Update

Hello everyone!!!

Well, sleeping in the same room and being with 2 sick companions 24/7, I finally got a little bit of the season-changing cold...but hope it doesn't last very long!  We had another snow storm Saturday night all through Sunday, and it's supposed to snow for the next two days!  I thought spring was here?!?  But I guess Utah hasn't been much better, aye?! 

This week was busy, we taught about 22 lessons all together, my favorite being a church tour with Craig.  Craig is 41 years old, and was a referral from Mormon.org...he is AWESOME!!! We were able to teach him on Wednesday evening at his home, and he was so intrigued and ready to learn about the gospel...he basically asked us when he could be baptized!  haha.  So I had my first experience inviting someone to be baptized, and he said yes!  :)  Friday, for the church tour, we showed him around while teaching him the restoration.  I have never felt such a difference between the chapel and the rest of the building, so it was a special experience for me as well.  As we were talking about the importance of the Sacrament, he started to get teary-eyed and we asked what he was feeling.  He just said, "Why haven't I known of this before now?"  That's when you know you have found one that has been truly prepared by the Lord.  It made me think about times that I could have shared the knowledge of the gospel with those around me before my mission...so...if you ever feel like you should share even the smallest of testimonies, DO IT!!!  The worst that could happen is they say no, right?  Anyways...we are excited to see Craig progress and be baptized on April 27th! OH!!! And that same night we set a baptismal date with Tomeasha for April 20th!  So as of right now...we have a brother (and hopefully sister) getting baptized March 30th, General Conference April 6th, Brion's baptism April 12th, ward temple trip April 13th (CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO NAUVOO!!!), Tomeasha's baptism April 20th, and Craig's baptism April 27th!  Busy, Busy, Busy!!!  "The field is white, ready to harvest!"  I know the Lord has placed me in this area first for a reason, and even though other areas may not be as successful, I'm so grateful I have witnessed what CAN happen!

Every Wednesday morning we are able to volunteer at the local crisis center/food bank.  I love it!  It's heartbreaking to see these families come in and get what might be their only source of groceries for the week, but I feel blessed to help them and hopefully be a little ray of sunshine in their day.  I smile definitely goes a long way that's for sure!

Thursday we had district lunch at Costco!  hehe.  As we were leaving, I noticed a man and woman watching us and as I walked by she asked if we were Mormons.  I was able to explain that we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and answer some questions she had.  The Irish man that was with her was hilarious...he thought I was 27, sister Thompson was 23, and Sister Wiest was 17...I think that was a new record for me!  Anyways... the woman wanted to know what we believed, and told us she had studied religions her whole life but hadn't ever heard much about 'Mormons'... we gave them a Book of Mormon and exchanged numbers, and hopefully we'll be able to teach them this week!

In district meeting, we focused on being fearless, and how fear and faith can not coexist in our minds...something that I continue to work on each day!  It's so true though!  Fear only gets in the way, and is the adversary trying to keep us from doing great work.

In our tracting efforts, we were able to talk to a few people that weren't very interested, but were still willing to listen.  I don't think we get as many doors slammed in our faces because we are girls...which is nice.  haha. 

Yesterday was a great Sunday, even though it was long.  I was able to play some prelude music on the piano before Sacrament Meeting, which was amazing...I don't get to play very often during the week, so I'll take any chance I can!  :)  During our first sacrament meeting I started reading Ether 3, where the Brother of Jared has faith enough to see God's finger light the stones...later they are in the boat on the stormy seas, but continue to have faith and praise God for the His light and protection.  I thought about how we are all on our own stormy seas, or journeys through life, and as long as we trust in Heavenly Father and remember that He is the one in control, and thank Him for all he continues to do for us...whether we are sailing on a smooth sea (good times) or about the be swallowed up in the depths of the sea (trials, hard times)...we will have His light, His guidance and direction through the spirit to protect us.  I feel so blessed to have that knowledge in my life, for the comfort it gives me to know that I always have someone there to show me the way, as long as I am living righteously.

Thank you for your prayers, love and constant support...I couldn't do it without you! 

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Chantae Alston

First Pday in the field!

Natalia is able to email friends if you would like! She is not able to respond a whole ton...but feel free to send her a note if you feel so inclined!

natalia.alston@myldsmail.com

Hello wonderful people whom I love so dearly!

