Wow, it's been so long since I talked to all of you (sarcasm) has it been 24 hours yet? Nope! (I got to call home for Mother's day and conference called with the whole family!) Man, I miss you all, it was so good to hear from everyone, a blender of family love swirling around in one telephone chat room.
Anyway, on to news. Last pday was dumb, we did nothing. Tuesday began a service project that we worked on for like 2 days. There is a series of gyms/places called Apex park and recreation. We went to do some service there because a Brother in our ward works for them, to help install solar panels on top of the roof. So walking through this place was like missionary torture, the first thing we see is an indoor water park, a WATER PARK! It was so crazy! And we're all like AHHHH!!! Next we pass a fully equip weight room with a rock wall inside of it, neato! Then 2, count them 2! ice skating rinks, and then a massage therapy center, and the little kids "better than chuck e cheese" play center, and the room where they keep the real live dinosaurs!... ok not really, but it was crazy! Everything is true except for the weights... I mean dinosaurs :) But we did get to go to the Employees only section and climb up a skinny ladder where you had to squeeze through some underlip thing to get onto the roof, it was really cool and dreamlike. The first day we spray painted the housing racks for the solar panels and day 2 we bolted them together. We never actually saw the real solar panels because apparently they each get up to 400 degrees in the sun and so they're going to do it at night... or something, who knows, we didn't help with that. Day 1 they gave us pizza for lunch and day 2 they didn't give us lunch and they felt really bad and said they'd get us some passes to the ice rinks or gym or pool or anything like that, and we were all like, ahhh no (because all of those are against mission rules). It took me 3 days to get the spray paint off my arm. Oh and this week was just full of service, we helped some older lady in the 1st ward de-weed her entire lawn/garden/everything. Side note... Elder Dobronsky is 23 and he's so awesome, his parents are form Ecuador so he's fluent in Spanish and if we just want to talk we just go off in Spanish, so it's awesome being companions with him. We also had a bazillion lessons cancel on us which is like AARGH! We also have been trying to get a hold of our 15 less active families that are on our list. So we met with someone for our last lesson and asked why they didn't come to church and talked very boldly and openly, and the response was, I've just kind of been procrastinating. No doctrinal questions, they know it's true, no offense problems with anyone, just procrastinating!! And I was really frustrated to know someone has a testimony but won't act on it. James 2, FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD LIKE A PIECE OF DEATH... it does no good to know something and not act! I think that's a good life principle, if you know something and don't do anything about it, nothing happens. If you have a seed, and don't plant it, no food. You have an education but sit and play Halo all day... UGH, then no good. This is the time we have to PREPARE to meet GOD! Last time I checked prepare was a verb, we do stuff, we ACT.
So Wednesday I think, we saw an investigator and didn't see them again until last night on Sunday. Friday they cancelled an appointment on us.
Friday night after a day of service at the food bank and weekly planning we had dinner with a family who have 4 boys and 1 girl, the boys range from age 19-5. After that our appointment cancelled on us so instead of being disheartened -- though we did have to stop so I could take 2 minutes of deep breaths -- we went out and had 2 other great lessons, so it was way good. Feels very good to know that you did your best and when things get rough you dug in and went to work. That's how we do it.
So Saturday was the postal food drive, where essentially it was supposed to be like Isaac's Eagle project/food drive, but we drove around and people were supposed to put food under their mailboxes but it wasn't too great of a collection. We got pizza and then went to this older lady's house, and it was uber fun! So then we went home, crashed for lunch and then went to a Cinco de Mayo party which was not too fun... by the time we got there, there was 0 food and no dancing, but there was a pinata, and that was about it. Then we went and helped a member do a talk and a lesson and that was about it.
Then Mother's Day, I called Mommy in the morning which was nice! I hope you like the present :) We went to church and I kinda dozed off and then a million skreetchy voices woke me up haha as the primary kids (ages 3-12) got up to sing to their mothers, but I guess it's ok, it's Mother's Day after all. So then I talked to all of you, my family, and then we played Cranium at the Tinvieri's. Then we had dinner at a member's who have 5 or 6 kids, they're so funny, we talked the whole time about star wards, it was so funny. My name is Elder 8 and d-bronk is Elder From a Far Away Place. We just died laughing the whole time, but I think we got the dad in trouble because he showed his kids robot chicken star wars and stuff and I don't think his wife liked that too much, oops. Then we taught about what honoring your father and mother means, and how it means if you do honor them you will live a long time. Then we had a lesson with some investigators and they are committed to move forward. We talked a lot about the spirit, about Saul becoming Paul, and how they can be just like that. They were hopeful at the end and on fire, the adversary works very hard on all of us especially when we're trying to make good changes and choices.
It's been a super hard long week, but those are the ones in which you grow. I really think that there's some truth behind the saying, "What doesn't kill you just makes you stronger" It's the weight lifting principle, you don't grow from sitting on the couch, you grow from lifting massive amounts of metal!!
So, Happy Birthday Olivia! You are getting so stinkin old!
I love you all so much!
Elder Jonathan Allred
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 3, 2010
Dearest family,
It's Elder Allred, once again! So this week has been slightly nuts and super quick. Elder Dobronski and I are doing really well together, he's awesome, he's so chill because he's from PHILLY!! He was in the Reading stake so we figured we lived about 45 minutes from each other, and our ward is like "uhoh, trouble!" But yea, so this week was nuts, and I'll get to the really nuts part in a second.
