"I'm not dead yet!"

It has been a great week! I start this email with a movie reference.

You know that part in Monte Python and the Holy Grail where the guy is
like, "Bring out yer dead!" And this one man takes out this old guy
who keeps protesting, "I'm not dead yet!" That is how I feel. And let
me tell you why.

This week, we had a Zone Training Meeting that was awesome. I always
love those. At the end, they invited all the missionaries departing at
the end of the transfer to give their testimonies. I was like, "Hello,
this isn't even my last ZTM! I still have over a month!" But alas, I
gave it anyway.

A few days later, I got a letter from the mission office that I threw
in my bag and forgot about until the next morning. When I opened it, i
realized with horror that it was my travel plans!! Already! I am
getting home at like, 10:45 a.m.. I was in shock. Last time I checked, I
still have quite a bit of time here in the field!

Also, the big "last temple trip" has already been scheduled and
announced -- for this Saturday. What?!

FLORIDA ORLANDO MISSION: I AM NOT DEAD YET!!

Haha.

In the meantime, old deathbed Sister Allred is still working Semoran!
In between a doctor's appointment and an MRI for some hearing loss
that Hna Hernandez is having, we had some great experiences!

One was with a recent convert of Sister Jackson and Sister Marsh in
the ward named Brother V. He is so so awesome, but has been feeling
really lonely lately and going through a hard time. I had been
thinking earlier in the week of what I could do to have the Spirit
more in lessons, and one of the ideas I found was to have a more
focused Personal Study. The day of Brother V's lesson, I had a very
investigator-oriented study and felt the Spirit. Brother V was not
originally in the plans, so I didn't get to study for him in the
morning. However, we set up the appointment and decided to teach about
the Savior and the atonement. We felt the Spirit incredibly strong as
we testified of the Atonement and our Friend Jesus Christ. I know that
it was because I had a focused study, even though it wasn't
specifically for the lesson! So awesome.

We found a super prepared family last night! We were trying to find
some old investigators, and on our way out of the neighborhood we
pulled over to chase down a guy we felt we should talk to. We set a
return appointment with him and his wife for today! On our way back to
our car, we decided to just randomly knock on the door of the
next-door neighbor of the former we were trying to visit. J opened
the door, and we ended up teaching him, his wife C, C's
mom R, and their friend A the Restoration. It was awesome!!!
They are looking for a church and seemed interested in being baptized!
It was so cool to teach the whole family. The English Elders will be
teaching them again Friday! The Lord blesses us when we follow His
Spirit - that I know!

This week, I grew in my testimony of the Savior yet again. On Sunday,
I just woke up extremely anxious and depressed and panicked. It was
one of the worst mornings of my whole mission. I didn't know what to
do, so I opened up your letters. Mom, I really loved what you shared
with me about answers to prayers and feeling the Spirit in the play.
It helped me a lot.  I also was able to find a lot of comfort in the
Book of Mormon and the Sacrament. It really was a healing balm to my
soul.  I have been thinking a lot about justice and mercy this week.
Haha I was actually thinking about Jean Valjean and Javer. They both
are confronted with a situation in which mercy is given. Jean Valjean
accepts the mercy and changes forever. Javer is so caught up in the
justice that he takes his own life. Sometimes, I get too focused on
the justice aspect of the Gospel. Not only does that make it easy to
judge, but it makes it easy to get down on myself. I had a clear
thought during the sacrament. It was, "You have forgotten Me." I
really had. I had forgotten that Jesus is merciful. I had forgotten
all of the instances in my life where I have felt of His love and
mercy. Let's not forget who Jesus really is.

I know that He lives. I know that He forgives. I want to keep being
more like him every day.

I love you!

Hermana Allred