Week 79: I know that my Redeemer Lives

It has been quite the week! Monday we traveled to Quesnel to help the Sisters move into a new apartment then drove to Williams Lake then back to Quesnel and then back to Williams lake and then back home to Prince George. Somewhere along the way I lost my camera. Then Saturday morning I woke up sick with a stomach bug, slept, went out to work, went to a funeral, went to a baptism, and Sunda night repeated being sick again :-)

Needless to say, I have felt an immense amount of God's love this past week. The atonement of Jesus Christ, his suffering, death, and resurrection, is something that I know and believe in. It's something many of us do- yet so many times in our lives it seems so general, and we forget how individually it applies to us in every aspect of our lives. The Savior always ministered one by one, and I know that he suffered one by one for each of us- that he truly bore "pains, and afflictions, and temptations of every kind." But he bore our pains, our afflictions, and our temptations. I have felt my Savior carry me this week many times, and I know He can do the same for you! I know He is real.

Updates with our friends (:

Shannon and Ron- are preparing to move to Vancouver next week, but despite all the packing and everything else they had to do they b o t h came to church!!!! It was Ron's first time and he loved it! 

Joseph- IS GOING TO THE TEMPLE THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY

Taylor- our less active member we have been working with is still reading in the Book of Mormon (: (: (: This past week we were discussing the tree of life and asked her how she has been feeling as she has been meeting with us and started reading the Book Of Mormon (and partaking of the fruit), and she shared such powerful experiences of how it has really awakened her and helped her to put into perspective what really matter most in life, as well as how it has helped her to remain positive and kind in stressful situations at work!

Also, due to me losing my camera.... there are no pictures this week (:

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

Week 78: Take Possession of Yourself

Well life is getting weird, but other than that everything is awesome :-)

I just wanted to start of by first thanking each of you for your love and support! Last week I received several e-mails that boosted my faith, and reminded me of the great opportunity that I have and that I can continue to have until the end. 

When Elder Holland came and visited us this past November he said that who we are and what we have is absolutely enough, and all we need to do is to take possession of ourselves, to choose to act rather than be acted upon. That is something that has been on my mind a lot recently, and your e-mails last week caused me a lot of reflection and helped me to continue to push through the influence of the adversary. I owe a lot to my angel companion Sister Hoffman, who continues to be so patient with me. She has the biggest heart. 

This past week we have seen so many miracles, and it just builds my testimony so much to know that God is aware of everyone'es circumstances and he really is so merciful and blesses us so often with more than we deserve, and thank goodness for that! 

Last Sunday we had 6 random university students show up to church. Each of them were in a comparative religion class and were required to visit three different churches. After the first two meetings they each asked us a bunch of questions and we were able to leave our number and some pamphlets with them. That experience was a miracle within itself, but then a couple days later, guess what???

ONE OF THE GIRLS KATELYN CONTACTED US!!!!

She texted us and was like, "I have a couple more questions for my report, would it be okay to meet up?" So we were like perfect we can answer her questions and the spirit will touch her and then maybe she'll want to learn for herself. WELL EVEN BETTER!!!! We sit down and the first thing she says is, "So actually these questions are really just for me." Our mouths dropped. 

It turns out, her grandmother was a member in Williams Lake and she is a convert to the church herself. Growing up Katelyn saw how dedicated her grandmother was to the temple and to the church and recognized how important it was to someone she loved. The way her grandmother felt about the church really led Katelyn hungering to understand what was so special about it. Because of that, Katelyn has been questioning things for years and that is what led her to take this comparative religion course. She has such real intent and we were able to meet with her twice this past week. Because of her grandmother, and some of the questions she has asked, she really understands the commitment this will take. And she told us straight out that being religious in her family and friend group is not cool. And when she told one person about meeting with us they laughed at her and mocked her and said she needed to go to the crazy house. So she was like, "I need to know this is true if I'm going to be sticking my neck out like that." BUT WE ARE SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE WANT. And our lesson on the plan of salvation was so powerful, Sister Hoffman asked Katelyn the most inspired question and she opened up about how hard this past year of her life has been and how she really needs something to help her and we were able to bare powerful testimony of Jesus Christ, who he is, how we follow him, and how she can come to know that he is real. She was just in tears. 

