Its so crazy that Christmas is so close again!!!  So I was wishing it would feel a little bit like Christmas last week, and then it came true:) It has been "cold" this past week... For all the Filipinos they are all freezing, but all the American missionaries are loving life, its great to have a break from maybe 100 degree weather and probably go down to only 80ish... it must be close to Christmas:)

The miracle of the week was that the Sawasi Family came to church!! Their whole entire family!!! Seriously I can't explain the joy... We had taught them a couple of times last week, and then they followed through on Sunday.  Idk why but seeing a whole family come to church as investigators is like the next level joy!!!  And Tatay Abelino has been practicing praying a lot, but he told us on Saturday night, "I'm getting better at this prayer thing, next time i'll be even better!!!" Then he told us in Sunday School after we all shared at the front of the room something that we learned, he said, "I just need to do that a few more times to get more practiced up, to become good at that!"  So this Tatay he really has a desire, he wants to improve, and even though he struggles to read, and isn't the fastest thinker ever, but he loves the doctrine, especially about the Celestial Kingdom, thats his favorite... SO COOL!!!

The other miracle lesson was with Bernard Guiado.  So we went yesterday afternoon and he was there, so we shared a short lesson to him about prayer.  He is 27 years old and he is super spiritual, he talked all about prayer, and why we need it even when there isn't trials, and that we can pray anywhere.  Its super cool to see someone who really knows why its important, i felt the Spirit so strong! Then he told us sorry that he didn't come to church on Sunday, because his boss had him work because it is close to Christmas, so he promised us to go to church in January... We are so excited for him to progress, he really is so prepared!!!  And we testified of that to him, God's plan is perfect, and part of that plan for him is coming to know the gospel through the Spirit, and the message we carry as Representatives of Christ.  

Well it was a a solid week, super work hard, all out week, so much fun to work, just doing our best to spend the most time as we can in front of people, because thats the only way missionary work gets done.  I learned this week also while preparing for a talk that we should do our best to become like the Shepherds... to come with haste to Christ, not walk slow and give a half effort, but with haste and with all effort we have.  And also to make it known abroad to all people!!! Thats why I'm happy to be a missionary, because others become happy through Christ and his message and I get to carry that every single day.  Its good to be a missionary:)

Merry Christmas!!!  

Love, Elder Alldredge

 

We helped these people tie the straw type things, its called Cogon and it is for the roof of their hut houses.

The Sawasi Family came to Church!

So this week was Crazy busy!!! We were all over the place with two exchanges with District Leaders, one of them was a 5 hour bus ride away through the mountains... But hey I got to pass by my old area, Maria!!! So that was super cool!!

Now I will tell you that we have 2 investigators, Veronica and Eloisa that have finished or are in Moroni about to finish the Book of Mormon.  To add to that we have been teaching them for just over a month...  Lets just say they know its true and they are super excited to be baptized on January 6th.  Its amazing to see the desire of 2 teenage girls, who really are so into the gospel.  I was able to look through their BoM and there were literally markings all over the place, wow i know they were prepared of God to recieve the Gospel at this time.

I was able to interview Nanay Leticia from Dipaculao.  She had a stroke and can't walk very well at all.  But her testimony seriously strengthened mine so much!! So she testified about repentance and Jesus Christ to me and how she know that he lives, so powerful! Then I told her after she answered all the questions that she was "magaling" which means very good. Then she said I am not magaling, God is magaling, He gives me strength, He gives me knowledge, and He loves me.  WOW i was like hit by the spirit brick wall, seriously her testimony was so sincere, and it really is incredible to be able to tell someone that they will be baptized, that they are ready to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the greatest invitation that we give as a missionary... that is to Follow Jesus Christ...

Another miracle was Rose again, she has just miracle after miracle happening:)  So a member was supposed to pick her up and go to church with her.  But the member kind of didn't do it, but because Rose was so determined to go, she came all by herself.  Its amazing the feeling you get when an investigator enters the doors of the church, the joy that comes, its the Best:)  And only a missionary will ever know that feeling, its good to be a missionary.....

Ya'll are the best for always sending emails and prayers my way:)

Love, Elder Alldredge

We found some tanks!

Kyle and Elder Leone from Cali on exchanges

This is their church.  Yes, that is the parking garage on the bottom.

Picture of Zone Conference

So first off my email is late because yesterday when we started to email, there was a Brown Out, or the electricity went off, so we got permission to email today....

This week was packed full of miracles while teaching lessons.  Me and Elder Guia are starting to figure out how to better connect and what to do to be guided by the spirit to have miracles in lessons everyday!!!! One thing to start is talking way too much, i realized that was one of my problems and we have made it a goal to make it more of a gospel conversation so the spirit can teach them truly what they need to hear, sometimes from their own mouth......  which has been AMAZING!!!!  President also taught us in Zone Conference TONS of things which we are applying now, and it truly is working!!! Our investigators have had a different response this week, and I feel its cuz we are trying our best to let the Spirit guide the lesson, which is the only way to teach...

