"Master, the Tempest is Raging"

Are you sure it's Monday again?... when did it sneak up on me?  Oh that's right...we have barely had time to even breath this week!  

Monday night we drove to Mt. Vernon and started exchanges with Sister Call and Sister Porter.  I was able to spend the exchange with Sister Porter whom I love and who I was able to do a lot of exchanges with when she was in Macomb and I was in Keokuk!  SO FUN to be with her again!  I love being able to see the sisters change and grow from the beginnings of their missions.  However, it still feels like I just came out yesterday!  Didn't I? haha.  Anyways, this exchange was great.  Sister Porter and I spent 2 hours Tuesday morning finding in a park...which was incredible!  It turns out that 10-12 on Tuesdays, the park is the place to be!  We talked to EVERYONE we saw!...and even though most weren't receptive, they were all relatively friendly and acceptedmormon.org cards!  We were able to sit and talk to a father of 2 girls who shared how important having family time is to him, and how he even quit a job so he could be at home more and spend especially sundays at church with his family.  He was awesome!  Another man was sitting on a table waiting for his kids to get done with swimming lessons and we talked to him for about 15 minutes about how his younger daughter had been asking him how to know what church to go to and all these questions he wasn't too sure how to answer.  We shared with him our testimonies and the spirit was very strong.  He said he would like to learn more and think it would be good for his whole family to learn together!  Wow... I love how Heavenly Father just places people in our paths that if we talk to for just a minute, we are given the opportunity to share our testimonies and help them feel the spirit.  Even though we only got a couple addresses/phone #s, we knew that is exactly where we were supposed to be at that time and that we did as much as we could.  It's always the best feeling to walk away knowing that you literally talked to everyone you possibly could in one place.  That's why we're here!...to talk to people!  We were also able to do service at the Lisbon History Center...and boy was that fun!  I really have come to love history.  In fact, I think it might be an obsession of sorts...we can blame Grandpa Ted for that one?  haha.  

LAST ZONE CONFERENCE!  So funny story... we thought the last zone conference would be my last zone conference and I was sad I didn't get to sing at it (I did play piano though...)...so when this zone conference was added and they asked me to put together another musical number I was so happy I was able to sing for my last zone conference!  Heavenly Father is so kind... we sang as a quartet, "Come Unto Christ"...the youth theme song for this year.  It was amazing!  The spirit was so strong, and I even teared up a bit.  Man, I love music!  If you haven't heard that song, go check it out!  It is the best!  The message was perfect as well, because the whole conference was about the Atonement.  

On Thursday after Zone conference, Sister Farnsworth and Sister Pierce came and did exchanges with us in Cedar Rapids for the night and all day Friday.  We had a blast!  Friday morning, Sister Pierce and I were following up with a family we are teaching, but they weren't home.  Across the way there was a lady outside, who looked a little distraught.  I was about to just keep walking down the stairs when the spirit said, "don't you dare walk down those stairs!"  haha...yeah, sometimes the spirit has to be very forward with me.  So I walk over to this lady and just ask how she's doing.  She said she just found out that her sister had passed away yesterday and is struggling.  Her name is Diamond, and she is from Chicago.  We also had a recent convert named Laverne with us...who is also from Chicago.  She stepped in and shared the sweetest testimony of how the gospel has blessed her life and they became instant friends!  So cool!  We also shared a little about the plan of salvation, and invited her to be baptized on her porch! haha...that's always fun!  She was so receptive and really wants to learn more and strengthen her relationship with God.  

Saturday we went to KEOKUK to Charlie Scudder's baptism!!!  I wasn't sure we would be able to make it because our original ride fell through last minute...but sweet Patricia Albin (who was baptized in May) gladly stepped up and said she would take us!  It was amazing!  When Charlie walked in, he was so happy to see all the sisters there!  (okay fine, there are only 5 of us...but still...) It was cool to all be there together!  After 25 years of being taught on and off, he was finally ready to enter the waters of baptism.  And he's already brought 2 friends with him!  He said he was feeling the spirit so strong and was so happy!  To see him in white was the best thing ever! This gospel is true!         

