8-30-10

I have read parts of that book (Rough Stone Rolling) out here actually. I absolutely love it. Not many people know that Joseph Smith had some alcohol problems! People find that to be a huge fault in him and mull over it for hours and it's hilarious because just look at our family and the amazing things that have come out of the alcohol abusers in it. We gave some blessings last night and it went really well. I gave one to Ligia . After her's Elder Trujillo gave one to Pablo. Pable is the non-member. After the blessing he was trembling a bit and was trying not to cry. He said "Porque estoy como asi, elderes?" At the same time, Elder Trujillo and I both said "El Espiritu." It was a really special moment.

Good news!!! ELSI HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE!!!!!!

We were all in class yesterday and right after the closing prayer I turned around to Elsi and I said "Are you ready?" and she said "For baptism?" and I said "Yes. Let's set a date for 2 weeks from now." And she thought about it. then said "Lets make it 3." WOO! 19 of September she's going down! How cool is that!? Her husband has been drinking a lot but they're working through things. I wish she would have told us that earlier. The Elders Quorum Pres. was an alcoholic. I knew he was having some issues like that. Elsi's husband I mean. So we're going to start working with him tomorrow. Really exciting!

So for your Pizza and Pickup-Lines you should read through Chapter 10 in PMG. It talks about how to ask questions and listen. Very useful tools for any situation!

This week we didn't do much finding. Elder Trujillo is about spent. But, all is well.


well. I love you and I'm praying for all of you. Make sure to tell annabeth Hi for me. I'm praying for her and Sarah. Love you all.

Elder Conner Allred

Hey Mom,

This week has been pretty good! I'm feeling OK, just keeping on going. We found some new investigators and things are starting to pick up again. Plus, the diarrhea passed, so all is well inside and out! haha.

We were actually supposed to go on a hike today with Saul, Emanuel, and us Elders but the weather is rainy so we are going to stay inside. President Pehrson approved Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp, so we're going to watch that today! Woo! Last week we watched Mulan and Spirit. Sounds boring, but it's nice to watch some good wholesome movies and take our minds off of things for a while haha. I'm sure you remember.


This week went well! We taught the husband of a member, Ligia (Ecuador). His name is Pablo and he got caught playing hookie. Anyway, it put him in a position of serious humility and he knows he needs to repent. We had an awesome lesson about the plan of salvation with them. Honestly, I thought "oh great, he's just trying to make his wife happy." But honestly, he's ready. He prayed at the end, kneeling and it was the most sincere prayer I have heard! It was awesome. We set a date with him for September 12th.

Elsi is doing ok. Her Husband gave us a ride the other day because we were watiing for the bus outside after an appointment with her. Before we left he dropped roses onto the porch. He's a weird guy, I can't figure him out. She was really depressed but she is in New York with a friend this weekend so hopefully she'll get a little bit of a break. Bless that woman, she's doing the best she can.

Alejandro Cruz and Mabel are preparing for the temple in December and Alejandro is getting the Melch priesthood!
Nothing happened with Mariela, she called and didn't show up to the appointment.
Mendes is doing great, just got ordained a priest.
Veronica and German are awesome. Still having problems with the step family thing but German has blessed the sacrament twice now!

Things are going quite well. The Lord is blessing us abundantly, hopefully I can continue to grow in this work and hopefully he is seeing my good works and I'm doing the best I can to please Him. It's hard but good. I'll just keep soldiering on.

I love you all, and I'll talk to you again soon! (p.s. I'll send some pictures next time I go to print some.)

Los Amo,
Elder Allred

8-16-10

Investigators... This week our pool has shrunk quite a bit. We have two new investigators named Silvia and Fernando from Ecuador. They are a great little family of four, friends of a member (Ruth) and Fernando's heart is really being softened. Josh actually taught them 2 years ago. So that's about all we're working with at this point!

We're going to hopefully start finding more people to teach and get some more work done this week. It didn't help that I was throwing up on Tuesday. That was gross. I ate some old meat and then Got sick from it. had like 4 days of Montezuma's revenge and threw up. It was awful! haha.

You are going to be very pleased in December with my portuguese when we can talk again! I'm getting a bible in Port from Elder Rolim . But It's a great language. It's grammar is almost the exact same, just different sounds, as spanish. But, of course -- I am working mainly on perfecting spanish. The one thing I get confused a lot in are Direct and Indirect objects. Like "N os Gustaria invitarle" or "nos Gustaria invitarlo" Cause the rule is, for direct objects (the Lo) "who or what is being ___ed?" Well, you are being invited.... But i guess it's supposed to be said with Le... Is this making sense? Anyway, it's coming along. I just need to figure out a few more things and work on my vocabulary mainly.


Hopefully we see more success this week. I am hoping to do well so we can get the ball moving again. Hopefully I'm recieving the correct promptings and things I need to do. I just hope I'm following the spirit. Or even recieving the spirit! I'm trying real ly hard to be as obedient as possible, I just can't figure out why things are going w rong. I hate to say it, but is it me? What's happening!?!? What the heck!? I hope this isn't my same old gripe as usual. Anyway. I just hope to see some fruits soon. Make me feel a little better. Just hope I'm worthy to be recieving the spirit and helping people.

