WEEK 6

So after emailing last week we went to the temple an did initiatories and I sat in the celestial room. I could sit in there and pray ad ponder all day. So great and spiritual- very amazing special, special environment. Truly the house of the Lord. After the temple we went to the market place. Me and Elder Smith were together. We were shopping and finished and it was raining cats and dogs. We had paper bags of stuff and decided to just run back to the MTC. We took off and kid you not, in 30 seconds we were soaked! The bags were falling apart and on the last turn to our building, in the MTC, Elder Smith wiped out hard! Feet out from under him, bruised elbows, bent glasses and our food everywhere! We picked it up and got it all taken care of. He's all good luckily but it was so funny! Just groceries everywhere and completely soaked. Then we went upstairs and cleaned our room. Sports, dinner and workout and bed. (Next day) Today was awesome! Completely awesome! We went proselyting! In Quezon City North! My mission! Holy Moly, it is amazing! I went with a philippines -E Capulun and it was so cool! I love the people and something I feel so blessed about is having an attitude of social mindset. I love to talk to people so all these people see this tall white kid smiling so big and they just will walk up and start talking in broken tagalog. I love talking. I'm not very good, but I love people! The homes are poor and the people are kind. We taught some people and I said the 1st vision! 3/4 memorized. It was way cool. We met tons of people and they all said I looked like a movie star or a famous person. I've been called Captain America a lot by the natives. lol. I stopped and talked to some kids and instantly there was like 20 kids all around me! So cool! I cant wait to get our there in less than 1 week! (Next day) Yesterday before proselyting I was getting kind of nervous, a little unsettled, doubtful of my abilities. Not a normal thought or feeling for me. i prayed and as we drove I continued to feel this way. When we got to the church I got out of the car, still it was a faint feeling of nervousness. we got our companions and headed out. The instant we started walking and I saw people, I changed. I loved seeing their faces, smiling at them, saying hello, waving. It was great. I think that was God answering my prayers telling me its all ok. Showing me there is no need to fear. I think of D&C 6:36 "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not". Rely on the Lord and be patient. That's one Christlike attribute I've been working on. Patience. It's part of having faith. All those Christlike attributes are suppose to work together. I could have been sad that God didn't change how I felt in the car. But when I was patient, optimistic, hopeful and faithful, then later when I was out serving, he blessed me. I know that when we rely on the Lord and are faithful and look to him he will help us. Phill. 4:13. I know that being social will really help me on my mission it will help that I feed off of social interaction- I think that is one of the biggest blessings. It settles nerves for me. Blessing. I think God has a big part in everything. Lots of things that happen are suppose to happen. His plan is very real. He helps us be where we need to be when we need to be there. Therefore it is important to be ready and prepared. Let Him guide us. It's a great day to be alive!
Elder McAllister

The Balut video

Week 5

It's another compilation of Landon's letters! He will be in the MTC until October 31 and he can't wait!  

Yesterday we went to the temple to do some initiatories. My district did initatories while the other 2 did a session. I was first for initiatories an got done early I then asked to go and sit in the celestial room and they said that was fine. I have been reading in Ether in my personal BofM study and so I picked up a book of Mormon in there and started to read. I read the whole Book of Moroni to finish off another time through the whole Book of Mormon. I finished it in the Manilla Philipines Celestial room. Very calm and I was like the only person in there. I was reconfirmed how reading that book with real intent can absolutely bring a man closer to God. I loved reading about Moroni and Mormon's father/son relationship - seeing them write back and forth to each other I thought of me and Dad writing like the prophets of old or Daniel and me or Daniel and Dad. very cool. Awesome experience to finish that book in there. I have a testimony of the book and the principles it teaches. I have been playing the piano when I can out here and yes Mom, here it comes. You were right. I should have practiced while I could have. I regret not practicing. We got to go proselyte just at the temple. Just talk with people. It was good. I can barely understand them, but I'm slowly learning and slowly improving. Time, time, time, give it time. Now that I have my feet under me better, I feel like I can help others more. Took me 3 weeks to finally start to warm up to this. Didn't expect that. LOL. Really humbling though. So grateful for our family and all you guys have taught me. Today we had the purple sweet potato ube stuff inside these sweet bread rolls. Super good. Not everyone liked it but I really did. I thought it was so good. Then another thing. So, so much rice! A half plate of rice at every single meal! Sometimes we get American food nights and they are like sacred nights cause it's so good to eat American food, but everything here is really good. They have bones in all their meat. Hahaha. Makes me really appreciate boneless meat, thanks Mom. We caught a lizard and frog finally! They're big frogs here! Lots are actually pretty poisonous, so we have got to watch out! Conference rocked and was great to listen to! Great week and continuing to get better and better at everything!! Part of life is doing the best you can with what youve got where you are. Master anything and everything you can. Im going to master each phase of my mission. Remember to do family scripture study and prayer. Small and simple things plus consistency equals great things to come to pass! 

