! She is such a great example of strength and hard work to me. She has such power grace and love in her soul.  I love you love and I love the fact that you are my mom. I wouldnt change it for anything. Yes forgiveness is a big part of the family but you should already no that I have forgiven for ever ago and will until we become perfect and dont have to ask to be forgiven haha. we are perfect and that is that. Plus he that doesn´t forgive wont be forgiven so it is basically a commandment to forgive haha. Everyone just needs to stop looking for the fualts and everything that they think is wrong and just go forward with understanding and care but this is something that I have already addressed in this email so you should know that haha.

Anyways the mission is slow but good. You guys are all in my prayers and i am thinking about you a ton. Tell the moms to give my hellos to all of my friends and all of them that are all missions. I miss those guys a ton. Tell josh good luck on the mission for me and that to. I love you all and thanks for all of the support!!!!!

Elder Allen

P.S. Dyc 121(along with the talk from gordon b hinckley at byu)  y 122

Elder Garrett Allen--September 10, 2012

there fam,

Well there goes an other one. This week has been one to remember. It was nice to hear from you and to see that you are making a splash at work haha. Scott is basically a stud and knows what is up. I love that guy. He has got to teach me all of the stuff that he knows. He basically knows how to do everything in this world. Also I hope that work isn´t to crazy for you and that you aren´t going to die. It would be sweet to see you buff but still haha just take care of yourself. Also crazy how everything is changing and grow back home. I got pictures from Jennie and he is already huge. I can´t wait to meat my two new nieces either. That is going to be sweet even though they are far away haha. Also I will try to get a good word in with the big man up stairs about the job. And it is kinda crazy that StacyAnn has three huge boxes of shoes...Haha maybe she will have to begin to down size her collection haha. I love you guys and miss ya. It would be nice to be there with you but appearently the lord had other plans for me ;)

Anyways this week has a good one. This past Sunday we got to see the dedacation of the temple in buenos aires and Saturday was my birthday and the culture event of the temple.

So Miguel treated me great for my birthday haha. We had about a thousand empanadas and it was amazing. I also but to learn how to make them but it is super hard to fold them for me so I kinda failed at that haha. But what can you do. After that we had a cake that his wife made and it has awesome. It had soccer goals and everything. It was a great time. I really enjoyed it. There are photos that i will send you in another email. They also bought me a gift of smell good stuff. They are great. M. is one of my friends and hopefully we will be baptisming his wife soon. We just have to get them married and her to stop smoking. Little things. haha. So that was awesome. After that we got to go to the culture event of the temple in the stake center. It was awesome. We took one of are other investagotores. We got to see all of the tradiccional dances and all of that great stuff. It was awesome. It gave me a deeper love and apperication for argentina and the people here. It is a great place. I love it. The people here are crazy and it makes it all of the better. It was a really good day. A birthday that I will always remember that is for sure haha.

Then the next day we got to see the temple dedaction. It was sweet. The one and only dedaction that I think I will ever see in Spanish. It was interesting to hear eyring talk in english and then here the guy translate it live. My brain hurt a little with the two languages at the same time but it was awesome. There were three parts to it. The first one we forgot are temple recamendations but they let us pass haha. After that we had to go all the way back to find them. But be sides that it was an awesome experience. The temple is really the most important thing that the lord has blessed us with. I may very greatful to live in a bless where these blessing are so close and easy for us. It was also cool to see one of the twele speaking in spanish. Christofferson Knows spanish and he conducted the meetings. It was a awesome experience and the talks were amazing. It really taught me a lot more about the temple and how important it really is to do the work for those people that dont have it. We have to chance to go help the people that can´t help themselves but are waiting for us to do it. We have to help them out!! It was a great experience and yea...in spanish so yep. Eyring changed a lot for me with 3 simple words. He said, "This is Real". That is all. But the spirit hit me so strong from that... This really is real and we really are called and elected to be worth and live rightously to enter in to the temple. There we can keep doing are missionary service as we promessed to do when we entered into baptism. I love the quote that is in preach my gospel that says something along the lines of temple and missionary work are the same thing and that we should start to close the gap between these two things. Its so true. We can help those people that can´t help themselves. This is real. We are really in this to together and have the chance to recieve the great promise in D and C of joy that we can recieve by bring one soul or many souls unto christ. We are in a great and wonderous work.Also Eyring shared his experience about walking in the hall of the temple and feeling that the savior had walked in that same hall. How awesome is that? It really is the house of the lord and he dewells in it. We may not see him but this is really and we need to take away the veal and little and remember the knowledge that we had be for this life and the faith we had in Christ that he would save us.

Anyways those are to two big things that happened this week. I hope my stories match up with all of the crazy stuff happening back home and that you enjoy them. haha

Service is really important in this world. It is the "pure love of christ" and if we dont have charity we are basically nothing according the the scriptures. I am not sure about the whole not being able to bake thing though...I think that it is more of the thought and action that counts and less of what we actually give. Yea of course we have to use are own talents and all of that to and when we have to chance to us it we got try. Cause we cant bury them. Just do whatever you can and try your best that is all you can do right?

Anyways my time and such is gone but that is basically my week. I hope that everything is going great at home and I can´t wait to here from you next week. I am 21 and and still have not done anything haha. Man I am getting old. Anyways I cant wait to hear from you next week. I might be in another area cause this is the last week of the transfer. We will see what happes. It will be sad to leave but I already have 6 and a half months here so yea...ANyways I love you all and hope the past from you!! Take care!

