March 5, 2011

Dear Family,

I just got out of Zone Leader Council and we talked about language so I'm going to try and be dignified in my language...i probably won't be perfect, but that's what the atonment is for....

so
wow
another week?
it's been 3 weeks since i left louisville and it feels like 3 days.

So let's recap.

Last saturday.........was pday... we had to do stuff for stake conference and our car got hit while it was parked in a parking lot. so we had to deal with the 20 something female who hit our parked car...she had a lame excuse... So we got all her info and we're working on getting the car fixed, we thought she only made a dent but found out that when she hit us she made huge fracture cracks in the bumper that is going to be about 800$ to fix....good thing we took pictures and got her insurance stuff. so we filled out the accident form for salt lake and got all that stuff taken care of.... went to the adult session of stake conference...kinda, not really. Elder melchin of the 70 spoke and we had to do weekly planning so we went ot the primary room flipped on the speaker and listened. His talk was pretty much a q/a session which i was down with b/c we learned some super cool things.

Sunday was stake conference and our mission president spoke, it was super cool. We had a couple of lessons and did some good things....i think? had dinner, good....and then logistical zone leader stuff.

Monday, we had our conference call and i reported our zone's progress, that was fun. did some shopping and car stuff.....had a lesson with J who is getting baptized tomorrow!! had a lesson with a less active who is going to hopefully start coming back. He really wants to go on a mission! then....tracting. Had a couple other lessons. FHE was chair soccer and it was super fun.

Monday night I slept over at Boulder Elder's house and did exchanges with them. In the morning we did language study and stuff (*watched Legacy in Spanish, it's funny) and shopping then we went to buffaloe wild wings to celebrate the begining of a new month and new msf :D After we did service at Bead for life and they had made us pizza (and people wonder why state side missionaries get fat). After we had a lesson with a sweet old spanish lady (yea the whole day was in spanish). and during the lesson.... o boy, let's just say that 2 male dogs, a chiuaua and some other big dog, started getting a little.....out of hand which led to an explosion of laughter from Elder Everrett and I and the memeber was like...what?!?! O! quitalo chamacos! yea, good times. Finished out that day adn exchanged back.

Wednesday we went grocery shopping in the morning and had an appointment at 11. We've been talking a lot this week about J.T.A.C.L. or J Tackle. It stands for Just Talk About Church Life. We really like the scripture Matt 5:14-16 and sharing that with people, how sharing the gospel doesn't have to be a huge thing, just talk about what you like. Had lunch Ate free ice cream...yep fat. Emailed some things to the misison office. Tracted. Lessons..........yea Institute was about life after this and there was an awesome story we read...i'll send a copy home.

Thursday we had lessons and 2 district meetings...horray. didn't fall asleep! We met with a guy who referred himself to the missionaries. i'll tell you his story, so we met with him, he's awesome, he's really searching for the truth. we have this amazingly spiritual lesson and elder Blumell is about to share the first vision and literally the next words out of his mouth would be "I saw a pillar of light".... when the phone rang! It was a very distracting phone call and Elder Blumell gave me a look and it was just like....really? really? so he took the call, but we eneded up getting the lesson back on track adn taught him what he needed. Hopefully he comes out to church on Sunday and expressed interest in doing so. More appointments. Stuff like that.