We were finally able to contact Virgil again, who asked where we had been...haha...We kept missing each other and he thought we were ignoring him or something.  He said he knows he needs to take things more seriously and wants to continue working towards baptism.  

Yesterday we had ward conference, and it was very powerful.  The stake president did a training in ward council that really hit me.  He talked about "Master, the Tempest is Raging"... and how it's okay to be on a raging tempest, that in our callings especially there will always be storms.  As we are on the boat with the Savior, we can find peace and know that all is well with Him.  We are all inadequate for our callings, no matter what they may be.  We can find peace in the storm as we trust in the Savior and rely on Him to lead and guide us in all that we are asked to do.  We shouldn't be so worried about what to say and do as HAVING THE SPIRIT AS OUR GUIDE.  

The spirit really is the most important thing in all we do.  As we are worthy and ready to receive it's guidance and direction...all things will work together as they need to.  This is one of the most amazing lessons I have learned on my mission:  trusting in the Savior and following the spirit, even though the world and everything seems amiss around, is what brings true peace and happiness.  There will always be storms, trials, disappointments, sadness, heartache...but with Him we can make it through.  I know our Savior lives, and loves us.  

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston   

Gardening! 

Road kill shirts and steel batons...oh and ninja turtle tattoos! 

more corn pictures...it's almost harvest time! 

...trying not to die by barbed wire...

Did you know Saturn is on the church property? 

Exchanges in Mt. Vernon

"The Fam" 

Exchanges with Cedar Falls in Cedar Rapids 

Charlie got baptized! 

All the Keokuk Sisters together in Keokuk 

Coldplay, Elvis and a whole ton of fun!

This week was so fun!...okay, most weeks are so fun!!!...but this one was extremely fun!  We started it off by going to Cedar Falls and spending last P-Day with the sisters there.  They are the only sisters in their zone, so they needed a little TLC.  haha.  We walked around old downtown and went window shopping.  Yay for girls' days! haha.  Sister Farnsworth and I then went to check up on a potential family that I had actually met on my last exchange there...the Funks.  They let us right in, and we just got to know them a little better!  They are a strong Catholic family, have 6 wonderful children, and met with Elders about 10 years ago (even took them to a baseball game when they lived in Cedar Rapids) but haven't ever been interested in the church.  They had a baby grand piano in their living room, so of course I had to play it.  Even got in a little Coldplay from the music book they had just bought.  It was so fun!  I love how Heavenly Father continues to allow me to meet such incredible people and hear their stories, and feel of their faith.  Other exciting exchange adventures included:  Singing Elvis Karaoke at the retirement home, painting more old ladies nails, practicing giving a church presentation tour thing, teaching an agnostic that I'm pretty sure is in love with Sister Farnsworth (oh, and the lesson was on the law of chastity, so that was even more fun!), taco Tuesday at Qedoba, meeting a quarterback who played in Paris (who also wants to learn more), and so much more!  It was such a fun exchange!  

Now back to what's happened/happening in my neck of the woods!..Good ol' Cedar Rapids!  Wednesday we taught a mother and her 4 kids (11, 6, 4 and 2) which was so fun!  She had been sitting in on a lesson with her brother in law the week before and invited us back.  She is from Pohnpei, and is actually the sister in law of a less active in the ward!  Anyways, it was an amazing Restoration lesson.  The 11 year old, Eric, was soaking it all in and understood the restoration of the Priesthood and importance of the Priesthood better than anyone I've ever taught!  It was so cool to invite them both to be baptized and have Eric say, "well, yeah...because it needs to be with the authority that Jesus Christ had..."  They are amazing!!!  A couple trailers down, there is also a part member family...actually a couple of them...who moved from Omaha a few months ago that we are teaching.  Everyone (like 12 of them) came outside and we all sat down and talked about the Book of Mormon and how it has and can bless our lives.  I love teaching people about the Book of Mormon, because it has worked miracles in my own life!  I am so grateful Heavenly Father has given us more scripture to learn from, and each day as I read I feel more and more connected to those wonderful people who came before us.  