So Monday pretty much was a wash, it was transfer Monday and was blah. We had dinner with the Hamblins and it was good. We also met with our pregnant ward missionary and her non-member husband who is way awesome! I really want him to take hte lessons, but we'll see what happens. So it's weird without Elder Hiatt. He is an awesome missionary and now that he's gone I lost my crutch. I could kind of just coast and we'd still be effective, and now that he's gone and Dobronski doesn't know the area yet I have to do almost all the planning and know where we're going and what's going to be effective. It's been kicking my butt, but I've been dealing with it an dmaking it happen. I've grown a ton this last week, it's nuts. Biking has been really tough on Dobronski because he's been in a car area for 6 months, but he's doing really well. My legs are huge, it's nuts! Our investigators are doing well, we're going to have a second interview this week and we're seeing progress, commitments are being kept and it's great. Now we just need to find more!
Wednesday, more of the same. You'd be amazed what people tell the missionaries/think is appropriate to talk to us about... sometime it's just like ok, thanks but stop, you should talk to the Bishop or someone else. Our Bishop is the man.
Thursday we had a really short district meeting because Bishop called us really late Wednesday night with something that we had to take care of Thursday morning. The rest of the day we had 5 appointments or so that cancelled on us, that wasn't fun. We only ended up getting one lesson on Thursday which made it a slow day.
Friday, we did service at the food bank which was crazy work after no work last week. Then we weekly planned, and everyone cancelled on us again, not good.
So now Saturday, pretty life altering day. Elder C. Scott Grow came for a mission tour. To make a long story short, lots of stuff happened, including a ton of changes to our mission, 1st, the first lesson is now taught in 15 minutes, we commit them for baptism and then leave. 2nd lesson is now 30 minutes, 3rd lesson 45 minutes, etc. wow! Next, no more exchanges between DL and district, only leadership will do exchanges. Next, the ZLs will not have a DL in their district and the Jr. ZL will now be district leader (DL) also. We're not authorized to spend 50% of our time working with the families that don't come as often, or are less active. We're not allowed to leave our district or have zone activities like basketball at the stake center on pday except for shopping and email. We have to plan 3 weeks ahead. And a ton more that completely changed the leadership structure, teaching patterns, and essentially life we've all been living. After we got home we had a 2 hour companionship debriefing and then met with our Ward Mission Leader for another 1.5 hours to see how we're going to implement all of the changes. We did a lot of work, made some new forms, and designed some programs to get the ward on board. Let's just say by the end of the day I was mentally and emotionally drained, it was nuts. Elder Grow also did a Q&A session in which some essential plain and precious truths and doctrines were brought to light which completely blew my mind.
Then Sunday was good, I loved this Fast Sunday, it was awesome! So yea, it was a super busy, intense week with many changes. It's funny, leadership in our mission just used to be directing meetings and taking numbers and now they're intensely responsible for training and everyone in leadership is going to have to step it up. But yea, so much growing going on in my life, it's nuts. But I can definitely say I'm more dedicated and putting 500% in right now. Last night I had dreams about planning missionary work and how to be more effective, I'm just turning into a missionary I guess. I'm not a zombie, I teach with so much flavor people will be lining up to get a taste :) and Elder D-bronk is the same way. So I love you all. Please can everyone read the first 3 chapters of Mosiah, they're amazing. King Benjamin is just awesome! He's basically a cripple and dying and he's talking, and it's really important. I think it's in chapter 1 or 2 that he's like, I'm weak because I can barely talk, but I need to let you know this stuff! Man, it's great!
Share the gospel, always, live it and spit it.
Much love to all of you.
Elder Jonathan Allred
PS. Thanks to Miss Sarah and my kids from Hilendale, thank you so much for the cards and pictures! Love you guys! And thanks to Sister Brown for the sheet music! I haven't had a chance to play it yet, but I like the lyrics a lot.
It's Elder Allred, once again! So this week has been slightly nuts and super quick. Elder Dobronski and I are doing really well together, he's awesome, he's so chill because he's from PHILLY!! He was in the Reading stake so we figured we lived about 45 minutes from each other, and our ward is like "uhoh, trouble!" But yea, so this week was nuts, and I'll get to the really nuts part in a second.
So Monday pretty much was a wash, it was transfer Monday and was blah. We had dinner with the Hamblins and it was good. We also met with our pregnant ward missionary and her non-member husband who is way awesome! I really want him to take hte lessons, but we'll see what happens. So it's weird without Elder Hiatt. He is an awesome missionary and now that he's gone I lost my crutch. I could kind of just coast and we'd still be effective, and now that he's gone and Dobronski doesn't know the area yet I have to do almost all the planning and know where we're going and what's going to be effective. It's been kicking my butt, but I've been dealing with it an dmaking it happen. I've grown a ton this last week, it's nuts. Biking has been really tough on Dobronski because he's been in a car area for 6 months, but he's doing really well. My legs are huge, it's nuts! Our investigators are doing well, we're going to have a second interview this week and we're seeing progress, commitments are being kept and it's great. Now we just need to find more!
Wednesday, more of the same. You'd be amazed what people tell the missionaries/think is appropriate to talk to us about... sometime it's just like ok, thanks but stop, you should talk to the Bishop or someone else. Our Bishop is the man.
Thursday we had a really short district meeting because Bishop called us really late Wednesday night with something that we had to take care of Thursday morning. The rest of the day we had 5 appointments or so that cancelled on us, that wasn't fun. We only ended up getting one lesson on Thursday which made it a slow day.
Friday, we did service at the food bank which was crazy work after no work last week. Then we weekly planned, and everyone cancelled on us again, not good.
