See ya in 2 (Weeks!!!)

Really cool view of the sunset tonight. Vegas, hear our message!

Elder Nicholas, my awesome comp

Everything the light touches is our area... ;)

Comp pic  

2 more weeks...

June 20, 2016

I remember when we were all saying see ya in two (years). Man, how time has flown by.

Just going to shoot a quick email this week with the highlights. I’m kind of hitting the point where I'm too lazy to type and I'd rather just tell you all the stories when I get home haha.

I had my departing interview with President Ahlander which went awesome, I love that man. I know part of the reason I was called here was to get to know him and his wife. I asked him in the interview if he thought the lord was pleased with my mission, and before the entire question had left my mouth he interrupted me saying, "Absolutely, no question about it." Which was actually an answer to my prayers to hear that, so that was sweet.

Then on Thursday night we had the departing dinner at the Ahlander’s house. We had tacos, shared final testimonies, and then reminisced together. At about 10:00 the missionaries who were staying until July 5th had to head out, and every else spent the night and then got on an airplane bright and early the next day.

Saturday was K's baptism! A lot more people came than we had anticipated, but that was fantastic. It was a very spirit filled service and K said it was everything she had hoped it would be. It was early, though, about 11:00am. So for the rest of the day Elder Nicholas and I grabbed the bikes and biked around. It was BRUTAL! It’s easily in the 100's every day down here in Vegas, and our entire Ward is in one big hill. We biked well over 10 miles for the day and we were drenched with sweat when we got back.

Sunday K got confirmed and with K an official member of the church now, we don't have anyone else now who is progressing towards baptism, so it looks like I'll be spending this last little chunk of my mission knocking doors and talking to people on the streets all day every day in 110+ degree weather.

Gotta love it.

-Elder Alley

Leave It All Behind

This is Elder Tecson from the Phillipines! He has been in the USA for all of 3 weeks and I got to take him with me on exchanges this last Saturday. He is a great missionary. He will tell you that he doesn't speak English, but that's a lie because he speaks it perfectly well. haha

From Elder Alley's mom: The Zunigas sent us this photo of Max and Elder Tecson.
The Zunigas had them over for lunch at a park. Elder Alley has been well taken care of
while he's been in Vegas (and I've gotten lots of pics!) The people there are awesome.
Thank you, Zuniga Family! :)

Cool cloud

June 13, 2016

This past week was jam packed with good stuff. On Tuesday I had my last training ever to a group of missionaries. For Zone Training meeting Elder Nicholas and I decided to focus on Ch. 6 of Preach My Gospel: "Christlike Attributes." We focused on how who we are as people is more important than just what we do. You can say nice things to people, without actually being a nice person. So we challenged everyone in the zone to pick an attribute from that chapter and come up with a plan on how they are going to develop it.

Then on Wednesday we had Zone Conference. It was a lot of The Ahlander's giving us their last advice before they head out. I also gave my departing testimony. I thought I would be more emotional about it than I was. I just bore testimony about the reality of Jesus Christ and how I'm grateful that I got to meet him in Las Vegas.

Friday we had the Departing Temple Trip for all the missionaries headed home. I had a really cool experience where I was praying in the temple and I simply asked if Heavenly Father was pleased with my mission. I got a peaceful, warm feeling in my chest that I knew was a confirmation that He is happy with the mission I have served, but I also got the distinct feeling that I need to make sure to finish strong, as well! I'm certain I will pray on that plane ride home as well to ask again, for the final confirmation.

Which kind of leads me to what has been on my mind this week. That plane ride home will be an interesting experience. For those back home, these past two years have been "When Max was on his mission.” But, for those in Las Vegas, these past two years have been, “When Elder Alley was here." When I am flying home, those in Spokane will think, "Max is coming back!” While those in Las Vegas will think, "Elder Alley just left." When I make that walk from the gate, and then I see my family again, it will be like the philosophical turning of the page in the book in my life. The official closing of my mission chapter, the goodbye of Elder Alley and the welcome back to Max. It’s just interesting to think about.

That walk from the gate in Spokane, to rounding the corner and seeing my family again, will be a long, emotional one. You leave behind everything you know to come on a mission. Everyone you love, everything you loved to do. And then you spend he next two years making a new life. You meet new people, you develop new habits, you become a new person. And then, once again, you're asked to leave it all behind.

Which is hard. Mostly because of the people you've come to know and love. If I've done a mission right, then who I've become and the habits I've developed should stay the same.

But, those are my thoughts for this week. Upcoming this week I have my departing interview with President Ahlander tomorrow. Thursday night is the departing dinner, and everyone who is going home this week or at the end of the transfer will spend the night at the Mission Home. Then, some will get on planes, and the rest of us will head back to work for two more weeks!

Also, we have K's baptism on Saturday! #Stoked!

Love y'all, talk to ya next Monday!

-Elder Alley

Watch Me Burn....Literally

Action Shots :)

This is what we do.

Looking for the elect.

Where are you you? 