Friday morning we had a lesson with one of our investigators who doesn't feel like they are getting a solid answer to prayers about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon... So, we talked a lot about how God answers prayers, and...i actually just received revelation as I type this (that's cool) and talked with my companion about something right now that we need to talk to her about. man i love being a missionary and being receptive to inspiration from the spirit! If you're curious to know, ask me, and I"ll tell you next time. SO..... yea, we taught it went well, she'll be at church on sunday, and we will help introduce her to some people, so that's good. Then we met up with the Assistants and did an exchange. Elder Sedgwick (one of my old Zone Leaders) came with me and spent the day. It was awesome. We went contacting on campus (which i've never liked before) and we found 3 solid potentials, it was so awesome. We had a great time. Saw Sister Rice at Power Lunch and chatted with her. Had a bunch of afternoon Plus Ones (member missionary lessons) Did service at bead for life. More plus ones.. DInner with 3 freshman girls (yes there was a guy there) it was fun. Then we went and snagged one of the other assistants (elder york...they're in a three-o right now) and he spent the night with Elder Sedgwick and I at our house. It was a good night lol. Very fun. Lots of extremely sleepy missionaries giggling. i think my fav quote was about how we get can get pretty wild as seen by many family night games and late FHE's of times of yore where giggling and much craziness happens. Anyways....
They both slept over so that in the morning (*this morning) we could all drive straight to Loveland and meet up with my companion and their 3rd at Zone Leader Council...or Conference...i never get it right. It was good. I didn't really say anything for several reasons...but it was good, good discussions. Then we said goodbye and now we're back in boulder.

It all has happened in a blink.
Anyways.
I love you all
i hope that's enough
questions comments concerns let me know
take care
<3
TRUST IN GOD!
that's all i got to say

:D
love you all
take care
Elder Allred

February 26, 2011

Dearest familia,

I don't know how but time is just flying by now.
It never seems to stop.
It's a good thing, just kinda confusing.

So, let's jump into things and then i'll share some life lessons at the end.

First, last saturday was P's baptism! it went super well, his family came down from Fort Collins to be with him, and it was a super special day. I don't really know what we did the rest of the day, but i think we just went back to work b/c our pday was shot anyways.

Sunday was church, my first one at a singles ward for a long time. It was really fun and I got asked to say the opening prayer on the spot. My first zone leader, Elder Tim Smith who is currently at byu, came back visiting and it was seriously amazing to see him again. Lots of man love. We talked to him about people that he had been teaching and how to be successful (b/c my comp has only been here a transfer) and we got a lot of good ideas. There's a quote we have on our board that says (totally paraphrasing) when you want to achieve things never done before, you have to do things that have never been done.~ some general authority.
So we're brainstorming wiht the spirit and seeing what we need to do.
Anyways, we then had a linger longer and had a bunch of good food after church and rushed to the stake center to have a meeting with the stake president. we talked about the work in the zone and set up a dinner for the next night, at his house, for the zone.
after that................good question, life got busy.
We had to deal with an emergency transfer.

An elder from the north (he was actually just comps with rodriguez (my first son) in sterling) was coming to my district. So we had to talk to the elder who was leaving to head north and get things squared away.
We had dinner with one of the dating couples in the ward...actually like the only dating couple in the ward, and it was fun when he realized that the meat for the enchilladas he was making was pork and not chicken...still tasted good though.

Monday morning was my first conference call with all of the zone leaders, the assistants, and president.
it was good to hear a lot of my friends voices. we don't really get to chat, it's just reporting numbers and getting announcements, but it's fun. Then we went and used a little more of pday to kick it with the district for 2 hours.
Almost all of our afternooon appointments cancelled, so we did some logistics for zone conference and drove out to broomfield for the dinner. Got the zone pumped for zone conference and then booked to boulder for FHE, it was a picture scavenger hunt. it was fun but not a lot of people showed which was lame-tastic.

Tuesday we were swamped with appointments and taught a lesson about snoopy and becoming more Christ like. It went well. Ate dinner at buffaloe wild wings with some awesome people, that was super fun.

Wednesday was Zone conference! So we got our zone over to westminster (which is like 2 miles outside our zone) and had that. We do "reviews" each time and it was good to see our zone do well. It was very spiritual, i got quoted by president, which made me feel good, and then our zone meeting at the end (just our zone) went super well.
We talked about the talk from Elder Scott in the last conference, and the 5 things he tells us to do. it went super well. So afterwards, back to boulder, dropping people off and getting to an appointment late. DId some more snoopy lessons, then out to dinner with one of my fav people in the world JW. we went to this high brow italian place called med on pearl st. it was tight. more lessons and then home.

