April 17, 2018 Lethbridge, Elder Wells

Hey Fam! This week was pretty great, a lot of great things happened. I guess first off, last Tuesday we got our transfer calls that night and I found out that I was going to be getting transferred back to lethbridge! So I will be spending this transfer and my last one here. Last time I was here I was serving on the north side and this time I am serving on the west side. I'm pretty excited I really liked the last time I was here. My new companion is Elder Wells, he has been out now for 9 months and is from Payson Utah.

So on Wednesday I saw a few people to say bye and then got all packed up. Then on Thursday we headed for Lethbridge which is actually one of the two transfer stations in our mission. I met Elder Wells and got to our area, unpacked and did some weekly planning. Over the past few days we have met with a few of the members introducing them to me since I am new to the area. On Saturday the youth had an all day activity in which they would get an introduction to what missions are like. We helped out at it. We had to be there at 7 in the morning and it didn't end until 8:30 at night. They were introduced to how missionaries study and what their p-days are like. They also had a lot of classes that they had, to learn how to teach the first vision and at the end got the opportunity of teaching some non-members. It was a great turn out there were maybe 70 youth there and maybe 20 non-members came. The rest of the youth taught us missionaries and the adults that were helping out. After that they had a little fireside where one of the counselors to president Miles got to speak, after which the youth had the opportunity of bearing their testimonies it was pretty cool. 

On Sunday we had church. We cover two wards here, the mountain heights ward and the canyons ward. After that we had a dinner with one of the members. On Monday we had district meeting, made some contacts, met the bishop, and got to meet with one of our investigators. I am pretty sure she would be baptized by now if she could give up her smoking. She seems pretty solid. Well sorry for a shorter email we are kinda pushed for time but I hope you all have a good week. Love you all. 

Love, Elder Allred 

April 10, 2018

Hey fam!

This week has been great. This Thursday is transfers, I don't know if I will be staying here for another transfer or not I will find out later tonight. I am kinda hoping that I stay or that I go to Raymond but we'll see.

Last Tuesday we went to dinosaur provincial park that was really fun, I will have to send you some pictures. Later that night we played basketball with some of the church members. A member in our ward told us that there was a lot of less-actives and non-members that would show up so we thought we would go and meet them. It was pretty fun we couldn't stay long but we met and talked to everyone there. 

This week we have been spending quite a bit of time entering in all the information from our area books to our area book app on our phones. It will be really nice when all the information is all put in the area book app but for now it's a pain and it takes a lot of time. We had another lesson with Kyra and Shannon. We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and focused mainly on the Holy Ghost and how we receive answers. Our stake also had an activity that involved several other churches in Medicine hat, it was centered on the family. It also took place in a Lutherine church so that was a little different but it was good. There was a lot of break out sessions and different classes that everyone could go to. We were there to help set up and help people know where to go. There was this one presentation that we went to that was talking about marriage and how to strengthen your relationship with your spouse. The man doing the presentation wasn't Mormon but it was really good. He really liked us missionaries, he had even written a book on what he was talking about. It's titled, Hiz and Herz I believe. After the presentation I went up to him and jokingly asked, "Do you by chance give missionaries a missionary discount?" He quickly responded and said, "Sure I'll give it to you for 10 bucks." I then said, "Oh I was just joking and laughed." He was serious though. I asked, "Do you mind if I have a look?" and as I was looking through the book he said, "You know what you could even do is take the book and just pay me later." I said, "Yeah I couldn't do that I would end up forgetting and that wouldn't be right." He then said, "Well you can just have the book on me." He took the book wrote a little message in there and signed it. It was pretty funny so now I have a book that talks all about marriage and how to strengthen your relationships haha. 

We also picked up a new investigator his name is Kieth he's not super solid at the moment, he told us on the phone that if this is to get him to come to church he's not interested. I told him Keith to be completely honest we really aren't trying to get you to come to church all we are doing is teaching you about Christ and helping you increase your faith in Him. He said okay as long as it's not getting me to come to church. He's a funny guy. 

Another highlight of the week was while we were in Bow Island we stopped by a lady named Mary. About 2 years ago Mary got introduced to the missionaries and went through the non-smoking program and it worked out for her. We stopped by to see how she was doing and she said I'm doing okay and then her eyes started to get watery and she said but my husband died a couple of weeks ago.. I said im sorry to hear that is there anything we can do to help? And she said no after that we talked a bit about the Plan of Salvation and asked her if we could maybe come over and teach her about it. She said no but we were able to give her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and to testify of the great plan of happiness. We also left her with our number so she could give us a call if she needed anything. After visiting her it made me think of just how much we sometimes take it for granted. Sometimes we don't always realize just how great the plan is until we have a moment in our lives that changes our perspective on it. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real and that this life is not the end, but there are greater things to come as we remain faithful. 

Well I am glad to hear that you are all doing well! I can't wait to see all of you again! 

Love, Elder Allred  

April 3, 2018

Hey fam! 

On Thursday I hit 21 months! 

On Friday we met with Dave and Marietta and showed them the Easter initiative and told them about General Conference. They said that they had watched it last year so I hope they watch it this year too! 

We also had a great time with the Lauries in the ward, we had dinner and then had an opportunity of showing them the Easter initiative. We then asked them who they felt, whether it was a friend or even a family member, could benefit from seeing this. Sister Laurie felt inspired to send it to her sister, which was super awesome. We also committed her to bear her testimony on the Savior as well in the message. At first she thought that it was a really good idea but then she started thinking of her sister's husband and how it might not be a good idea. I think just like sister Laurie, we can have those doubts but I know that as we act on the promptings that we first receive only good will come. 