So now Saturday, pretty life altering day. Elder C. Scott Grow came for a mission tour. To make a long story short, lots of stuff happened, including a ton of changes to our mission, 1st, the first lesson is now taught in 15 minutes, we commit them for baptism and then leave. 2nd lesson is now 30 minutes, 3rd lesson 45 minutes, etc. wow! Next, no more exchanges between DL and district, only leadership will do exchanges. Next, the ZLs will not have a DL in their district and the Jr. ZL will now be district leader (DL) also. We're not authorized to spend 50% of our time working with the families that don't come as often, or are less active. We're not allowed to leave our district or have zone activities like basketball at the stake center on pday except for shopping and email. We have to plan 3 weeks ahead. And a ton more that completely changed the leadership structure, teaching patterns, and essentially life we've all been living. After we got home we had a 2 hour companionship debriefing and then met with our Ward Mission Leader for another 1.5 hours to see how we're going to implement all of the changes. We did a lot of work, made some new forms, and designed some programs to get the ward on board. Let's just say by the end of the day I was mentally and emotionally drained, it was nuts. Elder Grow also did a Q&A session in which some essential plain and precious truths and doctrines were brought to light which completely blew my mind.
Then Sunday was good, I loved this Fast Sunday, it was awesome! So yea, it was a super busy, intense week with many changes. It's funny, leadership in our mission just used to be directing meetings and taking numbers and now they're intensely responsible for training and everyone in leadership is going to have to step it up. But yea, so much growing going on in my life, it's nuts. But I can definitely say I'm more dedicated and putting 500% in right now. Last night I had dreams about planning missionary work and how to be more effective, I'm just turning into a missionary I guess. I'm not a zombie, I teach with so much flavor people will be lining up to get a taste :) and Elder D-bronk is the same way. So I love you all. Please can everyone read the first 3 chapters of Mosiah, they're amazing. King Benjamin is just awesome! He's basically a cripple and dying and he's talking, and it's really important. I think it's in chapter 1 or 2 that he's like, I'm weak because I can barely talk, but I need to let you know this stuff! Man, it's great!
Share the gospel, always, live it and spit it.
Much love to all of you.
Elder Jonathan Allred
PS. Thanks to Miss Sarah and my kids from Hilendale, thank you so much for the cards and pictures! Love you guys! And thanks to Sister Brown for the sheet music! I haven't had a chance to play it yet, but I like the lyrics a lot.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
April 26, 2010
So it's the end of transfer 3! Next transfer aka this transfer I will be turning 5 and 6 (months on the mission)! There's a lot of changes, so I will be getting down to business now. So first and foremost, here was my week.
After email we went and got my haircut at Sister William's. They're leaving in June after their daughter graduates, so that's cool. So then, we went shopping blah blah blah, and had a cookout at the Alkire Building. I made shirts for my district, though I don't have pictures of them, I'll take some and send them soon. Then we played a ton of ultimate Frisbee. We had dinner, meatball sandwiches, with our ward mission leader and his wife and their 6 kids. So yea, then we had a member missionary, plus 1, lesson with a family and made some goals with them. Lots of drama started happening with some people we're teaching on Monday night, so we did some cleanup on Sunday and they wanted us to be counselors but that's not what we're supposed to do so we told them who they should talk to. That wasn't fun. But yea, we shared Ether 12:4 or 4:12 whichever is about an anchor, I love that quote, it inspired a drawing I did on my planner. But then we had a lesson with some investigators about lesson 2 and it seems like it's taking a long time to get through it. Then we saw another person who is going through a lot of rough stuff right now. Then we biked all the way across our area to a member's house for dinner, only for them to drive us back across the area to dinner and then back to their house so we could bike once again back across the area to an appointment and then home, it was tiring. But I've been drinking protein shakes and it helps my legs heal and feel better, so yeah. Wednesday wasn't much fun. Thursday we had our last district meeting which was really sad. We had a district lunch with steak and took pictures of us all dressed up as our Ninja turtles characters, it was super fun! And we drank herbal tea and did yoga and had a bubble party. We have the best district ever. Then it decided to rain so we couldn't really get anywhere, but made it to an appointment with some investigators. And then to dinner with a nonmember who works at the bike shop we go to. He's way cool, not really interested, but we're friends with him. Friday was interesting. We went to Walmart early because Hiatt lost his memory stick for his camera, then we did service at the food bank. It was a pretty slow day... so we made a box fort in the turtle cave aka the attic. We got home and did our weekly planning and then ate at the Maxwells. Then we watched the Joseph Smith movie with our investigators and finally finished up lesson 2, the Plan of Salvation, phew! And we set up a baptisimal interview. Saturday we woke up and went in the rain to church for an appointment, then biked to lunch with the district. We saw a bunch of people in the snow... yes snow... and started saying goodbye to people. Friday night Elder Hiatt got the "you are going to be a Zone Leader again" call and it was sad because the whole week we hadn't been very motivated because we knew he was leaving. So yea, it was blah. We went to a member's BBQ and found out that she was pregnant, I had asked her the night before if she was haha, and Saturday night found out that Elder Hiatt was going to Longmont to an area he already served in and I would be getting a new senior companion. Sunday, no early meetings thank goodness. Church was interesting to say the least. Afterward we took lots of pictures. We didn't do anything in the afternoon due to packing, ate dinner and then were supposed to have a meeting with some investigators but they didn't show up and that was about it.
