July 28, 2014

Hey yal,

 

So college wise I've got 16 days to pay or have payment plan in place otherwise I get all my classes dropped..... so let me know what you need me to do...  I'm emailin pres today about it so I'll let you know as soon as I hear back... we gotta get goin though. Other than that, I'm so stoked!! idk if there will be a shuttle down to the airport but its only a 10 min drive. We'll see I guess. totally stoked for the cute girls! oh man so stoked!! hahaha.  Glad my campus is awesome!! Heard there's a brand new gym. cant wait!! Let me know what we wanna do for a laptop because I can get a discount here with my member and then just bring it home with me. Sanchez and House are doin that too. Figure its a good idea to get a mac from where they are made but let me know what you want to do with all that!

 

This week in comparison to last was not too exciting lol just grindin the days. Put more miles on that bike! Startin to put stuff together to send home that won't work in the suitcase. We'll see how that goes. We got to take down a fence the other day that was pretty fun to use tools and have a blast with missionaries!  Misty is doing great.....  she's getting involved in the ward and rockin it! She's hopefully goin to the temple here pretty quick! Had zone conference this week... that was pretty good! Our new Pres Mella is a cool guy. Hard because I don't have the same relationship as I did with Watkins but oh well. It was a good time, got to see all my poly brothers and sisters!! haha it was so fun! They make everything better hahahaha... havin some miracles with LA members wanting to help us! The doctrine of feeling needed and getting others to do stuff for you and feeling included. Man it is so key! and it helps them, help you, help themselves if that makes any sense! but its awesome!!!  Works all the time and its amazing to see the results! church was amazing. I love these members. I seriously feel like I'm in the ward. Well 8 months here would do that I guess but yeah I love em so much! Gonna be hard to say bye... really tough.... and to the missionaries too.... man sucks.  Its so hot lol we just get on the bikes and were already sweatin... its cool I'm just loosin that weight I put on here hahahaha.  Got called trunky for the 1st time by a member from the Chinese branch lol. I can't get my top button dun on my shirts hahaha so he took that as I was trunky... what the heck! judging... so bad.... he don't know me or how hard I've been working! Whatever hahaha its just funny to hear. God knows how I've been workin and that's all that matters!! Just thought it was pretty funny.

 

Life is good. Sucks because I feel like my life is ending but its good because I love every second of it! Ya gotta live it up! You only get one chance at a lot of things and so you gotta take the shot when its there otherwise your missin out on it all! A guy told me last week everyone dies but only a few people live. Thinkin about that I'm like.... yeah that's pretty true. alotta people just go through the motions and that's not what God wants us to do. He wants us to be happy and to stretch! to grow and to become who we wanted to be in the pre mortal life!

 

Pretty normal week all in all! Dunno whats goin on for pday today but were gonna have a blast!!!  Can you believe its almost August? I cant. I'm tryin to go backwards but then at the same time I'm racing to the 20th. idk whats going on lol I'm so broke. idk whats going on anymore. Just teachin and servin and the rest will work itself out! Hope ya have a bomb time camping without me! Hope Duke has a good time! Miss that pooch.

 

Have fun.... we'll talk to ya soon! love yal

-E. McAllister

 Car Show....it was so BOMB!

 Not sure what was happening here...maybe California Snowball fight?

 fixin the fence

July 21, 2014

hey yal,

 

I bet yal had a blast in Utah. that sounds like a ton of fun! That retreat thing sounds interesting.... Mom I've gotten to know you for like 21 years now... I feel I got a pretty good grasp of what makes you tick. haha you've been yourself in those 23 months of letters and that's what I want most. Honestly its really nice to take a breath from the whole spiritual aspect of things and hear how amazing my family is doing and all the fun they are having. That motivates me to do more because I know that our family's sacrifice of this mission is bringing in tons of blessings to our family. That's why we get to email so we know whats going on in both sides of the world right? I want you to be you because when your your best you, then you'll be happy and so will I :) and you don't have to put this paragraph in the blog ;) hahaha "Be your Best You and Rock It!"

 

This week was insane. holy craziness lol. so we'll go day by day on this one cause it was legit!

 

Monday- Me and Ayotte and Housekeeper and Doxey went up into the mountains(more like hills) and just went cruising for a little and we ended up at the Big Basin state park! such big redwoods. man it was so fun! Just a really fun time and chill. Haven't been in the woods like that in a really really long time haha but it was so fun! pictures to follow. Dinner at the Damunis, a Fijian family who are so much fun! They're straight mano'o! haha they are so fun! and me and s. Qaqa were just havin a blast with em all! Tripp and s. Bishop just like sat there.... it was really awkward... but it was legit for us! haha their loss. Found this program that in the summers some guy from Utah started a thing that kids can go to Fiji to build houses and wells and roads and cool stuff like that. so I'm basically gonna do that next summer! it'll be legit! Tila Drova and the Damunis and s. Qaqa and E. Racule all will set me up with the best out there! its nice to have friends just like you were sayin mom :) well these guys are basically family so yeah there awesome!  had a blast with em all!