Thursday we had the wonderful assignment to go to longmont and check 3 zones worth of cars for cleanliness in the morning. It took about 2 hours and by the time we were done i was filthy with engine oil and tire black, and quite cold b/c we didn't realize that it was still winter. colorado weather is super bi-polar. But, we got free lunch and to see a lot of friends. I got to see rodriguez which was awesome, he's doing really well. Went bk to boulder, super sleepy. Lots of lessons. Got pizza with a bunch of institute kids for dinner. Lots more lessons. collapse.

Quote from Pres. Monson "we watch, we wait, we listen for that still small voice, when it speaks wise men and women obey. We do not post pone following promptings of the spirit"
good guidance.

Friday was awesome. We had a meeting with a college student who had been looking into the church a while ago and we were able to get to know her and become friends which is super cool. I'm learning once again how to be 20 years old instead of middle aged with kids (due to being in a family ward) so our lesson went super well. and then we had another lesson with an investigator. he's joseph smith's great (multiple) grandson. He just got some things taken care of and is now hopefully in the clear to get baptized. we're siked. Had a lot more lessons (by the way we had a greenie with us b/c his comp was on exchanges) and ate at panera bread for dinner. That brings us to today. I'm super sleepy, super happy, and ridiculously hungry.

Life is good when ur busy doing something that you want to, that is worth while, and that you love. You have to throw everything you got at life b/c you get one shot in each moment. And if you don't, then you won't get all you can out of life.

But don't worry if you mess up, we all do, you just have to keep the right perspective and realize that not all "moments" are of equal importance, and even if they are important, we have a wonderful Savior who can take care of us if we strive to do what He asks of us.

Thank you all for your support. I love each of you and will see you sooner than any of us realize....
time goes by so fast. enjoy it
i used to be an "i can't wait until" person.
now I choose to be a "i'm enjoying now" person.
love you all
Elder Jonathan Allred

February 19, 2011

Dear Everyone,

So, this past week has been the fastest week of my mission
the most fun
the most tiring
the most sleep deprived
and probably the best.

My new companion is elder Blumell, from Alberta Calgary Canada, he's super awesome. He's been out 20 months and we're working super well together.

So let's go through this week

Monday we got all my junk to my new place which is super big and nice
the new district leader from louisville crashed at out place b/c his greenie wasn't in yet.

So tuesday morning we went to drop him at the trainers meeting and hung out with a couple other zone leaders in presidents office just having fun. Helped out the office missionaries with some stuff. I made sister widenhouse (sr missionary) a 5 inch tall "snowman of gratitude"...it's now in the mission office freezer. We watched all the greenies come in and their trainers, that was fun to be on the other side. After the trainers meeting, we headed to the institute for 2 member missionary lessons and an investigator lesson. Then we had to bounce to dinner in boulder and get to a stake meeting we had that night.

Wednesday was good, we ended up subbing for a BOM institute class b/c the teacher was out...so we did that first thing in the morning. Had lunch at the institute and read mormon "jot and tittle'' trivia questions. After we had a really good lesson with one of the YSAs who's kinda hit a bump. Stopped by some potentials and had another member missionary lesson. It's really weird teaching like 18-25 year old girls lessons.....yea, just so you know. And interacting with them on a social fun level....it's weird. Not bad, just i'm used to family wards so yea. Then we had to run to the library and email some stuff to preisdent and do paperwork. More lessons. Dinner. Then we had another invesitgator lesson with P who's getting baptized in like.....5 hours. He's a stud, he's so on the ball it's not even funny. So, we finished that lesson, went to institute for all the ysas on Eternal Marraige...it was fun :D.

Thursday we had a 9am member lesson. Then I taught my first district meeting here, which was really good, probably the best one i've done (preping with the spirit is the way to go). We talked about prayer, what it really is and how to help people understand the importance of it. Then we bounced to taco bell Ate lunch. Then we had to run to the other district meeting...it was good. Helped at the mission office. Then drove back to boulder. We have a 2009 Chevy Malibu....v6....me likey. We had another lesson, talked to some people and then did dinner with the Rincons from the louisville ward.

