The best week ever!

I have so much to talk about this week! I hope you are ready!!! :)

Thank you again for your increased prayers.  Things have been going great in the area and in our companionship.  On Monday, we were able to teach an awesome man named A.  His wife died some time ago and he is living here from Puerto Rico with his son and grandchildren.  He used to be into church with his wife, but after she died things changed for him and he hasn't been as into it since.  It was awesome to be able to testify to him how this message could help him and help him to feel his wife's presence more strongly.  I know angels are real.  We are trying to help him live the Word of Wisdom so he can be baptized soon, hopefully in January!

Heavenly Father has been so good.  He has let me have a little walk down memory lane for the last few weeks - how appropriate. :)  It all started on Tuesday!

Tuesday night, I was thrilled because Sister Cabrera signed up on our meal calendar.  Sister Cabrera as in Keren's mom (the one who got baptized in January).  I couldn't have been happier to be sitting again in their wonderful home, listening to primary music with Emily and eating arroz con leche just like me and Sister Jackson did. :)  I was so happy.  And to only add more happiness to the best meal ever, who should knock on the door halfway through but Sister S (a less-active member I worked with a TON in Windy Ridge)!!!!  We had a very happy reunion.  Wow, it was just so awesome to remember all of the good and spiritual times I had last year.  I loved it. What a blessing. :)

On Wednesday we had an awesome day because we were sharing a little Thanksgiving video with anyone we could meet!  It was an especially spiritual experience to share the video with several ladies outside.  We testified that God had sent us to them and two of them started crying.  I almost started crying also because I felt the Spirit a lot!  We got their contact info to come back and see them.  It was so awesome.  That was a happy day.

Thursday was the BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!!!!!!  We had three dinners, which was awesome.  The first one was with the Elder's Quorum president's family and a few of my favorite members of the branch.  The next was with the Ramirez family and a Muslim family they have been working with.  The last was with the Aquino family, who are related to the Martinez' (the ones who got baptized in May).  That dinner was especially awesome, and here is why:  On Tuesday, we met someone at the library named T.  He was very nice and interested in the message, but declined a return visit because he is in the process of moving.  When we offered any service at the end, he said, "Actually, I don't have any family here and I have nowhere to go for Thanksgiving.  Is your church doing anything, or do you know anywhere I could go?"  We looked at each other and told him we would see what we could do. :)  Sister Aquino agreed and went to pick up T. on Thursday night.  He immediately began asking questions once we were all at the Aquino's about the gospel and what we do.  We testified of prophets, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, baptism, you name it!  He told us he was spiritually hungry and knew there was something missing from the Bible.  It was so awesome.  He will be meeting with the English Elders to investigate the church!  It was also so cool to see this man, without a family member anywhere near, spending Thanksgiving with a loving family.  They took him right in!  I don't think he will forget that ever.  I will do that too.  It was awesome.

Friday was another walk down memory lane as I did my last exchange in my first area - Olympia!!  I smiled as I slept in the same bed that I did on my second night in Florida last July.  I loved being in that apartment; it brought back the good old days. :)  The best part of the exchange was having dinner with good old Brother Si (you remember Si, right?)!  He was very excited that I was coming over.  He made dinner, had a special candle on the table, brought us out flowers, and blasted none other than John Denver (haha that was a little awkward... we hardly had the heart to burst his excitement, so we just asked him to turn it down).  Being in that garage brought back a ton of memories.  I loved listening to his testimony of Heavenly Father's love, how he had changed his life since he met us for the first time, how he has a call to be a missionary at the Bishop's Storehouse (he works there twice a week), and how he has shared the Gospel with people at the bus stop.  I was so grateful to be there, seeing how he had matured in the Gospel.  Oh how I love that mechanic voice and big heart!  It was a special blessing.

All week we have been sharing the new He is the Gift initiative.  If you don't know what that is, look it up!  It is the best thing ever.  Miracles abound because we have been sharing it with everyone.  The prophets are inspired!

Really, He is the best Gift that has ever been given to me.  I love Him so much.  I love that He came to be born into this crazy and wicked world to save me, a sinner.  His gospel has changed me forever.  I am so happy to be representing Him as best as I can.  I continue to learn and relearn every single day - and I am so glad and eternally grateful that He is forever patient with me.  He helps me learn again and again.  His voice is not one of harsh condemnation, but of quiet reassurance and strong support.  What a blessing it is to remember Him and to be a part of His work and His love.

Best day ever. :)

Love, Sister Allred