May 24, 2010

Not too much has happened this week to be honest. We set up a baptismal date with Rosa though for June 13th, so we're pretty excited about that! Last night we had a musical fireside which went really well, the missionaries did a great job and invited the spirit well.

5-3-10

Not too much happened this week, but we had a great lesson with Rosa! Rosa seems like she has some problems that make her want to be closer to God, which is good! She is coming along great. I think she could be our next baptism.

We had transfers this week and it looks like I'm staying in Hartford! I'm really excited about that. I really didn't want to leave, so I'm glad Elder Urrutia and I will be here for another transfer! I'll be hitting my 6 month mark in Hartford, boy time flies. My 5 month mark is on the 9th -- can you believe it?!?

Yesterday we had a cool experience. The 4 of us Elders in Hartford went to an apartment complex to meet with a potential investigator, who boached us. But as we were walking down the stairs a mexican lady, about 25 or so walked out of her apartment to grab something, we stopped her and asked if she had a few minutes. Her name, strangely, is Daysi! Her husband is Samuel and they have a 2 year old daughter named Angelica. They are both Mexican and we shared a great first lesson with them. They are both catholic and Samuel seems to be at least well versed enough in the bible to understand that it doesn't hurt to give things a try! We shared the message of the restoration and the spirit was really strong. They even gave us some pepsi as we walked out the door. Seems silly, but we have found that with the Hispanic families, if they want to give you something as you leave it's because they appreciate you and want to repay you somehow. They are so humble and usually really poor, but they always want to give us something! The families that give you something are the families that you want to keep teaching.

We had Stake conference this week and we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Condie. Elder Condie gave a great talk about Temples and how important they are to us and how important they are to our marriages. I'm hoping a lot of the spanish branch listened because a lot of them aren't temple married. It's odd to see so many solid, active members that aren't endowed! President Pehrson spoke about the Book of Mormon and how every member needs to share the gospel. It was great! He said "if anyone says you're not christian, go to Mosiah 3. And to share it, use the last two paragraphs from the introduction." It's our job to share the gospel, even not as missionaries. I firmly believe that whether you are sharing the gospel just as a regular old member, or have a calling to help you do so, sharing the gospel is the one thing that keeps people firm in the church. The missionaries that come home and fall away are the ones that think they are "done" with their work, they don't need to share anymore. That's when they get into trouble.
So, I challenge you and Scott to give away 1 Book of Mormon this month to a friend that isn't a member! You don't need to convince them of anything, just explain why and how it helps you -- and give them the book!

The package sounds great. I'm glad you insured it, I'll try to be home today to receive it, apparently Elder Burbidge didn't receive a package two weeks ago -- but our neighbors might have :/ So I'm going to stay home and wait for the mail the next few days.

Could you have Brinn send some pictures from my 'July Riding' album on facebook? Elder Meira wants to see them!
What's meggs new address again?
Not much else happened this week, Les amo!
Talk to you soon! :D

-Elder Connerdude

4/26/10

This week has been pretty slow! We're trying to find new investigators that actually want to hear the message now and transfers are coming up next sunday. So we'll see if I get moved or not. I doubt I will, but we'll see! Our most interested investigator right now is Stephanie. She is 21 Years old, has a 2 year old daughter and one on the way. We ran into her at the bus stop and gave her a BoM and then the next day, she was walking out of a nail salon and a car jumped the curb and hit her! Her 2 year old went flying about 5 feet in the air and she rolled over the car, broke her nose, and lost her two front teeth. She has them in now, cause they were able to find them, but her nose is a little swollen still. Amazingly, NOTHING happened to her baby or 2 year old! All is well!

We called her the other day and she said "Wow! it was a miracle you talked to me. The next day this and this happened and in the hospital all I had with me in my purse was your book. Can you guys come over sometime? Is that ok?" haha, we said "Of course that's ok!" so we went over the next day. She seems really interested and she's a total sweetheart. Her mom even invited us over for dinner sometime! Her sister, Nemesis (19) is also going to start sitting in on our lessons. It's going really great with them!