Friday morning was crazy busy and we got to the institute just intime for "power lunch" where we get free food and read a conference talk with all the ysas. (young single adults) Had 2 lessons. THen went to bead for life, where we volunteer helping out with whatever pretty much. Had dinner with the Rices in louisville, they're awesome. Then jetted to a baptisimal interview. Had to drive other missionaries around. and then collapsed at home.

Being a zone leader you get to deal with a lot of administrative stuff, more than i thought. We have zone conference coming up next week, district meetings, dealing with mission drama, reporting numbers all the time, making preparations to stay alive, and then whenever we can find the time, maybe sleep at night. I'm seriously just exhausted, but it's a good exhaustion. I've been super up beat and positive b/c i feel like there's things to do and i'm doing them. I may not want to, but i'm seeing progress in myself and in our work and it's super tight. Elder Blumell and I get along really well and are having so much fun and working super hard.

So life is good.
Transitions are hard
Change is hard

But...
it's worth it
You just gotta suck it up, hold on and go forward.
So I'll send baptism pictures next time
but i love you all

HE LIVES!
HE LOVES US!

my challenge to each one of you is to think about what prayer really is, who your talking to, and make sure that you listen for answers. Then don't "pray" but TALK to your Father in Heaven. He will answer.
I've been doing that this past week and it's been incredible the guidance I get.
So
Take care
love you all
Elder Allred

February 14, 2011

Dear Familia

This week was crazy

so

monday was pday

tuesday was....sick day?

wednesday i don't know

thursday i was on exchanges on CU campus and saw KF from high school

friday we went to the temple all day and did a session with President Ely and like a million missionaries and I got to see the Carrols

Saturday we started packing and doing things

Sunday we said goodbye to everyone in the ward and there was an audible groan and what the heck when they found out both of us are leaving.

Monday, I now leave to go be a Zone Leader on CU campus.
Not very happy, i love the people in Louisville more than I knew I could love one place. I like my new comp Elder Blumell and the area will be cool...but i really don't want to leave

Congrats to isaac and olivia
i'm so proud of you both

take care
i may be back later today
not sure
i don't really know what's going on
much love
J

-------

Later (7:30 PM)

Dear Familia,
i am settling in to my new home, have everything out of my old one
have shipped elder martinez off to scotts bluff and chimney rock nebraska
got all my new elders in the zone
am currently debriefing my new DL (district leader) in training
and am super busy and tired already....guess this is what life is going to be like from now on

however
the thing i need to let you guys know is

MY PDAY WILL NOW BE ON SATURDAYS (for the most part)
there may be a little emailing happening on mondays, but saturday is the day i'll be able to do pday stuff....

so keep that in mind!

I love you all so so so much
sorry for the brief email
love you each
take care
Elder Allred
Zone leader?

------------

The teaching arsenal

some goodbyes:

February 7, 2011

dear family.
sorry this update is going to be short again,
i realized that whichever letter I write first, to you or President Ely, is always longer and the other is shorter.
this week i needed the longer one to go to him, so i hope you can survive off of this brief update...

I'm super happy.
this week was a week of a lot of personal growth, diligence, commitment, goal setting, and being really really ridiculously busy...i mean good looking...i mean...
yea

So Monday was pday, we played volleyball, basketball, and indoor baseball (w/tennis ball) in the stake center gym.
1 Bloody Nose to a youth
1 Flying bat straight into the ceiling from a giant Tongan
and a partridge in a pear tree.

The whole week we had sub zero temperatures...that was fun.
Tuesday we had a lot of snow, and a lot to do
I gave another baptismal interview to a sister who was extremely prepared, it was a very spiritual experience to see some of the miraculous changes that occur in people's lives.

Wednesday we starting teaching the brother of one of the sisters in our ward. He's super awesome and funny, they're both from England, and it was really cool to expose him to religion, and a relationship with God that was very personal and open. He was raised in a situation that was extremely controlled and had religion forced on him, which was no good. He's now reading the Book of Mormon, and praying, and feeling good. You can visibly see the change in his face and eyes when we meet with him now.

