February 6, 2018

This week was a pretty interesting week. Last Tuesday we had to do an emergency clean out on our old apartment, I had thought that the Hagan's, the housing inspectors, would call a few days before they were going to help us move all of our furniture to the new place. They ended up calling us the day before we were supposed to be all moved out and Elder Whicker and I hadn't done hardly any cleaning on the place. We happened to be on exchanges that night with the zl's, we had an appointment fall through so we decided that we better go clean. I didn't think that it would take that long to clean because for the most part it was pretty good. But as we were going through the closets and the cupboards I very quickly realized how much missionary junk had piled up. We threw probably half of our apartment away. There was so many cloths stuffed in closets that were not ever being used. We were living on the 6th floor and what was pretty cool was that there was a garbage shoot that we sent everything down. The shoot was working out well until we threw a bag that was a little too big in and it got stuck. I found a baseball bat in one of the closets and went from floor to floor getting it to slide down. After that we sent things down a little at a time but it worked out great. To make a long story short we ended up getting all of the garbage out of the place that night and then the next morning we woke up early and cleaned. The Hagan's showed up at 9 and we were all moved out and the place was looking good by 12.

Our new apartment is located in Redcliffe, which is a suburb just outside of Medicine hat, it will be nice living there because that is where most of our ward lives anyway. I forgot to take a picture for you guys especially mom, I think she will really like it haha. But we actually live on top of a pizza place and there is a bakery just a couple of doors down. The only way that I can even describe the place to you is that it looks like one of those old brick buildings that are on the main street in Roosevelt. I think it was built in the early 1900's. They have done a lot of remodeling on the place and it looks pretty awesome. Super clean and no indescribable smells. 

We had another zone conference on Thursday, it was pretty great I really enjoyed it. It had to have been the longest zone conference I have had. It went for 7 and a half hours, I wished that I had brought my pillow to sit on.. Our conference took place in Lethbridge, we had to leave our apartment by 6:30 in the morning to get there on time. While we were there our dinner cancelled in Medicine Hat so for our dinner time we decided to go and see the Benders. They had always told me to stop by if I was in the area. They were super excited to see me, we had ice cream and then sister Bender figured out that we hadn't had dinner from one of my comps. I told her that we were good that we didn't need anything but she made us some dinner anyways. She was like a grandma to me and still is. While I was talking to them I found out that the Carltons who I had been teaching had gotten baptized and that also Finola was going to finally get married to Lee, and then she was also going to get baptized around the 12 of February. It sure was great to hear about the people that I had grown to love and to see them progress in the gospel. 

On Friday we met with Shannon and Kyra they are both doing well, we taught them more about prayer and scripture study, and also obedience. The lesson went very well. We will be meeting with them again this Wednesday. They had slacked off a bit on their prayers and reading the scriptures but we re-committed them to doing them again. We are going to try meeting with them twice a week now and I think that it will help. 

On Sunday I had Brother Stubbs pick me up so that I could go to one of the wards that I am covering. He was on call and had to look at x-rays and stuff. It was really weird to go to church without a missionary companion. 

On Monday we had to drive out to Brooks for District meeting, we ended up splitting up with the zone leaders. Elder Grider came with me we had a good time. It has been crazy but fun being in a trio as you can probably tell from this email. We are going to try and get a ball night going with one of the YSA members. He said that as soon as I get it okayed that he could get his whole basketball team there who are all non-members, I think that this will be a good finding activity and I am hoping that President will give us the go.

Well this is just a bit of what has happened this week. I hope and pray that you all continue to do well. I sure do love you guys. Have a great week!! 

Love, Elder Allred 

January 30, 2018

This week was pretty great but also pretty sad. Elder Whicker finished up his mission on Sunday and flew home on Monday. I am really going to miss him, he was for sure one of my favorite comps. So it's kind of a weird situation. Elder Whicker had to go home about 4 weeks before the transfer ended, I originally thought that I would be getting a new companion but I didn't. I'm wondering if maybe there weren't any other three legs in the mission but I don't know. But anyway, since he left I am staying with another couple of Elders in Medicine Hat for the rest of the transfer. We have been super busy covering the two wards in my area as well as their ward. 

Elder Whicker and I did a lot of cleaning in our old apartment to get it ready for us to move out and he also spent a bit of time packing up all of his stuff, it was pretty funny he couldn't have had another pound in any of his bags they were so full with all the stuff he had collected. We also had another lesson with Shannon and Kyra it went really well. We taught them the third discussion, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Kyra is so fun to teach. We are going have to talk to them about baptism a little more and when you know that you are ready.

We also got to see Dave and Marriet again, they are doing well. We had an appointment with them Friday night with the Feciurs from the Bow Island Ward. I feel that it was pretty good to get them introduced to them. We are really hoping that they will come to church one of these Sundays. Elder Whicker and I also did some more service for them on Saturday, we helped them make some chicken feeders out of PVC pipe it was pretty fun. While we were there we got to meet Marriet's brother and sister in-law from Quebec. They both loved talking to us and I could tell that they really liked us. Marriet's brother was talking to us while his wife was taking their little kid down to nap. He said that she is going to have a lot of questions about us after we leave. I hope that will continue to spark their interest and they will start learning more about the Gospel. 

Well that was just a few highlights of the week. I hope that you continue to do well in all that you do, I sure do love you guys, keep up the good work! 

Love, Elder Allred 

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A member got us some Hutterite eggs and I swear 75% off all the eggs are all double yolkers!

Elder Whicker getting on the shuttle to Calgary 

                 ( I will be staying with Elder Harrara and Wiwchar for a few weeks)

January 23, 2018

Hey Fam, 

This week was pretty good, nothing too exciting happened. But it was nice to see Shannon and her granddaughter come to church again this week. Usually Shannon had only been staying for Sacrament Meeting because of her back problem, but since she has had custody over Kyra she has been staying for the whole time which I would have to say is a miracle. Kyra has been having a good time in Young Womens and has been accepted quite well. 

On Wednesday and Thursday we were out in Bow Island contacting some of the people the Bishop had asked us to visit. Things are pretty slow out there. The town has been tracked numerous times and most of the people that live there are all Mennonite and not really open at all. But we have had some great times serving the members and spending time with Dave and Marriet. On Thursday night we got to sing at the Lodge where all the elderly people stay and that was fun singing hymns with them. You could really see there faces brighten up and their moods change as we were singing about Christ. 

On Friday we got to help at the Food bank as usual, it's always fun to go help out there. We did a bit of weekly planning and then Elder Whicker had to do "My Plan" on the computer. It's a new program that missionaries are supposed to do to help them adjust back to the normal life. Elder Whicker is getting pretty excited to go home. We still don't know what is going to happen to me, there are two possible solutions. I could three leg it with the elders that we are living with right now or I could get a companion that would be emergency transferred that is on a three leg already. And then on Saturday we made some stop bys and cleaned out our old apartment. 

Well sorry this is kinda short, I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

Love, Elder Allred