Hey mom!

We're going on the fly! haha. We have a mechanics of bikes book in our house so we're using that. We finally fished them!! They run really well, too. The only problem is the tubes I bought were crap, so I popped THREE TUBES. But I reinforced the inside of the rim with electricians tape, then the rubber band. It seems that the rubber band wasn't holding enought and let the tube stretch out, anyway, they're awesome. We have flip-flop hubs so we can go fixed gear or single gear freewheel. I haven't even tried freewheel yet, I have a 40 tooth gear in front so it's almost perfect because I can climb hills well and I can still get going quickly on the straights. To be honest, the scariest part of a fixed gear is the downhill! But we still have our front brakes for that.

Anyway, missionary work is going well. Slow, unfortunately, but tonight in our Book of Mormon clas s we are talking about 2Nephi 31, the baptism of Christ. This will be perfect for Alisalin, I think. We're going to talk about the example he has set for us and the importance of following his footsteps. We're going to also put emphasis on proper authority by using the question "Why did Christ go ALL the way to John the Baptist? Why was John the chosen one? Why didn't Christ get baptized by someone else?" Obviously he had the authority to do so as he was given through his Levitical lineage. (We're going to save the lineage part though haha).

We had a goo week at church, Rosa Hernandez is trying to get her endowment and we're running into a lot of snags. The presidency doesn't understand completely how to do this stuff. They're very accustomed to recent converts... because we do everything. But having someone go through the temple seems to be a new concept for them. We are gonig to see if we can start a Temple class for Sunday School and have the BPs wife teach it. We feel like in this branch the temple is like a secret club, and it's not supposed to be that way! We want everyone to feel like the temple is within reach, and we believe that starting a temple class that anyone can join in on would be a great step.

Rosa really is ready for her endowment. She has NEVER paid tithing, but will do so as soon as she gets her next check. She was never taught how to do it! She has been unmarried for quite some time but she keeps the LoChastity and she knows it's serious. We have had several talks with her and her response to "Why do you want to go to the temple" is "Because I feel like it's something I need to do that will help me stay active and progress in the Gospel." Heck, if that's not a good answer -- I don't know what is! I just hope the branch will stop putting it off, I shared with them my own personal experience. If Bishop Yates had just thought "oh-- it's just a phase" and put it off and if our branch didn't support me as they did, I wouldn't be here today. A "simple phase" turned into a two year mission for me and a life-long committment to the Lord. So I see myself in Rosa, and I want to see her succeed. If only the presidency would READ THEIR MANUALS! Anyway, I'll try to keep the frustration out of the e-mail haha.

Not much else to report. We are healthy, we are blessed. I hope the same is for you at home. I love you all very much and hope that you are all being blessed by the Lord abundantly. Read your scriptures, pray, go to church. The blessings will literally be "poured out upon you" from the "windows of heaven."

I Love you!!

-Elder Conner Allred

5-23-11

Madre:

Cuff links came! They're actually REALLY nice. I am really surprised. we're going to buy some porsche ones for President Pehrson as a going away gift.

Not too much went on this week, we're still working hard with Alisalin, still no date :(. We did have some good member lessons though and met some of our other inactives that I haven't met before. I bought a bike! You'd be really proud of me. I got it for a whopping twenty dolla and the rims are in good shape, everything is in good shape, the frame is a little rusty, but I'll send you pictures of the before and after. The thing that has been most expensive is tools. We were missing a wrench so we had to go get that. I was going to paint it today, but it's really humid and cloudy -- it'll never dry!

The IFLY sounds sweet! We'll have to do that when I get home.

Amanda Hernandez had her baby shower this last week. I still don't know why it's called a shower, I didn't see any water. Something funny: elder Walkenhorsts uncle, when his wife had a baby, told all the men in the family that the guys were going to get together and ahve a "tub" hahaha.

We're having fun and looking good doing it! We're healthy and working. Hopefully we can find some more people to teach this week, we have a goal to knock doors for an hour a day. (kill me!) It will be good though.

I love you all!!!

Elder Conner Allred

May 16, 2011

Hey madre!

I'll be anxious to see the cuff-links! haha.

Thanks for retouching the pictures, that's perfect! We got transfer calls last saturday, well, more like we DIDN'T get them. So Elder Walkenhorst and I will be staying! yay! I'm pretty excited to do stay for another transfer! Elder Walkenhorst and I have been having a lot of fun. In case you didn't know, he lives on 8600 south! Pretty nuts.

We have been pushing for Alisalin to get baptized and she said she would have an answer for us on Thursday. I'm excited for her, I hope she can realize that it's a great decision that she is ready to make. I know she is. She is afraid her mother won't be happy, but I had a feeling to say "If you do this, your mother will follow in your footsteps," so, knowing that the Lord wont' make me a liar, I am excited to meet her mother and begin working with her as well. We are going to see if we can meet with her this or next week.

Dionicio came to church!(Candy's "husband") I think I have told you about Candy. Her husband has never really wanted to come to church but he finally came last yesterday! It was so great! He definitely seemed nervous, but our Elders Quorum teacher made him feel comfortable so it was really great. I think he found it to be a lot less hectic and/or scary than he excpected.

The weather here is GREAT! BE JEALOUS! It's green and usually always above 70. Speaking of which, Elder Walkenhorst and I are going to go buy bikes today. But, we're going to do it cheaply. So I will talk to my dad as well but I'm thinking max 170. We found some road bikes at a pawn shop, gonna swindle with them a little and then build up the bikes from there, we found cogs and other parts for really cheap at a local bike shop. We're going to build some single gears. :) It'll be a fun P-Day project. Especially since we don't have the car today!

Not much else is giong on. I love you!!!!!!!! I hope everything is going well, tell everyone I miss them. Tell Chris I was thinking about WoW the other day and almost cried. hahaha.

-Elder Conner Allred

5-2-11

Hi Fam!

Well I'll probably be calling on Sunday around 3ish my time. Or 4ish. It really depends on when we get home from church and if we have any visits -- but expect something around then.

We had a good week and Alisalin is doing very well! We still haven't set a date, she wants to wait a little bit longer to be "sure." If I had a nickle for every time I have heard that... I am almost tempted to tell her "Alisalin, everyone says that and they always end up getting baptized, so just save yourself the stress and do it!" But we'll give her a little time haha.

We have a lesson tonight with an english member and his Colombian friend. They told us that they've already been reading the Book of Mormon so this should be great!

I'm glad that I've been able to stay out -- I'm enjoying being here and It's amazing to think that I don't really have much more time left! I thought it'd never come but it's coming a lot faster than you'd expect.

It's funny what you said about bishop. We have been pretending to talk like Karl Malone lately in our apartment and I told everyone the story of when the Bailey's came over to eat. haha.

I'm not really sure what else to talk about! I would like some more cut off socks though if you could send them. And my red vans. I love you all. Aventuras Grandes!

-Elder Conner Allred