On Saturday and Sunday we pretty much watched General Conference all day. I really loved this conference it was pretty exciting hearing of all the new changes in the church, and how it is better preparing us for the second coming of the Lord. President Nelson is a pretty neat prophet of the Lord, I loved hearing from him as well as all the other apostles and general authorities of the church. Every time I hear from them I feel better motivated to continually strive to do good. What a blessing it is to hear the word of the Lord from his servants.

On Monday we had District Meeting in Brooks, after that we helped move a guy. Later that day we met with Keith, a potential investigator who we tracked into. Before we went in to see him we said a prayer and asked that he would be humbled enough that we might be able to get in and share a message with him. We went up to the door, we had to knock a couple times but he came and answered the door and he said, "Sorry guys, today just isn't a good time." We talked to him for a bit and he just kept saying, "Yeah maybe we could meet up another time." He said, "Did we have a meeting scheduled today?" and we said, "No we didn't, we were just in the area and thought we would stop by and see how you were doing." He said, "Oh okay well come back another time as he was closing the door, and then he said actually why don't you guys come in, why not." I know that there's power behind prayer, all we need to do is have a little faith and then act. The story continues we got in he had just woken up from a nap and had to make his coffee, we got to talk to him and share the Easter initiative and testify of our Savior. It was a neat experience and the spirit was very strong, it was awesome. I also got a call from the mission office. I got my trunky call so that was super weird. 

Well I am loving the mission and all the little spiritual experiences it really has been great and will continue to be great! Well I sure do love you guys keep up all the good work! 

Love, Elder Allred

March 27, 2018

Hey Fam!

On Wednesday we had an appointment with Sharel, one of our potential investigators, who we tracked in to. She happened to be busy when we stopped by which was too bad. We are hoping to pick her up and start teaching her the discussions. We also met up with Shannon and Kyra for their baptismal interview. Elder Grider and Elder Wolfe did the interviews. They both passed which was great! They sure are neat, I sure have grown to love them.

On Thursday Sister Lehr had us help clean one of her non member's houses which was really fun. She came to a relief society event and was going to come to church but ended up not being able to make it. I am sure that she will next time. We also had a great dinner appointment with the Broadheads. They really are a neat couple. They love missionaries and they love doing missionary work, they had a couple of their non member friends come to dinner. They don't speak much English so Sister Broached, who is from Mexico, does the translating for us. The 2 ladies that they had over are from Mexico, they come up here every year to work for the Huber's on their farm.

Later that night we had a crazy experience. We were headed to the church to set up a couple of videos and pick a couple of songs for Kyra and Shannon's baptism. There was a stop light that we had to make a left hand turn to go past a high school to then get to the church. As we were headed to this stop light the light turned green and I told Elder Kretschmann, "Oh we got this." By the time we got up to the light it was yellow but I was determined to make it. I thought that I was good but the second car waiting at the light didn't think so. The lights came on. At that point I knew I was done. We were almost to the church when we had to pull over. The cop came up to the window and said, "Do you know what you did? And I said, yes I do I was cutting it close and I'm sorry I should have stopped." He said that when the light turned red I was at the cross walk just entering the intersection.. idk what I was thinking haha.  He then asked are you heading to the church? And when he said that I thought oh I hope he's a member. I told him that yes we were we were just headed there to get some things set up for a baptism that we were going to have on Saturday. And he said okay and took my drivers license and the registration back to his car. When he came back he said do you have any idea how much running a red light could cost? I said no I don't. He said in Utah how much is it? I said yeah I don't know. He said well up here it could easily cost 3-400 dollars. He then said I'm gonna let you off easy on this one. I said thank you so much, after that we talked a bit and found out he was a non-member but he had a few member friends. Man I tell ya there is nothing more stressful then getting pulled over by a cop.. 

On Friday we had service at the food bank which is always fun we had, for a couple hours district finding, which is where we as a district go out and try to find together. We had a fun time. One of the ladies that we talked to was spraying for bugs that were coming out from under her porch we asked her if we could help and she said no of course, but we were able to talk to her. We told her about how we were out here on missions for 2 years and how we were both getting pretty close to going home. We then started to talk about the book of Mormon and asked her if she would want one. She said no I'm good and just before she closed the door she opened it again and said ya know i think I will take a copy. It was a great experience, I hope that she will read it and feel of the comfort that it brings. You never know what will happen all you can really do is hope and pray. 

Saturday was Shannon and Kyra's baptism! There was a pretty good turn out, her mom, step dad, and sister came. It was a very spiritual experience one I will never forget. Shannon had to be dunked going frontwards because of her back which ended up working great. The water was a little higher than usual. Bishop baptized Shannon and I had the opportunity of baptizing Kyra.

On Sunday Kyra and Shannon were confirmed members of the church. Brother Stubbs confirmed Shannon and Elder Kretchmann got to confirm Kyra. Later that night we had dinner with the Lehrs and Williams family. Sister Lehr had Evonne, the lady we helped clean house for, came to dinner as well. We were able to share a little bit about Joseph Smith, the book of Mormon, and also how we can receive answers to our questions. It's pretty awesome when there are members that are excited and love doing missionary work. 

Monday we cut cucumbers and had our district meeting. We had a lesson with the Broadheads where we taught their non-member friends why we don't baptize infants. It was pretty great I really enjoyed it. Brother and sister Broadhead are so missionary minded. 

Well this is just some of what has happened this week. I hope you continue to do well. I sure do love you guys! 

Love, Elder Allred 

We have been collecting plants for our apartment.

Shannon and Kyra