Letters from Sister Alston: Rapids a Rollin

First full week in Cedar Rapids = PURE AWESOMENESS! :) ...yes, it is a word. I already love it here, and so many miracles are happening! We spent a lot of time in meetings, but were so very blessed with the work in our area. It's amazing how Heavenly Father continues to bless us each and every day. Something I have been trying to focus on more this week is recognizing all those little tender mercies each day...and there are so many! His hand is in absolutely everything we do! Even though sometimes the plans we make don't turn out...he has other things in mind and other people for us to meet and see along the way. This was very clear in several instances this week which I will explain in a bit. :) Okay fine, I'll go through those first since I know you are just on the edge of your chair now... haha.

Exhibit A - RONNIE: We were checking up on a potential that we had found last week, but as we were walking up the sidewalk we noticed a man fixing the siding on his house and went up and talked to him for a minute. He notices us and tells us how he is actually a member of the church, but hasn't been since he was 13 or 14. He told us his story of growing up in the church, the falling away and just not having the desire to come back anymore...but how the missionaries always seem to find him. We had to laugh at that because it wasn't "someone" who sent the missionaries to find him this time, but Heavenly Father did! He has lived all around California, Arizona, and now Iowa...and no matter where he goes, the nametags find him. It was so neat to see how we weren't there to find that potential, but to find Ronnie...the potential we originally planned on seeing wasn't even home.

Exhibit B - JAMES: Trying to come in contact with Fazili and Maulidi (two investigators who are extremely hard to get a hold of...) we go to their apartment and find them outside just about to leave. They talk to us for a minute and introduce us to their friend, James and tell us to come back in a couple hours when they would be home. So we come back a couple hours later, and find that Fazili and Maulidi were still not home, but James was! He sees the nametages again and proceeds to tell us that that is his church, and he was baptized in Rockford, IL last year...moved here a month ago and stopped going to church. He said he knows he wants to come back, just didn't know where one was. So James is another lost less-active that Heavenly Father lead us to! He came to church yesterday, and everyone welcomed him in, got all his information, and now he's very well taken care of!...it was funny because we didn't even get a chance to talk to him because everyone else was! Way to go 3rd ward! :)

Those are just two examples of how Heavenly Father had other plans for us, but I know there were MANY, and will continue to be many experiences like those. Other highlights of the week!...

Tuesday and Thursday: Had MLC and ZTM... I love these meetings because they help me know what I need to work on and how we cal also improve our areas. It is always so fun to be with so many amazing missionaries...IDMM is the best! :) These trainings were focused on were being truly converted, not just having a testimony, and virtue. Sister Jensen talked about how we as missionaries come to the field with a testimony of the gospel, and when we go home, we are converted to the gospel. I have definitely seen this for myself. Before my mission, I believed the church was true, believed the Book of Mormon was true, believed that Heavenly Father had a plan for me...but now I KNOW! I am so grateful that I have had this time to come to know, and become more and more converted each day. It is a constant process, and something we all have to work on each and every day, but I am eternally grateful for the knowledge and understanding that I have been given while here on my mission. I think it was Elder Anderson in this past conference talking about how we have to come to know for ourselves, and be able to defend and stand up for what we believe, because things are only going to get harder in the world. We must be in the world, but not of the world.

Wednesday: We had an amazing church tour with our investigator, Michelle. She loves art, and so we were able to talk about all the art around the building. It was so fun to talk about all the bible and book of mormon stories displayed, and hear what she thought of them as well. Art is amazing! :) We were also able to have a church tour with Jacob and Adrianna Hill (father and daughter we met last week) and Adrianna stayed for Young Womens! She wants to go to camp and everything! She also came to church yesterday, and during Sacrament meeting she leaned over and asked how and when she could be baptized... MIRACLES! Her dad is super cool and wants her to be involved with good things, and he will come around too one day...his whole extended family is LDS, his uncle is even a bishop in Provo! haha.... small world.

Thursday: GOT TO GO TO KEOKUK!!!!!! Halie Cain got baptized, and it was so so so amazing!!!! Sherstin drove us to Ainsworth, where Rachael, Malissa and Halie met us and took us the rest of the way. Man, it was such a wonderful service. The whole family was there, and Halie was so cute! I was asked to give a talk on baptism and used the Bleach/water/food coloring talk that my mom made me do for my cousin's baptism when I was like 7...haha.... and I was happy it worked! anyways... the spirit was so strong, and it has been so amazing to see the spirit work within that family. They are amazing! After the baptism, Rachael (who was also leaving Keokuk to go back home) drove us with her sister and brother in the car back to Cedar Rapids. Funnest car ride ever! ...I love singing with them! Yes I know, I am super random and scatter-brained and I'm sorry! There's just so much I have to say! AAAH!!! ...and not enough time! haha.

Friday: We met with Melissa (the one that called us last Sunday telling us she wanted to be baptized). It was so cool to hear her testimony and how she has come to know it is true and what she needs in her life. We asked her the baptismal interview questions and she said she would like to be baptized as soon as possible and set her own date for May 31st! (Fun fact: she's sitting at the computer right across from me right now...awkward? haha) Anyways, she is awesome. Her husband is currently in prison, but wants to be baptized when he gets out. It's amazing how the spirit works with people!!! Friday night we ate with the Drueggar family, who's son and grandma got baptized in April and we are still working with the daughter and parents. They are so amazing and I love them so much already! We also had a lesson around the bonfire with them about prayer and coming to be converted for themselves. Missionary work is awesome!

Okay....so that basically sums up the week. Yesterday, I was asked to interpret for Relief Society then told that I will be interpreting the next twoSunday... oh heavens... better practice! Heavenly Father is helping me stretch and grow that's for sure! I love life! :)

I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for all you do for me!!!!

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston