Hola!
Crazy changes happening here in the mission. Week of transfers is always crazy because you are wondering if you'll be leaving and where you may go, but trying to stay focused and work as hard as you can to do the things you know the Lord needs you to do for His precious children. We make our transfer predictions before it comes and we were sure Hermana Fenn would stay in Vacaville and we were pretty sure that I would be leaving. I could stay here forever and be happy, but it was likely that I would be going. I told her "the last thing that will happen here is that we willl be white washed with Elders". Which means that they will take us both out and spanish Elders will come into the area. Transfer information came Friday night and we were both shocked because we were both leaving and being white washed out with Elders, haha. Sister Monson (who we live with) said: "if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Haha which was kind of the case in this situation because we were NOT expecting that. Hermana Fenn is going to Santa Rosa and I am going to Napa. It's a lot of work when you are both leaving because you have to organize and make sure the Elders will have all that they need to take charge of the area. We have been trying to get everything organized and make notes for everything so they kind of understand what's going on here. I am excited to go to Napa! It is an area that I have wanted to serve in and I know it is where the Lord wants me to be. I am very sad to leave Vacaville though. It's amazing how a place just becomes home to you and then when it's time to leave it's like leaving home and family because it is how it feels. I have learned so many things here in Vacaville that I could have never learned otherwise. I am so grateful for this chance to have been here and met all the people that I have. Like the quote from Dr. Suess "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." And so my new direct address will be:
1260 Trower Ave.
Napa, CA 94558
And I am excited to be with Hermana Ordonez, I've met her a few times and she's way cute! She is a native spanish speaker from Ecuador and so I know that it will be a new, fun adventure. I am very sad to leave my mom (trainer) Hermana Fenn, but she will forever have a special place in my heart. We've spent three transfers together and have seen each other through ups and downs. I love her so much!
On Friday, we had a wonderful lesson with a lady named Maria and she has two cute little kids who love my stickers of Jesus Christ and will just keep asking for more and more, haha. She read the chapter we gave her to read in the Book of Mormon (yay!) and had some questions. She had a question about the age we are baptized in our church. We flipped open the Book of Mormon to Moroni 8 where it explains that small children are innocent and don't need to be baptized. We then discussed baptism and invited her to be baptized. She said yes and that she would prepare herself to be baptized on April 30th. After leaving the lesson, we could feel the spirit so strong and knew that we had been instruments in the hands of the Lord. I love sharing the gospel with others and I love helping them come closer to Jesus Christ.
Guess what's coming up this weekend!?!? General Conference! And I am SO excited. I can't believe that General Conference is already here again, I feel like it just happened. We are so lucky to be able to listen to servants of the Lord speak to us and tell us of the things that God would say to us. There is nothing like it, we are so blessed to have a modern day prophet and I hope that you all make the time to watch it. One thing I am doing that I did last time and it's AMAZING is writing down some questions I have in my life and then as I watch conference, think of the questions I have, and I promise you they will be answered through the talks that are given. Try it!
http://www.lds.org/church/events/april-2012-general-conference-dates-announced?lang=eng
Thank you for everything you do! I love you so much and you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Today we will be visiting the people we haven't been able to see yet before we leave, packing, and getting things ready to head to our new areas tomorrow. the next time I write to you, i'll be in Napa. It's a beautiful area and I know there are people ready to accept the Gospel!
Have a wonderful week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
Sunday, April 15, 2012
03-19-12
Hello! Happy Monday!
This past week has been an adventure, but so it is with every week out here. I have been contemplating, meditating, and pondering about who I am and who I want to be. This life is a time to improve, a time to progress. In the Alma (in the Book of Mormon) chapter 34: 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."
I love that in verse 33 it talks about improving our time, improving our life here on this Earth because that is our purpose. I have been thinking about what I want to be. I want to be full of love for others. I want others to feel good, edified, and uplifted when they are around me and I know that isn't always the case, but I have that desire. And desires do count for something! I am thinking about the ways that I can become who I want to be and I know that the first step is in prayer. I have been praying to the Lord to help me be more filled with His love for all of those that I come in contact with. I know that it is through Love that we can help others change their lives.
This is the last week of this transfer and we are going to go out with a BOOM of LOVE, haha. I don't know what this next transfer has in store for me. I may stay, but I may leave. Hermana Fenn may leave or may stay, I just don't know! I do know that I love Vacaville with all my heart. I love our investigators. I love the members. I love my companion. I have learned so many things that I couldn't have learned otherwise. I know, though, that whatever happens is what the Lord wants, so you know that song "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord"? It rings true for transfers because it's not always easy to leave what you know to something different and strange. We will see what happens, though, and you will all know next Monday!
