Big Surprise

Dear Family,

 

This has been an EVENTFUL week.  It has been full of EMOTIONAL lessons and SHOCKING surprises. WILD and FASCINATING turn or events.  (Was that good mom? I want you to know that in my lessons I have a much wider variety of words.  Just not in my letters!  Oh and happy Birthday! )

 

Okay so the big news first.  Today is transfer day and I'm a lot less stressed today then I expected to be,  We got pretty much everything done except my laundry.  We are going to be leaving in about an hour for transfer meeting.  Both Sister Heath and I are training.  I know!  That is the surprise for the week. I am going to be training.  I know that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor because all through out my mission I secretly looked forward to the day that I would train.  Then in the last two transfers I have been pretty set that I do not want to train.  I think because I was back in my greenie stake thinking a lot about when I was trained.  I just didn't want to do it.  Then what do you know- the phone is ringing and it's president cook.  Sure I'll train.  No problem....  That was pretty funny Heavenly Father.  Pretty Funny. 

 

I'm actually really glad that sister Heath was called to train to, because she has been able to walk me through my freak out process.  I am now at peace.  Well, I'll probably be at peace until right before transfer meeting.  Sister Heath and I have been taking turns freaking out since we found out on Wednesday night.  Either she will be sad that she is leaving del mar and whitewash training, or I will be questioning the spiritual enlightenment of our mission president.  I don't know what is going to happen.  I'm sure I'm going to have a lot to say next week. 

 

This week has been a big good bye week.  Sister Heath has spent 7 1/2 months in Del Mar.  She has met and loved A LOT of people hear.  She was the first sister in Del Mar in 10 years so every one loves her to pieces.  I can't tell you how many little gifts she has gotten in the last few days.  Anyway  I feel like I have some big shoes to fill.  Last night the Lessie's threw a little good bye gathering for sister Heath.  (Brother Lessie called it a "Thank God She's Gone Party" but we know he will be sad.)  Anyway we had a few ward members, recent converts less actives, and investigators there.  It really wasn't big but sitting there looking at all of the people that we had been working with- I was absolutely amazed.  I think last night was a missionaries dream to hear all the people that we have been working sit around a fire testifying of Jesus Christ and telling how much that missionary has helped them.  It was amazing. 

 

Okay so funny story-  Sister Heath HATES animals. She doesn't see the point in them.  But we had about 20 minutes before we  had to go to the Lessies last night and I asked her what she wanted to do.  We went to go say goodbye to Rosco the Labrador dog at a members house.  She Loves this dog and yes that was the sole reason for our visit. 

 

We have had a great week this week with a bunch of lessons and feeling the spirit.  We've had a few lessons with an investigator and I think she is really starting to progress.  She is really sweet and we can feel the spirit strongly when we have lessons.  On Sunday we stopped by a members home to drop something off and she was sick so we stopped to visit for a bit.  She talked about how bad she felt that she hadn't found anyone for us to teach in her home and then she called her house guest into the room.  She said, "These girls are so sweet to give up 18 months to teach people about our church. Will you please listen to them for 10 minutes.  Just let them teach you... Okay go ahead girls."  It was the most abrupt invite to take the lessons that I have ever had. 

 

Anyway this man has had some pretty spectaculare experiences with God.  He knows his stuff and what's even more exciting is that I think he would understand the significance of priesthood authority.  Anyway we talked to about 45 minutes and gave a quick restoration lesson.  I loved it because right when I was done sharing the first vision, The most spiritual part of the lesson,  this wonderful sister loudly came into the room bringing in a plate of cookies.  She set the plate down on the table and maybe saw my face because she said, "Did I just interrupt something spiritual?"  No-  it's fine.  Anyway the cookies got them off on a 5 minute conversation about where she hides the cookies so her kids won't eat them.  Awesome... Luckily he still wants to learn more.

 

Well, I've got to go.  I love you all so much.  I am praying for everyone.  Happy Birthday mom!!!

 

Love sister Allred

 

It's been a good week

Dear Family,

 

I loved getting everyones emails.  They all made me laugh and I really enjoyed hearing about what is going on with everyone.  Happy Father's day dad and Happy Birthday Liz!!  I hope that it is super special for you.  This week has been pretty crazy but really cool. 

