August 24, 2009

Ryan's Letter

Subject: "Another day, another dollar." -Brother Fish


Good Morning
Congratzs to Jason for an excellent home coming talk. We enjoyed it very much and can tell that you had a wonderfull mission. I have had the oppurtunity to participate in many meetings with Elder Trythall from the Quorum of the Seventy. He reminded us this past week that after our missions we should never return back to "normal," or the way we were before. If we continue to live by the mission standards for the rest of our lives, there is no way we will miss out on salvation. Plus it is funner that way anyway.
This last week while drinving in the car listening to some sort of Celtic music, I had a wonderfull experience. I had such a wonderful feeling of peace and joy that it felt like my heart would burst. I realized that this is exactly where I need to be at this time of my life. And more than that this is right where I want to be. I love every minute of every day out here (that doesn't mean it's all easy by the way). It is so hard to see missionaries who do not enjoy themselves and it is really because they just won't allow these wonderful experiances to uplift them. This is such a great time to be living on this world. "The future is as bright as our Faith."
Yesterday was great day even though we had to wake up at five in the morning for our meetings. Sister Moss made us some trail mix because she knew we wouldn't be eating until dinner that night. I am working with a lot of the same people that I worked with when I served in Lincoln. Elder Spear went to the singles ward yesterday so I was all by my lonesome in the family ward yesterday. Our two high council speakers were actually from the Lincoln First ward. Brother DiGiordano is a little Italian man who I had dinner with quite a bit. He's a great man and I had the opputtunity to give the closing prayer in sacrament meeting so I got to talk to both of them. That was great to see friend I thought I would never see again.
Our zone conference focused was on the best book in the world. That of course being the Book of Mormon. We were challenged by the Mission president to take 15 minutes out of our lunch and read the Book of Mormon out loud as companions everyday. This is something Elder Spear and I have already been doing so we definitely know of the spirit it brings. For example, I was on exchanges this last week and drove the car for the first time. We cover the entire stake so I had plenty of room to get lost and was pretty stressed out trying to help the missionary I was with as well. Our morning was very frustrating and my companion for the day was not helping out at all to say the least. By lunch my mind was swimming and all I wanted to do was sleep for the remainder of the day. Instead, we read to Book of Mormon. I couldn't concentrate at all for the first couple of pages but by the end my mind had completely relaxed and the spirit had entered into our day. Everything worked out perfectly after that.
I love the Book of Mormon and only wish I had more time to read it. Even if we get nothing out of what we read, it brings such a great spirit into all aspects of our lives. It will strengthen our families, help strengthen our faith, and drive contention out of our homes. It is such an amazing gift.
Anyway, much love to my family and everyone!

Love ya! Elder Allred