The MTC is a Powerhouse for the Spirit!

        Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!  Hey everyone!  It''s e-mail time at the MTC!  I''m excited to say hi to everyone again!

        First off, THANKS so much for the notes and everything for my birthday, I had one GREAT day!  Especially thanks to Mom for the cheesecake.  It was more delicious than ever!  Also, it was cool to get notes from people at basketball, glad they were cool enough to ask you for a key!  YAY basketball!  I''ve been balling it up myself here at the good ol' MTC!  We've had a good time, getting bruises, giving a few, you know!  My companion drains threes like a beast!  We also got to go to the fields for the first time the other day during gym time and played sand volleyball with most of our district, it was a BLAST!

       To Spencer, Happy Birthday on Wednesday, right?  Hope your day is fantastic!  I LOVE YOU!  Nathan says you get to go Home Teaching!

       To Sasha, I heard you were GORGEOUS in the pageant the other night, in YELLOW!  Can I see some pictures?  Please!?  Congrats, and you ARE gorgeous!

       To Laura and Sterling, I heard you saw SARAH!  What in the heebie-geebies!  NO FAIR! :) Hey but I love ya and congrats as well.

        Alright, more about my experiences... um... SO MUCH TO SAY! 

       Well!  Tuesday night devotional we had...drum roll please... Russel M. Nelson!  An apostle spoke to us!  It was exciting having everyone stand when he walked in.  I was tired during his talk, but afterwards we had a discussion on it and I was amazed at how much everyone around me learned from it in their own ways.  We shared what we had learned and I learned about 100% more from the people around me than I had just listening to the talk.  I guess I should have been paying a bit more attention.  These people here at the MTC amaze me every DAY!  There are so many strong testimonies and so many amazing stories.  Everyone's lives are so different!  On Sunday a girl bore her testimony and talked about her conversion story.  She moved from Mexico when she was smaller and her dad is the preacher to this new church he started.  She was always confused why he could be a preacher and then come home and beat his wife and children.  It sounded pretty crazy.  Then one night when she was partying (after her parents got divorced, and her dad moved to Mexico to start his church there - leaving his family) hard, she randomly met this Mormon boy who I guess started helping her come to know the truth.  The elders in that area had been really downhearted because they hadn't had much success.  They fasted and prayed and the very next day this girl came to church and started taking the discussions!  WOW!  The church is true, and it's so amazing!  I could see how much the gospel meant to her.  It is such a contrast from the world out there, and when you live in Provo and Rexburg... haha I just don't think I got to see that contrast as much!  But it's great to see it here!  To hear about the good news the gospel brings!

        I have been gaining a testimony of role playing.  Here at the MTC we do a lot of role playing, where you pretend to be an investegator and a companionship from your district gives you a lesson, or you teach a fake investegator.  Just the other day, I was teaching a Starszy (that means Elder in Polish) and I talked to him about the gospel, I was supposed to commit him to baptism.  He put up the come back that he felt happy already, happy where he was.  It took me a second to think about what my response would be because I've always been afraid of that, what would I say to someone who is just comfortable where they are!  Then a thought came into my head, and I'm telling you it wasn't ME who thought it.  It was the Spirit for sure, and it just said, 'think of a story you can tell him to illustrate that he can be happier, he just doesn't know it.' So I asked him to wait while I thought, then I related a story and explained that even though he may be comfortable and happy, he may not know that he COULD be happier!  This elder in my district started to tear up a bit and after the fact told me that I'd just said everything to him that he'd always wanted to say to his father but didn't know how!  I was amazed.  And I totally felt the Spirit!  I just know that if you can feel the spirit, if the Holy Ghost can teach you things while you are ROLE PLAYING in the MTC, how much more will he talk to you in the field!  I also learned the value of silence.  It's okay to be quiet for a minute before you speak!  You'll sound more profound that way, I think :)

        I saw Greta Ballif! (An 8th Ward Friend)  She's in the Finnish room right next door to me!  It's amazing that I get to see her face every day.  She's so amazing!  She's the oldest of nine, I think, and I feel like we have a few things in common, it'll be good to bounce ideas around with her and see her smiling face.

        It is Elder Peter Johnson's last full day in the MTC today!  I can't believe it!  He told me last week, I think, that he may not be able to go to New Zealand because of a new law passed there, and I'm praying that he'll still get to go!  Right now he's going to head to California instead of New Zealand and hopefully they'll still get to go there!  What an amazing kid.  I got to take a picture with him and his companion, Elder Taylor today.  They did their "sign" - right hand in the sign-language 'Y' - like hang loose, you know?   And I didn't know of a "sign" from Poland, but then my companion, Soistra Ostler reminded me that the Polish people stick their thumbs inside their fists as a sign of good luck - kinda like we cross our first and second fingers?  COOL!