We also had the most amazing Plan of Salvation lesson this past week with Fred, the one from Texas who talked to us on the street... He is loving the gospel and receiving more answers each day.  He asked us the most amazing questions, about how what he had been taught about Adam and Eve didn't make to him, how he believes we have always been ourselves and always will be ourselves... and as soon as we taught him about the Celestial Kingdom, he said, "that's where I want to be, because I want to live with God with my family."  WOW.  He is amazing!  

Ann Bates, the woman who lost her husband a couple months back and whose daughter referred us to her, is moving to Arkansastomorrow to live with that daughter.  We taught her about the Book of Mormon, and she said she is so grateful we have been able to meet with her and help her through this rough time.  She plans on going to church with her daughter in Arkansas, and having her son in-law baptize her down there.  It's amazing how Heavenly Father works.  

With a lot of Tornados, thunder storms, and such...there has been a lot of flooding.  We were able to help a member in her basement for a couple hours, then hear about how she and her husband became converted.  Completely changed their lives around to receive the restored gospel, and have such powerful testimonies.  

We had a fun movie night with Michele, and watched the Prophet of the Restoration movie.  Pretty much have the whole thing memorized, but I love watching it anyway!  :)  We are truly blessed to know about the restoration and partake in the many blessings that have come from it!  

Sunday, I guess that was yesterday wasn't it? haha...yes...yesterday was crazy!!!  We have missionary coordination, run to make sure Madreen was ready for her ride to come early and go to choir, miss ward coordination, have the weirdest sacrament meeting ever.  Erika, the daughter of the deaf couple in the ward, insisted on sitting next to me...then Madreen's 2 year old son Junior, was on the other side of me.  haha....we had fun!  Preparation for the future I guess!  ;)   We were supposed to start the member missionary class over again for Sunday school, but that wasn't communicated to everyone else, so we ended up going to Gospel Principles class with Madreen...then we were supposed to help in Primary, but because we were supposed to teach the missionary class we weren't able to do that, but we could have...yeah...it was a crazy Sunday to say the least!  After church we had a huge breakfast for dinner party at the Munsons and I ate WAY too much!...but it was oh so good!  (story of my life...) Oh and they surprised us with our own personal steel batons!  bahahaha.... apparently people here think Cedar Rapids is very dangerous!  No, it was kind of a joke, because they had given their daughter one and we thought it was awesome, so they got us some too!...but now we are REALLY SAFE!  

WELP, time is up!  And boy is time flying!  I had my final interview with the Mission President on Friday evening...that was weird!  I can't believe my time as a missionary is coming to an end so quickly!  I am forever grateful for the experiences I have been given, the people I have met that will forever be a part of my life, and for the testimony I have gained.  These next couple weeks are going to be busy, busy, busy and full of work, work, work!  ....I may have to be carried off the plane....  haha.  

I know I say it all the time, but I really can't thank everyone enough for all the love and support you have given me.  I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston

Exchanges in Cedar Falls!

What is my companion wearing??

God Bless America!

Hello Everyone...AGAIN! :)  This week has been another full of excitement here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa!  

On Monday evening we were able to have a wonderful lesson with Virgil (whose baptismal date is July 26th) on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  When we got there, he told us how he had started reading the Book of Mormon, and was enjoying it...so we decided to teach the doctrine of Christ with the actual doctrine of Christ found in 2 Nephi 31, and it was so powerful!  It's amazing to see everything come together and make sense for those we are teaching, and to literally see and feel their hearts changing.  Virgil loves the gospel already, and has such a sincere desire to know the truth and come closer to the Lord.

Tuesday was spent in Iowa City at my last Mission Leadership Council...so sad!!!  It was a fantastic meeting, and the spirit was so strong as we received trainings on obedience, helping people keep commitments, and the power of a testimony.  It's always fun to be with President and Sister Jensen, and be able to see how they are truly called by God to lead and guide us, and help us become the missionaries and people our Father in Heaven needs us to be.  They are incredible, and I love them so much!

