Sister Allie King: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

November 30, 2015

Here is my new address:

Sister Allie King
8333 White Squall Lane
#1
Bakersfield, CA 93312

The apartment is beautiful and fairly new. We have a washer and dryer, and its 2 miles out of our area :p but it has a garage, it’s like a townhouse set up but with apartments instead, so there’s no upstairs or downstairs, hallelujah!

WHAT AN EVENTFUL WEEK! Sort of.

Mostly because I moved in and met a ton of members in a huge ward in a strange place that's nothing like my last area... and it was Thanksgiving.

But I love it here in Bakes! I guess a few highlights would be our 2 lessons with the McD family! Anthony is 16 and he got baptized 3 days before I came in. His mom and brothers are now taking the discussions and they're spiritual giants! They're so ready to be baptized and they have such a strong testimony that this gospel is true. Not to mention the fact that Anthony is already a little missionary and is helping them along the path. They're extremely friendly and open, I felt like a part of the family immediately. We taught them a bit more about the Book of Mormon and how it goes along with the Bible to help us strengthen our relationship with Christ and let me tell you, the Spirit was SO STRONG! I gained an even stronger witness that that book and this church are both so true, and I love seeing the changes these people are making in their lives and how it is bringing them SO much joy and peace!

We also met with Rico, who was in the army, and we brought a member, Brother Hamilton, who was a police officer in LA a few years ago. We taught about the Plan of Salvation and Brother Hamilton testified of how it has brought him comfort when he lost friends in the force to gang violence, and had to see the effects of this world destroy lives and family. It helped me appreciate MY gratitude for God's plan for us and the mercy and love he has for all his children.

We had Thanksgiving at the Judkins. She is like the light of my life, I LOVE that family and their house mimicked ours with the way her kids were acting, it was freaking me out, I felt like I was home.

Thanksgiving 2015
Sister Judkins, Sister King, Sister Olsen
Bakersfield, CA

Thanksgiving 2015
The Judkins, Sister King, Sister Olsen
Bakersfield, CA

On a less serious note, I came in last in a pie eating contest on Thanksgiving and I've never been so ashamed in my life, I thought I had it in the bag. I need practice....

Thanksgiving 2015
Losing the Pie Eating Contest
The Judkins, Sister King Bakersfield, CA

We got lost my first day here since my companion’s only been here one transfer and we had to get our oil changed in a place way out of our area. We thought we were going to die in that car from driving so long. There were also these birds that looked like ducks, but they weren't ducks... it was kind of freaking me out.

Anyways, Sister Olsen is AMAZING! She's from Ogden and is so sweet and wonderful and is a powerhouse when it comes to missionary work. I'm excited for the miracles that are about to come! This work is the greatest thing in the WORLD!

THE WARD HERE IS AWESOME! I feel like I’m in heaven, the people here are so friendly and we get fed every night and they fellowship and it's awesome.

Hot dang, God is real!! I love you all so much, have an amazing week!

Sister King

November, 2015
Saying Goodbye to the Old "Family"

November, 2015
Saying Hello to the New "Family"

Manzanar National Historic Site
WWII Era Japanese American Internment Camp
http://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm

Monday, November 23, 2015

November 23, 2015

WHAT. A. WEEK!

We were both sick at some point, along with our investigators. Again! But we've been powering through!

We had a really cool lesson with our investigator Chris (all thanks to John Matsen who sent me an object lesson using candles). It was a combination of the first 3 lessons and he really liked it!

Candle Object Lesson

Plus we had a lesson with Tyler, but he didn't have any furniture so we all sat on a blanket on the floor of his living room and had a mini picnic. Sister Wilson was there and she testified of how the gospel has blessed her life and it was just a reminder to me of how EVERY MEMBER IS A MISSIONARY! I can't wait to get back and still be involved in this amazing work!

But hey, let's cut to the chase here. Transfer calls came in.... And I'm LEAVING BISHOP!! I'm going to West Bakersfield to the Snow ward. I'll still get to train though! I'll be a follow-up trainer to Sister Olsen, who was Sister Wheeler's MTC companion! Speaking of Sister Wheeler... She'll be staying in Bishop and TRAINING! She's skipping the second transfer of her own training to get a greenie. So I'll be a grandma after 4 months and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Elder Vakalahi is also getting transferred to La Cresta. Our little family will be split apart, and I'm really going to miss Bishop, it's so beautiful and the people are so nice and it was such a cool experience living in a small town, which I've never done in my entire life. But during interviews with President on Monday he basically told me I would be leaving so it wasn't a surprise :(

Of course, the Lord is so mindful of me. Every day this week during my personal study, something I read just testified of God's love for me and His plan for me. I know that Bakersfield is where I'm supposed to be this next transfer and that His ways are better than mine. I'm still pretty sad though...