Elder Garrett Allen-- August 27, 2012

Dear Fam,

YAYAYAYAYAYA!!!!! She made it haha. I am glad that she is married and her dance party rocked!!!! it sounds like a success. That is totally the type of wedding that I want to have but I am never getting married so lets be serious haha. I totally am not good enough for this whole marriage thing haha. Honestly marriage is something important and I now that. I have some talks by Bruce R monckie that are rocking. He seems to talk a lot about the good old temple marriage. I have learned a lot now about the importance of the temple now. One of my favorite quotes is from Bruce where he says that " one of the most important things is marrying the right person, at the right time, under the right authority!" He knows what is up. He gives a sweet talk about how to find a spouse and how you should go about the process of doing it. So yea that is what I study now haha. The bible has gotten boring in spanish haha. Maybe I will jump back to the book of mormon. Anyways enough with the rambling and lets jump into the letter for this week haha.

So yea, It is crazy to think that I have been gone only 8 months and I already have two new nieces and a brother-in-law to get to know. Hopefully my whole family isn´t all over the place by this time and I can actually do that. Family is super important and something that we need to treasure. That is one of the sucky things about be the youngest in the family. You get to watch everyone else go out and leave and you are the last one to do anything haha. Hopefully we can all get together sometime again after my mission. I think that a Disney land trip would be justified haha.

So this week has been a pretty good week. We had interviews with the President and that was an adventure. I still don´t really know what happened. He just said a lot of stuff and I got really lost about what he was talking about. It wasn´t because he was speaking another language it was more because he was jumping around a lot and say a lot of things that were out of context but besides that it was good haha. President is a stud. He may not be my favorite person but he was called by god to lead this mission and he knows more then I do so there is that. I just need to follow his counsel and trust in God. You know basically the things that I am not the best at haha. You know that I am stubborn as a mule haha. But yea it was good. Also this week I have been declared has Argentino from my comp. He has now decide that it is in my blood haha. I also am a little unsure what that means but what can you do haha. So a fun story for this week happened this sunday. My comp and I were at are baptism and I left my bag in the sacrament room and got things already. During this time the Bishops children got into my bag and stole coins from me. Like 2 or 3 peso. nothing to big. They can to me and were saying that they had my coins but I didn´t really understand because I was busy and had no idea what they were talking about. Later that night I opened up my bag to find that my coins were gone and that is when it all fit in. So the next day was Sunday and I talked to the Mom. I just wanted her to get a laugh from it and enjoy how her kinds robbed a white guy haha but she needed up taking it way seriously and called her kids over and we had little discussion right there haha. It was great. A Agnry women from argentina talking to her kids is awesome. Something that you just have to see to understand haha. It was had to be serious and not laugh when she was trying to teach her kids a lesson haha. I know that is probably awful but what can you do haha. 

So the mission is going great! I am glad that work is starting up again and that the kids are in school. I have no idea how Craig is going to do school, work and have a daughter but I know that he can do it haha. Good luck Bro haha! I give a big huge and a huge hello from good old Argentina. The work is moving forward. The rock has been cut out of the mountain and it is moving forward with an unstoppable force! I am still a live and kicking it haha. Also Happy birthday to StacyAnn and happy wedding day! You guys are in my heart and in my prayers. I love you all fam and friends! Take care of your self and until next week. Nos Vemos. Les quiero.

Elder Allen (aka, garrett)

LOVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.s. if you have sent me a package you got to tell me what is in it please haha. Also yea. take care!!!! Also there are photos. I dont know if you got the ones from last week. Tell me if you didn´t

Elder Garrett Allen--July 23, 2013

Well Well anyother week has gone on by and I now have a 7 months in th mission. Time is flying on by. It is a crazy feeling. I am almost done with this transfer. I am on week five. Only this week and the next to go. I think that I will be staying in La Banda for another transfer though but I guess we will see. Also If you are sending a package I want a shoe horn. That Would be sweet haha.

So This week was kinda a slow one. The lessons weren´t as good and the people weren´t home. Also this past tuesday all of La banda was taking a bath so they didn´t have time to talk to us...or atleast that was everyone excuse. So we didn´t get as many lessons as I was hoping for but there is always next week right? Right now I am just enjoying everything that is coming my way. So sometimes days are hard but that is the chance that I get to learn more. So YAY!!

I am really starting to love Argentina. Honestly at this point it just feels normal. Basically it is become my home. It is kinda a strange feeling. I can´t really explain it, it is just something that you have to see and feel. Being in a forgien country is diffently a learning experience. Something that can only really happen in the mission. Honestly right now the challenge is the language. Yes it is now just hitting me haha. I understand pretty much everything. That isn´t a problem. The problem is talking. I have an accent that I just can´t seem to drop. So for some people it is hard for them to understand me. Freaking changos haha. But it is ok I guess. I just have to keep trying and mov forward.

