#19down

Note from Elder Alley's mom:

Elder Alley sent home an SD card full of pictures, but didn't include any info on them so here's a bunch of random photos with my guesses about where is he and what he's doing. Enjoy!

Elder Martinez (the photo bomber)  has a signature pose. lol

And there it is again. ;)

Elder Smiley, Elder Baldwin, Elder Maldonado, Elder Shearer, Elder Alley
 & Elder Martinez in front

Dining Al Fresco in front of their apartment

Elder Alley was very excited to spot his good friend, Elder Hardy,
singing with the MTC choir at the Priesthood Session of General Conference

Random pic of Elder Alley wearing a random suit...
we did not send him out with that one. Lol

Pics of his apartment

These next pics were taken at McKee Ranch.
I know this because this sign was at the beginning of this series of photos.
 (Move over, Benedict Cumberbatch. There's a new Sherlock in town.)  ;)

Apparently, chickens are a big thing at McKee Ranch.
There were A LOT of chicken photos. I just included the best two. :)

The field is white and ready to harvest...

Max found his plates

It'd be even more perfect it said MAX 96.

Elder Alley and an elder whose name I wish I knew

Practicing teaching....

Ok. Knowing this is the picture in the frame explains why it was so easy for them to teach so enthusiastically. ;)

November 24, 2014

So the first week of the next transfer is complete and it all went pretty well! Having a brand new companion was a little different. I was the only one who knew the area and our investigators and so I kind of had to be senior companion for the week, but this time around I felt a lot more comfortable with it. Ya know, I knew this would happen, but now that I have finished my training, I can really look back and see just how much I learned and progressed both in my Spanish and in how to be a missionary thanks to Elder Maldonado. Specifically, I am really grateful that Elder Maldonado pushed me with my Spanish. Most of the trainers were talking a lot of Enlgish with their greenies since it was their first transfers. Not us, though! Unless we absolutely needed to, we spoke ONLY Spanish together and now, I have seen just how much my Spanish has improved since I started. Elder Labriola said that (other than the native companions he's had) I have the best Spanish of any comp he's had especially for only having been in the mission for 4 months now. That was a huge boost to hear! I still don't think I could run an area on my own, but I feel more confident talking to members and in lessons and such. 

Speaking of Elder Labriola, things have been going pretty good with him. He is a good guy, and has been out for a while and knows how to teach well and ask good questions in lessons. He is definitely way different than being with Elder Maldonado, but we get out there and we do the work! We had lots of good lessons this last week and found 2 new investigators. Please pray that the people we are teaching can progress towards baptism. 

Highlights of the week were getting to go to the temple on Wednesday, and the Ward Thanksgiving dinner Saturday night! I never want to leave the temple when I go. It's incredible how my feelings about the temple have changed since my first time going. I want to go every week now! But alas, we only go every 3 months, which is more than most missions, so I am very grateful for that! 

Oh, and yesterday I got to go to Sandy Valley again! It was fun and we took some boss pictures that I will try to get home when I can. It was a CCM reunion cuz Elder Shearer and I went together. 

Spiritual Thought for the week: We taught a couple lessons this week about the importance of 3 principles of the gospel that form the foundation of our testimony. I want to testify that the principles of reading from the scriptures every day, praying as a family and individually everyday, and going to church every week, are what form the foundation of our testimony. If we want to GAIN a testimony of this church we need to do those three things. If we want to STRENGTHEN our testimony of this church, then we do the exact same things. Those are what bring the spirit into our lives. I know that since I have started my mission and have been reading more and praying more, I have felt the spirit more. It's that simple! I invite you all to focus on those three little things and see how the Spirit of God will work in your life. 

Well that's all for this week! #19down 

Tengan una buena semana. Les escribire en siete dias mas. les amo!

Con amor,

Elder Alley

#19down

November 24, 2014

So the first week of the next transfer is complete and it all went pretty well! Having a brand new companion was a little different. I was the only one who knew the area and our investigators and so I kind of had to be senior companion for the week, but this time around I felt a lot more comfortable with it. Ya know, I knew this would happen, but now that I have finished my training, I can really look back and see just how much I learned and progressed both in my Spanish and in how to be a missionary thanks to Elder Maldonado. Specifically, I am really grateful that Elder Maldonado pushed me with my Spanish. Most of the trainers were talking a lot of English with their greenies since it was their first transfers. Not us, though! Unless we absolutely needed to, we spoke ONLY Spanish together and now, I can see just how much my Spanish has improved since I started. Elder Labriola said that (other than the native companions he's had) I have the best Spanish of any comp he's had especially for only having been in the mission for 4 months now. That was a huge boost to hear! I still don't think I could run an area on my own, but I feel more confident talking to members and in lessons and such. 

