Is it almost Christmas, or is it almost Christmas?! What a great time of year. People are happier, and it is easier to bring up Christ in conversations. Plus, we have a great tree, a million little decorations around our apartment, chocolate charts, and awesome members to take care of us. We love it!
So funny story I forgot to tell you last week. It is about E's baptism. Me and Sister Jackson showed up about 50 minutes early to make sure everything would run smoothly and practice our musical number. One of the wards, Bumby, was just getting out of church, and we ran to ask one of the Bumby missionaries Elder Jackson if we needed the baptism record at the service, which we forgot to bring (surprised, anyone?). We said, "Elder Jackson! So we have a baptism at six, and we forgot-" "To fill the font?!" Elder Jackson said. We blinked. "No. ... well, I hope not. Wait, maybe we should check." (It was the Elder's job [or so we thought] to fill the font). Sure enough, we cracked open the door to the lapila (font) and saw it bone dry with a cockroach shriveled up in the bottom. All of the missionaries there (there were 4 sets of us) were horrified because it takes 2 hours to fill the font. So, all 8 of us missionaries proceeded to run around, using all the sinks in the chapel to fill up pots, vases, and salad bowls to fill coolers which Elder Call promptly took to dump in the font (Elder Call is the hugest guy ever and played football for Dartmouth before his mission). We were laughing but almost crying and running around trying to do all this stuff to get the font filled!!! It was chaos. But hey, we did it! What a classic first-baptism missionary moment.
So, family, I would like to tell you this week about finding people to teach. Members come to us all the time with the problem - I want to share the gospel, but I just don't have any friends who aren't members. I don't know anyone to share it with. How can I be a missionary? This might be your problem in good old American Fork Utah. Here is what I have been telling the members lately. If you only work/see/go to school with members, then you need to expand your social circle. This is something we have been emphasizing in the ward - you need friends before you can help them accept the gospel. Here is what I think is most effective - find those people that are always there, and become friends with them. Let me explain! There is always that person. The guy who always gives you your receipt at the gas station. The lady who always checks you out in the lunch line. Your foods teacher. The mailman. That neighbor you always see outside. They are everywhere! The first step is to introduce yourself and to remember their name. This is the easiest thing in the world to do, and after that it is easy to start talking about your lives, little by little. This is something I learned in high school, to just make friends with everyone you could. I also learned that from Dad, because he is always talking to people at the store by their first names from their name tags (brilliant!). This strategy has turned into referrals for other missionaries too! (We are always working on the ladies in our apartment complex. :) ) It is so simple and so effective. I challenge you to introduce yourself to one of those people this week! Good luck. :)
So this week, I have learned a lot of patience. We had three bad days in a row, when everything was falling through and we ended up at the end of the day with two hours left and nothing to do because we were out of back-ups. I learned that we need to do better at planning those! It was discouraging and frustrating. At two points this week, before we got out of our car, we prayed to survive - to have the strength to keep going. And you know what was cool? We knocked into two people on these two separate occasions that were just for us. They were so nice. They gave us candy. They said they would always be there if we needed a friend in the area. Neither were ready for the gospel, but they were answers to our prayers. Sometimes, we get so busy here and are so sure that God looks out for other people that we forget that He loves us too. He loves His missionary, Hermana Allred, and He will send people to her just like He sends her to others. I love that. I am grateful for people who are ready to be answers to prayers.
Missions are the best!!!!! I love being here. I love the ward and really do love the people here so much. I am finally learning enough Spanish to let my personality through - I can make jokes and stuff. :) It is great. Life is great. Merry Christmas!
Love, Sister Allred
**For a Youth Activity our ward had all of the missionaries send their testimonies to be read at Mutual last week. Here is Kara's.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE!!! I loved it and the testimonies. You are all the best. :)
I want to tell you that He really is our best Friend. I have seen Him change the lives of people here in Orlando. Everyone needs something. Some people need relief from a heart burdened with guilt. Some people need a spark of happiness in a time of sorrow. Some people need a friend when they feel they are alone in the world. Some people need strength when they think they are too weak to handle the demands of life. Some people need purpose in a world that offers none. Every need can be met through the Hands of the Gentle Master. When I turn to Him, I find relief. I find comfort. I find joy and peace, every day. Don't we all need that?
I know that Joseph Smith saw this very Christ because of a simple prayer and a sincere heart. I am grateful for a God who sent a prophet for me, Sister Allred. He knows me and wants me to know Him. He wants you to know Him too.
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