April 9, 2011

Dear Family,

it seems more often than not that we have trials...yea it stinks. however, i hope everyone gained some guidance and strength from the past general conference. i like melissa, managed to stay awake through the whole thing this time. it was an awesome experience. Here are the main things that i pulled from general conference: The little things are important such as our actions or the outcome of something, but more important than temporary success or achievement, or even failure, is who we ARE! we need to not worry about everything going right 100% of the time but that we BE who we need to BE in order for our lives to progress how they need to. Next, how we progress in life is rarely a fun process. Most of the time it comes through trials, tribulations, sadness, adversity, none of which are things that i seek after. however, we need to be grateful for the opportunity that we have to grow through these experiences and we were even counciled not to protest the experiences that are from God that will help us grow into the people that we become. Pain is a part of life, and life is hard :(. However, Proverbs 3...verse..7 or 8? whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. When trials come, know that the Lord is very aware of your situation and what is going on. He lets us stretch to first off, grow in our potential, and also to show that we will be faithful in all things. Last, one of my favorite topics that was addressed all over the place was desire, conviction, and our internal push to serve others. Serving 24/7 for the last little while has given me a new appreciation for the power of service to the one giving it. I've never had more joy, happiness, contentness, stuggles, heartaches, and troubles than when serving. It's the best of both worlds. When we help others, we truly are only in the service of God. If we don't feel the need or desire to help others, pray for charity and try to look at others as we would look at our family, ourselves, and our Savior if in need. that's something that has helped me come closer to truly serving with charity and the love of Christ. Here is a video of highlights from General Conference! Check it out!
This past week has been yet another ball of awesomeness. monday we had zone leader council and i'm not sure if i sent anything home after that.... but it was really good. so tuesday was good tons of appointments. we met wiht a new investigator who's really solid and has been sincerely reading and praying. fun stuff. wednesday we helped bead for life, a non-profit unload a ton of beads and stuff and they bought us snarfs subs, so good. more lessson had stake ward visits and gave a training to the stake high councilors on how to invite, i think we have another one coming up soon. we have a meeting with the stake prez each week...so hopefully he'll let us know sunday. thursday were district meetings and then lessons. we had a member bring a friend to a plus one just with a couple of questions and he left committed to pray and find out if the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love people who are seeking truth and guidance. Friday was a lot of lessons and some really fun tracting. Tracting in boulder should be like a tv show lol. the people you meet are awesome. And this morning has been Elder Blumell taking the ACT and me drawing and sleeping and now emailing. We're going on a hike for PDAY and then weekly planning! dun dun dun. So i love you all i want you each to know how much i love you! Never give up never surrender! Elder Allred ------ Here are some pictures (sorry he didn't give me any captions with them) ~Nettina

April 2, 2011

So here we are again, time has started to shoot by again now that spring break no longer exists! horray.

So things
first of all i hit 16 months on the mission today
2/3rds done, but who's counting. 8 months left and i'll be a citizen again...weird.

Next, has anyone heard Paul Cardall's new cd? apparently it's supposed to be amazing.

Next, do grandma+grandpa remember Makay Allred from the Denver Temple? I know a ton of his relatives (also allreds) here in the boulder area and everyone asks if he's my gpa when i tell them that my gpa was a sealer in the Denver Temple.

Speaking of temples.
FORT COLLINS IS GETTING A TEMPLE!
that's insane
it's like 2 zones north and where ben spent a ton of his mission. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT SON!
i didn't realize it but my companion and i were jumping up and down in the chappel giving each other high fives...it was fun.

OK COOL.
UPDATE
so this past week was super busy and has flown by.
I emailed what...saturday? or monday? i don't know.

monday was transfers and it was super good. saw a ton of good friends and said goodbye to even more.
One of my friends is going to terry lake in foco where i think ben was at.

sunday i think was pretty boring....still not a lot of students back, but i did ordain our newest member J.A. to the Aaronic Priesthood, that was kind of cool, b/c he's the 4th ggrandson of Joseph Smith.

