Monday, December 15, 2014

Tis the Season


Setting up the "He is the Gift" display at the City Hall Christmas Event
Pretty sure Elder Alley (and all the missionaries) are at the top
of Santa's Nice List this year. ;)
The stockings arrived!
Thanks to Grandma Alley and her mad sewing skillz!
(Hmmm. I'm sensing that whomever they rent the trailer from is a University of Kentucky fan. lol)
Elder Buttars got a missionary stocking, too. :)
(Yeah, definitely sensing a UK theme in the room decor. That's a lot of Wild Cat stuff.)
December 15, 2014

Dear Family,

How's it going everyone? Man, I don't know if there are any words that can describe how grateful I am to have been born into our wonderful family. I am so grateful for all of your love and support. The Christmas packages that you sent to me and Elder Buttars were awesome! I can't wait to see what I got for Christmas! But more importantly, I am grateful for all of your letters of support, wisdom, and comfort. They really do mean a lot to me.

Mom, I'm really sorry that I've only given you the surface details of my experience as a missionary. As you figured out, most of the time I just try to keep things to myself. I do it because I don't want other people to be burdened with my problems. I really enjoy helping other people.  I want to be the kind of person that people can rely on and have confidence in. But when I'm the one the one who needs help, it's hard. But I guess that since I'm only human, I need to start relying on others to help me.

So, how do I feel about being a missionary? To be honest, the feelings vary from day to day. There are days when I feel inspired to get out there and take on the world. This inspired feeling comes from many different sources: from what I read in the scriptures to counsel given in Zone Meetings. Even your letters have given me great spiritual boosts to keep going. Unfortunately, those inspired feelings tend to go away as Elder Buttars and I try to find people to teach. When our investigators don't progress because of either busy work schedules or they are just not home for some reason, I lose that go-getter attitude. And when I see people who are less active because they have been offended by some one or they just don't want to commit to anything or build their testimony, then deep down inside I just want to throw in the towel, go back to the trailer and just sit there for the rest of the day. Why? Because I feel like I'm just wasting gas, time and energy. I'm also struggling to be myself. I know that people said to be my best self but, for some reason, I feel like I need to be this disciplined missionary as soon as the suit and tie come on. I just hate that feeling. 

In my mind and heart I would ask: What do I need to do to get the work moving faster? What can I contribute to the mission? Why don't I have answers or solutions to all of their problems? Am I working hard enough or not? 

I promise, that my district and mission president have been giving great counsel and comfort to me as I express my concerns. Plus, I have seen the tender mercies of the Lord. The members of the ward are super nice and supportive of us missionaries. To the point that I am worried about being overfed (ha ha). I love doing service at this place called Elkhorn Park. I love working with the Winns (the senior couple). Elder Cluff (District Leader) and Elder Wheeler are hilarious and great to work with, and my companionship with Elder Buttars is good. The less actives that we get to talk to are super friendly to us and we get to have fun conversations with them. I'm even finding a love for choir practice at church. Who knew?

Please know that I've also been blessed by the Lord in ways that I can't describe. I believe, and still do, that the Lord will make me into the honorable man that He needs me to be. My definition of "honorable man": A man is who loves God and raises his family in the ways of the Gospel. Basically, like dad and grandpa. I hope that helps.

Well, I think that's everything. I love you all and miss you all. I can't wait to Skype/phone you on Christmas. I'm hoping to find out more about that soon, maybe in specialized training tomorrow. Anyway, take care everyone. Merry Christmas!

Love,
Elder Michael Alley

P.S. One set of pictures is of me and Elder Cluff at the Allen City Hall for a special Christmas event. We were on exchanges that day and we got to set up a booth to show the "He is the Gift" video there. It was awesome! I even got to take a picture with Santa Claus! #RelivingMyChildhood (ha ha). Merry Christmas everyone!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Merry Christmas Ya'll!


