Letters from Sister Alston: On the 9th day of Christmas!

What the? It's Christmas next week? YAY! Well, we are short on time today, so I will try to fill you in on everything! This week was great! It started off with an amazing zone conference where I was able to see Sister Hill and so many other missionaries that I love! :) Last Saturday one of the APs called and asked me to put together another last minute musical number....so that was exciting! For the branch choir we had this really pretty arrangement of Oh Holy Night, so I just stole it and had 4 elders and 4 sisters sing! And even though we were only able to do it 3 times the morning of, it was so fantastic!!! Awww man I just love music so so much! And so grateful Heavenly Father has allowed me to continue developing these talents to share with others. The afternoon session of the conference was a chance for each district to perform a Book of Mormon skit, or do a musical number and oh my heavens...there were some hilarious ones! We had so much fun! Then we got to watch Ephraim's rescue...it's great, ya'll should watch it sometime! It was a great reminder once again of how blessed we are to be serving at this time...with cars...and coats and gloves...and houses with heaters...and beds... and boots! And what a sacred place the Iowa Des Moines Mission really is. Oh man I am so blessed to be here!!!

Mark Hallford, the guy that wasn't sure he believed in God anymore, got a priesthood blessing last week and has completely changed. He got kicked out of his house and was going to take his daughter to Colorado, but ended up just going over to Dallas City, IL... so Elder and Sister Warner are going to continue working with him! It was so amazing to see his entire person change and he was so grateful to have had the opportunity to get a blessing. He called us the next morning to thank us and tell us that this has been the best he's felt since he's been here in Iowa. So grateful we were able to meet him and see his testimony grow and feel his love of God come back into his life. THAT is why I am here.

Yesterday we had a Christmas Miracle... Jewels, one of our recent converts introduced us to her friend Austin who she had brought to church. We ended up teaching him after the block and he said he felt at home and knows this is where the Lord wants him to be. He even quit smoking this past week when Jewels told him if he wants to be a part of the church he would have to quit...so he did! haha. And he's getting baptized on the 28th!!! Heavenly Father loves us so much.

Oh man...well we are headed up to Burlington for the day with the zone... but I just want you all to know that I KNOW that I am where I am supposed to be. I know the Atonement is real. I know that families can be together forever. I am so grateful for this special time of year and that I get to truly share the light of Christ as a missionary with all those around me. Let us all do the same and in the next 2 weeks make a special effort to share the Love of Christ with all those around us. Reach out to those in need. Smile at strangers. Be aware of those random acts of kindness and service. I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Love Always,
Sister Natalia Alston