July 12, 2010

From: Ryan Jay Allred
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 1:02 PM
To: Allred, Kevin
Subject: I like to ride my bicycle!

 

Surprise!

            Just when I thought life couldn't get any better, President goes and sends me to a bike area!!  I am pretty excited, I was getting sick of the car after a year.  I actually feel like a real missionary again!  I love having all of the members of the church honking and waving and then those that aren't fans yelling at us, it just feels good. 

             But, before I get into telling you about my new area and stuff there is a story I had better tell you before Dad gets too worried.  So last week right after I found out I was getting transferred Elder Groberg and I started driving around town as fast as we could so I could say good-bye to all of those wonderful Auburn people.  As we were driving we past a car with its hood up on the side of the road with little kids running all around it.  Unfortunately neither of us know anything about cars so we couldn't help them out very much but we figured that the least we could do was buy them some water bottles so they wouldn't get dehydrated.  And that is why, as Dad noticed, we went into the liquor store.  It was the only thing around!  So no, my card was not stolen; we were just getting water.  :)

             But Gridley has been amazing!  Everyday it is over 100 degrees outside!  It is a really small town that is famous for the fruit that is produces so I shouldn't have any problem getting fruit for my smoothies.  And because it is such a small town everyone is extremely friendly.  Our bishop is fairly young and he is excited about sharing the gospel.  I'm glad to here that even in Rexburg the call to spread the gospel is increasing.  I still feel really strongly that the best way to help anyone want tot share the gospel is to strengthen their personal understanding and testimony of the gospel.

             One of the things I felt I should focus on in this new area is finding new investigators mostly through the members of the ward.  That is hard for me because I love tracting and talking to people on the streets and finding people that way.  But already I have seen miracles happen out here because of the amazing members.  On Tuesday of this week we tracted into a really nice young family that accepted to have us come back to teach them on Friday.   I didn't know anyone in the ward yet so I just started calling anyone I could to get someone to go with us.  Brother Wakefield accepted the invitation with a lot of enthusiasm because he is in the High Council and the Elders usually don't know to call him.  But when we showed up to the lesson on Friday no one was home.  We spent about 15 minutes trying other investigators in the area and then we asked if Brother Wakefield had any friends who would be interested in a short 20 minute lesson where we could help them feel the spirit.  He decided to give one of his friends a try even though he had sen missionaries over to his home only weeks ago and they were turned down.  But this time because he went over with us his friend Jeff accepted the 20 minute lesson and has decided to take the lessons!!  Members have such  magic touch.  And that is only one of probably four very similar experiences we have had this week.  Including the Hamblins who we live with who we asked to invite one of their neighbors to dinner.  Now the Spanish Elders are teaching their next door neighbors.

            My companion is Elder Lee from Arizona!  He is full blood Navajo and is a pretty cool kid.  He goes home in a few months and we are ready to o some great work here.

           So life is good and I hope it is for you too!!

Keep it up!

Love Ya!

Elder Allred

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HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

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