Faith to have or to act. (get your scriptures out)
Now, we may be thinking faith?  Why is Elder Alvey talking about faith?  We always hear, and we know what faith is. "It's a little seed.  If planted it will grow." Right?  Well, I'll tell you why I write about faith today. Because of one thing - Moroni 10:21.  Basically, we must have faith to be saved which is right.  It's what we all hear.  It's what we all have, or should I say, what we say we have.  That's what I want to talk about today.  So now I pose the question to ask yourself.  Do I have faith?  Do I  really have faith?  Do I ask on it?  That is what I'm getting at.  We gain faith as we read about it, but how many of us actually exercise it or act on it?  When I came across James 2:24, 26, (I advise you to read all of James 2) It struck me that it is not enough to just have faith.  We clearly must act upon it.  We do this in many ways.  I guess the way I want to talk about it is from an example I had last night.  My companion, Elder Kunzler, is going home.  This is a hard part of his mission.  We are so obedient and good, but sometimes we just feel like nothing is happening.  I could tell he has been having a hard time.  I know that he has faith though, but what I am getting at is he acted on it when he said, "Elder Alvey, can you give me a priesthood blessing?"  Now that is faith.  Going to the Lord for help in a time of need.  Leaving it in the Lord's hands.  I know that faith is the first principle.  Specifically, faith in Christ.  I know that when we are willing to act and submit ourselves to faith in the Lord's will, that's when he is able to bless and answer our prayers. (Moroni 9:37)
So I challenge all to act upon faith.  Have total faith. D&C 6:36.  Doubt not, and I know that as you are able to do these things, the Lord will be able to bless you.  I know these things to be true because I do act on faith and I am blessed.
P.S. Thanks everyone for the love, support, and prayers.  I can truly feel them helping me.  Love you all.  Keep the FAITH! :)

Dear Everyone,

Things are great again here in Georgia.  The weather has cooled down just in time for our suit coats to come on.  Elder Kunzler's birthday was Sunday.  I got him a cowboy hat with a bunch of missionary signatures to take home since this is his last transfer.  He was pretty excited, and it's always a good feeling to be able to serve someone with a thoughtful gift.  I also met my new mission president this week, and that's what I want to talk about.  His name is President Harding.  He is in his 40's I think, and from Bountiful, Utah.  We met his wife Sister Harding, and their 9 year old son.  Also his 29 year old son and his wife, and his 24 year old daughter.  He also has a 19 year old son who is in the MTC.  They also have a 21 year old daughter that just got married.  Well, that's a little about him, but I wanted to talk about the Lord's timing in all things big and small.  The reason he didn't come until now was because he was having some health issues.  What happened was he had a football size tumor somewhere in his mid section.  So this is their story as far as I can remember.  He said they got their call and were getting ready to go.  They were going to have their daughters wedding then leave.  At the reception of the wedding, as soon as his daughter left, he got a sharp pain.  He went and laid down and went to sleep.  When he woke up he felt better.  He was laying there thinking and the spirit told him, "you have a large mass in your stomach, but all will be well."  So he thought, okay, and went to the doctor and said, "yeah, I got a mass in my stomach.  The doctor just said okay and they did the scan and test and the doctor came back and said he did, but that they also found spots in his lungs too.  They thought it was a cancer that spread and that is was a small chance of a tumor.  He knew all would be well.  They found out it was only a tumor.  He got it removed, recovered, and then came here where I was able to meet him.  Which oddly was different then when I met President Snow.  The meeting with President Harding felt more different I would say.  Just felt like we had been sent here to work together at the same time.  The Lord put us here together to work, and I know the Lord was waiting until after his daughters wedding for that to happen.  I know he waited for the right time for me to serve.  I know he waited for the right time for me to break my collar bone, and move to Arizona.  I know he has his hands in all things great or small even though it is hard to see at the time.  We need to step back, take a deep breath, and have faith that he has a plan for us.  Which he does!  Then everything will be okay.  As long as you're keeping his commandments and doing all that you can to return to him.  I bear testimony that the Lord has a plan for us, and though our decisions sometimes alter things, he knows what, when, where, and why to do something in order to help us in the long run.  I also know that when we exercise that faith and say, let thy will be done, that he will recognize it and we will receive blessings for that alone.  Like he did with President Harding.  He will send the Holy Ghost as a comforter and as a guide to his plan.  As we listen to the promptings, that may at times seem weird, he will help us.  I know these things are true.

Hey everyone,

Just wanna say, everything is still going awesome!  The work in the area is starting to pick up.  I just got the news this morning that I'll be here another transfer.  The weather has been pretty rainy the last couple of days, but thankfully we have a car so it doesn't stop us any way.  Hope ya'll are all doing well where ever you might be.  So, me and the elders in our ward had a chance to go help at a masonic lodge.  They do a pig roast bbq type thing.  It was real interesting.  The other elders said that's how it is down south. Ha!  I felt so out of place with all the southernese going on.  I wanted to say some things about service and how we should serve others.  We should serve others every chance we get. Like the scriptures say, and I can't quote it directly or have time to look up the verse, but it's when you are in the service of your fellow men that you are only in the service of your God.  So while we were there we made cole slaw, stirred brunswood stew (which is my new favorite) and we made plates to go and filled orders for those staying.  So I guess it was pretty much a fast food restaurant.  I've just got to say there is a certain feeling you get from serving others, and it doesn't have to be for church or someone you know.  I hope each one of you takes the opportunity to serve each time you get to.  I know as we do that we will be blessed.

Love you all.

Elder Alvey