We had a Zone Conference this past week and it was so good! I am so thankful for the people I have met on my mission. I am so thankful for the missionaries in this mission, for President and Sister Bunker. They are amazing! President Bunker was talking about how it's important to "choose faith over worry" and to know that if we trust in the Lord, everything will be okay! I was reading an amazing talk by President Uchtdorft this morning "Your Happily Ever After" http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2010/03/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng&query=your+happily+ever+after and there is a part that says:
"Enduring adversity is not the only thing you must do to experience a happy life. Let me repeat: how you react to adversity and temptation is a critical factor in whether or not you arrive at your own “happily ever after.”
I know that is true. We have to have faith, we have to be strong and face trials knowing that the Lord will help us if we allow Him to. I am so thankful for the times in my life where, yes it was hard, but I knew that the only choice I had was to rely on the Lord and He helped me through them. How blessed are we to have the knowledge of a God, of a Savior who loves us SO much.
The other day we were talking to two teenage guys and one of them didn't believe in God, he was telling us that he doesn't know how someone could believe that there was a God. We testified that through prayer we can come to know God and feel of His love for us. That day was a rainy day and it was raining pretty hard. After we had talked to them, the rain cleared up suddenly and there was a BEAUTIFUL sunset. We were driving to visit one of our members and I pulled over the car, so that we could take a picture of it. Even the camera couldn't grasp the full beauty. I then was thinking to myself and expressed to my companion "How can someone see this and not believe that there is a God?!" I look around at this beautiful world and at the blessings we are given and I know with all of my heart that there is a God! In the midst of all of His beautiful creations, worlds, and universes, He knows us personally. I know that He knows each one of you personally. He loves you so much.
Thank you for your love & for your examples. Thank you for your support!
I LOVE YOU!!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
This past week has been an adventure, but so it is with every week out here. I have been contemplating, meditating, and pondering about who I am and who I want to be. This life is a time to improve, a time to progress. In the Alma (in the Book of Mormon) chapter 34: 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."
I love that in verse 33 it talks about improving our time, improving our life here on this Earth because that is our purpose. I have been thinking about what I want to be. I want to be full of love for others. I want others to feel good, edified, and uplifted when they are around me and I know that isn't always the case, but I have that desire. And desires do count for something! I am thinking about the ways that I can become who I want to be and I know that the first step is in prayer. I have been praying to the Lord to help me be more filled with His love for all of those that I come in contact with. I know that it is through Love that we can help others change their lives.
This is the last week of this transfer and we are going to go out with a BOOM of LOVE, haha. I don't know what this next transfer has in store for me. I may stay, but I may leave. Hermana Fenn may leave or may stay, I just don't know! I do know that I love Vacaville with all my heart. I love our investigators. I love the members. I love my companion. I have learned so many things that I couldn't have learned otherwise. I know, though, that whatever happens is what the Lord wants, so you know that song "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord"? It rings true for transfers because it's not always easy to leave what you know to something different and strange. We will see what happens, though, and you will all know next Monday!
We had a Zone Conference this past week and it was so good! I am so thankful for the people I have met on my mission. I am so thankful for the missionaries in this mission, for President and Sister Bunker. They are amazing! President Bunker was talking about how it's important to "choose faith over worry" and to know that if we trust in the Lord, everything will be okay! I was reading an amazing talk by President Uchtdorft this morning "Your Happily Ever After" http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2010/03/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng&query=your+happily+ever+after and there is a part that says:
"Enduring adversity is not the only thing you must do to experience a happy life. Let me repeat: how you react to adversity and temptation is a critical factor in whether or not you arrive at your own “happily ever after.”
I know that is true. We have to have faith, we have to be strong and face trials knowing that the Lord will help us if we allow Him to. I am so thankful for the times in my life where, yes it was hard, but I knew that the only choice I had was to rely on the Lord and He helped me through them. How blessed are we to have the knowledge of a God, of a Savior who loves us SO much.
The other day we were talking to two teenage guys and one of them didn't believe in God, he was telling us that he doesn't know how someone could believe that there was a God. We testified that through prayer we can come to know God and feel of His love for us. That day was a rainy day and it was raining pretty hard. After we had talked to them, the rain cleared up suddenly and there was a BEAUTIFUL sunset. We were driving to visit one of our members and I pulled over the car, so that we could take a picture of it. Even the camera couldn't grasp the full beauty. I then was thinking to myself and expressed to my companion "How can someone see this and not believe that there is a God?!" I look around at this beautiful world and at the blessings we are given and I know with all of my heart that there is a God! In the midst of all of His beautiful creations, worlds, and universes, He knows us personally. I know that He knows each one of you personally. He loves you so much.
Thank you for your love & for your examples. Thank you for your support!
I LOVE YOU!!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
03-12-12
Good morning!
I have been so ready to write you and let you know how much I love all of you! I am happy to hear that the wedding went well! I am sure that it was beautiful and wonderful. I want to hear all about it and more pictures would be nice too. :] I am happy Jennica is now an "official" part of our family, she always has been my sister, though! Family is so important and I am so happy to have all of you in my life. You are AMAZING. Never forget that!