I love you all so much!

Elder McAllister

WEEK 4

Landon has such limited time on the computer, I'm compiling another email from his handwritten letters. The pictures are fun and the video of him eating a Balut egg is worth the watch! Balut is a delicacy in the Philippines and they had them at the MTC as a going away "treat" for the senior missionaries that left this week. It is a fertilized duck egg. Is anyone surprised that he tried it? Other pictures include him showing how much he sweats, his "clean room award" and a haircut that is shorter on the sides than he's ever had. A few excerpts from his letters:

SEE THE PICTURE POST A FEW POSTS AGO FOR PICS AND VIDEOS! 

This is just such a giant brain workout here- learning and missing home and I sort of feel like I'm a horse trying to be broken right now. But each day really get easier, less homesick and less worries. We went to the temple and did initiatories. It was perfect for me and it was awesome to sit and read the Book of Mormon while waiting for the others. It's hard because Elder Hendry (he is in threesome- and one companion is really struggling to be there or be motivated and the other is very quiet and not very motivated) doesn't like the sessions or anything. Its been hard for me to be the one that does all the work It doesn't feel like I'm doing much to help them. I'm trying to be their friend and laugh and connect with them but it doesn't feel like that is getting me very far. After talking with the president, I realize I can't fix what I'm going through, this is what I need. God is shaping me to become what I need to become. President talked about working to help my companions . They need my help and he knows that. I should not focus on what I'm doing wrong, but focus on how I can help them. We watched a devotional from Elder Bednar last week on how the Savior constantly turned outward. It is when we turn in on ourselves that it can be hard If we follow Christs example and turn to others, that is the best help we can give ourselves. Wednesday is our halfway mark in the MTC- 20 days left on Wednesday! Very anxious still to get out into the work! The language is going good! I'm helping my companions and they continue to do better each day. I know I'm where I need to be. I love you guys so much!

Elder McAllister

They will watch General Conference this weekend, but he already heard about 2 hour church and the temples! (To the 2 hour church he said:  "Mom! It's your dream come true (winky face) (smirky face) hahahaha") Thank you for all the prayers and support!

WEEK 3

Not as homesick and feeling a lot more emotionally in check this week.  Lots easier to focus and work hard. The scripture I'd like to share with everyone is Helaman 5:12. Also Ether 12. Helped me a lot. Sundays are more sacred and a change from going to class for 10+ hours a day. Time has gotten better and I don't feel like 1 day is 1 month anymore. It gets easier each day. Slowly adjusting. Its hot and I sweat cause all we eat is rice. Rice sweats. I can dunk off of 2 feet with 2 hands on the outside hoops here! I'm friends with so many Elders here. Its fun to always be saying hi to everyone. Kind of like high school. Haha. It will be a great day when we finally get out in the field into the work! I know time will speed up and fly by and I can't wait for those days. The MTC is good but I can't wait to talk to people and meet them and go into their homes and go to a real church on Sundays and I really can't wait. The MTC is not like that. Haha. I can't wait to get out there and have time fly and I can't wait till I have a hard time leaving and love this place as a second home. Slowly adjusting. I know I will adjust though. Just hope it comes sooner than later. I love learning and what we do here, there is just so much of it that sometimes it gets boring. Also, the halls are super echo-y and I can't stop singing and whistling.One thing is that is really good is that I go to bed every night very happy and content. It may be because I am continually adjusting or it may be the fact that I read, study and write every night. Either way I always go to bed very happy. Today was awesome you guys! We got to go out and actually proselyte! Some cool things. Dogs and cats are everywhere. We proselyted in the Quezon City mission. Poor, poor living conditions. Bore my testimony and prayed in Tagalog! Everything is tiny! Rode in a Jeep nee! Met tons of people, felt like a giant! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Much better than being stuck in a classroom! Thanks for all you have done and all you do. I love you guys so much. I know these letters will be my saving grace and the thing that keeps me sane! Talk soon!

Love, Elder McAllister

WEEK 2

 Anyways this week has been a very crazy week!! Getting to the Philippines was a crazy adventure and so exciting!! I loved flying on the plane and getting and driving to the country!! the food on the plane wasn't that bad and i flew with 4 elders from Utah and Idaho. WE tried on some sweet Gucci 500$ sunglasses that actually looked like they were from the dollar store. When we got here there was another plane from LA (we went through San Fran) that had 16 missionaries on It! all going to my same mission!! pretty cool to have so many white friends here in the Philippines already;) anyways, we stayed at a hotel for a night and that was good. Holy moly driving from the airport and the Hotel to the MTC were crazy! there are no laws here and its the coolest thing to know everyone here is like a get away driver cause they weave in and out of cars like its no ones business. When you get in a car here its like stepping onto a roller coaster with horns and motorcyclists every where no joke!! Its soo fun!! so we got to the mtc and we pretty much go to class and eat rice all day. There is so much rice here its crazy. I swear Ive already eaten a whole field myself. 