It was absolutely amazing and this experience has just reminded me again of the power of the Savior. I know He is real and that He is the Savior for the world. Every son and daughter of Adam. It also taught me the value of members in truly being that light to those they interact with. As members of the church, we may be the only Book of Mormon that anyone sees.

I love each of you so much and are forever grateful for your testimonies of the Savior, both members of the church and non members. Each of you have played such a special role in my life and have absolutely been an instrument in helping me to feel God's love. I know He loves you.

Another quick miracle and update on Kathryn (:

We still weren't able to meet with her this week because she has had Mono, but towards the end of the week she was feeling better so she was able to come to church on Sunday! AND SHE BORE HER TESTIMONY!!!! She said, "I know I'm not a member yet, but I'm so grateful for everyone who has been helping me in on my journey and I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that everything the Book of Mormon says is true."

What a blessing it has been to be a missionary! 

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Week 77: The Hope of God's Light

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The Hope of God's Light Inbox x HEY FRIENDS AND FAM JAM, I literally can't even believe how fast is time is flying by! I am so incredibly grateful for Heavenly Father and his sweet tender mercies. Thank you for all of your e-mails this past week. Many of them have been a great source of strength and an answer to my prayers. They have reminded me of what it really means to have faith, and to trust in Heavenly Father and his promises to us.  This past week has been insane, but also wonderful. Sister Hoffman is a blessing and half and her heart is big enough for the both of us. I am grateful forever for her patience with me in trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do with this last month of my (mission) life.  Here are some really quick highlights from this week (and by quick I mean I only have 5 minutes to summarize how good Heavenly Father truly is.) 1) We taught Kathryn earlier this week (poor thing is really really sick right now, pray for her). But it was such a special opportunity to see her truly standing as a witness of God at all times and in all places. We taught her at her university and a bunch of her friends were sitting near by, but that didn't hold her back one bit from expressing her love for her savior and her desire to keep His commandments and to follow his example by being baptised. That experience has certainly caused me to reflect on the choices I will be making when I return home, and if I will really stay true to the disciple I have become.  2) JOSEPH BORE HIS TESTIMONY THIS SUNDAY. It was so good, and amazing to hear him recognize that path that God has been leading him down all along. It was also so inspired by Heavenly Father, because by a miracle we had 6 random students from the local college show up because they are required in their course to check out a couple of different churches.  Also Taylor finally read her scriptures and is starting to really progress, Sister Clark is the bom diggity, and Shannon and Ron have been praying as a family and individually every day!  I love this gospel and I know that the work that we are involved in is true. I know Heavenly Father is forever mindful of us, and that He always places the people in our lives that we need.  Some days things still feel cloudy, I've been feeling a lot like that recently, but I know that the hope of God's light is real, and I know Heavenly Father is just blessing me with another opportunity to grow. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-07-006-the-hope-of-gods-light?lang=eng Love always, Sister Robertson Pictures this week: 1) Exchanges with Sister Clark :-) 2) bad quality pic, high quality friends 3) LOVE HER MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF 4) PG Sisters reunited <3 5) Sister Heard (: (: (: 6) all the Sisters at MLC with mom and dad <3 7) SISTER SEITER <3 8) they literally have my whole heart. WE LOVE OUR SENIOR SISTERS 9) Shannon, Ron, and Ally (:

Week 76: You Hallow the Doorstep You Stand On

Hey (:

Wow, I don't even know where to start this week. Let's just say that this past week has been difficult. Accepting the fact that I will be returning home shortly has been really trying for many reasons. I have loved my mission, and I'm not ready to give it up. Needless to say, change has never been one of my strengths, so it's not surprising. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who always understands perfectly what we are going through and who understands the desires of our hearts. And what a blessing it has been to have had Sister Hoffman as my sweet companion. She has just loved the mess out of me this past week and I will forever be indebted to her in handling my 2390472034 emotions. Still I am grateful, as I know that "these things shall give [me] experience, and shall be for [my] good." D&C 122:7 I know it. And I've already seen my testimony grow even stronger because of them!