On Wednesday, we went to Oakland to hear from Elder L. Tom Perry (apostle) with all of our mission and then also the Oakland/ San Francisco mission. It was amazing! With all of the missionaries together, I felt like I was back in the MTC and it's an amazing feeling. Being together united with tons of missionaries brings a spirit that is beautiful. There is a spirit of unity and purpose among us missionaries of the Lord, representatives of Jesus Christ, that cannot be felt elsewhere. Elder Perry is so awesome! He is funny, he is genuine, he is a man called of God. A few things that he talked about was how this is the greatest time since the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ to be a missionary. He spoke of all of the things that are going on in the media with the "Book of Mormon" play in New York, Mitt Romney running for President, and all sorts of other things. He told us that we are here to bring the truth unto God's children. We are the messengers of the TRUTH. He bore a strong, powerful testimony that bore witness to me again that Jesus is the Christ and Joseph Smith did see God and Jesus Christ & that they did call him, a humble, young boy to restore The Church of Jesus Christ.
What is truth?! Truth is something that can't be imitated. Truth is real and genuine. Truth is something as it really, actually is. We talk to many different people everyday and do you know what our message is to each one?! Well we first share about the Restoration, or The Plan of Salvation, or about a living day Prophet that guides the True Church today...but whatever "truth" we share, we then invite them to read, to study it, to ponder it, and then to pray about it. Each invitation is an invite to seek for themselves the TRUTH. God, our Heavenly Father is the source of all truth. We can know the truth of all things from God, from praying. He will NEVER lead us astray. Every time, which is dozens of time a day, that we invite someone to pray and find out for themselves the TRUTH, I can't help but feel the spirit. I know that what the Lord is guiding us to say is the truth.
There is a scripture in Moroni 10:4-5 lets us know that if we honestly seek out the truth with faith, a sincere heart, and real intent, the Lord will tell us the truth of all things. I know that is true. How?! Because I've prayed, I've seeked it out. Why am I here sharing the truth with others?! Because it is the truth. I know with all of my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ leads and guides this church. I know that God loves us. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I know that we are here for a purpose and that is to be HAPPY. How can we be happy?! We can be truly happy by knowing and following the TRUTH.
I love you so much! Have a wonderful week. :]
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!
I have been so ready to write you and let you know how much I love all of you! I am happy to hear that the wedding went well! I am sure that it was beautiful and wonderful. I want to hear all about it and more pictures would be nice too. :] I am happy Jennica is now an "official" part of our family, she always has been my sister, though! Family is so important and I am so happy to have all of you in my life. You are AMAZING. Never forget that!
On Wednesday, we went to Oakland to hear from Elder L. Tom Perry (apostle) with all of our mission and then also the Oakland/ San Francisco mission. It was amazing! With all of the missionaries together, I felt like I was back in the MTC and it's an amazing feeling. Being together united with tons of missionaries brings a spirit that is beautiful. There is a spirit of unity and purpose among us missionaries of the Lord, representatives of Jesus Christ, that cannot be felt elsewhere. Elder Perry is so awesome! He is funny, he is genuine, he is a man called of God. A few things that he talked about was how this is the greatest time since the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ to be a missionary. He spoke of all of the things that are going on in the media with the "Book of Mormon" play in New York, Mitt Romney running for President, and all sorts of other things. He told us that we are here to bring the truth unto God's children. We are the messengers of the TRUTH. He bore a strong, powerful testimony that bore witness to me again that Jesus is the Christ and Joseph Smith did see God and Jesus Christ & that they did call him, a humble, young boy to restore The Church of Jesus Christ.
What is truth?! Truth is something that can't be imitated. Truth is real and genuine. Truth is something as it really, actually is. We talk to many different people everyday and do you know what our message is to each one?! Well we first share about the Restoration, or The Plan of Salvation, or about a living day Prophet that guides the True Church today...but whatever "truth" we share, we then invite them to read, to study it, to ponder it, and then to pray about it. Each invitation is an invite to seek for themselves the TRUTH. God, our Heavenly Father is the source of all truth. We can know the truth of all things from God, from praying. He will NEVER lead us astray. Every time, which is dozens of time a day, that we invite someone to pray and find out for themselves the TRUTH, I can't help but feel the spirit. I know that what the Lord is guiding us to say is the truth.
There is a scripture in Moroni 10:4-5 lets us know that if we honestly seek out the truth with faith, a sincere heart, and real intent, the Lord will tell us the truth of all things. I know that is true. How?! Because I've prayed, I've seeked it out. Why am I here sharing the truth with others?! Because it is the truth. I know with all of my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ leads and guides this church. I know that God loves us. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I know that we are here for a purpose and that is to be HAPPY. How can we be happy?! We can be truly happy by knowing and following the TRUTH.
