Dear Family:
Computer hard drive crashed, got fixed, blue tooth on cell phone won't interface with blue tooth on computer, not fixed, so we're still using the internet cafe! Please bear with us until we get this figured out!
Thank you, Mike, for your email of 14 January. We hope you enjoy working with the new bishopric as much as you did with Bishop Anderson. They certainly gave you some valuable leadership training. Congratulations on reaching the 1-year milestone at work. You should feel a real sense of accomplishment. Having new responsibilities and projects should be rewarding and enjoyable.
Regarding your questions about our mission assignment, first the logistics. We live in Gonubie which is an area of East London, like the Island is an area of Logan, but it is big with several schools, strip malls, petrol stations, etc. There are two wards, soon to be three, in East London, which have a mix of black and white. The township of Mdantsane has three wards, and is a 20-minute trip out of town on the interstate, and there is one ward in King William's Town, which is maybe an hour or so out of town. The four elders there are pretty much on their own except for when we visit for boarding (apartment) and car inspections, zone conference when they come into town, and whenever we will feel that we should go out there just to check on them to let them know they are not forgotten. These 3 areas make up our stake.
Our instructions when we first met with our mission president was to visit both East London and Mdantsane wards and decide where we thought we could be the most help. But even before we did that, it seemed that we were being led to the Mdantsane 1st Ward because when we told people what our instructions were, the response was always the same--"that would be the Mdantsane 1st Ward"! Even the people in that ward said they needed the most help. It is the smallest and most economically challenged of the Mdantsane wards. We will be attending all of their block meetings on Sunday as well as the Ward Missionary Correlation Meeting. We have received official word that we will be teaching an Institute class to the young adults of the ward. We thought we would be teaching Old Testament, but we received word that we will teach "Doctrines of the Gospel". We will teach 6-8 people (hopefully) in the Bishop's home, how often and which day/time is yet to be decided. We intend to talk with the bishop tomorrow to let him know that we are available to receive a calling in the ward. We also help the elders with teaching appointments when called upon to do so. There is one set of elders that ave asked for our help in teaching a husband and wife who are having a little marital discord and they did not feel qualified to handle that part of the teaching. We have met with the family twice and they came to church last week. The 1st Ward will be moving into a new chapel in a few months which is in the ward area. This should increase activity immensely because distance from housing to the church has been a challenge. Most of the ward members do not have cars so to get to church they either walk (for some at least an hour, maybe two) or take a taxi which they don't all have the money to pay. The mission has a policy to focus proselyting efforts within a 40-minute walking distance to the church or, for those few who have cars, up to a reasonable driving time. Once the church is completed, we see where a lot of our effort will be toward finding inactives, reactivation, and fellowshipping in addition to Institute and ward callings.
The other major part of our responsibility is missionary support, including dispensing their post (mail) to the zone leaders who give it to the district leaders to give to individual elders, and supplying the elders with anything they need other than personal items. The boot (trunk) of our car is a mobile shopping center! At district meeting every Friday morning, we just open it up and the missionaries can take whatever they need in the way of cleaning supplies, flea and bug spray, dish cloths and towels, etc. We also fill special requests that they give us ahead of time such as new pillows, clothes drying racks, new fans, frying pans, potato peelers, etc. The inventory really becomes depleted, especially just before boarding inspections, which means going to the Pick 'n Pay (a WalMart-type store without the clothes--not a special store, I just like to say the name!) to load up again.
We are so impressed with the quality of all our missionaries, and especially the zone and district leaders as far as their knowledge of the gospel and leadership skills are concerned.
This week was spent with Sister Nilsson and Sister Johnson (the Sistersons) orienting us more about how to do inspections, where to buy different supplies, and getting to know the area better. We also learned how to put on a luncheon for Zone Conference (52 people). It was a very inspirational, motivational, and spiritual conference. We learned to love and respect President and Sister Egan even more in just that one day! But this is a long enough email for now. More details next time.
It was fun to talk to you, Scott, Julie, and Mike via the international calling card. Sorry we missed you, Swains, but we enjoyed reading your family blog. We did make note of your new phone number. We love reading the Allen Family Blog with everyone's comments. Let us know what's happening in your lives.
We are expecting THE CALL from Matt and Julie any day now! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Kisses to Christie, Jordan, Katy, Savannah, and Claire. Bye for now.
Love, MOM and DAD, GRANDMA and GRANDPA
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Planting our feet in the mission field
Dear Friends:
The new year has certainly brought new changes for us! We entered the MTC on December 31st and experienced seven days of intense motivational and highly spiritual instruction. Our lessons were from Preach My Gospel and then we had the opportunity to teach the principles to church service volunteers who played the roles of investigators, less actives, and recently baptized converts. We were given so little time to prepare that we had to rely on the Spirit, which was what they were really trying to teach us.
In our group there were four senior couples called to serve in South Africa--2 in Johannesburg, 1 in Durbin, and us in the Cape Town Mission. One of the most fun parts of the MTC was being around the young Elders and Sisters. They were always so polite to the senior couples and their enthusiasm was very infectious. In a devotional and fireside, we had the opportunity to hear Brother and Sister Douglas L. Callister of the Seventy, and Bruce D. Harper of the Missionary Department.
On Monday, January 7th we departed the MTC and arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday, January 9th via Chicago and London after 22 hours in the air. We spent one day with our Mission President, Richard Egan, and his wife. They are wonderful leaders and they were so kind to us. He gave us the assignment to provide missionary support for 30 elders in the East London area. We will also be working with leadership development for one of the wards in Mdantsane, a black township. After just 24 hours with the Mission President, we boarded a "puddle jumper" commuter plane to go to East London which is further east from Cape Town along the coast on the Indian Ocean.
The weather here has been hot and humid for some days and rainy for the others. The countryside is incredibly lush and green. We have been told that sometimes there are monkeys playing in trees in our back yard! We are living in a house that is part of a retirement community with a beautiful view of the Gonubie River and Valley. It is not a hut in the desert!!! It is as nice as we could have ever dreamed of. Our home serves as a Bread and Breakfast when other couples come to the area for conferences or training having to do with their special assignments such as church employment or CES.
We were busy from the time we stepped off the plane getting oriented to driving on the opposite side of the road, finding key businesses and shopping locations, and locating the four chapels in our area. There are 5 functioning wards and 1 branch in our assigned area. All wards have members of European decent, primarily English or Dutch, and also of the native African Xhosa tribe. We have found that the members are very warm and welcoming, especially the Xhosa. Seven of the 30 young elders are black, from various areas of Africa. They speak excellent English as well as their own native tongue. We have never heard so many variations of the English language as there is here!
So far we have attended our district meeting, an LDS/Xhosa funeral, and Sunday services in two wards. Elder Allen was called on to speak at a memorial service at the home of the deceased prior to the formal funeral, and we both were called up from the congregation to bear our testimonies on Sunday.
It appears that we will be teaching the Old Testament Institute class once a week in the black township, in addition to our missionary support efforts.
It is hard to believe we have been here barely a week--so much has happened! But already we love the people and the land. We know this is the Lord's work and bear testimony of God, Our Father; Jesus, the Christ; Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration; and President Hinckley, the Prophet of today.
Love to all,
Elder and Sister Allen
The new year has certainly brought new changes for us! We entered the MTC on December 31st and experienced seven days of intense motivational and highly spiritual instruction. Our lessons were from Preach My Gospel and then we had the opportunity to teach the principles to church service volunteers who played the roles of investigators, less actives, and recently baptized converts. We were given so little time to prepare that we had to rely on the Spirit, which was what they were really trying to teach us.
In our group there were four senior couples called to serve in South Africa--2 in Johannesburg, 1 in Durbin, and us in the Cape Town Mission. One of the most fun parts of the MTC was being around the young Elders and Sisters. They were always so polite to the senior couples and their enthusiasm was very infectious. In a devotional and fireside, we had the opportunity to hear Brother and Sister Douglas L. Callister of the Seventy, and Bruce D. Harper of the Missionary Department.