I also hit 14 months on the mission and can count the rest on my fingers.....scary.
I went on exchanges with the Lafayette ward that night, which was super good.

Thursday we worked in their area and had a lot of fun being safe driving in the snow. District meeting was good and before, Elder Howell, Keeler, Kautai, and I all ate 50 chicken nuggets each.
It wasn't a good idea.
But i am now officially a man.

friday was good
saturday was good

sunday i bore my testimony and lots of things happened.

but i gotta go
anyways
i love you
byebyeybeybyeybe
"be still and know that I am"
think about it
<3
J

January 31, 2011

Dearest familia

i know that my letters have been getting shorter, but i've heard that that happens as a missionary gets out longer. it feels like there's less and less time between emails and that you know everything.

However, here's an update
it's snowing. our windshield was covered in ice this morning :( !
we've got a couple new investigators who are awesome.
Elder Martinez and I are doing great and having a great time together, finding and teaching. the baptizing will be coming soon.

Let's see I went on exchanges this week and held up signs for a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

We gave out 3 and got 1 return appointment. E. martinez and i went to the hospital to help out with their chaplaincy program and saw some cute little babies like 3 minutes fresh. ate dinner at a sweet italian place with a lot of loud drunk people.

yea

it was a good week.

I love being a missionary.
It's so hard. But it's so awesome.

The days fly by, so do the weeks. let's just say i'll be home tomorrow ok?
not really.
but
yea
I really have learned a lot about charity, love, and diligence this week.
too much to explain, and my fingers hurt, they're not in typing shape
anyways
some pictures for now
much love
J

-------------

my first time getting pulled over! with my whole district in the car....in the church parking lot!...
good thing the cop was a member just trying to play with us lol :D
he then told our mission president that his car had been registered as stolen...
president ely didn't think that was funny.

January 24, 2011

Dearest familia,

so highlights real

this week was super good and i'm doing super well

Monday we had a good missionary lesson with a family and a lesson with 2 of our investigators who have a very interesting concern....it's that they don't actually care if God exists or not or what he cares about....yea that's what i said lol.

Tuesday.....we got to email! horray! then we went out to lunch with one of the sisters in our ward to the 3 margaritas which i love. do you know what horchata is? randy slaugh will know. SO GOOD! then we did a lot of stuff, had a really good dinner....and i don't remember, but we killed it that day (good thing).

Wednesday we had interviews with our mission president. It was my first interviews as a district leader, so i got to meet with each missionary in the district, they're all doing super well. I'm very lucky to have good missionaries. We also got to role play talking with people on a deeper level...hard to explain...but it was good. My interview with president went super well, i love that man. After we had another good member missionary lesson and got to meet her referral for us. Then we went and got 2 more referrals from a family who just moved into the ward. At this time is was snowing super hard and we went home to meet a member who was going to take me to a dr appointment. However, after 40 mins on the road and having passed 3 accidents not being able to see...we turned around after rescheduling.
So, Elder Martinez and I tried to go to walmart and pick up my medication...but 287 was completely stopped b/c cars were sliding down backwards....however, since i'm awesome, we did it no problem lol. pretty much everything was cancelled and our night died...so that was it lol

Thursday we had district meeting which went well........tried to see a lot of ppl but got skunked...

Friday we did a sweet awesome job of weekly planning and got out and saw a lot of people.....built a little pool you know

Saturday we totally scored and had like 6 legit lessons, it was tight. We also got to go to the baptism of this 18 year old girl that i interviewed. that was probably one of the weirdest experiences of my life. i was like freaking out, cuz the door was open, but we were like alone in this room so i was like...ahhh. during the interview i was probably more nervous than her...o well

Sunday was good, super sleepy, but that's how it works. ended the week out well

sorry not very meaty...but that's it.
much love to you all
have a good one
thanks for all your prayers and everything

Elder Allred