        O.k. I have 8 minutes left... One funny story...

        On our way to the temple, we got like almost all the way there and realized that two of the three of us didn't have our recommends... Guess who had theirs?  ME!  Haha, usually I'm the forgetfull one, but I had my recommend.  Well, we ran all the way back to our residence to get the other sister's temple recommends and then turned right around and went back.  A lady at the temple said, ýou must be a missionary!  You just have that glow!  And when she wasn't looking I was all like, 'YES!' I've been waiting for so long for this!  I really am SO excited to be a missionary, almost every second!  Sometimes I just get giddy.  Sister Ostler is worse than me though, haha and makes me more giddy! 

        Well, folks, I want to leave you with a small testimony in Polish, we'll see what I can do alright?

 

       Wiem źe kościoł jest prawdziwy!  Wiem źe Jezus Chrystus jest Odkupicielem!  To świadectwo mi pomaga źyć radośnie!

    

       Thanks again for your prayers and I love you!  The church is true!  I'm having the time of my life!  And I learn so much each day!  If I think of something else to say, I'll have to write a letter tonight!

       Lots of love,

               Soistra Amber Allen

  

I'm A MISSIONARY... For REALS!

       MY BROTHER IS GOING ON A MISSION TO BRAZIL!!!!  Sweet, Congrats Gregg! 

        O.k. on to boring stuff from Soistra Allen:

        Well, hello everyone!  I can't believe that I'm here, I have to keep touching my name tag to make sure I'm not dreaming (and slapping myself to make sure I stay awake... I've been SUPER tired like 24/7 here, must be the Spirit) - and I LOVE IT.  I'm not sure what to tell you about first, or where to start, because there's SO much to say!  I'll start with my companions.

        Yes, I didn't typo - I have TWO companions! Soistra Howells and Soistra Ostler.  Soistra Howells' family lives here in Utah and yet she's lived ALL over the world - Netherlands, Hawaii, Texas, etc. for her dad's job.  She is really kind hearted and has a sister kind of like mine!  Hi RACHEL!  Soistra Ostler is from Utah as well, comes from a family of four kids, and both her parents own their own businesses.  She played soccer in college...yah!  We all seem to like to laugh, and have fun, so I've been laughing quite a bit (more than I thought I would be, for sure! haha :) yup) while I've been in the MTC.  Our district has 8 elders, and the three of us sisters.  All of us are learning Polish, two of the Elders are going to England, Polish speaking.  I LOVE our district already.  I feel like I already knew these people and I love them.  No offense, but they're my new family for right now!  I love that we can bouy each other up and have a good time and work hard!  That's what you should be doing at home too!  Treat eachother good, work hard, play hard, and SMILE LOTS!

         I will try to tell you more about our Elders as the time goes on, I'd really like to share with you about at least one person I've met each week and something that I've learned from them.  There's SO much to learn.  I wish all of you would meet someone new and learn from them, here there are opportunities EVERYWHERE to do so.  Along with meeting new people, I've seen some familiar faces as well.  I've seen Elder Peter Johnson!  Elder Phillip Thiabeau (spelling?)!  And a girl from my ward when I lived in Regency.  The first day I was here I also saw Brother Sullivan (- who later told me where Gregg was going on his mission!  I'm really spoiled here, and it's great...thanks everyone!) and Sister Nanette Lamb as well as Genie Lamb.  The girl who helped me with my bags the first day was named Amber as well!  And she was wearing Pink just like me!  And our cameras were both red.  She was awesome!  And so kind!  It seems like most people here are kind, though!

