- We are teaching up a storm! We taught 23 lessons this week!
That's 22 more than the week before I came! YES! We're staying as busy
as possible, teaching investigators, less-actives, and members! It's
the best!
-We've been teaching C___, our most progressing investigator a lot
recently, but.... He failed to show up to church. Again. So we have to
drop him :( We're pretty bummed that he can't get himself up and going,
but at the same time, there has to be commitment on both ends for this
to work, so we'll be taking a break from him.
- B______, the 19 year old Pagan girl reached out to us this week,
and we met and taught an AWESOME Plan of Salvation lesson with her. It
was really touching. There were tears all around, and the Spirit was
really there! Her grandma just passed away, so she's feeling a little
anger towards God. It was really special being able to share with her
how I was able to keep my faith and love for Heavenly Father despite my
father passing away too, and bearing witness of God's perfect plan of
happiness for our children.
- On Halloween, we had a ROCKIN' Zone Conference and got some really good inspiration for Angola. We had to be in by 6:30
that night, so we listened to General Conference talks and made cake.
THIS PLACE IS GOING TO BLOW UP! We're so excited for all of the
potential here. The members are starting to get excited to do
missionary work, and we're trying to encourage them as we teach them,
and have them come teach with us. I've discovered that our little
branch is... pretty disfunctional actually, but they really love
missionaries and we have a few "visionaries" who are trying to re-vamp
ward programs/tear down the cliques/hasten missionary work, which is
GREAT! The trouble is that most of our members are converts themselves,
so many of them are not familiar with how to lead/teach/delegate/etc.
We're working on it though, and already seeing so much progress!
- There are a TON of less-actives here, and some are really nice,
while others... hahaha it's great! We're trying pretty hard to reach
out to them, because we need all the members and talents we can get! It
is a real challenge trying to help less-actives re-discover their flame
of faith, but it is special seeing the Spirit work within them as we
teach them and serve them.
- We bought rakes from Walmart so that we have a good excuse to go
up and talk to people! We figured that if we just went up and started
serving them, they might open up to us better. We'll see how that turns
out. ;)
- B______, the 9 year old daughter of an inactive part-member
family that we're teaching, is getting baptized!! She is SO fun to
teach! She really 'gets' the Gospel. She is reverent and focused
during lessons, and LOVES the missionaries! She is such a sweetie!
She'll be getting baptized on her birthday in the beginning of
December! I hope I'm around for that.
There's certainly never a dull moment as a missionary! If you're
doing it right, missionary work really is a joy! All you have to think
about for 2 whole years is serving the Lord. You learn so much! Being a
missionary has really helped me see what it must be like for Heavenly
Father when WE don't keep our commitments to Him. It is SO frustrating
when you pray for, think about, and plan wonderful things for people,
and they either don't show, or choose not to act on what you have to
offer them. It must really break Heavenly Father's heart when we, His
children, choose not to keep His commandments, and choose not to act on
the priceless gift He has offered to us.
I know this Gospel is true! I know it because it has changed me,
and I'm seeing it change those who we teach for the better. His plan is
SO simple. Heavenly Father loves you and is there for YOU!
Love,
Elder Jason Allred
PICTURES:
1. We went to a member's house for dinner who had a farm, and I reeeeeally wanted to hold a chicken. Farms are FUN!
2. Me trying to make the same face as the chicken... It's harder than you think!
3. Halloween! Elder Phillips and I got some fun things from someone special that day in the mail ;)
4. Oh the things you'll find in Angola....
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