Watch me burn...literally going out in flames. 

Look what the Vegas sun is doing to us. haha Oompa loompa missionaries ;)

June 6, 2016

I don't know if you guys remember a while back when I talked about how at a Zone Conference our AP's were trying to get us pumped up to do missionary work and then talked about a pastor who said he likes to light himself on fire with the word of God and then people come to watch him burn. Well, I had always had this image of ending my mission with that kind of intensity. And this past week I found out that I will definitely be burning up my last couple weeks because it is scorching hot down here!! We got into our car after walking around a neighborhood one time this week and the car thermometer said 122!!!!

One big thing from this past week was that I had my last MLC (Mission Leadership Council) of my mission. It was my 15th one. Wow, it's been a while. It was kind of bitter-sweet. A majority of the meeting was listening to President and Sis. Ahlander giving us their departing council. They focused a lot on how we need to continue becoming true disciples and how that is a lifelong process. President Ahlander at the very end started talking about how we need to treat the new mission president as nice as we’ve treated him and he got choked up a little as he was sharing that. It was a tender moment.

We also did two back-to-back full day exchanges. On Friday I went with Elder Nicholls from Kentucky into the Spanish Rainbow Vista Ward. We had a super eventful day! Everything from testifying against anti-material, to walking on burning black top streets and melting the soles of our shoes, to teaching some older Hispanic gentlemen in a super super sketchy area. We taught a guy in his house and then went immediately next door to teach a guy on his porch while a couple gang members almost broke out into a fight right next to us. It reminded me of the good ol days back in the Bonanza East Area with Elder Martinez & Elder Walker:) On top of a fun day, Elder Nicholls reminds me a TON of one Tanner Hardy! He's the closest thing I've had to having Tanner back in my life since I left. 😁

Then one of the AP's Elder Fernstrom came with us in a trio for the day on Saturday and we had a blast together. We taught K her last lesson and next week she will be getting her interview for baptism and then on the 18th is her Baptism Day!! #Stoked

So it was an awesome week. The thing that has stuck out the most to me has been the importance of becoming. The relationship between To Do and To Be. There is an awesome talk by Lynn G. Robbins entitled “What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?" that you should go listen to. Focusing on what we need to Be will help us change quicker than just focusing on what we need to Do. However, you can only become what you want to Be, by doing the things that develop that trait. Ultimately, we all want to be like our Savior, so we just need to do what He would do all the time!

This upcoming week we are giving a Zone Training Meeting on Tuesday and my last Zone Conference is Wednesday where I will be giving my departing testimony. I have my departing temple trip on Friday and then exchanges on Saturday. It's going to be an awesome week!

-Elder Alley

Good Week

Elder Tripp (one of our District Leaders's from last transfer)

My comp. Elder Nicholas, Elder Tripp and I

Called up my recent convert and we went out to dinner to catch up!
He is a stud and it was great to see him again:)

 May 30, 2016
It was a good week! And that's about all I have to report. My last MLC is this Wednesday. We had a BBQ at the King's house as a zone today which was a blast. And I'm loving life! Talk to y'all next week!

-Elder Alley

PS Uncle Mitch's ward just sent out a new missionary named Elder Healy and I'm his Zone Leader! Haha He asked me if I knew a Sydnee Alley in Texas :)

🎵 It's the Final Transfer!! (duh duh doo dooo 🎶)

This is my mission brother, Elder Diaz! Elder Maldonado trained him right before he finished his mission, and since we have the same trainer (Dad) that makes us brothers! He is from Argentina.

We won the Cleanest Cars trophy in Red Rock. My 2nd time winning. ;)

May 23, 2016

Wow. I can't believe I am here. In the final transfer of my mission.

Where did all the time go?

I will tell you what though, I am so excited for this final transfer because I will be finishing it right here in Red Rock!!!! Elder Nicholas and I got the transfer call and nothing is changing with us. Same wards, same zone, same companionship, and I couldn't be happier:) It is so weird to think that the next time I get a transfer call, it'll be a training call......A CALL TO RIDE THE TRAIN HOME! (As Elder Nicholas says).

On top of that, the zone is getting stacked with awesome missionaries. They dropped two zone leaders to have them come here and finish their missions by training two new missionaries. One of the former zone leaders is Elder Anderson (my former companion from up in The Springs Zone!) I am so stoked to have him in the zone here. I don't even feel like I am the zone leader anymore because my zone is now filled with missionaries that I have been looking up to my whole mission. It is shaping up to be a wonderful end to my full-time service.

That being said, it just makes me more motivated than ever to leave everything I have on the field. This is it. There won't be another time in my life where I have one sole purpose, a singular focus. Where I get to knock doors, and study the scriptures for 3 hours every morning, and bear testimony and enjoy an additional portion of the Spirit in my life. So, I want to savor every last moment of these last 6 weeks and give it all I got! We have 2 people set to be baptized on June 18th, and we want to find even more before my time is up. I love this area, I love the members here, I love this work, and I wouldn’t want to go out any other way.

