Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Weekly Update -- December 20th, 2016

Merry Christmas week!

This is the last week before Ricardo's Christmas baptism! We are really excited about getting him prepared for the ordinance, teaching him a few last things but really he has been very receptive from the beginning. The first Sunday I actually wasn't here when Ricardo came to Church, but he started shaking everyone's hand. He came here from Vera Cruz to find work while having some family troubles, but has since gone to visit his sons to mend some relationships. Great guy.

We had our Branch Christmas party last Friday and our Mission Christmas party yesterday. At the branch party, someone found out I played the saxophone and asked me to play a few songs. Three years without touching a sax, but I've still got it. Maybe a little nervous but it was way better than the 'Baby it's cold outside' kareoke duet that Elder Barrientos sang. Whatever, we got out of our comfort zone.

Just a lot of fun things these few weeks, including a pday trip to the center of Monterrey to get some souveneirs with a couple of other missionaries and the skype call this Sunday!! Can't wait to talk to you again. Before ending the update, I want to invite you all to send me a quick email about your favorite Christmas tradition. I'll even put my email address here (spencer.allgaier@myldsmail.net) to make it easier for those who are reading on the blog. Love you all and I hope you have a great Christmas season!

Also, thank you so much for the package Urbana ward. It made me feel very good reading your letters and I'm sure my companion and I will feel good eating the candy you sent us!

-Elder Allgaier

A few pics from the mission Christmas party...

Elder Barrientos and I sang a kareoke duet of 'Baby its cold outside'

dominoes lunch with root beer floats

package from urbana ward!!

pday in central

Monday, December 19, 2016

Weekly Update -- December 12th, 2016

(Sorry! I realized that I never posted this from last week. There will be two today if I hear from Elder Allgaier!)

Hello everyone,

Kind of a short update because I just talked to you all this past Wednesday... I hope you are all having a great Christmas season, I am too. We had a nice Sunday yesterday being in charge of a temple tour activity, taking advantage that it is right in our area. We werent sure how many people were going to show up with such short notice, but thanks to some miracles and an institute choir performance, there was a great turnout.

We did a mission fast last Sunday praying specifically for the investigators who we are teaching. It was an opportunity for me to strengthen my testimony in the fast and there were some miracles that came from it. One being that an area in the zone has five scheduled baptisms for this coming week. Another being that a bunch of people came to the temple tour despite giving one week notice. I invite you to find something to do in order to strengthen or gain a testimony by personal experience. While doing so, read Alma 32. I promise that you will be able to have stronger knowledge of what you believe in. Merry December 12th!


-Elder Allgaier

Here are the pictures from this email.  Posted 12/21/16.
Institute choir

Activity at the temple shortly before the institute choir


Better look at the mall, Roma is awesome

Elder Garcia eating his first sub

Thanks for the gifts Mom! The primary and their handouts

Today going to the esfera, a nearby mall

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Weekly Update -- December 7th, 2016

Hello everyone!

Officially December and my first week in Estanzuela. Let me just say, I'm going to really enjoy my last leg of the mission. It is the area of the Monterrey Temple, but still a branch, touching a good mixture of more humble people and very prideful people. No middle ground, but that's Mexico for you. My companion is Elder Barrientos in case I didn't mention it last week who was born in Gathersburg MD! It gives us a nice common ground to have great companionship unity. He's on his last change which is why I know that this is my last area. The zone is very obedient and very animated, we're looking to have a lot of success.

One day (Monday to be specific) we went to help an English teacher teach a private student. We went thinking it would be an opportunity to share the gospel in our native language, but he quickly told us not to give even a hint that we were from a Church, despite the fact that he himself was baptised at the age of 16 (very less active) due to fear of offending his student. Ok... Driving in, we started to see Mercedes Benz, Audis, Classic cars, big houses when he told us, 'these are the most powerful people in Monterrey'. Very shortly into the lesson (we just had a conversation in English), the student calmly caught on that we were missionaries and asked what our beliefs were. We shared a bit about the Godhead and showed the Christmas video to see her get teary eyed. Explaining eternal families, she even became interested enough to accept a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. Leaving, she expressed that she 'needs Jesus in this moment.' Just goes to show that you should never be embarrassed to express your beliefs.

That same day, we found a drunk guy at around 12 in  the afternoon who had just gotten bitten by a dog bad enough where it drew blood on a few fingers and his wrist. He was cursing at it in his wobbled pace and wanted us to teach him about John the Baptist. We decided it would be better to take him to the farmacy two blocks over instead of just leave him. 20 minutes later we got there, met the nice doctor who didn't charge to take care of his cuts and we put our new friend Toño back on his chair in his house. Like I said, no middle ground.

A small invitation this time, because that last experience was in response to the Christmas calendar to help the sick. I invite you all (if not already doing so) to follow the Church's Christmas calendar to serve people in 25 different ways this month. Really a special thing that is happening this year. You'll feel the Spirit of Christmas more powerfully by doing so. I promise so as a representative of Jesus Christ and His Church. Love you all, enjoy the season!

--Elder Allgaier

Guitarrist on the bus who we liked listening to
Area view
Loose dog we found with a Rayados jersey, gotta love the fans
Leaving the house for the temple this morning
With Elder Payan, the AP who's going home with me next change
Afternoon temple pic