This has been an eventful, exciting, exhausting, and awesome week!  I don't even know where to start!  Wednesday morning we woke up at 2:30 to finish cleaning our MTC residence and packing, down to the bus by 3:45...and were on the road with about 100 other elders and sisters by 4:15!  At this point, I honestly was pretty nervous and anxious...but as we were pulling out of the MTC, we all starting singing "Army of Helaman" ...holy cow the spirit was SO strong, and all my worries just went away!  I have never heard that song sung with such sincerety in my life!..especially at 4:00 in the morning!  haha.  Made it to Iowa safe and sound after a layover in Denver for a couple hours...it was SO SO SO good to talk to dad, mom, taylor and tasia on the phone for a little while and hear their sweet voices.  :) 

We landed in Des Moines, and were immediately met by President and Sister Jergensen...and I LOVE THEM!  It was so good to finally meet them, and have them know exactly who I was...maybe known a little too much about me from the Hawes's!  Just kidding...we went straight to the mission home in Des Moines and had training for a couple hours with the APs and office people, ate a delicious dinner that Sister Hawes prepared (P.S. I LOVE THEM!!!)  They were so welcoming and loving, and treated me like their own granddaughter!  After dinner we had a testimony meeting where all 30 missionaries stood and shared their testimonies...it was amazing to hear from everyone and I couldn't help but think that we really are as the army of Helaman...sent to bring the truth to the people of this great mission.  I was able to play the piano for a little bit before getting ready for bed which was fun! ...then everyone slept at the home and woke up at 5:00 Thursday morning to make our way to Iowa City for the transfer meeting!

I think the transfer meeting, and waiting to know where my first area would be was more nerve-wracking than waiting a week to open my call on Christmas! haha!   I AM IN IOWA CITY!!!!  and....I HAVE TWO COMPANIONS!!!! :)  I guess they figured they would need to have me in a trio to keep me under control...or two companions in return for my one amazing MTC companion! ...Somethin like that! ;)  Sister Thompson and Sister Wiest are incredible though!  I immediately knew we would be great friends, and work well together...pictures to come!  S.T. has been out just over a year, and S.W. came out just 6 weeks before me!...oh!...and she went to Cardon and knows Amazing Oswald, the Timmins, and Cache Guzy! Such a small world right?!  Anyways...I love them both so much! 

My first day (Thursday) in Iowa City began right after the transfer meeting...we grabbed a quick lunch, then had a couple appointments to get to.  The first and second appointments, however, weren't there when we stopped by :( so that was pretty sad.  I thought I was bad luck or something!  ...Then we went to a part-member families home to teach two kids, Amber and Nick who are supposed to get baptized the end of this month!  It was a great first lesson on the 10 commandments and we taught them the "sign language" to remember them!  I'll have to teach everyone when I get home...cuz it works!  We went to the apartment and got settled in a little, then had a dinner appointment with the ward mission leader!  It made me miss dad...and it was a little weird being the missionary in the home, instead of having the missionaries in my home; but I'm sure I'll get used to it pretty fast.  After dinner.....yep....we went TRACTING!!!  They had me choose where to go...gave me a map, told me to pray, and then pick a road!  haha...so I did just that!  I ended up choosing a road called Brookwood....after walking and knocking, and no one being interested we were finally going to stop then decided to knock on one last door.  It was this sweet older lady named Roberta.  She said she didn't think she would ever change religions, but wanted to hear what we had to say.  She is very much into family history work which is great, and we invited her to read the Book of Mormon, and will hopefully be able to start teaching her next week!  It's amazing how the Lord inspires us to be in the right places at the right times is we just listen!  It was a great first experience that's for sure. 

Friday was so exciting!  A BAPTISM ON MY SECOND DAY!  Jeremiah and DeShawn are two adorable little boys who have been taught by my awesome companions....and I feel so blessed to have been a part of their baptism!  The three of us taught a short restoration lesson, and sang Joseph's Smith's First Prayer...and now I guess the whole ward knows I sing...haha. 

Saturday I got to meet Bora, a recent convert from the Congo...oh my goodness she is so cute!  We are helping her with English, and I think I want to start learning Swahili...because it would be very helpful in this area!  ...so we'll see how that goes and I'll keep you posted! 

Yesterday, Sunday was crazy!  at meetings from 7-3, gave the opening prayer in the Iowa City 4th ward sacrament meeting, then the closing prayer in the Married Student Ward, sang in Relief Society as a quartet to help with a lesson...then had an awesome St. Patrick's Day dinner at a recent convert family's home!  Brother Flynn hadn't ever wanted anything to do with the church, but still supported his wife and kids in it...and finally, after 13 years, he was baptized about 2 months ago!  I love hearing these stories, and learning of people's experiences in coming to know for themselves that it is the true gospel. 

