Big Changes!

Elder Alley's last few days in Martin, Kentucky

He was definitely well fed there.

He's going to miss this area...

and all the great people there!

Proof that Elder Alley is actually taking pictures. (Now we just need him
to send them our way!) Most of the pics on this blog have been from
Sister Bentley. :)

Looks like the Easter Bunny found Elder Alley

FYI: No children were harmed in the taking of these pictures. ;)

Practicing their martial arts skills 

Look at that concentration

Some of the amazing people he had the privilege of getting to know

April 8, 2015

Dear Family,

Well, as the title says, there some big changes coming our way. The news: I am being transferred to Parkersburg, West Virginia! My new companion will be Elder McMullen. Elder Barney has told me some good things about him, so I'm interested in seeing how this companionship will work out. Wish me luck. I have to admit, I already knew that I would be the one transferred even before we got the news. It just just made sense since I've been in Martin, Kentucky for 1/4 of my mission. I'll also admit that I had some mixed feelings about the news. I'm glad to finally go somewhere new (being in the same area for so long has made me ready for a change) but at the same time I'll miss the friends that I've made here in Martin, like the Winns and the Bentleys to name a few. In fact, just a few days ago I was crying in the bathroom at the thought of leaving. I thought to myself, "Why am I sad? Isn't this what I wanted? Don't I want to see other areas of the mission?" Elder Barney came to comfort me and told me that this is what happens when a missionary puts his heart and soul into an area. You always feel sad when you have to leave your friends behind. Even though I didn't get to baptize anyone or get a lot of investigators, I am proud of the work that Elder Barney and I have done here and I'm grateful for the people of Martin in being patient with me as I worked through my growth process as a missionary. Thank you Martin, Kentucky.

I also want to give a shout to our two future missionaries. I want to wish good luck to both Anika for the Washington Kennewick Mission and Kellie for the Massachusetts Boston Mission. Go bring them heaven you two!

Mom and Aubrey, I'm really happy that you two got to go to General Conference. I hope you continue to get more missionary blessings like that. My first General Conference as a missionary was amazing because two of our investigators came to the church building to watch the session with us! We even gave them a tour of the church building before the session! It was amazing! I was so excited to have them hear words of the Lord's modern-day Prophets, Seers, and Revelators. They really enjoyed hearing the General Authorities talk about marriage and families. I really hope they change their minds and join the church soon. When I heard that there will be a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, I thought, "Wow! Ashley is going to be stoked when she get this news!" I'm glad to hear that she did.

Well, that's all folks. I need to wrap up and finish packing. I'll write to you again soon. I love you all and miss you all. Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Elder Michael Alley