September 30, 2013

Hey ya'll! another week down. Willcox is AMAZING. It reminds me of Kamas, UT. It's very similar. I love it.. I would have no problem living here. How have all you been? It's crazy... the more time I spend here, the more I'm sounding like i'm from the south. haha its rubbing off on me. 

Alright. news time. This week was pretty normal. except for Tuesday we had a conference with all the Spanish missionaries in the mission. And it was back in tucson. So we got another road trip! haha. We were there pretty much all day. wednesday, we had district meeting, like usual. Then we went to the cuaves family's house. The only spanish people in the ward. they gave us a referral... Hermano Cuaves's sister.  So we went and taught her about prayer and the book of mormon. We have a return appointment for tomorrow at 6pm! Then we went to a recent convert's house.. they're from the 2nd ward but they invite us over all the time and they are super cool. Garret and Tiffany are their names. anyway.... we went over there and ate pizza and got a referral for Tiffany's parents! But we wont be able to start teaching them for a little while because they are helping someone move to Florida this week....After their house, we went and played basketball at the church with a bunch of guys in the ward and a couple non-members. We do that every wednesday night. It's awesome! 

Then thursday was a pretty normal day... teaching people and whatnot. Tiffany wanted us to come back over that night... so we did. When we got there, she told us that she got diagnosed with cancer. We told her we can give her a blessing, and she agreed to it. So we did that and then I told her about millie and tyler. Long story short...Tiffany and I had a cry fest for a little while.

Luckily, they caught it pretty early, so They think they'll be able to take care of it. 

Friday night, we went over to a less-active's house, and her boyfriend was there, Who is a non-member. we gave him a book of mormon and by the end of the lesson, he was asking all sorts of questions about Joseph Smith and the church. It was great! we have another appointment with them tomorrow at 7pm. 

After that lesson, we went to our stake president's son's wedding reception. It was super pretty... For all you future missionaries... word of advice... If you have a girlfriend while you are on your mission, do all you can NOT to go to receptions. haha it makes you miss them a WHOLE LOT. 

 Saturday was amazing. We got to chop wood for someone who needs firewood for the winter! We chopped from7am until about 5pm. I loved it! I wish I could do that all the time! 

Yesterday was a good day as well. During 3rd hour of church, we did a 5th sunday discussion on missionary work. The members took it really well and we left feeling good about what was said. 

After church, we went to the stake presidents house for dinner with his entire family. just like every sunday. Then We had stake priesthood meeting. They talked a lot about missionary work.... I'm seeing a trend here. haha 

Well I think that's about it.. I love you all! enjoy conference next weekend! have a great week!  

September 23, 2013

Hey everybody! this past week, nothing much happened. After we emailed last tuesday, I got sick. So we went home and I stayed in bed from about 3:00 Tuesday until 6:30 saturday morning. Throwing up and having a super high temp. So that was awesome... Church was normal. Except it's now in english which threw me through a loop. haha. During sacrament meeting, I was sitting there with my head down and this little blonde girl I have never even met, was sitting right in front of me taps the top of my head and says, "Elder Alston...I drew this for you." It was a picture of a heart, and in the center of the heart it read," I AM A CHILD OF GOD". I just broke down crying. the testimony of a child is so strong. In fact, the testimony of EVERY child of God is powerful. Which is the topic of my challenge for you all, which I  will get to in a little bit.

 After church, we went to dinner at the stake presidents house and ate with his entire family.

 We dont have any investigators yet, but we have a few refferals coming down the pipeline from members. so hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will have people to teach. for now, we just work with members and get them going on missionary work.

 Ok now back to my challenge. Testify to somone of the truth and divinity that is the Gospel of Jesucristo. I dont care if you testify to your mom, your nonmember friend, your bishop. I promise that whoever you share it with will feel the Power of the Holy Ghost. You never know who needs to hear someone else's testimony. And with that, I leave you with mine. I know this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I know that the more we share what we have, the more people we can bring into the fold of Jesus Christ. Families are forever. God IS our Father in heaven. I love all of you and I know you can do it!! have a great week! -Elder Taylor Alston

Richard Bowers gave me this before I left my last area.

One of my last district pictures.

Danna y Nayeli's baptism

Birthday cake that was at one of our members birthday party in my last area.

Saying goodbye to one of my favorite members. Macho. 

Saying goodbye to Eric, that was sad.

Bill and Tisha and cat...haha

my trailer 

my own washer and dryer!

and toilet! 

my backyard, or heaven

September 9, 2013

Hey everyone.... so I may or may not have forgotten to bring my journal to the library today.... therefore I may or may not have NO idea what to write this week.... but  transfers are next tuesday! so We'll see what goes down! by the way..... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#30! holy crap you're old! LOVE YOU GUYS:)

alright... I'l remember my journal next time.. haha have a good week!

September 3, 2013

hey everyone. How was your week? mine was good! last tuesday, we had a new missionary/trainer meeting. It went well and we all learned certain things that could help us in training a new missionary. then we went to in-n-out for lunch. I didnt get anything so I was just sitting there and this guy came up to me and said "Come on, we're getting you food". so he took me to the counter and paid for my meal. Then disappeared. I never even got to say thank you.

 then wednesday, we went to the temple. which was amazing. I got to drive both ways... road trip! It's about a 2.5 hour drive one way. then later that day.. we were tracting and we found Edwardo. a 15 year old kid who was super pumped to listen to us.

 Friday we went back to Edwardo, and we got cussed out by his dad and chased off his property.... It was so frustrating.

 nothing else exciting happened this week that I can remember. OH! I'm 5 months today!

keep praying, everybody! Talk to you next week! Love you! -Elder Alston

August 26, 2013

well, here we are again. I swear last P-day was yesterday. We were pretty busy again this week. Last monday we had a soccer tournament. That was super fun. Tuesdsay we took Erick (my recent convert) out tracting with us, we went on splits...  Elders Hughes and Benson went together and I took Erick. We found 1 new investigator, Heather. But unfortunately she's white, therefore, we can't teach her. We have to hand her off this week. Wednesday we had district meeting till 12 then we tracted from 1 to 5. We knocked probably 150 doors and talked to 2 people. of those two people, 1 of them swore at us and the other was a bible basher. Thursday we did the same thing. tracted all day. with pretty much the same result. Friday was the branch party. We played volleyball and smacked a pinata and ate the best bacon wrapped hotdogs i've ever had. a.k.a. Sanoran dogs. I ate 4... Saturday was alright too. We had exchanges. Elder Benson and I took Elder Reneau. We tracted for a few hours, taught a few lessons, went to dinner, and then went to the swap meet. At the swap meet, we switched Elder Reneau for Elder Williams. (my mtc comp whom with I wish I could spend the whole two years.) It's a good thing we switched, too.... We ran into this guy who just wanted to grill us for all we were worth, He was asking Elder benson about his family and Benson told him his dad is dead, then the guy asked how Jesus would let that happen if He loved him. Elder Benson and I were getting furious because of all the personal questions aimed at the death of his dad. Then when he made fun of Elder Benson because of the tremors in his hands, I took a step towards the guy, and Elder Williams could tell I was about to get myself killed, so he put his hand on my shoulder and stopped me. It's a good thing Elder Williams knows me so well. haha.

Then last night we had a fireside for all the spanish branches in the mission. It was cool! It was the first time i had heard President Killpack speak spanish! The missionaries sang called to serve and we made everybody cry! haha I love it when that happens.

As for our investigators... David got dropped:(

Raquel is still golden for the 7th.

oh and remember Bill? He relapsed with drugs. He's been high for the past 4 days. How great, huh?... SO FRUSTRATING. needless to say, it's been a stressful week. Hopefully this one can be better. Thank you for all the love and prayers. You are all amazing children of our HEAVENLY FATHER. NEVER forget that. He is there. He WILL answer you.

   -Elder Alston

August 19, 2013

whats up? this week was busy. and super draining. Wednesday we had zone conference from 8-3... not typically what would fall under the "fun" folder in the files. Elder Benson (my patawan) is doing good. he's from Park City and we know a bunch of the same people. I played lacrosse against some of his friends. He's probably one of the funniest kids I've met.

haha so the second day we had him (Tuesday), we took him tracting and the first door we knocked on was a JW (Jajovah's Wittness). haha oh man. I wish you could have seen Benson's face when the guy opened the door screaming at us. great first experience.

then a few houses down, a guy was sitting in his driveway and he just yelled, " DONT EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME. YOU CAN'T SAVE ME. I'M GOING TO HELL" I just said " Okay sir. have a great day... and remember, Jesus loves you."  haha he got really confused. people on drugs are funny.

THEN.. best house yet.... we knock and a guy yells WHO THE #$%^@ IS AT MY DOOR? haha before the guy even opened the door, Elder Benson was on the other side of the fence. that kid is quick when he wants to be. afterwards, He says to me, " Well, that was the first time i've pooped myself on my mission." haha

we tracted for about 12 hours this week. And no one accpeted our message. It was a slow, hard week. But I guess we all have those.

Elder Hughes is doing good too. We just don't really connect. at all. We get along just fine, we're just not besties. you know?

oh yeah... And sorry There havent been any pictures for a while. my sd card is being mean to me. But I'll have some next week! Is there anything I can do for anyone!? If there is just email me:) Love all of you!

oh one more thing.. I want to testify real quick of prayer. this week has been rough on me. my back hurting, feeling sick, missing home, being stressed. but When im to week to stand, I drop to my knees. And Pray with ALL my heart for strength and comfort. and it comes. I know he is there. I know he cares I know he listens. PRAY. IT WORKS.

get it?? ha ha