25 February 2019

As you can see from the pictures attached below I have been keeping busy out on the other side of the world. I married a couple, celebrated my 20th birthday, and went hiking.

Sometimes I don’t quite feel like I know what I should say when I email. My time on the mission is winding down and I wish so much that I could stay out here longer. My parent’s probably don’t like to here it but I really feel at home in Indonesia, especially out in Manado.

Something that I have learned recently is the great need others have of our help. The savior commanded “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Luke 22:32). Pray to have your eyes opened to see others’ needs. There are many of God’s children, our brothers and sisters, who want to be more obedient and desire to be stronger in the gospel. What they need is your help. Be an example to them. Show them what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Don’t be afraid to boldly invite others to live in closer harmony with Christ’s teachings. Then be ready to help them along the way. Isn’t that exactly what the Savior himself did?

Elder Allen

4 February 2019

I just had my monthly zone conference in Surabaya. The focus of this zone conference was motivation. President Mackay invited us to ponder on what really motivates us? What is it that motivates men and women, young and old, to leave their home and preach the gospel as Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19)? What is it that motivates them to go through challenges and hardships with hope and a positive attitude? What is it that motivates them to obey the standards of conduct that God expects of them? Allow me to share with you what motivates me:

I am motivated by the truth that there is a God; the Father of our spirits. I am motivated by the truth that there is a savior, Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sins of the world.  I am motivated by the truth that every person who follows Christ's gospel will be saved. I am motivated because these truths, and many more, have been taught and confirmed to me by the Holy Spirit.

From experience I know that as these divine truths are understood, they have a strong power to change souls. As your understanding of God’s truth expands, your desire to follow God’s will increases.

I am so grateful for the confirmation of restored truths that I have received. Knowing truth has certainly blessed me; however, truth is not meant to just be known and understood. It is given to us to guide us back to Heavenly Father’s presence. It leads us to righteous action. I still don’t know everything, but when I act under the knowledge of truth I currently have, I am always guided to say or do just the right thing. In many instances choosing the right will benefit either myself or others.

We may not know everything that we need to know. Most of the people that I teach certainly don’t. But I am motivated that by my faithful and dedicated service, these people can learn divine truth. And they can act upon it. There is hope for them, just as there is hope for all of us. God’s grace and mercy for us will never fail. I am motivated.

Elder Allen.

28 January 2019

Questions:

Q: What is one thing you'll really miss after you leave Indonesia?

A: Fried bananas, spicy food, the people of Indonesia, riding a bike really fast through traffic

Q: And what is one thing that you really look forward to in America?

A: meeting family and friends

Q: How has being branch president changed how you spend your day?

A: I have a lot more to consider, plan, and do throughout the week. A lot of it gets piled up towards the end of the week, which is also when a lot of the people we teach want to meet. It takes a lot of careful planning but we find time for everything. My number one priority is serving as branch president and establishing the church. Aside from that I also still do a lot of missionary activities.

Q: What is something funny that happened this week?

A: Taught a lesson to a group of 10 college students. When Elder Eddington asked “who is Jesus Christ to you?” not a single person answered. When we told them after the lesson that we teach free english class they suddenly were a lot more engaged and active. They all wanted to ask for our phone numbers and get information on english class.

Q: Is it currently the rainy season?

A: Yes. It rains a lot in the morning and nights here, but during the day it stays pretty clear. I think that we get rained on probably a minimum of three times a week. We bring umbrellas and got on foot most days.

Pictures: Elder Eddington and I, a typical pumpkin soup from Manado, Elder Eddington and I with some people that we teach from Papua, exchanges with Elder Hendaryono, emailing in the warnet and some Batik that I purchased.

21 January 2019

Manado: population 700,000; six elders and two sister missionaries. Second largest city on the island of Sulawesi. Mountainous region surrounding the bay; coconut trees in abundance. The majority of the population follows an evangelical church named GMIM. Thirty percent Islam population. Public transportation plays the worst mixtape known to the 21st century. If the food isn't spicy then it isn't good.

Church: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has one organized branch in Manado. The branch was established around 40 years ago. There are 154 members listed and about 70 attend church weekly. Church is held in two storefronts that have been finished to use as a meeting house.

My Week: lots of interesting things have happened. While at a member’s house Elder Eddington and I watched someone pass away. Having knowledge of God’s plan of salvation for us, his children, was a blessing in the moment. We left a strong prayer with the family and will be returning tonight to attend one of the several funerals that will be held in the coming days.