On Monday, January 7th we departed the MTC and arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday, January 9th via Chicago and London after 22 hours in the air. We spent one day with our Mission President, Richard Egan, and his wife. They are wonderful leaders and they were so kind to us. He gave us the assignment to provide missionary support for 30 elders in the East London area. We will also be working with leadership development for one of the wards in Mdantsane, a black township. After just 24 hours with the Mission President, we boarded a "puddle jumper" commuter plane to go to East London which is further east from Cape Town along the coast on the Indian Ocean.
The weather here has been hot and humid for some days and rainy for the others. The countryside is incredibly lush and green. We have been told that sometimes there are monkeys playing in trees in our back yard! We are living in a house that is part of a retirement community with a beautiful view of the Gonubie River and Valley. It is not a hut in the desert!!! It is as nice as we could have ever dreamed of. Our home serves as a Bread and Breakfast when other couples come to the area for conferences or training having to do with their special assignments such as church employment or CES.
We were busy from the time we stepped off the plane getting oriented to driving on the opposite side of the road, finding key businesses and shopping locations, and locating the four chapels in our area. There are 5 functioning wards and 1 branch in our assigned area. All wards have members of European decent, primarily English or Dutch, and also of the native African Xhosa tribe. We have found that the members are very warm and welcoming, especially the Xhosa. Seven of the 30 young elders are black, from various areas of Africa. They speak excellent English as well as their own native tongue. We have never heard so many variations of the English language as there is here!
So far we have attended our district meeting, an LDS/Xhosa funeral, and Sunday services in two wards. Elder Allen was called on to speak at a memorial service at the home of the deceased prior to the formal funeral, and we both were called up from the congregation to bear our testimonies on Sunday.
It appears that we will be teaching the Old Testament Institute class once a week in the black township, in addition to our missionary support efforts.
It is hard to believe we have been here barely a week--so much has happened! But already we love the people and the land. We know this is the Lord's work and bear testimony of God, Our Father; Jesus, the Christ; Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration; and President Hinckley, the Prophet of today.
Love to all,
Elder and Sister Allen
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Our First Taste of African Culture
Hi Family:
We have been using the sisters' (who place we are taking) computer at the end of each day because we are not hooked up yet, so we have been able to give you only a thumbnail sketch of what we are doing. Hopefully, we can fill in some of the details later.
The 27 year old daughter of a member couple died, and as is the custom of their culture, they have had nightly "memorial" services in their home since her death on New Years Day. Different missionaries have given short messages and hymns have been sung. Family and different friends have been coming every night. We went last night and Dad gave a message on comforting those in need of comfort, and mourning with those that mourn, and a short version of the Plan of Salvation. It was very timely and well done. Then today we went to the funeral which was an LDS one, then to the gravesite at which the Dad gave a talk in their native language, a song by the group in their native language, after which they all threw a bit of the dirt from digging the hole onto the casket. Afterwards everyone went to the family's home where a "lunch" which was more like a feast--prepared by the family--was served. All in all it was an interesting mix of LDS and native African culture.
So much to tell, so little time, and no computer!
Love to you all,
MOM and DAD
We have been using the sisters' (who place we are taking) computer at the end of each day because we are not hooked up yet, so we have been able to give you only a thumbnail sketch of what we are doing. Hopefully, we can fill in some of the details later.
The 27 year old daughter of a member couple died, and as is the custom of their culture, they have had nightly "memorial" services in their home since her death on New Years Day. Different missionaries have given short messages and hymns have been sung. Family and different friends have been coming every night. We went last night and Dad gave a message on comforting those in need of comfort, and mourning with those that mourn, and a short version of the Plan of Salvation. It was very timely and well done. Then today we went to the funeral which was an LDS one, then to the gravesite at which the Dad gave a talk in their native language, a song by the group in their native language, after which they all threw a bit of the dirt from digging the hole onto the casket. Afterwards everyone went to the family's home where a "lunch" which was more like a feast--prepared by the family--was served. All in all it was an interesting mix of LDS and native African culture.
