Mother's Day

Well first of all, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of the women out there. I have to say that I have been blessed with the women in my life from teachers in primary, to leaders and neighbors, to friends, and just amazing examples in my life. I would not be who I am without all of you in my life. The ones that I am so thankful for are my grandmas and the amazing people they are. I love them more than I can share. They raised great kids to become my parents and my parents are the biggest gift from God for me. My mom is the number one reason I am who I am. I love her more than I can comprehend. She is the Greatest person I know. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all.

Well, this week has been good and I believe in being honest so I will be -haha.

My comp is hard at times with being immature and such. At times we disagree. Hey everyone- guess what? That's part of the mission! It's not perfect and neither is anyone! Isn't a great thing to see two guys just trying to get along and do great! I mean I love the guy to death and he is so happy and friendly but everyone missions are not perfect -haha. So there's my factual part of the week. This week has been great in the work and super fun. One thing I learned about life is that if you want to feel better and get better in any aspect of life, look for those things that gain confidence. I gained a lot of confidence in my self in speaking Tagalog and its super fun now. I mean to say that confidence can be a huge help to so many things. Missionaries should strive to have confidence in themselves and their comps and the spirit. Those three are huge game changers.

I found a wicked cool wood mask this week and it is dope!!! I found it buried in the ground and now it's my souvenir. So that's that.

We had exchanges this week which were one of my favorite days and it rained so hard I was not dry anywhere and the depths of my soul were wet. This rain was crazy!! Soooooo fun too! We just ran through it and still kept trekking and we were pooped at the end of the day but it was so so fun!! I love the rain and now one of my dreams came true! My dream was to preach the gospel in another country in another language and in the rain and just be soaking wet running from place to place and it was sooooo fun!!!! There's my fun highlight of the week! Then spiritually, my highlight of the week was just my personal prayers. I challenge all of us to try and be as focused and sincere as we can. I really get distracted especially when I am tired. If we make it meaningful it really helps. God appreciates it too. Super cool.

I see lots of little miracles in my life weekly and I think we always need to thank God for what we have and our blessings because it's all from him. I am not here cause of myself. I am nothing without his help. I loved talking with my parents on mothers day cause heavenly father and my mom and dad are the three reasons my life is the way it is and I am who I am. I've still got a lot of work to do and I am glad God helps everyone of us. Take the time to acknowledge his hands in our life!!

Well overall just another week. I don't have much else to share except that life is good. Gods good. He loves us and I am so thankful for all of you. You are all super big influences in my life and you deserve to be told thanks for your hands in my life. Y'all are amazing and I hope you have a great week. Your pal in the Philippines.

Elder McAllister

Kaypian, SJDM, Bullacan, Philippines

This week

Well, pretty average week here. So I will just share a couple cool things about my week. One- we hiked a cool mountain today. Then we get to email, and talking to family is the biggest blessing in my life. Also had some cool things this week. This LA we have been working with was able to get the priesthood and bless the sacrament and so that was the coolest thing on Sunday and he bore a great testimony that really touched me. We had some great lessons this week where the spirit was super apparent to all of us there. Some lessons aren't like that just based on the kids or the situation of the day. But really, God helps this work more than we know. There is no way I should be capable of doing stuff like this. I really am not capable, but because I try, and because we try, God makes up for what we lack. When we turn it to him by doing our side of the bargain, he gives us more strength and help than we deserve. I am so grateful for the learning I have here in the mission. It's really, really not like I expected but it's way harder. But it's what I need. God is so good and he really loves us. I really love the work and these people. Life is good. We got to help this old lady feel great this week just by stopping by and saying hi and such. Super cool to make her day. It changed her whole week. So cool. Lots of little miracles this week. Just depends on us if we want to see them. Gods so much better than we even realize. 

Great life and a great week. Fun pics from birthday and hiking and all that jazz. Make it a great week everyone. Short email this week. Just know that I really pray for all of you. Thanks for all the prayers from you and thanks for all you guys have done in my life. Everyone who reads this email has had an impact on my life more than you think. I am able to be here right now in the Philippines because of all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart truly. You are always in my prayers. 

Have a great week. What a great day to be alive. 

Mahal ko kayo
Elder McAllister

Elder McAllister

It's May

Howdy howdy! Been a good week! 

With a new comp in the same area, I have learned a lot and gained a lot of confidence in my language skills. I am not amazing but I am getting better weekly and gaining confidence. This week has been fun and my comp is really a fun guy. We get along great and love to tell stories and stuff. He is older in the mission and I can't wait to learn some stuff from him. 

Well, this week was good cause I have been focusing on the good and being a little more appreciative of the good and spiritual things I feel and experience each day. We had some good lessons this week that felt the spirit well and also some times that tried my patience with people- haha. Sometimes there are so many distractions in people lives. I tell myself to remember to invite, not force. Also, be Christlike and have patience. Can be hard at times, but we will always get better as we try. 

Kind of a cool quote I got from my mom this week is " Gratitude turns what we have into enough" 

I know that's true. Being a little more thankful lets us feel a lot more comfortable. Makes us a lot happier. Everyone, be thankful to those great people in your life and the good things that happen to you everyday. Let God know you're thankful too. 

Our ward is good and our investigators are ok. We are working this week to get better progressing investigators. Its been nice to have a new set of eyes in the area and get a new opinion on the people we teach. Should be a good week looking for new investigators. I can't wait! 

Anyways we should be getting smartphones tomorrow and so that will be cool. I really have a hard time using the little tiny ones we have now. I always hit two buttons with my thumb. Also, it takes me still quite a while to text. 

So here's the story of the week. Tuesday we have a zone training meeting and then go out to eat after. I got a package ( which by the way is like having a Christmas on a regular day ) so we had to drop it off at our place. So we get home and realize neither one of us has the phone... In our minds and words... "Awww man. Eh, it's ok...." then we walk in the house and go to wash our hands and the sink doesn't work. I go outside and check and there's a lock on our water meter... lol.. So in like one day we had no water and no phone- haha. We went to pay the bill and they told us we have to pay in a different city. We can't really leave our area so that's out of the question. So we just laughed cause we couldn't pay our bill- we had the money and no phone and no water haha- good day if you ask me. Really we laughed about it. Then the next day I talked around our neighborhood and to the guard of our subdivision and found out he can pay the guy who comes around with the stupid locks. So we gave him our money he paid the guy and we had water the next night. The one morning we had to take a trike and jeep to another elders house to just shower- haha. We have to shower here everyday cause It's so, so, so, hot. I drench all my shirts everyday- haha. 

So that's my week and some things I thought I would share. I just want to say that spiritually we can all grow, but we all have to grow for ourselves. Do what you can to help yourself grow closer to God -that's my invite to you all. I know this work is hard, I know this work is great, its fun at times and really stressful at others. A mission is explainable and also just what I need. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is so true. I love him and my father in heaven. 

I love emailing and especially calling my family. Indescribable joy there in my family. Have a great week yall and keep being awesome.

Elder 

John Landon McAllister