I know that I am here in this area for a reason, and I am so grateful I have 2 incredible companions to help me learn the ropes and get used to the mission field.  I know that Heavenly Father will help me understand and learn all that I need to, if I have a willing and open hear and mind.  He never ceases to amaze me...I was reading in Alma 41 today, how happiness is the product of righteousness AND desire to do what the Lord would have us do...that we can permit the Lord to change our nature if we give ourselves to Him and to His work.  He can't work on what He does not have, and He can't have you, unless you give yourself to Him.  I'm so glad I know this NOW...I know it was hard to make the final decision whether or not to come on my mission, but I truly to know that it is the Lord's plan for me, that if I submit myself FULLY to Him, He will change and shape me into the woman that I am meant to become.  I love this gospel with all my heart, and hope all of you know how much I love and appreciate you!  Thank you for your support, love, and prayers....I feel your prayers working every single day.  I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love,

Sister Natalia Alston

Good-bye MTC

Sister Alston sent this email Tuesday, March 12th but I was out of town...enjoy!

Hello again!

Holy cow, time sure flies doesn't it?!?

First of all...I just want to thank everyone for the cards, letters, treats, prayers, DearElders (well...DearSisters! haha)... Mom, Dad, Natasha, Jordan, Rod and Amy, Taylor, Dani, Madison, Shayni, The Daniels, Benji, Kelsey, G and G Alston, and G and G Pettingill!  I love you all so so so so much, couldn't ask for a better support system!  Amy....my whole district wants your cookie, and chocolate peppermint brownie recipe!  haha THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

Well...my MTC time has already come to an end...tomorrow is my last day here then leave for Iowa Wednesday morning at 0700!  There is a group of 27 of us flying out together it's crazy, but so very exciting!  :)  Sadly, my companion, Sister Scholle leaves tomorrow morning with her group to West Virginia, along with 2 other girls in my district....so tomorrow I will be in a trio with Sister Hunter and Sister Nye.  Sister Scholle and I are trying hard not to think about leaving each other too much...haha...I have been truly blessed with the best companion.  Heavenly Father definitely knew what he was doing when he put the two of us together!  We have helped each other grow, and learned so much from each other, and had SO much fun...even in the short 12 days we have had together...yay for another sister! :) 

Anyways...this week has been even better than last week because I was more used to the schedule and such, but it all kind of blends together!  I look back and can't remember what happened on which day!  Sister Scholle and I had TRC (which is teaching volunteers who come in to the MTC to be taught...they don't tell you if they're members or non-members, so you just go in and teach by the spirit! haha )   :)  We got to teach this sweet older lady, Sister Ellis, who was baptized 20 years ago in Canada...she had such a great spirit about her, and it was wonderful to talk to her about how the gospel has blessed her life.  We shared a message with her from Alma 32...comparing faith to a seed, and how we can develop and strengthen our faith by nourishing and feeding it.  We have to be willing to put toward the effort, then Heavenly Father will make things happen.  We also got to teach this investigator, Jenelle, who is an older lady who lost her husband and two kids then got remarried...we immediately shared the message of eternal families, and how through the gospel we are able to be with our families forever!  I am so grateful for that knowledge in my life...I don't know what I would do without my family! 

We also taught our progressing investigator, Dani, for the last time this morning... it's amazing to see how she has changed since the first time.  In just a week, she had read almost the entire Book of Mormon, committed to stop drinking, trying to go to church, and is preparing for baptism!  I really do love teaching, even though I get nervous sometimes...as long as I listen to what they are saying and follow the promptings of the spirit, nothing else matters.  It really doesn't matter what you say or how you say it....it's how you make them feel.  :)

Challenge to everyone....READ THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERYDAY!!!  I just two weeks, I have strengthened my testimony and love for the Book of Mormon more than I ever though possible, and it's because of they way I read.  Ponder a question you have before beginning, pray to have an open heart and mind, and pause to listen ever 4 - 5 verses.  You WILL get your answer EVERY TIME!  AHHHH  I just love this book and this gospel so so much!

I'm almost out of time, but I just want to thank everyone again for their love and support!  I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri...I know that I will go wherever I am needed.  LOVE YOU ALL!!!!  THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

Love Always,

Sister Alston

March 6, 2013

Sister Alston's first email!! It was so good to hear from her. She is doing fabulous! Don't forget you can "dear elder" here on dearelder.com until next week! Thank you for all of your support! -Natasha

Oh my heavens what a crazy week! I really don't even know where to begin!

