Letters from Sister Alston: Riding on a Rollercoaster

Yep, that's what a mission is. One big giant rollercoaster of life for 18 months. haha. It's crazy to have the highest of highs and the lowest of lows all in one day! But it is so amazing; because without the lows we really wouldn't appreciate the highs as much! :)

Tuesday we spent in Hannibal, MO...yep the famous! :) The sisters there opened the area and are doing great! I love meeting the wonderful people all around this mission and hearing stories and seeing conversions of all walks of life. This church is true! On our way back from Hannibal, we stopped in Kahoka (which is on the outskirts of our area) and saw a recent convert and her family. She had been baptized, then stopped coming for awhile, but it was so neat to hear her experience of how she just felt like she needed to start going again and what a blessing it has been in her life.

Thursday we had Nauvoo Zone Training Meeting in Ft. Madison and that went so well! In a role play we did, I was with one of the couple missionary sisters from the Nauvoo temple mission...and she just made my day. She told me out of the hundreds of missionaries she and her husband have worked with, she had never had such a powerful experience and immediately felt of my love and excitement for the gospel. It was a good little pick me up. :)

Friday the Kirksville sisters were able to come on exchanges up here in Keokuk with us! Wow....what a fun day that was! (and I even got to sleep on an air mattress out by the Christmas tree!) yippee! haha. I worked with Sister Hunter, who came out with Sister Andersen and I, and boy is she an awesome teacher!...so powerful and has such a great spirit and enthusiasm about the work. We had so much fun! We started off the day with a great lesson with Angie, a member's friend, all about the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon! We didn't find one lady home, but ended up being exactly where we needed to be when we knocked on an apartment door of Sanjida... a 29 year old from India. She has been here with her husband for about 5 years, and let us right in. She grew up Hindu, but loves learning about religions. Because she had grown up believing in multiple Gods, the idea of God as our Father in Heaven was foreign to her. We shared with her our testimonies and the spirit was so strong. When we talked about God's plan for us, she started crying and told us she's scared because her 21 year old brother was just diagnosed with cancer in India and she is going back next week to be with him during treatments.

I was able to share Millie and Tyler with her and told her that no matter what happens, Heavenly Father is there and is with both her and him. We sat in silence for awhile, talked about trials and life and Heavenly Father's love for her...and by the end, she prayed! It was amazing! Being able to see someone who didn't even believe in God, pray to a loving Heavenly Father and feel the spirit testify to her that He is there is the best feeling ever! I am so grateful I have the knowledge of my loving Father in Heaven who truly does know us perfectly and is ALWAYS there no matter what. Now....people's agency on the other hand...that's difficult sometimes. haha. However, I do know that this is the Lord's work and it will be done in His way, in His time. I am learning patience that's for sure! ;D I am also learning that Heavenly Father has placed me here at this time for a reason...and I am truly surrounded by angels. The other day I was having a hard day and just didn't feel like myself, didn't feel like I was doing good, etc... I prayed so hard to just feel that I was doing something right and that everything was okay.... the next day I get a little piece of paper from Rachael, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It's amazing to me how answers come just at the right time, and I am grateful for those answers and angels to be the instruments for the Lord in my life. I am also so grateful for the righteous influences in my life... to have such a strong support system and love. I am grateful to be here in the Lord's vineyard at this time in my life, where I know I am being shaped into who Heavenly Father needs me to be.

Love Always,

Sister Alston