Hot, rainy, miracle filled days!

Another happy week has come and gone in Orlando.

 Haha I made a vow this week:

TO ALWAYS BE IN UTAH FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

 I will explain later

But first, you know how we have been trying really hard to put our

shoulders to the wheel and find investigators? This week was so much

better! We have been able to set up appointments with a lot of people

and slowly we are finding people who are interested. Right now we have

an investigator named F from the Dominican Republic. We are

meeting win him again tonight and are excited to talk to him more

about the blessing he can receive from the gospel.

Cool miracle! On Tuesday, me and Sister Hansen were at the end of our

ropes. We had tried absolutely everything to find new investigators

and we had had no success at all. The night before, in desperation I

told Heavenly Father that we had done everything we could and that we

needed a miracle.  Tuesday was another day of a lot of work

and a lot of disappointments. We have been trying to contact more with

the Spirit, and we felt to talk to a lady walking into the

neighborhood we were leaving. We told her that we had a message that

helped people through their trials, and she told us that she didn't

speak English. We excitedly repeated in Spanish, and she said,

"Perfecto!" We couldn't believe it. She said she had been going

through some things, and would love to meet with us at the church. We

are very excited for our meeting with her and her teenage daughter

tomorrow night. Pray for Isa! :) Our Father hears our prayers.

So Firday was the Fourth of July. I loved the package, and it ended

up being a lifesaver! Haha Sister Allred, being Sister Allred, could

not be more excited for this national holiday celebrating our

wonderful nation. We had special permission mission-wide to stay out

until 10 talking to the people out watching the fireworks. I conjured

up quite the image in my mind. A few contributing factors to this

image were fourth of July's past in Provo, the Disney/Universal

fireworks I had glimpsed a million times in Windy Ridge, and just my

optimist mind in general. I pictured throngs of people crowding the

streets, waving flags and barbecuing burgers and holding sparklers in

the afternoon. The night would be similar, just under the dazzling

backdrop of a Disney-caliber firework display. I prepared well. I used

the tissue paper and stars from the package to cover my helmet.

I pinned Old Glory proudly on the strap of my bag. I wrote, "God bless

the U.S.A." and "God bless America!" on pass-along cards,  I marked 1

Nephi 13 about the Revolutionary war in a Book of Mormon to hand out,

I memorized the alto of America the Beautiful for some patriotic

caroling. And we went out with glory to share the word! And there was

not a soul on the streets. Nor in the parks. We were dumbfounded. Even

at night, we could hardly track down anyone! I was sorely

disappointed. We did manage to see some neighborhood firework "shows"

and talk to some people, but it was definitely not Provo. There was a

sad little tissue-papered red and white starred helmet riding around

Taft at 9:30 on Friday night with hardly anyone to talk to. Haha oh

well.

I am still very happy to be a missionary. I was very moved this

morning studying about Joseph Smith the prophet. I know that he really

did have a vision. I know he talked to God and Jesus Christ. I know

that the Book of Mormon is not from him, it is from God. I am very

grateful for the sacrifice he made to bring this Restoration about.

Speaking of the Book of Mormon! I have a very specific assignment for

Tyler, Brandon, and Bryson. Mission-wide, we are reading the Book of

Mormon in 100 days. And you have to do it with us! We started on

Friday, but there are some make-up days that you can do. Start

today!!! It takes me and sister Hansen like 12 minutes in the morning.

Good luck; I hope you do it with us! I will send you the schedule.

I love you all so much! Have the best week ever!

Love, Sister Kara Allred