Tuesday we had the trainers meeting to go to, aka wait for to be over. So it's like 6 groups of zone leaders and we had all talked about what we should do during the meeting b/c we can't go anywhere or do anything and there's nothing to do....so
we played monopoly
in spanish
in our mission president's office
it was bomb.

President Ely walked out of the trainers meeting and came to the room and one of the zone leaders elder Sanchez was standing by the door whistling and President is like...uhh i don't get it...looks in the room, just hangs his head and starts cracking up for a good minute straight, it was kinda awkward b/c he was like red and we were all like.....soo....anyways, and he tried to come up with something witty, but it was just really funny. Yea... good times.

Soooo had a ton of lessons in the afternoon, lots of being sleepy.
Had a good dinner with the rincons who are moving to st george in a month ish.....
and yea

wednesday we packed commissary in the misison office (no monopoly) and the senior sister who is in charge said that we were the fastest group to get it done ever, usually it takes 4-5 hours and we did it in 2. So, what can i do in life where i get paid to be organized and effective and make things go faster and give directions?
that would be fun.
had 1/2 a pizza for lunch.....yea, i don't wanna hear it, i actually have one more request.
but then we had 8 LESSONS THAT DAY!
and 2 new investigators.
one we will call K, she's super awesome and really committed to find out the truth of the Book of Mormon.

Thursday was district meeting. Went well, we only have one new elder in the district.
Then when i was supposed to be at the other district meeting, we ended up going to the drs cuz i have a hematoma, aka a pool of blood just chilling where i got the thing out, so i'm on antibiotics so no infections start a mosh pit in there.
he also took the stitches out so i don't have to go back in again.
after that tons of lessons. We had a super good one with an investigator who's going to come out to general conference on sunday.
Lots of good things.........

friday lots more of good things.....
and now today is general conference.
things are awesome, i'm totally loving life.

love you all
WORK IS AWESOME, WORK HARD and love life!
Elder Jonathan Allred

March 26, 2011

Soooooooooo
boom it's the end of the transfers
elder blumell and i are sitting here waiting for transfer stuff to come through the email...but it hasn't yet which is weird.
they should have sent it out last night...we'll see what happens.

So, while i'm here waiting let's go through the week.
First of all
it was spring break aka not much happened.

last saturday we chilled

sunday there was like no one there and i had a migrane

monday we had like 2 plus ones and were bored out of our minds

tuesday i got sliced open....ok i'll elaborate.
Sooo... As most of you know i've had this like gigantic bump (which i think has been there a long time now) on my back. So, i asked a dr a while ago said it was a lypoma aka it's a huge bump of hard fat that they don't know why it happens... i think it's probalby b/c i'm fat. no j/k he said it wasn't anything i'm eating or yea...it's like cancer (not is cancer) in the way that it grows...

transfer email just got here and i just got super distracted........so yea sry i just spent like 15 mins looking at that stuff...
so many changes
i'll still be in boulder with elder Blumell!
horray
so anyways...i have to take care of some stuff then i'll get back into this...

ok back...
tuesday
i went in
i signed the papers saying that if they killed me i wouldn't get mad
then they stabbed me 15 times (roughly, i did try and count) with the lidocane or some type of cane...wasn't cocain...
then the dr came in and drew on me and they sliced me open
it felt super weird, like someone was tugging at my skin, and thats pretty much what it was just they were tugging with a knife :D
so
they told me that my thinggy ma bobber had like sent out little tendrils into my skin (which i had actually prophecied in a picture that i had previously drawn which i will try and send)....and he was like......long story short, do you want them in or out and a huge split open back or not and all these other things... i asked him what he would do if he was on the table (i didn't have a lot of time to decide at this point) he said roll with it and just get more done if they grow (which they shouldn't)
so i was like....ok......glad to have time to make a decision, i'll go with that.
so they made squishing sounds with my back and got blood splattered on them
10 stitches and i was done.
horray!
then i hurt a lot
we went to Pei Wei
and did stuff..

wednesday went to the dr for my comp....
did stuff..

thursday was district meetings....