So much to tell, so little time, and no computer!
Love to you all,
MOM and DAD
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Arrival in Cape Town
Dear Family:
After delays in SLC and Chicago, 22 hours in flight, and 2 lost suitcases, we are FINALLY here in Cape Town South Africa. The 11 1/2 hours from London to Cape Town actually wasn't that bad. Both Dad and I were able to sleep quite a bit and felt rested when we arrived. We can get by without the lost suitcases so that hasn't dampened our enthusiasm! The Mission President and his wife (nice people) met us at the airport and took us to the mission home (it's BEAUTIFUL) to freshen up, had a bit of a meeting to let us know a little of our responsibilities, then we went out to lunch together. We have spent the afternoon with the office couple getting a bank account set up and being tutored in the paperwork we need to do. We are now going back to the mission home for supper and more meeting with the President. We are using the office computer to write this email, so I'd better go but we just wanted you to know that we arrived safe and sound and happy and all is well.
Read your postings on the blog--keep up the blogging!
Love, MOM and DAD
After delays in SLC and Chicago, 22 hours in flight, and 2 lost suitcases, we are FINALLY here in Cape Town South Africa. The 11 1/2 hours from London to Cape Town actually wasn't that bad. Both Dad and I were able to sleep quite a bit and felt rested when we arrived. We can get by without the lost suitcases so that hasn't dampened our enthusiasm! The Mission President and his wife (nice people) met us at the airport and took us to the mission home (it's BEAUTIFUL) to freshen up, had a bit of a meeting to let us know a little of our responsibilities, then we went out to lunch together. We have spent the afternoon with the office couple getting a bank account set up and being tutored in the paperwork we need to do. We are now going back to the mission home for supper and more meeting with the President. We are using the office computer to write this email, so I'd better go but we just wanted you to know that we arrived safe and sound and happy and all is well.
Read your postings on the blog--keep up the blogging!
Love, MOM and DAD
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
No Turning Back Now
We are sitting in Heathrow Airport in London. All is going well with just a couple of bumps. We did have a delay in Salt Lake City because of bad weather in Chicago and then when we got to Chicago, they had to deal with all kinds of messes because of the weather so that cost us a few hours but we're here in London and our plane will not leave for about three hours, then we're off to South Africa.
The last few days in the MTC were as intense as the first days! Meetings, meetings, meetings--but they were all very inspirational and motivating.
It was good to talk to all you kids before we left. We met with Carol and Al for a few minutes and gave them the keys to the car and said good-bye.
Scott, please post this on the blog. The cell phone has been discontinued so we'll contact you whenever we can.
Love to all of you, Scott, Angela, Katy, and Savannah; Merilee, Steven, Christie, and Jordan (GRRRR); Julie, Matt, Claire, and Baby; Mike (sorry about Ohio State--again)
Love, MOM and DAD
The last few days in the MTC were as intense as the first days! Meetings, meetings, meetings--but they were all very inspirational and motivating.
It was good to talk to all you kids before we left. We met with Carol and Al for a few minutes and gave them the keys to the car and said good-bye.
Scott, please post this on the blog. The cell phone has been discontinued so we'll contact you whenever we can.
Love to all of you, Scott, Angela, Katy, and Savannah; Merilee, Steven, Christie, and Jordan (GRRRR); Julie, Matt, Claire, and Baby; Mike (sorry about Ohio State--again)
Love, MOM and DAD
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
First Days at the MTC
Dear Family:
Thanks for your efforts to come to breakfast on Monday morning. Thanks Scott for making the arrangements.
We arrived at the MTC at about 10:30 in a light snow storm. There are about 40 couples and 4 single sisters in our group. There are 4 couples going to South Africa--1 to Durbin, 2 to Johannesburg, and us (Cape Town). In the group of 40, over half are CES and the other half to various other assignments.
