Trees Trees and More Trees...September 12, 2016

Hola everyone!
Right now we're bowling, so I apologize if this email is super spacey
and short haha

I am now in Sparta (aka the tree boonies)! It's been a pretty
interesting week this week lol, I don't think I've ever seen as many
old people as I have in the past 6 days. Legitimately.
We've served in 2 nursing homes and visited people in 2 others, I've
smelt gross things for hours at a time, look at suspicious oozing
sores, gotten frustrated at the lack of care in these less-affluent
homes, answered ladies with Alzheimer's 20+ times on what my name is,
just grown to love and adore the elderly and wish I could help them
more  than I'm able to! We did puzzles and bingo with them all, and I
just loved em. Made me miss spending so much time with grandma and
grandpa (not that their so old and senile hahaha)
The one investigator we have is a 74 year old diabetic that's lost
both her legs and lives alone in a trailer park. She's miserable and
lonely, but we've seen a new light come into her eyes as we've taught
her about the gospel! She's so sweet. Although, funny story of the
week, we accidentally knocked on her door...she called for us to come
in....and it was the exact moment she was on her portable
commode....yup. She then proceeded to change into her PJ top while she
was sitting there....I can now say I unexpectedly and unwillingly and
blindingly saw everything. Yup. So. That's my super awko story for the
week...and like, other stuff happened, but I already feel bad for
saying this much lol.
Other than that though I've just been adjusting to the area,
companion, and RPM life. It's been slow, and rough, and we're trying
to find but no ones interested. OH! I got to meet the ward yesterday,
and we had 8 people sign up to feed us this month! That's more than
I've had the past 2 transfers combined! Haha, I'm super excited for
this area, they're all so nice! I love the members already!!!
I'm a little worried that I'm going to slip back into my lazy self now
that I'm not an STL anymore, words of motivation would be wonderful
haha
But yup, that's about it for me! I'm loving NJ and trying to make
every moment count! Tomorrow I go on exchanges with my STL's (both of
which I was there when they were born lol) and we have a special
training from the Assistants and President tomorrow (meetings from
9:45-3:30, yay sore bum!)

I just broke 100 in bowling!!!!! Woot.

Love you all!!!
Stay Jersey Strong.
Love, Sister McAllister

 Hello new comp

 Goodbye old comp

 deep fried hot dogs eaten by the girl who hates hot dogs

 Zone 6

THIS IS SPARTA!!!....September 5, 2016

Hello Everyone! This week has been a doozy- so be prepared!

This week has been a crazy roller coaster of emotions for me. It went super amazingly and i was all prepared to start getting to know the area and ward better and just continue to love the people- and then we went over to President's house for S. Wood's departing interview and they told me that we were getting doubled out. I've since been told that I'm going to Sparta and I'm released as an STL. In some ways its a huge slap in the face that i never saw coming (goodbye my beloved hood), but one thing that they said really stuck out to me. Sis Taggart was watching me cry when i found out, and she ran upstairs to President's office where the transfer board is, she came back down and said "You're going there for a very specific purpose. Someone needs YOU." And then President turned to me and said "You're not done working yet!" It's been one of the biggest shocks in my mission, and one of the biggest blows. To not only have just 1 transfer with S. Wood and send her home, but to have only 1 transfer in this wonderful area where i love the people and i love the work, and to get released from being an STL when i thought i would have one more transfer to appreciate and soak it in...it's been a rough time since Saturday when i found out. I truly feel as if everything good has been stripped away from me, leaving me with nothing but my will and my testimony- but at the end of the day, thats all that matter anyway right? haha but God has blessed me as well because i also have received a witness from multiple people- acting as angels from God- that I am going where i need to go. This was all part of His plan, and He had different things in store for me than i had planned for and wanted. But as Elder Holland has said, "You can have what you want, or you can have something better." I dont know what the future holds, probably lots of car time, bears, and ticks since im getting sent to the middle of nowhere-  but i AM excited for this new chapter. And i choose to look at it this way: I've been to every corner of the mission now, and even spent a transfer in the middle! :)

Well, so, my week! Monday I was in Newark all day because S.Wood went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty for her departing trip. I played dodgeball and got a bunch of elders out and basically won their respect and friendship because i dont throw or catch "like a girl". woot! #ThankYouSoftball

Wednesday we went on my last exchange (though i didnt know it then) and i went to Perth Amboy for the 3rd time this transfer! i love Spanish exchanges. We had 8 exchanges this transfer, and i only stayed in my area for 2 of them. Add in all the meetings and conferences and everything else we had to do this transfer, and you can see that i was never even here. I think its just a testimony to me that i was supposed to be Sister Wood's companion more than i was supposed to be here in Scotch Plains. i was called here for her, not so much for the area. Kinda crazy how the Lord works!   Anyways, the exchange. We went and did service and i met lots of Hispanics, and i went to a Spanish FHE and i sung hymns in Spanish, and we packed 12 people into a 6 person van, and basically it was a party! Im super glad i could go to Perth one more time before i left.

On Saturday we went to Philly again for the temple! We went in a huge group and just laughed the whole way there- it was a riot! It was a beautiful to go a 2nd time, and we even saw a bunch of Amish people that were going on a tour too! So cool how to temple draws people from all walks of life.

Ok thats about it for me! We're going to go bowl as a zone for the last time!

Stay Jersey Strong!

I love you all!!!

love, Sister McAllister

 Amish photobombers

 Gospel Principles class

 Philly Temple Open House....AGAIN