My Journey Begins- Feelings of the Spirit in the MTC

Hello everyone!!! 

Let me tell you, the MTC has been wonderful so far! I am truly loving it here. I have been able to feel the spirit and learn so much about it already. 

My companion is Sister Pitts and she is wonderful! She is really sweet and so kind. We are growing together as companions. She is from Liberty, Utah. There are four other sisters and 3 Brothers in my district and they are all wonderful as well. Most are from Utah but sister Holland is from Mesa and Sister Ah-Chong is from Samoa!! I am loving them all and hope to continue to get to know them further. All the sister except me are going to Everett, Washington and the 3 Elders are going to Vanuatu with me! There are 2 other elders in a different district that are coming to Vanuatu as well. So yes, I am the only Sister going to Vanuatu!! But the Elders are so fun and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. 

We have had such wonderful lessons that have helped me learn more about teaching. We have done a few role plays and surprisingly, I did better than I thought I would! The Lord definitely helped me there. We pray so much here, to help us know what God wants us to say and who he wants us to help.

My companion and I prayed about 2 different investigators, trying to receive revelation on who we should teach. We both felt very strongly that we should teach a man named Michael. I can truly testify that God answered us and gave us the prompting that we should teach Him. Even though it is just an actor portraying an investigator, God knows what my companion and I need to learn. When we prayed about it, I felt so warm and peaceful that Michael is the one we should teach. So tomorrow, we get to teach him for the first time about Christ's love for him and how He showed that love for us through the atonement. I'm nervous but also really excited!

Something I have learned this week is the importance of letting the Spirit be the teacher. We had an "investigator experience", where a group of us all witnessed an investigator's story and then together, share the gospel with them. We were teaching a girl named Helene. At first, we were focusing too much on sharing a lesson and shoving information at her. But as we took a step back and really focused on her needs as a child of God, the Spirit immediately came into the room. She felt this spirit and then we testified that those feelings are true and come from our loving Heavenly Father. It was incredible the difference that made. So i know the power the Spirit has, and that should always be present while teaching. If it isn't, then you are doing something wrong. "Investigators need to have an experience." It was so powerful to be in there, and feel the presence of the Holy Ghost enter. I am so grateful for that, and what it taught me. 

Well, I am doing so well here at the MTC. I am truly enjoying it and know I will enjoy it even more as the weeks go on! Oh, and also, I talked to the Travel Office yesterday to see about my Visa. They said as of now, they dont have it but they have my flight already. So they are hoping and planning for October 6th! Fingers crossed! If not, then God has another plan I guess :) 

I know that this gospel is so true and I gain testimony of this each and every day. Im grateful to be here and have this opportunity to "invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel". Thank you all for your love and support! I couldn't be here without it!

I love you all! Stay happy and safe! 

With much love, Sista Allphin :)

Mission Pictures

I had loads of fun taking my mission pictures! One of my best friends, Linda Maughan, took them for me and I think they turned out great! Thanks so much Linda! :) Here are just a few of my favorites.

Mission Scripture

Matthew 28:19-20

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost :
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

The time this scripture really stuck out to me was when I was preparing the Easter lesson for my primary class.At this time, I was either just about to turn in my papers for my mission or I was waiting to receive my call in the mail.  I read just about all of Matthew and ended with these last versus, which struck me so strongly with the spirit. Chapter 28 is when Christ is risen and appears to many, including the disciples. So after reading all about Christ's beautiful life and then making my way through the very difficult chapters of his crucifixion, I come to the last chapter where our dear Lord is resurrected and made perfect again. After bearing through the heavy tears of sadness and heartbreak, I finally get to the tears of pure joy! Christ is risen! He overcame death! I can hardly imagine the joy of those who loved Him-- who painfully watched him get beaten, spit upon, and hung on the cross-- when they saw their wonderful Savior whole again. It fills me with tremendous happiness just reading about it :)

The couple verses I have for my mission scripture are when Christ is talking with his eleven remaining apostles. The first one, verse 19, Christ is telling them to go out and spread His gospel to all the lands, and baptize. Verse 20 is where I really related it to me. In my mission, I will be teaching the people to come unto Him and follow His commandments, as I have been trying to follow my whole life. Then, the promise from Christ, that he will be with his disciples "alway, even unto the end of the world". This brings me so much joy, confidence, and reassurance. He is telling all of us that He is always with us, unto the END of the world! He is always there for us, in our happiest and darkest times. We can always rely on Him to be our comforter. I know that He will help and bless me throughout my entire mission and beyond! No matter the challenges or struggles I face while I am out in Vanuatu, He is there to listen and help. I know this to be true. I love my Savior and will spread His excellent word!