 

I was really happy that Brother Vassefi called you dad on Father's day.  The vassefi family is amazing and they translate as we teach the recent converts in the ward who only speak Farsi. It is a unique experience teaching and translating but we really love this family and all the help that they provide.  It's also nice because pretty much anything I say Brother Vassefi says "You said that beautifully."  Aww go on...  Anyway we went over for dinner on Sunday and brother Vassefi thought of the idea to call our dads all on our own.  It was really fun, because even though I couldn't even hear what you were saying- having that connection be so close it made both sister heath and I want to cry.  I thought a lot about you on Sunday. 

 

This week we have had a lot of cool little miracles.  First there is this girl that we have been working with and she has a testimony of the gospel but there are some things that she needs to work on.  Anyway It has been frustrating at times because there are times where we feel that what we are saying is falling on deaf ears, but we have loved her and worked with her.  Then we had a lesson on Thursday and out of no where she starts talking about how she is doing things to change and repent.  It was amazing.  As sister Heath and I left the appt we wondered what we did to help her.  We came to the conclusion that we didn't do a thing except love her and always support her.  Honestly sometimes I think missionaries are really just glorified visiting teachers and God takes care of the rest. 

 

So this week we have been trying to show a lot of faith.  It got to the point that we realized we needed to drop about 3 investigators.  It is always hard for me to do it.  Mostly because I always get worried, "Who am I going to teach now."  It's sad to say but I don't like dropping people because of selfish reasons.  I know that the Lord will take care of them and that he will put the church in people's lives when the time is rights.  Well anyway this week we dropped 3 investigators and miracles always happen when we do that.  We picked up an investigator that we have been trying to teach for about 3 months now.  Not only that but she comes to church every Sunday and it getting married by the bishop.  Now she just needs to have the desire to get baptized.  Anyway we just barely started teaching her this week and it is great.  That would have been miracle enough this week, but then...

 

We got a call from a member in the san diego mission that her friend wanted to come to church and take the lessons.  This is a former investigator from about a year ago that we had tried to pick up again on several occasions.  Anyway she came to church on sunday and as I was talking to her in the hall between sacrament and sunday school she said she had a dream about to elders and she woke up and knew that it was time to convert.  So we went over and had a lesson with her after dinner with the Vassefis and set a baptismal date with her for July 28.  YEA!! the only problem is that she is moving into the Carmel valley ward in 2 weeks.  I haven't gotten around to telling our district leader that we are going to pass off an investigator to him that just happens to have a baptismal date.  Maybe I should do that soon.

 

Oh and then the last little miracle-  We had a lesson with our investigator Kelli yesterday.  She is frustrating because she has an awesome support system but each time we had a lesson with her we felt like she was holding back.  Well I was worried that we were going to have to drop her if she didn't open up to us and start searching but then we had a lesson at the church and she just started telling us all of her concerns and worries about getting an answer.  We figured out a lot of things that are holding her back from getting an answer.  We left her in the chapel praying and are excited to see what happens.  I think it could be a long journey for Kelli, but I have no doubt that eventually she will get baptized because she feels the conviction that this is the Lords church.  I'm excited for her. 

 

This is my last week with sister Heath and I'm really sad about it.  We were talking to the assistants the other day and they were annoyingly good about not letting any transfer secrets out, (The Spanish Assistant told all the Spanish missionaries what was going to happen before he left.  Why can't our English assistants do the same things?!)   but from what they said it doesn't look good.  If I'm honest it never looked good.  Anyway we are super sad especially because we feel like good things are happening in Del Mar.  We have worked hard to get the ball really rolling and we want to keep working hard together.  If there is one thing I have learned is that the Lord knows what he is doing and we are put where we are supposed to be. 

 

Well I've run out of time. I love you all so much.  Liz I hope that your delivery goes well.  I'm really sad that I can't be there.  I love you!!

 

Love sister Allred

This week is like a blur of issues. But it's good.

