06-16-2011

My dearest family,

How are you all doing?! The weeks just keep going by faster and faster! I can't believe I've been here 4 weeks now. Missionary time is CRAZY. I've heard that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days and I'm now at that point where I know EXACTLY what they mean when they say that. We do so much in our days, so I feel like they are so long. When the weeks roll around, though, it's crazy to me that it has already been one week. This week has been great! There are so many things we do and I wish I could write about, but I'll stick to the best of the best.

Funny moment(s) of the week: We were at dinner one night and Hermana Eborn asked if she could have the rest of Hermana Stephens vegetables on her plate because she was finished with them. Hermana Stephens said "of course" and so Hma. Eborn went about eating them. She took a bite and made a face like she was disgusted and spit out what she had eaten into a napkin. We were both like "Do you not like it?!" And she was like "Um, Hma. Stephens did you eat something and spit it back out on your plate?!" And Hma. Stephens looks at me and we all just busted up laughing SO hard! She had eaten some chicken before that and took a bite of chicken cartlidge and spit it back out onto that plate and totally forgot. So yeah, my companions have become really close. So close, that they eat each other's already chewed up food. Haha, we laughed sooo hard about that and even now writing it I'm laughing out loud.

Another funny story was one morning when we were doing personal study and Hma. Stephens looks over at me and whispers "Hi Jamie" and we were both shocked! It is so weird to hear your first name here at the MTC as a missionary. She had never even said my name or called me that before, so we were both taken back. After she said it, she totally acted like she had just said a bad word or something. It was funny!

Favorite moment of the week: Today actually! We went to the temple and did sealings (best thing ever!) I stood in for a daughter getting sealed to her parents. It really was amazing. My favorite moment though, was after we had gotten dressed back into our mission clothes and had our tags on. This girl was by us and she asked us where we were going on our missions and everything and then told us she would be serving a mission in a month! I got SO excited for her. We told her some advice and I let her know that she is going to love every minute and that it really is one of the best decisions ever. We then saw some recently returned sister missionaries! They got so excited to see us and I could see in their eyes how much they love missionary work and how they will forever hold their mission experience close to their heart. And here we are serving as missionaries! We saw and talked to all stages of the mission: a girl preparing to come in a month and those sisters that have just recently returned. I feel so blessed to be here, now, serving a mission! I want to take in and embrace EVERY moment because it is a beautiful experience.

Miracle moment: I feel like I have a miracle moment everyday. Seriously, something miraculous happens every single day. I want to share with you two things that have happened and they seem so simple, but it's "by the small and simple things, that great things come to pass." At the Tuesday night devotional Rosemary Wixom (general primary president) came and spoke to us! One of the first things we did was sing "I hope they call me on a mission" but instead we sang "I'm glad they called me on a mission" Wow, singing those words and realizing that I am here serving a mission and that this is REAL hit me so hard. I am so glad they called me on a mission!

Yesterday we taught the other sister companionship in our district. Afterwards, we all felt we could have taught better. We all are so different and think so differently, but we are to be unified and speak with one voice. We asked our teacher about how we can better do that and he was helping us and then wanted us to teach him. He acted as if he were a man that was sitting in a park and we happened to see him and wanted to teach him about the Restored Gospel! We said a prayer before and approached him.. right from the beginning, I felt the spirit so strong. We shared that the true church, Christ's church is on the earth today! And that it was restored through Joseph Smith, I then shared the account of the first vision and I couldn't hold back the tears because it was that moment that I felt the spirit testify through me. I know that Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that through him, the true church is restored and is on the earth today. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a man called of God and that he leads this church. I am so thankful to have this knowledge and to be able to teach it every day! Ahh...it makes me so excited that in a month I will be going and sharing this message with those people that are searching for the truth.

I love this work, I really do! It's hard, but it's so great. The feeling that comes after connecting and testifying what I know to be true to someone, to one of God's children, is worth every hard moment.

I am so thankful for you and for your love and support! I love getting your letters, e-mails, and dearelder (CLARK!) it was the first dearelder I've received while being here. It did get here the day after, they don't lie! Haha, pretty nifty huh?! I will be writing you a letter later as well. :)

A scripture passage I've really enjoyed lately is Alma 34! It is great! Try and read it if you can!

I LOVE YOU ALL MUCHO!!



Love,



Hermana Robinson