These past couple of weeks I have been studying a lot th bible and about faith. Basically they both rock. The bible has everything in it and faith is faith, so it is great. Faith is totally something that I could improve on. I like to be logically with stuff and hav straight forward answers. But I think God is training me to see different ways. It is kinda working haha. I read a lot about faith from a book by James Talmage. Basically he is a stud. He explain faith as so much more of just believing. Believing isn´t enough. Me got to have are works and have them be good works that shine the light of are savior into the lifes of others so that we can glorifly are heaven father. Just believing is doing exactly what The Followers of Satan do. For they believe in christ and even know him with a perfect knowledge. If you dont believe me go read when christ cast out "legend." Now you might ask why faith? Well because basically this whole mission is about faith. We have faith that be will except are message and keep going. we have faith that we wont die from the crazy food and water haha. We really do walk by faith and trust. 

Also love. Love is pretty important. We have to love each other and forgive each other. I think that is something that we miss sometimes. If we could all just be a little bit more loving and forgiving i think that world would be a whol different place. Yes love and forgiveness go together in my mind. You can´t love some one not forgive them. That is stupid and totally doesn´t make sense. We all just need to be a little bit more forgiving and caring. Really forgiving someone is not that hard. You just do it and move on haha. We all aren´t perfect and you are going to need forgiveness in you life to at sometime so how are you not to forgive??? That is my question for the week haha.

Side not the record for people on one moto here is now  5 or six. Argentina is really stepping it up. Oh and of course scott and drive the tracker. he will take care of it. I know that haha. Till him to jack it up and make it all sweet for me haha.

So it is true, I am changing a little bit. I can totally feel gods hand shaping me into what I need to be. Honestly I feel like I have a long ways to go until I am finished though. My testimony is growing,.So that is a plus right? I am still a Little afraid to lose myself in the work but I am already doing it haha. If I like it or not I am doing it. It is a good cause to be lost in. I am really enjoying it. It is like a endless bit of knowledge and goodness and I just can´t seem to get enough information. It is pretty great.

Anyways I have to go for this week! Take care and I love you! Try to have fun when I am gone but not to much. JEEZ, You´d think 2 babies and a wedding could of waited till after my mission haha.

Anyways take care and I look forward to next week! LOVES

Elder Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- July 2, 2012

Well first thing first is that I am getting your emails. So don´t worry about that. It is ok and everything is under control. Second is that I would like the email address of Momma whittle and josh if that is at all possible. Just tell them to email me or something. I hope everything with all of these babies work out...What is with everyone having babies now... You all need to calm down haha. Also I can´t wait to meet all of these new people in my family. 

Anyways into the week. Having a new company is always an interesting experience. This is my fourth companion now and the first week is always any adventure. The truth is that you never really now what you are going to get. This time I got a Latino that knows absolutly no english and that makes things pretty dang interesting. Lets just say that I have used the word "freaking" a lot this week. Lucky my companion understands that word haha. His name is Elder G. and he is a stud. I can talk to him just fine so that is a plus. My spanish isn´t perfect but he understands me. He is a great teacher also. He is a little intense but that is ok. Sometimes I think that we are attacking the investagotors with the truth and that is something that I am not use to at all. haha. I am very relaxed so I think that he can teach me a lot. It will be an adventure. I can wait to see what happens. I think that we will have some success and that is all that you can ask for. he is a good kid and a good help. I will learn from him. I am just going to remember to search for my joy and have a good time. That is all that you can do.

So that whole thing with Josh is crazy...I had no idea that any of that was happening....I wish I could be there to help but the lord has me in different places right now. I know though with out a doubt in my mind that the lord is guiding Josh and that there is a purpose in this. He should not lose faith but keep strong. This those not mean that he should go for a mission but rather he should go for an increase in trust in the lord and a willingness to except the plan that he has for him. This is one of my biggest problems...I want a reason for everything and to know why everything is happening and if I am in the right spot or doing the right thing and blah blah blah. But thanks to a very intelegent mother I have seen that sometimes we need to walk be faith. To trust the lord and to do his will. The famous words of Jesus Christ, "Thy will be done". The savior ask for the cup to be pasted from him. It wasn´t easy and he didn´t want to do it but he excepted the will of the father and drank of the cup. I believe that sometimes we all have to drink from this same cup. Now some would ask, "But how can a mission not be the will of the Lord. I would be doing his work?" To this I would look to the scriptures. For are thoughts are not his thoughts. He can not see the plan of the father fully at times. We have to deal with not knowing. At times we have to walk into the unknown. Right he isn´t doing a mission right now but i know with out a doubt in my mind that he can still do great things and I know that he is. He can still find his joy! We can all find are joy. Remember what Joseph B. Wirthlin said in his final talk, " Come what may, and love it." Try to find the blessng. I know Josh is strong and if he serves a mission or no I will not think different of him. He is a capo and basically rocks! I love him. I feel for him and am praying for him! If he has faith he can do all things but dont try to change the will of God.. That could come back to haunt you haha. 

Sorry about that...I got all crazy there..hope it isn´t a bad thing to say..I dont really know the situation...I dont hear anything about any of my friends haha. Anyways this week has been pretty dang good. Nothing to crazy has happened this week. I sorry..My comp is super intense when he teaches. It is crazy...He kinda has scared some of my converts away but that is ok.. I will just talk to them and get them to understand. He likes to kinda attack people with the truth and I like to just kinda get them to realize the truth. So that is interesting. But really all is good. Also today I got to go to central of tucuman. It was pretty dang good. I got to actually see amazing things and stuff. Basically it was a party. A good change of pace. I am always trying to be better and teaching in spanish is freaking hard....Like really hard haha. Talking is easy but teaching is hard. I will learn I guess. With tine all things come right?

