Letters from Sister Alston: Jambo from Iowa City!!! (July 22, 2013)

Another week in Iowa City, oh how I love this place! :) Transfers were rough, having to say goodbye to Sister Hill; but she is opening up an area in Ames, IA with Sister Browne who just got here from the MTC...they are going to rock it and I can't wait to hear all about the work they will do! :) It's so fun to go to transfer meeting and see so many missionaries!...we truly are as the ARMY OF HELAMAN!!!

Sister Lloyd has joined Sister Campbell and I here in IC, and it's going to be a party! Seriously...I am blessed with the best companions ever ALL THE TIME! Oh and exciting news!...Sister Wiest came back with this set of missionaries and surprised us all after getting surgery and all that fun stuff! YAY!!! It was so good to see her again. This transfer is going to be crazy...Sister Lloyd and I are over 21 other sisters in 9 areas and we have exchanges set up pretty much every week for 6 weeks! CRAZY! It will be so fun! This weekend we will be joined by 3 mini missionaries from the stake; who puts on "Called To Serve" for the youth! Isn't that such a great idea? The young men and women get to go out and serve with missionaries for 3 days, set apart and everything! I'd never heard of anything like it, so I'm excited to be a part of it!

Just an update on the work here:

Jacob and Scott have progressed so rapidly, it's been amazing to watch the spirit work with them and see their changes even if they can't see them. Jacob has quit smoking and Scott has given up coffee which he was addicted too...THE PRIESTHOOD IS AMAZING!!!... they will both be getting baptized August 1st, next Thursday!! :) We were approached yesterday by a recent convert whose 41 year old son is now interested in talking with us, and our first appointment is this Thursday. We had 7 non members at church yesterday, 5 of them being our investigators and 2 who we haven't taught yet! The work is surely rolling forward, even if sometimes its difficult to see! ...I just keep having to remind myself of the eternal perspective.

So I've been thinking a lot lately about my relationship with my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. To be honest, I always knew they were there and knew me...but I have learned that it is so much more than that. I now KNOW that Heavenly Father knows and loves me and I am his daughter. Jesus Christ is my older brother, my savior and redeemer, my best friend. I feel so blessed to have this time to build and strengthen my own personal relationship with them, and it's been so neat to learn that my Father in Heaven is so much like my father here on earth. Even though I may not be with them at the moment, I know they are always there and thinking of me, and wanting the best for me. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! I invite everyone to pray and ask is Heavenly Father is there. HE WILL ANSWER, and HE LOVES YOU.

I love you all so so so much, and am so grateful I am serving here in this sacred place at this time. The church is true! :)

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Chantae Alston