Where Did a Year Go?

Well I have no idea where the heck last week went but here we are again!  I'm sad to say that there wasn't really anything exciting this week.

So basically there was a major decision that Elder Kent and I made. No one in our sector is really progressing; more of people that just want to talk with us but not move forward, so slowly we are going to start letting them go and start finding new people.  So anyway wish us luck. Letting people go has always been the hardest thing for me to do on my mission, but its ok that is the mission.

Other than that things are pretty much the same. Things in the apartment are good, French is good, and things are good.

So just something interesting that I thought everyone should know is that one year ago yesterday (Sept. 22, 2012) was the day I went through the temple and opened my call that said I was coming to Benin.  CRAZY...lol. Where did one year go?  Anyway I hope all is well I love and miss you so much! Have a great week!

Avec amour,
Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Flashback to opening the call and going through the temple:

Working Hard, Praying Hard

Well another week has come and gone and here we are again!  This week was pretty interesting but it was good.

Like I said last week I got a new companion!  Things with that are awesome!  It’s great living with another American but to be companions with one is even better!  It makes me happy.  It’s really weird walking around with another white guy for my companion. The kids surprisingly don’t yell at us as much as I thought they would. They still do, but that’s Benin for you.  That was one reason the week went by fast. It was just busy saying goodbye with the old companion and introducing the new one to everyone.  Things are good though, we only speak French when we are in the area but at the apartment we speak English and French kind of mixed. It’s going good.

The other news I know is that it’s for sure that in October that I’m being transferred so I’m working extra hard to show Elder Kent the sector.  So anyway Togo here I come...maybe. I think there is a good chance I’m staying in Benin so we will see!

The new task at hand is to find new people to teach, so I think we are going to be starting that this week. Other than that, things are pretty much the same, working hard, praying hard, all the same stuff.

I hope all is well!  I hope you have an awesome week!  I love and miss you!

Oh I've been forgetting to say the past couple weeks that I got that package from the young women and it was awesome! Our ward back home is the best! I love you!

Avec amour,
Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Ya, it's possible

New Companion

Well another week has come and gone and the time continues to fly!  I have to be honest this week was actually pretty boring lol. There isn't much to report on! 

We were pretty busy this week with my visa work here in Benin so two days this week I was in a immigration place where they took my fingerprints. I had to sign some stuff and get my picture taken for the visa so that's one exciting thing I guess. I'm legal in Benin for another 3 months! woo! 

Ok so for the more exciting news there was a transfer this week, and.......ELDER BOTO is transferred!  I'm staying in Jericho for a little longer haha!  Elder Boto is being transferred to another area in Benin. Another missionary is finishing this week and Elder Boto is taking his place as a zone leader!  And I'm getting a new companion, his name is Elder Kent!  And he is from the United States! lol This was very surprising to me because, one he is white, two he is an American. It's a little crazy but I'm ok with it!  I'm pretty sure I'll be transferred in like two weeks but we will see. I think it's cool so I hope it stays the same for a little while.  

Well other than that things are the same lol. I'm loving life. I hope all is well. I love and miss you!  

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II 

This Has Changed Me...

Well another week has come and gone and the time continues to fly. This was a pretty quick week and a good one!

So for the big news of the week, we had two baptisms, Romi and Peligie!  I had the opportunity to baptize both people.  It was amazing.  At the service after they had been baptized they both decided to bear testimony on why they knew the church was true. It was amazing.  Je sais avec tout mon cœur que, L'Eglise De Jésus-Christ Des Saints Des Derniers Jours est vrai!  (I know with all my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true!)

I have seen such an amazing change in these people. It strengthens my testimony of the church.  I'm so blessed for this opportunity to help people, the people of Africa are amazing.  This place has truly changed me for the better.  I would never choose to serve somewhere else!

Anyway that was the highlight of the week, I hope you like the prison photos on a happy day lol.

Today we had a soccer activity today because we have a lot of missionaries leaving in a week so it was kind of a goodbye activity!  I didn’t play to protect my knee.  I hung out with all the missionaries and talked. I like doing that more anyway haha.

