Favorite Scripture

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." (3 Nephi 5:13)

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Just pictures

These pictures were shared Christmas Eve on Facebook by Griffin Hales. Thanks for sharing.


















One of My Best Weeks

Helllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooo!

Well another week has left us!  And now a new one is upon us, I'm trying to change it up a little bit haha.  Well this past week was one of the best of all of my mission.  So Tuesday we just had a little bit of teaching to do and that went well.  Wednesday we were at the church most of the day getting ready for our Christmas party on Thursday.  So on Thursday we had our Mission Christmas Party.

At 6 in the morning we went to the Church to leave for our service project.  I thought we were going to go to a school and clean or something....we actually went to an Orfinage (orphanage).  So my job was to put corn on my back and put it in a better place.  Then we put it in barrels.  I was really touched by all the kids.  They were all so nice. I felt so bad for all of them.  But I realized how important this little service was because I was also serving my father in heaven, Matt 25;40 (And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.)  Then we continued with the rest of the party.  All and all is was good.

Saturday was the baptism.  We had 3. We baptized Victor, Alexis and Akoss.  I was so happy for all of these people because they were finally able to achieve their goals.  All and all it was a great week. I love you and can't wait to see you soon!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II





Monday, December 15, 2014

Preparing for Baptisms

Hellllllooooooooooooo!

Well I can't believe that another has passed, things just keep going faster and faster.  So this past week was really good!  We were able to teach a good number of lessons.  We had a really great lesson with Alexice.  So we have been teaching him for a while now and we have been talking about his baptism for a while also. so on Wednesday we asked him what day would you want to do you baptism and he said it has to be before the end of December.  And then he looked at his phone and
said, I have to be baptized the 20th!  So we said ok, Things are looking good for him.  It's crazy that he will finally be baptized!  We will also be baptizing Victor this week!  Wow a lot of work to be done.  Please pray for these people!  Thanks!  Anyway but there wasn't a lot of other exciting things this week.  I cut my hand when I went African on a coconut haha but that's about it.  Anyway lots of exciting things coming.  I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II



Monday, December 8, 2014

Uncle JD

Helllllooooooooo!

Well another week has come and gone! Ok so this week wasn't really that exciting!  This was the last week for Elder Hales so we had a bit of running around with him.  A lot of goodbye dinners.  It was
interesting seeing him leave this morning.  Elder Hales was the first person that met in the MTC going to the same mission as me, and now he is going home. Crazy how time flies! So the person that replaced him is Elder Marurai!  He is Tahitian.  I've known him for a while; he is a super awesome dude.

So we were able to see most of our investigators this week.  We were able to fix a baptismal date with one of our investigators.  But he wasn't at church yesterday so I need some prayers....his name is Victor.  Yesterday in Church I got to teach the lesson in the investigators class.  I taught about the law of chastity.  It was really great because I feel like I helped people understand what being chaste is.  I had really good participation during the lesson.

OH ya so I'm now in the last 6 weeks of my mission. Weird.  I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Elder Allred became an uncle on December 6, 2014 - Jude Robert Stromberg



Monday, December 1, 2014

Another Baptism

Hellllllllllllllllllloooooooooooo!

Well another week down the drain....it's getting scary how fast time is going!  Well we had another good week this week!  I got to do another split in the other area this week and it went better than the last week's split. We were able to see a lot of people.

Wednesday came the big surprise of the week; I went to the eye doctor.  The week before last I had been having some problems in one of my eyes so Sr. Morin decided I should go see the doctor....well it turns out I had an eye infection.  I hope I never get one of those again....it was terrible.  I have medicine and I'm not having any problems now!  So all is good!

The rest of the week went by really well.  Thursday we had a little Thanksgiving in Africa...it was pretty awesome.  Saturday we had a baptism.  Cecile.  It was really awesome to finally see her get baptized.  She had been an investigator for almost a year now. It's really odd the way things work out sometimes.  All and all things are progressing well.  I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II



Monday, November 24, 2014

The Work is Progressing Well

Helllllllllllloooooooooooo!

Well the time just continues to pass and things are going great!  This last week was another really good week for myself and Elder Tano. Tuesday I was able to go to the other sector; the other missionaries want me to know their area because of possible transfers and what they might do to it, so I was there.  It was ok, We weren't able to see a lot of people.  The rest of the week went well.

So I am finally starting to understand the importance of these last couple months.  I can really see that I am more effective and that the work is progressing well!  I'm lucky that I get to train, having a new
missionary along with me helps me out so much.  We are really working well together.....everywhere we go we seriously talk to everyone! Our area is really starting to pick up.

Good news for this week is we have a baptism!  Cecil was at church again so we are officially going to baptize her.  I love seeing her desire to do what's right.  Please pray for her!  All is well!  I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

PS  Happy birthday mom! I love you and I am so thankful for you in my life!