 

Tuesday- service service service! did you know I was a plumber? me neither but after shelving books at the library, we helped an ol lady redo her bathroom sink and stuff. I'm pretty good at it too! Maybe I'll do that as a back up or something. but it was fun! Then we gotta do some gardening. I basically have a green hand not a green thumb haha except this bush thing we cut back had all this sap sorta stuff in it and if I jumped against a wall I'd stick to it for like an hour. haha so funny. It was pretty fun we got some brownies outta it.

 

Wednesday- bomb day for teaching people. Met with 4 of our less active families and man they are doin so good! Tila Drova just got her limited use recommend!! AHHH so cool!!! plus one of the most inactive people she has a baking business and we asked her to make some cupcakes and she made 4 dozen for free! It was sweet! LA still are willin to provide service no matter what its for ... just remember that! Had dinner at the Ocampos! They were in Lawrence station ward with me and moved to the branch here so we're in the same building and they love feeding us! and we get to have pillow fights every time with their kiddos! so much fun! and her food is so good. Best Mexican food I've ever had. ever!

 

Thursday-  Zone training! We had it at Rich Thawley's house, who'se loaded.... sold a company to Trans America and he is now a private contractor for them in doing leadership and motivational seminars and stuff... it was an awesome lesson and plus his back yard had a putting green so we had a blast on that and he pulled out his GTR which was legit... tuned it to 800HP.  man it was sleek.. had a super fun time with the zone for that though! it was legit.

 

Friday- Legit! exchanges with Ayotte and we lit up Saragota ward! it was such a blast and nice to have a break from Tripp haha it was a good reboot.

 

Saturday- Started with a cancer walk and we were havin an alright time and then the FD came!! heck yes!! haha went and chatted it up with em for the next like hour and a half. it was a blast! We were just bouncing off of everything it was good! Apparently I'm in good shape just gotta get into shape lol they said cross fit is a good workout plan  so I'll hit that up when I get home but as far as schooling and certs I'm so set. Plus I made good impressions with them and hopefully some good contacts for later on! They invited me to come to the station and to go on a ride along lol.... can I leave Tripp for that?? haha maybe not. but we're def gonna go! Then of course to end the week off.... Misty's baptism. wow so amazing! The spirit was super strong. and I even sang... what the heck! hahaha it was awesome. She was so prepared as weird as it is, she was textbook. no hick ups. no double takes  just full bore 90 mph down the road to baptism. She's solid. amazing. quiet hahaha but awesome! Really great service and everything came together. oh met a guy named Tanner Haney ring a bell? he said he was in Pueblo when Dad was bishop and I was like 3 lol but he remembered me! it was cool to chat for a minute. He's working for Erstin young firm out here. it was cool.

 

Sunday- Really good confirmation by Tripp... he did a real good job. Plus I love Sundays. Love, love, love talking to my family here. I would move into this ward in a heart beat. They are rock stars and I love em to death! Had a really really boring stake meeting... blah! lol but then some good times with missionaries. Had dinner at the Otani's.... still don't like going over there... but their son is about to go on a mission so I gotta suck it up and be there for him. Reports the 20th haha how funny right? but he's coming out with us a bunch this next few weeks. He's gonna be good to go! Japan I think is where he's heading. Then had a sweet lil missionary meeting to put #s in for the week. man it was a good good week.

 

So the McDonald's are legit.... there our WML and I seriously have made life long friends with em. We talk about literally everything! hahah so nice to have. Just goes to show you.... show some love and people will give it right back! Yesterday when we were getting a ride home from em, he was going off making this huge story of how fast I'll get married and have a kid and mini van and blah blah balh hahaha it was so funny! We really click. its awesome. love love love it here. these people I work with are just amazing.

 

Well gotta run. Another week down another week to go. Time is runnin out! but its good and bad. Heard housing was all taken care of. thanks :) my fasfa papers still haven't been processed at UVU yet so I'm a little worried about that. I'll call em this week and double check on em. Have fun at my school!! You should run down to the airport where my classes will be at too!

 

love yal! have a really good week!

