October 28, 2013

transfers today! Im staying in Willcox and Elder Romanick is going to south tucson. I got Elder Matiz, A Colombian kid that doesn't speak English too well. He seems pretty cool, so I'm excited. 

 this past week was pretty good.  I got to hang out with Elders Peterson and Rees (Zone leaders) all day on Mondaybecause my comp went to sunsites for exchanges. We went fishing in a members pond and caught 8 bass in an hour! haha it was super fun.

 Tuesday was fun too. Elder Peterson came to Willcox with me! We worked in a barn, shoveling goat poop for a couple hours, ate at the millers again, taught a less active and then I drove him back to Benson.  

Wednesday was full of people not being home. We did see one less active who told us to come back in an hour.. we did, but as soon as we were pulling up, he was leaving. 

 Friday, we helped someone move a couch out in Kansas Settlement, Then drove to Bonita to try and see a recent convert's mom who is not a member. but she wasnt there! shocker! haha. We ate dinner with the Larson's and then went to the Douglas' house. 

Saturday was the national day of service. it was also someone in the wards' eagle project. We carpeted a floor and then went a shoveled some more goat poop! 

Yesterday, we went around the ward so Elder Romanick could say goodbye to everyone. It was a long day! We had a bonfire at the Larson's last night where we cooked hotdogs and smores. it was super fun. Alight well thats pretty much it. have a good week! love ya'll. 

Elder Alston

me fishing

Macho on the fan

my beautiful area

prison

sunset last night

bonfire heat shield

saw Sister Stewart this morning! 

October 21, 2013

ALOOOOOOHA! oh wait..... I meant HOLA! this email is probably going to be short as there were only a few exciting things this week.

 Tuesday night... we got a GOLDEN new iunvestigator. her name is CC Cooke. a member referred her to us so we went over, taught about faith repentance baptism the holy ghost and enduring to the end. Long story short... if she comes to church for the next 3 weeks, she's getting baptized on november 16th!  BOOYA! We're meeting with her tonight at 630. at a members house!

 thursday was pretty slow. nobody was home. We helped Brad (member and border patrol agent) put up an electric fence for his dogs. then ate with the millers. after  dinner, I help one of their sons dig post holes for a new pig pen.

Saturday we had exchanges. I got Elder Maughan. We did service from 9-5. haha I loved it! from 9-12 we layed brick at the Roger's house. then they fed us super good chilly! Then we helped someone move stuff out of a storage shed into a truck. then moved furnature at someones house.

Then at dinner we got another new! he's 9 and his parents want him baptized.

yesterday we taught primary about missionary work! it was cool! I love kids!

alright im out of time. 

Love you all 

-elder alston

haha what the fetch? I looked up at saw this barely.

October 15, 2013

happy Toozday everyone! sorry I wasn't on yesterday, the library was closed. this past week was a good'n. last Monday we played capture the flag in dragoon. ( picture goblin valley, ut) It was super fun until Elder Peterson sprained his ankle. His comp and I gave him a blessing and carried him off the mountain and back to the car. I got to play EMT and wrap him up, clean up some blood and send him to the hospital:) he's fine now though. no worries.

Thursday,  I got to work on President Nolan's (stake pres) 58 chevy. super sweet! and someone else wants me to help them fix their lawn mower this week. and our ward mission leader wants me to change his oil. haha anyway, we got a new investigator too! Roger. He's read through mosiah 28... haha that's like 204 pages!!!!!!!!!! This guy is GOLDEN we hope to have another appointment with him tomorrow.

Friday, I had the best dinner on my mission so far. pork chops, funeral potatoes, jello, salad, and cinnamon rolls.... SO FREAKING GOOD.  haha it's funny because the last time we went over to the Larsen's to eat... we fed that same pig..:) we also found out on Friday that we might be getting a Spanish branch out here, and president Nolan said that he has permission to use the missionaries in the presidency... know what that means? haha I might be in a branch presidency soon... yay.....:/ haha oh well... I will go, I will do. just like my momma taught me. \

Saturday we did service out in Kansas settlement, taking scrap mettle out of a yard so they could sell it. the guy we were working for shot a water heater with a .45 so it would drain the water. haha welcome to Willcox...

then we ate dinner with the millers. After dinner, the boys needed some help with varmint control in the barn... so reluctantly, I helped them kill some rats with a bb gun:) and they needed help unloading grain for the cows, so we helped with that.

Sunday was normal. church was good! all the little kids bore their testimonies. It was so cute!!

yesterday was a fun day! we played basketball at the church at 6;30 in the morning. then we played tennis with President Nolan and his son, then we ate lunch at President Nolan's haha then we went to the corn maze with the whole zone. It was super fun. then we went and played volleyball at the park. Then went to FHE/dinner just like every Monday night. ok, well.... That's all the excitement I have. I love you all! keep the prayers coming! :) 

-Elder Taylor Alston

I gave Macho a bath and then dried him in front of the heater haha

Remember what it looked like before? I cleaned the crap our of our trailer. 

I found a crop duster!  : )

This is my cow...behind the house every morning

This is our nerf battle zone.

Elder Peterson and Rees at the corn maze

October 7, 2013

hey everyone. how was your week? mine was good! Tuesday we had zone training with President Killpack. it was super good. After the meeting, I asked if I could talk to him for a few minutes... so we went in another  room, and we talked about my companion... he told me that he put me with Elder Romanick because he knew  that I could be the one to help him become the missionary he needs to become. He also told me that he has seen more improvement in the past 3 weeks than he has in the past 6 months of his mission, so apparently I'm doing something right.... haha

 we found out that we are getting facebook in a couple months! and we get to use our own personal account!  and we are getting Ipads and Iphones next spring! super Excited!

 Wednesday we had exchanges... I went with Elders Harper and Carter... It's weird when you're the senior companion and you've only been out 6 months... haha but anyway... we went and did service on a ranch... cleaning up a yard. and the lady said if I ever want to drive some cattle just come on back and she'll have her grandsons teach me how! SO SWEET!! haha I love this place.

  Thursday was my 6 months mark! is that not crazy? anyway... we taught Hermano cuevas' sister again... Karen and her husband Jorge. It went really well.... we are going to set a bap date with them tomorrow. oh yeah... I got invited to go quail hunting.... UGH!!!! haha so hard to say no...

Friday was a super slow day... nothing exciting... Saturday we watched conference at the Nolan's (stake president) house. they fed us ribs and salmon for lunch. haha :) love AMERICA! then we went to priesthood at the church. And guess who I sat next to? President Killpack! I was the only Elder in the mission that got to watch priesthood sitting right next to Pres. haha Yeah I'm that cool.... he had to come down to Willcox for a meeting so that's why he was there.

 

Sunday we went to another members house to watch conference and they fed us roast! just like momma made it back home... cept mamma's is better:)  well... I think that's all I've got for this week. transfers is in 2 weeks... again,...   I think time is speeding up. haha its insane. anyway.. .love you all. have a good week.

 -Elder Taylor Alston

This is Macho, he is my chicken.

This is how we do yard work in the country.

I rode a goat...jealous?

Elder Romanick with Macho

thought Id share this quote with you all... I've had it with me for over a year now...  I don't know why I never shared this earlier.... It gives me strength And hope when I need it.

  

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

-Chief Tecumseh