1-28-13

Hey yal,

Sounds like yal been havin alot goin on!!!!

Glad to hear the girls are goin on trek! That was such a blast!! I would trade anything for that again! Too bad they won't have the Vests to be ma/pa.  Lots of good memories.

Been lookin through that little book you sent me and ahhh i love it haha a lot.

Elders Sanders is ok. He's great but he is veryyyy sluggggiiiisssssshhhhhhhh and only wants to work on his time not when its needed. But oh well I'll just keep working with him. It's makin me nervous about when he takes over and I leave... but we'll see.

The baptism 2 nights ago was beautiful! I'm sending pictures but it was so perfect and the best part was after the LA mom said the prayer, she sat down and her and her daughter just hugged and cried and smiled and ahhhh it put the biggest smile on my face to see them happy. The NM father looked me square in the eye and thanked us for what we had done for his family. We're focusin on him now! It was the best baptism I've been apart of and it doesn't even count as a "convert Baptism" but it's all good because the Lord's in charge.

3 weeks left in Hollister most likely.... I'm so nervous. I love it here and the ward is like my family now and I'm just not likin the fact that I could get transferred here. I met with President Watkins last week and was like "I need to stay in Hollister, I'll even train again" and he said "I'll need a large cash deposit in my Swiss checking account." So looks like I won't be here long..... but that OK. I'll just work real hard before I go.

Hope all is well back at home! Kayla yer already training to be a missionary!

haha Jenna broke my phone!!!!!!!!!! NOT COOL!!!!!!! haha JK.... all the missionary phones in Hollister are outta commission 2, so we're like completely handicapped...

Love yal

-Elder McAllister

1-21-13

Hey yal,

This has been a crazy week!  Been to San Jose twice and Gilroy once and today Monterrey, seems like I've been everywhere but Hollister haha. lots of fun stuff goin on I guess.

ummm its been like 60s-70s this week soooo nice!!! haha sorry to yal.

For pday today we went to Monterrey and went to the aquarium there. Brag to Eric Drew for me hahahahahaha!!! million gallon tank in there..... it was super sick! Lots of cool fishes and such. Course it being Cali and a aquarium there was lots of enviro nuts and videos lol don't worry pops I didn't give in... in fact I almost got kicked out for opening my mouth when a  worker was talking about it..... hahah but ya know, no biggy.

hmmm not much new this week..... just workin hard and keepin busy. dunno what to talk about lol

Oh had a sit down with President Watkins. It seems to me like the two of us have gone through much of the same experiences and hardships, its very interesting. I can relate so well to him and gosh I love him. He really helped me out and I am super indebted to him. The effect he has on me will skyrocket my altitude!

Sorry I can't seem to remember anything right now about home or relatives..... the work fills it up and then some.... I haven't been able to sleep for more than 4ish hours a night because of all the people I gotta take care of as DL and Trainer.... I love the stress but just wish it didn't way on me so much..... oh well..

Well gotta run and work. hope yal have a great week .

Love

-Elder McAllister

1-14-13

Transfers are tomorrow but I'm stayin here..... gotta finish training my son haha.

We got the car back and life is just flyin by way faster! Elder Aranda is leavin and he helped train me and mold me into a missionary.  I really am gonna miss him so much........ but oh well I guess the work moves forward.

Speaking of work, guess who got called as the new district leader....... this one. Can you say humbling?? I gotta teach missionaries.... its pretty hard, I don't know much.

The work is progressing.  We will have a double baptism of Ashley Maupin and Carla Struthers 8&9 on the 26th and I'm baptizing Ashley.

We were at the hospital every day this week for members...... lots of sickness and death was around that ER and Spanish haha. but one bright experience of that was Giovanni.  He was having appendix and colon problems and they were holding him overnight and if he got any more pain they'd go in and cut stuff out. But he got a blessing and after, he said to the nurse and to the non member grandparents "I wont have surgery now" and they were puzzled and then sure enough he got released the next day with 0 pain. It was so cool to see his faith.

2nd experience of the week. Wes Norris, 23 walked into church for the first time, said he was looking for a good church and someone told him to go here. So got to know him and all and traded info.  Went to teach him that night and he ate up our broken 1st lesson and then I invited him to baptism and he now has a date for Feb 2...... being bold works! The Lord calls his 19yr olds knowing they will be 19yr old and make lots of mistakes and such..... he doesn't call 19yr olds to be 32 or whatever. That lesson was the most amazing lesson to me and I literally smiled the whole night I slept. He wanted it asap! and loved everything it was.... such a testimony builder for me. I love it!! This is missionary work!!!!!! the only kicker...... he's in the 2nd ward sisters area....... so we gotta give him up and that really stinks.... but hopefully as new DL will get to teach with the sisters so we can keep the friendship!  Great things are happening here in Hollister!

The weather is cold like 20-30s so not as bad as yal but we're on bikes half the week lol.

Hope all is well at home, tell everyone hi,

Love

-Elder McAllister

WOW....2013

Hey yal,

haha so the MTC news is pretty funny, heard 45 had to be hospitalized. Glad I wasn't in that whole hornets nest.

I'm healthy as an ox! besides my shoulder that's way outta whack but oh well I got "1 a day mens" some multi vitamin so its says "Pro Edge" so I'll basically be indestructible now which will help. but ya know normal stuff.

haha the weather is interesting. probably 45-55 during the day then as soon as the sun goes down straight to 20-30s. plus we usually get rain. I'm still gettin soaked but we get the car 2morrow so that will be outstanding!! haha only down side is now my Rock Solid legs will not be Solid.... tryin to find a weight set too. well see how that one goes.

I'll try and remember to write memories. sorry I get very scatterbrained with all the people and assignments I am given. It would be easier but training is basically me and a little assistant to kinda help haha so well see.

wow another transfer dun!! Only 1 more in Hollister which I'm not happy about. ..... I love it here.  In fact I almost would live here, but it's still Cali so not a chance... haha!!!

Our #1 investigator Claire bore her testimony yesterday!! Holy cow it was amazing! The funny part is she won't get baptized until she finishes the book so we made a challenge.... 12 pages a day and she'll be done by Jan 31 so February is gonna be full of baptisms for us!! Hopefully before I take off...
 

It's amazing how much my testimony has grown seeing the spirit of the BoM work through others. It truly is miraculous to see the change and comfort it can bring to people in these tumultuous days (big word of the week!) but don't worry I'm still the same ol guy just with a lot more stress and a little more knowledge of the Savior and his teachings.

This one RC Erica..... she's is gonna give me a stress induced stroke...... my hair's already turnin grey from her.... she's just so crazy! I didn't know 40 year olds could be so stressful. I literally feel like I'm the "vent" for all her troubles....she has huge meltdowns and so I try and fix it and nothing lol. I guess I'll just listen and let her do her thing.... oh and she doesn't want to trouble or burden anyone but the missionaries lol. We try getting the HT and Bishop in there but she won't have it.... gawww lol I need like a punching bag after all the stress she's causing me lol. But then she'll have these profound moments when she bears her testimony and I'm like, dang shes a rockstar... its so weird lol!

So we do have a baptism coming up that I will be the "dunker" Ashley Maupin! She just turned 8 in a less active part member family so the dad doesn't have the Priesthood so I get to! I'm excited alot.

I love it here. I love the people. The're absolutely extraordinary. I don't like change so next transfer if I go I will not be happy lol

It's crazy how fast time is going by..... absolutely insane. I remember just yesterday I was pickin my kid up from SJ and now its 5 weeks later....... the mission is starting to fly by....

Love yal hope schools not tooo bad. and talk to yal next week.

-Elder McAllister