"Therefore, that I should waste and wear out my life in bringing to light (Christ, The Light) all the hidden things of darkness." That is my pledge, and that is my plan from right now until I get on that plane bound for Spokane. I will see y'all in 6 weeks, but in the meantime, I'll be in the streets of Sin City serving The Savior and Redeemer of the World!

Love y'all!

-Elder Alley

Time Is Flying

Red Rock Zone Conference

Zone hiking at Red Rock Canyon 

My mission :)

My temple :)

May 16, 2016

I can't believe it's the last week of the transfer now. Come next Monday, I will officially be in my last transfer of the mission. No time to get trunky, though, too many people to teach the Gospel to!

This last week was a lot of fun and filled with miracles. I went on exchanges with Elder Tukuafu, a  6'3 240 lbs Tongan! He is a really goofy kid and we had a fun day together. The heat is starting to pick up, though, and we found ourselves knocking doors at 2:00 in the afternoon in 98 degree weather! Elder Walker and I's record for last summer was 120 degrees so we will see if I can beat that before I come home.

One miracle we saw happened when Elder Nicholas and I were planning for a lesson we were going to teach a recent convert on Thursday. We randomly felt like we should bring up Patriarchal Blessings since we hadn't yet and she could go get one. We brought it up and introduced it as something that would give her extra guidance in her life and be a way for God to tell her what specific talents He has given her and how to use them. After saying that, the recent convert began to get teary-eyed and told us to wait for a sec while she grabbed something. She went and grabbed a piece of paper and said that she had been fasting that day for a couple reasons and she had written down on that paper what she was trying to ask God for. The first two things on the list: 1) More direction for her life, and 2) to know what talents she has and how she can use them. A simple thing, but a profound testimony that the Lord is the one guiding His work.

Another cool miracle this week was that our investigator with a baptismal date for the June 18th finally came to church this last Sunday! It was K, the girl we didn't know wasn’t baptized. haha. She came and the YW in the ward were so helpful and welcoming and it was awesome to see. Make sure to look out for new people in your home wards and be warm and friendly with them. It makes a big difference!

We did transfer planning with the AP's and I begged them to keep me here in Red Rock for my last transfer. I really, really, really don’t want any changes to happen to me for my last 6 weeks. I love where I’m at: the ward, my companion, the zone, everything. So here's hoping it can happen!

Hope you all have a wonderful week. I'll let you know the transfer news next Monday. It'll be the last time before my transfer call is to go home and find my own companion. haha

Love y'all!

-Elder Alley

We Just Skyped Yesterday Soooo…..

Mission Leadership Council
(back row. 2nd from right)

The view we were greeted with as the video feed popped up on Skype.
He's Elder Alley, but he's still Max. lol

Best part of Mother's Day? My missionary Skype calls!! :D
This was my last one...unless Aubrey serves a mission.

Feeling this after the call was over...

May 9, 2016

It was so good to talk to you guys! You are all looking good and it was a good reminder of just how awesome a family I have been blessed with :) I probably won't send a big email home this week since we just talked. But on a quick note I once again proved my clutch 4th quarter missionary status by finding a family to take to the *concert just 50 mins before it started. So I did end up getting to go to Zion's Youth :) #MuchInTheClutch

This upcoming week we are giving a Zone Training and we have a meeting with the AP's to plan for the upcoming transfers. The last time I will do so and have it affect me!

—-Elder Alley

*Note from Elder Alley's Mom: As we were Skyping, the investigators they were going to take to the Zion’s Youth Concert called and cancelled. If he and his companion didn’t have investigators to take, they weren’t going to have permission to attend the Zion’s Youth Concert.

Also, at the close of our Skype call, Max shared some great insights he’s had as he's been reflecting on his mission coming to a close. I went and replayed his call and transcribed part of it.

He said, "As I've come to end of my mission. I realize why I was sent to Vegas. And what I've come to learn on my mission is it's not where you go, it's who you meet. It's the people. You open that call and wherever it says you're going, it's not because of the culture there. It's not because of the climate. It's because there are specific souls, specific children of God in that place. They need you and you need them. I know there are certain people I needed to meet that influenced me: companions I've had, leaders I've had, members I've worked with, people I've helped come into the church. It's all been about the people. But the coolest thing about a mission, that I'll always hold more dear than anything, is the greatest person I ever met on my mission was the Savior.  I met Jesus Christ while I was on my mission. And I realize, Why was I sent to Las Vegas? Cuz apparently, the whole time, He's been in Sin City! ;) That will forever be my testimony. For me, the Savior was in Las Vegas and I had to go there to meet Him. I think that's why every missionary goes to where they go. Because they need to meet certain people, and they need to meet the Savior there. Because He's there. Waiting for them. I think before my mission, Jesus Christ was a concept. Like I knew about Him. I knew of Him. But he was really more of a concept than anything. But now because of the mission, He's a real person. He's an actual person in my life. And that's cool. That's why I came to Vegas."