Fun and the Flu -- December 2, 2013

Hello family!  I can't believe another week has flown by!  AND IT'S DECEMBER.  Goodness me... it's been a little crazy around here!

B_____ and her older sister C_____ are still on track for baptism THIS SATURDAY!  We are so excited for them.  They really are the sweetest little girls.  I know that they will be a marvelous example to the rest of their family, and key in the conversion of their mother, and the re-conversion of their father.  FUNNY STORY. So.... there are certain principles/commandments/lessons that we HAVE to teach our investigators as missionaries.  One of which is chastity. HOOOOLY MOLY it was laughable trying to teach the law of Chastity to a 9 year old who knows NOTHING about any of that.... There were a lot of "huh?" and "uhhh..." moments, but we did our best... hahaha hopefully they understand as best as they can!  You can only beat around the bush so much, you know? :)

We got two new investigators this week!  Woohoo!  We've been stopping by this really sweet old lady the past couple of weeks, who lives alone and has had a LOT of hardship in her life.  Her name is L____, and she has had the missionaries teach her in years past.  We went back with a member and I think her heart has been softened by what she's been through.  She has some depression issues, so we're really trying to help her see how the gospel will bless her life with more purpose, peace, and direction.  I think she'll continue to meet with us!

We've also been working with a part member/less-active family.  It's been really hard getting a solid return appointment with them, but we stopped by on Saturday and they surprised us by saying that their who family would be coming to church this week!  Woop woop!  And sure enough, they ALL came.  Tender mercy!  It was fast and testimony meeting as you know... haha and sometimes those are a little... different in a small branch, haha but hopefully they were able to feel the spirit.

W_____, the 20 year old young man who approached us on the train tracks met with us again this week!  We taught him the Plan of Salvation, and he kept saying how "it makes so much sense!".  He was hesitant to say the closing prayer out loud in front of us, but he agreed to say it silently with us, and closed with an audible "amen".  It was actually really powerful!  I felt the spirit touch each of us as he prayed silently, and I think he was able to feel it, too. :)

NOW  DON'T GET MAD, MOM, but.... guess who caught the flu...? YEP!  Elder Phillips and I both came down with flu-like symptoms Saturday and all day Sunday (diarrhea, vomiting, aches, cold sweats etc.)  Guess we waited too long to get our shots!  Maybe it's not the flu and just a nasty bug.. but needless to say, the past few days have NOT been too good!  But, before we got TOO sick on Saturday, we went to the A______'s (a family in the branch) to blow up one of Elder Phillip's shirts for his one year anniversary!  Brother A_____ has been offered a slot on the special forces team ABOVE Seal Team 6, so.... He's pretty legit and has a lot of fun things that go "boom".  That was fun!

The senior couple came though!  Elder and Sister McClellan are AWESOME.  They are SO sweet, very physically active, and just what our branch needs!  We're so pumped to start working with them this week!  We felt bad... we roughed it to sacrament meeting so we could greet our investigators who came and the senior couple, then had to be taken home right after to rest... So much for first impressions!

This is the Lord's work!  I KNOW that the fullness of the Gospel has been restored.  It has been so marvelous seeing the Gospel bless the lives of those we teach.  I love you!  Heavenly Father loves you!

Love, Elder Jason Allred

PS - sorry... it has been a crazy week, so no pictures.  I'll be sure to send some next week.