Jason's letter:
Subject: 2 chapters left in the Book of Mormon!
Hello Everybody!
I don't have too much time to type, so this email will be quick. Adalberto is doing great. So are Suelen and Aléxia. We haven't gotten a hold of Carlos since church on Sunday (and we didn't have much time to talk with him), but on Friday he was way excited for baptism. Alif and Erik are doing great on obeying the commandments; they just need a little more courage to firmly accept baptism. We also have Tomas and Rogério who should be good for baptism in a couple weeks. These people have been our focus for the last week.
The members here are amazing. Everyone of these investigators we met for the first time at church, because someone else brought them. We have so many referals to contact that we´re having trouble doing all the street contacts we should. (So different than my last ward - or any other ward I've seen).
Elder Young is doing great. He´s always smiling and never complains.
The challenge that Pres. Richardson gave us on reading the Book of Mormon last month is one of the most exciting adventures I've had.
Goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
P.S. All letters/packages should probably be sent before the 1st of August. :)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 14, 2009
Jason's Letter
Subject: Now these are the names of the cities - the city of Manti, and the city of Lehi
Hello everybody!
We are way exited for our investigators. I feel like Captain Moroni must have felt after retaking a few captured cities with the help of his chief captains.
After we taught David and Pricila (the couple that accepted marraige) the first time last Monday, I told Elder Young that we would have to redouble our prayers for them because each time we get an entire family, the adversary works twice as hard to impede them. It proved prophetic because two days later they had an argument and separated. Pricila went to her mother's home for the week. With the help of our chief captain (Pricila's sister - a member) they were able to overcome the difficulties and are now right back on track for marraige and baptism. We're going to the marriage office with them this week to mark the marraige.
Adalberto suffered a lot of attacks as well. He said that while last week he was feeling really excited for baptism and his faith was huge, his faith got wiped out and he was overcome with discouragement. Chief captain the Bishop came with us last night and after receiving much prayer on the matter, it was revealed unto us exactly what to do and what to say to retake the city without the shedding of blood.
After cleaning the inner vessel, we were able to retake lost ground with Erik after the rebelion of the young men of the ward. A few of them thought is wasn't fair that the investigators could go to the campout while they were required to have a 80% seminary attendance to go. Our chiaf captain Ivaldo, Erik's uncle, is a member and will probably perform the ordanance.
Experience shows that teaching among the Zoramites (the completely inactive) only gives results when they pass through a humbling experience. It was so with Francisco (19). He's had a hard life. Now he's way exited to prepare to serve a mission. He's been back to church twice now after 2 years of being away. He brought with him his girlfriend Suelen. We taught Suelen last Sunday. After teaching about the Book of Mormon, we asked her about the questions our doubts that she might have. She said, "I don't have any questions, but I do have a comment. When you were talking about that vision a strange feeling that I'd never felt before entered my heart and then spread to my whole body and gave me a joyful feeling." You all know that was exactly what we were wanting to hear.
Well, goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Subject: Now these are the names of the cities - the city of Manti, and the city of Lehi
Hello everybody!
We are way exited for our investigators. I feel like Captain Moroni must have felt after retaking a few captured cities with the help of his chief captains.
After we taught David and Pricila (the couple that accepted marraige) the first time last Monday, I told Elder Young that we would have to redouble our prayers for them because each time we get an entire family, the adversary works twice as hard to impede them. It proved prophetic because two days later they had an argument and separated. Pricila went to her mother's home for the week. With the help of our chief captain (Pricila's sister - a member) they were able to overcome the difficulties and are now right back on track for marraige and baptism. We're going to the marriage office with them this week to mark the marraige.
Adalberto suffered a lot of attacks as well. He said that while last week he was feeling really excited for baptism and his faith was huge, his faith got wiped out and he was overcome with discouragement. Chief captain the Bishop came with us last night and after receiving much prayer on the matter, it was revealed unto us exactly what to do and what to say to retake the city without the shedding of blood.
After cleaning the inner vessel, we were able to retake lost ground with Erik after the rebelion of the young men of the ward. A few of them thought is wasn't fair that the investigators could go to the campout while they were required to have a 80% seminary attendance to go. Our chiaf captain Ivaldo, Erik's uncle, is a member and will probably perform the ordanance.
