A Week of Miracles

Family (saving time here),

Warning: iPad week, so I will do my best!

This was the greatest week ever. So many wonderful things happened!

First, E. and M. were baptized on Saturday and
confirmed on Sunday. We met with them almost every day, and it was
just so wonderful. Sister M. cried and tried to express how much
gratitude she had for us and how grateful she was that it was me and
Sister Hansen who could come and teach her children. Now they are all
members of the Church and just so happy. Hey have been through a lot
as a family, but they are so strong and repenting a lot. The Lord is
showering blessings on them because of that! Their brother, M., was
able to perform the ordinance. It was such a happy day! Being a part
of their conversion is so fulfilling. I love helping people change and
be baptized. Bothe M. and E. are excited to be missionaries.

So all this week we have been really worried about our investigator,
D. She has had some doubts and concerns, and we have been
worried and trying to seek revelation in preparing her for her
upcoming baptism.  Yesterday, we were so lost. We had been praying and
fasting to know what to do for her, but we were running into a
brick wall.  We felt stuck. We were very disappointed and surprised
when D. wasn't at church, and then halfway through The Lord sent
us an angel! Sister Wise is the gospel principles teacher and a ward
missionary. She came up to us to ask about D., and we told her
about the plans we had to visit her right after church. She shared
with us that she wanted to come and that she felt inspired to share
certain things with her. We all went over after church, and sure
enough, it was exactly what D. needed. I was so grateful for that
inspired teacher, magnifying her calling. In the act, she answered the
pleading prayers and fasting of two desperate sister missionaries. It
was such a miracle. Please pray for D, we hope she will be
baptized on June 14th.

I love prayer lately! It has been my goal lately to pray more. I have
seen so many blessings. I used to think having a testimony of prayer
meant that you had a repertoire (sp?) of stories to draw from of
answered prayers: lost things found, comfort given, or angels sent
(like our experience with Sister Wise). I knew that sometimes the
answers took time, but I thought that was it. My understanding of
prayer has expanded and deepened so much. I now know what a testimony
of prayer really is.  I try to pray every time we are biking. It makes
me happy to talk to my Father, and He likes to hear from me. We talk
to each other. I say what I feel, like what I am thankful for, how I
am doing, what I want for the people we meet, and what I want to do
better. Then He talks back. I find myself thinking thoughts or saying
words in my prayers that are inspiration.  I come to know things I
never knew before. I think of specific things to do to be better. I
have deep feelings of gratitude and joy. Then I smile and talk to Him
some more. It is great. I invite you to find a place to pray out loud
this week. I felt really, deeply joyful last night. I asked myself
what I did earlier to bring down that blessing, and a thought came
into my head that it was because I prayed. Just the act of praying
qualified me for a sweet manifestation of the Spirit. I now have more
than a testimony of answered prayers, I have a testimony of prayer in
itself.  That is what the mission does to you, I guess. :)

So I assume you are all at Snowbird! Yes, I wore my purple shirt in
honor this morning when we cleaned our apartment. We are so lucky to
have such an awesome family. :)

I love being a missionary. Haha what will I talk to people in Walmart
about when I am not a missionary?! Can I still hand out cards?! Haha
good thing I don't have to worry about that for a while. It is just so
great to smile and laugh and bear testimony and talk and discern and
love and grow. I am a different person. Slowly but surely, I am noting
that I am getting better. I am getting stronger and more dedicated. I
am also noticing more things that I need to work on! It is like the
scripture in Ether: "When men come unto me, I will show unto them
their weakness." It is so true. And it is actually great. I am
learning to love correction. I am just learning so much. Far from
perfect, but always learning. Isn't that what life is about? :)

I love you!! Tyler, I have a few tips that I have been thinking about.
First, read the story of Enoch in the book of Moses. Write me and tell
me what you like and how you think it applies to you (a wild man is
among us! Haha ok not that part, but that's hilarious). Second, write
down every day a moment when you felt the Spirit. Even if you have to
sit down before bed and think for 15 minutes, find one and write it
down. Will you do that? Awesome. Congrats on all the graduating! I
have your announcement taped up by my study desk.

Everyone, you are the greatest! Enjoy your week together, and please
sleep in, gaze at the mountains, and play ticket-to-ride for me (using
the black trains) (....and don't let Travis win). Haha :)

And I will wake up at 6:30, gaze at the swamp, and bike in the rain
for you!! I love it. I couldn't love it more. :)

Love, Sister Allred, who is super happy again today (probably an
effect of prayer, don't you think?)

Oh! P.S. Keep practicing the piano. I continue to play for
conferences, musical numbers, meetings, and church. It is a
significant contribution I make to the Lord's storehouse. Don't give
up!