Week 11/12: "Cold hands, warm heart."

HI LOVLIES ❤

So an amazing thing happened two weeks ago. I meant to send this out last week....but I ran out of time. 

Sister Wright and I have been teaching this super cute fijian couple, Michael and Sima, and their little boy named Shyan. So they are SO sweet, and love taking the lessons, mostly because they just love learning and because they enjoy our company. Well, because of that, we've been struggling to get them to keep commitments and to progress because they are really casual about the entire situation. So last Friday, we brought our Bishop to the lesson with us. Bishop Prasad is also Fijian, and he was previously Hindu. MIcheal and Sima have been having a lot of problems financially and with family, and really, if I know nothing else, it is that God sent us to them. Because at then end of the day, the Gospel Of Jesus Christ is really what helps us to have the strength and the understanding to endure through this life. 

Anyways, so we get there and Bishop Prasad speaks to them in Hindi the entire time. We had no idea what they were saying, but the spirit we felt was undeniable. Although I didn't understand what he was saying, because of the Holy Ghost, I knew that what he was saying was true. It was a super amazing opportunity that really strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel and the blessings that it brings. Because even though we don't always understand everything (even when it is spoken to us in English), we can know what is good and what is true as long as we are willing to ask God sincerely. Heavenly Father will always answer us by the power of the Holy Ghost. It's a promise, in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. All it takes is a willing heart. 

Also, we were out knocking doors the other night, and of course my hands were freezing because its winter time, and it's raining. So the sweetest thing ever happened! We knocked on a door and were talking to this super sweet old man. When we shook his hand and introduced ourselves he was a little startled. Then he said, "You have cold hands, but a warm heart." IT WAS SO CUTE. What a blessing, especially after walking around in the cold all day. And then the next door we happened to knock was an even greater blessing. We met the sweetest old man, Edward. Once again, the comment was made that my hands were cold ( if I had a dime for every time someone has told me that these past couple of weeks I'd be able to fund my entire mission). But then he insisted that I take a pair of his gloves- he doesn't have any grandchildren around to give them too. IT WAS SO CUTE! And now I have a super sweet pair of black leather gloves. 

I only have a couple of pictures this week... Sister Wright had most of them on her Camera, but her camera broke last week.... so we're hoping we didn't loose all of them. Pray for us. 

We've been going out Christmas Caroling to Less-actives in the ward (Yes, we realize it's November, but Thanksgiving already happened here, so really, it's never to early to celebrate Christmas.)

Also because there is literally 32821374912791 different cultures here, Sister Wright and I have been asking people that we meet how to say different phrases in their native language. So here's a couple, excuse me on the spelling.

Yak she mash- How are you? (Polish)

Haben Guten Tag- Have a good day. (German)

Sat Shri Acal- Hello/ God is one. (Punjabi)

Don't ask, because I don't know.

 I'm calling this one Silly Sisters! Perhaps they were practicing and getting ready for Christmas Caroling. :)

Week 10: God is so good!

 It's Raining a lot!

So first off I would just like to give a shout out to my drama babies back home, CONGRATS!!! The play and costumes just get better and better every year man. YA'LL ARE AMAZING! Wish I could've been there to see it, but all i hear is good things, so I know ya'll are out there kicking some butt. BOB WHO? BOB JONES! Anyways, you are all beautiful people and I love you. I hope you are taking care of Momma Davis, and Craft for me? And especially, Mrs. Shari Kingsford.