So one miracle was with our investigator, sister Rose Biag.  We visited her on Wednesday afternoon and taught her, but truly we didn't really teach, we asked questions to start and because of that she told us that she had come to know for herself that the Book of Mormon was true through prayer.  She also told us of a dream she had about 2 months ago, before we visited her.  She told us that she entered into a church, but she didn't know where, as she entered it was dark, but then she saw people in white waiting to shake hands at the door before she entered.  When she entered the room began to lighten, and it became very bright, where she heard singing, and the sacrament was passed too in her dream.  While she told us this the spirit was so strong.  Then she told us that when we came and visited her the first time, thats when she remembered her dream again, because of the people in white shaking hands;)  Then we testified that it truly was an answer from God, and that He loves her.  It was one of the most powerful lessons of my mission for sure, and I know that Miracles are REAL!!!

We also had one investigator, Sister Veronica who bore her testimony in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday!! She is 14 years old and is reading the Book of Mormon like crazy, she is at least in the middle of Alma right now, and she marks it all up.... She testified of the Book of Mormon and how she came to know it is true through prayer also, wow that was such a cool thing to see!!!

Also if you want to read about an amazing group of people read Alma 24!!! I have been studying that for the past couple of days and these people went from a people that only wanted to kill Nephites, to a people who would not even lift up a sword against an enemy coming to kill them.  They did this to not let their swords become stained again, they laid down their weapons(sins) and HID them away, DEEP in the earth, something we should all strive to do with sin.  Are we giving up our "Weapons of War" every day??"  And they did this as a Testimony to God at the last day. And what will be our Testimony to God at the Last Day?? something to think about:)

Thanks for all the emails and prayers!!!

LOVE, Elder Alldredge

 

Kyle finally got a camera and just in time for some amazing pictures of his zone and area!

We are glad this structure is sturdier than it looks!

Here in the mission so many things happen that I had no idea before I got here.  There are meetings, every week, and a lot of them sometimes, something I didn’t even think of before.  It’s crazy that I am really used to all the weird things now that happen in the Philippines from drunk people always trying to talk to me in English to fitting 3 of us American missionaries in a trike that might be like a 3 by 3 foot side car, ya it’s that smallJ One of my struggles now is realizing again how weird/SO COOL/different things really are here in my area, and here in the Philippines.  But I truly love it here, and I am figuring out every day how to love it more, by being more exactly obedient and working even harder, its still a work in progress, and I know that’s not ever gonna stop, but one thing I know now better than ever is that God sees the desires of our heart, and if we follow His Will the  best we can, or in other words obey what he says with full effort, we will be happy, and I am experiencing that every day, and that is a Miracle in my life.

We had MLC with President Johnson this week and it was another AMAZING meeting!!  It always is just so inspiring and pushes me to do better!!  We also had a member missionary work meeting in our District for all the auxiliaries and Branch Presidencies and me and Elder Guia.  President Johnson taught all about how we can unite and become one with members, it was SO COOL!!!  There really is no other better way, only through the members.  What would happen if everyone in all of our wards started praying for those missionary opportunities? I think there is more that all of us can do, me included to help out missionaries, or help members to fulfill our responsibilities to spread the gospel…

We also found a Former Investigator and his name is Jerwin.  The member pointed us to his house and he is 15 years old, even though he seems like he is 18.  But the first thing he said to me was Elder pasensya hindi pa ako nagsimba.  Or that he has not yet gone to church, and he was super sorry about it, and will on SundayJ  then as we shared to him, we felt that he really has a desire and we are excited to help him to come to church, and gain his own testimony, there are blessings and miracles every day!!! I testifyJJ

Then we had a good Thanksgiving Feast at the Santos family, with mashed potatoes, a chicken, and spaghetti, it was a good time, and I was full, the must on ThanksgivingJ We also shared to that family and went around and all talked about what we are thankful for, so cool, so spiritual!!!  

We had a Feast of food/words of Christ/and miracles this week, good stuff!!!

Hope Ya'll had a Happy Thanksgiving!!! And Christmas is next!!! WHAT?!?!?

LOVE, Elder Alldredge

"The Batch" - Their term for Missionaries that came into the mission together.  They are together here for a Mission Leadership Council.