friday more stuff

and now today.
not an exciting week
love you all
the end
JOnathan

March 19, 2011

It's almost ridiculous how fast time goes...it's already week 6 (essentially...on monday) and the transfer is pretty much over... we'll see what happens in a week from monday on transfer day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOMMY NEXT SUNDAY! horray!

so
here we go

so
sunday....church
J who was baptized the sunday before wasn't confirmed due to some things he was still struggling with, but was confirmed on wednesday horray! church was good tho it was 10 am and there were 5 people there..... i guess college kids and day light savings don't really mix. so by the time 10:10 rolled around the room was kinda full.....yea church was good during Elder's quorum i knew that P was going to get ordained... and then right before it happened, he was like..Elder Allred, will you ordain me..and i was like...uhhhh, yes..?! i think i can do that... so i did and it was awesome. After that we did a bunch of zone things, went to dinner with the people we live with who have a big dinner every sunday. the boulder missionaries were there to and we had a good time. we finished weekly planning and collapsed.

Monday was busy, we had our weekly conference call.
met with J.
lunch
lessons
a little bit of pday with our district....
the went contacting, lessons, dinner and fhe we went bowling. what a sad day it is to be required to go bowling on the mission :( (sarcasm).

Tuesday lots of lessons........dr appointment. the dr said that i have some fat growth (attractive i know) that's like cancer (but it's not) in the way that, they don't know why it forms (it's not cuz of my sucky diet, surprise!) but it just does, and it gets really hurty and annoying... so they're going to slice it out fun.
more lessons.......
then exchanged with the louisville elders, where i went to louisville with Elder Starnes. It's his first transfer and it was his week to be senior, he did really well. We tracted in the morning and talked with this lady, E, who was about to have back surgery :!
She said that we could come back and talk about the Book of Mormon with her. HOrray!
Then we ate lunch (sister gordon took us to caraba's. she is the one i used to live with in louisville, it was kinda cool to stay the night there again). Changed into service clothes and went to turn over a ton of dirt/earth at an older sister's house so that she could get some gardening done. it was like 70 degrees outside and it felt so good to be working with my hands. like....so good. i can't wait to get home and work in the garden....in december? after that we got cleaned up and went out to work more.
The members that took us out to dinner ended up taking us out again (chili's) and i'm officially the fattest boy in camp! (name that movie). not really, but i feel like it. we saw some members that i knew down in arvada...that was cool.
Then we had a missionary meeting, finished life up and exchanged back.
Oh, i forgot to mention it was mutual night, so i saw 1/2 the ward and they were all like...ARE YOU BACK!?!?!?
and i was like...nah, and then they all punched me in the face, not a good thing. j/k
but yea it was good to see people.

Thursday 2 rounds of district meeting with a 5 min taco bell lunch.....so exauhsting...
then 5 lessons cancelled....yea
had one, had dinner
and did some paper work.
horray again.
o yea, some sneaky kids took us out to buffaloe wild wings...and the byu game just happened to b on....SNEAKY!
jimmer's got a good take lol.