I love you so much! Have a wonderful week. :]
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!
03-05-12
Buenos dias mi familia!
This week is a big week, for all of you and for me! I hope that EVERYTHING goes wonderful with Clark and Jennica's wedding. I know that it will and I know that it will be beautiful! I will be thinking about it! I received the announcement last Monday actually, and LOVE it. It is so cute! Enjoy it!
On Wednesday the Santa Rosa California Mission which means ME, haha, and the Oakland/San Francisco Mission get to meet in Oakland and hear from Elder L. Tom Perry, an apostle of the Lord. Yay! We are all so excited and I know that it is going to be a wonderful experience! It is always a powerful and spiritual experience when hearing from a general authority. I will tell you about it next week!
Life is beautiful. I love this opportunity I have to be serving the Lord. You all know that I am a type of person who loves setting goals. Sometimes, though, I am so focused on doing them and achieving them that I forget to live in the moment. It is something I have struggled with for a long while now and I think a lot of people do. Well, I know a lot of people do. It is something I am working on though, and the beautiful thing is that with the Lord's help it is possible! Saturday, was a beautiful day, the weather was beautiful and it really wasn't different than any other day other than I was really living in the moment, I was enjoying the beauty around me. We went into a lesson and had a really good lesson with a lady named Juana. It went good, we taught her the first lesson, taught her about the Book of Mormon, and gave her a chapter to read. We invited her to read it and to pray about it. We bore testimony of the powerful effect of the Book of Mormon in our lives. We made a return appointment and we were able to meet her beautiful little girl. It was a good lesson and I enjoyed every minute of it. Afterward, my companion was saying how it went good, but was saying a few different things that we could have done better. We are working so hard to be the best instruments in the hands of the Lord that we can and what she began doing is the very thing that I always do. I always walk away from a lesson saying the things that I wish I could have done better and the things I can do better next time. I was surprised that I wasn't feeling that same way. I realized though, that I had loved every minute of the experience with Juana. We had done our best and we had been following the spirit. I was very happy with how it went. As we were talking about the lesson, I began telling her that we did good. We had done our best and followed the spirit. As I did so, I realized that this was a little abnormal for me. I realized that I had asked the Lord for help to live in every moment and enjoy the day. I know that it was the Lord helping me, I know that the Lord had heard my prayer and my desire. I don't want it to sound like I'm not enjoying my mission or enjoying the experiences because I am! I do realize, though, that I think we get so caught up in life, the things we have to do, that we forget to enjoy the journey. Now, we always should evaluate our teaching, we should always look for ways to better ourselves. I think, though, that it's good to be happy with what you did do and be happy when you know you did your best and followed the spirit.
Yesterday in the Spanish group, I bore my testimony about enjoying the journey. It is so important! I thought that there had to be a scripture about that and of course, there is one! The scriptures have ALL the answers. REALLY. Haha. There is a scripture found in Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." I love it and I think it's going to be my new motto for a while. :]
This isn't something new, but I guess I realized that even when we are having a few difficulties or the work is hard, we CAN find happiness. We can find peace, and we can live and enjoy every moment.
Life is beautiful. ENJOY it! Thank you, thank you for the love you constantly show me. Thank you for your support. Thank you for being YOU!
Have a wonderful week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
This week is a big week, for all of you and for me! I hope that EVERYTHING goes wonderful with Clark and Jennica's wedding. I know that it will and I know that it will be beautiful! I will be thinking about it! I received the announcement last Monday actually, and LOVE it. It is so cute! Enjoy it!
On Wednesday the Santa Rosa California Mission which means ME, haha, and the Oakland/San Francisco Mission get to meet in Oakland and hear from Elder L. Tom Perry, an apostle of the Lord. Yay! We are all so excited and I know that it is going to be a wonderful experience! It is always a powerful and spiritual experience when hearing from a general authority. I will tell you about it next week!
Life is beautiful. I love this opportunity I have to be serving the Lord. You all know that I am a type of person who loves setting goals. Sometimes, though, I am so focused on doing them and achieving them that I forget to live in the moment. It is something I have struggled with for a long while now and I think a lot of people do. Well, I know a lot of people do. It is something I am working on though, and the beautiful thing is that with the Lord's help it is possible! Saturday, was a beautiful day, the weather was beautiful and it really wasn't different than any other day other than I was really living in the moment, I was enjoying the beauty around me. We went into a lesson and had a really good lesson with a lady named Juana. It went good, we taught her the first lesson, taught her about the Book of Mormon, and gave her a chapter to read. We invited her to read it and to pray about it. We bore testimony of the powerful effect of the Book of Mormon in our lives. We made a return appointment and we were able to meet her beautiful little girl. It was a good lesson and I enjoyed every minute of it. Afterward, my companion was saying how it went good, but was saying a few different things that we could have done better. We are working so hard to be the best instruments in the hands of the Lord that we can and what she began doing is the very thing that I always do. I always walk away from a lesson saying the things that I wish I could have done better and the things I can do better next time. I was surprised that I wasn't feeling that same way. I realized though, that I had loved every minute of the experience with Juana. We had done our best and we had been following the spirit. I was very happy with how it went. As we were talking about the lesson, I began telling her that we did good. We had done our best and followed the spirit. As I did so, I realized that this was a little abnormal for me. I realized that I had asked the Lord for help to live in every moment and enjoy the day. I know that it was the Lord helping me, I know that the Lord had heard my prayer and my desire. I don't want it to sound like I'm not enjoying my mission or enjoying the experiences because I am! I do realize, though, that I think we get so caught up in life, the things we have to do, that we forget to enjoy the journey. Now, we always should evaluate our teaching, we should always look for ways to better ourselves. I think, though, that it's good to be happy with what you did do and be happy when you know you did your best and followed the spirit.
Yesterday in the Spanish group, I bore my testimony about enjoying the journey. It is so important! I thought that there had to be a scripture about that and of course, there is one! The scriptures have ALL the answers. REALLY. Haha. There is a scripture found in Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." I love it and I think it's going to be my new motto for a while. :]
This isn't something new, but I guess I realized that even when we are having a few difficulties or the work is hard, we CAN find happiness. We can find peace, and we can live and enjoy every moment.
Life is beautiful. ENJOY it! Thank you, thank you for the love you constantly show me. Thank you for your support. Thank you for being YOU!
Have a wonderful week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
02-27-2012
Good morning familia!
I want to say how thankful I am for each & every one of you. Thank you for your love and thank you for your support. I wake up every morning and can't help but feel so grateful for all that I have. And, of course, at the very top of that list is my family, my beautiful family.
A "miracle moment" if you will, took place this past week and I want to share it with you. I was on exchanges with Sister Thomas here in Vacaville from Friday night to Saturday. As we were going about visiting a few of our investigators, I caught a glimpse of a lady with her son at the park not too far away. Sister Thomas hadn't even seen her and so I insisted that we go talk to her. As we approached her, we let her know who we were and that we wanted to help her find more peace and happiness in her life. We began to tell her about the Book of Mormon and that within the Book of Mormon we can find solutions to problems, peace in times of difficulties, and comfort when we need it the most. From the beginning, this young mom gave off the vibe that she wasn't really interested. We continued, though, and as we were bearing testimony about the Book of Mormon, we noticed that she was crying and I realized that she was interested, very interested and was listening. I felt spirit so strong. As we talked to her more, she began to tell us she is in a place in her life where she doesn't know what to do anymore. She expressed that she knew that we were sent to her that day and she was excited to read the Book of Mormon and learn more about the church. I felt the spirit SO strong because I knew that we were being instruments in the Lord's hands. I felt so much love for Laura, even though I had just met her. I wanted to help her, I wanted to do anything for her and her son so that they could have a happier life, so that they could have the spirit of the Lord in their lives and in their home. As we walked away, I couldn't help but cry because there really is nothing greater than being an instrument in the Lord's hands.
It is these moments that make a mission. It is these moments that I will forever cherish.
Yesterday as we were standing at the chapel doors, waiting for people to arrive we were both feeling very stressed. We had a recent convert there with his wife and no one else was there (the leaders were going around picking people up). He was looking around wondering what was going on and we were feeling the effects of that and then people not being there. We have been working so hard and then come Sunday, it appears as if we hadn't done anything. As we were waiting for the leaders to arrive with some members, Hna. Fenn started saying these she was grateful for. She asked me what I am grateful for and even though it didn't take away the stress and my headache was still there, I knew that I was blessed. I am so blessed. We are so blessed. In our life, we are going to have times of trials, we are going to be stressed, we will feel defeated, but we always have something to be grateful for. So right now, I want to take a minute and share with you what I am grateful for this beautiful day:
I am grateful for the Gospel in my life & that through the Atonement we can be completely healed.
I am so grateful for all of you. Thank you for everything you do for me! I will never have words adequate to express my gratitude and love for you.
I am thankful for my mission and all of the many people I have met, all of the many experiences I've had that have changed me.
I am thankful for the Book of Mormon. It is my favorite book in the entire world.
I am thankful for President and Sister Bunker. They are amazing! He is the best Mission President. Really though. Haha.
I am thankful for my companion. She is such a great example to me. I love her so much!
Yes, there are hard times. Yes, there are challenges. Yes, things don't always turn out how we would have planned, but I can promise you that if we do our best, the Lord will do the rest. I am 100% confident that when we do what is right and that when we are faithful, we can be sure that the Lord will take care of us and comfort us.
