The Best Week Ever!!!

This. Was. THE BEST WEEK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many miracles occurred.  Let me tell you why.  Me and Sister Jackson decided to change the way we did planning to match more of Preach my Gospel and the counsel of an inspired district leader.  We didn't know exactly how, but we did our best to follow.  Even though we are not perfect planners and our success hasn't come directly because of our plans, I honestly believe that that planning has qualified us to have the windows of heaven open and blessings are pouring out on our heads.

Members this week have given us a ton of referrals.  These turn into the best investigators, so that is AWESOME!!!!!  What blessings.  Because of several things including this, we have 13 investigators.  So many we really don't know what to do with them!!  :)  I love them all and each have their own unique strengths and challenges.

One of these investigator's names is C.  C. is from Uruguay and living with a member and her 16 year old son, L.  I think I have told you about him.  He believes everything but needs to divorce his 'wife' in Uruguay, get married, and stop smoking before he gets baptized.  He has been through many sets of missionaries to prepare him, and now he is ready to act!!  They got the divorce papers and committed to have them finished by Saturday.  C.agreed to a date of January 12th.  We are so excited to help him and his family make it towards their goal of getting sealed in the temple.  We love him and them.  How exciting to be offering them peace of conscience and a new start!!

Saturday, a miracle happened.  We had made plans all week to contact in a specific area in the afternoon.  On Thursday, we received a media referral who lived in a part of our area that we aren't in much because it is so far.  We decided on Friday that we needed to change our plans and go visit this referral.  After we saw him and found another referral in the complex, we were about to leave.  Then we thought that we might as well visit some less-active members in the area while we were down there.  It was the first time we had tried to find them.  We knocked on the first 2 doors and no one was there.  We were tired from walking a lot in the hot sun (it has been  SO HOT lately!), but we trudged up to the third floor for the last door (we had been warned by elders in the area to not knock doors in the complex because they had threatened to call the cops several times).  A lady answered and we asked about the Mogollon family.  She said that she had lived there for several years and had no idea who they were.  We explained that we were missionaries, and she called someone from the other room.  Michael came to the door. He is 21 years old. After we explained who we were, he came outside, shut the door, and started to talk to us.  He said, "Look.  I was in a really bad car accident on Saturday.  I was speeding and drunk and it was 4:00 a.m. Someone hit me from behind, and I lost control of the car.  I hit over two power poles and totalled my car.  When I woke up, I was stuck in my car on the deserted road.  Both doors couldn't open.  I saw that the window was broken on the passenger's side, and tried to climb out.  An old man was on the side of the road and helped me out of the window.  When I got out I started crying because my phone was dead and I didn't know what to do.  The old man said, "are you OK, son?"  I said, "No!  I can't call 911 and I am stuck and scared!"  the old man said, "It is going to be OK; everything is going to be alright."  After that, a state trooper pulled up and asked, "Are you OK, son?"  I asked him if the man called him, and he said he had no idea what i was talking about- the street was deserted and he was just passing by.  I don't know what happened to the man.  I never was a religious person, but now I am starting to wonder about God.  I mean, what do I tell my friends?  That some old man helped me and then disappeared?  I just want to know about God."  Me and sister Jackson picked our jaws up from off the floor and explained to him our divine purpose, call, and message.  Sister Jackson randomly had an English Book of Mormon with her.  We told him to read it and that it would bring him closer to God than anything else.  We explained to him that the other missionaries could come and tell him more about God and our message.  He was almost crying the whole time.  The Spirit was so strong.  I have never met someone more prepared for the Gospel.  I hope the Hunter's Creek YSA Elders keep us posted!

Obviously, the best part of our week was YESTERDAY, E's baptism.  It was such a very special service.  I played the piano (no surprise there).  I loved to be there and see his face when he came out of the water.  He bore his testimony to everyone after his baptism. 

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It is because of time like this that I love my mission.  During E's baptism, I thought over and over, "This is why I am here.  Everything is vale la pena (worth it)."  I have experienced moments this week of pure joy.  I love this gospel.  I love telling people about why I love it and about their Savior, Jesus Christ.  And I love you!!!!!!!!  I will talk to you so soon. :)

Love, your Sister Allred