Now, my new companion, Elder Dabronski is here, he's been out a transfer longer than me and he's from Reading, PA. It's cool. I miss Elder Hiatt, and the 1/2 of our zone that got transferred, one person left from every area. So this past week has been kinda trudgy, but hopefully the work will pick up soon as we try to put 100% in. I'm exhausted though.
The church is true.
Love you ALL,
E. Allred
After email we went and got my haircut at Sister William's. They're leaving in June after their daughter graduates, so that's cool. So then, we went shopping blah blah blah, and had a cookout at the Alkire Building. I made shirts for my district, though I don't have pictures of them, I'll take some and send them soon. Then we played a ton of ultimate Frisbee. We had dinner, meatball sandwiches, with our ward mission leader and his wife and their 6 kids. So yea, then we had a member missionary, plus 1, lesson with a family and made some goals with them. Lots of drama started happening with some people we're teaching on Monday night, so we did some cleanup on Sunday and they wanted us to be counselors but that's not what we're supposed to do so we told them who they should talk to. That wasn't fun. But yea, we shared Ether 12:4 or 4:12 whichever is about an anchor, I love that quote, it inspired a drawing I did on my planner. But then we had a lesson with some investigators about lesson 2 and it seems like it's taking a long time to get through it. Then we saw another person who is going through a lot of rough stuff right now. Then we biked all the way across our area to a member's house for dinner, only for them to drive us back across the area to dinner and then back to their house so we could bike once again back across the area to an appointment and then home, it was tiring. But I've been drinking protein shakes and it helps my legs heal and feel better, so yeah. Wednesday wasn't much fun. Thursday we had our last district meeting which was really sad. We had a district lunch with steak and took pictures of us all dressed up as our Ninja turtles characters, it was super fun! And we drank herbal tea and did yoga and had a bubble party. We have the best district ever. Then it decided to rain so we couldn't really get anywhere, but made it to an appointment with some investigators. And then to dinner with a nonmember who works at the bike shop we go to. He's way cool, not really interested, but we're friends with him. Friday was interesting. We went to Walmart early because Hiatt lost his memory stick for his camera, then we did service at the food bank. It was a pretty slow day... so we made a box fort in the turtle cave aka the attic. We got home and did our weekly planning and then ate at the Maxwells. Then we watched the Joseph Smith movie with our investigators and finally finished up lesson 2, the Plan of Salvation, phew! And we set up a baptisimal interview. Saturday we woke up and went in the rain to church for an appointment, then biked to lunch with the district. We saw a bunch of people in the snow... yes snow... and started saying goodbye to people. Friday night Elder Hiatt got the "you are going to be a Zone Leader again" call and it was sad because the whole week we hadn't been very motivated because we knew he was leaving. So yea, it was blah. We went to a member's BBQ and found out that she was pregnant, I had asked her the night before if she was haha, and Saturday night found out that Elder Hiatt was going to Longmont to an area he already served in and I would be getting a new senior companion. Sunday, no early meetings thank goodness. Church was interesting to say the least. Afterward we took lots of pictures. We didn't do anything in the afternoon due to packing, ate dinner and then were supposed to have a meeting with some investigators but they didn't show up and that was about it.
Now, my new companion, Elder Dabronski is here, he's been out a transfer longer than me and he's from Reading, PA. It's cool. I miss Elder Hiatt, and the 1/2 of our zone that got transferred, one person left from every area. So this past week has been kinda trudgy, but hopefully the work will pick up soon as we try to put 100% in. I'm exhausted though.
The church is true.
Love you ALL,
E. Allred
Monday, May 17, 2010
April 19, 2010
So this week went by uber fast and it was uber awesome! I will now proceed to tell you ALL about it!
So last Monday was probably the best pday ever, seriously! We emailed then went to Ross where I bought some jeans for $13, skinny jeans that fit me! Hiatt also got a new suit at BCF, because it seems like he's down to "see through" clothes. We had a fun time pretending to be slightly feminien and having him try on clothes (Elder Slezak and Bryan were with us). Then we went to a member's house in the 4th ward who has a tennis court, trampoline, nice deck and grill, and the game where you throw the bolo things on horizontal tubes that are 3 levels... maybe you know what I'm talking about? But our whole zone was there and it was just so fun, I'll send you pictures.
So Tuesday I went on exchanges with E. Slezak and we had an awesome day. We discussed the "green fire" and how we can cultivate it even when we're not having too much success. We had a lot of good discussions and a great day. He's been out 2 more transfers than me, so it's good to talk about how everything has been going. We helped the Dachtlers who just had their baby rearrange their house, we had lunch with them and then practiced for our musical fireside that our zone put on... did I mention that? Then we met with two of our investigators and it was awesome. They're both back on track it seems and planning on getting baptized. Monday night we also got a call from a returned sister missionary who gave us a referral, we've tried to see the man she referred, like 3 times but he's never home. But it was still a good day.
