Monday: P-day
Tuesday: MLC in Iowa City all day
Wednesday: Exchanges in Kirksville, MO
Thursday: Training at Zone Training Meeting in Kirksville, MO
Friday: Training at Zone Training Meeting in Burlington, IA
so...the only full days we had to work in our area this past week were Saturday and Sunday! Somehow, we got 14 solid lessons in... and it's all because Heavenly Father loves us!!! Tuesday's MLC was Sister Rogers' first and it was fun! We discussed as a leadership council the importance of goals, and the new goal for the Iowa Des Moines Mission for 2014. Last year, we had 545 baptisms as a mission, which is 145 more than the previous year. Honestly, it was a bit hard to not meet our goal of 550...but President Jensen emphasized the importance of remembering that success comes in the journey of achieving goals. He also told us how proud Heavenly Father is of us achieving 99.1% of our goal for the year. We truly do have the most amazing mission here, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it! :)
Wednesday we drove down to Kirksville and had such a wonderful exchange with Sisters Johannson and Hunter, and were able to see many miracles! Sis. Johannson and I went and taught a lady and her family for the first time and they were so willing to learn more and are some of the most prepared people I've met! Ended up with 5 new investigators, and I am so excited to continue hearing about them progressing in the gospel. I also had the honor of eating dinner with Jaque...one of their recent converts; who is Joseph's Smith's 5th great granddaughter...direct descendant! It was such a strong testimony builder to hear her share her conversion story. Growing up RLDS, having basically the exact same beliefs as we do, believing in Joseph Smith (obviously) and the Priesthood, temples, prophets, the Book of Mormon, etc...when she went to her church she had a hard time feeling the spirit, but the first time she attended a sacrament meeting with the sisters she knew it was where Heavenly Father wanted her to be, she knew it was true. It was funny because the sisters would always joke and say, "well..we've never taught another Mormon before!" There was such a strong spirit about her, and I do feel so privileged to have met her.
Thursday's Zone Training in Kirksville with the Quincy Zone was fun. Sister Rogers and I relayed Sister Jensen's training from MLC...all on etiquette and manners! bahahaha...yeah...we laughed too. Just kidding; we made it fun and even tied in scriptures and how it applies to not only missionary life but for the rest of our lives! It was great! On the way back from Kirksville, we ended up stopping in Kahoka to check up on Hailey (the one we miraculously met before Christmas while asking for directions). She welcomed us in, and gladly accepted the invitation to be baptized! She would have come to church, but ended up getting sick! So excited to continue working with her. In fact, one of her New Years resolutions was to strengthen her relationship and faith in God and Jesus Christ! :D
Having a lot of time in the car, Sister Rogers and I have been able to talk A LOT. It has been so fun to be able to get to know each other more and more and I just love her so dang much! She seriously is amazing and I am so blessed to have her as my companion! We have been blessed with a greater appreciation for the spirit. We talked about how the greatest thing we can have is the Holy Ghost to lead, guide, and comfort us. As long as we have that spirit with us, and are able to share it with others....we can be confident that Heavenly Father is pleased with what we are doing.
Saturday we went on a new apartment hunt, since the Brodegards are moving... we go to this apartment that Rachael had found and told us about, end up not being there to find an apartment, but finding Cynthia and her family! She is the property manager, and just moved from Washington 2 months ago. She told us how the first thing she did was find a church, but not sure how she feels about it yet. We didn't have to do anything!...she asked us where the church was, if we could come teach her and her family more about it, if we had a youth program that would help her 3 girls (11, 13, 15)...etc. WOW! We left and were a bit in shock! SO GRATEFUL!!!
Anyways... There is so much more I could write, but I just want to say how grateful I am for the spirit in my life. I never want to do anything that would drive that spirit away. I am forever grateful for the memories I am making, eternal friendships being made, and my testimony that continues being refined and strengthened. I love you all so much! Have a great week!
Love Always,
Sister Natalia Alston
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| SEESTERS!!! |
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| my poor boots...getting new ones today, don't worry! |
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| The Mighty Mississippi!! |
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