“Do not expect that all will go smoothly throughout your life. Even for those who are living as they should, it sometimes will be just the opposite. Meet each of life’s challenges with optimism and surety and you will have the peace and faith to sustain you now and in the future.
For those who do not yet have all the blessings you feel you want and need to have, I firmly believe that no experience or opportunity essential for redemption and salvation will be denied you who live faithfully. Remain worthy; be hopeful, patient, and prayerful. Things have a way of working out. The gift of the Holy Ghost will guide you and direct your actions. I invoke a blessing upon you that life will be full and that you can find peace. If you look forward with hope and desire to do that which the Lord would have you do, that is all that is expected.” -Elder Boyd K. Packer ("Truths Most Worth Knowing").
I love you and am thankful for you. Have a wonderful week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
I want to say how thankful I am for each & every one of you. Thank you for your love and thank you for your support. I wake up every morning and can't help but feel so grateful for all that I have. And, of course, at the very top of that list is my family, my beautiful family.
A "miracle moment" if you will, took place this past week and I want to share it with you. I was on exchanges with Sister Thomas here in Vacaville from Friday night to Saturday. As we were going about visiting a few of our investigators, I caught a glimpse of a lady with her son at the park not too far away. Sister Thomas hadn't even seen her and so I insisted that we go talk to her. As we approached her, we let her know who we were and that we wanted to help her find more peace and happiness in her life. We began to tell her about the Book of Mormon and that within the Book of Mormon we can find solutions to problems, peace in times of difficulties, and comfort when we need it the most. From the beginning, this young mom gave off the vibe that she wasn't really interested. We continued, though, and as we were bearing testimony about the Book of Mormon, we noticed that she was crying and I realized that she was interested, very interested and was listening. I felt spirit so strong. As we talked to her more, she began to tell us she is in a place in her life where she doesn't know what to do anymore. She expressed that she knew that we were sent to her that day and she was excited to read the Book of Mormon and learn more about the church. I felt the spirit SO strong because I knew that we were being instruments in the Lord's hands. I felt so much love for Laura, even though I had just met her. I wanted to help her, I wanted to do anything for her and her son so that they could have a happier life, so that they could have the spirit of the Lord in their lives and in their home. As we walked away, I couldn't help but cry because there really is nothing greater than being an instrument in the Lord's hands.
It is these moments that make a mission. It is these moments that I will forever cherish.
Yesterday as we were standing at the chapel doors, waiting for people to arrive we were both feeling very stressed. We had a recent convert there with his wife and no one else was there (the leaders were going around picking people up). He was looking around wondering what was going on and we were feeling the effects of that and then people not being there. We have been working so hard and then come Sunday, it appears as if we hadn't done anything. As we were waiting for the leaders to arrive with some members, Hna. Fenn started saying these she was grateful for. She asked me what I am grateful for and even though it didn't take away the stress and my headache was still there, I knew that I was blessed. I am so blessed. We are so blessed. In our life, we are going to have times of trials, we are going to be stressed, we will feel defeated, but we always have something to be grateful for. So right now, I want to take a minute and share with you what I am grateful for this beautiful day:
I am grateful for the Gospel in my life & that through the Atonement we can be completely healed.
I am so grateful for all of you. Thank you for everything you do for me! I will never have words adequate to express my gratitude and love for you.
I am thankful for my mission and all of the many people I have met, all of the many experiences I've had that have changed me.
I am thankful for the Book of Mormon. It is my favorite book in the entire world.
I am thankful for President and Sister Bunker. They are amazing! He is the best Mission President. Really though. Haha.
I am thankful for my companion. She is such a great example to me. I love her so much!
Yes, there are hard times. Yes, there are challenges. Yes, things don't always turn out how we would have planned, but I can promise you that if we do our best, the Lord will do the rest. I am 100% confident that when we do what is right and that when we are faithful, we can be sure that the Lord will take care of us and comfort us.
“Do not expect that all will go smoothly throughout your life. Even for those who are living as they should, it sometimes will be just the opposite. Meet each of life’s challenges with optimism and surety and you will have the peace and faith to sustain you now and in the future.
For those who do not yet have all the blessings you feel you want and need to have, I firmly believe that no experience or opportunity essential for redemption and salvation will be denied you who live faithfully. Remain worthy; be hopeful, patient, and prayerful. Things have a way of working out. The gift of the Holy Ghost will guide you and direct your actions. I invoke a blessing upon you that life will be full and that you can find peace. If you look forward with hope and desire to do that which the Lord would have you do, that is all that is expected.” -Elder Boyd K. Packer ("Truths Most Worth Knowing").
I love you and am thankful for you. Have a wonderful week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
Monday, February 27, 2012
02-20-2012
Hello!