Thank you all for your letters, notes, prayers and encouragement this past week...and THANK YOU Rod, Amy and girls for the package of delicious cookies! The whole district LOVED them!!! :)

From the second I walked into the doors of the MTC, I felt welcomed, loved, and at home. Everyone was so so nice and all that worry, stress, and fear that I had been feeling completely disappeared.

I don't think it hit me until I got my "badge of honor" saying I was Sister Alston from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that I realized I was where I needed to be.

I was taken to my room to drop off my bags, then straight to the classroom where I met my teachers and district. Just in this short (but so long) week, we don't call ourselves a district anymore...WE ARE A FAMILY!

I was one of the first to be in the room, and as I waited for everyone else I was just so excited to meet everyone! As soon as Sister Scholle, my companion, walked in I jumped up and gave her a hug...and I knew we would be great friends. It's amazing to see how the Lord places us where we need to be and who we need to be with at all times. She is from Logan, just turned 20, is the oldest and first of her family to serve a mission because her dad was a convert. We immediately became best of friends, more like sisters actually...in fact, in church on Sunday we were asked if we were sisters! haha...we kinda do look a lot alike. I'll try and figure out how to send pictures later. Anyway...I LOVE HER!!! And the rest of our little family is incredible. Elders Leavitt (who is my old roommate's "brother", Bankhead, Smith (reminds me SO much of Taylor), Coy, and Porter are my 5 new awesome little brothers. And Sisters Scholle, Nye, Hunter, Gubler, and Ostler are my 5 new awesome little sisters! haha...well actually Sister Nye is 24, but then it's me...

So....I guess I should probably tell you a little about this week aye?!...

I've seen SO many people I know, including Elder Rawle (just left this week), Elder Cook(see him everyday at gym!), Elder Ashton, Elder Rasmussen, Sister Forte, Sister Daniels, a bunch of sisters from BYUH...and ELDER ALSTON!!! It was such a blessing to see him, and I get to see him almost every day! :) The other night I was able to eat dinner with him and his district, it was great! When I first saw him I couldn't help but give him a hug...uhhhh.....we kinda got some weird looks and not sure that was alowed but I didn't care! haha! It's funny when we see each other to say, "Hey, Elder Alston!" "Hey, Sister Alston!" SO FUN!

The first day, we talked about the kind of missionaries we want to be, and why we are here. So I made a list of mine.... I want to be the missionary that everyone can count on. I want to give 150% 100% of the time, and not regret a single day. I want to be able to answer questions and teach with the spirit. I want to be fun, caring, a listener, trustworthy, a best friend, happy and optimistic, and SO much more...I continue adding to the list every day. I want to be as Christ was a missionary. I don't want to be afraid to open my mouth and testify of the things I know to be true. I want to find out everyone's story. I already feel the Savior's atoning sacrifice working for me...I have not felf lonely or afraid, and I have felt peace and comfort. I know that it is because of the Atonement that I am able to feel this way and I am so so so grateful for it. "Live Right, Try Hard, and the Lord will lead you along!"

Our 2nd day here, we began teaching an investigator named Dani. She is 19 years old from England and is living with a member family working here in the US. At first, Sister Scholle and I were super nervous and scared about teaching...but the few times we have taught her have been the most powerful experiences of my life so far. I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that this church is true, that by the spirit we are able to say the things we need to say. As we study and prepare ourselves...we learn that it's not about us at all...IT'S ABOUT THEM!!! I wish I could tell you more, but I don't have time! AH!!! haha...

Each day, I learn so much and have had a greater desire to become the best me I can. I love the spirit that is here and the love that I feel. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

Monday was the first time I cried....finding out that Tyler had passed away was extremely difficult for me and I didn't really know what to do. Sister Scholle and I went back to the room after I had read the letter at dinner...and I just cried. Everyone came in a little later and I explained what had happened. The room went completely silent...and I could feel Tyler's spirit with me. Even though this is hard...I know that I now have a little guardian angel with me....I can feel his spirit with me and I know that he is back in His Heavenly Fathers arms completing his mission to the people in heaven. I am so grateful for this knowledge that I have, to know that I will see him again, that he is in a better place now.

I just want you all to know that I know this is where I need to be. We went to the temple this morning and it was so wonderful to feel of Heavenly Father's love for me...and for all of you. I feel of your prayers and support, and could never thank you enough for all you continue to teach me and do for me.

I have so much more to say, but my time is up!!!! I leave the MTC next Wednesday morning for Iowa, so I'm not sure I'll get to email again for a couple weeks....but I'll be sure to write a few letters today! I'm so glad it's P DAY!!! haha LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!!

Love, Sister Spunkie Sparkle Alston :)