Hard, solid, fun, intense, lots of walking, and overbursting joy might just about sum up this week:)  So first off i had one of my dream experiences since i was a kid happen to me, it was so SWEET!!! So i saw a 20ish year old guy playing basketball at the plaza, and he was all alone just shooting some hoops.  Then I totally remembered my dream as a kid, to play against a person on my mission, in proselyting clothes, beat him, then teach him because I won... so that was the thinking in my head:)  It didn't exactly work out like that but we went over to him and just started talking to him, shooting hoops with him, for a couple of minutes while introducing ourselves.  I didn't get to play him;) but he did let us teach him... so there we were sitting on the steps next to the basketball court teaching how the Plan of God for him will change his life if he truly follows God's will, and of course a lot more things that we taught, but it was AWESOME!!! I seriously felt like it was a dream come true for me...:) Now he hasn't came to church yet, we are still working on helping him out, but ya i'd like to call it a miracle!!!

I was able to do a baptismal interview for someone for the first time in my mission on Saturday.  It was an amazing experience, and I won't forget it, this man was so repented, so changed and so so so ready to be baptized. I now more fully understand this scripture, the one that will truly see if someone is ready to take this step to follow Jesus Christ their whole life.

All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. -D&C 20:37

I saw this in this man and I am so thankful for the Savior and the Atonement to make this possible.

On sunday we had 5 investigators at church which was so amazing!!!  We had huge help from 2 members, who literally picked up all 5 Investigators, (see how big of an impact a member can have:) but it was super cool to see.  Especially one of them Sister Rose Biag who is a mom and 31 years old.  We have taught her a couple times, and we really see big potential in her, because she is one person who really has humbled herself before God, she is ready to do his will. Right now she just needs our prayers and her to pray sincerely and get an answer, i know it will come to her.  

One more thing i have seen this week is the impact of the Johnson's method of personal study.  Johnson because thats our mission president, President Johnson.  And it is really to just write what feelings, inspiration, personal revelation, impressions, or ideas that we have while we are reading, and it really makes personal study so much more meaningful, then you also have a notebook to look back on all of our personal revelation, its such a cool thing, i would suggest that to anyone:)

Well thanks for all the emails and prayers palagi!!!

LOVE, Elder Alldredge

This week was so unexpected but so exciting and fun, and I learned a TON this week!!! It was super unexpected because after having been told by President Johnson that Elder Sauro wouldn't transfer until December, HE GOT TRANSFERRED!!! We were so surprised, but also excited for the new opportunities, and i know that it is totally inspired because my new companion is so cool!! He is Elder Guia from Cebu and he is 3 months older than me in the mission.  And let me tell you he has so much advice and he is such a good teacher and spiritual person! One of the first things he asked me was "ifthe Spirit was guiding me everyday."  I know I am guided by the Spirit but it really helps me to ask myself this question, now we ask this everyday, after every lesson, and i can tell you that evaluating really works to improve.  Like i said last week in my email about my interview with President Johnson, this can help in any thing we are trying to improve at.  So ya I'm thankful for my new companion:)

On Saturday we experienced MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK to probably the fullest i have seen in my entire mission!! We had some 2 youth/ysa work with us and they totally helped out the work in Palayan for about the 2 hours they were with us.  FIrst we visited 2 referrals from them and taught them as new investigators.  Then we went to their referrals from 2 weeks ago and taught them about the importance of the Book of Mormon.  Then we visited a Part Member family and they fellowshipped the sister that is 16 years old.  After that they saw a sister that they had seen the day before and we talked to her and they really helped us gain a trust with this investigator. After that they wanted to work more so they came with us to help one of our other investigators feel more welcome at church.It was amazing to see their spirit of missionary work!!!!  Then on Sunday they picked up 3 investigators and brought them to church with them.  We are thankful for ALL members that help and let me tell you,.... Member Missionary Work is the only way to fully do this work, i know that is the Lord's way, because that is the only right way after all, His way...

A nanay bore her testimony on Sunday and it really strenthened my testimony.  She talked about the power of Priesthood Blessings.  She is maybe 80 years old, and sometimes she has health troubles, but especially lately, the past month have been really hard for her to keep moving and going.  Earlier in October we got a call that she needed a blessing so we went and blessed her.  She then came to church that sunday telling us about how she felt great the next morning and was able to walk just fine.  Then about 2 weeks later we get another call that her knees have stiffened up again and she can't walk at all, so we went the next morning and gave her a blessing, that she would be able to come to church on Sunday.  And that is EXACTLY what happened!!!! She testified that the power of God is true and was evident in the effect of those blessings.  Not because of us but because of the Priesthood power that is real!  Such a MIRACLE!!!! 

another miracle i typed and forgot to send with it:)

So sorry for such a short email, we are super short on time, but just know that I love you all, and I know without a doubt that this is the Lord's work, and I am happy to say that I am happy to do this work.

Thanks for all the emails!!!
Love, Elder Alldredge

District or Zone Meeting?  He is still using pictures from Elder Sauro, so we do not get explanations.  Buy a camera already!!

Great pictures with families in the area.  Elder Sauro got transferred so I am sure he was saying goodbye to all of them.