A lot has been on my mind as of late while I have been learning the duties of my new calling as Branch President. Conducting sacrament meeting went well. What scares me the most is when Elder Eddington and I meet people and they ask who the preacher is at church.

Questions:

Q: Is there a local dialect spoke in Manado?

A: Yes, however the dialect spoken in Manado is not too far different from standard Indonesian. Lots of the words get shortened. Every dialect in Indonesian seems to have its favorite vowel. Javense has its o's. Lots of the a's get changed into o's. For example apa becomes opo. In Manado the favorite vowel is a. Sebentar becomes sabantar.

Q: What is your favorite part about being Branch President?

A: I love the increased opportunity that I have to serve and teach the members, as well as building strong relationships with them. I am not sure if the members will let me go home in May.

Elder Allen.

14 January 2019

Being Sick - I woke up last Monday morning feeling sick. I took some medicine but wasn’t feeling any better by the time I left the house. I was just shivering in my rain jacket while I was emailing. After emailing I threw up then went home to rest. I didn’t eat anything until Wednesday. I still haven’t eaten a full portion yet. Yesterday for dinner I ate a tiny portion of rice and a hard boiled egg. All of the members here keep telling me that I look a lot skinnier from the last time I was in Manado. I think it is true.

In my neighborhood there is a group of four kids around the age of 5 that are always outside. Literally they are just always outside in the street. They stand there all day playing with these two balls they have. Everytime we pass by them they always call us and ask for money. We tell them we don’t have money but a week ago Elder Eddington gave them a pass along card with a picture of Jesus and now they always ask for pictures of Jesus. Not sure why I put this in here but we just think it is hilarious how these kids are always standing out on the road waiting for us.

Big News

Being on a mission has provided me with many opportunities to serve in different capacities. From training missionaries to teaching the restored gospel, I have always found something to learn from every experience. Truly God, the father of all truth, has a lot he needs to teach, and this week he gave me an opportunity to learn a lot more.

My mission president, President Mackay, came up to Manado this weekend to reorganize the branch presidency in the Manado branch. He told the branch that after months of fasting and prayer he was absolutely sure of the Lord’s will. He released the former branch presidency and called myself as the new branch president in the Manado Branch. My two counselors are Brother Ismail and Brother Tatara.

It is really humbling to know that the Lord trusts me right now to serve as the branch president in Manado. I love the members here and will be given a lot more opportunities to serve them. In addition to fulfilling my calling as a branch president I will still be a full time missionary, going out with my awesome companion, Elder Eddington, to find people to teach.

I am really optimistic about the future. The branch is going to grow. Everyone is going to come unto Christ, myself included.

Official Church Meetings - something interesting about Indonesians is how serious they are about all their little worship services. After being called yesterday it seemed that what was most important to the members was that the new branch president was coming to a house blessing. Blessing the home here is a big deal. They don’t really understand that it is nothing more than a prayer. Last night at the house blessing my second counselor invoked the priesthood to bless these people’s new house. Also at things like birthday parties they go all out with opening and closing prayers, songs, speakers, etc.

On our last video call mom asked me what I have learned from President Mackay. I said I have learned a lot how he is always teaching. Another thing I have realized that I have learned from him is how much trust he has in others. In a lot of ways with the rules he will just read the rule to us then say “I trust you to follow the rule” rather than defining the rule for us and telling us everything we can or cannot do.

7 January 2019

This is all I will be able to do for my weekly email this week. I am really sick right now. Cold or flu i think, but I will be alright don't worry. Here is a picture of my district. My companion is the right of me. His name is elder Eddington. We get along great.

31 December 2018

I was asked this week to return to Manado. Manado is the christian majority city located on Sulawesi; I served there during April this year for one month. I will be there until I return to the states in May of 2019.

Thank you for the merry Christmas wish. I had a good Christmas day and am really excited for the new year. If you have any questions about Indonesia and what I am doing over here feel free to ask. I would love to hear from you.

Elder Allen

24 December 2018

I know that around this time most of us are more focused on the celebration of the season of Christmas rather than the reason behind why we celebrate this holiday. It is truly humbling to consider the birth of Christ from his perspective. In his premortal existence he was known as Jehova. By his word the world was created, and yet he submitted himself to the will of the Father and was born in meager circumstances. The great creator of the world was submitted to the disruptions of violence, and spent his childhood a refugee. In his adulthood the King of kings held a career considered prominent by none.

In his great revelatory vision, Nephi said of Christ “I looked, and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world” (1 Nephi 11:32-33).