I can´t believe all of the changes that are happening at home. I can´t wait to go see it all again... It will be crazy to see all of the new things and sights and people. I am going to be a stranger when I get home...That will be fun. I hope that you guys miss me haha.

I guess it is time to end this week. I love you all and miss you guys a ton. The mission is good it just feels like I have forever to go, Hopefully things will get better in that aspect. Honest I like it here. It is different and all. It is like an adventure everyday. Anyways take care and God Bless. The church is true and the lord has my back so aspect. Honest I like it here. It is different and all. It is like an adventure everyday. Anyways take care and God Bless. The church is true and the lord has my back so everything is good. I love you all and wish you the very best! Take care of yourself and all of that great stuff.

Elder Allen

P.s. The photos are of me and my comp with family zamorano. That is me Llama sweater. I hope you enjoy haha. Take care.

-

Elder Garrett Allen-- June 26, 2012

Well this week has been one for the books. I am still in Tucaman in the city of La Banda Del Rio Sali. My first companion in Argentina as on a bus for Salta for a small town outside of the capital. I hope for the best for that kid. He is a great man. At this every moment I am at the bus stops waiting for my new companion. He is from Argentina and doesn´t know english...That is going to be an adventure....We are going to see how that will all work out. I have faith that it will be fun and a new adventure. We will she how the wind blows.
So this week was mostly just watching elder gillis say goodbye to people and having some last lesson with people. We found a good number of news so that was a plus. Now if only they follow through. The mission is an interesting experience that is full of ups and downs. One week everything can be going great and the other week nothing can be working right. It is hard to get everything working out right at times. But for the most part life is good. I can´t really complain about to much. I mean we all just kinda ride the waves of life and try to do are best to get closer to are goals. That is basically all I am doing. It is hard at times to be in this different country with a different language and people and with all of those problems but in the end the world just keeps going and you do to. We do the best with what we are given and just try to keeping walking forward. It will be interesting to see how this next week goes. Hopefully I will be able to keep this area going and keep the lords work alive here.
That is basically all for this week sadly. Next week there will probably be more...WE will see what happens haha. I love you all and hope for the best for you guys take care!!!

Elder Garrett Allen-- June 18, 2012

Dear family

So I didn´t get a email from you this week but that is ok. I will just tell you what has been going on. Also if everyone could try to email me sunday and not monday because there is a 3 hour time difference and I might ne emaling at like 11 or 12 here and that means that I wont get any of your emails that day because you will all still be gettin up and all of that jazz so yea.

Anyways this week was a great week. I have learned some sweet piano and done some great work and baptized a family!!! So yea!!! the Family that we baptised is amazing. We have been working with them for a while and we love them so much. We have gone from all of the ups and downs with them and they are very special to me. I know that I will always have a place here in Argentina to stay if I want to haha. The mother basically adopted me and Elder Gillis in to the family. The love us and I love them. There are so many people that I have grown close to here in La Banda. It is crazy to see how fast you can grow a true love for a person when you are trying to help them grow closer to Christ. It is something pretty cool. So it was amazing to help this family get to where they are now. The only sad part is that the father still isn´t really listening to us...But with time that could change! All I know is that family Z. is a very special to me and that I hope that they will continue forward. Also this week we have been teaching a man that basically has a problem with everything but he has a desire to change so YAY!!! that is a good thing and i think that he will make it.

This week has been full of a bunch of ups and downs. I have had some crazy things happen and basically have been all of the place. We will be getting to more elders this week and that should be a blast...not....I is going to be pretty interesting. I will let you know how that goes haha. So that is so great stuff this week. From my comp getting attack almost by a huge dog to crying because of lost haha but the great thing is that there is always a up side. Always a chance to raise from the dust. the shack off the chains that bind us and to rise from the dust!!

Lately I have been thinking about chances....Because I am here to give people the chance to except the gospel...That hit me really strong this week when I ended up contacting a drunk guy on that street. He stopped us and tried to fight us and to argue. i tried to help him and get his address so we could talk to him while he is sober but it ended with him hitting me and cussing at me as i walked away...I got a strong impression in that moment that that was or could be his chance in this life to recieve the gospel or at least take a step closer to the Savior. Sadly he was under the influence of alcohol and missed it. It made me think of the power that satan has over us through distractions. He so easily guides us away by things that take away are "chances" to grow closer to christ. Something like alcohol or anyother distaction or sin puts a hold to are progression. I want to encourage everyone to look for the great "chances" that come from are Heavenly Father and to take advantage of those chances when they come. I think that we should all try to control and crazy parts of life and pay attention to the things that really matter. Are Family and are friends. The moments and time that we give to are Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The beautiful day or the feel of the wind on are face. Things that can give us peace in are times of need. For I know that peace is one of the greatest gifts the lord can give us. I hope that we can all look for those "chances" and enjoy the little things in life. I hope that all of you had a great fathers day also. Being a father is a blessing and a scared responsability to have. It is a truely special gift given to us from are heavenly father and it comes with great responsibilities. But with that there are countless blessings. I am so greatful for the father that I had in my life. For is love and support that I get to feel from him in this life and in the life after. I know that I can be with my father again. I know that I will see him again. I am so greatful for that knowledge that I have. I encourage all of you that still can talk to your fathers to share with them how much you care for them even if right now you feel like they don´t. If you are like me and have lost your father I encourage you to go to there grave and tell them all the same.For we know that the viel is thin and I know that they care hear you. If you have problems with your father try to fix them. Forgive him and yourself and move on. If you have never had a father forgive him anyways and be thankful for the amazing father figures you have had in your life. I have been blessing with many role models and I am very greatfful for them. I  love you all and wish the very best for you! Thank you for making me your son and teaching me by your examples! (My brothers,papa whittle, Shawn theblod, papa moore, papa furgeson, joe christensen, papa christenson, craig nybo, daniel handerson brother kent, Bishop Layton, Brother brimhall(A:K:A: mister service), and so much more. Sorry if your name isn´t here cause i ran out of time haha)I know that fathers love there childern. For God loves all of his Children. I am greatful that my Heavenly Father gave me the amazing "chance" to come to this earth and to learn and grow from my trials and joys. Thank you again for all of the amazing fathers out there!! My the lord bless and take care of you always! I love you all every much and hope that you can all slow down and pay attention to the beautiful things and the amazing chances from god in life! You are all in my thoughts and prayers! TE AMO!!!!