 

-E. McAllister

 Going home papers...trunky

 Misty's Baptism

 Tanner Haney

 

July 14, 2014

Hey yal,

 

Man where did this last week go? I have no idea! its just gone in a flash. can you believe it? Jacks and Sanchez always let me know whats going on with how many days left we have... I really don't want to know. I'm excited to head home and see yal but man I don't want to go.. I would do this for life. in a heart beat. so much fun. Me and Jacks were talkin no other time in our life will we be able to get together every week with our best friends or have amazing meals with the coolest people that otherwise wouldn't give us snot nose youngins the light of day. Its truly awesome. and I'm so chapped its ending,. can I take like a week break and see yal then come back for 2 more years?? I think that would be perfect. lol

 

Misty's still goin strong! Attended a baptism in south San Jose with her and Chris... man was awesome! That really jazzed her up for it and its cool to see how she's more comfortable with us and so much more talkative! which is saying a lot for her lol. Chris is super supportive and doin well. He will come to church this week when Misty is confirmed. yeah she asked me to baptized her. Man so stoked. Could be the last time I baptize someone as a missionary... man crazy! Everything is a go for this Saturday. and I'm even gonna sing.... pray for me lol.  but she is so awesome! and so is Chris that takes a lot of faith and trust and love for his wife to be so supportive. really cool.

 

haha yeah the Butlers are like my family out here. I love hanging out with them and having a blast! Bro. Butler and Bro. Hatch(sis Butlers dad) have been teachin me how to grill. Last time it was burgers and dogs and this time it was steaks! I was so nervous! haha but they turned out real good thanks to those 2!

 

We've been doing some service clearing huge weed bushes lately at a school and the guy who was heading it up actually came to church yesterday! that was real cool. as well as a few other Less Active members. It was nice. plus I love Sundays talking to everyone and just feeling the unity and stuff of the ward family. so cool.

 

So Tyler moment of the week goes to me trying to open a lock with my knife and cutting my arm.... lol after me and Jacks just looked at it and was like well that sucks... haha so funny. Its all better now. but it was so funny. lesson learned... again..  hahah

 

So I've gotten a few offers on my bike. I would love to bring it home but that might be pretty expensive. plus I might get home and realize I don't need it then it was a loss in profit. idk. Did you use a bike in college or just walk? cause the schools got shuttles and I'll have the car. dunno what to do. advice! Plus housing e. Housekeeper said his mom hasn't told him he's doing it lol..... sooo idk I'd love for you to do it cause I'm getting so busy... if not I can do it just let me know what works for you!

 

Birthday was good. went to a few families for it. It was cool. pretty chill nothing big. Ocampos the day before for a pre birthday meal. so good! then bday was service at cypress senior center in the kitchen then a few stop bys and bday dinner with the WML whose bday was the same day. They got me a UVU shirt!  So nice of em. Then a dessert and game party at the Butlers. It was a good day. Don't feel any older but hey that's what happens when you get old I guess.

 

It was pretty nice too cause this past Tues, Wednesday and Thursday we had e. Tonga with us while he was waiting to pick up his greenie. I love that guy! He is so fun man haha # poly fever. we had a blast! and it was a good break from Mr. video game lol.

 

Man life is so bitter sweet here.... I'm hangin on to every moment. I heard a quote from a mish that said "you don't know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory" man is that true.... its so true... gotta live it up while ya can!

 

Love yal so much! Hope yal have a good time at EFY and Utah and all. Say hi to my school for me ;)

oh let me know your thoughts about a MacBook I talked to the member and he's totally there for me if we want to go that way.

 

love ya

-E. McAllister

 Poly food

 Pre birthday dinner at Ocampos

 Dessert and game party at Butler's

 

July 7, 2014

hey yal

 

Man crazy crazy crazy week.... oh buddy....haha but I'm not getting transferred! My prayer was answered haha it was funny in church some of the members were askin and I played it off like I was getting transferred and they were really sad and I told em and I got hit a few times hahaha so worth it. I love the members here. I could move into this ward. just like that.  These guys are my family. I would do anything for em. Man its gonna be hard to leave... haha so the WML bought me new tires for my bike so I tried to pay for it and he kept figuring out ways to get it back to me and I'd keep tryin to leave the money in places in his house but then he got it back to me again! Didn't notice til a day later and I text him and he was like one day you'll be the WML with 50yr old knees and then you will be the sensei young grasshopper. man so funny! I love that guy.... he's the bomb! and we have the same birthday so we got dinner with them on Thursday. Pretty stoked about it! haha  I'm noticing my conversations with members are way more in depth and friendship based rather than why is this missionary interrogating me. haha its so awesome! and I've got 6 more weeks with em all!

 

This week for us was also super super small. Like totally empty but then families who lived here like an eternity ago visited and the testimonies were bomb! So it was basically perfect for Misty our baptismal date! So cool!! She's so wanting it! Its awesome! and her husband who said he wasn't interested is slowly getting interested! So dang awesome!!!! ahhhh so cool!  He like was in the corner at the 1st meeting and slowly sits closer to her and reads scriptures. man its so cool!