So this week I've been so blessed. First off, I've never been a really good scripture reader, ever. And so that was one of my biggest fears in going on a mission is that I'm supposed to teach people about the Book of Mormon, when I've barely read any of it myself. So anyways, I made a goal to read the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes every morning. I tried it several times, and I still just felt like I was getting nothing out of it. So then, in efforts to be more effective, I would study Preach My Gospel (which is like the missionary bible. It has everything we teach in it.), but of course, i was still feeling super inadequate when it comes to scripture reading. So I'd try again for a couple of days, and then the cycle would continue. After talking with Sister Kendall Kingsford (even though she is already home) she said that it was similar for her too. That she read it for months and felt like she was getting nothing out of it. But she kept going, and one day it just clicked. Heavenly Father blessed her because she was faithful and because she kept trying and just kept enduring. So I decided this last week to do exactly that. To stop wasting time worrying about if I was getting anything out of it or not and just to read every morning and night. I still don't understand some of the things I have been reading, but when I was thinking about it yesterday I just realized that I have been WAY happier every day since I started reading it. What a tender mercy. And even though I still don't know everything, I know that as I keep reading, that Heavenly Father will bless me and as long as I'm faithful and press forward, that I will be blessed and that He will be able to use me as a tool in His hands to help bring others unto Christ. 

It's still hard, and I still often feel very inadequate, but my testimony of Heavenly Father using "the weak and the simple" to bring forth his Gospel grows stronger every day. 

I love what Elder Dale G. Renlund said in this past October General Conference when he was called to be an apostle. He shared an experience in which he was called to be the Bishop of a ward many years before and what his brothers response was. His brother said:

"You need to know that the Lord hasn't called you because of anything you have done.... the Lord has called you for what He needs to do through you, and that will only happen if you do it His way."

Man oh man, does that ring true to me every day. Heavenly Father created us each with such a unique purpose. Our job here on Earth, is to discover that purpose and to let Heavenly Father use us to bring forth his gospel and to help those around us. Of course, that is much easier said than done. But here's to trying a little bit harder this week to be a little bit better.

The best miracle from this week:

Shelby. She is the biggest blessing in this world. What a great example she is to her family. She is so strong and has been progressing like crazy. She has been worried about baptism because her family loves and supports her of course, but still isn't really living the gospel. And the gospel is a hard path to walk alone. Anyways, Sister Wright and I taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was so strong and the two members we brought bore such powerful testimony and experiences. It was incredible, and it helped me realize not only how important the Spirit it in teaching, but in having members at lessons is too. It just helped Shelby realize really that she doesn't have to walk this path alone. That even though her family isn't really progressing with her, right now at least, that she has Jesus Christ. And because Jesus Christ had to walk that path alone, we never will. 

God is so good, we just have to let him in.

I love you all so so much and i hope things are going well in Alabama. I sure do miss the South.

Love always, 

Sister Robertson 

I've been out for 2 months last week. Crazy, how fast time flies!

We got some new Sister Missionaries in our Ward! :)

Week 9: I love being a missionary

To all my favorite people ❤

Sorry I haven't written in the past two weeks. But I just want everyone to know how much I love them, and how much your Heavenly Father loves you. I've been feeling that a lot lately. Things are good, and hard. But I'm learning a lot everyday. We got Transfer news last week, and me and Sister Wright are staying in Surrey. Yay! This area has blessed us with so so many people. 

Something I've been learning these past weeks and am still learning is just how much Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us. SO much. No matter what. There is nothing we can do, that Heavenly Father won't still welcome us home with open arms for. Just remember the story of the Prodigal son. The really cool thing is that we can know Heavenly Father loves us because he sent his son, Jesus Christ to die and atone for all of our sins, for all the pains and sorrows that we have and will ever experience. And the best part about it is that his atonement covers e v e r y t h i n g. For myself anyways, sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough for Heavenly Fathers forgiveness. Like I'm not putting forth my best effort, and so why do I deserve His help, or His grace. 

Satan is so so sneaky. He wants us to feel and think those things because then He's won. Because when we think those things, we allow ourselves to feel unworthy, and to not accept the help from Heavenly Father that we so desperately need. Which in turn, creates a distance between us and Heavenly Father. Through this we are not allowing ourselves to apply the atonement, and to have the peace in knowing that we are not perfect, and that that is okay, and also the strength to still keep trying.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS

We do not have to reach a certain amount of works before He forgives us. 

He will a l w a y s forgive us, IF we let Him. 

I love you guys, and I know that Heavenly Father is real and that he loves us. I have felt him testify of that love to me of myself, and of other people. In fact, it is one of the greatest blessings we get to experience on our missions- feeling Heavenly Fathers love for his children. Really, truly feeling is all the way through.  