Elder Garrett Steven Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- May 14, 2012

Dear Family It was good to talk to you yesterday and to hear that everything is going well. You were right when you said that it was going to be a little weird after talking to you. Yesterday night was basically a big old drag. I don´t know why but basically me and my companion were just done and ready to just go relax, but you got to teach right? Anyways today is p-day so it is a perfect time to relax and to get back into the work. This week has been a really good week. I had some amazing experiences with two families that we are teaching. The first is a member who´s family is not members and he is very less active because he has to work basically every Sunday. The daughter in this family is investigating and is coming to church and seems to be interested. So we wanted to set a date with her to be baptized but I felt like we should talk to the Dad about it first. So we did and we got his promission and basically told us that the desicion is hers and that him and his wife were going to support him in whatever she chooses. So after getting that answer we had a lesson with her and commited her to baptism...It was a super amazing experience that I can´t really explain but I will try. The lesson was just with her and her dad. She look at us and said if my dad wants me to I will...He responsed to her and told her that the decision is hers and that she gets to choose but to know that the commit to baptism is serious and that she will have to go to church ever Sunday and follow the teachings of the church...Now i know that doesn´t sound amazing right now but he did it all in Vos. Vos is a way of speaking here and they only use it with people that are really close to them, such as family, loved ones, and really close friends. It is like tu form but ten times more personal. It changes the meaning of everything. I made to conversation so personal and amazing to here. I got to see a true love from a Dad to a daughter. Vos is a super interesting thing here...It is either the most insulting thing or the most special thing or just nothing...But in this moment it was amazing and just wow. I can´t really discribe it haha. Anyways the is the first experience. The second is with a family of 3 that we are teaching. They are basically the dream investigadors. They do everything that we ask them and they have tons of questions all of the time and they are studying and reading and everything. She knows that the Book of Mormon is true but they just won´t come to church. That is beside the point haha. Anyways we were in a lesson for the plan of happiness and we got to the end and see basically explained the 3 kingdoms to us with out us saying anything...It was crazy... She knew that she had to get baptized to get to the Celestial kingdom. It was cool to see her figure all of this out though studing and all of that get stuff. Anyways those are some spiritual moments So now to the fun moments. First thing is First. THE RATS ARE BACK. We caught another rat this week and had are landlord kill it with some poison that she has. So the battle of the rats and missionaries is back on! haha We will have to see if I get any more crawling on me haha. Anyways I will keep you posted on that. Also we have an Amazing crazy progressing investigator. She basically knows the whole Bible and Book of Mormon memorized and has an amazing understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. After she gets baptized she will probably go out to the mountains and will be raised up to heaven. Anyways she was part of a religion called pentecostals. So she is missed guided a little. Like this Sunday during the sacrament she was praying out loud while they were blessing the sacrament. So it was queit interesting. She is super crazy and always prays with the people that are praying. I guess it was part of her old religion and we just can´t get here to stop haha. It is great. Also she heard a talk on tithing during sacrament meeting and basically yelled at me and my companion that she wants to pay it right now and that we have to show her how to do it. Basically she is crazy and just goes of on everything. It is great. I love it hahah. So there is that. Maybe with time she will figure it all out haha. She has total faith in Jesus Christ and loves everything we tell her....Now only if we could understand her...She talks super fasy and in Bible language. Basically me and my companion are lost the whole time haha. Anyways that is Orasia. Welp that is pretty much it. Take care of yourselves and I love you all lots. The mission is going great and basically I just have to finish it up and work hard haha. Anyways take care and good luck with everything. I love you all!!! Elder Garrett Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- May 7, 2012

