Samurai Semoran

Mom, Dad, Tyler, Brando, Bryson, Alyssa, Ethan, and Ashlyn,

[...yes, that 'Brando' is absolutely intentional.]

I hope you all know that I really just write this email to you.  I know that you repost it and stuff, Mom, but I hope you really feel like this is me writing to the 8 of you, because it is.  I don't like it when missionaries say they write their "mass email" every week, but don't write their families.  I don't feel like that.  I don't care if not another human in the world reads my emails, as long as Mom, Dad, Tyler, Brandon, Bryson, Alyssa, Ethan, and Ash know what's going on here in Orlando. :)  My patriarchal blessing tells me several times that I need to be a good example to my family.  I really hope that you feel the Spirit of missionary work when you read my letters.  I want to be a good example.  I know I am not perfect, but I want all 6 of my siblings to know that going on a mission is the best thing you can ever do. Do anything you can to go.  I know that the Gospel is true.  I testify a lot of our happy home (no, time has not dimmed my memory - it really is a happy home!) and the peace that I get knowing that my family is safe in the Gospel.  I am grateful for temples and for the security they bring.  I know that the Book of Mormon can change you.  I love you so much and am forever grateful that I have a place in such a special family. :)

So I am here in probably my last area - Semoran!  I guess I will explain the geography of this.  Remember Windy Ridge?  The area in the city by Universal, Disney, and SeaWorld?  So I am back to that same stake - close to the temple and all the touristy stuff!  But I am on the other side, meaning more "inner-city" feel than "tourist central" feel.  We go to church in downtown, the heart of Orlando!  I have never used my Spanish more in my whole mission, which is awesome.  There are a lot lot lot of Latinos!  Back in the Windy days, I used to call this area "Samurai Semoran" for no good reason..... and here I am! A samurai.

My companion is Hermana Hernandez.  She goes home in January.  She is awesome!  She is kind of like Sister Campos (who is home by the way) in the sense that she was born in Venezuela and then moved here when she was 4.  She is helping me so much with my Spanish!!  It is fun to have a new area and companion.  

Well, Sister Limpiadora is back (Sister Cleaner).  Dad, I feel like you were probably like this on your mission.  We cleaned our apartment ALL MORNING today.  Haha I was a maniac.  Scrubbing the tub and the walls and the sink and the floor...... let's just say I feel a lot better now. And cleaner. :)

We talked to a TON of people this week because we don't really have any investigators in our area.  That is ok - we will just start the cycle over again!  In the process we have found a couple of missing members, picked up some new investigators, and had a lot of good conversations.  That is one of my favorite parts of missionary work.  You can never tell what people are going through from looking at them, and it is nice to have a calling to help them in whatever righteous way we can.

We got to help a family move in this week!  We just pulled over and asked if we could help and they said yes!  Jason and Lilly were the owners of the house, and Makai and Heath were helping.  We had a grand old time and they were very grateful for the service.  Before we left, we asked if any of them would like a visit from the missionaries.  Lilly had had a roommate who was a member of the church and had lived in Utah for a few summers to help out with the Shakespeare festival.  She said that even with living in Utah, the most Mormons she has met have been through her work.  She says they always talk to her about what they believe in, and she thinks it is really cool.  Makai had already been on the website, and Heath actually had a Book of Mormon that a coworker had given him.  I tell this story for two reasons: One, because I really liked them all and it was a good experience.  Two, because member missionary work is the best!!  Please keep your eyes open always for people who need an invitation to change - to come to church, to listen to the missionaries, to read the Book of Mormon.  You never know what kind of influence you will have!

Well, I guess that is about it for this week.  Oh! With one exception!

My new district leader's name is Elder Jacobsen - he came out with Sister Jackson.  He is really good at Spanish - like the grammar and the accent and all of that.  He asked me how I learned to speak, and then I asked him the same.  He said that he learned so well because he read the whole Book of Mormon in Spanish before his mission, side-by-side with his English one.  I realized that I had done that too!  And then I knew that that was why Spanish has been one of my strengths out here.  What a powerful blessing from a simple act. I know that there is a direct correlation between that act of obedience and the gift of tongues.  So cool.  There is power in the Book!

I love you all!!

Love, Sister Allred