December 31, 2009

Ryan's letter:

Subject: I'm an Aunt! I'm an Aunt!


Dear Family & loved ones,
Oh so much to say...I have no idea where to start. Perhaps I SHOULD start 9 months ago. HOWEVER I didn't really come into this first story until about a week ago. As you probably all know, unless I was the victim of a very well planned prank, on the 14th of December I became an uncle! You might think that I shouldn't be too surprised right now. After all, you can usually tell when your own sister is pregnant, but such is not the case. I must say I was very impressed with my family at how well they pulled the whole thing off, they really had me spinning. I don't know how they kept it all a secret, well done!
That was probably the best Christmas present I could have ever hoped for. And on top of that I was so excited to get to talk to my family on Christmas. I was definitely one of the best Christmas Seasons ever and being able to hear from you all really made it even better. And thank you all for the letters and packeages, I was blessed very abundantly this year.
I have had the chance to take part in a lot of wonderful experiences this week. Christmas eve was really fun especially because I got to spend the evening with the same family that I had it with last year. The Hargadons were actually the ones who informed me that Saryn was indeed related to me! Then Elder Haines and I got to watch "It's a Wonderful life" on Christmas evening. Stefan and Chelsea Thomas invited us over to have breakfast with them, and we spent most of the afternoon with the Millett family and played some board games with them.
We have been on quite a few exchanges with the missionaries this week, I have spent more time in someone else's bed than in my own this week. I was lucky enough to get to spend 24 hours with Elder Derek Sommer who is from Rexburg Idaho. It was really cool throughout the day when people would ask us where we were from to have us both say the same thing. We had a very successful day, including when we accidentally tracted into the Stake President. We were able to get quite a few return appointments, I was very impressed with how great of a missionary he is even though he has only been out for three weeks.
As always, one of my favorite exchanges was with the Spanish missionaries. The Hispanic people in Lincoln are so welcoming and it is easy to feel comfortable in their homes, even though I have no idea what they are saying. Heavenly Father has really blessed me in the month of December with many opportunities to strengthen my testimony. During our study in the morning, Elder Pu had an extra hour to study english. I took that extra hour to write my testimony in Spanish with the help of a dictionary, then I memorized it. I had the oppurtunity to bear that testimony probably about ten times throughout the day. As I sat in one particular lesson, I enjoyed the chance to try to follow the conversation as much as I could by catching familiar phrases here and there. Elder Pu turned to me and nodded indicating that it was time for me to bear my testimony. I turned to the investigator and Said, "Yo se que El Libro De Mormon es verdadero. Jesuchristo es neustro Salvador. Yo se que el bautismo la ayudara a usted. Se que esto es verdadero por el Espiritu Santo." "I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that Baptism will bless you. And I know these things through the power of the Holy Ghost." I honestly don't know if that simple testimony did the investigator any good, or even if I said what I thought I said, but as I spoke, the Holy Ghost did witness to me that the book of Mormon is true, Christ is our Savior, and baptism is necessary for salvation. It was great to have a witness that the church is true, regardless of which language is used to sshare it. The spirit is the same in every language.

Any way, I love you all and I really enjoyed talking to you on Christmas! I hope you have a great new YEar!!
Love Ya!
Elder Ryan JAy Allred


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