It amazes me to ponder on the significances of how low our Lord descend so that he could save us, a people so stubborn and wicked that we knew not our God when he came to us, but instead gave him to be crucified. I pray that each of us may grow in knowledge of our Savior so that when he does come again, that we may know him for who he is. For this to take place, it is not enough to simply know his name and say that we have faith. No, we need to have his name and his gospel deeply engraved upon our hearts. May we all give him the gift of our discipleship is my prayer.

Questions

Q: What is the average family size in Indonesia?

A: Two parents and two children. In a lot of neighborhoods in Indonesia they have signs that say “Two kids is enough,” although it was not always that way. Around two generations ago the saying was “banyak anak banyak rejeki” which means something like lots of kids gets you lots of wealth.

Q: How is Christmas celebrated in Indonesia?

A: It is important to know that Christmas is only celebrated by the minority of the population that is Christian. If you are not Christian, you do not celebrate Christmas. Christians here seem to celebrate Christmas by going to lots of parties. It gets the point that when we are trying to make appointments to visit the people we teach they tell us just to come sometime next year because they are busy going to Christmas parties.

Pictures

Elder Allen.

17 December 2018

Medan
Monday went by fast. Elder Suranto and I left Bogor and made the two hour and twenty minute flight to Medan, the farthest and also biggest district in the zone. Medan is located on the island of Sumatra. President Mackay, to help with missionary training, has begun sending zone leaders out to cities which previously had no visits to other than by the mission president himself. Elder Suranto and I took it as a big trust to go to Medan, and we made the most of it.

Medan’s more tribal Batak culture is very different compared to the Sundanese culture of Bogor. In Medan around half of the population is Christian, meaning foods like pork and dog are not hard to find. Needless to say, I ate well in Medan. I was very impressed with the food. In my two day visit to Medan I ate something new for every meal.

I did not go to Medan just to tour. I went there to train the missionaries. On Tuesday I went with Elder Putra, who I trained at the start of his mission. He is still doing well. We talked to a lot of people together. He and I still get along quite well.

On my second day in Medan, Wednesday, I split with Elder Hakes, the missionary that my own companion, Elder Suranto, trained. I really focused on the importance of studying the language ,and I helped him make plans for how to study the language. We learned a lot together, including a curse word that sounds very similar to “six o’clock.” So if you ever go to Medan make sure to be careful what you say when someone asks what time it is.

Other Stuff

The rest of the week went by like a blur. Something that I have been working on is really trying to increase my ability to speak powerfully in Indonesian. I think this past week I learned a total of one hundred new words or more, including words such as slander, widower, and a very rarely used word named “segan” which means something like hesitant and respectful. I was very excited to use it, and I looked for opportunities to use it all week. I only ended up saying it once though.

In addition to studying more words I also have began to do all of my scripture study in Indonesian. It has had a really big influence on me. If anything I really have begun to start thinking in Indonesian more.

I am really excited for this Christmas season. We have an amazing opportunity to share with others the love that we have. What better way to do we have to celebrate Christmas than by doing the very thing that Jesus did; serving others in a meaningful way? It is my prayer that all of us may look to those in our family and in our neighborhood and serve them in simple and loving ways, that the Savior may bestow upon us his love to share with them.

Elder Allen.

10 December 2018

Mission Tour

Elder Meurs and his wife of the Asia Area Presidency came to the mission to conduct our annual mission tour. I got to spend two days with them and with President and Sister Mackay. Zone Conference was on Tuesday in Jakarta; a leadership council was held on Friday in Surabaya.

I learned a lot about how to teach with the spirit, and I saw a big difference in the lessons that I taught this week.

People I Teach

This week Elder Suranto and I taught three wonderful people. The first is a college student looking for something better in his life. The second is father that we met on a public bus. The third is a refugee from Afghanistan. We invited each person to repent, and each of them accepted our invitation. It was a very unique experience to see how three people from three very different backgrounds have all found peace and joy from the same source: receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Questions:

Q: What is your favorite experience on your mission?

A: Teaching someone how to pray for the first time in their life. I am always so humbled and filled with joy when I know that because of my service I have taught a child of God how to communicate with their Father in Heaven.

Q: What are your plans for Christmas?

A: I want to go to a local zoo with my district.

Q: What are some unique holiday traditions for Indonesians?

A: Fasting for a month straight. Sacrificing cows and goats.

3 December 2018

Hanya untuk Keluarga

Karena saya malas untuk kirim sepucuk email minggu ini saya cukup untuk mengirim beberapa kata saja. Tapi dalam bahasa indonesia ya. Maaf kalau belum paham.