Anyway, Not much else is going on. I miss you all and I can't believe I'm coming up on 8 1/2 months! Wow! haha. Miss you again.

8-9-10

The baptisms! They're going well, but unfortunately this week I don't have pictures because we forgot the camera. Mendes is Brazilian, I think I told you that, so that was a fun baptism. This week we also had 2 confirmations (mendes and Veronica).

I got the talks, thanks very much -- I just need to translate them for her haha. She doesn't read or speak a lick of English, but I think these talks will help Elsi quite a bit.
This week has been pretty crazy, I can't really remember all of it to be completely honest. We were all over the place getting things ready for the baptism and confirmations, it was insane! Alejandro Cruz baptized Mendes, really neat since it was his first time using his priesthood! Alejandro and his wife were just baptized last Feb and are still goin head first! He receives the Melk Priesthood in 2 months and will be entering the temple to be sealed in Feb! They had to baptize Mendes 3 times because he didn't go all the way under, but overall it went well and it all worked out! I think the main thing is to get in the water and just relax. You don't need to rush! Get set up, say the prayer, slowly put your hand on their back and put their hand to their nose and then tip them back and pull them up. I think everyone sees these videos from the church where it's this gorgeous flowing motion and gets a little too excited! haha. But it was a really spiritual day!

We got some people from Cape Verde reactivated. One of them, Nissy, just moved here a month ago -- was a primary teacher years back. She is 26 and she hasn't been to church in a little while so I sat next to her during sacrament. As the sacrament was being passed, she busted out into tears. She told me she felt embarrassed because she didn't even know why she was crying! But I told her I'm sure it's the spirit working his sanctification. She only speaks Portuguese so that's really fun! I get to practice that with her. She is great, we have really high hopes for her to continue. The relief society ladies said she seems VERY knowledgeable in the gospel.

Not much else has been going on that I can remember. We're going to do some serious finding this week and try to find some new people! I hope everything is going well at home. Love you!

I will keep annabeth and sarah in my prayers... This news is ridiculous!

-Elder Conner Allred

8-2-10

We had a baptism! She actually showed up! Helps when the rest of the family are members though. It's been a really cool experience to watch this family grow from where they were to where they are now. I believe the husband is even working on a repentance process so that he can hold the priesthood soon! They have their eyes set on the temple now (she even has the Buenos Aires temple pictures bookmarked on the computer) so that was a big win for everyone! I can understand why it would be difficult in Spain to have baptisms, the people are much more educated. But, when you baptize someone like that, they are usually much more solid. Easily converted, easily led away. So sometimes it's good to have to fight a little.

I miss Elder Rogers! He was a great companion, I learned so much from him in 6 weeks. He was a great example and I'm glad I get the chance to fill his shoes in Bridgeport. I feel like if I can fill his shoes here, the people will be very greatful. Even if I can't do EVERYTHING he did, as long as I try and show that I'm trying, they'll be greateful. They've had too many missionaries here that get too comfortable and slack off! So I'm going to do my best not to be a slacker!

Elder Trujillo, does SOUND like a native, doesn't it? He's 4 generations from Spanish (spain) ancestors. He didn't speak a lick of spanish before his mission and was raised in idaho. His dad is in the army and they have moved from places like Texas, Atlanta, Germany, Idaho, and a few other places. He'll be finishing his mission in 5 weeks so I won't have him for very long either! I'm excited to see what happens afterwords as well though. His goal is 8 more baptisms before he does home. 7 to go, and 6 after this Thursday.

We got a referral this week from Massachusets! One of their recent converts just moved here and she is frome Cape Verde. So my portuguese is being tested again! I taught 2 lessons this week in portuguese! Of course, it's not perfect, but the Lord really helped me out! I was able to speak on the phone with her and also teach those lessons all in Port. What a blessing!

Well, this week should be quite busy. New trainings and baptizing sure can be tiring! haha. But truly, I'm greatful that the Lord has allowed me to watch the changes in these people and allow me to be changed by them. I would have never understood the grace and charity that people have for others unless I served this mission. Veronica and German, weeks ago had nothing. Now, they still don't have much, but they are blessed with food on the table, and a little more work. 100% more than they used to have. They even feed us when they go over. It's hard to eat it because I know they don't have much, but I am so grateful for their service to us -- what great people we have here. Their hearts are just so darn pure, every last one of them here. They're great.

In one of those pictures, I think I'm not smiling... I was pretending to be a Mexican. Mexicans don't smile ahha.



How's Brinleast??? Hope she is good, I miss her. I miss all of you. Shaydyn looks great by the way in the picture you sent me! Has she been dieting still?? She looks really good!

Send some pics of fat pete and zorini!

I love you!
-Elder Conner Allred