8-29-11

Hey Fam,

A job, that's on the top of the list... let me know if you hear of anything.
About the card, that's the same deal as the Best Buy card, I just don't want them to add random crap to my card like HSBC did. My idea is to buy the computer (spend maybe 1400) and spend at least 1000 on the card, then pay off 500 the next day so that I only have to pay 500 and I have a year to do so, thus keeping payments to a minimum. (i'd also like to see what the reviews on the card are though) Whatddya think? Or, I could just buy it outright but then that leaves me a smaller amount for a car. Did that $800 ever get into my acct by the way?

As far as the transition, I feel I'll do ok. I just need to get a job asap and get a calling when I get home. Tell Bishop Hobby to think about something for me if he can :). Heck, have him e-mail me if he feels so inclined.

The storm yesterday was a BOREFEST. There was strong wind from about seven am until noon, and rain on and off throughout the day. We weren't allowed to leave the apartment so we sat inside all day long. I read the church handbooks to pass the time, pretty interesting and cool how the church works. I also watched all the church movies, read parts of Rough Stone Rolling, read a few chapters in the Book of Mormon, wrote a few letters and by the time I finished all that it was about noon... Yes, it was a long day. Church was canceled and because of that Nick was not baptized. Daniel's funeral was still held though and it was a great service. The Bishop pulled Nick off to the side during the funeral and explained what we'll do for the baptism next week so Nick was satisfied. Daniel's service was great and we will all miss him. It is nice to have the 'good news' and know where he is and what he's doing.

I read in Alma 34 this week about this time being a time to prepare. We also had a great discussion with Brother Stokes about this life and afterwords. This life is a time to harness the stupid stuff we do in preparation for exaltation. We talked about how in the telestial and terrestrial kingdoms it will very much be like the movie Groundhog Day. Will you be able to satisfy your addictions etc? Probably! But that will get really old after a few thousand years and only eternity to look forward to. Silly enough, I look at the Celestial Kingdom like World of Warcraft -- only healthy. Constantly evolving. People ask "Why would anyone play that game? You can't win!" Because winning isn't the point, the point is to continue getting stronger, better, etc. The Celestial Kingdom is continually helping your children, spouse, our God, and ourselves become mroe perfect. We will constantly be growing in knowledge. What great blessings await us! We also talked about the Sons of Perdition, and their state -- that's a conversation we can have when I get home, remind me. We spoke about Judas as well, Brother Stokes had a really cool standing on what he believes Judas was thinking.

I don't know if I'd put this on the blog, just in case it might be found as doctrine by others. But it is up to you.
Brother Stokes noted that Judas probably had great faith, so his idea wasn't simply "i'm going to betray him for money" Judas didn't need money, he was loaded! What he wanted to do was to get the ball rolling. He was sick of the Christ being pushed around and treated like dirt, so he thought "If I do this, Christ will show that he is the Son of God and blow this place to kingdom come!" But then, something happened that Judas didn't expect... Christ died. "What have I done!?" Thought Judas. And killed himself. Joseph F. Smith taught that if Peter had received the Gift of the Holy Ghost his punishment would be a different story for having denied the Christ 3 times. That made my companion and I start to think -- "if Peter is ok... what about Judas?" Elder Horton said something really funny "I guess we shouldn't be surprised if Judas is the greeter at the Pearly Gates then." haha. I think what Judas was NOT doing was listening carefully. He didn't understand the resurrection. He acted before he thought. Anyway, interesting insight.

Not much else to report this week, I love you! And I'm not trunky! Just thinking ahead haha.

-Elder Conner Allred

8-22-11

Hey Famiry.

Well, we're pretty boring over here in Gardner, too! Not too much to tell you about except for the excitement that we have for Nick Pike's baptism this upcoming Sunday! Nick has been doing really well and he has lots of friends in the ward, so many that all the missionaries are doing is the opening and closing prayers! haha. This really hit me this week when I found that out. I think that two years ago I would have thought "Why aren't I doing more?" But I had an overwhelming feeling of peace come over me when our ward mission leader set up the program; I had this thought "This is how it's supposed to be." I love Nick, he's a great kid. But seeing him so involved in the ward and already looking forward to priesthood responsibilities helps me understand my place as a missionary. I carry the gospel to him, and then the ward steps in and does the rest. I'm just a simple mouth-piece. I can't really explain very well what I want to say, but it's basically this: The ward brings their friends to church, I give them the information they need with love and respect, and then the ward baptizes him, not the missionaries. When people ask "How many baptisms have you had?" I hope to respond "None, but the wards I worked with had x." Because that's how it should be! It's so neat to see how well Nick fits into the scheme of things here. He is so eager to start preparing the sacrament - I'm very proud of him and the Gardner ward.

This is probably useless right now, but I wanted to ask about a phone when I get home. I had a dream last night that I wasn't able to find a job etc etc. and it's been stressing me out! haha. I would like to see if I could get on a family plan with Megg and Spence and split the cost 3 ways or half or whatever they would like to get another iPhone. Or, do it with Brinlee as long as she has a job. The family plan makes it much cheaper ($60) per month. Also, I don't know what kind of work the family might have, but i'd like to get to work as soon as I get home if I can. The quicker I get on it, the easier the transition will be I think. Also, if Scott could see what kinds of prices he can find on cars and just give me a little information that would be great. I think I'm going to go with a nice 'ol trusty Subaru WRX. After seeing all my friends have one and how well they do on gas/fun/practicality. It makes me want one. 4x4 with a turbo that helpls me save gas... sounds good!

