Lynn and Allred Stay Together in Passo Fundo

Hello people... Yes the big news of the week is that me and my companion will be staying here. Very strange. We were quite convinced along with everybody else that one of us was leaving, which left us with a completely empty day yesterday. But we manged to pull it all together and have some very productive visits, including one late with family of three, we invited them to baptism and felt the spirit strongly.

BUT, with that out of the way.. I have some venting to do. Yes i know shocker, Allred venting.. Ill try to keep it short and get it out of the way early. My theme of this week... People losing their minds. I mentioned that everyone here has depression, well, they also all seem to feel picked on. And that the reason they are inactive is because of others.. I nearly lost it with a couple people just wanting to say STOP NEEDING A CRUTCH!!! Ugh, its very frustrating. We just had to calmly tell people listen.. There are MANY that need visits/help.. And VERY FEW that can give it..

Secondly... don't ask for help in Brasil. Cause you wont get it. We are walking home from our last appointment. Thursday night i think. We skipped a marriage in the ward that we really wanted to go to. And are almost home, when i see this dude, face down in the street. (Not all the rare, but still) We had to help him. So we ask if he needs help, yeah, and lift him up. Dude is bleeding unreal out the nose (completely broken), has a nasty cut on his head, and smells real real bad. (like all) Of course when we ask him if he was drinking he tells us nah nah. But we are like alright man lets get you home.. Except, he cant walk, not even close. And has no idea where he lives. So we sit him down, and start to think. Its way after our time, but we could NOT leave him. He NEEDED help. So we start calling, first Brasil´s equivalent to 911. Long story short, we literally got passed off from number to number for over an hour. It was SO frustrating. No one would help. So finally, we tell him we´ll be right back and go looking for someone with a car. Luckily for us, (its like we have god on our side or something...) we find a guy that says that´s his work. So we handed him off to him, and then saw the same drunkard in their usual park the next morning. Its a never ending cycle. And its so sad.

Aside from those things, an ever increasing number of cockroaches (16 in our kitchen last night) and some casting out of Devils, my week was pretty good. As you can see from the pictures we had both the marriage AND the baptism of Alex and Giselle. I´ve gushed about them enough, but all i can say is i will be at their sealing session one year from now. They overcame everything, smoking, café, losing a job/tithing, marriage, to make this decision. And i just couldn't stop smiling as Alex was trying to explain to me the feeling he has every time he´s in the church. Powerful.

But yeah, it was a good week. Im shocked were both still here. But since we are, were already comfortable, loaded, and ready to go. We are here for a purpose. I am so excited to find out what that is. Especially since, because Lynn is staying, i am probably NEVER GOING TO LEAVE THIS PLACE. Haha, don't get me wrong. I love it, but its SO far removed from the rest of the mission and knowing i will be here at LEAST 6 months is a little daunting. But oh well, God´s will right.

One last thing i need to say. Sat night we were teaching a lesson. And the worst one Ive ever taught. We had the most FRUSTRATING old lady in the world, who told us all about how she studied all religions (including ours) who would NOT let us teach. Instead she wanted to ask us the dumbest, most un-related questions in the world.. Like, ´why did only FOUR of the apostles write in the bible´.. Like, wanting to bible bash AGAINST the bible.. Yeah, go figure. I wanted to be like WHO CARES, i don't even like the bible!! We´re here to talk about THIS BOOK. But yeah, so i was frustrated. But then we get to Jesus Christ. And this lady had the nerve to tell us that Jesus Christ was NOT perfect, and more than if you read in between the lines of the bible, he left with women, and drank, he was a man. ..... I just got the oddest feeling ever, i swelled up and just HAD to say something. Needless to say, we will not be going back there anytime soon. To every single one of you... I KNOW that just Christ was perfect. I testify that he was our savior and suffered for every one of our sins. And i want it CLEAR at the judgment seat of god that i bore testimony that the ONLY way we can return to our heavenly father is through his perfect son, Jesus Christ. The end. I love you all. Jesus Christ was perfect.