Mom got her last shot today which completes our medical stuff.
In the mornings we are in class from 8:00 until 11:30, learning everything from preventive medicine to the missionary lessons from Preach My Gospel. So far we have covered the Restoration of the Gospel and The Plan of Salvation. After a little more discussion in the afternoons, we prepare a lesson outline and then go back to our room to meet with a church service volunteer who is acting the part of an investigator. We give them the lesson we prepared earlier. We are learning a lot on how to teach emphasizing the basics, using simple vocabulary, and inviting them to specific actions such as praying to know that Joseph Smith indeed is the Prophet of the Restoration.
On Tuesday evening we went to a devotional in which Brother Callister of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke as well as his wife. She gave good advice on feasting on the scriptures during our missions. He gave some specific ideas on how to read the Book of Mormon more effectively, including reading it slow, reading it out loud, reading it in the morning when our minds are active, and reading it with a pencil in hand to write down impressions. It was announced that there were 1600 missionaries there, which is quite low because of the holidays.
Today we had to get out of the main chapel "cry room!" a bit early so the new missionaries (about 300) could get in. They still have the sign on the left front which says "Family Exit" and the sign on the right front which says "Missionary Exit". Some things in the church never change!
We are happy and are enjoying the MTC experience very much and feel the spirit.
We are right now at a UPS Store using their computer, and don't know when we will have access again. But we will call each of you kids on the phone before we leave.
Scott, have you called Key Bank and got clearance to access our account online?
Carol and Al, we will leave the car in the parking lot just north of the main entrance to the MTC. It is the Senior Missionaries parking lot, so if you have any questions, ask at the front desk and they will know where you mean. We will call you on the phone to confirm this.
We love you all. Keep us in your prayers, and you are in ours,
Elder and Sister Allen
Thanks for your efforts to come to breakfast on Monday morning. Thanks Scott for making the arrangements.
We arrived at the MTC at about 10:30 in a light snow storm. There are about 40 couples and 4 single sisters in our group. There are 4 couples going to South Africa--1 to Durbin, 2 to Johannesburg, and us (Cape Town). In the group of 40, over half are CES and the other half to various other assignments.
Mom got her last shot today which completes our medical stuff.
In the mornings we are in class from 8:00 until 11:30, learning everything from preventive medicine to the missionary lessons from Preach My Gospel. So far we have covered the Restoration of the Gospel and The Plan of Salvation. After a little more discussion in the afternoons, we prepare a lesson outline and then go back to our room to meet with a church service volunteer who is acting the part of an investigator. We give them the lesson we prepared earlier. We are learning a lot on how to teach emphasizing the basics, using simple vocabulary, and inviting them to specific actions such as praying to know that Joseph Smith indeed is the Prophet of the Restoration.
On Tuesday evening we went to a devotional in which Brother Callister of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke as well as his wife. She gave good advice on feasting on the scriptures during our missions. He gave some specific ideas on how to read the Book of Mormon more effectively, including reading it slow, reading it out loud, reading it in the morning when our minds are active, and reading it with a pencil in hand to write down impressions. It was announced that there were 1600 missionaries there, which is quite low because of the holidays.
Today we had to get out of the main chapel "cry room!" a bit early so the new missionaries (about 300) could get in. They still have the sign on the left front which says "Family Exit" and the sign on the right front which says "Missionary Exit". Some things in the church never change!
We are happy and are enjoying the MTC experience very much and feel the spirit.
We are right now at a UPS Store using their computer, and don't know when we will have access again. But we will call each of you kids on the phone before we leave.
Scott, have you called Key Bank and got clearance to access our account online?
Carol and Al, we will leave the car in the parking lot just north of the main entrance to the MTC. It is the Senior Missionaries parking lot, so if you have any questions, ask at the front desk and they will know where you mean. We will call you on the phone to confirm this.
We love you all. Keep us in your prayers, and you are in ours,
Elder and Sister Allen
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