We leave today to make the 4.5 hour drive to Bakersfield! I love this work and I know that Heavenly Father knows us and loves us each individually and perfectly! I can't wait to continue to share that testimony with others!

Sister King

High Sierra District! Left to Right:
Elder Chamberlain, Elder Thunhorst,
Elder Vakalahi, Elder Hidalgo,
Sister Wheeler, Sister King
November 2015

Giving Service to the Community
Raking Leaves
Sister King, Elder Hidalgo, Sister Wheeler, Elder Vakalahi
Bishop, CA, November 2015

Brother Freeman gave us a "to go" dinner because his wife wasn't home yet.

Sister Wheeler, Sister King

Bishop, CA, November 2015

Sister Wheeler, Chris, Sister King
Bishop, CA, November 2015

Sister Wheeler, Sister McLaughlin, Sister King

Bishop, CA, November 2015

(Sister McLaughlin is the missionary "grandma" for

those serving in Bishop)

Sunrise in Bishop, California

November, 2015

Bob, Sister King, Sister Wheeler

Bishop, CA, November 2015

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 15, 2015

This week started off with a BANG! Our washer flooded the laundry room and kitchen :D ....

The Great Bishop Laundry Room Flood
of November 2015

....and then this woman lets herself into our house with 10 people :D and that's how we found out that our apartment is apparently for sale :D What a time to be alive! Many phone calls were made and we came to the conclusion that no one knows what they're doing when it comes to selling, which is why no one told us about it.

BUT there was the Primary Program at church (when the little children sing and give talks) and I cried 4 times. There's just something about hearing the simple testimonies of kids that hits me hard.

Typical Sunset in Bishop
November 2015

We've been noticing that whenever we're teaching someone the restoration, something distracting ALWAYS happens when we bring up Joseph Smith. Either a dump truck comes by, kids start screaming, it starts raining, the phone rings, or we get attacked by their pet. The adversary's working really hard to break the spirit but HE LOSES! HA!!

Sister King, Sister Wheeler,
A Really Big Rock
Mammoth, CA
November 2015

Sister King, Sister Wheeler,
Mammoth, CA
November 2015

We are teaching 7 people with baptismal dates, but its just really hard to get them to come to church here... I had a migraine for a few days but I chugged a ton of diet coke and its gone!!

Anyways, all of our investigators are sick with the cold of flu. So it's been hard trying to meet with them, but that's just Satan trying to push back their baptisms! He will not prevail! He was working really hard this week actually. Out of the 4 missionaries, Sister Wheeler was the only one who didn't get sick. But the spirit's been extremely strong nevertheless! We found a new investigator, Tyler, and he's so prepared and willing to learn more! Not to mention he's so dang polite, and he actually responds to our texts which is unheard of in this town.

It was 60s this week but today is in the 40s :p

Mammoth, CA
November 2015

Sister King, Sister Wheeler,
Mammoth, CA
November 2015

A View of Bishop, CA
In The Distant Background
November 2015

We tried to make stroganoff this week but didn't know how, so it turned into a gray nasty mess; so that was fun! We tried kettle corn but it burned.

Sister King Making
Square Spam Sushi
Bishop, CA
November 2015

Sister King Making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Bishop, CA
November 2015

We were on the reservation here when a nearby cow escapes and starts charging to our car. This 12 year old boy Luis says, "I'm on it!" and just chases that cow like a pro. He manages to chase it back to the fence, where it hopped back over the broken part and we struggled to get that barbed wire back up high enough to do its job. Thankfully it didn't do any damage, I'm not sure how I could have explained to the Mission President without laughing why our car was smashed. Typical day on the reservation.

I don't see too many animals here, lots of horses and cows and dogs and cats (a bunch are wild). I've seen one raccoon and smelled a skunk, but it's not bad! Lots of birds here, too.

But I just finished 2 Nephi and DANG IT'S GOOD! It reminded me of all the tender mercies the Lord has given us and how the Book of Mormon truly is the word of God and can help us build our relationship with the savior! I'm so grateful for all the love I feel from the people here, my family back home and my Heavenly Father, who is SO mindful of us all the time! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL!!

Sister King

Monday, November 9, 2015

November 8, 2015

I had some of the COOLEST experiences this week!