Dear Family,

 

It has been a great and crazy week.  There have been a couple of times that I have wanted to check my call letter and Check to see if I was called to be a missionary or a life coach.  My name tag says Missionaries but I have just realized that this week people have problems.  Lots and lots of problems, and for some reason they all think its a good idea to unloose to two 21 year old girls and say, "Well how can you fix me?"  I feel a little unqualified.  I'm just here to teach about Jesus.  That's all.  Sister Heath says that 18 months on a mission should qualify you for a bachelors in Psychology.  No thank you.  I will stick with the ABC's.  But seriously, this week we have had a couple lessons with couples who have severe marital problems and abusive pasts.  It seems like the spouses want us to "fix" their partner so they can stay married.  we taught another girl who has extreme insecurities and anxieties.  We had a lesson with a man who is normally the sweetest man ever but that day he was talking about how he wanted to drop kick this other guy down the street.  We Taught a woman who is super addicted to prescription drugs and frankly we don't know if we can believe a word she says.  Not to mention the people who hate the ward, hate thier work, have no work, have no family and much much more. And we haven't even gone through half of our lessons this week!  We taught a lot.  What ever happened to people having nice happy lives?  Where are they and why don't they want to take the lessons. 

 

I really do love all these people, and we got the highest number of lessons in the district this week, but my concern is that half of these people are so distracted by everything that Satan is throwing at them that they are forgetting that Jesus is the one who can help them threw.  I have been so grateful for the sentence in the white handbook that says, "Do not counsel members or nonmembers on personal problems."  I have realized this week that I am so not qualified for a lot of things, but I am qualified to teach the gospel of repentance.  When those around us listen and internalize the message that we share I know that everything else will fall into place.  That is what we have been doing this week and I am so grateful that the Lord is very much involved in this work. 

 

Okay now that's off my chest...  I can't remember anything else that happened this week.  We had interviews with the mission president and his wife.  I absolutely love them.  Pres Cook talked to us about working with the ward council and having them set their baptismal goals for each month of the year so that they can achieve their ward mission plan.  Once the ward has set their goals then we as the missionaries work our little tails off to achieve it.  He also told me to enjoy my time with sister Heath because its only going to be about 2 weeks more.  Not really a shocker- she has been here about 7 1/2 months, but it was still sad to hear.  I don' t know who my companion is going to be- I don't even know where we will be living.  The Lessies are doing some work on their house so it's not really conducive to a missionary lifestyle anymore.  We have to find some other members to let us live with them. 

 

I absolutely love living with the Lessies.  They are so good to us.  They are always there to get us things if we need them or be our member for the member present lesson.  We told President that sometimes Sister Lessie puts chocolates on our pillows.  He burst out laughing- and I'm afraid he might not take us as seriously anymore.  Anyway, This week I couldn't find my tag anywhere.  It was just completely gone and I was really sad because that tag has been with me everyday of my mission so far.  I don't have a spare.  When I called to order another one I found out that it would be about 2 weeks before I get it.  Sister Lessie saw how sad I was and she printed out a tag that looks Identical and she taped it to sister Heaths old tag.  I've been wearing t for about 4  days now and only 1 person has noticed it is not the normal tag.  Of course having a paper tag has its problems.  I am now deathly afraid of sprinklers. For example last night sister Heath and I were pretty far away from our car and we were running back to it so we could get in on time.  (Nothing says peculiar like two girls in knee length skirts running down a dark street at 8:45 pm and then stopping suddenly to strike up a conversation with that guy in his garage.  I know we're not normal.)  Anyway we had to run through a sprinkler and while the cool water felt nice I freaked out because My tag got a little wet.  Oh well.  Such is the life of a missionary.

 

When all is said and done this has been a pretty normal missionary week.  We picked up some new investigators that I actually think will get baptized (I just don't know when) we had one of our investigators come to ward conference and listen to the stories of a few recent converts.  The spirit was so strong and I was so grateful for it.  We dropped a few investigators.  Including the 86 year old widower.  But it's okay because he agreed to let us teach him in the spirit world.  It's been a great week.  This transfer is going by so fast but I think it's mostly because we are really enjoying our work. It's not easy being a missionary.  In fact at times it is down right hard, but I know that the Lord is right there and he is the one who is telling us what to say when we just have no idea. 