Monday, November 17, 2014

One of My Best Weeks

Hellllllllooooooooo!

Well another week has come and gone!  I have to say this past week was one of the best weeks of my entire mission!  So throughout the week we had a lot of good lessons!  We met with all of our investigators and we were able to see all of our members too!  Each day we had no problems filling up our time, it was seriously great.  Once again I see the hand of the Lord in our work and the blessings that come from hard work!  On Sunday we had one of our old investigators come back to church, her name is Cecile.  I'm not really sure what happened but she came back!  And we were able to set a baptismal date with her!  So pray that all will go well with her!  And this week we got the news that we will be able to baptize Alexice!  All is good, but first we need to start teaching his wife.  All is going good!  I miss you and love you!

Avec Amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Monday, November 10, 2014

New Investigator

Hellooooooooo!

Well here we go, another week has passed and now there are 10!  Well the days are really passing quicker now; it’s pretty crazy.  So this week was pretty good.  We had a really good week prepared.  Throughout the week we had a lot of appointments, but there were a lot that didn't go through.  But we did our best. We found a new investigator this week named mama Felin...she is really cool...and she knows more about the bible than I do.  We are hoping she will progress well but who knows.  Everything is going well with my new companion.  Elder Tano is really awesome.  I like him a lot.  He has a great work ethic, and real enthusiasm for the work.  He talks to everyone who he sees.  All and all things are good.  Not much to report on.  Love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Monday, November 3, 2014

Happy Birthday!! and New Companion

Well another week has come and gone....and now I'm 21....crazy.  Well this week was good.  Tuesday was good, we had a lot of appointments planned and then we received a call from the assistants that said they were coming to get Elder Mutoke a day early...and he wasn't ready so we stayed in the rest of the day so he could finish.  Wednesday morning he left and that ended our 5 and 1/2 months that we had done together. It was good but I was definitely ready for a change.  A few hours later my new son Elder Tano arrived.  You can just tell that he is a new missionary.  But everything has started out well.  This week we did a lot of contacting.  It was great.  We are hoping a few of those people will work out.  We taught a few good lessons but I can tell that my comp still has a lot to learn, but hey what new missionary doesn't.  Something that I like is that he has a positive attitude all the time!  And it really reflects on the rest of the day...I guess it’s true that when one person is happy isn't hard not to be.  The training is going well too, he listens to everything I say and does everything that I ask him to do.  All and all things are good!  I hope you have a good week!  I love you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II


Monday, October 27, 2014

The Big 12!!!

Hellllllllllllllllloooooooooooooo!

Well another week has come and gone and here we are again.  So like you know I don’t really send group emails but this week is a little extra important so here we go.  The week started out like most do, with going out and seeing the investigators that we have.  I think we taught some pretty good lessons.  Alex is doing really well, we teach him 3 times a week.  He understands everything we teach and it feels like it’s perfect for him but he still hasn't come to church.  Alexice is still doing well; he came to church yesterday and is talking more than ever about his baptism.  I think he is ready. We will be baptizing him within the next couple weeks.

Other than that there is nothing really new, except for one small thing.  So the reason I put the title as the Big 12 is because I have 12 weeks left on my mission, but I also will be receiving a new companion.....a brand new missionary.  I received the call on Wednesday that I’ll be training a new missionary named Elder Tano from the Ivory Coast.  So now is the time I really need to work the hardest and show this new missionary what it’s like. I know the importance my example will have on him.  Now is the time for me to be my best!

Pray for me, it’s going to be tough but I also know it will be worth it.  I love you and miss you all!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II




Monday, October 20, 2014

Pray for Our Investigators

Helllloooooo!

Well I hope that all is going well!  This week was pretty good; all is well here in Kegue.  So the week started out a little tough because my companion was sick but then we hit the floor running on Wednesday. Wednesday we were able to teach all of our investigators.

The great news from this week is from Alexice.  HE was able to get the proof of his marriage so now we will be able to baptize him without any problem! I was really happy about that.

So something interesting happened this week.  We have two investigators who are really awesome. But both of them won’t come to church.  So we asked them both and they both said the exact same thing.  They said, “I know you are trying to help me, I want to come to church but I have things that I need to work out before I can come so pray for me.”  It was weird but I hope they will come soon.  But there isn't really much more to report on.  All is well.  I miss you and love you!

Avec amour

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Photos from Elder Mutoke




Monday, October 13, 2014

Searching for Investigators

Well another week has come and gone.  There isn't really to much to report on this week.  Tuesday and Wednesday we had we had a pretty good day of working.  Thursday another missionary came to work with me in my area and it was awesome!

