Week 4: God Rocks!

Hey everybody! 

So I'm just going to apologize ahead of time, I can never remember what I've already written last week...mission brain. So sorry if I keep saying the same things over and over. Especially when it comes to things I've learned this week. Because honestly, I've been learning a lot of the same things over and over. I've realized that life is not a checklist. As soon as you think you've perfected some skill and can move on, you realize that you still have to put in the effort to maintain those skills. It's like when they keep talking about the same thing over and over at General Conference, and you're like man I've already heard that, I've got that down. Lol no. Clearly, there is still something more to learn there, because every strength we have, can still be strengthened even more. Which reminds me, General Conference is this upcoming weekend, and everyone should try to watch at least one session (for those who don't know what I'm talking about, ask a mormon. If I'm the only mormon you know... well awk...look it up on lds.org) The point is, it's awesome, and it's open to everyone in the public. You can actually watch it online at lds.org, or on T.V if you have the BYU channel. 

Before General Conference every year we have a General Woman's Broadcast the weekend before. Lucky for me, our Stake had a huge activity at the church regarding it so me and my companion had the opportunity to watch it. I am so thankful for modern day revelation, and for leaders who have chosen to rise to their potentials. For those who missed this broadcast, you missed out. Hopefully it is online somewhere and you can still watch it. Sister Wixom spoke a lot about our divinity. Heavenly Father loves us so so much. He has created us with so much divine potential. He wants more than anything for us to find lasting happiness. 

I've always known these things. But I think often times it has been easier for me to recognize the goodness and divinity in others rather than in myself. I think a lot of us do that. In the broadcast on Saturday Sister Wixcom said, " Because you are His child, you not only need him, but he needs you." I need my Heavenly Father, so much. Every single day. Like for real, there is no way I could do this mission without him, or really life at all for that matter. But the thing that really hit me is that he needs us too. Heavenly Father took the time to create each and everyone one of us. We all have a purpose, though seemingly unclear, there is a plan for each of us. I don't just believe it, I know it. Heavenly Father has so much to offer us, so much for us to become, if only we'll let him. I challenge you, let Heavenly Father mold you. Rely on the Savior and his atonement to have the strength to go through challenges and face trials, and you'll be even stronger for them. Strive to reach that potential, because He needs you. He needs you on His side, and He loves you. I think it's easy to forget how much we mean to our Heavenly Father sometimes. But I know that he loves us. 

Anyways, for me that was a huge lesson this week. It's easy to compare ourselves to others, and to feel inadequate or like you're not making any real impact. But, Heavenly Father created us for a reason, and he needs us to be the best version of ourselves, to use the strengths and talents we have to bless and love those around us. So just keep putting one foot in front of the other and push forward, because he needs you to. And I promise that as you do that, you will be blessed ten fold. And Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will strengthen you.

White-washing has been a crazy experience, but me and Sister Wright have been blessed with the people that we have found. We are just starting to get investigators, so we'll see how that goes over the next couple of weeks. The people of Surrey are really so so good to us. The cultural difference can be a challenge sometimes, because there are literally so many different religions, but that is to be expected. People are still very respectful to us, and most people listen to our message or at least accept some service. Service is the quickest way to someones heart ;)

As far as sweet Destiny and her family, when we stopped by on Tuesday she wasn't home, but her husband and kiddos were out on the street at the bus stop. So we went over and talked to them instead. It was great to get to actually meet her husband and he was super receptive. After meeting Destiny, she had told her husband about our visit and they started reading the Book of Mormon. More than just the first chapter like we challenged her too. Crazy, huh? THEY ARE SO GOOD. WE ARE SO BLESSED. Anyways, they are already back in Nigeria, but I know that they will look into the church when they get here. So who knows? They come to Canada every year to visit her brother, so maybe next year I'll come to church and see they sitting in the pews. A Sister can dream, right? ;)

Another quick miracle this past week, Sister Wright and I were street contacting and she felt the impression to talk to this old man. We had already passed him (at the time we were talking to somebody else), and he was quite a head of us, but we decided to kind of run to catch up to him.... We had almost caught him, when he turned down some Alley Way, but then this woman walking her dog and baby walked by and stopped us. She was like hey, are ya'll missionaries? I'd love it if you could come over and do a bible study with me and my daughter (her older daughter was at the Grandparents). Do ya'll have a BOM (Book of Mormon)? So we talked to her for a little while, gave her the BOM, and set up an appointment to teach her. Heavenly Father really does prepare people. Unfortunately.... they just got lice, so we'll be waiting that out a little bit. Needless to say, I am very blessed.

There are so many other little miracles but there ins't enough time in the world to write it all, also, who really wants to read it all anyways? I know my e-mails are insanely long as it is. Sorry I talk a lot, but ya'll should all be used to that by now. 

I know I harped on this last week a little bit, but for the members back  home, seriously guys, members who are missionary minded is the best blessing in the world. We actually have 3 sets of missionaries in my ward here in Surrey (which is crazy and so so lucky, not to mention the Assistants are one of those companionships.(The Assistants are the elders who work as assistants to our mission president, and on top of that still have to be a regular missionary...which essentially means that they rock) But that like never happens. Most wards are lucky if they even get 1 set of missionaries. So on Sunday, I gave a talk (I was thrilled of course....just kidding I felt like dying), which had to do somewhat with what I shared earlier in this e-mail, but then Brother Ortalano (one of the members) gave a talk. It was all about being missionary minded, and how the members needed to utilize us as missionaries more. He had all 3 sets of missionaries stand up and was like, "Look at them. This doesn't happen very often. The Lord only calls people when he knows there is a lot of work to be done. So clearly, there are a lot of people in Surrey we need to find." There was a lot more too, he was SO AWESOME. Man am I grateful for him. SO love your missionaries, and give them referrals. When members and missionaries are united together the work is so much more effective. 

Basically, I am so so blessed to be here in Surrey with the ward that I have, the companion that I have, and the district that I have. I'm sure going to try my best to take advantage of it.

I love and miss you all and I hope things are going well for everyone back home. Thank you for all the love and support. I know God lives, and that He loves us.

Love always, Sister Robertson

ps. I'm buying a carder reader thingy today so I promise there will be pictures soon.

Week 3: Canada is so weird/Miracles

First off, when people told me it was culturally diverse up here man oh man were they right. My ward consists of Filipinos, Asians, Canadians, and East Indians.Its crazy. But my ward here is incredible. They are so missionary minded and so excited to have Sister Missionaries. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. 

First some fun facts about Canada:

1) the spiket on the drinking fountain is on the left side instead of the right. I know that that is totally random and seemingly irrelevant, but they are actually incredibly hard to drink out of. 

2) Everything is in k's here instead of Miles.

3) They put the Canadian flag on everything. Like even the big McDonalds sign has a Canadian Maple Leaf, as if to remind us like Hey you are in Canada, not America.... you know in case we forgot. 

4) They still celebrate the 4th of July and thanksgiving... they just call it something different. And they make sure to celebrate it before we do in America. The days here are July 1st, and October 12th or something like that. 

But still, Canada is way cool. It's freezing, and rains every second. But other than that it's great.

My Mission president and his wife are just incredible!!!! They remind me a lot of Bishop and Sister Peel back home (: So thankful for them. President Burt is just incredible, and I know that without him I wouldn't be able to do this mission. He is just so so awesome. Man oh man, mission presidents are definitely called of God. My new Companion is Sister Wright (momma her dad is from Idaho so we really could be related). She is from Utah ( as most missionaries here seem to be). SHE IS AWESOME. So so loving and has helped me adjust a lot to this new mission life. Don't get me wrong, the MTC was great, but nothing like this.

We are assigned to Surrey, Canada (3rd Ward). We live in our Bishops basement (everyone has a basement apartment here). The ward is AMAZING. We are white-washing the area. Which basically means that we start from scratch. Generally you go to an area that your companion has just been in, that way you know the area, the members, and already have some good progressing investigators. But President has done a lot of white-washing this last transfer to get things going in Canada so a lot of my group is in the same boat. Our ward hasn't had any sisters there in a while, so they are so so good to us. And glad to have some sister back. They really are so great, and until now I have never realized just how important it is for members to be missionary minded and to support and love and feed their missionaries. So challenge for all of you back home:

Take care of your sweet missionaries serving in your ward. They need it. promise. And give them a lot of referrals. Brothers and Sisters, its our responsibility as both missionaries and members to bring other unto Christ. We are his hands here on earth, and if we really love him, we will feed his sheep. There is a great talk by Elder Holland on that. 