Ok first before i for get. I will be calling you for mothers day on the 13 of may at 12:30. So that is basically the only time that i can do it and i may be off like an hour for something cause of daylight savings stuff but I am about 90 percent sure that I am right. Also i will be calling you from a phone card that i will buy and i will have only like 45 to 50 minutes maybe more. SO that is that. I am looking forward to it. It should be fun...I wish that we could use skype. mayeb we can...send me skype information just incase and be on stand by with it hahah. Ok that is all So this week has been a pretty good one. I had some crazy experiences with members needing help and women brestfeeding while riding motos (maybe StacyAnn can do that on her knew Pink motorcycle) being part of bishop interviews and all sorts of great stuff.This week has been pretty crazy. The work is going good and we are find some really good family´s to teach and they are really getting it and start to figure out what they need to do. It is pretty sweet to be a part of it. So first I will probably be able to help build a church here for a new rama (Branch) that they want to start. So it is going to be sweet to be a part of that. I will be able to say that i built a church...How cool is that? Also I will be helping a guy tomorrow build a house by the river (AKA the bad part of town) so that is going to be sweet. I love all the crazy experiences that I get to have here. I still am having my challenages and my struggles but I am trying to take the great advice that everyones has given me and just go to work and stop complaining. You did say that I am not Lamen but that I am like Nephi and Sam. So that is what I am trying to remember haha. Anyways besides that it has been a week full of work. We have walked everywhere this week. Are area is one of the biggest in the mission and we have people that we need to visit all over so I read a lot of buses and walk a ton. But because are area is so big we might be getting to more Elders here and that would help haha. So the work is good and I miss you guys a lot and am sad that I have to miss all of these big events that are happening. Jeez...You think all of this could of happened before I left. Um...Probably not haha all these blessing are probably happening cause I am on a mission. So your welcome haha.(I´m kidding.) But tell StacyAnn that I am very happy for here and I will remember her in my prayers. I also I want a picture of the dress haha if that is at all possible. Tell Craig that he is going to be a good dad most because he has an amazing wife Bahaha. I wish them luck and I cant wait to meet both of my new Nieces when i return from my two years shindig. Tell John that it is his turn to get married now haha and when you see bryce an Jennie when they come give them a hug for me and tell them that I miss them. I love my family a ton and I have been very blessed to have you all in my life, It kinda makes me sad to think about how my whole family will be all over the states when i come home and i won´t really be able to see them...Sad...Oh well that is why God gave me technology Right? Also I will be back around christmas time...Hmmm I can´t think of a better time and reason to get the whole family together haha but that is a long ways off. Just know that I love you guys and miss you a ton. Good luck with everything! This week I have really learned the importants of family strength and church attendence. I have seen the horrible spirits that can be invited into homes by one simple person doing something wrong. I got to see the power of pray and faith in action and it was crazy. If anyone you know is doing something that they know they shouldn´t be doing please encourage them to fix it and to show Satan the door. I don´t want any of that stuff affecting my family or my friends. So GO TO CHURCH and be great haha. Anyways that is that. I will step off of my soapbox haha Take care of yourselfs. I am praying for you and hope you are all doing great. I can´t wait to here from you next week! Siempre con Amor Elder Garrett Steven Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- April 8, 2012

Dear Mom and Friends
It is pretty great here. Basically very day is a new adventure and a new experience so that is great. The people here are about half receptive and half hostly. So we always walk fast and say hello to everyone and are friends with the few people that have guns haha. That is kinda of a joke don´t worry to much. I have gone into some bad places but everyone here is a little afraid of me here for some reason. I think it is because i am a lot taller then all of them but who knows. All i know is that the members ask me if i am a fighter. So that is good, needless to say that my companion is greatful for the extra protection that I offer haha. Anyways the work here is actually pretty good. We had a baptism this week for a guy named Juan that we have been teaching and we have an other one set up for next week. The standard of excellence here is one baptism a week so basically the work is good. We teach a lot of people and we walk to a lot of places. It is a pretty good experience. I have been in some pretty interesting house and talk to some interesting people. The challenges here are completly different then what they were in New Mexico. Everyone here beliefs in Christ but the all have these different ideas about things and a lot of them don´t want to change what they think so it is. They always say yes to everything that we say but they don´t really want to act so it makes things interesting. We are working on that and trying to get them to see the difference between are church and other churches around here. So that is just one challenge, but it is all good. the work is still going forward and we are still teaching so I always have something to do.
So to answer your questions yes I do have a mattress but I sleep on this wood thing that kinda looks like a latter so it is like an inch off the ground. so it isn´t super awful but it isn´t super great haha i can feel all of the boards on my back so that is a lot of fun. Honestly it´s not bad. Are housing is actually pretty nice. (the time i didn´t have water i was in the DL´s house) We live in the next level of a house in a prett nice pention. We have one of the better pentions out of all of the Elders. The kicthen is super small and everything runs of gas but my pention has running hot water and basically is nice. It was super dirty at first but i talk my companion into cleaning it and know it isn´t to bad. It will never stay clean just cause it is impossilble with things here in Argentina. Nothing is ever really ¨`clean` but it is not to bad. So no are floors aren´t dirt just tile. So basically we always have water...Not always super clean water but we have water haha. We also have a shower so that is super nice. The only thing is that it has two temps. Super hot or cold. There is no middle ground haha. So some people can read and right. It is a little different here cause reading is easier i think. But there are some people that can´t so that makes introducing the Book of Mormon a little interesting. The people here aren´t super smart. They are great people but there is kinda something missing but the are good people. I also am in a area where there are a lot of drugs and drinking problems so that might have a affect. Elder G. has been out for 10 months on his mission. He is a good kid and all of that good stuff. Some things bug me but i think that is just part of life it is really no big deal. He works hard and really cares for the people. Now the rat is a problem haha. we think that it is still in are house but today me bought this big old crazy rat trap and hopefully we are going to get it tonight. It cost like 10 peso so it was worth it haha. It has sharp points and everything on it so hopefully it will work. The good news is that it hasn´t been on my chest again haha.
So i hope that answers some of your questions. It is alright here. I am working hard and trying to not think about how long two years is haha. so yea... I am just going to work cause that is basically all that There is to do. Honestly the mission life is good. Nothing is painfully hard and the rules aren´t crazy most of the time and basically it is good. Life is good. Life is really good. I am having some fun times and making memories haha
So here are just a few things that i can remember about this week. First we had a baptism and that was super nice. It is way to to see people want to change and start to be better. An other thing is my companion got hit by a moto! it wasn´t anything bad cause the people weren´t going super fast but i happened. The traffic here is crazy and crossing the road is a whole different adventure haha. Cars do not stop for anything. Also I got a picture with a Dog that looks like a pony. It is huge! it went to my hip and was huge haha. I got to see the streets turn into rivers and then walk in it so that was fun haha. When it rains here, it rains. Really that is all that i can think of. Sorry, I will try to be better next week.
Anyways I love you guys a lot and miss you all. I know now the importance of family and i am so very greatful for mine. I true can look back at my home as a place of love and safety and i can´t wait to be there again with you guys. I am starting to love the work and to get a hang of spanish. I wish that I could just know the language. Honestly the Language is the hardest part. I wish I know it and could actually talk to people. That will come with time though so that is fine. I love you guys and wish all of my family and friends alot and pray for you every night. I wish the best for you!!! LOVE YOU ALL
Con Amor
Elder Allen

