05-08-2012

Hi familia! Today is p-day! Usually we have our p-days on Mondays, but because it's a new transfer and the new missionaries aren't coming in till today, it was changed. I should have let you know last week in my e-mail, but I completely forgot! Sorry about that. Here I am now! Anyway, transfers are always crazy because you never know what is going to happen. You never know where the Lord wants you to be. I have only been here in Napa for one transfer and so I was almost positive I would be staying, but Hermana Ordonez has been here in Napa for three transfers and so we had no idea if she would stay or leave. She had a really good chance to leave. I am so thankful to be companions with her, we get along so well and we work so well together. Come Friday night when we find out about what happens for transfers (who will stay or who will go) we were nervous and jittery. We received the voicemail from the zone leaders and we were freaking out! They start listing off the missionaries in our zone and who will be going where and they get to Napa North Spanish (which is us) and let us know that we were both going to be staying!! YAY! We were jumping up and down, hugging, and yelling. Haha, we were sooo excited! I felt so happy that she was staying. It's a beginning of a new transfer and we will be together another 6 weeks. I was so grateful! This past week has been a good week! We've been meeting a lot of new people everyday, we have been teaching a lot, and we have been trying our best! Everyday I am on the mission, I love it more and more. I feel like I'm in heaven. Napa is beautiful, seriously! (search online for pictures and you will understand!) The branch and members are amazing, I love our investigators so much, and I love my companion. What more could I ask for?! I am soo blessed. On top of that, I have a family that is so supportive and so loving. Thank you for everything that you do! I had an interesting experience this past week during personal study. I have come to cherish my personal study time on the mission. It is a time between 8 and 9 in the morning where we study the scriptures, preach my gospel, books in the mission library, or the Ensign. I have learned so much as I have been guided by the spirit in the things that I need to study to help me know how to better help God's children here. I can't remember exactly what I was studying, but I was thinking of our investigators. A lot of our investigators & members have struggles and difficulties like we all do: they are lonely, they have addictions, they feel like they can't change, they are lost and confused, they aren't progressing, etc, etc. As I was thinking about all of this, it made me sad. It made me so sad because I just want people to be happy. I know that the gospel will make us truly happy. Of course, we will still struggle. Of course, we will still have difficulties-that's a part of life, but I know that through the Gospel we can be healed. Yes, I felt sad, but then I realized how God must feel at times. We are ALL His children and we all have so many struggles. It's almost overwhelming to think about right?! Then, I thought about the perfect plan He's provided for each and every one of us and that through this perfect plan, we can all have true happiness. We can all have hope. That is what the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is--HOPE! There is a scripture in Psalms 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." There is another scripture in the Book of Mormon in Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ offer? HOPE. What are most people longing for in this world that we live in? Hope. As we meet new people each and everyday, as we talk to our members in the branch, as we teach our investiagators we hear of all the different struggles and difficulties that people face. As different as they are, there is one solution to all of them: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it's true. I know that Jesus Christ can heal us. It's only through him, that we can be whole and happy. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by Jesus Christ. He is at the head of the church. We are so blessed to be members of his church. I love you so much! I will hear your voices on Sunday. LOVE YOU! Con mucho amor, Hermana Robinson I will call you on Sunday at 5 your time. Thank you, thank you! LOVE YOU! CANT WAIT!