   So I want to switch gears for a minute and be honest. I have been fairly homesick this week and its been pretty tough to adjust to this life of 8+ hours of class all day and then that is it. I like to be outside so a lot of the time I feel like we are stuck in a prison almost. Its great to learn about the spirit and how to teach and the lords work and I am doing well with the language but homesickness has been hard. A lot of this week has been mental. If you could imagine a full day of hard football work outs that are super intense and then transfer that to your brain and on top of that throw in going to a new country with so many new things and changing your complete schedule, that is pretty rough and its been hard. Now its through prayer and study that have helped get my mind off of things but it always seems to still be there a bit. It a good thing to miss my family, because it shows me how amazing my parents are and how much I love them. A lot of adjustment this week.

It has been great to grow my testimony this week and learn a lot of Tagalog!! its fun to goof off and sing really loud in the echo-ee stairwells and such, it helps me stay sane to sing;) I cant wait to get to the field!! Moral of the story is that sometimes life is hard but we can always work through it and god is always there with us. Love your families and tell your family members how much you love them always. God is good and loves all of us. 

All the pics we have received so far

Missionary pics

MADE IT

Magandang Umaga Po!!! Good morning!! 

Guys I made it!! It is absolutely incredible here!! I am eating all of this up!! we flew for soo long but i was lucky enough to sleep probably 8 ish hours on the plane!! the landing was amazing and there was some amazing clouds right out my window to watch as we landed. I had a window seat and that was nice and everything here coming in looked and felt like i was in a dream!!! we got here and we got stamps in our passports! (oh side note please share this email with any friends and family seeing as i may not have a lot of time to respond to a lot of people today!) We are at orientation and going through a lot of medical and logistic stuff today. Pretty amazing to be here in the Philippines! so we got off the plane and turns out there was 16 other missionaries on the other flight from LA and that makes a big bunch of like 20 of us! really good to see Blair we ran and gave each other a giant hug!! Holy moly the humidity hits you like a truck and its  so hot here its sooo hot her its sooo hot here. I already sweat let alone 100% humidity hahah. its fairly nice inside though and the AC works real good everywhere.  We waited at the car place for a couple hours all together and then they took us to the hotel but no joke the driving here is absolutely crazy!! like completely insane no rules wild dogs running everywhere people have to be super patient to drive here and there is a million motorcyclists and everyone literally drives 1 inch away from the other cars. Its sooooo fun to drive in the cars here its like a roller coaster every turn and abrupt stop. There is so many people here in manila its crazy! there is a lot of big buildings but you know how I love greenery and its sooo cool to see so many plants and beautiful trees here! lots of very poor living conditions and you can easily tell that its a third world country but I have to say that my brain sees everything as so colorful and bright that I feel like its a dream and its sooo cool!!! We got to the hotel and got our rooms and fell asleep sooo fast from about 2-7. we woke up and went to dinner and it was some sinagong that we tried before back at the dinner at the needlemans we did. It was very good and its fun to sit and socialize with all of the other elders here!! cool to meet so many new people all sacrificing the same things I am and I feel like I'm going to have no problems getting along with any of them. We ate dinner and went back up stars and did some study on our own and wrote in our journals, I wrote a lot cause its been so flipping awesome!! then we went to sleep at 9:30 and woke up at 4:45 so we've slept a lot yesterday and last night, good thing too cause that plane ride and time change were brutal!! Man oh man I just have so much to tell you guys cause its been soo exciting!!  today we woke up and showered and it was one of the best showers in the world, after being on a plane for like 14 hours and not showing that shower was very very revitalizing. WE went and had an awesome breakfast there was so many options!! good fruit and good meat and eggs. the only thing a little off was the milk, not bad, just different. We then drove to the MTC in a roller coaster again which was super fun and pretty funny actually to see such a different world. then we got here and have been doing orientations and stuff and paper check and all that jazz! I am here and I'm safe and Im very happy and doing well!! it has started to hit me how much my life is changing right now but Im also very excited and thankful, I have felt more of the struggles and realize that a lot of it is mental. if you sit and dwell on sad things or let your brain think too much than that literally does you no good haha. Luckily my positive attitude is helping out with that a lot and I really am loving everything here so much!!! I just cant stop thinking of all the amazing things happening and boy oh boy to I  love being here!! I know this is exactly where I need to be and luckily this is exactly where I want to be!! I feel so anxious to get started and have already loved reaa=ding all these amazing books on Christ and the book gospel principles is really good!I am very excited to start teaching and learning and sharing my testimony cause i can already feel that its grown here in the last 2 days. Life is amazing and boy oh boy is it a great day to be alive!!!I cant wait to email again but I Have to go today so I will talk with you guys very soon !! feel free to send emails at any time!!