Experience shows that teaching among the Zoramites (the completely inactive) only gives results when they pass through a humbling experience. It was so with Francisco (19). He's had a hard life. Now he's way exited to prepare to serve a mission. He's been back to church twice now after 2 years of being away. He brought with him his girlfriend Suelen. We taught Suelen last Sunday. After teaching about the Book of Mormon, we asked her about the questions our doubts that she might have. She said, "I don't have any questions, but I do have a comment. When you were talking about that vision a strange feeling that I'd never felt before entered my heart and then spread to my whole body and gave me a joyful feeling." You all know that was exactly what we were wanting to hear.
Well, goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Friday, July 10, 2009
July 7, 2009
Jason's Letter:
Subject: Sprint to the finish!
Hello Everybody!
Ok, all the abnormal, crazy things that happen would just take too long to explain, so I'll stick with the ordinary stories for now.
Elder Young and I have been working our tails off. It's true. In fact, I can't find my tail anywhere.
Friday:
We taught seminary! On Wednesday the teacher asked me to teach the class for Thursday because there are about 6-7 non members going. I asked her what the lesson was on. She said Acts 17 and 18. I recognized an amazing oppotunity and asked when she would teach Acts 19. She said Friday, and I asked it could be Friday instead. She said ok. Acts 19 is excellent to teach about the importance of Priesthood authority for performing baptisms.
Saturday:
The Bishop and his wife, Giselle, took us to eat at a restaurant overlooking a lake. On the way there and the way back, they showed us the ward. Go to Google Earth. We're in São Bernardo. Our area goes from the center of town all the way to the ocean. It looks like it takes about 5 hours to walk by foot.
We taught Adalberto the Plan of Salvation. It took a while to get 'agency' down because of all his questions. I'm excited because he's showing that he really wants to know the truth.
Sunday:
Adalberto went to church all by himself for the second time! Yeah! Maria, Josué, Brenda, and Francisa were also their. Brenda and Josué were confirmed! Woohoo!
We taught Thomas and his family. He is one of the youth that we taught in seminary. He accepted a baptismal goal for a few weeks from now.
Monday:
We went to contact a reference, and after searching through all the allyways, we finally found the house we were looking for. The person wasn't home, so we following a basic principle for Ch. 9 in PMG - we knocked the door at the next door neighbor's home. Surprise! Golden family! David and Pricila accepted to be married and baptized here in a month. The marriage should be about a 3 week process, so that should give them time before I leave.
Adalberto is our most progressing investigator. He always has the most interesting and intelligent questions. However, the Spirit always helps us know what to say. Elder Young is getting to the point where he can teach a few of the principles in Portuguese. We took Paulinho there with us. He's a 18 year-old preparing for a mission. His parents don't want to let him (they're not members). I was surprised at his scriptural knowledge for only being in the church for 3 years. When we taught the Word of Wisdom, Adalberto said that he adored coffee. Paulinho (the member) shared some really good personal experiences that helped Adalberto accept the commandment.
One member (Nivaldo) that was baptized almost a year ago took his nephew to church on Sunday. We also taught him and his mother and sister yesterday. They said that they had been studying with another religion, but when they moved here a year ago, they never picked it back up again and were looking for some sort of a spiritual basis for their family. Woohoo!
We're teaching a family of 6 (Francisco, Francisca, and kids). They're getting kicked out of there home for lack of payment and don't have anywhere to go. Let's always be grateful for the blessings that we have.
Today:
I got my hair cut. When I told her to use a '2' on the back, I meant to say '3', but there's enough time for it to grow a little within the next month. It really doesn't look bad, I'm just not used to it this short.
I made mashed potatoes with some sort of meat that was in the fridge when we got here. Elder Young said that he's never made mashed potatoes before. Oh the deprivation of living outside Idaho!
I finally got around to unpacking my bags from the transfers last week.
Well, Goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Subject: Sprint to the finish!
Hello Everybody!
Ok, all the abnormal, crazy things that happen would just take too long to explain, so I'll stick with the ordinary stories for now.
Elder Young and I have been working our tails off. It's true. In fact, I can't find my tail anywhere.
Friday:
We taught seminary! On Wednesday the teacher asked me to teach the class for Thursday because there are about 6-7 non members going. I asked her what the lesson was on. She said Acts 17 and 18. I recognized an amazing oppotunity and asked when she would teach Acts 19. She said Friday, and I asked it could be Friday instead. She said ok. Acts 19 is excellent to teach about the importance of Priesthood authority for performing baptisms.
