Elder Kyle Alldredge

This week was Legendary because I met the VERY FIRST Missionary to serve in the Philippines. Well 1 of the first 4 missionaries. His name was President Goodson. He is 80 years old about 6 foot 4. He served for 3 years in China as a missionary, then one day he got a call from Elder Hinckley(he wasn't President back then) and he had another assignment, to open the country of the Philippines to missionary work... He told us many stories of the amazing things that happened to him. Like one was "it was 3 days before we got rejected" that just shows ya how cool the Filipinos are:)

He also shared the very first thing that they taught in the history of the missionaries in the Philippines.

1. Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through Him and His Redeeming power we can be cleaned from sin.

2. The Heavens have been once again opened.

3. Families can be together Forever

I thought this was an amazing thing, maybe its because i am serving here in the Philippines, so i am a little more tender about it, but man i felt the Spirit when he shared the very first things they shared in the history of the church in this country.

Then after his mission about 10ish years later when he was 36 he was called to be the Mission President for the Manila mission, which covered basically the whole Philippines. His wife was 32 at that time, and they brought over 5 kids with them, and had 2 more kids while here in the Philippines. His wife talked about how crazy it was to raise kids in the Philippines back then. Like in the first couple of weeks she said she found in their house giant softball sized cockroaches that fly, she found countless rats, and even when visiting an Elders home, found a pig staying in their house as well:) She said she was blown away and almost couldn't take it, but she toughed it out, and helped out all the missionaries to be clean as well;) Don't worry mom, our house isn't quite that dirty:):):):):)

He has been back and forth to the Philippines many times since then. Just to give you an idea of some things/projects he is doing now. They have built hundreds of communal Restrooms for the public. They have dug many many wells to have fresh water for people to drink. They are currently feeding over 5,000 malnourished children every single day. He also shared about how when he was home way back in the day, he got a call from Elder Hinckley, and he said i have an assignment for you Brother Goodson, to find a spot for the temple in the Philippines. So he found the area where the temple was built.

And a couple of quote that he said that i loved were:

"Whether the work is easy or hard, it is to be done."

"The Philippines is a Land of Miracles"

"Love seems to conquer a Lot"

I gained such a great respect for this man and his wife, it is amazing what they started here in the Philippines. Now there are over 750,000 members here, and it is one of the fastest growing countries in the world as regards to membership. I now appreciate the opportunity i have to serve here more than ever, so i am so grateful for that Legenday Experience this week.

Also our investigator Bernard, was really struggling because his wife took his kids away and they have no idea where they are. So we shared about the Priesthood and offered a blessing. He told us afterwards that he really felt good in the blessing, like a super light feeling. He then told us yesterday at church, that his bad feelings are basically gone, and he knows it will all be alright. I know the Priesthood is real, it has power to do miracles, because of our faith and God's love for us, i'm thankful i was able to see that first hand this week.

Thats it for Elder Alldredge this week...

LOVE YA'LL!!!