Fall in Florida

(Kara thought this was a funny picture of all the people who came to watch the Saturday morning session of General Conference in Spanish.  Yes, it is just her :))

 (Same room, different occasion.  Relief Society party.)

I hope you have had the greatest week of all time!  The work is going so, so well here in Windy Ridge.  I love it so much!!  Here are some funny/awesome experiences, as usual. :)

First off, by one of the roads that we travel on quite often is an amusement park.  Now, when you think of Orlando amusement parks, you probably think of Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Seaworld, etc.  However, this park is a little different and also a little more typical of Orlando: Holy Land.  Yes, this is not a joke.  It is a Bible-themed amusement park.  This is what I am up against here - people who spend their weekend in Holy Land. When you pass it you can see the tail of Jonah's whale and a big colosseum thing and this massive Bible mural.  Seriously?!  Strangest thing of all time.  Classic Bible belt.

This week I have been feeling a fall fever of sorts.  Like, I really needed something seasonal.  So, last week I bought a pumpkin and a caramel-apple cake mix.  I carved the pumpkin this week after planning and have yet to make the cake, but it makes me feel a little more like it is fall here.  Haha mom, I blame this on you! :)  Sister Campos had never carved a pumpkin before, so I let her carve the other side of mine.  We had fun. :)

This week, I actually found myself craving PuertoRican beans.  I guess my stomach is expanding.  Thankfully!

So our investigators are doing great!  We had a great lesson with M. and her family using the cups that I got from Marla.  They loved it and it all makes sense to her.  The A family came to church again this week!  He said that he liked it already because he felt it was his home.  I love them.  We also had a lesson and dinner scheduled with a member referral named Z.  It turns out when we got there that she had her sister, a friend, and their families at her house!  We did't think too much of it because usually they will request to go in another room to do the lesson or something like that, but she insisted that everyone be there and participate in the message.  We taught the Restoration, and it was the most powerful lesson I have ever been in on my mission.  The Spirit was so strong as we testified to those people about Joseph Smith, a loving Father in Heaven, and the restored Power of Jesus Christ.  Everyone felt the Spirit, and we gave them a bunch of Book of Mormons to read.  Please add Z and her family to your prayers!  Also, we are trying to help and meet with a former member named M whose husband died recently.  She is old, sad, and lonely - but the Gospel is here for her if she wants to take it!  I love how the message we share sooths all wounds.  

Basically, I love this.  I love talking to people.  This week, we knocked into a man from Vietnam (my list is 47 countries long now).  He opened up and told us this huge long story about how his parents ran away from Vietnam when the communists came and how a lot of people had to run by foot into Laos and Cambodia because it was so bad.  I was captivated.  I am amazed that every person we talk to has a big, life story like that.  How exciting to talk to everyone about how the Gospel can be added to that life story.  So cool!  At the same time, being a missionary is hands-down the hardest thing ever.  It is stressful and worrisome to have such big consequences to the things we do.  However, I have been able to deal with this so much better lately!  I am trying to be good.  I am trying to be who the Lord wants me to be, and it is kind of fun. :)

Don't worry about me - I really am doing great!  I love you all and keep praying for you all the time!  Good luck with everything!!!!

All my love, Hermana Kara Allred

(The scarecrow that Kara made, I guess as part of her 'fall fever.'  She said it totally scared her companion one morning when she woke up. Ha Ha)

Kara also wrote a really sweet letter to her dad this week and I wanted to share some of it.  

To my favorite father,

        I have been thinking about you a lot this week and I wanted to write you a letter.  I love you and your letters so much.  Thank you for being the best dad ever.  Thank you for loving mom.  Thank you for being worthy of the Priesthood.  Thank you for keeping your temple covenants.  Thank you for serving a mission.  Thank you for teaching me obedience.  Thank you for loving the Lord the most, and helping me do the same.  Thank you for magnifying your callings.  Thank you for going to church and mutual ALWAYS, and expecting us to also.  Thank you for your monthly interviews.  Thank you for being the kind of father that everyone needs and scarcely anyone has.  I am realizing that more and more.  Additionally:  Thank you for teaching me how to clean a bathroom.  Oh, how these places have needed it.  Thank you for keeping our house clean.  Thank you for loving my friends.  Thanks for teaching me how to talk to people.  That is one of my greatest strengths out here, and I don't think I have told you this, but I learned it from you.  I use your jokes all the time-people love it! You just taught me to be warm and open and friendly to everyone, no matter if it was our new neighbor, the grocer, or Nonnie.  Thank you, thank you for that example.  Basically, dad, I think you are the best and I love you so much.

                                                                       Love, Hermana Allred