Elder Garrrett Allen-- February 22, 2012

Also please tell momma whittle thank you for the package that she sent and for all of that great stuff. It was good to get and to here from her. Also if you could tell her that she should forward all of the emails of my friends. I would really love that and it would be really good for me. So if you would please do that i would be very greatful. Thanks mom. love ya
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Well I'm here in new mexico and i am not sure how i feel about it. Honestly it isn't super great but that is ok i guess.... The worst part is that I am a english speaking missionary and never do anything in spanish so basically I'm losing all of my spanish. I guess that i just need to work harder at it. I hope that i will be leaving here very soon. Anyways we left the mtc at 3 am and got on a plane to denver. Then from denver we went on a super small plane to durango. There i meet the APs and the mission president (president jones.) we had breakfast at his house(which was 50 mins away) and met four elders that were going to be are companions. There we did interviews and stuff like that and got to know each other a little better. Then we went to get companions. There was one elder that i didn't want to have and of course that is the elder that i got. This mission of mine seems to be working that way for me so far. Getting the things that i don't really want but this mission is not about me it is about the lord. Anyways from there i had to go to the apartment which is gross like no mans busimess but it will be fun. There are 4 elders living there so that should be good. Then we did weekly planning and that was my first day. After that we went to bed. So that next day we went tracking and i had my first door in spanish!! they werent interested though so that wasn't to great haha. but we taught so lesson and that was about all. Then on sunday I met a lot of people in the ward and guess what? Josh is in my ward so i saw him and we talked for a little bit so that was cool. later that night we went and checked out some different stuff and went with a member to 4 houses and taught some lessons there. So that was pretty good. Then it was p day which is on monday and after that it is today. so yea that is my mission so far nothing to great....
Anyways...here are some of the challenages that i am having...My companion is kinda not in to it and it really feels like he has no idea what he is going and what to teach me. Basically it just sucks there. So yea, but i am trying to be a good jr. companion and to just follow his lead. also he is THE loudest and most annoying chew i have ever met in my whole life so i will just let you guess how that is working out for me. Also he basically has ever medical problem you can think of and takes so crazy drugs. So yea, this is my adventure i have to do. Basically I am just trusting in the lord and trying to stay positive. It would be nice to hear from my brothers and sisters but they don't email and i have seem to lost the paper i had with all of there emails. Basically i am feeling like i am in the wrong place and am very discouraged. But i just need to work hard and do my best, This is my mission and i really don't want to waste it but a huge part of me wishes that i wasn't in new mexico and that i could be some where like argentina and that i could just be comfortable but again this mission is not about me and i need to do what the lord wants and just try to have faith. I know that the lord has my back here. Anyways the work here is kinda slow it seems like. A lot of it is reactivating navajos. We are right by the reservation so there are a lot of them and they will be baptized just not active. So yea....But people dont really want to talk and i have no idea how to get into the door. So that kinda sucks but hey just keep trying. At least the members here feed us a lot and that is pretty nice. pero i hope that i leave soon. Also i am sick right now with a cough that wont go away and basically i just don't feel great. So these are all things that are hard and i am really being tried. my spanish is already going away and that is not good and i have kinda been left here alone. so yea these are the things that are hard and there is alot of stuff but it will probably be ok because you support me and the lord is with me and hopefully i will be in argentina soon. So we will see what is going to happen. anyways if you want to send me anything my address is 400 w apache, farmington New mexico 87401. so yep that is about it. I love you all and will talk to you next monday! miss you guys alots and hope to hear from you soon. Love elder allen

