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.

Halloween in the Philippines... It is not even close to the American way of things, but its still crazy and there is a TON of people every where, especially near the cemetery.  That is Halloween for them more like a Family Reunion/Memorial Day at the cemetery.  So we weren't able to go out on Halloween night to trick or treat:( jokelang!! But we were able to teach lots of people this week which was awesome!! 

This week might have been one of the very busiest weeks of my entire mission!!  We literally had places to go every day of the week!! On Tuesday morning we left early and went to Tarlac where we had a meeting with President Johnson and the AP's about our zone.  It was super helpful and we are super stoked to get the Zone pumped up and working smart while hard.  Also President Johnson gave us some chocolate and we all ate and told stories with President, it was a good Halloween day:)  

Then after that meeting I got to go on exchanges with the AP's in our mission.  But it was super special and so fun for me and my companion because he was my companion in the MTC!!!! Me and Elder Zacchilli worked hard but it was so fun to tell stories and to really see the improvement in both of us, in confidence, in Tagalog, and basically everything.  The last time we worked together was in that area back in our training for about two hours, so lets just say lots has changed since then:) I learned a TON from him, and it was probably the funnest exchange of my mission!!! its not every day you get to work with your MTC companion!!!

I also went on exchanges with a district leader in our zone and it was so fun! and in that one day we had 7 New Investigators!! Also I saw the only other area with a beach!! But i got no pictures....:(i still haven't been able to get a camera, but i will get one this week, don't worry:)

So it was a crazy fast week again, because we were all over the place, from Dingalan at the dagat to Tarlac with President Johnson.

Also on Sunday President Johnson came to church here in Palayan Branch. Then afterwards he interviewed our zone, it was such a solid interview and I learned mostly about improving, the key is to always be evaluating myself, my work, my obedience, and then identify specific places where I am struggling and make goals and plans to improve in that specific area. And this can literally apply to every aspect of our lives!! I really think if everyone did this we would be able to live up to our potential a lot better, to improve all the time, regularly to really see the changes.  But also if we only do that we will fail, the most important thing in improvement is faith in Jesus Christ, because without him we will never come to our potential, without him we won't even get close!! But with him and only through him, trusting in his plan for me and giving our will to every thing that he knows is best for us, that is how we can all improve, and become more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

Love ya'll!! 

Thanks for all the emails and prayers!!

Elder Alldredge

 

P-Day with Elder Sauro and the District Leader for splits