I hope you all had a wonderful week! This week has been eventful and really good. I hit my halfway mark on Saturday and I feel like I'm having a mid-life crisis, haha. There are so many things that I want to do and become and now I feel like the time is winding down when really I know that I still have quite a bit of time, it's just crazy! I'm not freaking out too much, though, nothing to worry about. Haha. :]
We had a really cool experience as we were tracting this past week. We met a guy named Arturo. As we were talking to Arturo, he expressed to us that he was studying and converting to another religion and that he didn't want to get confused studying two different religions at the same time. We then found out that he had been contacted before and had talked a little to missionaries, but he didn't know a whole lot about what it was that we believed. Even though at first he was closed off, as we continued talking to him he opened up to us. We testified of the Book of Mormon being another testament of Jesus Christ and that it is through the Book of Mormon that we can find happiness and peace. We explained to him that it is a record of the people of the Ancient Americas. He was very interested when he realized it was from his ancestors. Arturo, who at first was closed off and didn't want to talk to us, by the end wanted the Book of Mormon and let us know he was going to read it. He has a trip planned for Mexico for about a month and so we won't be able to follow up with him for a while, but it was a great experience. I know that the spirit worked through us and as we were leaving, we both had felt that we had been instruments in the Lord's hands. The greatest feeling ever!
On Saturday, we also got to be a part of an a stake youth activity that was an MTC experience for them. It was so much fun! All of the youth were assigned companions, they learned about missionary work, about tracting, about different cultures. Hermana Fenn and I had the opportunity to teach a class about teaching by the spirit. It was such a cool experience! I loved getting to know and help the youth in their desires to serve missions. It also gave me the chance to reflect on my experience as a missionary thus far and come to realize how much I have learned and how much I LOVE being a missionary.
As we were teaching the importance of teaching by the spirit, I bore my testimony of the wonderful opportunity it is to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. As full-time missionaries, it is our job to share the Gospel and bear our testimonies. I know, though, that we can be instruments in the Lord's hands as members of the Church. When we live our testimony and when we share the love of our Heavenly Father with others, we are being instruments in his hands.
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day and felt LOVED. Thank you for the package, Hermana Fenn and I greatly appreciated it! :]
I am so thankful for the Gospel in my life and for the Book of Mormon. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and for my Savior Jesus Christ.
Take some time and watch this video!
http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng
I love you so much!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
I hope you all had a wonderful week! This week has been eventful and really good. I hit my halfway mark on Saturday and I feel like I'm having a mid-life crisis, haha. There are so many things that I want to do and become and now I feel like the time is winding down when really I know that I still have quite a bit of time, it's just crazy! I'm not freaking out too much, though, nothing to worry about. Haha. :]
We had a really cool experience as we were tracting this past week. We met a guy named Arturo. As we were talking to Arturo, he expressed to us that he was studying and converting to another religion and that he didn't want to get confused studying two different religions at the same time. We then found out that he had been contacted before and had talked a little to missionaries, but he didn't know a whole lot about what it was that we believed. Even though at first he was closed off, as we continued talking to him he opened up to us. We testified of the Book of Mormon being another testament of Jesus Christ and that it is through the Book of Mormon that we can find happiness and peace. We explained to him that it is a record of the people of the Ancient Americas. He was very interested when he realized it was from his ancestors. Arturo, who at first was closed off and didn't want to talk to us, by the end wanted the Book of Mormon and let us know he was going to read it. He has a trip planned for Mexico for about a month and so we won't be able to follow up with him for a while, but it was a great experience. I know that the spirit worked through us and as we were leaving, we both had felt that we had been instruments in the Lord's hands. The greatest feeling ever!
On Saturday, we also got to be a part of an a stake youth activity that was an MTC experience for them. It was so much fun! All of the youth were assigned companions, they learned about missionary work, about tracting, about different cultures. Hermana Fenn and I had the opportunity to teach a class about teaching by the spirit. It was such a cool experience! I loved getting to know and help the youth in their desires to serve missions. It also gave me the chance to reflect on my experience as a missionary thus far and come to realize how much I have learned and how much I LOVE being a missionary.
As we were teaching the importance of teaching by the spirit, I bore my testimony of the wonderful opportunity it is to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. As full-time missionaries, it is our job to share the Gospel and bear our testimonies. I know, though, that we can be instruments in the Lord's hands as members of the Church. When we live our testimony and when we share the love of our Heavenly Father with others, we are being instruments in his hands.
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day and felt LOVED. Thank you for the package, Hermana Fenn and I greatly appreciated it! :]
I am so thankful for the Gospel in my life and for the Book of Mormon. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and for my Savior Jesus Christ.
Take some time and watch this video!
http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng
I love you so much!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
Sunday, February 19, 2012
02/13/2012
Hey family!