Then Wednesday, we had "zone conference" in the morning. They've been changing terminology, so what was interviews is now zone conference and what was zone conference is now mission conference. So we had trainings from the APs and ZLs while President Ely pulled us out to do interviews. I love that man. We talked a lot about him, I think it was good for him to just like unload, so I was glad because he's got a hard job. So we chatted and talked abou the work. I'm probably staying, transfers are next Monday and Hiatt is probably leaving. He also said that after this transfer and just about every one after that, 20 new missionaries or so are coming in. So I'm probably going to be a Senior companions possibly in leadership and training in the very near future, which is exciting, I just want a son! (a son is someone who is a fresh Elder, just starting out on his mission), and Hiatt wants a grandson before he goes home (since I'm his "son"). So then we had practice again for our musical fireside. Then we met with another investigator who we taught the first lesson to again, she was a little skeptical and this time committed to read and pray and come to church (although she didn't wind up coming). Then we went to see other investigators and wound up having one of the best lessons ever. We decided to start the lessons over and one of their friends joined the lessons and really liked it, so now he's a new investigator, thought I think he lives in another ward's boundaries, so we'll probably wind up turning him over to the other Elders. But it was so awesome, the spirit was so present and it just rocked the house. I felt like I was teaching the Sermon ont he Mount because they all ended up sitting on the ground and Hiatt and I were on a picnic bench, it was awesome. One of them has a first interview with our ZLs this week and then a President's interview, but we're getting there. The other still has some stuff to work on, but will be there soon hopefully! Then we had dinner with a member who doesn't come too often who just moved in, she made good food, just wasn't interested in coming back to church anytime soon. Then we went on exchanges with the ZL's, lots of exchanges this week. Natjees (pronounced Not chez), one of Hiatt's old companions came and stayed with me. He's one of the best teachers ever. It was awesome. We went to District MEeting and had a really good time, it was awesome. I seriously have the best district in the world, I love those guys, they're definitely part of my family now. So then we taught a lesson on the Plan of Salvation, it went really well, and I haven't taught it in a while so that was good. We also made a goal to talk to everyone, so we had some really good, and really crazy contacts. I talked to a lady in Spanish for like 5 minutes straight, but myself! Natjees is a gringo, so it was just me, but it was awesome!!! Some of the vocab and forms I used I don't even remember, so it was just like spirit power 100%, it was awesome! I talked about the Book of Mormon and about Joseph Smith. We gave her a pass along card and it was just awesome! We then tracted and got yelled at by some lady who was so mean and told us no soliciting and was going to call security which was bogus, but it was like oh well, what would we say if we just kept going and ignored her? It wouldn't put a good message across so we walked away and Natjees started singing "There is Sunshine in my Soul" and I died laughing. Then some members took us to Chipotle. Then some more contacting and then home. It was such a good exchange.
Then Friday, did service in the morning at the food bank... they love us! We built a 20 ft tall box tower in the middle of the sorting floor, that was fun! We had another lesson with some investigators about the Plan of Salvation, it was so good! Then weekly planning and packing because they finally found a place for us to live, if they hadn't President Ely said he was going to yank missionaries out of the 2nd ward :( So we have housing till June, and then are back up a creek without a paddle, but that's how it goes.
Saturday was kind of stressful and yucky, we finished packing and picked up Hiatt's suit. We moved at like 2pm and had yet another appointment with our investigators and it was so good! Still about the Plan of Salvation -- it is amazing to see the changes in these investigator's lives. They now know things they shouldn't do and feel bad when they slip up. It is just awesome!
Then Sunday, oh boy... so first off, they asked us to give talks Wednesday night, and as you can tell I had no time to write it, so Sunday I woke up at 5:20 as usual, ugh. Then had ward council at 6:30, 7:30 wrote my talk, 8:30 another meeting, 9:00 church started. WE HAD 3 INVESTIGATORS come WAHOO!!! It was SO AWESOME! We gave our talks I was so nervous, but yea, we talked about 2 of the lessons, I talked about the Restoration, and ended up talking for 15 minutes instead of 7 minutes which was not good because we had another speaker after us, but it was probably the best talk I've given, with the least amount of preparation. So then the rest of church was awesome. Then home for a PB&J and ramen lunch, then nap. Then we went to a member's to do a lesson and she ended up giving our hand a "parafin wax" it was like my hands were drinking soup on a cold winter's day. It was awesome, do it! Then dinner with our Ward mission leader, then we went to our last practice for the musical fireside, and then had the musical fireside. So what the musical fireside is, let me explain, our whole zone is musically inclined, so we put together a program to teach the first discussion with short 1-2 minute narrations and then lots of songs. So our one big song that we did was "I Stand All Amazed," I played piano, Elders Bryan, Hiatt, and Slezak sang. Then for the last chorus I had a boom mic and we did 4 part harmony and it sounded so beautiful! The whole thing wasn't perfect but the spirit throughout the whole thing was the strongest I've ever felt. We packed the building and they got permission to tape it, so I'll send home a copy! Our mission President and his wife came and the Stake Presidency and 20 investigators throughout the whole zone!! We had two that came!! Afterwards I almost cried talking to our investigators, one of them and E. Hiatt did cry. It was the most powerful feeling I've ever had in my entire life. One of them was just like, "I'm so overwhelmed, I don't know what overcame me, but I know I need to do more for the church and get more involved" he was just on fire and it was awesome! Everyone left walking on clouds, it was so amazing, I can't describe it! Man, but it was awesome! And that was about it.
I hope my email did this week justice, it brought me a lot of hope, and brought me some fire. It was amazing. I have a solid testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He lives. How AMAZING. He loves ALL of us, and wants us to be happy. The church is true, read the Book of Mormon, it will make you happy! I love you all, thanks so much for everything!
Love,
Elder Jonathan Allred
Being a "bike nerd missionary"
Our District!
April 12, 2010
Ooooooooommpa! Hey Familia! It is I once again, el Fernando Jonathan Juanito Elder Allred :)
So this week was once again one of many ups and downs! Let us begin with Monday. So pday, after I got done emailing, we drove into the mountains (that we found out were actually in our zone) and climbed a hill and took some pictures and just had fun, it was awesome! Then we went to Buffalo Wild Wings and it was awful because the pregame of the NCAA tournament was on everywhere :( So we all left very sad.
