March 17, 2009

Subject: Warning: Miracles.

Hello Everybody!

Thursday: We had zone conference. With preparation, impromptu trainings are quite entertaining to give.

Saturday: I got to go up to São Paulo and watch the sealing of Eduardo and Dalila in the temple! I was serving in Mauá when Dalila was baptized a year ago. With their two daughters all dressed in white, it was the most beautiful sealing that I´ve seen (that's because I didn't get to see Scott and Lorinda's). While I was there, I also got to see the sealing of Amorim and Lídia. They were a recent-convert couple that had been baptized in Mauá before I got there, but had already gone inactive because of false rumors about the church. While I was in Mauá, I helped them build their testimony and come back into activity. Now they and their two daughters are also an eternal family. I also found out while I was there that Sérgio and Cleomar will be sealed this Saturday. I baptized Sérgio a year ago in Mauá. They didn´t get sealed this last Saturday because it lacked 2 days for him to be a member for one year. I don´t know if President will let me go two Saturdays in a row, but I´ll sure try to convince him.

Sunday: Hurray! Daniel and Elizangela were baptized on Sunday (pictures attatched)! President and Sister Richardson and 4 of their 12 kids were in town to talk at the stake conference for the other stake, and they decided to stop by our chapel and watch the baptism. It was the most special baptism I've had on the mission. This family has a lot of faith. They are facing family rejection and financial difficulties because of their decision, but they are passing this trial of faith. We did a special fast with them on Friday. There have been just so many miracles involved that I don't know how to tell them. One thing that helped is that the 2nd counselor in the stake presidency is Daniel's co-worker and had been able to support them in all this.
Sunday was also our ward conference. We spent the whole week contacting less actives to invite them. Most have moved. It's sad because without a forwarding address these people become completely lost to the Church.

Well, Goodbye for now!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred

March 10, 2009

Subject: Send snow!

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Hello Everybody!

Neusa was baptized on Saturday! She, Bianca, and Maria de Lourdes were all confirmed on Sunday!
We're teaching a golden family! Daniel (dad), Elizangela (mom), and Maria Letícia (daughter). They've really been prepared to receive the gospel. Sadly, they lost an infant son about a month ago, but the knowledge that we've shared with them about the Plan of Salvation has really brought peace to their souls. This experience helped them accept the invite to be baptized. They´ve been to church the last 4 weeks in a row and will be baptized this Sunday. We're going to take them to the stake president's house tomorrow night for a family home evening.
Also this coming Sunday, Lúcia will be baptized. We got to take her to church in a wheelchair. She had dubbed every young man in the ward her "grandson."

Sunday night, I accidently left our keys in the bishop office and didn't realize until we got home that night at 9:30pm. Luckily, our ward mission leader had picked them up, and with the help of Daniel (our investigator) we were able to get them. We finally got into our apartment at 10:30 and just went straight to bed. Anyway, that made Monday morning a rush because we marked a division with another companionship and had to wake up at 5:30am to get there. On top of that one of the district leaders in our zone was robbed. They only got his cell phone (and watches and stuff) but that made some communication difficult. Another companionship moved houses without letting anyone know what their new address was or new telephone number and didn't even worry about calling anyone when they couldn't get a hold of their district leader who no longer had a cell phone. Anyway, after the rush of trying to contact everyone and get things in order (like missing baptism info from other wards), things got under control.


Thanks for all the love and support!
Goodbye for now!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred

March 3, 2009

Subject: Transfers!

Hello Everybody!

Hurray! Maria de Lourdes and Bianca were both baptized on Sunday. We had to have two different baptismal meetings. Maria picked Brother Cícero to baptize her and he had to go on police duty at night so she was baptized right after church. Bianca´s mom was working in the afternoon, so she was baptized at night.
We are planning on baptizing Adrielly, Neusa, and Shirley this week - all on different days just because of their schedules. Actually, Adrielly was supposed to be baptized here in 2 hours, but we moved it to probably Thursday just to help the bishop out.
We had transfers, but neither I nor Elder Karr were transfered. However, of the 18 Elders in our zone, 8 were transfered. One of the areas was closed and reopened, and the Elder that will open it is also training, so we'll have to help him get around for the first week.
Well, we went house hunting a little today to help some recent-converts not have to move to a city where the church isn't yet. You know, it's the same thing Ammon and Aaron had to do with all those Anti-Nephi-Lehites - find a better place for them to live. However, I didn't see any signs up that show us where to find Jershon. :)
Well, Goodbye for now!
Elder Jason Morgan Allred