Speaking of Elder Labriola, things have been going pretty good with him. He is a good guy, and has been out for a while and knows how to teach well and ask good questions in lessons. He is definitely way different than Elder Maldonado, which has taken some getting used to, but we get out there and we do the work! We had lots of good lessons this last week and found 2 new investigators. Please pray that the people we are teaching can progress towards baptism. 

Highlights of the week were getting to go to the temple on Wednesday, and the Ward Thanksgiving dinner Saturday night! I never want to leave the Temple when I go! It's incredible how my feelings about the temple have changed since my first time going. I want to go every week now! But alas, we only go every 3 months. Which, is more than most missions so I am very grateful for that! 

Oh, and yesterday I got to go to Sandy Valley again! That was fun and we took some boss pictures that I will try to get home when I can. It was a CCM reunion cuz me and Elder Shearer went together. 

Spiritual Thought for the week: We taught a couple lessons this week about the importance of 3 principles of the gospel that form the foundation of our testimony. I want to testify that the principles of Reading from the Scriptures every day, Praying as a family and individually everyday, and going to Church every week, are what form the foundation of our testimony. If we want to GAIN a testimony of this church we need to do those three things. If we want to STRENGTHEN our testimony of this church, then we do the exact same things. Those are what bring the spirit into our lives. I know that since I have started my mission and reading more and praying more, I have felt the spirit more. It's that simple! I invite you all to focus on those three little things and see how the Spirit of God will work in your life. 

Well, that's all for this week! #19down 

Tengan una buena semana. Les escribire en siete dias mas. Les amo!

Con amor,

Elder Alley

Cambios (Changes)

Note from Max's mom: The Shepherds (our friends from Air Force days) were at an event called "Zion's Youth". It's 300 kids in a choir and symphony performance that they do twice a year. Their daughter, Emma, was participating in it. When they saw a bunch of missionaries there, they went on the lookout for Max and found him! Jenny sent me the pics on Facebook and made my night. Nothing's better than unexpected pics of my missionary! In the photo, that's their oldest daughter, Kaylea, who was friends with Max when they were preschoolers.  :)

Thanks for the pics, Jenny!

Zone Conference

November 17, 2014

So this past week was the last week I had with Elder Maldonado as my trainer and that officially means I am done with all my training! I did the CCM, the 12 week program, and now I feel like I am officially in the work. So with this, there are lots of changes that are happening. 

The week before transfers, the President and the AP's always call each missionary and tell them where their next area is and who their next companion is. So from Wednesday to Saturday everyone is on the edge of their seats just waiting to find out where they'll go. After all the calls were made, here's my new situation. Elder Maldonado is leaving to go serve in Pahrump. I am staying here in my same area in the Flamingo Ward and my new companion will be Elder Labriola. I have never met him before, but I found out that he is from Argentina and has been out for 15 months or so. It's going to be an interesting experience! Who knows, my Spanish might start to pick up an Argentine accent haha

That's the thing about missions, though, they force you to deal with change. Of the 8 Elders that were in my district, 4 of them are leaving. As soon as you start to get comfortable with someone or somewhere, it's very likely that you'll move. It's really hard for someone like me who has grown up with constants in his life. My family has always been close, I went to the same Church building with a lot of the same people and the same school with the same friends for most of my life. As someone who is personally not a big fan of change (as evidenced by my deep love of Family Traditions) transfers are difficult. The mission forces you to adapt, to grow, to change who you are as a person. 

I have tried to focus on Helaman 5:12 as all this change has been happening around me. If we truly are built upon Christ as our foundation, then all the change that happens in our lives won't matter. Christ is the one true constant we can have in our lives. The mission is showing me that in a hard way, but I guess that's the best way to learn.

Another highlight from this week was that I got to attend the Zion's Youth Symphony Concert last night with Elder Shearer, an investigator and two youth from the ward. It was an awesome concert and we had a ton of fun. The weather is actually starting to get a little bit chilly down here, believe it or not. Going to the concert at night in the crisp air really reminded me of home (which made me a tad trunky) but overall the whole concert experience was great. 

Mom! I saw the Shepherd's while I was there, too! I took a picture with them and everything! I don't know if she has sent it or talked to you yet about it, but it was cool to see them! That's so crazy to run into someone from Del Rio while on my mission. I haven't seen them since I was like 6.

Anyway, this week we worked really hard and taught a lot of lessons. My Spanish is improving and I am trying in this time of change to strengthen my foundation on Christ. I ask for your thoughts and prayers for comfort as I get a new companion and as I enter the holiday season. This first Christmas away from home is going to be different, so I ask for your prayers! Love you guys!

Elder Alley

PS Just a quick Spiritual thought. In reading the Book of Mormon I found some verses I really liked in Alma and changed them a little bit to fit my circumstances. I have dubbed these verses "La Oracion de Mision" or "The Prayer of my Mission".

