Up Up and Away!

Hey Everybody!!!

This was a fun week for us in I.C. Although we didn't teach that many lessons, it still felt like a fulfilling week. We have some very solid investigators who are progressing and getting ready for baptism in June. Were finding more and more people to teach, and we have been truly blessed for our efforts.

The ward is starting to work well with us. As we lose ourselves in the work and try to work more WITH our ward leaders, the work is going a lot more smoothly.  The wards been so great to us.

The last 2 weeks, our area is really picking up.  We had 4 new Investigators last week with several solid potential investigators this week.  Our Zone Leader was talking to us trying to figure out what happened to get it to explode.  By small and simple things.   We have 2 baptism dates on June 14, 2 hopefully on June 28.  and a couple more within the next few weeks.

I have a testimony, that as we continue to follow the Lord's commandments and work to the best of our abilities, the Lord WILL make up the rest and bless us.

I listen a lot to "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  It puts Christ's atonement into such a different view.  Have you been saved by grace? And how we are changed by his grace?

Love you all!!

Elder Allred 

 

4 new, 2 sick

Hey!!!

This was another great week for us!  The work is really picking up.  This week we had a lot of time to fix up some things in our area. We're doing a lot of clean up work now, which basically means starting over.  We've lost some investigators do to them moving, but this week we picked up 4 new investigators!! And I need to get back on my Swahili studies because all 4 are from different parts of Africa.   We have Abedo (50's), and his daughter Beatrice (20's), the speak more French than anything else, and they're from Togo Africa.  And we also have Talisa (14) and Nestorina (16) both speak Swahili and English, from Tanzania.

Our ward is split between 2 Elder companionships. Us: Elders, Powell, Briseno, and Me :). And the South side Elders, Mckell and Bennion. Just as an FYI.

Elder Mckell and Bennion had a baptism on Saturday. It was really cool to see a golden investigator really progress.  We were asked to share a message on the Restoration during the baptism. It was super cool because the spirit really took over.  Yet another witness that the messages we share is true.

But amongst all of the success this week.  There were a pair of sick Elders on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I'm fine now, got a 24 hour bug.  But my Comp has got something pretty bad.  So please pray for Elder Briseno. We don't know what's happening with him.

It's really cool to know that when were unable to work, the Lord still has a way of helping us out in our area.  Abedo and Beatrice became new Investigators on Tuesday. Elder Powell went out with a member to teach Abedo.  And so many more miracles.  So lesson learned,  If you're sick, trust in the Lord that all will be ok.

Things are going really well!! I love being a Missionary!! We get to see so many cool things.

Love you all!!

The Church is True!!

Elder Allred.

Crossfire

Hey everybody!!

This was a great week!  Easter was so good this year.  Its gotta different feeling as a missionary. I've noticed that I pay attention to General Conferences a lot more now, and as well as the Easter season.  We've taught a lot about the resurrection. And one thing I've noticed, is how it seems that people take it for granite. He asked one lady what resurrection meant for her, and her reply was, "I get to live again." Now I cant type out HOW she said it.  But I wanted to yell at her "YOU GET TO LIVE AGAIN!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??!"  It is a HUGE blessing that all of Gods children get to have.  Christ literally paid his own life freely so that ALL men will live again.

Our area on paper looks pretty good. We have 2 solid Investigators with a lot of great potential Investigators. But our area is missing something.  There's a cancer in our area and we can't detect it. But as we keep working were going to find it. But were at a crossroad in our work now.  And I fear that this may be the push for a great area or the kill for an area, just depends on how it is handled. Were receiving a lot of crossfire from God and the Adversary.  We really are at the Crossfire of Heaven and Hell. Please pray that we will have an open mind to things in the coming weeks, we really need the prayers.

The Lord LIVES. And Im sure it will all be worked out for good.  I like the verses of Christ saying "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have ^apeace. In the ^bworld ye shall have ^ctribulation: but be of good ^dcheer; I have ^eovercome the world."

Thanks for all your love and support!! I really do love every one of you!!

Elder Allred

Spencer.

Time Flies

April 14, 2014

Wow has Time flown.  8 Months out TODAY!!!  It’s crazy to think that it has been this long. In 2 transfers I'll hit a year! 

We've seen some pretty cool miracles this week. But every rose certainly does have its thorns.

We've had some car issues come up that had us sitting in the Car dealership for 3 hours on Saturday and about an hour this morning.  Basically our car has been recalled for some issues from the factory.

Well, the dealership is supposed to give us a loner car till ours can get fixed. However, the dealer won’t give us a car because were under 21.  So, I’ve had to do a lot of negotiating, and be on the phone a lot talking to our Vehicle Coordinator trying to find a loop hole around that policy, AND we found one!

But now we’re trying to let the dealership know so that we can get a car.  OH! And people don't like to answer their phones, so it’s making this process a lot harder than it should be.

But on the upside, instead of having only 900 miles to drive a month, we now have 1500! The church approved the mile increase.