 

Anyway I've got to go.  I love you all so much.  I'm happy and healthy and hope everyone else is too!

 

Love Sister Allred

 

p.s. Sister Heath and I are currently sitting next to a guy snacking on straight garlic.  California is really weird. 

Miracle Sunday

Dear family,

Thanks for all of your emails.  I loved hearing from you.  So it was quite the week for memories.  First of all- I want to let everybody know that I'm fine.  It was incredibly weird seeing Deborah.  I was trying almost all of Sunday to put it into words trying to describe what it felt like to see my sister and I'm still not sure if I adequately described it. It was this merging of 2 worlds that are not supposed to merge and to put it simply it threw me for a loop.  I do think it is a pretty funny story and I honestly didn't expect to react the way I did.  I don't know what I was thinking when I saw Deborah-  I just suddenly realized that I was crying.  I was so happy to see her but at the same time I don't think I have ever been more home sick on my mission then I was that day.  It was trippy.  I will say that I am a little glad that i started crying because as soon as Deborah rushed off Elder Call came up to me and tried to give me a hard time.  I didn't feel bad about it because it wasn't either of our faults, but I didn't really want to deal with teasing.  So I just let my tears loose and he quickly back peddled.  Its nice being a girl. 

But that is not the only crazy thing that happened at church.  We had a less active girl that we have been working with come to church.  She hasn't come to church in 2 years and she got up and bore her testimony.  Then we had an investigator that I was working with in the La Costa ward get up and bear his testimony.  Then we had 2 former investigators come to Sunday school (They actually only came because they wanted our help paying a bill.  They don't speak English.  BUT still!)  Then we had another nonmember come that we plan on starting to teach this week.  And our recent convert got the priesthood!  It was an awesome day.  AWESOME!  I'm starting to notice that when we fast crazy miracle things happen.  Interesting.

Then that evening we had dinner with some of the best member missionaries in our ward.  They had arranged to have a nonmember friend come over for dinner so we could start teaching her.  She showed up 2 hours late and then as soon as we asked "What is your relationship with God?"  She just let loose and oh my goodness we were in a therapy session.  We only taught a little bit of the gospel but at least she wants to hear more.  By the end of the day I was literally spent.  But it was to say the least journal worthy.  Liz was right though-  I was a little thrown off for about a day but now I'm back on track.  I do feel bad that the one day I decide not to do my hair or make up was the day that I randomly ran into my sister.  UGH!

Friday and Saturday was amazing as well.  I went on exchanges to Vista, and I got to be with sister Chirstensen.  It was so much fun.  I loved being with sister Christensen. We got to see a lot of people that I used to teach and just catch up.  I got to see Jeremy the guy that got baptized in the YSA ward and he is doing awesome.  I'm so proud of him.  When we heard about exchanges I was so confused because President set this up and I had no idea why he would put me back in my old area with my old companion.  Once again it was proof that he is inspired.  We had a talk after nightly planning on the changes that were happening in our areas and in ourselves as missionaries. Sister Christensen said exactly the right thing for me to hear in order to remember my purpose and what I need to do to grow more.  It was a really great experience. 

Also this week we had one of the hardest lessons ever!  I don't think I have ever tried harder to listen to the spirit.  It was with or investigator named Frank.  He is 86 and just doesn't understand the idea of faith.  We taught him the beginning of the plan of salvation with the idea of how do we have faith that these things were true.  I struggled answering his questions because I didn't know the answer but as I listened to the spirit good things happened in our lesson.  Also we had a member with us who is AMAZING.  He is one the high council and just knows his stuff.  I was grateful for him.  Anyway the lesson was huge because he said that he would pray, and he said that he thinks he has actually been praying his whole life- he just didn't know it.  Anyway I just love him and I am so grateful for the spirit-

Well I think that is about all the time that I have.  Thanks for the clothes they were much needed and I love them.  I love yo all so much-  I remembered that very clearly this week.  I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life and such an amazing family. 

Love Sister Allred