 

This week was an awesome week! Best day of the year was Friday!haha that morning we were finishing up that remodel.... its done! finally 5 weeks. It looks fantastic. Should go on the market within the next week stoked for that! Then we went to a Samoan BBQ with some of my ol members and of course my Poly Missionaries! Love em to death! We had a blast! 7 hrs of football, volleyball, food, soda, sunburns, and tons of laughter! man it was so fun!! I'm so sore though haha  have to fall into seats cause my hind legs are just dun fer. Haven't had to run that fast in along time. Looks like I gotta get back into shape lol. Man it was so fun though! Gotta love polys! Then ended the night at Tila's.... a Fijian... for more food and partyin it up with fireworks. Pres let us stay out til 1030 to watch em. It was so fun! Had Racule and Whaley there with too and we had a blast! The 4th was a good day. I tell ya though I was so out of it by the time we got to the apartment.... oh man I was just running on fumes. so worth it!

 

Went to an awesome outgoing fireside last night. Man I love the missionaries and I saw a lot of em there! It was a really different spirit there though. Like idk if it was just no one liked those missionaries going home or cause the new pres. or what idk but it was just different... mission feels empty without Watkins.. oh well I'm sure time will fix that.

 

Still with Tripp for 6 more weeks. Really prayin my patience can withstand it.... almost snapped this past week. It was gonna get bad but I just went for a walk with Ayotte and it worked out. Man idk what to do..... been on my knees so much though. Still so hard.. I gotta learn something I guess.

 

Oh so found dads new favorite place......a model train store. Huge, full of every size, color, rail road company and everything it was bomb! Really $$$ but cool! Didn't have the cash to get ya anything but took some pictures!

 

Really overall a good week. I'm so happy. The other day in the shower it finally hit me that this ends. I still half way feel I'll be here forever but then idk its a weird feeling... like I'm in limbo or something. its weird. but man I'm sure gonna miss it.. 6 weeks to strut my stuff. Time to kick the tires and light the fires.

 

Love yal.... have fun in Denver!

-E. McAllister

 

 New Mission President.....

June 30, 2014

hey yal.

 

Man sounds like the ward is just getting kicked and torn...

 

Glad to hear about the housing.... that's awesome. So stoked! Man that cars a beater car ....they don't have to garage it if that means theirs has to be put outside!

 

This week has been insane. absolutely  crazy. How it all happened I don't know... so the week was startin off super slow with not much going but the usual then that last half of the week just flew by!!

 

We got a random call from a guy who came to church a few weeks ago and wanted to meet so we went over and were pumped to teach him. Then he was like oh by the way I started my own church here.... io au e.... hahaha we looked at each other and were like OK here we go... it was rough. He tried pulling things apart but our testimonies were solid and the Lord confounded him which was amazing. But he doesn't want to meet anymore lol. It was so sweet though! Then we had dinner at the Butlers. They are bomb! I love them so much! They are the best family ever. We get there and start talking and the kids and cousins go and grab California snowballs! nylons filled with flour. Oh man world war 3 started. haha we all were running around throwin em at each other.(cept Tripp he got mad cause he got dirty) but the rest of us were havin a blast!! So much fun... we were all covered! and I was worn out lol seems like all the kiddos wanted to go after the missionary lol idk why? Man such a blast!! Love that family! Went over the next day to them with E. Whaley who used to be in the ward.  Word is I might be transferred next week. We'll see.

 

Biggest miracle ever. So this LA lady who doesn't agree with a lot of church stuff and her NM husband who just got married btw have a 10 yr old daughter.... we haven't talked gospel like at all when we visited. Just helped with service and talked funny stories all the time. Dude's hilarious btw. She texted this week asking when I go home and weird questions and then shes like well I don't believe a lot of the church but I still consider it home and all that and I want my daughter to have the option if she wants to be in the church. WHAT?!?!? That's insane!!! Came outta no where!  I am so dang happy! You have no idea how much I love this family. All we did was be fun and love and care for em and look what happens. Man so awesome! Charity goes along way.... like real long way.

 

Went to this group of food trucks and man  had the best food ever. Got a hotdog wrapped in bacon with sweet peppers, onions, tomatoes and may all over it sooo dang good and then cheesy jalapeno tots to finish it off.... man it was so good. Makes me think of fair food.

 

Look at that..... its almost the 4th so stoked!! You'll see a bomb picture next week. I'm excited.

 

Man what else happened... ummmmm just lovin life. Saturday was rough by the end of the day my patience was just shot.... I'm realizing I've got a lot more than I thought I had but still it pulls me down sometimes but luckily I just talk to a poly and bam I'm right back happy again! haha idk why but it just works. Man 7 weeks... what the heck... where has the time gone. Where has everything gone? Hope I did a good job.

 

Have a good week guys.

 

Love yal!

-E. McAllister