Saturday:
The Bishop and his wife, Giselle, took us to eat at a restaurant overlooking a lake. On the way there and the way back, they showed us the ward. Go to Google Earth. We're in São Bernardo. Our area goes from the center of town all the way to the ocean. It looks like it takes about 5 hours to walk by foot.
We taught Adalberto the Plan of Salvation. It took a while to get 'agency' down because of all his questions. I'm excited because he's showing that he really wants to know the truth.
Sunday:
Adalberto went to church all by himself for the second time! Yeah! Maria, Josué, Brenda, and Francisa were also their. Brenda and Josué were confirmed! Woohoo!
We taught Thomas and his family. He is one of the youth that we taught in seminary. He accepted a baptismal goal for a few weeks from now.
Monday:
We went to contact a reference, and after searching through all the allyways, we finally found the house we were looking for. The person wasn't home, so we following a basic principle for Ch. 9 in PMG - we knocked the door at the next door neighbor's home. Surprise! Golden family! David and Pricila accepted to be married and baptized here in a month. The marriage should be about a 3 week process, so that should give them time before I leave.
Adalberto is our most progressing investigator. He always has the most interesting and intelligent questions. However, the Spirit always helps us know what to say. Elder Young is getting to the point where he can teach a few of the principles in Portuguese. We took Paulinho there with us. He's a 18 year-old preparing for a mission. His parents don't want to let him (they're not members). I was surprised at his scriptural knowledge for only being in the church for 3 years. When we taught the Word of Wisdom, Adalberto said that he adored coffee. Paulinho (the member) shared some really good personal experiences that helped Adalberto accept the commandment.
One member (Nivaldo) that was baptized almost a year ago took his nephew to church on Sunday. We also taught him and his mother and sister yesterday. They said that they had been studying with another religion, but when they moved here a year ago, they never picked it back up again and were looking for some sort of a spiritual basis for their family. Woohoo!
We're teaching a family of 6 (Francisco, Francisca, and kids). They're getting kicked out of there home for lack of payment and don't have anywhere to go. Let's always be grateful for the blessings that we have.
Today:
I got my hair cut. When I told her to use a '2' on the back, I meant to say '3', but there's enough time for it to grow a little within the next month. It really doesn't look bad, I'm just not used to it this short.
I made mashed potatoes with some sort of meat that was in the fridge when we got here. Elder Young said that he's never made mashed potatoes before. Oh the deprivation of living outside Idaho!
I finally got around to unpacking my bags from the transfers last week.
Well, Goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Friday, June 26, 2009
June 23, 2009
Jason's Letter:
Subject: Temple!
Hello Everybody!
Yeah! When one of our appointments fell through on Saturday because someone decided to spread some false rumors to one of our investigators, we met a lady named Vánia that was struggling to carry a box. Of course we offered to carry it to her home. She was quite grateful. When we arrived at her home, we were sure pleased to discover that she lives right next door to our Ward Mission Leader. We taught her a quick lesson and invited her to church. She said that she could only stay for Sacrament Meeting, but at church on Sunday, she was so touched by the meeting that she decided to stay for the other classes. Sunday night we taught her with our Ward Mission Leader, Jorge. He's been a member for 2 years now. In these two years his wife and children have all fallen away from the church. To our great joy, his wife said that she might as well start coming back to church if her neighbor was going to go too. During the lesson Vánia accepted a basptism date. We felt prompted to also teach the Word of Wisdom to help her get over any bad habits as quick as possible. She committed to never again drink coffee. It's really rewarding to teach people that the Lord has been preparing. Vánia has had a really hard life. We are so blessed in everything. I told my companion last night after our lesson with her that most of the people in our area need someone like my mom to be their friends.
Brother Jorge had never invited her to church before because she had just moved there. We've been having the most luck with people that just move in because our area has a unique situation. About 3 years ago, the missionaries here did an excelent job and baptised hundreds of people. Now think, if you were a Evangelical Pastor and all of a sudden half your congregation gets baptized in a different church, you probably wouldn't be too happy. Also because the stake had so much missionary success over the last 10 years, the ward has split 3 times, so we had the smallest geographic area in the mission (and I heard that our mission is the smallest excluding Temple Square). So, over the past 2 years, those that weren't baptized have been making frontal attacks on the church. Everytime we teach a lesson we can litterally see someone from a different denomination enter into the house the moment we get out of the house with intent to persuade that person to never listen to us again. Gratefully, we have an army of angels on our side (see Alma 13:24).