Wednesday was Zone Training Meeting in Cedar Rapids, Thursday was Zone Training Meeting in Cedar Falls.  Luckily, Sister Hill and I got to train on the same thing in both meetings!  TESTIMONIES!  It was incredible!  As we were preparing, we both had the thought to have 3 missionaries share their testimonies to start off our trainings.  In both meetings, the spirit was welcomed in so strong from the simple testimonies born, and we knew that it was exactly what was needed for everyone in attendance.  Being able to feel the difference and the power that comes from a simple testimony, we were able to feel for a moment, what those we teach feel when we share our testimonies of all we teach.  We were reminded of how when we share our testimonies, we are reminding those we teach of the simple truths they have already heard...and continue to hear from the spirit.  WE ARE SURROUNDED by an army of angels, also bearing testimony through the spirit.  3 things about a testimony:   1. It is the purest form of Communication; 2. It brings truths from our eternal home; and 3. It is a constant in an ever-changing world.  As I thought of these 3 things, I thought of how blessed I am to have a testimony and how I never want to hesitate to share it with anyone.  I do know that as we keep our testimonies strong, they will hold us together while the world around us is falling apart.  

Brother and Sister Anderson (who we live with) had some friends over from Des Moines the other night and were trying to think of how they could get them in the church to feel the spirit.  Sister Anderson asked if we could come home a little early and go over to the church with them and have a personal piano concert.  Not exactly quite sure how it would go, we get there and everyone sits down, and I just play my little heart out on the piano.  The spirit was really strong, and it was such a neat experience.  I'm so grateful Sister Anderson asked me to use my talents.  Each time I do, I am more and more grateful to my father in heaven who helps me each day to not only know how to express myself through words, but also through music.  I listened to an interview with David Archulette this past week, and he talked about how music has always been a way for him to express himself and share his testimony, and I feel that same way.  Music has a way of expressing so much more than words.... okay, sorry for going off on a music tangent...but yes, it was an incredible experience.  First time I've ever had a private piano concert! haha.  ...I've had a lot of firsts on my mission that's for sure!

Sister Hill and I had an amazing 4th of July!!!  Much better than our mini bbq last year!  It's still really weird that we got to celebrate the same holidays together 2 years in a row!  Anyways... this year, we were invited to a member BBQ with 6 families at a park.  We got our faces painted, played on the playground, and...wait for it... LEARNED HOW TO USE A BULL WHIP!  bahahaha!  Sorry, the video is too large to attach so you'll have to wait 3 weeks to see it, but it was so fun!  After the picnic, we went back home and played phase 10 with the Andersons, then went and watched fireworks!  Sitting up on a hill, it was a panoramic view!...so fun!  

Yesterday, even though none of our investigators came to church, it was an incredible Sunday.  My last fast Sunday as a full-time missionary...weird...  The spirit was so strong, and I was reminded of the beauty and simplicity of the gospel.  We taught Fred after church, and it was so neat to see how the spirit has already worked within him...he asked all the right questions, and continues to pray and search out the truth.  He will be baptized on August 2nd!  Miracles continue all around...what miracles did you see this week?  

I'm so grateful we are able to have our freedom, especially our religious freedom.  It's so amazing to look back on history and see how Heavenly Father prepared this land for us, to be a place where the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ was possible!  We are so blessed!  I know that God lives.  I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that we are preparing the way for his second coming.  I know that the power of God has been restored to the earth, through the Prophet Joseph Smith; which allows us to enjoy the full blessings of the gospel through baptism and temple ordinances.  FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!!  I love you all so much and am forever grateful for the love, support, and prayers in my behalf.  Thank you for EVERYTHING.  

Love Always,

Sister Natalia Alston

P.S...I'm a bit safer this week...our investigator, Jacob, was not comfortable with us walking around town without anything to protect us (but the spirit)..so he bought us each pepper spray...in a little pink container which looks like lipstick...it's the best! haha.  Watch out everyone, Sister Alston knows how to use a whip and now has pepper spray to go with it.... ;P

Last MLC

Last ZTM!  : (

4th of July fun! 

Hungry hungry hippo...