This week has been full of service, love, laughter, ice, snow, cold noses, warmed hearts and friendly faces! haha. Okay...cheesy I know, but what do you expect? It's me! haha. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! I would like to wish you all the most wonderful Christmas of all! I have learned the true meaning of Christmas this year, and wish everyone could experience this wonderful holiday season out in the mission field! We were able to attend the Messiah at the Catholic church over in Nauvoo, and a Christmas Cantada performance at one of the baptist churches here in Keokuk...both of which were fantastic! Since I wasn't able to see Grandma Alston in the Messiah this year, that worked out great! On Saturday we were also able to help out at God's Way Christian Center with their Christmas baskets...blessing about 150 families with Christmas gifts. So cool to be a part of this community and get to know everyone and see the different churches and the good they are doing. We have been welcomed like family with Pastor Sylvia and God's Way and we are grateful for the relationship we are building with them.
Tuesday we had a rough day where every single appointment we had either cancelled or fell through... but we just kept on pushing along and it turned out to be a great day! As we knock on doors, the people aren't rude here, they are just not interested in what we have to say! We were walking and knocking in this one neighborhood and started talking to a guy outside fixing his jeep. He said he's happy to see us out sharing the Lord's light. He said he's never met a single mormon he doesn't like and really respects us for what we believe and what we do. He then went on telling us how even though we may not see the results, as long as we keep trying and continue pressing forward with smiles on our faces; and learning something along the way...it's all worth it. We walked away feeling great, and looked at each other thinking we just met one of the 3 Nephites. haha. It was a blessing from Heavenly Father that's for sure! We both needed to hear it. :)
Wednesday we walked across town to see a less active and stopped at a couple members houses on the way back, then went and saw Lydia (a girl we met at bible study at God's Way one time) and she said she would like to learn more. She's a single mom of 2 cute little boys and another one due in February. We are excited to see how the gospel blesses her life and her family's life. Aww man...I just wish you all could meet these awesome people! I love them so much! Oh yeah...and Mark, the guy I talked about last week who moved to Dallas City...is now back here in Keokuk and working things out with Christi. So that's a blessing as well! Even though they may not be ready to join the church quite yet, we know they are being blessed and are progressing. That's another lesson we've been reminded of this week: THE LORD AND HIS TIMING. haha. Even though we wish so badly that people would progress and be baptized and receive all the blessings in store for them... Heavenly Father's plan and timing in perfect. He knows these people so much better than we do, and even though we may not "reap the fruits" that we plant, the time will come. The time we have on earth is just a blink of an eye compared to eternity...so just remember the eternal perspective! :)
Friday night/
Saturday I experienced my first freezing rain storm...it was crazy! It literally froze as it got to the ground! ...we had fun ice skating along the roads the rest of the night...literally sliding the whole time! It was great! We were just laughing and thinking of how ridiculous we look and how crazy we are for being out...but I guess, as missionaries we do some pretty crazy things! Sadly, because of the storm, church yesterday was cancelled.... blahhhh... I hate missing church and not being able to take the sacrament. But we ended up going to a Christmas service at God's Way; and we learned a lot! It was so interesting to say the least. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that I have, and for the spirit that I have felt. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church restored to the earth in it's fulness.
Well...time's almost up, but I just want everyone that reads this to know that I appreciate and love you. Remember the reason for the season. I know that Jesus came to the earth so we could all be together again...and I look forward to the day that I get to see all the incredible souls I have come in contact with, that have changed my life forever, and continue to learn and grow with one another. I know that God gave us the greatest gift of all, His only beloved son, Jesus Christ, because He loves us...that Jesus Christ gave His life for us because He loves us...Though we may never understand the degree of their love, how will we show them that we love them in return?
I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
Love Always,
Sister Natalia Alston
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fun at the branch Christmas party!
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