Tuesday I had a migraine, not good. And actually, I'm not going to go through the week because honestly it was really ineffective. I had another migraine thursday that kept me down until 2pm and it was not fun. We went over all the people we're teaching and some that aren't at church too often that we're trying to help out and we're realizing the work here is really not too great, it seems our investigators are dropping off and not caring and being punks, it's just not good. Our bishop is very missionary minded, but we're struggling getting referrals from our members. So during weekly planning we did a lot of talking and revising and we went to the temple on Saturday. I just prayed a lot about what we can do, and for an increase in desire to do the work, it's hard to be excited when nothing is going on, you know? But the temple was really good. The only bad thing was there were like 5 weddings, and I found out that bridesmaids are the anti-missionary, especially blonde ones!! It was terrible to be there and be like "that could be me! or will be me" and I got super trunked out (missed home) and it was Elder Hiatt, Elder Bryan and Elder Slezack and I, but we still had a good time. I saw the grandparent's old house and it was sad/made me miss them and when they lived there. We got to attend another sealing (temple marriage) which was way good! Then Sunday was another not so great day. We've both had a lot of trouble sleeping, so our lunch nap went a little long, but still we're doing the best we can, and making things happen. Oh yea, when i talked to one of the mother of the brides after she took a picture for us and found out that they were in the Wilmington Ward way back in the day and knew the Slaughs and Winns and Rices and possibly Jordans, so if anyone recognizes the name McCabe, then I saw their youngest daughter get married... well I saw them afterwards. It was really funny because they were ready to head out the front doors of the temple with everyone waiting there and the bride told us to go first so we walked out and everyone started cheering and were like oh... you are not them! And it was funny because then they were like Ohhh ELDERS!... not your wedding yet, give it two years, and they all joked with us and we were thoroughly embarrassed and got out of the way haha. And Brother McCabe told us where to get cheesesteaks, a place called the Best of Philly? So we went there, and they were ok. But yea, that was my week, not too exciting, and you should look up the lyrics to the song "Still Believe" someone sang it in sacrament meeting and I loved it... "though my faith be as the sea, I still believe" was my favorite line. So yep.
Last thought, something uplifting. My studies help me so much, so first: PRAY, ALWAYS! And if you want to read something awesome in the Book of Mormon, go to 2 Nephi 31-33. It's SO GOOD! and one of my favorite parts, but 33:15 the last half of the verse "The Lord has commanded it and I must obey." That's what this life is about, it's not about keeping rules to be perfect and say "oh look at me I'm so good." The Lord said do it, so DO IT! :) He promises us great blessings, we just have to go forward in faith that he will be good to His word, which HE WILL! or he would cease to be God.
I Love you ALL! Sorry this letter was short and meh, but it was good to hear from you all! Keep it up, I can't do it with out you all! Thanks so much for your letters, love and support!
Love,
Jonathan (Elder Allred)
Outside the temple
We are the 4 Ninja turtles!
Cactus is good eatin'
washing our bikes
Saturday, May 1, 2010
General Conference
For more information about General Conference that Elder Allred refers to in his letter below please visit: this link to view video or read the transcript of talks he refers to. Or for a description of General Conference click here.
Again, thank you all for your patience as I get his letters online.
Again, thank you all for your patience as I get his letters online.
April 5, 2010
Dearest Family,
It is I, Jonbob! And I write unto my family yet again concerning the happenings among the people of Arvada in the land of my father’s birth. The people here are of a wicked disposition and many great other whore churches ravage the land with their abominable creeds of the doctrines of men. I however, press forward in my determination to tear them down and build up the Lord’s Kingdom in these last days.
Well, that was fun. Anyway, this week was alright, and t here is no time to explain so I will summarize.
Monday was p-day, it was pretty lame, we were all trying to see what was going on, and another ever did, so it was a bummer. Slezack and I just stacked up chairs and what not on top of each other and just started jumping over them. We had dinner. We then had a lesson with a family, which was awesome, about the restoration.
Tuesday I don’t really think anything happened. It was one of our least productive days because we had to help the first ward missionaries move and the times got all messed up so we didn’t do anything when we actually had time to get it done. It was really frustrating and I kind of blew up because we did a lot of sitting around and we could’ve been out working!
Wednesday we started out by doing some service for the member we’re living with. She has these awful devil bushes out front that have a million roots and so we destroyed them with our huge muscles :) It took us almost 2 hours to get out 2 or 3 bushes, gross! Speaking of huge muscles, I started an ab program and I am happy to announce the arrival of my 8 pack once again upon the face of my stomach! It’s still slightly dusted with the effects of members giving us 1/3 of a pie for dessert, but it’s happening and coming along which makes me feel good.
Thursday Elder Bryan and I got to go on exchanges, which was awesome. Elder Bryan is like me, but older and cooler haha. He’s awesome. I have to say that Slezack, Bryan, Hiatt, and I are probably the closest group of missionaries ever, which is going to be terrible when transfers come at the end of the month! I’m going to call it now and guess that Hiatt gets to become an AP (assistant to the president)! So funny! Anyway, Thursday was really great. E. Bryan got to work out his butt muscles as we road bikes all over town. He’s a car missionary (no bike for him). But we had a great day. We found a new investigator TRATING, I know, that never happens, how crazy is that?! But it was awesome! We talked to this guy literally for an hour on his doorstep. He’s so nice, it was really cool! We had a good lesson with some former investigators and hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll be seeing some baptisms!
