Terra's in Cincinnati!

There's a big pond behind our house and most of the time, it's frozen over the top!

Hi Mom!

Ahh, it's nice to sit down and write an email. This week has been pretty fun. Let me tell you it from the start.

Last Wednesday: We got up at 4am and flew to Ohio. The airplane rides were fun, I didn't get to sit by the window, and I was too scared to talk to anyone next to me. But I was flying above the clouds so I was happy. President Nilsen and Sister Nilsen picked us up (all 24 of us) and brought us to the mission home, where we ate BURGERS (yum!!!!!) and stayed the night. The bed I slept in was SO SOFT. I slept so well that night.

Thursday: We got up, ate breakfast, went to the transfer meeting, learned some new things, including who our new companions were and left straight for our area! My companion is Sister Ward. She is absolutely wonderful. She's been out for a little over a year, is from L.A. and is super smiley and has taught me so much. I seriously could not have asked for a better trainer. My area is Eastgate, Cincinnati. We live at a member's house, and I LOVE it. I LOOOOVE it. Our room is painted with bright colors and they are the nicest most welcoming people on the planet. 

Anyways, missionary work started as soon as we got in the car to drive to eastgate. And once we got to the area, we went straight to an appointment with an investigator. Strangely, I wasn't nervous. I felt comfortable everywhere that I was that day. Seriously, the Lord can work wonders. I extended baptism to this investigator, who agreed that if she came to feel it was true, that she would get baptized. We've tried meeting with her a few more times since, but it hasn't worked out. So we'll see how that goes. We had dinner at our ward missionary leader's house that night, where I ate fish for the first time in my life. And I had to eat it really fast because we were running late to a meeting. But Mom, I ATE FISH. There's no room for picky eaters on a mission. Dang it.

This is my side of the room! :]  Like my shoes, mom? :]

Friday: missionary work.

Saturday: missionary work.

Sunday: church and missionary work.
 

Twins in our ward.  We went to their house for dinner.  I'm wearing my Mary Poppins skirt!

Monday: We played DODGEBALL with the bishops kids (he has seven girls and one boy) and some other members of the ward and the elders. I never thought that I would ever enjoy playing dodgeball. Ever. But after a week of missionary work, I have learned that any interactive physical activity is fun. And besides, they play dodgeball in a very different and more intense way. But more fun as well. Our P-day ends at 5pm instead of 6pm. I could definitely feel the lack of that last hour, but it's okay. Time flies way too fast within those 5-6ish hours of P-day. I only got the chance to write one letter!! There was too much else to do.

Tuesday: And now here I am. :]
 I am so tired, hahaha.

Truthfully though, I could not have asked for a better beginning to my mission. It is so wonderful here in Eastgate. It is beautiful!! There are tons of trees here. None of them have leaves on them, so they all look very winterish and halloweenish and eery, which of course, I love. So I love seeing all the empty trees. There are lots of beautiful big ponds here, and the snow doesn't fall in one direction, it kind of just flies wherever it wants. It's fun to watch through a window, but not as much fun to be in. It is cold here, but it's okay. It's really cold when it's windy. And it tends to be windy when we go tracting. But the other night I realized that it doesn't matter how cold the wind is on my face, I'm just happy that I can feel it! The houses here are also beautiful. There are a lot of brick houses, that seems to be the popular style. Similar to Delia Draycott's house (ask Lexie about that).
 

Beautiful Ohio.  And the beautiful dead trees that I love so much!

I got the valentines package on valentines day and loved it. The brownie from Lexie was DELICIOUS. Thanks Wompers. :] And I got the Doc Martens!!! LOVE THEM! I wore them the next day. I'll try to attach pictures. We're at the library, and I'm not sure if that's a possibility.

Truthfully though, I'm doing great. I have a much better attitude about being here then I thought I would be. Sure, there are moments where I think, "Ah, I'd just rather be at home right now....I miss this..I miss that..." But really, none of that would actually make me want to really go home. I've had no freak out/break down moments. And really, the only times I ever think that are the second I wake up in the morning (And I've thought that every single morning) and when I get a song stuck in my head, or when I wash my hands with our soap (but that's a long story...). So yes, there are things that I miss. There are a lot of things that I miss, but they are worth giving up for the time being. And my companion is a great example because she is giving up even more than I am, and she is more happy to be here. But I'm happy to be here too. For a year and a half? Well, we'll see about that. It's a work in progress.
So, I'm hoping that I'll be able to write more than one letter each P-day from now on. There's just no time. But I'll try to see how I can get it to work. I love getting letters, LOVE THEM. And I wish I could send more back, but there's just not enough time for it. Tell my little lovely Lainie that I would especially love a letter from her. :] I'm sure that once I send this email I will think of tons more that I wanted to say. There already is tons more that I want to say!! I wish I could elaborate more, but it's time to go!!! I've really learned so much. It's so cool. It's very cool being a missionary.You get to meet all kinds of people and teach them about the gospel. Thanks for letting me have this opportunity Mom and Dad. It's pretty incredible. I love you all so much. SO SO much. Keep praying, STUDY the scriptures, and you will find answers and blessings in your life.

I love you! Send letters!! :]

Love, Terra

Tell Mitch we went to Skyline Chili!!!

Also, I can receive emails from anyone!!!  So tell everyone to email me!! (terra.allen@myldsmail.net).  

I can just only email direct family.  And I can only send one email. (well, the pictures don't count, because they're too big to send all together.)  So yes, tell everyone to email me! :]