I can't think of a subject

Hello Friends and Family!!

So I don't have much time, theres a couple of tornado sightings in the area right now, so Im just gonna start by saying that I am fine :)

This week went super good for us. We found 3 new investigators this week, had an investigator come to church and are teaching a lot of people. We had 15 lessons this week which is huge.  According to my comps, it is pretty consistent to do that. Our area is on fire right now.  Not literal fie, not yet.  We've had floods, and tornados, Next will be fires.  I really feel like the city Thebes in the movie Hercules.

Anyway.  Were doing a lot of work in the area, trying to keep the work growing.  This is the Lords work and he is very much involved in it.  Times have changed in the missionary work.  We've had about 4 70 members come throughout the mission in wards and stake conferences telling the members that it is a commandment from the Lord, that NOW is the time to work with the missionaries.  We must keep a missionary mind set in all we do. Be bold and let the Lord do the rest.  And that is what we as missionaries are trying to do with the members now.  Replace fear with faith, and help them be the full time missionaries. 

Love you all!!! Happy Independence Day.
--

Nakupenda!

Elder Spencer Allred

Roadcars and transfers!

HEY FAM!!!

Yes, it's true, I got Transferred.
So My Mission has been thus far: Waverly Iowa, a town of about 8-10 thousand people. Next was Iowa City, a city of about 50 thousand. NOW, I'm in Knoxville, by far my smallest area, of about 5-6 thousand people. And its like serving with the Lamanites. Every member I talk to say that the people are not really receptive. There's a town in our area called Pella, and a  member this morning told me that there is now righteousness in Pella.  IM GONNA BAPTIZE IT :)

:) Things are looking really good in the area, despite what people say.  The branch is about 60 people and we meet in a multi purpose room.  Yesterday we were asked to teach the young men and woman about the priesthood.  So in the lesson I dive in and start having people interact and use them as examples. I would call on a young-man who is 14 and ask as a 14 year old would he be comfortable talking to God (Leading in to the Restoration of the Priesthood with Joseph Smith) He said No, then I asked everyone, "Here is a 14 year old that you all know, would you believe him if he told you he Talked to God?" Than this young woman about 17 starts laughing and says that she has no clue who the boy is. He looks at me and states that he is just visiting today.  (FACE PALM) This happened not once but 3 times to people.  I asked a girl what the Priesthood meant to her, and she states that she's a non member coming with her friend. Which Is GREAT!!!! But I think I need to know the Branch a little more before I do object lessons. 

So... On another note.  We rode a Roadscar today around town SOO FUN!!! Pics coming soon!!

 

Elder Allred

Transfer #8 10 Months!!

 Hey! Friends and Family!!!

To start off, I've had a blast here in Iowa City! I've seen a lot of miracles and cool stuff. I really dont wanna go, but if the Lords wants me to, I guess I'll go.  I havent heard anything yet IF I am going, so Im really hoping that I can stay at least one more transfer.

But ALL is WELL!!  This week has been really good!! We have a New Investigator, R, he 26 and from Mexico. The best part is that he speaks fluent English and so we can keep him as our investigator :).  We have had a lot of success this week, despite the kidney stone episode.  But Elder B is doing well now, pain pills are an amazing thing!

Our ward is doing something thats really cool.  2 week consecration of missionary work. Our Bishops daughter is on her mission in Georgia, and her mission did this, and their numbers went through the roof.  She had 72 initial contacts of non-members. (Potential Investigators), With 35 Lessons taught, and I dont remember the number of New Investigators, only that it was crazy high.  So obviously its possible to do, so were going to do it.  Our ward effective immediately is in "Missionary Mode". We have asked every member in the ward to have us missionaries over for 15 min, at a time so we can help them understand how to find, invite, and effectively teach.  Then they are going to either, hand out a Book of Mormon, invite people to church, or Invite Friends/non-members to Missionary Lessons.  Us Missionaries have promised to pray that the members have added strength and missionary opportunities, and that we will be 100% obedient (We should be 100% anyways)  Through this consecration period, we are expecting a substantial growth in the work here.

Im real excited for the 2nd ward.  I think this might be the change we've been feeling that would take place.  Iowa City is truly sacred ground.  Its really cool to think that I am walking EXACTLY where my ancestor pioneers walked.  Our church building is placed on a hill, where records tell us is the place that the handcarts formed teams and left for the West.

This IS a sacred work as well. The Lord is VERY involved with us.

I love you ALL. Thanks so much for everything!

Elder Spencer Allred

Born of God-- Pres. Benson

Hello Family and Friends!!!

This has been a great week for us! We have an investigator, Abedo, who is ready for baptism on the 14 of this month!! Hopefully his daughter will follow him into the church.  My companions are doing awesome and continue to be good friends and support.

We had a cool experience/  learning experience this week.

On Friday, the 3 of us were walking down a road and passed this 20-ish year old girl on the sidewalk. We said HI but she really didn't respond much, so we kept walking on.  She than starts yelling at us, really me. Saying that she recognizes me from somewhere.  So we turn around to talk more with her. She looks at me and says "Elder Allred, you gave me a Mormon Bible bout 2 months ago, and I've read that every night since then, I like it better then the Genesis Bible." I finally recognized her. She then told me that my ears were super big, but that was ok, she thought they were cute. Well, we set a return appointment and went along our way.  A couple of days later, were in the area again, and she walks up to me and asks for a hug, then runs up and hugs me. Then  she turns to my comps and "hugs" them too. She than exclaimed how she was so excited to meet with me (Her words, not US, but ME) then ran off again.

My comps were really excited to see her and teach her. However, I feel that if "I" invite her to baptism, she'll say yes. Not because she believes its true, but because a cute Elder asked her too.  Conversion NEEDS to be to the gospel, not to the person. I hesitate teaching her because I feel shes more interested in the teacher than in the lesson (Kinda like, why some girls take Indiana Jones history class)  If I had merely went on a mission because a cute girl told me to go, than I would not be as good as a missionary, in fact, I'd be a terrible Missionary.

Our mission is focusing on really CONVERTING our missionaries and investigators. I was talking to a member last night over dinner. He made a remark which prompted me to ask if he was a convert. He looked at me and said, "I was born in the church, and yes I AM a convert" He went on to explain that members are born and baptized into the church, but how many of them are Converted to the church?  How many people today that were baptized at 8 are now Converts to the church?

Often times I think we associate the word "Convert" to a non-member finding the gospel and being baptized. Although we may refer to them as converts, they may not be CONVERTED.  In the Electrical world, to convert a volt, means to change to change a volt and create a completely new volt.  To convert a person in the gospel, the spirit has to make a completely new person.

Pres. Benson has a talk called "Born of God" This talk along with several others are great when talking about conversion. Please listen to it, Its so great! If anyone needs help feeling personal conversion, I can promise you that this talk WILL help.

Thanks for everything!!! I LOVE you ALL!!!

Elder, Spencer D, Allred.