        O.k. I want to share some funny/embarrassing stories, and then some more spiritual ones!  Funny: Soistra Howells put whipping cream on her roll thinking it was butter (the butter here looks really fake and nasty - but the food is really actually alright.  Don't be worried).  An Elder at gym (I got to play BASKETBALL!  Twice already!  SO FUN!) asked me my name and I slipped and said 'Amber' - ooops!  It does actually feel weird to be called 'Amber' anymore, I don't feel like an Amber... just a Soistra Allen!!!   We're supposed to call each other by 'Elder _______' or 'Sister ________'  We're not allowed to say 'guys' and we've been working on that.  Surprisingly it's been kinda hard!  We put the washer soap in the fabric softener hole and that was funny - we had to fish it out with a sock.  An Elder Allen sits across from us at meal time sometimes and one day he just randomly started talking to me from accross two tables.  It was hilarious.  He all animatedly goes 'Sister Allen, hello!' and he said 'where are you from?' and I answered, and then I asked him where he's from.  After that, he said something like, 'you'd think we'd be related, but we're not.'  And I was all, 'yup, but we both have blonde hair and blue eyes!' and he said, 'YEAH, and we're both Freaking Beautiful!' REALLY loud... haha that's way out of place here, and it was SO funny.  My whole table busted out laughing, and his district too.  It was just really great. I'm sure I turned red in the face, haha but it was so funny.

       Spiritual Stories:  Alright, well, the first day we got here we talked to three people as a group of about 30 missionaries.  We weren't told if they were real investegators or not, but I think two of them were, and one was acting (he had too many props).  The spirit was so strong as we testified to these people of what we knew.  The one man I could tell had built some walls and even though he said he was open to new ideas, he wasn't open to changing his mind... we would raise our hand to answer his questions and he would speak to us.  It was a really unique experience - like giving a lesson, but from 30 missionaries instead of two.  Anyways, that was the first time I really felt the spirit SUPER strong and KNEW this is what I'm here for, to get people like him to SEE what I see!  To help him FEEL what I feel.  It was great, expecially on the first day.

      Also, on Saturday the 11 of us in our district watched a talk by Elder Holland in our classroom.  It was so, SO good.  That man is BOSS.  I cried through parts of it.  At the end, one of our Elders, Elder Raines, suggested we have a testimony meeting.  And although we were supposed to be having language study, it just felt right, and even though it was a random suggestion, we went along with it.  All 11 of us bore our testimony.  And thinking about it even now gives me goose bumps.  It was AMAZING.  The spirit was there so strong.  Our elders have such interesting stories to share and such strong testimonies.  It makes me SO grateful to see such strong men. 

     Anyways, I only have 30 minutes to check e-mail.  That time is almost up.  I just wanted to say that I love you guys!  The church is true!  Keep up the good work and just have fun, life is meant to be JOYFUL. O.k.?

     Love ya!

- Soistra Allen

p.s. Nathan!  How was Prom!?

p.p.s. THERE's SO MUCH MORE TO SAY!  But tata for now!

Amber was set apart last night. Lights were out by 10:30 and on by 6:30am. Children stayed home from school and we had breakfast together. Amber did her last minute packing.We loaded up in the big white family van and headed to the MTC. We had to pull over several times to let firetrucks pass. Its a good thing Amber told us 12:30 for her arrival time, but really it was 12:40. We were early! 9 year old James was sitting in front and the man greeting us talked to James and asked him if he was ready to start his mission! Benjamin pointed to the very back of the van to where Amber was sitting! We got a bright pink sticky paper on our windshield and took a left and passed several vehicles and came to a vacant spot along the curb #22 . We all got out, and each one gave her hug, and I tried to take lots of pictures. Then 2 missionaries took her luggage and off she went!!!!! No crying...... yet. James said he was waiting for his mother to blast out crying! Nathan said, lets party! So we went to Maceys for ice cream.

 

                                                           

Testimony

"Testimony isn't something you have today, and you are going to have always.  

A testimony is fragile.  

It is as hard to hold as a moonbeam.  

It is something you have to recapture...

Every day of your life." - President Harold B. Lee

        I've found that out the hard way a few times in this lifetime.  It's not a pretty thing, to feel as though your testimony isn't stronger than a moonbeam.  But all I know is that you and I have got to hold on to that moonbeam and make it more of a rock, immovable, strong.  But it's a rock you've gotta roll everyday to make it stronger.  It's a living thing, something you've got to really feed with faith and prayers and diligence.  

        I feel as though I ought to share some of my testimony here, that I know that families can be together forever.  It only seems natural and right!  I know that God's creations are all around us, the mountains, the birds, the rivers, nature is a testimony in and of itself.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the grove of trees.  I know that Jesus will come again, that He suffered and died for us, and that because of Him we will be resurrected, all of us.  I know that missionary work is of the Lord and that I get to be a participant in one of the greatest, if not THE greatest movements on this Earth in these the Latter Days.  I know that President Monson is our prophet today, as quarky and fun as he is, he holds the keys!  I love this gospel!  I have and I always will.  Believe.  Please believe!

        So What:  Please share your testimony sometime soon, it will strengthen it!  I promise!