Ai from Passo Fundo

Queridos Irmãos, Irmâs, País, Amigos, e familiares...

What the freak is up. Yes, still in Brazil. Shocker right. Im just going to jump right into it cause a lot of wierd stuff happened this week.. It was a pretty good week, even though we continually have back breakers on our baptisms.. Mas, fazer o que né? Gotta keep on keeping on and do your best.

We started the week finally breaking down and going to tell Marcio what a piece of crap he is. Im quite sure he´s cheating on his wife, and has now wasted our time and money (that we dont have) twice by promising to meet us at the cartorio. As i predicted he was absolutely ignorant, laughing and shirking every dead serious question we asked, instead just repeating over and over Allred, não seja bravo, eu te amo cado. (Allred, dont be mad, i love you dude.) I wanted to punch him.

In other funny but not really funny news.. Guess what? I AM SO FAT. I now weight 192 pounds.. Which i dont really care, i know ill lose it all when i get home, except for the fact that i cant close my pants.. Yeah, they hurt so bad. So i might have to go on like a week long fast... Anyone need any quick blessings??

To continue on with sucky stuff, I had kind of a real faith breaker this week. In Erechim. We went to what was supposed to be a normal visit to a guy in the hospital, but turned into holy cow, he´s spitting blood and heaving with everyone trying to keep him alive. I had no idea what to do... He wasnt my inv. and Harker didnt say anything. So i just asked if he would like a blessing. He nodded through heaves yes, and so I washed my hands and started. Not sure exactly what i said.. But i made some promises. Promises that weren´t kept. He died the next day. If anyone has a story maybe about something like that i would greatly appreciate it cause im still a little bit shook up..

But, my week wasnt all sad. We did spend a lot of time this week with 3 different ladies that are all water buckets.. You know those people that JUST want to tell you about how sad things are and WANT to cry.. Yeah. They all have depression. Not sure if ive ever told you about this but EVERYONE is depressed here. Its the trademark of the Rio Grande do Sul. Why cant people just figure out happiness isnt in alcohol and cigarrettes? Oh, and this was tragic, a member in our ward committed suicide yesterday. 22 year old girl. Cute too. Our bishop nearly broke down, he performed her wedding. Sorry, that still makes me week sound more depressing than it was...

We had a GREAT visit this week with a man named Michael. Not sure if ive told about him, but that punk has given me more trouble than anyone on my mission. He is SO smart, and wants to find an answer SO bad. But he´s a little too smart for his own good. He has literally studied EVERYTHING, and know more of our church history than i do. But unfortunately, he cant get past the polygamy thing. He BELIEVES Joseph Smith was a true prophet.. Just not in any of the ones after him. I tried to explain that if you believe in him.. you believe in the rest. But he´s got a real big mental block. But i think we may have made some progress this week, we left a video of Thomas S. Monson with him, to watch and pray about.

What else.. I got bit on my butt by some crazy brazil bug.. But what else is new. I wish i could take a picture of it, cause its really gross, but its kind of all up in my business. And Nana would not appreciate it. But its legit. Yesterday we visited the craziest lady ive met on my mission. Her daughter is a good investigator. The only problem is she spents most of the time SCREAMING at her 99 year old mother, and asking us if she has devils.. i honestly tell her im not sure. Because this woman is constantly either taking off her clothes, trying to give us money, or trying to get on her knees and worship us. And Yesterday she tried to sit in my lap the whole lesson... Yeah, its tough. And sad. I mostly just feel bad for the cute 13 year old daughter that just sits there while her mom smokes and screams... Thats a hard thing in Brazil, seeing kids that you KNOW are going to have rough childhoods..

Other things.. Alex and Giselle continue just to be the most awesome investigators ever. They will be married and baptized this week. They asked us about Tithing on Thursday, so we went back on Friday to teach them. Before we started, he told us he lost his job, and was going to lose the house. Not going to lie, tithing was the last thing i wanted to teach. But we did, and bore strong testimony. I wanted to kiss him as he accepted the invite to pay tithing and told us he knew the lord would provide for him, if he was faithful.

I wish i could tell you about all my lessons.. I really do. Like the drunk guy that shouted at us and made us follow him, then busted out crying. Or our VERY evangelical lady that always tells us of her ´miracles´and has her little girls sing us RAW RAW GOD music.. But they all have something in common. THE GOSPEL CAN HELP THEM. If i had a theme this week its that The gospel IS ALWAYS the way to happiness. Thats our job as missionaries. To beg people to test it out. I know this is true. I LOVE this gospel and my calling as a missionary. Please remember me and my investigators in our prayers, so they can have the joy that we all feel. I love you all. Sorry this was random, and long. (again)

Greetings From the Furnace

Hello Family

I had a very interesting week. It was filled with a lot of ups and downs. We kind of got pushed down, kicked, spit on, then curb stomped with our baptismal goal... But these are the kind of weeks that show you what you are made of!! I will try to give you a little rundown...

Tuesday after P day started the difficulties. We visited Luis to make sure everything was good for his baptism, and the first thing he said was FUMEI DOIS!! (I smoked two) I was trying hard not to laugh actually as we explained its okay, lets try again!! Não, vou desistir! (No, I will give up) So after much trying to encourage him it was clear the Luis story will just get weirder. He will be back i have NO doubt but strange old Luis will not be this transfer. Very sad. But then we stopped by Alex and Giselle, and they brightened our spirits a little.. They are such champs.

Wednesday was interesting. We started out excited to finally meet the flakiest couple ever at the cartorio to mark a marriage date! These guys are flaky as they come, and i have a lot of fear that he is cheating on her. So naturally, after PROMISING he would be there, he doesnt show up, without a text or a call. He sends me like 10 texts a day calling me Denzel Washington but cant send a text saying i wont be there? I was so mad. Turns out ODDLY enough EVERYONE else at his work received their money but NOT HIM! Hmm.. Isnt that the strangest thing. Ugh. But that wasn´t the end. After lunch we are walking on the road, and i hear a one of the million dogs a day that barks at me.. Except this one didn't stop. Ever. right up until he was tearing at my flesh... Okay that's an exaggeration, but he did bite me. And it HURT! So long story short.. After arguing with first my comp, then my zone leader, then Sister Pavan, we went to the hospital. Brazilian emergency rooms-scary. Wow. So after three hours of waiting (Its cause i was American! I was dying of Rabies! That's WAY more serious that a gunshot...) but yeah i was finally admitted and cured of my Rabies.

Thursday I was re-united with my good buddy Elder Harker that i cant seem to get rid of. I did a division out in Erechim. But not before getting a plethora of letters and 2 packages (THANK YOU) and finding a DELICIOUS new greek food place to eat at. I am getting SO much less picky.. Division was much better this time. He still didn't say a word in his area, but i was comfortable. Cant believe that was 2 months ago... crazy. But we finished out night making unbelievable mini pizzas!! (As shown) wow they were good.

Friday was a very difficult day. Nothing gave. We gritted it out and celebrated with peanut butter sandwiches and letters from Grandma at 10 at night! My Nana is such a G... Someone explain to her what the means. Saturday was a little better. We found a couple new investigators (been doing a lot of door knocking lately..) But THEN that night i had a first. We always pass this group of bums that yells at us.. So usually i just ignore them, and tried to when one of them came up to me. But then was surprised at his humility, when he asked for a minute of our time. He looked at me, calling me senhor, and asked `Can you heal this?`I don't know what leprosy looked like, honestly i don't. But if i had to guess, it would look a lot like this.. He pulled up his shirt and was literally covered from head to toe in horrible sores. I honestly didn't know what to say.. We promised him to return, still not sure what we are going to do...

Sunday was a good day, except that we had 0, yes 0 investigators at church. We are hurting so bad on that front. We are trying SO hard to get people to church, but Satan is just kind of kicking our butts. Aside from that though we had a lot of good visits, including watching the testaments with Alex and Giselle. When we were leaving, they stopped us and said Wait! Aren´t you going to mark a passage for us to read?? Unbelievable... Man i love them.

Yesterday was a really tough day. We only had 1 lesson... yeah, real bad. It was a good lesson though. I thought it went really well until at the end when we asked if they had questions the wife asked... So do you guys believe in God? Come OOONN! That is ALMOST as bad as the time we taught an awesome second lesson (plan of salvation) and the first thing the woman said after is.. So have you guys ever heard of reincarnation?? Sometimes i just want to slap my investigators. But i dont, because they are children of god, stupid children of god, but children.

People. I'm sorry this was long. But sometimes i just want you all to experience the things that i do, all of them! Because i literally feel myself changing, feel myself becoming more Christ like, I'm so far, but improving. And really, that's all we can do. Continue to improve until Christ comes and saves us all. Because he will come. I love you all so much.
--

Elder Alex Allred

Caixa Postal 13008

91010-971 Porto Alegre-RS

Brasil

Greetings from the furnace

Hello Family

I had a very interesting week. It was filled with a lot of ups and downs. We kind of got pushed down, kicked, spit on, then curb stomped with our baptismal goal... But these are the kind of weeks that show you what you are made of!! I will try to give you a little rundown...

Tuesday after P day started the difficulties. We visited Luis to make sure everything was good for his baptism, and the first thing he said was FUMEI DOIS!! (I smoked two) I was trying hard not to laugh actually as we explained its okay, lets try again!! Não, vou desistir! (No, I will give up) So after much trying to encourage him it was clear the Luis story will just get weirder. He will be back i have NO doubt but strange old Luis will not be this transfer. Very sad. But then we stopped by Alex and Giselle, and they brightened our spirits a little.. They are such champs.
Wednesday was interesting. We started out excited to finally meet the flakiest couple ever at the cartorio to mark a marriage date! These guys are flaky as they come, and i have a lot of fear that he is cheating on her. So naturally, after PROMISING he would be there, he doesnt show up, without a text or a call. He sends me like 10 texts a day calling me Denzel Washington but cant send a text saying i wont be there? I was so mad. Turns out ODDLY enough EVERYONE else at his work received their money but NOT HIM! Hmm.. Isnt that the strangest thing. Ugh. But that wasn´t the end. After lunch we are walking on the road, and i hear a one of the million dogs a day that barks at me.. Except this one didn't stop. Ever. right up until he was tearing at my flesh... Okay that's an exaggeration, but he did bite me. And it HURT! So long story short.. After arguing with first my comp, then my zone leader, then Sister Pavan, we went to the hospital. Brazilian emergency rooms-scary. Wow. So after three hours of waiting (Its cause i was American! I was dying of Rabies! That's WAY more serious that a gunshot...) but yeah i was finally admitted and cured of my Rabies.

Thursday I was re-united with my good buddy Elder Harker that i cant seem to get rid of. I did a division out in Erechim. But not before getting a plethora of letters and 2 packages (THANK YOU) and finding a DELICIOUS new greek food place to eat at. I am getting SO much less picky.. Division was much better this time. He still didn't say a word in his area, but i was comfortable. Cant believe that was 2 months ago... crazy. But we finished out night making unbelievable mini pizzas!! (As shown) wow they were good.

Friday was a very difficult day. Nothing gave. We gritted it out and celebrated with peanut butter sandwiches and letters from Grandma at 10 at night! My Nana is such a G... Someone explain to her what the means. Saturday was a little better. We found a couple new investigators (been doing a lot of door knocking lately..) But THEN that night i had a first. We always pass this group of bums that yells at us.. So usually i just ignore them, and tried to when one of them came up to me. But then was surprised at his humility, when he asked for a minute of our time. He looked at me, calling me senhor, and asked `Can you heal this?`I don't know what leprosy looked like, honestly i don't. But if i had to guess, it would look a lot like this.. He pulled up his shirt and was literally covered from head to toe in horrible sores. I honestly didn't know what to say.. We promised him to return, still not sure what we are going to do...

Sunday was a good day, except that we had 0, yes 0 investigators at church. We are hurting so bad on that front. We are trying SO hard to get people to church, but Satan is just kind of kicking our butts. Aside from that though we had a lot of good visits, including watching the testaments with Alex and Giselle. When we were leaving, they stopped us and said Wait! Aren´t you going to mark a passage for us to read?? Unbelievable... Man i love them.

Yesterday was a really tough day. We only had 1 lesson... yeah, real bad. It was a good lesson though. I thought it went really well until at the end when we asked if they had questions the wife asked... So do you guys believe in God? Come OOONN! That is ALMOST as bad as the time we taught an awesome second lesson (plan of salvation) and the first thing the woman said after is.. So have you guys ever heard of reincarnation?? Sometimes i just want to slap my investigators. But i dont, because they are children of god, stupid children of god, but children.

People. I'm sorry this was long. But sometimes i just want you all to experience the things that i do, all of them! Because i literally feel myself changing, feel myself becoming more Christ like, I'm so far, but improving. And really, that's all we can do. Continue to improve until Christ comes and saves us all. Because he will come. I love you all so much.

Happy American Day 2

Oi Familia

Hello people that i love. Whats up again from the good old city of Passo Fundo. I had a pretty good week, and a really good day today. We are REALLY struggling getting people to church, and this week was especially disappointing. We had 2 couples that were kinda CRITICAL that they go to church, and neither showed up. It was a back breaker. We are not sure what we are doing wrong. But I´m getting very tired of doing all the heavy lifting for people. Especially when they just straight up lie to our face about appointments that we have, and that they will go to church, and its just a big time waster. But oh well, I'm done venting, we had some good things happen.

But first, I want to talk about the great P day we had today. Today, as you can maybe tell from the title. Is America Day! TWO! We decided that last America Day was too great not to do again... So as of now, every 4th week of the transfer is America Day. I will tell you how today went down. First we woke up, REAL REAL early, at 630!! Then we did some light study (Jesus the Christ for me) and made some breakfast. At 9 we went to the church and played some basketball for the first time! With the Lz´s and a couple guys from the ward. Not sure if i´ve ever told you about Felipe? RM here that served in Orlando, speaks FLAWLESS English, and is obsessed with the NBA. We found out today he´s moving to Provo! But yeah so then we got a BIG coke, (and an American flag) and hit up Micky D´s! nothing like a Big Mac here. Its not the same, but real burgers don't exist here. And its KIND of real.. But then we used some email, only for like 45 min, so we could hit up home to take a quick nap. Only problem... A HUGE rainstorm hit all of the sudden. That happens here. And when it does the sidewalks turn into crazy raging rivers and the streets completely flood. So that would have been all and great, except that our roof started leaking uncontrollably... Yeah, it was bad. Our entire floor is sopping wet. So we spent most of our time cleaning that, but we did manage to try and bake the closest thing to a cake they have here. But yeah, so now i am back, finishing up email before we have to go to our visits! Good P day.

I cant really remember much of what happened during the week... I dont have my note card. I'm lost without it. But Oh, Alex and Giselle. Yeah, i pretty much love them. They are just so money. They were our only investigators at church this week. And right after class, Alex grabs me and is like Elder we have something to tell you. (never good) so I'm like CRAP. So we visit a little later and turns out he has trouble smoking.. But that champ of a man was like No worries though, I felt bad about it a couple days ago, so i stopped!! And I think i can stop for good, cause i know i cant smoke and be baptized!! I love that guy... And I'm not even sure if i mentioned we set a marriage date with them? Yeah it was sick. They are so money. Jan 22. Marriage and a bath.