This week i have learned a lot about humility. i wouldn't say that I'm generally a prideful person, not in the sense that I think that I'm better than anybody, but sometimes I have a lot of trouble trusting Heavenly Father and admitting myself to his will. And that's prideful. "He is the Gardner here, and he knows what he intends us to be." So just let go, and let him. Let him mold you into the person he needs you to be, and then allow him to work through you to bring others unto Christ.

This week was hard, just adjusting to the new life style, but I am so blessed. Blessed to be in the mission. Blessed with an amazing companion. Blessed to have the strengthening and enabling power of the atonement, and to be forgiven of my imperfections. Blessed to have such a supportive and loving ward. When things get hard, whether in life, or for those on/going on a mission, just find one reason to keep going. One thing to be grateful for, and i promise you'll be able to get through it. I love you all so so so much, and wish you the very best.

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Somehow in the mad dash to send out e-mails I forgot to share our sweet miracle. 

Yesterday, while knocking doors, we met Destiny. Not only did she listen to us on the doorstep but she invited us in. (She's the first to let us in). Me and Sister Wright taught her and her four kids about the restoration of the gospel, and how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. It was amazing. We bore our testimonies of the Book of Mormon, and she accepted one, committed to read the first chapter, and scheduled an appointment with us for this Tuesday. Her and her family are amazing, and her desire to grow even closer to Christ is a blessing. We love her. Unfortunately, her family is actually from Nigeria, and they are leaving next week to go back home. But we promised to set her up with some of the missionaries over there.

Aside from Destiny, we have had the opportunity to teach some recent converts and less-active families. They are all incredible too. the spirit is amazing, and I can't wait to continue to share the gospel with others.

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Week 2: Everyday is Sunday, and Tuesdays are Christmas

Hey everyone!!!

First off, thank you thank you thank you for all the e-mails and support. You honestly have no idea what it means. (I know missionaries always say that, but I never truly understood the depth of what they meant until actually becoming a missionary.) I hope things are going well for everyone back home and I love and miss you all.

I love my district

Sista Sistas <3 And then Sister Menlove (our Branch Presidents wife) 

Us in a nutshell. Sister Richins, Sister Jarvies, Me, Sister Cornia

Zone Sisters ( My new little babies)

This is my actual district, the Elders were not amused with how many pictures we wanted to take.

Now they want pictures! :)

Found me some Stacy Johnson (: Yay for college friends!

My eyes are closed but I still love Sister Richins (:

I never know where to even start in these e-mails. I have learned SO much, and honestly the days just mix together. There is a saying here in the MTC that the days are long and the weeks go by fast. I can testify to ya'll that that's true. 

As far as my Subject goes, my district and I decided that basically every day feels like a Sunday because we study so much and focus on the gospel and learn how to help and teach and serve others, but P-days are our one days where we don't follow an exact schedule and we get to kind of just chill and go with the flow. And we get to talk to our family and friends (: Which really is the BEST gift I could ever ask for. So P-days (or our Tuesdays) are like Christmas.

So I've learned a lot already so far, I didn't even know it was possible to grow this much in such a  short amount of time. Yall would be shocked. There isn't really time for anxiety or discomfort in the MTC, things are going too fast, and as missionaries we have a responsibility to fulfill our callings. But I want to talk about some things that I've learned. (For all my babies going into the MTC in the next couple of weeks, this section will have some stuff just for you.)

1) BE BRAVE. I have a hard time with that, I always have. Especially in the MTC when it comes to teaching investigators, and even each other (we do a lot of role playing for practice), you really just have to be brave. I like to follow plans and I have always struggled with relying on the spirit, but the thing is, in missionary work that's all you've got. Because you aren't the teacher here, the spirit is. So you just have to 1, trust that Heavenly Father will help you understand the needs of your investigators and that he'll put words into your mouth when you do not know what to say. That's when being brave comes in. You have to trust that Heavenly Father will give you the answers you need, because he always always will, and then you have to be brave and open your mouth and pray that something comes out. It's been a challenge. I like knowing what I am going to say before I say it, but that's not really how the Holy Ghost works.

