i belong to the church of jesus christ of latter day saints.

finally finished my mormon.org profile!

Yay!!

click here and check it out,

And go make your own!

Elder D Allen Erickson, Camden New Jersey

Allen made it out of the MTC alive:) On October 11th he flew out of Salt Lake to Philadelphia! I got to talk to him on the phone for 15 minutes and it was great. He is so happy. The happiest I've ever heard him be. He is completely in his element and it brings me a lot of peace to know that he fits this role so well and is happy.

Cool story - When he was flying from Salt Lake to his layover in Detroit, he sat next to a lady on the plane and taught her all about the church. She was so interested and kept asking him and another sister missionary they were sitting by TONS of questions. She was so receptive and gave them info to get a hold of her family members in Philadelphia so they could know about the Gospel as well! It was so cool. Allen has been waiting 9 weeks for the opportunity to actually teach someone outside of the MTC and he gets that ON THE PLANE RIDE OVER. Just goes to show you this is EXACTLY where Al needs to be right now. His purpose is so great as a missionary. He truly was born to do this and to serve this time for the Lord.

He is now in his first area out in the field. Camden, New Jersey. Sound familiar? It is the #1 ranked city in the United States for murders. Yep, most dangerous city in the U.S. is his FIRST TRANSFER. Needless to say I am a walking anxiety attack. He says people just walk around carrying baseball bats and knives. His companion has seen two people killed right in front of him. But he also says for the most part these "gangsters" know about the mormon missionaries and leave them alone and even like them for the most part. So thats good to know!! He is just stoked to be there and be teaching and using his Spanish (which he is BOMB at). Im proud of him:) I miss him so much, but I know he has never been so happy and this is where he needs to be right now!

time to share my news?

I dont think too many people read this blog. And that's okay. Because I dont know if I'm going completely viral with this info yet, but here it is:

Yep! Those are mission papers that I started filling out today!

:)

8 Weeks.

(warning: i'm indulging myself in a mushy missing allen blog post. avert your eyes if necessary.)

its been 8 weeks and one day since i've seen my sweet sweet Lallen. and I made the mistake of watching a video today of a girl being "reunited" with her missionary after waiting. BIG MISTAKE. cue emotional breakdown. i miss him. i miss him every second of every day. no one knows me better. no one gets my stupid jokes more. no one makes me feel as loved. i DO get to talk to him next week when he is flying from utah to pennsylvania! thats a PLUS. but not a lot can make up for the fact that it will be a good 22 months until we see each other again.

alright, i've vented. now its time to look on the bright side and go on with my life. the past 2 months have really made me grow up and be more independent. i deal with my own problems instead of calling allen and crying about it. i put myself out there more and have made a few really good friends. i've realized that i CAN live without allen. i just dont ever WANT to.

for everyone barfing right now, i DID warn you. so it's your own fault.

i'm proud to be an american, where at least i know i'm free.

these were taken at the 9/11 memorial at tempe town lake yesterday. i can't even begin to describe how moving it was. they had flags staked in the grass for each of the 3,000 people who lost their lives that day. when you saw the towers fall and the destruction it caused - 3,000 didn't seem like a lot. but when you see the numbers first hand, represented right before your eyes it was overwhelming. i was 10 years old at the time of the attacks. every so often i think back on how little i understood back then, how confused i was at the situation, how i really thought i had no connection to what was going on. if only i knew then what i know now. i am so grateful to those who lost their lives that day and to the many that GAVE their lives that day as well. while people were running out of the towers after the planes hit, police officers, firefighters, and medics were all running in. i have such extreme gratitude for these everyday heroes' sacrifice. after being at that memorial and seeing the sights that i saw, it is apparent now more than ever that i will never forget that day in our country's history.

Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. And ye ought to say in your hearts — let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds. - D&C 64:9-11

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

That is the date that my little Lallen will enter the MTC and become Elder Erickson, missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is my focus right now..helpin Allen get ready to go and all packed up:) Then, I have a little announcement of my own! More to come later... Wish me luck! These next couple of days are going to be bittersweet..

Called To Serve

The wait is over!

Donald Allen Erickson has been called to serve in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mission, Spanish speaking, reporting August 10th!!!

For those of you wondering...that is in 87 days. But who's counting, right? Haha.

I always knew this day would come but you can never fully prepare yourself for it, ya know? I am so excited but I know its going to be tough. Allen is so excited and I know he will be THE BEST missionary ever!!

<3