So honestly that is really it for this week, things are good, oh there is a transfer this week so maybe big news next week!  Anyway have a great week, I love you and miss you so much!

Avec amour,
Elder Joseph D. Allred II

The famous Mémé!! My mother in Africa!

Pictures from this week's baptism: "I don't know about you but I think everyone except for me looks like they are in a prison photo!  No one in Africa likes to smile."

Peligie

Romi

Teaching and Finding...All That Good Stuff

Well another week as come and gone and here we are again!  It sounds like things are going pretty good there. Well things here are good!  The week went by really fast. We were busy with all sorts of things and teaching and finding, all that good stuff.

So the news for the week is Romi was not baptized on Friday. There were some things that he didn't understand completely but things are well again and we believe that his baptism will be soon.  In other news our other progressing investigator Peligie is supposed to be baptized this Saturday. I think she is truly ready. She was prepared by the Lord before we started teaching her so it’s been truly amazing working with her. She is a different person now, the members love her and things are good.

Saturday we had an activity for the young single adults here in Cotonou and it was really awesome. It was at a place called OBAMA BEACH lol! It was a really successful activity. They had a huge number of single adults come out. We had our inactive young single adult there so that was good. He was playing the games with the other people and participating in the activities.  It was a great activity.

This week we are pretty busy as well again haha so I think it’s going to be a quick week!  I hope all is well I love and miss you so much!

Avec amour,
Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Elder Allred and Elder Méjean (from France)
at Obama Beach

Pictures from Ouidah trip last week

AFRICA IS AWESOME!

Well like you said another week has come and here we are again!  So this week was good. It went by super fast.  I don’t know why haha!  So things are good.

Boto and I are still working to find new people to teach, that is going well.  We found a family but they didn't come to church yesterday so I don’t know about them!  As for our other investigators things are good.  This Saturday is the Saturday Romi chose for his baptism date. We need to work with him on some things but I think it will still go through.  Our other major investigator is doing good, progression is great!

Things are good.  I love this place so much, AFRICA IS AWESOME!  haha So today I went to Ouidah....again! haha It was cool this time because I understood a lot more than the first time and my hair looks awesome, not stupid from a bad haircut! :) Anyway so that is awesome.

Last Saturday we did the service project and it was great! We cleaned a huge field. Lots of news people from Benin were there. I took lots of pictures but I’m only gonna send a few!

So, to explain the scary ride from the zoo, it’s a manual ride that some random guy pushes and it’s really scary. haha If the weight limit isn't right it’s kind of dangerous but it was awesome haha!
Well I hope you have a great week. I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,
Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Elder Boto - his new companion

Another visit to Ouidah - he must really like the snakes!

The leaf in the pocket is voodoo for bring me money
and take away bad spirits. If you take it without asking
bad things will happen to you......I took it without asking.... :)

Service Project - August 17, 2013

At the zoo

j'aime beaucoup français!!!

Well another week as come and gone and here we are again haha.  This week was a pretty normal week. There isn't really much to report on to be honest haha.  We were very busy with teaching people.

Last week I told you about the woman we found; she is progressing great!  She came to church yesterday and loved it!  She is starting to make friends at church.  She got invited to eat dinner with a member yesterday.  All and all things are going great with her.

I don’t know if I have talked about Romi before but he is one of our investigators who is progressing really well.  He read the whole Book of Mormon already and he’s starting it again so that he can understand it better. That’s really all the big news for the week.

Yesterday in church I gave a talk in French without any help...I’m really starting to speak French!  I think it’s really helping that I live in an all French apartment.  I speak French all day everyday now; I speak more, it’s awesome, j'aime beaucoup français!!!  (I love French)

For the other news for this week, I went to a zoo today and it was awesome!!!  I got to pet a monkey and I saw a lion. Here they hit the animals with sticks to make them mad. It’s awesome. I went on a ride and almost died!  All and all the zoo was pretty exciting. I’ll send pictures next week.  They are awesome.

Well I hope you have a great week!  I love you and miss you!

Avec amour,

Elder Joseph D. Allred II

Zone Conference