December 8, 2014

Dear Family,

Merry Christmas everyone! Today is definitely a Christmas miracle because the Internet at the Floyd County Library, where we usually do our e-mails, got shut down for some reason. I am doing this e-mail from Sister Winn's iPad (the wife to Elder Winn). I will ask her to send you an e-mail so that you can thank her for this miracle. This letter will be short so that I don't hog this thing. Anyway, I did get those 4 packages. Thank you so much. Do I need to wait until Christmas to open those? Let me know in the next email. Well, just want to wish you all a merry Christmas and I will give more details in my next e-mail. I love you all!

Love,
Elder Michael Alley

P.S. I will find out more about the Skype thing as the time gets closer. Probably at the upcoming district meeting. Take care.

Note from Michael's Mom: Part of me is very glad that I have such a considerate son...and another part of me wishes he'd just hogged the iPad and wrote me a long letter AND sent pics. ;)

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

At the Turkey Bowl with Elder Cluff, Elder Wheeler and Elder Buttars

So grateful for families who take care of my missionaries :)

Looks like they were well fed!


December 3, 2014

Dear Family,

Man, it's becoming harder and harder to summarize what has happened to me here in Martin, Kentucky. I just don't know where to begin. I guess I'll start with the Weekly Housekeeping:

1) Elder Buttars and I did not get transferred this week. The reason for this is because my training program with him is not done yet. We are now in Week 7 of the 12 Week Training Program. Therefore, there's a good chance that neither of us won't be transferred until sometime in January.

2) Yes, I did get some apple pie on Thanksgiving.

3) No, I do not have any info on my Christmas call yet. I promise, I will ask around and find out.

4) Yes, I did get the pajama bottoms that MomMom sent me.

Now for the real story. In case you guys were worried about me since I didn't send you an e-mail on Monday, I apologize for that. The reason for that is because on transfer weeks the transfer days take place on Thursdays. In order for the missionaries to prepare for their departures, Wednesdays become the new P-Days for that week. Even those who aren't being transferred are asked to hold off on the e-mails until Wednesday so as to avoid confusion for the Mission President who will receive e-mails from us. I'm sorry but that's the rule for this mission.

Anyway, Thanksgiving was awesome! We had a Turkey Bowl, had dinner with two member families who just spoil us (bless their hearts), and we are beginning a new missionary campaign to help people get into Christmas Spirit and hasten the work. It's called the "He is the Gift" campaign. If you haven't already, please go to christmas.mormon.org to watch the video. It is amazing! The Church is really putting a lot of their resources into this campaign to help people realize that Jesus Christ is the gift sent to us by our loving Heavenly Father. Please watch the video and help us to #ShareTheGift. Christmas time is the best time to do so. The West Virginia Charleston is already seeing miracles because of this campaign.

I also want you to know that I'm really glad that things are going well at home. It's awesome that you had the missionaries over for Thanksgiving. I truly have been blessed to have a very supportive and loving family. I am truly grateful for everyone's letters and e-mails. Thank you so much.

I will admit, it's hard not to get homesick during this time of year. I love Christmas because of the wonderful traditions that our family has with it. As I read your letter about Dad's attempts to fix the Christmas lights and Mom and Aubrey setting up the Christmas tree, I couldn't shake the feeling of "I wish I was there for that." I'm not trying to make you guys sad, but please keep me in your prayers. I'm really going to need them for this time of year.

As for the work here in Martin, Kentucky hopefully, the "He is the Gift" campaign will help to hasten the work here.

Well, I guess that's everything. Always remember that I love you guys and you're always in my prayers. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Michael Alley

P.S. Just a few things: 1) Elder Cluff (my district leader) says "Hi" (ha ha). 2) One of the pictures that I sent is a little blurry for some reason but it's me drinking a soda. I know that I promised to do the "No Soda Challenge" but since a lot of the members bring sodas for celebrations I decided that I'm going to make a few exceptions. Please, forgive me. Thank you. I love you all.