Not too much is going on -- it's getting cold! Weird! It was sixty this morning. Say good-bye to summer! haha. I love you very much.

Elder Conner Allred

8-15-11

Family,

Well it's mondey again!

HOLY CRAP TACEY IS A BEAST! She is getting so big that is so weird! She is so cute!

The Davis family is doing well, unfortunately our ward hasn't been able to raise enough money to fly them all home so they will be driving back probably this week is the plan so far. Please pray for them!

We set a baptismal date with Nick Pike (14) for the 28th of August. He said he had a hard week this last week, it was a good test for him though! He said he was having doubts etc and then finally came to the conclusion that it was true and that he needs to get baptized. We're really happy for him and we're working closely with him.

This week was a little slower than the past has been. It seems that a lot of the investigators we had have dropped us. But we did find someone new! Her name is Amber. We met her at the door and gave her a Book of Mormon. When we came back three days later she had read the whole testimony of Joseph Smith, the intro, tesmionies of the 8 and 3 and she's up to 1nephi chapter 8! She is great! Her boyfriend doesn't want to take any of the lessons but she is willing and I believe he is to, to get married so that she can be baptized. We have only had one lesson with her, so hopefully it will continue to go well.

Not much else to talk about this week! I love you all and hope all is well. Remember that it is upon the Rock of the Redeemer, which is Christ, that if a man builds upon he cannot fall.

-Elder Conner Allred

8-8-11

Hey Fam,

This week was kind of a glum one for our ward.
http://www.necn.com/searchNECN/search/v/43507257/hubbardston-teen-killed-in-minnesota-car-crash.htm

Daniel Davis was killed in this accident. We go to their house every tuesday to eat -- he will be missed. We actually took one last photo of the family before they left. The voice you hear on the video on the phone is our bishop, Bishop Nally. Everything has been a little hectic, of course, but the the rest of the family although injured is doing better.

Apart from the tragedy, this week was a good week. We made progress with Nick and yesterday we had 4 less-active members stand up and bare their testimonies! HOW COOL! One of them is the little sister of German Valdez (22) who just returned home from his mission and helps us out a lot. Maria is 17 and lives the life of every other 17 year old, so it's hard to be a latter-day saint. But she got up and bore her testimony about missionary work. It was so neat, made us feel like the Lord has worked through us. Maria has been doing a great job at helping her friends come to church and present the gospel to them.

I'm trying to think of what else has been going on this week! haha, It's been a good week, I know it has, but I just can't think! My brain is fried from studying spanish. I Constantly write down words that I don't know and try to translate from english to spanish in my brain. Last night I had a dream and in my DREAM I said something and can't remember what it was so I'm going insane trying to remember what I wanted to translate hahaha. I am a little OCD when it comes to translation. Maybe I'll go into translation when I get home.

Do the JWs still stop by? That will be a blast when I get home.

Love you!
Elder conner Allred

8-1-11

Hey fam!

I'll have to think of a good business name for Adam. haha. I love the choices that you have given already haha.

This week we went back to the Myler's home and took out some drywall. We were going to put up more, but then decided that if we put up the drywall, we would have a harder time doing the electrical, and since the drywall that was up was really old we decided to just take it all down and start fresh. It was worth it. It's been a really cool experience being able to help brother Myler out with his house -- I'm learning a lot of useful stuff. I learned how to make a three way switch work this week, too. (The switch that can be turned on and off from two different sites.)

I saw the "dentist" a few days ago. Joy Payne's sister is in town from Dubai and she is a dentist. So she took a look because I said one of my molars was hurting when I eat sweets. She said there is definitely a small cavity forming but I should be ok. Other than that she was really impressed with how clean I have kept my mouth -- she said she wouldn't have guessed that I haven't seen a dentist in 2 years! So that's good! haha.

I don't remember if I told you about the lesson we had with Sonia or not but we had a great lesson about the worth of a soul and the repentance process. (I think some of the family members needed a refresher.) She felt the spirit strongly and she enjoyed it very much.

Nick is one of the young men that we have been teaching that I believe I told you about -- he has a baptismal date for the 14th of August! He's awesome and very excited. He lives with his uncle's wife's mom; but he just calls her grandma. She may be accepting to the message as well, we have another lesson with them today to find out.

We went to the temple this week! (of course, I forgot to bring my camera to the library -- I'll send pictures later this week.) We watched Rosa Hernandez get her endowment and it was so awesome! I learned a lot of new things that I haven't realized before and altogether it was a touching experience. It was great to go to the temple again, and on top of that, to see some of the "fruits of my labors" as President Evans put it. I wish there was more I could tell you about what I learned, but we'll have to wait until I'm home haha. I did receive an answer to a prayer though. I asked to know if my work had been accepted and in the Celestial Room I opened up the scriptures and this is what I found.

Doctrine and Covenants 73
For verily, thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me that they should continue preaching the gospel, and in exhortation to the churches in the regions round about, until conference...Now I give no more unto you at this time. Gird up your loins and be sober. Even so. Amen.

It's clear. So I'll continue.

I love you all and miss you. Gird up your loins and be sober!

Elder Conner Allred