Letters from Sister Alston: Interviews, Prayers and Baptism!

Happy August everyone!

First of all, I'd like to with my mommy a happy happy happy birthday this past Sunday. I am so blessed to have her in my life...I don't know what I would do without her example, craziness, and spunk! :) hehe. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

This past week has been hectic, but good! Wednesday we had interviews with President Jensen which was nice. The Zone Leaders had called Sister Lloyd and I Tuesday evening while we were on exchanges and asked if we would train while other were being interviewed...so that was an adventure and a half! haha. Let's just say, this church is true, and the spirit is real! :) I ended up training all about love, and how we should always strive to be like our Savior Jesus Christ. He was the perfect example, perfect teacher... I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am to know that I have a big brother like Him to look up to and who I can rely on. On Tuesday, we had a cool lesson with Trisha; and read the Inconvenient Messiah...wow... if you haven't read it, I highly suggest it! :) I was reminded how the Savior was never asked to do anything that was convenient for Him, yet he never complained and He never gave in to temptation. This life wasn't meant to be easy, for if it were easy we would never grow and become better and become worthy of living with our Father in Heaven again.

After interviews we had the interesting experience of moving an investigator to her new apartment...finding out that she hadn't found anyone else to help...we ended up having 8 missionaries, Jacob, and one of the YSA's members help from 4-9! Yeah...it was a little insane, and we may have gone "truck finding" a couple times with no success...but hey! It got done, and we survived! :)

Jacob was baptized Thursday the 1st! What a perfect way to start off the month of August, aye? It was such a beautiful service. He had asked me to speak on baptism so I pulled out the old water, food coloring, and bleach object lesson which was fun! ...especially since it ended up not tuning all the way back clear and there was a bit of comedic relief with that talk! haha... whoopsies! :) Oh well! Awe man... Jacob is just awesome! ...and on Sunday he was confirmed and the spirit was so strong. I love being able to recognize the spirit more since being here on my mission. It truly is incredible!

Trisha bore her testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting, what a tender mercy that was! :) I am so grateful for the people that I have met, and continue to meet here in Iowa City. I love seeing them change, and come to know for themselves and feel that spirit testifying to them the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it's true. I know that even though sometimes it gets hard and we may be shaken, we can hold on to those simple truths that we know without a doubt to be true. As I remember the many small experiences that have strengthened my testimony, the times that I have felt the spirit testify to me, my faith is renewed and I can continue moving forward. I invite everyone who reads this to remember and write down a couple of those moments in your life, and when things get hard or life seems to darken...hold onto that light.

I'm so grateful for Christ's atoning sacrifice for me, for the power of prayer and direct communication with my Father in Heaven. I'm so grateful for the prayers that I have felt on my behalf, for the endless support and love I feel from all those around me. I'm so grateful that the Lord and our Father in Heaven trusts me to be their servant at this time. I am far from perfect, as we all are, but I know that as we work line upon line, little by little, attribute by attribute, we will become who He needs us to become. This world is scary, and it will only continue getting darker and darker, but I know that as we strengthen our foundations on the Atonement, and trust in our Father in Heaven's plan...we will be guided and protected.

I love you all so much, and am eternally grateful for you and for this time that I have to share the gospel and bring true happiness to the people here.

Love Always,

Sister Alston