2) The first person you convert should be YOURSELF. It's crazy how much you come to know your Savior as you help your investigators, companions, etc. come unto Christ. And that's a good thing. In fact, it's essential. Because you definitely can't help bring others unto Christ if you aren't there yourself. You can't help convert anyone farther than you have been converted yourself. So pray like crazy. I mean every minute of every day. Pour out your hear t to your Heavenly Father, he is begging you to know him. Study your scriptures, because every single time you do, you receive different revelation. And just love this gospel. It is so so so sweet, and I wouldn't be anywhere today without it.

3) You are ALWAYS enough. I'm not going to lie. The MTC has been challenging, as it should be. After all, there isn't much comfort in growth. It involves a lot of stretching. But just know that it is okay. It is okay that things are hard. Whether you are in the MTC or not, life is just hard. It's okay that you can't do it all on our own. In fact, that's normal. We are called to be the best we can be, and then Heavenly Father makes up that difference. So stop worrying about it. You are enough. As long as you are being obedient, and trying your best every single day to be a little bit better, He will ALWAYS make up the difference. 

4) When things do get hard, SERVE. Nothing brings more happiness than truly loving those around you and finding ways to serve them. Kendall taught me that, and my teachers at the MTC have testified of the same thing, and now I'm telling you, whether you are a missionary or not service truly is the cure for everything. 

Alright mission babies, these ones are more for yall:

1) LOVE YOUR DISTRICT.... and also your zone. They are your family here, so love them for all that they are worth. the first day is always a little awkward, and you may not bond at first, but I promise it will come. Sit with each other at every meal, it really helps get friendships going. Actually study together, it's amazing what you can learn from another. Heavenly Father does not do random (s/o to King Abner). Heavenly Father put those Elders and Sisters in your life for a reason, so learn from one another, grow together, but also remember to have a little fun. This is the plan of happiness after all, Heavenly Father wants you to have some fun. So don't feel like you have to throw that all away just because you are a missionary. He NEEDS your personalities. But he needs the best version of yourself, so let yourself grow. 

2) Don't drink the orange juice. 

3) Be passionate about this gospel. Love it, and your investigators will too.

4) Don't be too hard on yourself. The easiest way to feel miserable is to get discouraged after teaching lessons. Our responsibility as missionaries is to help bring others unto Christ. That's it. Ultimately we want them to be baptized and we are still directed to invite them to that commitment. But as long as you are obedient, and doing your best, that's all you can do. Like us, our investigators have free agency too. And they can choose to accept or deny the messages you share with them. The gospel is full of simple truths. You don't need to be a master scriptorian, or the best prayer giver ever. You just need to have faith, and love. Share the gospel with passion, and testify of the blessing it brings. Because those blessings are very real. And if your investigators still deny it, be heartbroken for them. because it is heart braking. So so heart breaking, but Heavenly Father takes care of all of his children. So don't beat yourself up if you don't help convert all of your investigators, as long as you are being obedient you are a successful missionary. 

5) I've talked about obedience a lot. And this is how I'm going to leave it:

Obedience brings blessings, but EXACT obedience brings miracles. I need those miracles. YOU need those miracles, we all need miracles. So be exactly obedient, because I promise it works. 

6) On Sunday night after the fireside, watch "The Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. You won't regret it.

7) Sing in the choir for devotionals. It is incredible. Even if you can't sing just do it. 

8) THE SPIRIT HERE IS AMAZING. The MTC is hard, and it's an emotional roller coaster for sure, but I have never felt more happiness. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Week 1: Hey, I'm alive. Also sorry this e-mail is so long.

9/8/2015

Hey everyone! So I survived. I don't know if any of you were worried, but I certainly was. 

I just want to start off by saying how crazy this whole thing is. Crazy scary. And Crazy good. I'm not kidding. Every single day I am challenged and stretched far more than I ever thought possible. And still, every single day, I am filled with my Saviors love. I am beyond blessed. It's crazy to think that I have only been here for 6 days, it feels like months. Maybe even a year. I don't know what it is about the MTC, but everyone seems so familiar. I think that's one of Heavenly Fathers tender mercies. Although I am in a new scary place, I'm surrounded by thousands of my brothers and sisters. And so so many of them remind me of ya'll. I'm not kidding. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of me, and I have no doubt that the people I have met so far were sent to help me feel close to home. 