It is the beginning of a new transfer and I am staying here in Vacaville with Hermana Fenn again, just the thing I was hoping for. :] I know, though, that we go wherever the Lord wants us to be. I am so happy though that Hermana Fenn and I are staying here in Vacaville together. We were a little nervous, though, when our zone leader called out a voicemail to the whole zone and right at the beginning said "Hello, we are calling with transfer information and a lot of big, scary changes are happening." And they went through the whole zone telling of the changes that are happening and then finally at the very end said what was happening with and so our hearts were pounding all the way through, haha. Transfers are nerve racking because you have no idea what is going to happen, but we were very happy when we found out that we are again here in Vacaville. I am so thankful for my companion and her example to me! She is very patient and loving. I also love Vacaville so much and am so thankful for all of the wonderful people I've met while being here. And I have another transfer (at least!) to continue meeting more of God's children here in Vacaville. :]
We had a busy, busy, but a good week. Busy is good right?! We think so! There were times we were literally running from appointment to appointment, haha.
Saturday, right before a lesson with a recent convert, we were praying in our car and we got out. There was a guy walking and he said "Hey, can you pray for me?!" And I said "yeah! What's your name?!" I couldn't really hear him to good and so I had to ask for it again and then he came over to us and was like "Do you want to do it right now?!" And we were like "yeah!" and so we stood in a circle, holding hands, and he offered the prayer. It was interesting, but really cool. There is nothing like being a missionary, and I am still coming to realize and understand the power that comes with wearing the name of Jesus Christ everyday and having been set apart to do this work. People recognize us as different and we have strangers asking if we'll pray for them. I love it!
The longer I am out on my mission, the more I realize just how much I have to learn. I am working on coming to know the Savior better. I want to develop a stronger relationship with Him, so I know how to better become like Him.
I am reading right now in the book of Alma and there are a few verses that I want to share from Alma 13. This is when Alma and Amulek are out doing missionary work together and they are amazing missionaries, I want to be like them! :] They are preaching to the people and telling them how they can be better. Alma 13:28 "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest."
These are attributes of Jesus Christ. These are attributes that I want to have! I am working daily to be better, but it doesn't come easy. It takes work! I know, though, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that we become better if we use it daily in our lives.
I know that when we are trying our best to become better, to become the person God knows we can become that it will happen. It takes work, yes, and it takes time, but it happens little by little.
I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day tomorrow. Know that you are LOVED tremendously by me (of course!) but also by your Heavenly Father.
John 3: 16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
I love you all so much!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
It is the beginning of a new transfer and I am staying here in Vacaville with Hermana Fenn again, just the thing I was hoping for. :] I know, though, that we go wherever the Lord wants us to be. I am so happy though that Hermana Fenn and I are staying here in Vacaville together. We were a little nervous, though, when our zone leader called out a voicemail to the whole zone and right at the beginning said "Hello, we are calling with transfer information and a lot of big, scary changes are happening." And they went through the whole zone telling of the changes that are happening and then finally at the very end said what was happening with and so our hearts were pounding all the way through, haha. Transfers are nerve racking because you have no idea what is going to happen, but we were very happy when we found out that we are again here in Vacaville. I am so thankful for my companion and her example to me! She is very patient and loving. I also love Vacaville so much and am so thankful for all of the wonderful people I've met while being here. And I have another transfer (at least!) to continue meeting more of God's children here in Vacaville. :]
We had a busy, busy, but a good week. Busy is good right?! We think so! There were times we were literally running from appointment to appointment, haha.
Saturday, right before a lesson with a recent convert, we were praying in our car and we got out. There was a guy walking and he said "Hey, can you pray for me?!" And I said "yeah! What's your name?!" I couldn't really hear him to good and so I had to ask for it again and then he came over to us and was like "Do you want to do it right now?!" And we were like "yeah!" and so we stood in a circle, holding hands, and he offered the prayer. It was interesting, but really cool. There is nothing like being a missionary, and I am still coming to realize and understand the power that comes with wearing the name of Jesus Christ everyday and having been set apart to do this work. People recognize us as different and we have strangers asking if we'll pray for them. I love it!
The longer I am out on my mission, the more I realize just how much I have to learn. I am working on coming to know the Savior better. I want to develop a stronger relationship with Him, so I know how to better become like Him.
I am reading right now in the book of Alma and there are a few verses that I want to share from Alma 13. This is when Alma and Amulek are out doing missionary work together and they are amazing missionaries, I want to be like them! :] They are preaching to the people and telling them how they can be better. Alma 13:28 "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest."
These are attributes of Jesus Christ. These are attributes that I want to have! I am working daily to be better, but it doesn't come easy. It takes work! I know, though, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that we become better if we use it daily in our lives.
I know that when we are trying our best to become better, to become the person God knows we can become that it will happen. It takes work, yes, and it takes time, but it happens little by little.
I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day tomorrow. Know that you are LOVED tremendously by me (of course!) but also by your Heavenly Father.
John 3: 16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
I love you all so much!!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Robinson
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