Sorry I didn't get to write you last week.  It's not that it wasn't a good week or anything.  I was just really busy that day.  Just so everyone knows, I'm doing really good.  I can't get over how much I love it out here.  It is just a great place with a lot of different great people.  Lately I've been hearing a lot about missionary work.  Mostly because I'm on my mission, but the ward has been on it a lot this last week.  So this last week I've been learning the importance of missionary work, but as a member not a full time missionary.  We've been meeting with Brother Frazier.  He's a really good guy.  He's been a member for 5 years now.  We've been working on getting him and his wife to the temple.  As we were talking with him he said he wants to be out doing what we do, but he doesn't think he's ready because of work and everything.  I could tell he was really bummed and he mentioned the things he was doing.  He's always talking about the gospel.  He goes to night clubs on open mic night and talks about Jesus.  He's always inviting people to church.  He's so set on helping people feel the way he did.  I told Brother Frazier, "You don't have to wait for a call to be a missionary.  You can always be a missionary.  We just happen to be full time missionaries so we do it all the time."  I told him to just continue what he was doing.  To introduce people to the gospel and invite them to church, and the Lord would bless him for that.  As we left, I just thought, if every member was so set on sharing the gospel as him we may just have that many more members.  We give out a Book of Mormon every week to the ward during priesthood.  An older gentleman took it.  Then after church a young deacon asked me for one so I gave it to him.  I actually had dinner with his family, the Hansens, later that week.  He was excited and told me the story.  The next day in church he was very excited when they asked the older gentleman to report, and he didn't have anything to report, but the deacon did.  I just thought, if he can do it we all should be able to.  It doesn't necessarily have to be a Book of Mormon.  It could be a pass along card, introducing them to the church website, inviting them to church, or to a church activity, and probably the best way is to be an example.  I just know that if we can all take the time and do these things the Lord will bless us.  It is our job as members of the church.  It may not be easy to do some of the things, but if we make it a habit then we will do it without even noticing.  Just because a person turns you or your offer down doesn't mean anything.  That one little thing will have a lasting effect on them and the members of the church. So I challenge everyone who reads this to try it.  Pray about someone you think would benefit or that the Lord may be preparing, and if you don't know any one, pray for someone to come your way.  As you pray, the Lord will answer and be aware.  Be ready because most of the time it's not what we expected, but if you are prepared, by studying and loving the gospel you will be able to share it.  I know there are many blessings that come with sharing the gospel.  I have a true testimony on the happiness it brings to you.  D&C 18:15
So let's not be shy or scared, but bold and confident in our beliefs of the true restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the plan that God has for us.  Do this and you will be blessed!  And your joy will be filled!  I know these things to be true.
I hope everyone is doing well, and continues to do well.  If your not doing well, I hope you start.  I am so thankful for every ones love and support.
Love ya'll

Hey everyone,

Well this last Saturday our ward had it's first Pig Out.  For any of ya'll that think it's just getting the ward together to eat a bunch of food, your partly right.  They get two full pigs and slow roast them all night long, and then chop them up.  It was a good turn out.  It was held outside under the pavilion.  Mostly because it was pouring rain the whole time we were eating.  They actually let the missionaries be the judges of the BBQ sauce contest.  It was pretty fun and it gave me the chance to meet and mingle with a lot of the ward members.  I guess the point I'm getting to is - I was talking to one of the ward members and said, it doesn't get much better than good food, and he said, it ain't the food I came for.  It's the people.  Then we just sat and looked around and just smiled.  How blessed we are to have this gospel in our lives for one thing, and to be able to have our own families in it.  As if that wasn't enough we are blessed with gospel families!  That is such a blessing here on this earth.  Especially in these times.  We often talk to people who gather in large masses at their church.  Between 500 and 2000 people.  Most of them say that they know very few in their congregation if any.  We are so blessed to know each other.  What better support system is there than a ward family.  As we looked around it was like everyone grew up together.  It was like a family reunion.  Children of God brought together because of this gospel.  Adults and teens laughing and talking and all the kids out basically swimming in the rain.  I guess I just want to say short and sweetly that we have been given a great blessing.  Let's not take it lightly and introduce ourselves to each other.  Don't be afraid to go to a ward activity.  You never know what kind of support you will be for someone.  Remember God has made everything for a purpose.  We are in families so that we are able to learn and grow together in this gospel.  I promise you that as you magnify your callings, and keep the commandments, your not only blessing your family at home, but your ward family.  And if everyone is doing that! Oh My!!! It's like a snowball fight of blessings.  Everyone is just throwing them at each other, and I know that by blessing others we can truly be happy.
Yours truly,
Elder Alvey

Hey everyone,

 Just wanted to share my experience on prayers and how the Lord does answer them. Well, its not like I've been having a hard time, or been  homesick, or not adjusting well. I guess I'm just used to change. My hardest thing is to hear about all these other missionaries having they're golden ones, or those who the Lord has prepared. D&C 29 verse 7 talks about those who the Lord has prepared.  So as we're tracting I have this in the back of my mind. I didn't want it just so that I could baptize someone quickly or anything. I just prayed that I would have one of those experiences early in my mission just to help me be able to discern and find more of the elect that are ready. Also, so that I could feel that joy early on when someone says they wanna join or be baptized. And that I would be able to yearn for that and desire, which would give me motivation to know that if I can just find and help one more soul.  It says in the scripture D&C 18 verse 10 that the worth of souls is great and also verse 16 where its states, how great will your joy in bringing one soul unto me. So as my week goes on we get a call from the elders north of us saying that they had been teaching this lady and she was refering her dautghter.  We get the info and call her and tell her we're the missionaries from church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. She just says, like well I was planning on checking out your church on Sunday, so we said all right let us give you a tour on Saturday so we met up with her. Her name is Latasha. She haS a 5 and 1 year old.  The whole tour she just would say, I love it and this seems nice and she loved the family oriented part. So we showed her the baptismal font and she's like, wow this is definately something that I wanna work for.  If any of ya'll have seen me smile uncontrollably you know what it looks like, and I bet that happened but about times 10! Ha  How great was my joy! Anyway she came to church and loved the whole thing. We found out we might have to hand her over to another ward and elders because she's out of our area, but as long as she is going to be able to come closer to Christ I decided it was okay.  Just when I think I won't get the full golden experience I see a younger  light skinned gentleman dressed up at church. We talked to him and he said he was coming to check it out, and that he had run into missionaries about 2 months ago. He is 21 years old and going to school down here. He is originally from Congo Africa so his accent is kinda thick.  He met with the bishop and we took him around to the different classes. During priesthood I had another smiling moment. He stood up to introduce himself and the last thing he said is that I'm ready to join this church. After, we were able to give him a date to set up an appointment. So to close, Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. I know that if we do what he wants us to and humble ourselves before him and ask him in sincere prayer with all our hearts and with real intent that he will answer your prayers. May not be how you planned, and sometimes you notice it 10 years later, and sometimes right at that moment, but he does answer them. To anyone who is reading this, don't be afraid to humble yourself before him. That's all he wants is you to ask. If you need help, what decision to make, what shirt to wear, Anything!  Just as he has answered my prayers I testify to you that he will do the same for you.