Rosa is our next closest I'd say. Flor is a recent convert from Peru and she lives with her sister Rosa, brother, mom Vilma, and dad. Vilma has been taking our lessons and likes it, but won't be baptized unless all her kids want to. She doesn't want to rip the family apart. Randomly, a girl in the english ward started talking to Rosa at school and Rosa said "if you go with me I'll talk to the missionaries." so Kayla told us about this, I talked to Flor (who is ecstatic) and we're having a lesson with Rosa, Kayla, Vilma, and Flor this Thursday! So that should be great! It was pretty funny because when we talked to Rosa about this, we were visiting with Flor at the time so we were there in person. Rosa started talking about how she is getting ready for senior prom etc and I said "I never went to my senior prom!" and Rosa looked at her friend, then me, then her friend, then looked at me again and said "Will you take me to prom!??!!" hahaha. I got asked to prom on my mission! haha. It was hilarious. We explained how we aren't allowed to even hug girls or anything. Needless to say, she was a little bummed out to find out she still has to go with the guy that asked her. haha. It was a pretty funny moment though, she was dead serious -- how funny.

Did I tell you a girl named Fiorella Munoz might call? She is a member here, she's 20 and she is going to school in Utah but she's on vacation here with her family for a little. She may call because she likes photography and needs to find a cheap SLR. So I gave her you and Scott's number. I figured you two could help her out.

April 19, 2010

Hey Mom and Dad

Sunday Morning: We walked outside and Elder Urrutia says "Hey, I opened the car." and Elder Barney says "No... you didn't. Someone else did." I walked down the steps to find our passenger side window blown open and all our stuff was rummaged through. Yet... Nothing was taken. Awesome. Sunglasses, CD's, cables, everything -- still there. They could have at LEAST stolen a few Books of Mormon and DVDs!!! I mean, Come On!! So that was a bummer to have to clean up. It's frustrating because they didn't take anything! So basically they just made a mess and left it for us so we could be late to church... awesome.

The Baptism: Everything went great! I was a little stressed out because we started filling the font about a half hour later than what we had hoped for, but it was finished before we started (we started 6:00pm, Mexico Time (6:45) So, that's one time the latin schedule has helped me! The water was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. It felt really cool to get in there and basically teach her how to be baptized. I feel that's probably how you felt when you were baptizing me. I changed at about 5:50 and everyone said "Allred! tu esta un angelito!" haha, I love being in my white clothes, makes me wish I could visit the temple. We had about 5 member families there, and all together there were 51 people there -- mostly investigators! Awesome!! Daisy invited a TON of people, so it was great. We started with an opening hymn, Soy un Hijo de Dios and then we had Elder Pacheco give the opening prayer. Elder Urrutia gave a talk, which was interesting -- I felt like he was a little harsh about how true our church is compared to others. I could feel a little tension, maybe that was just me though. Of course, not that ours isn't true -- but it's a pretty bold step to flat out tell 45 people that they are wrong haha. But it went well, we only had 5 people talk over him during his talk! hahahaha. Very different.

After his talk we entered the water! We had showed her how to hold and what to do but she was obviously a little excited so she was trying to hold my hand or something haha so I just grabbed her hand and placed my hand on her wrist. She then tried to go under right away! I whispered to her what to do though and just told her to relax, I'll do everything. It's interesting how if the person doing the baptizing is calm, it really helps the person that is being baptized. So I said the prayer "Daysi Roman, habiendo sido comisionado por Jesucristo, yo te bautizo en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espiritu Santo." and she yells out "AMEN!" and I say amen and we dunked her! haha. It was great! After we changed we had Elder Wesson sing "When I am Baptized" he's an english speaking elder, but he did it for them in spanish, then in english -- he's a fantastic singer so it really hit everyone to the soul.

We had an investigator there named Ruth-Sally. She's the south spanish elders investigator and she's 20 years old. Apparently last night her parents decided they hate each other and just left her house. She got pretty emotional and we were able to give her a blessing. She has had a rough past and it's amazing how much I see myself in her. I can really see the change, too. Her desire is so true, it's amazing. I talked to her last night about how it was for me when two split up and how it really does get better! I hope it helped her. I honestly think her parents splitting is a blessing. Her parents are VERY pentecostal and didn't want her to go to another church, they'd kick her out (like me buying a bullet bike) so I think now, it will be easier for her to get baptized. The Lord knows what he's doing! I also told her about BYU Utah and how it's pretty cheap for members etc. I think the best thing for her would be to get out of CT. It's really scary how much we take Utah for granted. It really is a safe haven. CT is very rough, but if she can just get to Utah, the sun shines there -- there is always someone around, the church is so organized and strong. I hope she takes that into serious consideration. I even said yesterday "I miss Utah." It is so safe there. I love Utah so much.I can't wait to build my own family there... speaking of which.