I haven't had the opportunity to really share some of my experiences in teaching yet, mostly by my own fault. Since we have been white-washing we didn't come into an area with already solid investigators, so we really have just been out finding people to teach. Through that process we have been blessed to find SO many people, although not many of them have been solid and stayed. Which is why I haven't written about them. But I figure it doesn't really matter. Because Heavenly Father is the only one who truly knows their intentions and what they are going through right now. And as missionaries, we stumble upon people at different times of their lives. And sometimes we are really just meant to be the planters- to be the missionaries who plant that first seed of faith in the Gospel. Although, these last two weeks, Sister Wright and I have also been blessed to have some people in which we get to nurture that seed of faith. 

So here are some of the amazing people we have been able to work with.

1) Shelby and Kara- they are actually the assistants investigators, but we have been tag teaming it since they are out of town so much for our Mission President. Also, Shelby is a teenager and it is easier for her to have a connection with us as sisters. Either way, we love sharing them with the Elders ❤ Kara is the momma (her husband isn't super interested yet, but he is WAY supportive). Kara came from a really rough background and has struggled with alcohol and drugs most of her life. Despite her and Skip's (her husband) addictions, they are incredible people and incredible parents. They truly love their kids, but also understand the balance between being your kids best friend, and being their parent. Shelby is 16 and she is SO GOOD. She is the example for her family for sure. She really loves learning about the gospel, but she really is so willing to try it out for herself. Last week she felt for the first time that she got an answer to her prayer. Now she is praying about baptism, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, and I know that that answer will come soon. She loves this gospel. And she truly recognizes the blessings that it brings, when you let it. Kara knows that it is true to, she is just struggling with really committing to trust God. But she'll come around too ;)

2) Kori and Sean- Kori is a Recent Convert and her husband Sean is investigating. They have also had super rough pasts, but are working to overcome addictions. They have a little one on the way In December. I CANT WAIT. Kori and Sean have been struggling ALOT lately with keeping commitments, and have fallen into some of their really bad habits. We just got them two weeks ago and it is incredible to see the changes that they are beginning to make again. It's slow, but it is so good. This couple are two of the people that I have felt Heavenly Fathers love for SO strongly. And as I've been learning to be more patient with myself and to utilize the atonement, I have been able to share in those feelings with them. Heavenly Father really does put people into your life so that you can bless one another. Kori and Sean came to church this week finally and it was so good (: We are so proud of them!

3) Teresa- I love this woman. We found her knocking I think a month ago and have been doing service, and helping her move once a week. She is the cutest, and just loves sewing and doing every crafty knick-knack thing you could think of. She hasn't been really too interested in the church, or really even in God or that matter, she just really loves the company (little does she realize it's because of the spirit we bring). Each time we have come over we always pray with her and she allows us to share a spiritual message. We've taught her about Heavenly Father and about His love for her, but she isn't so convinced. The funny thing, is I know she's felt the spirit. She just keeps denying it because she doesn't want to trust God quite yet. She too comes from a very rough background, abusive family, etc. This last week we had to do a hard thing. We didn't want to, so we were kind of putting it off. We had to tell her that we couldn't come over anymore. That although we really do love her, and I mean I LOVE HER, but that we are missionaries. And if she isn't interested in learning about the Gospel and in taking steps of faith to know for herself if it is true or not, that we can't keep coming over every week. Of course, we would still stop in and say Hi when we are in the area, but we can't keep coming over anymore. But the amazing this is that before we told her, as were getting up to leave she was the one to say, "Alright, now who is saying the prayer today?" And then we kind of starting walking out and still hadn't told her we couldn't come over anymore, and she was like "Wait, we didn't set up a time for you to come back." So then we told her the bad news, and she thought about it and said to call her later and she'd think about it. The point of this whole story is progress. SHE WANTED US TO SAY A PRAYER. WHAT A MIRACLE. I know she'll come along one of these days. 

Anyways, that is all for now. Hopefully I'll be able to send some pictures this week. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson