Hoppy Easter

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday!  It was such a beautiful day here in Keokuk!  Pretty sure it got up to 79 degrees?  YAY!!! :)  It's going to be a hot summer... haha.  I am grateful this week was pretty darn good.  It's been amazing to feel the prayers from others lifting me up and keeping me going...so thank you!  PRAYER WORKS!  The Atonement also works, and I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ who has given me added strength and encouragement this week.  Burdens and sorrows truly can be lifted as we rely on Him, I see that in my own life each and every day.  I am also grateful for the power of the Priesthood.  I got a blessing this week and received exactly what I needed.  I know it was Heavenly Father speaking through the worthy priesthood holder, and I am so grateful for the words that were said, but also for the feelings that were felt. 

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

 

TUESDAY:  We drove to Mt. Pleasant, IA Monday night and had exchanges with Hermana Jacobson and Hermana Te'o all dayTuesday.  We had so much fun!  I started off with Hermana Te'o (Who is from La'ie, HI), and we were checking up on a few less actives when these 2 Hispanic men walked by.  At first I didn't really think anything of it, but then it clicked that, well duh... HERMANA Te'o speaks Spanish!!! haha.  So even though she has only been out for 2 weeks, I made her talk to them because I couldn't!  Well..I tried...epic fail.  No Habla Espanol for this girl.  :(  oh well.  haha.  Anyways, they were so nice and invited the hermanas to teach them and their family!  It was awesome!  Then with Hermana Jacobson later in the day, we were looking for this trailer park (that the Hispanic men had told us to go check out), but couldn't find it... we were driving down a few roads and it just didn't feel right.  Decided to go over into a different part of town, come to a stop sign and Hma. J says...I want to go right, but something it telling me to go left.  So we go left, and when we get to the next stop sign...LOST TRAILER PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!!! It was a miracle!  So cool to be guided and directed by the spirit.  Even when you don't know where you are going, HE DOES! :) 

 

WEDNESDAY:  It was a great day!  And Rachael spent all day with us, driving us around, and checking up on referrals and everything!  All aspects of the work, it was awesome! SHE IS AWESOME!  Seriously, I wish everyone could meet her, because she makes the world a better place.  So willing and ready to serve at any time...I look up to her so much.  Even though we didn't have much success with checking up on the referrals we received, as we were walking over to one, this girl walked by and we started talking to her.  Found out she had just moved from Oregon, and told us she would love to come to young womens and church...has been wanting to find a new church to go to.  SO COOL!!! 

 

THURSDAY:  We had received a member referral last week for a woman in Montrose, but she wasn't interested.  We wanted to go back and find near her home, and just in Montrose in general... so we walk around and knock on a few doors, but nothing to promising... we walk down another street and feel like we need to knock on another door.  We knock and don't hear anyone, knock again, and it sounded like they said "go away" so we start leaving...but then as we get down the walk, an older man opens the door and tells us to come back and come in!  Him and his wife immediately start telling us how they had met with missionaries a few years back, but how they just stopped coming around.  Daniel and Sharon.  Been married 50 years this year, and are such a cute little old couple I love them!!!  :)  Anyways, talk to them and invite them to take the discussions again which they gladly accept. 

 

FRIDAY:  Interviews with President and Sister Jensen.  Oh how I love them!  It was so good to sit down and talk with both of them, and to hear their testimonies of the plan of salvation and have my knowledge reconfirmed once again.  I asked President Jensen about what he thought about transfers (coming up on May 8th) and he said he could both see me going or staying.  If I stay, I will be in Keokuk a whole year and finish my mission here, or leave and go somewhere just for 3 months.  So I have no idea what is going to happen!  :/  I guess we'll just have to wait and see!  haha.  During interviews, we also had a wonderful district meeting where everyone trained on a christlike attribute they had been assigned to.  It was a great meeting!  I love studying and learning more about the Christlike attributes.  If you haven't read chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel, I highly recommend it! :)  That's why we're here on earth!  To become more like our Savior! :)  It's a constant effort for the rest of eternity, but as long as we are trying and becoming better each day that's all that matters!  We were also able to do our weekly planning outside the temple Friday afternoon which was glorious... whoopsies I got a little burnt.. but it was so so so nice outside!  We were also able to talk with a woman from New York who reminded us of the importance of remembering our heritage and how cool it is to be serving right where they were and right where they sacrificed so much.  I am so blessed!!!  This really is the best mission in the whole world!  :) 

 

SUNDAY:  We had a great Easter Sunday!  The talks in Sacrament meeting were wonderful, then I got to do singing time in Primary again and man I just love those kids so much!  We taught Cody Moore, finally, after church.  His grandma brings him and his 3 siblings to church every Sunday.  Now that he is 8, he is really excited to be baptized, and he will be getting baptizedMay 4th!  Tender Mercies from the Lord... I am so grateful I get to teach children.  They are the best!  :)  We had lunch at the park with the Wall family, saw Laura (the girl we met Wednesday walking down the street), had a great lesson with Charley Scudder who will be getting baptized in July... and then got to eat some of the Olsen's leftover Easter Ham with Rachael!  haha. 

 

Wow...that was a very vague description of the week... and SO MUCH more happened, but I am completely out of time!  It is now pouring rain outside, so we most likely will be playing in the rain for a bit and then playing some volleyball later.  :)  I love you all so much and am forever grateful for you and for your love and support...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY LIFE!!!  Life is good.  The Church is True. 

 

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny found us! 

We love JJ. Happy Easter! 

Easter, Easter, Easter

this weeks nails, haha

Enduring it Well

Well...not going to lie.  This has been the hardest week of my mission, emotionally.  However, it has also been one in which I have been able to learn and grow and completely rely on Heavenly Father and feel his love more than ever before.  The week started off really great, having an amazing lesson with Donny Tuesday morning - finally getting him and Nellie to the church to show him around a bit, and to get him a blessing to help him quit smoking.  As we were walking around the church, he loved all the pictures of Christ, and took time to really look at the paintings and talk about them.  It was really cool to feel of his love for the Savior, and to see how his testimony has grown so rapidly the past couple weeks.  After the blessing, we went into the chapel and talked about the importance of the sacrament.  When asked how he felt, he said "well...I think I need to start coming Sundays".  He continued to talk about how he is so grateful for the support he feels, and how he feels it is right in his heart.  He knows it's going to be hard, but he wants it so bad.

 Tuesday continued to go really well.  We were finally able to meet with Lydia again and teach her more of the restoration.  She wonders about there being one true church, but said she would experiment and see what happens.  It was neat to hear more of her story; growing up in church and believing in God, then falling away a bit later, and now has a very strong testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  She is the single mom of 3 adorable little boys, and we are excited to continue working with her.  After Lydia, we saw Alexis outside her house (a former investigator) so we walked over there and said hi and found out she had lost her job and is looking for a new one...and even opened up the Book of Mormon a couple times.  She said she is still open to learning more, especially now that her schedule is more open.  We walked over to Cedric and Carrie's to see how they were doing, and ended up helping them in their yard for a while.  Carrie wanted to make sure she got all our information so when we leave, we can stay in contact; it was awesome!  We then went down to see Brittany, Chris, and Phoenix and they had some questions about the Plan of Salvation.  It's really cool to see how their desire to learn has grown and they truly want to know if this is true.  Phoenix is 8, and will be getting baptized on the 27th of this month; which will hopefully help Brittany and Chris feel the spirit more and want to be baptized themselves.

Wednesday...Nellie had invited us over for lunch and to help plant the garden with Donny, so we go out there with Rachael and find out that the garden wasn't hoed yet and we couldn't plant...but she still made us a delicious lunch of chicken pot pie, bbq chicken, and pecan pie. :)  We are so spoiled!  So we ate, and talked for a bit, then headed back into town.  We met with a less active, and while we were there got 2 missed calls from Sister Jensen.  When we got out of that lesson and drove to our next appointment, figured we should probably call Sister Jensen back.  So I do...and she tells me I needed to call home because my dad had called.  At this point, I knew something was wrong, just didn't know exactly what.  So I take a couple deep breaths and call my dad, who proceeds to tell me the Grandpa Ted had passed away.  Wow.  Wasn't expecting that one at all.  My heart just fell and I tried to stay composed, but it didn't really work.  Got to talk to him for a bit, then Tasia, and then called mom and grandma to see how they were doing.  Found out that the little stinker had gotten back into Arizona the night before, and took Taylor out for dinner!  What a tender mercy!  ...he was always one to be a rebel and break the rules.  ;P  So pretty much the rest of the day I was useless.  I tried really hard to be okay with it, but I wasn't okay.  Grandpa Ted is one of my best friends, and I thought he was going to live forever!  It's been a couple days now, and I am okay...but it is still hard to think about going home and not having him there.  I am so grateful for so many wonderful memories with him though.  Memories that I will cherish forever.  I still feel in denial a little bit, but it will just take time. I know he is okay, that now I just have one more angel alongside me to help me along in the work.  I guess he was just jealous of his 3 grandchildren serving missions and wanted to serve another one too!  I could go on for days of how this has been a rollercoaster ride, but just know that I am grateful for the knowledge I have of the Plan of Salvation.  I was able to go to the temple Friday night and being there I was reminded of the beautiful blessing and knowledge we have of eternal families.  Rachael reminded me of Uchtdorf's talk just this past conference about how we are made up of eternal stuff.  We were not made for goodbyes.  That is why it's so hard to lose loved ones.  We need to remember that "There are no true endings, only EVERLASTING BEGINNINGS."  I am grateful I will always remember Grandpa as his crazy, spontaneous, rebel self...because when I see him again...I know he will be alive and well.  (Probably just as crazy, too).  I am grateful Heavenly Father kept me here in Keokuk so I could be surrounded by support at this time.  I am so grateful to have the support system I do both here and at home.  THANK YOU!!!!!

Thursday was a new day.  However, a few days previous I had been asked to give a training on "Enduring it Well" for district meeting.  Fitting, right?  haha.  Yeah... now we know why I was asked to train on that!  Talked about how we will be able to endure all things as we 1)strengthen our personal testimonies; which gives us the eternal perspective necessary to see past our trials.  2) Humble ourselves and rely on the Lord, remembering that "Without him, we are nothing."  and 3) Repentance.  Using the atonement daily to become who Heavenly Father needs us to become.  "Knowing who we are, we should never give up the goal of achieving our eternal destiny."  As children of our Father in Heaven, we have so much potential than we can imagine in our earthly state.  This life is so much more than our earthly existence.  There is so much to come, and so much to look forward to.  I had to buck up and move on (just as grandpa would tell me to)... and go on exchanges with the Macomb sisters for the rest of Thursday.  It was rough, but we had fun and saw many miracles.  We decided that our theme for exchanges this transfer is FUN... full of fun-dips, forts, facials, finding... ALL THINGS FUN! :)  Yep...that's sister Pratt and I for ya! haha... so it ended up being really good, and the sisters appreciated it.

Saturday was the branch Easter egg hunt!  ...there were about as many non-members as there were members!!! It was amazing!  Biggest turnout I've ever seen at an activity, it was a miracle!  It was so fun, and so good to get our investigators more associated with the members in the branch. 

I guess that's about it for the week... not really... there's a lot more.  BUT UNCLE DAN THINKS MY EMAILS ARE LIKE BOOKS so I figured I'd keep this one "short" haha.  Sorry Uncle Dan! Love you!

 anyways, I am so grateful for this time that I have the privilege to be on a mission.  I am constantly reminded that even though I am in the refiner's fire, the refiner (God) is in control.  I am grateful for his love, and all he continues to bless me with.  I am grateful for my trials, and for the strength and courage and refinement they give me.  I know it is through divine revelation to the prophets that we are able to know about the Plan of Salvation.  I am so grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with so many angels, both on earth and above, to watch after me and help me along.  The work continues.  On both sides of the veil. 

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston      

PS... it was 75 Saturday, and now it's a blizzard outside...what the?

Fun dips, facials and forts! We know how to do exchanges...fun! 

Easter Egg Hunt

we are so cute 

This is Charley Scudder. The day I met him, he reminded me of Grandpa Ted. Personality and everything. Now I just want to hang out with Charley all the time. haha

nail party

cutest puppy ever!!

I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Well...Gen Con April 2014 has now come to a close... :(  But wow, what an amazing conference it was!  I would say a theme found was "Living True to the Faith"...making sure our testimonies and personal conversion are strong so that when the storms come and wind blows, we will not be moved.  I was reminded of the importance of keeping our foundation built on Jesus Christ, and how when we strive to live all He and our Father in Heaven asks, we will always be protected.  I loved the emphasis on serving all of Heavenly Father's children and reaching out to everyone around us, showing Eternal Love and valuing and loving all that they value and love.  "Pure Christlike love flowing from righteousness can CHANGE THE WORLD"...Love is all we need! :)  When we remember and focus on the basics, we will know what we need to do in all aspects of our lives.  Remember that the Lord can do more with our lives than we can do with our own.  GOD'S LAWS SHOULD EVER BE OUR STANDARD.  There is no separation, or different compartments of our lives...if we allow there to be separation of religion, life, work, etc...we will never achieve the potential we have been created for.  HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.  Okay...I love Elder Uchtdorf.  His talks are always my favorite (if we are allowed to have favorites?) haha.  Gratitude really does change everything, and as we have grateful hearts we will find the gentle peace in the midst of tribulation, closeness and warmth in heaven's embrace, and be fearless and joyful disciples of Christ!  "There are no true endings, only EVERLASTING BEGINNINGS".  This is why the gospel is so amazing and truly is the "good news!"  No matter where we are today, we are able to start over!  This is a gospel of deliverance, a gospel of light, joy, and peace.  Jesus Christ is the way, and as we follow his example and rely on him we will be able to bear our loads.  We have had years of preparation before we came to earth, and only little time to perform and learn what Heavenly Father sent us here to learn and become who he needs us to become.  THE TIME IS NOW TO PREPARE.  We can find strength in the faith of our own ancestors.  Remember their sacrifices and their miraculous stories...we are standing on the shoulders of giants.  And one day, we will need to be those giants for others to stand on.   

This conference, I received personal conviction that the prophet and apostles are called of God and speak his words.  Their testimonies and powerful spirits are undeniable, and I know they have been called to lead us today.  I am so grateful for living prophets and apostles and leaders who know exactly what is needed in our day and age.  When the world is being ever-darkened by Satan and his followers, we must be that "light set on a hill...a candle that cannot be hid...LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT OTHERS MAY SEE IT AND GLORIFY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN."

This week we also had the privilege of attending mission leadership council, Quincy zone training meeting, and Nauvoo zone training meeting.  Sister Pratt and I were able to relay Sister Jensen's training on FEAR.  How fear comes from Satan and how we as missionaries really have no need to fear because we are on the Lord's errand.  As long as we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, and following the spirit, we will be protected, given the words to say, and be stronger than ever before.  Remembering that we are literally surrounded by angels who are there to bear us up.  This is an eternal work, going on on both sides of the veil...and I am so grateful I get to be a part of it!  We talked about influential people and teachers in our lives and how we can be influential teachers by loving the people and loving what we have to share.  I thought of several people in my life who have changed my life, and I wish I could go back and thank them all so much more than I have.  I have been blessed with the most amazing influences in my life, and I know it is because of them that I have accomplished all I have and continue to have a desire to reach for the stars. 

Thursday night the Pena's, Salyers, and Rachael had a birthday party for me...and throughout the day I was getting random texts wishing me happy birthday from all the members in the branch.  I am so grateful Heavenly Father has placed me here in Keokuk, surrounded by incredible examples and people who I love with all my heart!  They do so much for me, and will never understand the effect they have had on my life and what a blessing they truly have been.  Well...maybe one day when we are all sitting down in heaven I'll be able to describe in words how much I love them, but until then... I will just keep trying to express my love and gratitude the best I can.  We spent Thursday night over in Nauvoo at the Warner's to prepare for our training Friday morning.  It's so wonderful having "adopted" grandparents here!  They never cease to amaze me at all they do, and I love them so much! 

Friday we had 2 incredible experiences in lessons.  After zone training meeting in Nauvoo, we drove back to Keokuk and Rachael came to see Brittany, Chris, and Phoenix.  We weren't quite sure what to share with them, but as soon as we sat down Brittany was telling us to explain to her mom a little more about Joseph Smith.  Chris had been asking Brittany about him, and had read some things online or somewhere...but it was so amazing to feel and see the spirit work within her.  She believes that God would want there to be the full truth on the earth today, and that it's so important to find our for ourselves the truth instead of listening to the world.  She has a sincere desire to learn and find the truth for herself.  We walked out of that lesson in amazement of how there could be so many distractions from kids running around, yet we were able to follow the spirit and say what needed to be said.  Friday night, we stopped by to see a less active and her investigator husband, Donny.  Wanting to talk about the gospel with him and help him realize the importance of repentance and doing what Heavenly Father wants...we walk in and immediately Nellie said, Donny has been asking a lot of questions about baptism today, can you please talk to him about how Jesus was baptized and how he needs to be baptized that same way?  haha... sure, we could do that!  It was one of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission.  Donny is very hard of hearing, so we have to speak up and make things extremely simple for him to understand... which is perfect!  He was saying how he wants to be baptized like Jesus was and wants to have the gift of the Holy Ghost to comfort him always.  After talking about baptism I, for some reason, pulled out the word of wisdom pamphlet out of my bag and put it on my lap.  A couple minutes later, Donny looked up and asked about his smoking.  We then went on to talk about the importance of modern revelation and the blessings that come from living the word of wisdom.  As we started talking about it he said he didn't think he could ever quit smoking, but in the middle he excused himself, and when we came back he said I just prayed and asked Heavenly Father and I know I need to quit smoking.  It was so incredible to feel the spirit so strongly work within all of us! 

At Christmas, I was asked what my favorite thing was about my mission.  I didn't exactly have an answer, because it is all so different and great everyday!... However... Now I do have an answer.  My favorite thing about serving a mission is realizing the power of being under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost.  Being an instrument in the Lord's hands, and being able to listen and teach according to the spirit.  It is something that I always want to have in my life...the spirit is the most amazing thing we can have right now and I don't want to ever do anything to lose it. 

Saturday evening we were walking down the street and we stopped to talk to these guys outside who were digging up their carrots.  Come to find out, one of them had grown up going to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with his grandpa, and the other is related to Joseph Smith!  We just talked with them for a few minutes, and by the end, they invited us over for a BBQ Sunday afternoon!... so Sunday in between conference sessions we were able to join them for a fun BBQ...holy delicious food!  ...and we are going on Tuesday to teach them!  It's amazing how the Lord places people in our paths who are prepared.  They are so kind and generous, and we are excited to help their families come closer to God and Jesus Christ.  Man...being a missionary is the best! 

Thank you all for the sweet birthday wishes, notes and cards...and for all you continue doing for me.  Time is flying by, and I am forever grateful for the support you have given me.  Here, and throughout my life.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.  I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston 

Keokuk Sisters!! There's only been 4 of us in a year!  

What do we do for fun? How do we spend the last night as a 21 year old?

Yep, build a fort and sleep in it!

The Sister Cave

Yay for birthdays! 

birthday party...22!!

crazy party with crazy people 

haha. Sleepover at the Warner's = must bring out the onesies! 

Bubble blowing fun

we like bubbles

Friends, friends and more friends 

and bacon wrapped hot dogs!!

Mission Leadership Council April 1st 

Elder Wood an I have the same birthday...so we celebrated!