We have a lot of people that we are trying to teach. The members are great here! I have yet to have a week where we have not been fed. The ward is so focused on missionary work and I love it.  I can testify that the unity of members and missionaries brings forth SO many blessings and miracles.

Keep up the good work in AF.  LET YOUR LIGHTS SHINE!!  And please keep me updated on any mission calls!

I balled like a baby for almost an hour after I heard about one recently.  I am glad that some of the YM I always admired are now going!  I keep praying for the rest of you.  I can tell you that EACH one of you are needed in this work.  It does not matter where you serve, or what mission it is in.  What will matter is that you are willing to do your part for the Lord.

I don’t care how hard it is, make the correction you need and GO!

Love you All!

Elder Allred, Spencer

Another One Bites The Dust

April 7, 2014

Hey Fam & Co.!!

A lot has happened this week!

So, a couple of things have changed.

We are working well in the Trio J  At doors, one of us kind of hides in the back to make it less overwhelming. That’s Fun.  And all 3 of us take up the entire sidewalk, so street contacting is a lot of fun.  But through all the fun times we are having, the work is hard.

Zido, has recently moved out of our area, so we lost him as an Investigator.  We had to turn him over to another set of Elders, with whom we hope he will work well.

And the rest of our investigators are "Too busy for us"  Stupid weather, cold is best. (I know that is not what you have heard me say for the last several months.  I guess that’s what I get for getting what I asked for J )  People don’t want to leave their houses so it’s easy to find people. But now that the weather is warmer, people are out more on the streets, which means that we’re talking to a lot more NEW people.  Bitter / Sweet, and always changing flavors.

Were doing a lot of knocking lately, and I have learned that there are some weird people out here.  Like WEIRD.  We've been yelled at, threatened with the police, threatened with other stuff, etc.  And yet, I LOVE it here.  I wouldn’t be anywhere else.  I truly love it here. I love my comps, the ward, and the people here. (No matter how weird they are). 

Love comes with the job description.  It’s a wonderful thing to be on a mission.

As missionary call season comes, I would hope to help those preparing for a mission.  The things that have helped me the most out here is:

1) Studying the Book of Mormon, every page in that book is inspired and WILL help with everyday life.

2) PMG.  There are only 2 books written in the Temple, Jesus the Christ by Talmage, and Preach My Gospel. It is just as inspired as any other scripture we have.

3) "Feed My Sheep" by Elder Holland, and the "Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. (neither of which are found on LDS.org – so Google them)

I love you all.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints IS TRUE. It is Christ’s restored church on the earth.  The Book of Mormon is true.

I love all again. Thanks for Everything.

Elder Spencer D. Allred

Three's a.....Trio!

March 31, 2014

Hey Family!!!!!!!

Transfers have come and gone, and while Elder Powell and I are still together, we got a third companion. Elder Briseno.  He’s from the Los Angeles area and has been out for 4 months; a light green missionary.

We’re seeing a lot of miracles here in the great I.C. We have had some great things happen with the area. We’re finding a lot more people to teach, the hearts of the people are open and willing to learn more. We have a couple of really golden investigators.

There’s a lot of blessings that come from sacrifice.  We have sacrificed a lot.  Attitude and Effort are EVERYTHING!!

Sorry the Email is so short, but were off to baptize the city!!  We have a lot to do, and we are behind for the day.

Love you all and remember the Lord and all that he does for you!!!

Love,

Elder Spencer Allred

Transfers & Temples

March 24, 2014

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

This week was AWESOME!!

The highlight of the week would definitely be the Temple. We got to go to the NauvooTemple. And I loved it!! The spirit was so strong there. While we were there, a couple from our ward was taking out their endowment for the first time, (They were LA) And are slowly coming back to church.  It was cool to see them come back, and to see the spirit come out from them. They literally shone with the spirit.

My companion and I really came away on a spiritual "high".  And it was sweet to have some cool experiences. The next day, (Sunday, Yesterday) we were in Ward Council and our Bishop gives us 2 referrals of Non-Members coming to church that day.  They are the daughter of a  LA, and her non-member boyfriend. Joshua and Jasmine, and they are SUPER solid. They kept telling us how their church is wrong and some of the reasons why ours is correct.  So yesterday, we got 2 Referrals, 2 Member Present Lessons, (We keep track of those) AND 2 New Investigators.  Both of them want to be Baptized :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Area is on FIRE!!  We have our ups and downs, but when we’re low, the Lord can lift us HIGH. We have a couple people getting ready to have baptism dates soon, one with a date, and a lot more potentials who want to learn more. J

Transfers are on Thursday. I don’t think either one of us will be transferred.  But I will keep y'all posted.

The Church is True!! Find a missionary opportunity this week.  The Lord sets one up for members.  NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCES!!

Love You All.

Elder Spencer Allred.

PS. For those preparing for missions from the Ward, I want to hear from you, and I hope to help answer any questions or concerns.