January 26, 2009

Subject: O that I were an Angel...that I might go forth and speak...with a voice to shake the earth!

Good Morning!

What a great week!! We all know something very special happened within the time that we have last spoken. This is a big step for all involved and will require some great changes. The change will be difficult and sometimes overwhelming, but it will definitely be worth it in the end. Many of us have been waiting our entire life for this very moment. The time has come! The battle is won! And something else that ryhmes with come and won! :) For those of you who do not know, I am speaking of course of..........Al's BAPTISM!!!!!! This past Saturday, 1-24-2009, Alfred Bernstein was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is very excited, as is the ward he is entering into. Please add him in your prayers, it is a hard transition to make. I talked with him last night and he told me that although he had some concerns before he was baptized, he feels great now. Plus our ward really needs more active High Priests so they can complete their home teaching. :)
Something else happened this week that was really cool. We had zone conference. My favorite part was when Sister Pendleton showed us a movie clip off of mormon.org. It was a short clip with Elder Holland (My favorite speaker because he spoke while I was at the MTC and he loves missionary work) sharing his testimony of Christ. It was directed to all those who believe that Mormons are not Christian, I would advise everyone to look it up.
Hmm what else, it seems I am forgetting something very important that happened last...monday? Oh thats right, we played sand volleyball for our P-day activity. Can you believe that!?! Sand volleyball in January. It was awesome! I wish that I had some pictures but I forgot my camera that day. Oh well I guess you will just have to imagine what it was like, and be jealous anyway. Haha
Lets see, I have one more story. After zone conference, we headed over to the mission office so Elder Ricks could renew his temple recommend before he goes home. While he was with President Pendleton, I was just chillen with Sister Pendleton in the main office. We got bored after a while so we started sorting through the mail. It just happened that I had recieved three letters that day. I was glad that we were in the office, because otherwise I wouldn not have recieved them until later this week. One of the letters was from my Grandma Allred; the other two from my Grandma Thompson. I figured I might as well open one so I began with Grandma Allred's. About half way through her note, I read something like the following:
" I had been expecting an announcement from Scott so it was no surprise to recieve a call from him that he was engaged to Lorinda. They are both great people. A month is a short engagement but mine was only six weeks."
She then continued on with the letter, making no further comments on the subject. Shocked and somewhat confused, I quickly opened the other two letters. The first did not help me find any answers due to the fact that it was only christmas letters. The second was not much better. Grandma simply wrote the following halfway through the letter:
"So sorry you will miss Scott's wedding, I will try to enjoy it for you."
So I have been waiting anxiously for today so I could find out something about the wedding, proposal, or anything! And all I get is a Wedding announcement! Which, by the way, you both look great. (Scott is wearing my red shirt, that will be 20$) Congrats! And he didn't even send it until today! Let's all neglect our brother on a mission why don't we. Hey, does Jason Morgan know about this? I guess I'll ask him.
Well, send me something! How did he ask? When? Where? Why? (I think I know the answer to that last one)
Well I still love you all!
Elder Ryan Jay Allred (In CA) yeah

P.s. Dad if you haven't already made the plaque, I want Alma 26:11-12. Beggining with "...I do not boast in my own stregth" until the end of twelve. Thanks