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