Friday we wound up riding by a member’s house where there was a move going on, so we cancelled the rest of our day to help because the only people there were high priests and if we hadn’t helped get the recliner couches out of the basement at least one of them would have perished. And while we were helping with the move, we bent down to pick something up and Hiatt’s pants just went… CACCCAAKKKKKKKRIP! All the way down his leg, I thought it was hilarious!
Saturday was awesome, General Conference was really good, and it would take too long to give my thoughts on all of it. I must say that Priesthood session was probably my favorite. Right before President Monson got up I leaned forward to tell one of the youth how lucky he was to have this Priesthood session while he was a youth because it was one of the best I’ve been to. Then President Monson got up and said the same exact thing… I laughed :)
Sunday was more General Conference and visits. The weekend was just really good! To synthesize everything that happened in conference and the theme’s I picked up on were:
First and foremost, the importance of families and parents in the lives of their children. If you think about it, people always say that children are the future of the world and our country. But who shapes the children? To some extent teachers, but above all, parents do. Parents define their kids by setting an example of life for them, mothers especially. I thought the story of the father asking the son “who is the end, all be all, head of the household?” Son answers: “you are dad” Dad smiles and says, “Yes, how do you know that?” Son: “Mom told me!” Is such a funny story, it makes me laugh. My parents are so awesome and work together in such unity that they are one! So to parents and people who will be parents, do the best you can to be a good example and be responsible!
The next topic I really liked was the one on faith and hope. Faith is not dependant on circumstances. Faith is a hope, a wish and AN ACTION to make something better, whether it be a weakness, life in general, a relationship, anything. Also, President Uchtdorf’s talk on patience was really good too! Patience is not only waiting, it is waiting and working and doing all that is in your power to make it happen! Impatience is just another way of saying selfishness. Some of life’s hardest times, and hardest lessons can be one of two things. The first thing is it can be a stumbling block where you can be impatient and not take the time to get over it and you can get stuck, frustrated and stop progressing. Or it can be a stepping stone. We all have hard lives. WE ALL have our own struggles and trials, but we can choose to be patient and work through them and come out better people. Think about it, muscles don’t get stronger through rest (the easy life), they get stronger through pain and work. Metal doesn’t get stronger through sitting there, it gets tempered in the searing hot flames to burn away all impurities. We as people DO NOT GROW BY SITTING AROUND AND DOING NOTHING. We grow by working with others, learning, making things happen, learning from mistakes. We are made to HEAL! Physically, mentally, emotionally, we do not break unless we chose to. Mark Antony said, “Only Antony can conquer Antony.” We have the strength to do whatever we need to, to progress. The scriptures promise us that God will never give us anything which we are unable to handle. The promise is made that with every temptation he will provide a way for us to escape it. Be like Joseph of Egypt and RUN AWAY! Don’t chill around and don’t look back like Lot’s wife. If you want to change something in your life, be patient, do it, make it happen, and if it doesn’t, work until it does!
WE have the strength to do whatever we need to, to progress. That also covered a lot of what I liked about President Eyring’s talk on diligence! It was SO GOOD! In this day and age we are all accustomed to INSTANT GRATIFICATION; fast food, text messaging, now now now now is when we want things. BE DILIGENT AND WORK! Just look at history, no one got famous for sitting around. This country was founded on hard work, and as that characteristic has gone, our country has sunken into a state of “yuck” where people just want the easy quick way. NO GOOD!
Well enough of that for now. Life is seriously one big.....playground. Sure, I'll compare it to that. We can have a lot of fun. We're going to learn and grow through a variety of activities. If we can do something, we don't give up, just keep going. If you fall and get hurt, get up, keep going. We have other people to help us and we need to be there for those around us also. That's one of the reasons that I'm out here. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ, the authority he used to create the world, heal the sick, blind, lame...is on the earth again. We have a prophet who speaks the words of God unto us so that we can be happy and know of things to come. If God really is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, why would he not talk to us today? Doesn't he love us?!?! YES HE DOES! And that's the message I'm out to share with the world. It's funny how people don't even listen. When they answer the door and we ask to share a message about happiness, no, not interested. It saddens me! I don't really get hurt, I just know the joy that I have and I want others to have it to. Christ lives! What a great message that is, and that we get to celebrate it at this time of year, when spring is coming and the earth is being beautified again!
I love you all so much!
Keep going don't give up!
Elder Allred
BE HAPPY!
It is I, Jonbob! And I write unto my family yet again concerning the happenings among the people of Arvada in the land of my father’s birth. The people here are of a wicked disposition and many great other whore churches ravage the land with their abominable creeds of the doctrines of men. I however, press forward in my determination to tear them down and build up the Lord’s Kingdom in these last days.
Well, that was fun. Anyway, this week was alright, and t here is no time to explain so I will summarize.
Monday was p-day, it was pretty lame, we were all trying to see what was going on, and another ever did, so it was a bummer. Slezack and I just stacked up chairs and what not on top of each other and just started jumping over them. We had dinner. We then had a lesson with a family, which was awesome, about the restoration.
Tuesday I don’t really think anything happened. It was one of our least productive days because we had to help the first ward missionaries move and the times got all messed up so we didn’t do anything when we actually had time to get it done. It was really frustrating and I kind of blew up because we did a lot of sitting around and we could’ve been out working!
Wednesday we started out by doing some service for the member we’re living with. She has these awful devil bushes out front that have a million roots and so we destroyed them with our huge muscles :) It took us almost 2 hours to get out 2 or 3 bushes, gross! Speaking of huge muscles, I started an ab program and I am happy to announce the arrival of my 8 pack once again upon the face of my stomach! It’s still slightly dusted with the effects of members giving us 1/3 of a pie for dessert, but it’s happening and coming along which makes me feel good.
Thursday Elder Bryan and I got to go on exchanges, which was awesome. Elder Bryan is like me, but older and cooler haha. He’s awesome. I have to say that Slezack, Bryan, Hiatt, and I are probably the closest group of missionaries ever, which is going to be terrible when transfers come at the end of the month! I’m going to call it now and guess that Hiatt gets to become an AP (assistant to the president)! So funny! Anyway, Thursday was really great. E. Bryan got to work out his butt muscles as we road bikes all over town. He’s a car missionary (no bike for him). But we had a great day. We found a new investigator TRATING, I know, that never happens, how crazy is that?! But it was awesome! We talked to this guy literally for an hour on his doorstep. He’s so nice, it was really cool! We had a good lesson with some former investigators and hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll be seeing some baptisms!
Friday we wound up riding by a member’s house where there was a move going on, so we cancelled the rest of our day to help because the only people there were high priests and if we hadn’t helped get the recliner couches out of the basement at least one of them would have perished. And while we were helping with the move, we bent down to pick something up and Hiatt’s pants just went… CACCCAAKKKKKKKRIP! All the way down his leg, I thought it was hilarious!
Saturday was awesome, General Conference was really good, and it would take too long to give my thoughts on all of it. I must say that Priesthood session was probably my favorite. Right before President Monson got up I leaned forward to tell one of the youth how lucky he was to have this Priesthood session while he was a youth because it was one of the best I’ve been to. Then President Monson got up and said the same exact thing… I laughed :)
Sunday was more General Conference and visits. The weekend was just really good! To synthesize everything that happened in conference and the theme’s I picked up on were:
First and foremost, the importance of families and parents in the lives of their children. If you think about it, people always say that children are the future of the world and our country. But who shapes the children? To some extent teachers, but above all, parents do. Parents define their kids by setting an example of life for them, mothers especially. I thought the story of the father asking the son “who is the end, all be all, head of the household?” Son answers: “you are dad” Dad smiles and says, “Yes, how do you know that?” Son: “Mom told me!” Is such a funny story, it makes me laugh. My parents are so awesome and work together in such unity that they are one! So to parents and people who will be parents, do the best you can to be a good example and be responsible!
The next topic I really liked was the one on faith and hope. Faith is not dependant on circumstances. Faith is a hope, a wish and AN ACTION to make something better, whether it be a weakness, life in general, a relationship, anything. Also, President Uchtdorf’s talk on patience was really good too! Patience is not only waiting, it is waiting and working and doing all that is in your power to make it happen! Impatience is just another way of saying selfishness. Some of life’s hardest times, and hardest lessons can be one of two things. The first thing is it can be a stumbling block where you can be impatient and not take the time to get over it and you can get stuck, frustrated and stop progressing. Or it can be a stepping stone. We all have hard lives. WE ALL have our own struggles and trials, but we can choose to be patient and work through them and come out better people. Think about it, muscles don’t get stronger through rest (the easy life), they get stronger through pain and work. Metal doesn’t get stronger through sitting there, it gets tempered in the searing hot flames to burn away all impurities. We as people DO NOT GROW BY SITTING AROUND AND DOING NOTHING. We grow by working with others, learning, making things happen, learning from mistakes. We are made to HEAL! Physically, mentally, emotionally, we do not break unless we chose to. Mark Antony said, “Only Antony can conquer Antony.” We have the strength to do whatever we need to, to progress. The scriptures promise us that God will never give us anything which we are unable to handle. The promise is made that with every temptation he will provide a way for us to escape it. Be like Joseph of Egypt and RUN AWAY! Don’t chill around and don’t look back like Lot’s wife. If you want to change something in your life, be patient, do it, make it happen, and if it doesn’t, work until it does!
WE have the strength to do whatever we need to, to progress. That also covered a lot of what I liked about President Eyring’s talk on diligence! It was SO GOOD! In this day and age we are all accustomed to INSTANT GRATIFICATION; fast food, text messaging, now now now now is when we want things. BE DILIGENT AND WORK! Just look at history, no one got famous for sitting around. This country was founded on hard work, and as that characteristic has gone, our country has sunken into a state of “yuck” where people just want the easy quick way. NO GOOD!
Well enough of that for now. Life is seriously one big.....playground. Sure, I'll compare it to that. We can have a lot of fun. We're going to learn and grow through a variety of activities. If we can do something, we don't give up, just keep going. If you fall and get hurt, get up, keep going. We have other people to help us and we need to be there for those around us also. That's one of the reasons that I'm out here. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ, the authority he used to create the world, heal the sick, blind, lame...is on the earth again. We have a prophet who speaks the words of God unto us so that we can be happy and know of things to come. If God really is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, why would he not talk to us today? Doesn't he love us?!?! YES HE DOES! And that's the message I'm out to share with the world. It's funny how people don't even listen. When they answer the door and we ask to share a message about happiness, no, not interested. It saddens me! I don't really get hurt, I just know the joy that I have and I want others to have it to. Christ lives! What a great message that is, and that we get to celebrate it at this time of year, when spring is coming and the earth is being beautified again!
I love you all so much!
Keep going don't give up!
Elder Allred
BE HAPPY!
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