Saturday night we received an amazing miracle. All of our appointments fell through and it looked like no one would be at church the next day. Our plan B's and plan C's and plan D's didn't work either. It was 8:30pm and I told my companion that is was still possible for a miracle to happen and for us to find and teach a golden family in the last 30 minutes that would go to church the next day. We sat down on our "revelation bench" next to our favorite bakery. I pulled out our map to see if any revelation would come. My compainion said that he still needed to talk to 5 more people that night to reach his contact goal. The idea came to walk over the the limit of our area and knock a couple doors on our side of the road that divides our area from the assistents' area. On the third door we rang the doorbell, and without even presenting our selfs the man came to the gate. Halfway there he stopped and said, "Wait, I left the keys inside." He went in and got the keys and then invited us into their home. They turned of the TV and invited all their relatives that were visiting to come listen to us without our even asking. I love teaching when it really feels like the Spirit is guiding the conversation. At the end, the accepted all the invites and even gave us a ride home so we wouldn't get home late. It was even more miraculous that it sounds because I don't have time to type everything.
Lucky day today! I went to an endowment session in the temple for the first time in over a year! I had spent from June 2008 until April this year in São Vicente which is too far away to go to the church on Temple Day. On top of that, our allowable attendence was reduced from once every 6 weeks to once ever 3 months. While we were at the temple this morning we meet a lot of missionaries from the MTC, including several that will be coming to our mission here in a week.
Guess what! Ok, you will never guess so I'll tell you. I went to a Wal*Mart today. They just built one across the street from the temple. We bought American doughnuts and chocolate chip cookies from the bakery inside. :)
Well, goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Subject: Temple!
Hello Everybody!
Yeah! When one of our appointments fell through on Saturday because someone decided to spread some false rumors to one of our investigators, we met a lady named Vánia that was struggling to carry a box. Of course we offered to carry it to her home. She was quite grateful. When we arrived at her home, we were sure pleased to discover that she lives right next door to our Ward Mission Leader. We taught her a quick lesson and invited her to church. She said that she could only stay for Sacrament Meeting, but at church on Sunday, she was so touched by the meeting that she decided to stay for the other classes. Sunday night we taught her with our Ward Mission Leader, Jorge. He's been a member for 2 years now. In these two years his wife and children have all fallen away from the church. To our great joy, his wife said that she might as well start coming back to church if her neighbor was going to go too. During the lesson Vánia accepted a basptism date. We felt prompted to also teach the Word of Wisdom to help her get over any bad habits as quick as possible. She committed to never again drink coffee. It's really rewarding to teach people that the Lord has been preparing. Vánia has had a really hard life. We are so blessed in everything. I told my companion last night after our lesson with her that most of the people in our area need someone like my mom to be their friends.
Brother Jorge had never invited her to church before because she had just moved there. We've been having the most luck with people that just move in because our area has a unique situation. About 3 years ago, the missionaries here did an excelent job and baptised hundreds of people. Now think, if you were a Evangelical Pastor and all of a sudden half your congregation gets baptized in a different church, you probably wouldn't be too happy. Also because the stake had so much missionary success over the last 10 years, the ward has split 3 times, so we had the smallest geographic area in the mission (and I heard that our mission is the smallest excluding Temple Square). So, over the past 2 years, those that weren't baptized have been making frontal attacks on the church. Everytime we teach a lesson we can litterally see someone from a different denomination enter into the house the moment we get out of the house with intent to persuade that person to never listen to us again. Gratefully, we have an army of angels on our side (see Alma 13:24).
Saturday night we received an amazing miracle. All of our appointments fell through and it looked like no one would be at church the next day. Our plan B's and plan C's and plan D's didn't work either. It was 8:30pm and I told my companion that is was still possible for a miracle to happen and for us to find and teach a golden family in the last 30 minutes that would go to church the next day. We sat down on our "revelation bench" next to our favorite bakery. I pulled out our map to see if any revelation would come. My compainion said that he still needed to talk to 5 more people that night to reach his contact goal. The idea came to walk over the the limit of our area and knock a couple doors on our side of the road that divides our area from the assistents' area. On the third door we rang the doorbell, and without even presenting our selfs the man came to the gate. Halfway there he stopped and said, "Wait, I left the keys inside." He went in and got the keys and then invited us into their home. They turned of the TV and invited all their relatives that were visiting to come listen to us without our even asking. I love teaching when it really feels like the Spirit is guiding the conversation. At the end, the accepted all the invites and even gave us a ride home so we wouldn't get home late. It was even more miraculous that it sounds because I don't have time to type everything.