We did a lot of searching for new investigators, while we were doing that we got to sit down with a Muslim and talk for a few minutes.  It was really interesting hearing the beliefs of others and discussing them.  I think it was a good talk and I think he understood well.

We had a really good lesson with Alex this week.  We talked about the importance of baptism and conformation and faith.  I think he understood well, if only we could get him to come to church haha.  The rest of the week was pretty normal.  It rained all day Saturday so we didn't really get to work.  All and all things are good.  The pictures are of me in the rain and eating some good food!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II







Monday, October 6, 2014

Happy Week

Hellloooo!

Well this week was pretty interesting.  To be honest there wasn't a lot of stuff that happened.  Unfortunately we didn't teach a lot of lessons at all. But we were able to get a few in.  Friday there was a lot of rain so that caused a lot of problems too!  All and all it wasn't to easy this week.  But I really think that this next week will be good.

So we are hoping to baptize our investigator Alexice this week.  We need proof of his marriage to his wife which is the difficult part but he will hopefully have that this week.  But all is well with him...his desire for baptism is amazing.  I've really grown to love Alexice.

So the other thing that brought me a lot of happiness this week is a guy named David. David has been inactive for the past 2 or so years but we have been working a lot with him.  Now is coming back to church and he has started going to seminary!  He is really starting to change!  It has been amazing to watch him! We are hoping that he will have the desire to serve a mission soon!  But other than all that things are normal!  I hope all is well!  I love you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Monday, September 29, 2014

Food Poisoning

Hellllllllooooo!!!

Well another week has come and gone!  This week definitely passed pretty quick!  But it was definitely a little difficult.  On Tuesday and Wednesday we didn't work because I had food poisoning!  It was terrible...if I did any kind of work it just drained my energy but I’m better now!

Thursday I worked with our district leader in my area, that went really well!  We were finally able to see so investigators that had been extremely busy.  I thought that we taught some pretty good lessons!

Friday we didn't get to work because it rained all day and that means that our area is just a mud pit!

Saturday was a really great day because we had a great lesson with Alexice!  His baptismal
date is fixed for this Saturday and we discussed his concerns and it went well!

Sunday was pretty normal day!  All and all it was a good week!  I hope that all is well!  I love you and miss you!

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Monday, September 22, 2014

Another Baptism

Helllllllloooooooo!

Well this past week was pretty good!  This week we taught a couple of pretty good lessons!  Lately we have been working with the less actives in our area and its going well!  We have one inactive named David who has been a member for 4 years or so and he is finally coming back to church!  I was so excited to see him!  I hope that he will continue to come to church.  The funny thing is we ask why people won’t come to church...and the common response is....I’m lazy lol I’m glad people are honest.  But the work is going well! We are still trying to find new investigators but that is going ok.

So this week we had a baptism!  Her name is Ramatou!  But we just call her Rama! She had been coming to church for a while but she finally was able to get baptized!  I was really happy for her! We had a little problem at the baptismal service so we started 2 hours late! But it’s ok, she was baptized! Well not a lot to report on this week!  I hope all is well!  Love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Monday, September 15, 2014

Prayers are Getting Answered

Hellllloooooo!

Another week gone, back again!  This week was really good.  After the troubles of two weeks ago this week made things a lot better!  This week we really tried hard to see all of our investigators!  We saw everyone!  It was awesome!  Everyone seems to be doing a lot better!  Prayers are really getting answered!  This week we worked really hard with Alexice.  We finished teaching him all of the lessons this week and he wants to be baptized but he can’t always come to church because of his work.  On Sunday he asked us a really awesome question... he said, “Elder, what else do I need to know so I can be baptized!”  I love that question.  We are hoping to help him work out a few other things and then we will baptize him!  This week we are going to baptize a girl named Rama!  She is really awesome and has a lot of faith!  I hope all goes well with that!  Work is starting to progress well!  I hope all is well!  I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Allred
Elder Curtis (Africa West Area President) and Elder Allred



Monday, September 8, 2014

Difficult Week

Helllloooooo!

Well I hope that you had a good week.  This last week was pretty bitter sweet for me.  The week started out pretty good.  On Tuesday we started teaching a Muslim named Fosia.  She is pretty cool.  She really wants to leave Islam but is worried because of her family.  Apparently if you’re Islam and you leave your family and all your friends pray for evil spirits to affect you and your family....pretty difficult.

Wednesday we had our conference with Elder Curtis.  I really loved a lot of things that he talked about.  I think my favorite thing was he committed each of us to continue to repent always.  It was really good. Wednesday we also received news that one of our investigators passed away.  It really showed the importance of always being prepared (Alma 34:32-34).

The rest of the week was pretty difficult.  We tried visiting all of our investigators and that was not so successful.  We had a very difficult end to our week which was a little discouraging.  Things are ok.  Anyway, not really much more to report on.  I hope you have a great week.

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II