How interesting it is to baptize someone. I really think it's like having a child. You give this person a whole new life, and all you can really do is help them make right choices and pray that they continue to have the faith that they had at their baptism. I constantly worry about Daysi, not that I don't think she can do it, but it's like -- you know the blessings!! You don't want them to make mistakes again! Just stay strong in the church! PLEASE! It's hard because she's 48 years old, I am not related to her, I can't force her, she has her agency. But I pray each night that she will be able to have the faith in her life always to follow Christ.

Well, I'm really excited to see how my scrapbook is coming along! Julie can add a baptism sticker now! I am so thankful that she is doing that for me, it really means a lot. There is NO WAY I could do that myself out here, so it really is amazing that she finds the time to do that for me. Make sure you express my thanks to her for me.

There is a family here, the Munoz family. Their daughter is a temple square missionary and their other daughter is going to LDS Business College. They are from Peru and have a little less money than most. They really only speak spanish, but I hope it's ok I gave their daughter (can't remember her name right now) your phone # and address in case she needs anything. She is really nice, so she may call or visit sometime. She is going to be in CT for the next 4 months though for a vacation -- but other than that, she lives in Utah.

Well, not much else is going on here. Weather is good, Park Street is still ghetto, and The Church is still true.

I love you guys and miss you. If there's anything I have learned out here is that you can always be an example, but the desire to change is made in a persons own heart. I love this place! Oh! And I was told TWICE this week, that I DO NOT have a Gringo accent! Woooo! Pretty excited about that. haha. I guess the blessings that President Smith gave me are true! well, Love you

-Elder Condork Allred

Pix: Elder Meira, Elder Pacheco (in sunglasses) , "take that central elders", Daysi's baptism(3 shots), Chillin', roof by our apt.

4-12-10

So, this week we are starting to plan out Daysi's baptism! She wants me to dunk her, too! I'm pretty excited about that. So we have a lot to plan, but I'll be sending some pictures home of us in white! Woo!

Last night we had a fireside at President Pehrson's house and it went great. I was able to finally show off my spanish to President Pehrson, which seems to be coming along great (according to him) haha. I'm having a lot of fun, and Every day seems to fly. I don't really have Much else to say this week, it's been pretty plain. But I forgot my camera today so I'll send some other pictures next week. Love you! Cuidate!

3-29-10

This week we have had a great week!!

Daisy Roman, from the DR is getting baptized!!! April 17th is her date and she even bore her testimony yesterday! She said "I knew my life was about to change when God sent these two little angels to my aid." Wow!!! She is such a saint! She already wants to pay tithing haha. She is so awesome, I'm so excited for her! We still have a little more teaching to do but when we taught the Word of Wisdom she said (before we started the lesson) "I've been thinking, and I kind of want to stop drinking coffee. And I really like fruits and veggies, but meat only sometimes." haha WOW! Perfect or what? Then we taught the Law of Chastity, which is usually super awkward, but she agreed 100% with the pamphlet and even said "Oh, I've always believed in this stuff." haha. She is so great! So that's probably my first baptism.

We also taught a guy named wilberto. He was interesting. We met him on the bus once before and he was a little insane and then we got a referral and went to it.... There he was. He is insane. At first, he was super nice, no problems, super chill guy telling us about his beliefs and then listening to us. Then his buddy lit up a joint and he started smoking weed during the lesson! What the crap! He at first was just a little woozy, and then he started to get a little insane. He was screaming and whistling and saying he was the KING! "SOY EL REY!" and then he asked us "Han Escuchado de El Hijo del Hijo de hombre?" we're like... what.... on earth? He said apparently that Jesus Christ had a son and it was the Holy Spirit... And then he began to tell us about how he is the prophet of 2010 and that he wants to write a book, like the Book of Mormon. We said "well.. can we finish with a prayer?" and I said the prayer and before I could say amen he started shouting and yelling in the prayer... Then as we left he said his door is always open to us... He's nuts, we're not going back.


We had transfers last week and we got a new elder, Elder Meira from Brazil. He lived in Brazil for 14 years and then moved to Utah for 5 and now he's serving here. He's awesome, he had a bullet bike before his mission ;) we get along great. He's a great Elder, and he has taught me a little portuguese as well. It seems as though I may end up learning more Port. than I thought. There are a lot of brazilians here, it's crazy.

We have been checking up on that door that we found open and we went yesterday again and the girls mom, Pura, was finally home! She is AWESOME! She said she had 10 minutes, but by the end we taught a 45 minute lesson and she even said the closing prayer! She is really great, I'm really excited for her family. I think they are amazing and were being prepared for us. So we'll see where that goes. I have high hopes it goes somewhere great!