It goes like this: Alma 31:32-35

32 O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are serving with me--yea, Elder Alley, and Sister Alley, and Elder Sok, and also all my friends who are serving--yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ.

33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people.

34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee."

I really love these verses and pray that I and my fellow missionaries can all have peace and comfort in our lives as we are away from home, and that we may have success in bringing this Gospel to our respective people. I wrote that on the cover of my journal and pray for that every night. 

Quick

November 10, 2014

Hey, so once again I have found myself in a rush when it comes to my email time, so unfortunately I haven't read anything yet. I am just trying to get this out to you guys as quick as I can and then I will probably have to print off all of the emails I got this week and read them later.

The good news: I survived senior week! It was really hard at times but I got through it. I led lessons, set up appointments and made several phone calls in Spanish. It was a pretty cool experience!

Highlights from this week were that we had Zone Conference on Thursday. We received training from President and Sis. Ahlander and heard testimonies. I got to bear my testimony to everyone because it was my first Zone Conference. All the new missionaries bore their testimonies at the beginning of it. Then at the end of the conference we heard all the testimonies of the missionaries who would be going home before the next Zone Conference. It was really cool to hear theirs. Some had some really powerful testimonies that touched me.

The ultimate highlight, though, was that we got to finish the conference by watching "Meet the Mormons"! It was a super, super good movie. I liked it a lot. I recommend going and seeing it if you haven't! You don't even need to be a Mormon to enjoy it.

The movie did make me a little trunky*, though, with the last story about a mom sending her son off on a mission. The whole scene with them in the airport saying goodbye made me choke up. Ahhhhhh  That was hard to watch, but it was cool to see the movie.

Another highlight is that I got to spend all day Sunday in Sandy Valley, NV (another super small town that is by Goodsprings.) It has its own valley and lots of space and lots of trailer houses. I was on exchanges with Elder Baldwin for the day so I got to go. We went to their branch sacrament meeting. It was so cool being in such a small branch. It was neat to have a different experience. Then we had lunch with the Branch Mission Leader. He reminded me a lot of Bishop Starr. We got to visit other people there and hear some interesting stories. Sandy Valley, NV (look it up). It’s a great place! haha

Other than that I just got to say that I am thankful I survived senior week! That is all to report from this week. Thanks for your prayers that helped me survive Senior Week! Also, shout outs to the wonderful people who sent me letters this last week. Unfortunately, I find I have less and less time to write letters, so know that I have received and read them and love you guys for thinking of me enough to write me! Shout outs to Lucy, Taylor H., Megan S., Mom & Dad, Vaughn, Nick, Anika, Momma Hilmes, Jessica, Megan P., and anyone else I may have forgot to mention that has written me! Thank you all so much! 

Con amor,

Elder Alley

Short on Time

Spring Mountain District (Spanish) Meeting

November 3, 2014

Unfortunately, a little short on time so once again this will be an email of scattered thoughts (kind of like the book dad is going to write). Anyway, this week we did a TON of service. We helped with a total of 4 or 5 different moves (which are called mudanzas en Espanol for your information). We spent a lot of hours helping move people. It was sad, though, because we had to help one of the families in our ward pack up to move to the other side of Vegas and, therefore, the other mission. I have only been with these people for a couple of visits to their house and seeing them at church, but as I packed them up and helped them move, I felt so sad. I was genuinely choked up that they were moving. They are just such a nice couple and even though I never had super lengthy conversations with them, I can really say that I love them. There are a lot of families in this ward that I love and that are my saving grace here. So, yeah, we did a LOT of service this week.

For Halloween the ward had a Trunk or Treat that we got to go to, but on Halloween night the mission rule is that we are not allowed to proselyte after 6PM so we got to go back to the apartments and... watch movies!! I kid you not. I took pictures of our set up to watch movies but today was a hectic day. We went bowling with the Ramirez’s. (Btw, I bowled a total of 262 in 2 games which i am proud of.) We didn't take our car to the library and I don't have my camera and today has just been kinda crazy, so pics will come next week. A cool thing is that the mission approves movies for us to watch and so Halloween night we got to watch “The Best Two Years” and “Toy Story 3”. Not kidding! Never thought I was going to get to watch a Disney movie on my mission, but I did! I felt kind of bad, though. The whole time I was watching it I was thinking of Elder Sok, Elder Alley, and Sis. Alley. All my family and friends who are serving in harsh circumstances and truly giving their all to the Lord. I gotta be honest, at times, I feel like I am not going to be the missionary that I want to be. I am not in a hard place to live. I get fed well and I am in the US. My biggest problems are adjusting to the culture, etc.

I want to become a consecrated missionary. I do. I just need to get over my fears. I need more faith, I need more strength and confidence. I know at the end of this I will look back and be grateful. I just need to try and to be grateful right now. Hopefully, I can grow in those areas this week.

Know that I love you guys and I want to make you proud. 

Con Amor,

Elder Alley