Other than that not a whole lot happened. It was Lynn´s 1 year mark last Wednesday so we did some celebrating with that! Including a VERY bad result burning a shirt (mission tradition) in our kitchen. Yikes. Sunday was stressful, No one really showed up, including our teachers in both classes. So of course we teach, and OH YEAH haha as I'm sitting in Sacrament meeting last Sunday suddenly I hear Our first speaker today will be Elder Allred... Real fun. My first in Portuguese. I spoke on the importance of Eternal Families. I think it went pretty well. But then right after that we got a call from one of our marriages that has a serious vendetta against the ENTIRE bishopric... And wont get married if any of them are present there.. Ughh.. I nearly screamed at him. But yeah, haha besides that it was a pretty good week. I love this city and the people, and my mission, regardless of the many challenges. I know i am here where i am supposed to be. And very excited for Cole to join me. Enjoy your TRIP Lee Family and tell my SENATOR of an Uncle how proud of him I am. I love you all sorry this was very disorganized!

P.s. I attached a picture of my hideous foot! I may have to go to a doctor if it doesn't get better... Do they have doctors here??



--
Elder Alex Allred
Caixa Postal 13008
91010-971 Porto Alegre-RS
Brasil

Mother, this will be the letter to my friends

My Brethren

Hello from Brasil. Wow, can i just say i thoroughly enjoyed the last letter exchange. I told my companion a few days ago sometimes when im just having a shizzy day, it is so comforting to know that I've got a battalion of my best buddies out there doing the exact same thing i am. Trudging through the rain(ridiculous here), heat, snow, whatever. Thanks for the example fellas, i look up to every one of you.

Some general info. Near impossible to give specifics in a letter like this... But i am in a city called Passo Fundo, Way down in the South of Brazil. Speaking Portuguese all day and begging people to STOP smoking and GET married. Our two major problems here.. We are currently working with 6 duplas trying to get them into marriage and then into the waters. They all have a range of problems... from crack, to prostitution. We see it all here. But it really is a blessing to see someone recognize something missing in their life, and make a complete change. We have one couple that is so legit. He quit smoking, she quit working on Sunday and drinking café, and they take a 30 min bus to get to church every Sunday. Truly elect, i loved what David (Elder Yeates) had to say about finding people prepared to hear the gospel, so true. People that listen, read, ask questions. Its very refreshing.

Quick story about a man named Luis. (We call him Abraão) (Abraham) Luis is definitely going to go down as the strangest person i ever baptized on my mission... He has 11 dogs, wont let us in his house, has very very green stained fingers, and never speaks more than 2 words at a time. But he´s sick. His quick story- We found him knocking (clapping) doors. he comes out, with some tight shorts (and that's it, wears the same thing everday) on. BIIIG big bushy beard, smells awful. Not sure if he showers.. But regardless, we taught him a quick lesson, and invited him to church. I'm suprised when he shows up, an hour early! We are stoked and go back that day. We ask him how he felt. Good. What else? i felt the spirit. Awesome! What else?? I want to give you back your book.. AWE- wait what?? He goes I will follow mine. So yeah turns out he has a church he created.. So we bore some strong testimony and left. Long story short... THREE weeks later my comp laughs and says i wont believe who is here.. My boy Luis is there WITHOUT a beard, in a COLLARED shirt. After 220 stolen cigarettes in my apt (real funny) Luis now has a baptism date this Saturday and looks like a different person. This work REALLY can change people.

Guys, i was thinking yesterday. Nossa, our missions are all SO different. We are in different places, different cultures. Some of us are in summer, winter.. Some are speaking a new language.. (the gift of tongues is real by the way) But yet, at the same time we are ALL working towards the same purpose. Convidar as pessoas a achegarem-se a Cristo. Every day we go head to head with Satan who´s desperately looking for a knockout in the last round. Thats pretty Bad A if you ask me.. I love you guys, and i Love this work. Its so unbelievable difficult, but if it wasn´t hard, it WOULD NOT be worth it. Know that i pray for many of you specifically, and all of you as a whole EVERY night. We are the lord´s army, we already know who is going to win, now all it is is trying to get as many as we can on the right team yeah?? Keep doing your thing guys. Siga em frente. Much love. Peace.
P.s. Markie congrats on the AP call man that´s way sick.

Elder Alexander Allred