Lucky day today! I went to an endowment session in the temple for the first time in over a year! I had spent from June 2008 until April this year in São Vicente which is too far away to go to the church on Temple Day. On top of that, our allowable attendence was reduced from once every 6 weeks to once ever 3 months. While we were at the temple this morning we meet a lot of missionaries from the MTC, including several that will be coming to our mission here in a week.
Guess what! Ok, you will never guess so I'll tell you. I went to a Wal*Mart today. They just built one across the street from the temple. We bought American doughnuts and chocolate chip cookies from the bakery inside. :)
Well, goodbye for now!
Love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
FW: Letter to the ward
From Jason
Subject: Letter to the ward
I realized that it didn't come through last time, but my time ran out.
I want to see if this one works.
Subject: Letter to the ward
I realized that it didn't come through last time, but my time ran out.
I want to see if this one works.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
May 26, 2009
Jason's Letter:
Subject: English, fish, dish, wish ...
Hello Everybody!
Samara and Bruno were both confirmed on Sunday! There were quite some miracles involved in their conversion process. Samara told us that it doesn't matter what anyone tells her, she'll never loose her testimony. Next step is to get her sister Simone, and her brother-in-law Ricardo legally married to prepare for baptism.
Elder Beal and I are starting up a huge English language school on a stake level in an effort to get non-members to church. I attached the flier that we made to announce the classes.
We had a council meeting with President last Friday. The assistents got Elder Beal and I to help them prepare a video training. It turned out pretty good.
Hurrah for Israel!
Goodbye for now!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Subject: English, fish, dish, wish ...
Hello Everybody!
Samara and Bruno were both confirmed on Sunday! There were quite some miracles involved in their conversion process. Samara told us that it doesn't matter what anyone tells her, she'll never loose her testimony. Next step is to get her sister Simone, and her brother-in-law Ricardo legally married to prepare for baptism.
Elder Beal and I are starting up a huge English language school on a stake level in an effort to get non-members to church. I attached the flier that we made to announce the classes.
We had a council meeting with President last Friday. The assistents got Elder Beal and I to help them prepare a video training. It turned out pretty good.
Hurrah for Israel!
Goodbye for now!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
June 2, 2009
Jason's Letter:
Subject: I´m old enough that I can get married in Brazil without parental permission!
Hello everybody!
I´m old enough that I can get married in Brazil without parental permission! (The age here is 21 - but drinking age is 18). Well, technically, I´m still 20 until later on today.
-Bruno received the priesthood on Sunday! Next step - mission!
-Samara told us that she wants to go on a mission her in a year. She has been hit with a ton of anti-Mormon doctrine ever since we started teaching her in April. It's a good thing that she has such a stong testimony. She went to Primary for the first time on Sunday to fulfill her new calling as Sharing Time Leader.
-Luisa moved out of her "boyfriend's" house on Saturday! We helped her with the move. It's amazing to see how some people are so willing to make changes when the hear the gospel and how others aren't. All that she lacks now to be baptized is to give up a few cigarretts.
Well, goodbye for now!
I love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
Subject: I´m old enough that I can get married in Brazil without parental permission!
Hello everybody!
I´m old enough that I can get married in Brazil without parental permission! (The age here is 21 - but drinking age is 18). Well, technically, I´m still 20 until later on today.
-Bruno received the priesthood on Sunday! Next step - mission!
-Samara told us that she wants to go on a mission her in a year. She has been hit with a ton of anti-Mormon doctrine ever since we started teaching her in April. It's a good thing that she has such a stong testimony. She went to Primary for the first time on Sunday to fulfill her new calling as Sharing Time Leader.
-Luisa moved out of her "boyfriend's" house on Saturday! We helped her with the move. It's amazing to see how some people are so willing to make changes when the hear the gospel and how others aren't. All that she lacks now to be baptized is to give up a few cigarretts.
Well, goodbye for now!
I love you all!
--
Elder Jason Morgan Allred
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