Elder Allen--January 27, 2012

Dear Family
Hola del CCM. I hope that everything is going goood for you and that you can all feel the lords hand in your life. The Mtc is still here so that probably means that i still am. It has been a very long time here, but then again it kinda feels like i was dropped of yesterday. you know what i mean? It is a very interesting feeling. I think that that will be how the whole mission will be. So how is the good old home? Is my room Distroyed yet i sure hope not haha. How are my Brothers and sisters doing? I haven't heard from they in a while haha. I hope that everything is ok at home and that things are working out. How is The Geo??? I hope that everything at home is ok. Now to leave home behind me and tell you about my mission. So Have like 4 "investigators" it is pretty cool. It is amazing how much i can tell them about the gospel in spanish. It probably wont be that way in argentina but i will learn haha. The feild is going to be so different then this place but i am so excited to get out therer and serive the lord and go love the people. I hope that I can get more Christ like atributes to better help the people out there that don't have that peace and happiness that i have because of the gospel. I pray that the people I am suppose to help will have there hearts open and ready to recieve the gospel of chriist. That 's really all i want, to help people find great peace and joy in there lifes. To know that there Savior lives and is always willing to help us if we will just come to him. That is something that I diffently have to work for my whole life. Becoming more like christ. I want to grow in faith and I want to grow in the gospel. I hope that I will be able to stand at the judgement seat with pride and look my judge in the eyes and say, " I did the best that i could do." He will say, "I know, I Will make up for the rest. Now come join me in my kingdom." I am so very greatful for the savior. I know that he lives and That he loves us all. If any who read this email are feeling alone and like there is no hope I Testify to you that there is! Christ can help everyone one of us! He wants to all we have to do is come to him. I love him so much. This church is True! Keep writing me! I love letters Bye
Elder Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- January 21, 2012

Hola del CCM!!! I hope that everything is going well at home. I loved your letters and the package it was amazing! I enjoy hearing from you. I already sent a letter to you so this email might be a little short cause a lot of it is in the letter.
Anyways so the Mtc is still here so that probably means that I still am. I is my half way point though!!! YAY haha. So yea it is pretty chill here. I am now the new zone leader so that is something new. It's not that big of a deal in the MTC you don't really do anything. You basically just go to meetings, greet the new missionaries and call the President nightly to tell him that everything is ok. It's really not that big of a deal but yea....I'm a zone leader.
So the language is coming. I can basically understand everything that is said but the speaking it is what kills me. I need to work on speaking it a lot more. I will probably will not know anything when i get to argentina but oh well. I am more focused on learning the gospel. So yea that is what I do. Basically i study and then eat then study then eat. That's about it, easy right? Except it's all in spanish haha. It is fine though, I am getting a great love for the language. It's really useful. All my notes are now half english and half spanish. Some things are just easier in spanish.
So the spirit here is amazing and I am loving a spiritual feist that i am having here. The holy ghost is totally helping me learn the thing that i need to learn. I just work hard and he just pushes all of it in to my head. I am very blessed and am very greatful for that. The lord has my back i know it.
I know this church is true! I know that god lives! HE is there and he hears everything single one of us! I KNOW that the book of mormon is the word of god! It is with out a doubt in my mind a true inspired book! I know that we can have eternal life! WE can be happy and live with are heavenly father again. I love this gospel and all of the blessings it brings to lives. This church is true and it is so personal to all of this. Always seek help from your God. He is there and will help you. You are all such a great example to me. Go find you peace and happiness! I know that you can have that if you ask of the lord. It's in Romans if you want to check me haha. I say this things en el nombre de jesucristo amen

Elder Allen

Elder Garrett Allen-- December 29, 2011

So the MTC is an interesting place. All you really do is eat, learn, and sleep. It's a real change for me. I can't wait till i can get out to the feild and find real people that want/need to hear the gosbel. I cant wait to learn here and move on. So when they talk about the food being a killer the weren't kinding. I think that everyone here is going to need to replace there whole digestive system after this. It's crazy...
So I love the scriptures! They have everything that we need to find answer, peace, and comfort. I know that through prayer and Honest study that we can have answers and understand all things. That is such an amazing bless from are Lord. He loves us and wants all of his glory upon us. Lately one scripture has been standing out in my mind more then it ever has before. That scripture is James 1:5. It is the scripture that Jose Smith read and it has such great and amzing power. I know that god will answer all if we but ask with a true belief that we can get answers from him. If any of you feel lost or don't understand why something is happening in your life I challenge you to go to are Heavenly Father and ask him. For he unabraidth not. I promise that if you have a true heart and love for are Savior and his gospel WE WILL GET AN ANSWER. What an amazing blessing that is to us. I know that is true. I know that we may find peace in every trail and every hardship if we but turn are selfs to the lord, Help others in every chance we get and if we work hard to shine are light to glorify are heavenly father. It is so Amazing.
So if this emails are being sent out to other people I would like to thank you for all of the dear elders that i have gotten. They were amazing to get and they were such a great help to me and such a great thing to get right after the christmas season. I love you all and can't tell you how much i appreciate all of the support that i am getting. Well my time is up but i love and care for you all very much. May you find joy because that is why we are all her. I know that my father lives and that he cares for all of us.
Elder Allen
P.S. Always ask

Elder Garrett Allen

CONGRATULATIONS Garrett!!! Garret received his mission call last week and will be serving in the Argentina, Salta Mission. He leaves December 21, 2011. We are excited for you.