Terus terang saya selama misi saya tidak selalu rajin untuk belajar bahasa, beralasan karena salah satu mantan presiden misi saya pernah katakan untuk gak usah belajar bahasa soal ngobrol dengan penutur asli setiap hari sudah cukup. Ternyata tidak. Semangat saya untuk belajar bahasa dengan tekun naik pekal ini. Saya merasa lancar sekali dalam bahasa indonesia namun saya tahu bahwa masih ada banyak untuk dipelajari. Salah satu kata baru yang saya belajar minggu ini adalah algojo. Itu artinya executioner. Jarang dipakai.

Minggu ini sangat menyenangkan bagi saya. Saya akan menjabarkan minggu saya dengan berikut:

Hari Senin: beli batik untuk bikin dasi baru. Poto akan menyusul.

Hari Selasa: melatih pemimpin distrik. Mencari jiwa.

Hari Rabu: jadwal padat. Saya mengajar kelas bahasa inggris dan sangat tidak suka.

Hari Kamis: petukaran rekan dengan Elder Call. Terus terang dia tidak mengajar saya begitu banyak dengan katanya, namun dia betul betul mengajar saya banyak dengan teladannya.

Hari Jumat: petukaran rekan dengan Elder Al-Rudhan. Dia asli Georgia juga tapi tinggal dua jam dari rumah kita. Dia mau pulang misi akhir bulan ini. Saya pikir bahwa dia akan menghadiri gereja dengan kita ketika saya pulang tahun depan.

Hari Sabtu: banyak tugas zona. Juga mengajar seseorang dan cari banyak jiwa.

Hari Minggu: naik bis satu jam ke Jakarta untuk konferensi pasak. Cari jiwa lagi.

here is the translation from google transalte:Only for families
Because I am lazy to send an e-mail this week I am enough to send just a few words. But in Indonesian Sorry if you don't understand.
 
Frankly, during my mission I was not always diligent in learning languages, reasoning because one of the former president of my mission had said to not have to learn a language about chatting with native speakers every day was enough. Apparently not. My passion for learning languages diligently rises to this point. I feel very well in Indonesian but I know that there is still a lot to learn. One of the new words I learned this week is the executioner. That means the executioner. Rarely used.
 
This week is very pleasant for me. I will describe my week with the following:
 
Monday: buy batik to make a new tie. Poto will follow.
 
Tuesday: train district leaders. Looking for soul.
 
Wednesday: busy schedule. I teach English classes and really don't like them.
 
Thursday: exchange partners with Elder Call. Frankly he didn't teach me so much with his words, but he really taught me a lot with his example.
 
Friday: exchange partners with Elder Al-Rudhan. He is native to Georgia too but lives two hours from our house. He wants to go home on a mission later this month. I thought that he would attend church with us when I go home next year.
 
Saturday: a lot of zone assignments. Also teaching someone and looking for a lot of souls.
 
Sunday: take an hour bus to Jakarta for stake conference. Find soul again.

19 November 2018

Why should I follow Jesus Christ?

This was a questions I was asked this past week: Why should I follow Jesus Christ? In the moment I gave a decent answer, which has led to much pondering on my part. Why should I follow Jesus Christ? And why should I invite others to follow him?

For the life of me I can’t find it, but this week I read a recent general conference talk in which an apostle relates his experience where he was asked a similar question by someone looking for trouble. In that moment he gave an answer, which also led him to reflection and pondering. He concluded that what Christ has done for us is truly great, and we can receive all that he wants to give us by faithfully keeping his commandments.

Jesus Christ, through his great sacrifice, known as the atonement, saved us all from death. Like him, we will all rise again from the grave, having perfect bodies. He also, in a way that we cannot understand, took upon himself the sins of the world and suffered every pain. He did this so that all who will follow him will be saved.

So why do we follow Jesus Christ? He has already returned to the Father. He knows the way. If we will follow him, he too will guide us back into the presence of the Father, where we can enjoy what he enjoys.

I know through the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the World. He will save us from our sins as we follow him. I pray that all of us can consider what we need to start or stop doing to follow Christ. I know that as we follow him, our burdens will be lightened and we will be strengthened to do whatever he requires of us.

Transfers:

Elder Suranto and I receive the dreaded transfer call. We will both be moving from Tangerang to Bogor. Bogor is located an hour south of Jakarta. It is known for raining a lot, being a tad bit cooler than normal Indonesian weather, and for having a strong church presence.

Questions:

Q:Is it common for extended families to live in the same house in Indonesia?

A: Yes, quite common in fact.

Pictures:

1. My English Class

2. One of the families in my ward along with other members and some people that Elder Suranto and I have been teaching.