So I'll start with my district. They are incredible. Never have I ever grown so close to so many people so fast. For those who don't know exactly what a district is, or what it means let me try my best to explain it. For those who already know what I am talking about, feel free to skip this paragraph. So we have companions, districts, zones, and then branches. My companion is Sister Cornia, yes like the eye. She is great. We are very different, but because of that, we make up for each others weaknesses. We are still working out some of the kinks as we teach, but things are starting to get better.  You are always with your companion, never separated except for the bathroom. But, its basically like being Siamese twins. The rule is "sight and sound". So wherever we are, unless it's at home, I always have to be able to see her and hear what she is saying. It's not so bad, just takes a little getting used to. But you all know I love being with someone like every second of the day, so really it's great for me. My poor companion...  So next is my district. your district consists of several sets of companions. It gives you a chance to get to know more people, and they are the missionaries I am always with. We study together. Alot. All you do in the MTC is study really. Well and teach lessons. It's really hard. And really great. We eat together, go to the gym together, study together, practice teaching together, goof off together (which I know earlier I said all we do is study. Which is true, but we also spend a lot of time goofing off). Heavenly Father still wants us to have fun. But I love my district. We have 6 Elders, and 4 Sisters.

Elder McNabb and Elder Kohl (They are our District leaders.) They pretend like they don't actually love us, but we know they still do.

Elder Baird and Elder Kane (They are our trouble missionaries.) Elder Baird is allergic to tree nuts, (s/o to Caroline, you're not the only one), and the poor thing has already had two allergic reactions and had to use 2 epi-pens each time. He's like crazy allergic to tree nuts. Like even breathing in air in areas where a lot of tree nuts have been used, eaten, etc. causes him to go into anaphylactic shock. ( yes I spelled that wrong, no I honestly don't have time to fix it.) Elder Kane got into a car accident 2 days before entering the MTC, and so he has some nasty stitches in twp pf his fingers.I'd send a picture, but my pictures aren't uploading :(

Elder Campbell and Elder Rimechiissel are our little computer nerds. I love them. They were a little quiet at first, but we've definitely pulled them out of their shells.

Sister Jarvies and Sister Richins are great. Sisters are scare in the MTC (even with the age drop) so having them in our district is the biggest blessing. When I say sisters here are scarce, I mean like in comparison to the amount of Elders. I have never seen so many boys in my entire life. We are out sung in every hymn, no question. But man are Elders the best. I have never had more boys open a door for me in my entire life. #blessed.

Anyways, so that my district, I don't really have enough time to even explain my love for all of them but I really couldn't do this without them.

Our Zone consists of two districts. So my district is 64-A (we call ourselves the A-team), and district 64- D is on our zone as well. They came in the same day as us and our going to either North Dakota or Ogden Utah. ( I forgot to mention my district is either Vancouver Canada, or North Dakoata). But this district is all boys. So they have 8 sets of Elders. We tend to share our Sister love with them, because everyone knows boys need some girls for some motivation and organization. Anyways, Districts 64-B and 64-C are the older districts (and by that I mean they have been here an entire week ahead of us.) They all leave tomorrow. And the 2 districts together make another zone. And our zone, plus their zone makes a branch. So together, we all have church on Sunday, and they are the zone that kind of showed us the ropes when we first got here. Now, my zone will be showing the ropes to 16 new Elders, and 8 new Sisters tomorrow. It's crazy how fast things move here. But I love it. 

Me and my companion have been called to be the Sister Training Leaders for our branch, which basically means we are responsible for all the girls in our zone, and in the new zone coming in tomorrow.I can't wait to get some more babies (:

So I'm sorry this e-mail is long, and that I have in no way talked about any of my experiences so far, but there really is not enough time. Just know that I am learning ATON. And that although these last couple of days have been a pretty up and down roller coaster, that I know what I am doing is right. And I have been incredibly blessed by my Heavenly Father to have this opportunity to serve. I feel like I'm a completely different person already, but still me at the same time. It's just crazy. And it's just great. 

Next week, hopefully my pictures will work so I can actually show you my district, and I'll make sure to save time to share my favorite experience from the week. So much happens in a day it's just hard to even remember. But I've taught 6 lessons already, not to mention the times we have practiced in class. It's just, great. I love this gospel. Anyways, I love and miss all of you so much, but time is flying by and I'll be back in no time!

Love always,

Sister Robertson