Friday we were exhausted... had a dr's appointment for Elder Blumell in the morning.
The slicing dr called me and told me that my social security number didn't match up, so i was like..hmm
called sister ely, she said call ur mom, so i did! talked to mom for like 8mins and 35 seconds or something and then got the news that Elder Blumell will probably get stiched up too.
fun stuff.
lessons in the morning. we had a lesson with a member and his girlfriend who's investigating....that was fun (she goes to ohio state) then power lunch super quick b/c we had a milllion calls to make before. saw sister Rice briefly and they're off to utah also! then met up with abbey for like 5 minutes b/c lunch went over....and then M and J. J is doing super well, and asked for a blessing for things to keep going well. He asked me to give it (he felt bad b/c he wanted me to confirm him but i wasn't there on wednesday) so i gave him a blessing. Yea, I definitely know that what was said wasn't from me. I'm glad that the Lord will use me and bless me in His work as I speak.
So, after that we went and did service.
Ran and got dinner.
Went home to get stuff and then peaced out for The Erie area to have a transition lesson with some Elders who had found a YSA for us to teach. We will call him J and he's super awesome. The plan was to teach the first lesson of the restroation...and 1/ 2 way through they're companionship would pass it off to us. And that lesson was really spiritual too. The other elders are pretty young and are still getting used to everything, so they pretty much "textbook" taught the lesson. And when they passed it off to us, once again, i knew what i thought i was going to say, and i asked a quesiton and it totally changed the direction of the lesson. We were able to still teach, but with personal relevance to J's personal questions, interests, and needs. It was super awesome as we helped him understand just how the gospel (and the restoration) effected him. One of the things that we're focusing on is teaching people not lessons, and I feel like the Lord really helped us to do that...and to set a good example for the other Elders. He's now set for baptism on April 9th and we're super excited!
So, after that, we had some errands to run at the mission office, took care of that, went home and found out that we missed a party for one of the friends of our memebers. so they made us eat some of the left over food which was amazing.....
talked a lot with the birthday man (50 years old) and stuff like that. super cool family.
then peaced out.

This morning, we did the normal schedule till 10 when we took a nap. so good.
hung out, did some shopping and now we're emailng.
that's life in a nut shell
it races on and I just do what I need to, to stay awake and help people.
it feels good.
so
love you all
hope that everyone is in good health and good spirits.
Much love
Elder Jonathan Allred

March 12, 2011

So...another week gone?
is that even possible.
I don't think I've ever been as tired, happy, fufilled, and days running together as now.
what's really nuts is that all of my buddies from pre-mission are all getting home...and i'm like...o man
if it happens to them, it could happen to me!!!
scary thoughts.

SOOOOOO
last saturday i emailed you after meetings and that was pretty much it.

Sunday we had church and one of our solid investigators came out and loved it.
Our fast and testimony meeting was way awesome. We had a really good meeting with the stake and then had to book it over for J's baptism which went very well. After we ate some dinner and did some weekly planning.

Monday we emailed numbers, chilled with our district (b/c our last pday was shot).
did lunch
had lessons........
more lessons...
more dinner......
yea.

Tuesday we had leadership meetings again from 9-4. that was fun. got a lot of good guidance and council. Came home. Scarfed food...i don't remember where...then had a ward visit night to do....that was super fun.

Wednesday, Oh, i was on exchanges with the Flat Iron Elders (the flat irons are the mountains right next to boulder...aka in boulder..i think they might be on fire again, not sure). That was fun, we did a lot of tracting and found some potential. We had a lesson with a crazy guy and that was fun.

Thursday was district meeting and district meeting. I think it went super well, in both meetings the elders were super involved and cared about what we were talking about and I really feel like they are all focused on improving right now. I've seen our zone come so far just in 4 weeks. It's a very good feeling to see people progress and get where they want to be.
More lessons....
More driving.
Dinner....
Logistics...
sleep?

Friday had appointments in the morning and did some campus contacting (so fuN). Power lunch was Navajo tacos SO GOOD!
had an interesting lesson with someone who really needed some strength. did service at bead for life. more lessons that fell through. dinner, and then went to a ward activity called "international night" where we learn about a different country, this time it was Tonga, it was super cool.

And now it's now.
so much happens...in so little time it's nuts

anyways something that i really learned this week that i may have mentioned before is this:
PERSPECTIVE.
Whatever you are looking for, you are more than likely to find.
If you look for the good in someone you will be able to see it, even if it's just a little spark.
But that spark can become a raging fire with the right fuel and dedication.

Also.
EVERYONE has a story
we all have a whole LIFE full of events that have led us to where we are at and who we are.
We probably will never know someones full story, but if we understand that people are who they are for a reason,
and care about that, and help them to move past things, then they can write their story the way that they want to and not have to keep following the incorrect lines of the past...
if that analogy made any sense.
pretty much... understand that people need space to be people and once we change our perspective our love for them increases so much and that's how great friendships can be built.

So i love you all
take care
get out in the world and make a difference.
love you
J