I just want the Lord to be pleased. You know that. I have been having a lot of fun, and the language is tough -- but coming. Hopefully I will start understanding more and more and then learning more. I miss the family.

Tudo Bem
Adios

-Elder Conner Allred

3-22-10

The Weather here has been so great! 70s+ and we have been able to take our jackets off. It's so nice to not have to keep our jackets on, as silly as it seems, the jackets really get annoying when you're carrying around a shoulder bag. This week is the last week of transfers and it looks like I'm staying in Hartford! The only person leaving Hartford is Elder Fife, Elder Pacheco's companion, and we have a native Portuguese speaker replacing him.

Yesterday we got the chance to listen to Elder Fife speak Portuguese, which was really cool. We called a member of our branch who is from Brazil and at the beginning of the conversation you could hear some Spanish mixing in with his Portuguese, but after a few sentences, his brain just switched to full Portuguese and he was speaking fluently again. Crazy!

I don't remember if I told you but I got a letter from grandpa telling me of my cousin Jeffery in Brazil! He's a ZL and doing a great job I hear! One thing that made me laugh was grandpa's surprise at his number of baptisms. I guess back in the day, Brazil wasn't the easiest place to baptize. BUt grandpa said "He's having a lot of good luck in an area which is very hard to baptize in." But the ironic part of that is whenever we go tracting we say "Just remember, for each door we knock on, there's a baptism in Brazil." haha.

This week has been pretty great. Our newest investigator Daisy came to church this week for the second time in a row! She's probably going to be a baptism for us! We are going to set up a baptismal date with her this week, but I worry a little bit because she tells her friends to talk to us about God, no matter the religion. Hopefully she understands we are LDS, not just Bible Teachers! But, she's in the Lords hands -- He knows her better than I do!

We had a great meeting last night with the South Elders and their investigator Romulo. We went over 2Nephi 2 and we had Romulo read and we explained the passages to him. He really liked the chapter and we shared with him our thoughts on how he needs to taste baptism and stop worrying. He is worried about sinning again after baptism, but we told him he'll have the Holy Ghost to help him resist. Romulo is great, I really hope he gets baptized. But last night we got transfer calls when we were at his house and found out Elder Fife is leaving, so hopefully that doesn't get him too upset. Luckily, Elder Pacheco is staying though.

Yesterday we got a little hard work from the ward! Our Elders Quorum president came out with us and visited some inactive members! It was great, but unfortunately it's really hard here to keep people coming to church. I made a funny parallel yesterday. They call this state the Constitution state, yet this state is one of the hardest states to worship freely in... Doesn't make much sense, does it? The church can NEVER get permits to build. So it's annoying for some people, especially a lot of the people we teach in Hartford, because they are too poor to have cars and can't get all the way to bloomfield for church. From where we live, to church is like downtown to your house. So it's not as easy as a hop skip and a jump like it is for us in Utah.

With the warm weather we see all types of interesting characters coming out of the woodwork and walking around on Park Street. It's a pretty interesting place, but I love it. Our neighbors are CONSTANTLY partying through the night, so that gets old fast, but we just turn some fans on and it drains out most of the noise. Finding sure is easier when there are people outside to talk to.

So, something really neat that happened to Elder Urrutia and I this week. We were walking past some houses trying to decide if we should tract or not and then I see this house with the door open. I had a thought that I should go in but didn't mind it too much and then Elder Urrutia said "think that's a sign?" I said "Yeah... the spirit just told me the same thing." So we went in and ascended to the 3rd floor and we ran into a family that just moved here from the DR 2 years ago. The girl that answered the door is 15 years old and she actually had heard a little bit about the message in the DR! Her mom, we haven't met yet. But we're hoping to catch her this week. But every time we go over the kids run over to the door and love to see us! What a blessing!

I gave the lesson in Gospel Principles yesterday on the Life of Jesus Christ. It's all in spanish, and boy was it difficult. But I told them at the end "Espero que mi espanol esta bien, pero yo se que el Espiritu Santo habla en un idioma que todas las personas entienden" and they agreed. It was a great lesson though!

We also had a ward activity this week with investigators etc. It was awesome! We had a really great time and ate TONS of food. Elder Worthington (one of the senior couples) did the Hakka for us. He served in the pacific Islands and speaks Mowry. It's a really beautiful language.

We went to catholic mass two saturdays ago. It was really interesting.


Love ,
Elder Conner Allred