Sister Wheeler, Sister King
Mammoth Mountain
November, 2015

One of our investigators had been going through some freaky things and wasn't feeling safe in her home. So we had the Elders come over to give her a blessing of comfort. When they finished, we asked her how she was feeling and she just bursts into tears. She said that she had been going through a lot of stress and confusion and that the blessings was EVERYTHING she needed to hear! She said it's just a confirmation that this is the church she's been looking for! And to top it all off, it was the first time she met the Elders, neither of them knew anything about each other but GOD knew them all perfectly! I'm SO GRATEFUL for the power of the priesthood in our lives and the fact that God is always so mindful of each of us individually! We all felt such an overwhelming feeling of peace sweep over us, a peace and happiness that can only come through this true and restored gospel!

Not only that, but we were able to see Michelle again this week and she never ceases to amaze me! The father of 2 of her kids died a few months back and it's still been heavy on her mind and causing her a lot of depression. But we were able to share with her the beauty of the Plan of Salvation and we were able to tell her where he is and how he isn't and will never be lost. I will never be able to put into words the comfort I feel in knowing God's plan for each of us and I love the opportunity I have to share it with others! We were also able to commit her children to baptism as well!

We taught one of our investigator's daughter Crystal the restoration and she said how she's been looking for a way to come to Christ, she's going through a lot of family trials and wants peace. Thankfully, we have a STRONG testimony on how the gospel blesses families and she's beginning to see how it will help her through these hard times!!

Sister Wheeler, Sister King
Mammoth Mountain
November, 2015

Also, it snowed in the mountains and Sister Wheeler literally started crying when she saw. It's going GREAT here!

Sister King

Sister Wheeler, Sister King,
and the Sister Training Leaders,
Bishop, California
October 2015

Monday, November 2, 2015

November 2, 2015

The Lord is STILL pouring out blessings on our area! So many more miracles!

We had a ward Halloween party on Friday and it was a HUGE success! We had to rush to get everything together and we were worried no one would come, but we had a great turnout and everyone had fun! I was put in charge of donuts on a string, so of course I had a blast watching all kids get covered in sugar! The Zone Leaders were here on exchanges, so we ended up having 6 missionaries there to help! THE POWER OF THIS WORK IS REAL! We had a few investigators and friends come and it was such a good night! I ate more candy and brownies than I’d care to admit, and I felt the pain on Halloween haha. Speaking of Halloween...

That morning was pretty rough. We had some people yell at us and accuse us of being terrible people and the works. We tried to stay positive and humble but we were getting pretty frustrated. We were also worried that no one would want to talk to us since it was Halloween, so we just prayed asking God to lift our spirits and help us find those who are ready for this gospel. And HE PROVIDED! We had this fire and we went out and found 4 new investigators that day!

We were teaching Rocio, a super sweet 23 year old who loves this gospel and the Book of Mormon, and we were able to teach her fiancé, Erik, as well! After we recounted the first vision she just squeals and says how she got so many chills! The spirit was incredible! We found Judy, who used to talk to the missionaries in an area about 30 miles away and she'd been praying for us to find her again! We had no idea; we just saw her sitting down and went up to talk to her. Our ward mission leader is 24 and has apparently been teaching all his friends about the gospel and we were able to teach his friend Andrew and his brother and girlfriend and roommate. That day was SO COOL! Not to mention we picked up a former investigator, Chris, who says he's finally ready to commit to baptism and he has such a strong desire to follow Christ!

And of course, that night was TRICK OR TREATING! We weren’t able to go, but we went to the Swain's and helped them pass out candy and make banana bread!

We taught Relief Society on Sunday and we focused on the differences between weakness and sin. Sin is willfully disobeying God's commandments and the Light of Christ within us, while weakness is limitations GIVEN to us by our Father so that we can learn how to overcome them and grow. Paul explained it perfectly in 2 Corinthians12:9-10. As we RELY on the Lord to help us gain strength in our weakness, He makes sure that no one will take advantage of us; He makes sure we'll be able to do the task He has asked us to perform and He makes sure we come out a better person!

I have found this in training! I was terrified that I was unqualified for the job and that I wouldn't be able to teach the new missionary what to do, but as I've prayed for the Lord to make up for the things that I lack, I've found that often times, we'll never be "qualified" to do something, the Lord asks us to do it so that HE can work THROUGH us! This is HIS work; we'll never have to do something we aren't capable of! I love Him, I love Bishop, I love Sister Wheeler and I love all he continually does for me and ALL His beloved children!

Sister King