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Monday, June 28, 2010

Local Mormon Missionary Returns to Buffalo

A Buffalo native, Kim Allen, now living in Angola, NY just returned home after serving the people of Calgary, Canada for 18 months as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 50,000 volunteer missionaries serving throughout the world. Young women, like Kim can serve beginning at 21-years-old and they serve for 18 months.

Kim Allen is a graduate from the University at Buffalo with a Master's degree in social work. Before serving as a missionary, she worked for about 1 ½ years with Catholic Charities doing counseling with children, youth and their families. Kim said "I just needed a change in my life and so a mission was one thought. I prayed about a mission and decided to go. I had heard from friends what a great experience they had while serving, and I had thought about it before but always thought that I'd go when I was older with my husband. It was the best decision I could have made."

Kim and other missionaries throughout the world spend their time teaching about Jesus Christ and performing community service in the areas they are called to serve. Missionaries are instructed to have respect for the laws and customs of the countries where they serve. Some missionaries take special assignments to assist with health, welfare, or other needs. Many missionaries serve far from their homes and welcome the opportunity to visit with and learn about the people they are serving.

In Kim's service to the people in Calvary she volunteered her time at an assisted living center. With other missionaries, she put on skits for the elderly and helped in a variety of ways. She added "we did the women's nails for them, we made visits to some of the people living there, and we helped them with their gardens". Kim also assisted a food bank by collecting food donations and money, sorting donated food items, and loading trucks.