This past week I have had so many special experiences. 

Many times this week when Sister Hoffman saw me in distress she read a couple of verses to me from the Book of Mormon. Each time my soul was filled with immediate peace, and all those fears, and anxieties, or frustrations seemed to fade away. 

Saturday we had a Zone Conference and President and Sister Burt flew up. It is always a special treat to see them, and how grateful I am for President Burt and his worthiness to lead in this mission and to strengthen his missionaries. After the meeting he gave me a priesthood blessing. How grateful I am for God's restored power on the earth. I know that this church is true and I know that God loves his children.

Also, miracle's. There is this street that I've wanted to knock basically my entire life in Prince George, and so yesterday we finally went to knock it! Well we are knocking and literally no one is home, and the few people who were pretty much slam the door in our face. But then we met Caroline. She let us right in but was heading out soon to get some Indian Food so we set up an appointment for later that evening. We came back and taught her and she had such amazing questions, but in asking her what it would mean to her to know the Joseph Smith was a prophet of God she admitted that she is super Lutheran and really doesn't have any intentions on changing, but she has been so grateful to learn and to discuss and that it had been a long time since she had prayed and how she wasn't really a good christian because she hadn't been making a lot of time for Him in her life. So we still invited her to read the BOM but committed her especially to pray and to discuss with God a change she could make in her life to come to know him more. She said she would, and we exchanged numbers so that we could call and follow up. (side note, she was only in town for the weekend staying with her aunt and uncle and so she was leaving this morning.) Well, I made a mental note to call her before she left but totally forgot, BUT GUESS WHAT. SHE CALLED US TO RETURN AND REPORT. SHE PRAYED AND LOVED IT. It was amazing to see that although right now learning about the restored church isn't the change that she is making, but that she took the step of faith and repentance to pray and to increase her personal relationship with God. She told us when she would be in town next and said she'd love for us to follow-up with her then as well! It was a miracle. 

I am all out of time to share our other miracles from this past week, but I love you all and am grateful for all that you do!

I know God loves each and every one of you, always.

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Week 75: We The North

HEY HOME

This week has been absolutely crazy! Many things changed with transfer news, and so we got so many new Sisters up here in the North (pictures will be coming soon). 

Despite all that craziness, Heavenly Father blessed us with a million miracles. We got a media referral and the man asked us how he can join our church, we were able to eat dinner with a struggling family in the ward that never lets the missionaries over, we were able to find some cold gear for a really cheap price for all our sisters that just landed here, missionary work was the hot topic of one of our church meetings for the first time, and most of all, Sister Hoffman literally has saved my life everyday this week. 

I wish I could even put into words everything that I have been feeling these past couple of days, but just know that I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I know He lives. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

PICTURES:

1) Taylor, a less active member we have been working with. She has a heart of Gold.

2) SISTER LYBBERT. She was a visa waiter and headed out to her mission last Monday :(

3/4) I love Jesus Christ

5) Joseph received the priesthood!!!!!

6/7) Sister Hoffman is my rock and I am forever indebted to her supporting me this last transfer.... 17 months kills

8) The only picture that even comes close to how I am feeling about my time left. A little excited, mixed with a lot of running around in panic because not knowing what to do and never wanting my mission to end. 

Oh yeah, and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Week 74: TRANSFER WEEK

Hey ya'll,

This past week I had my last Transfer news.... I will be staying here in Prince George and Sister Hoffman will be joining me as a co-STL. Sister Hoffman and I served together in surrey in the beginning of our missions. Sister Travers trained her! I am way stoked because I know she will keep pushing me this last bit! Lucky me, Sister Poulson isn't going too far and I still get to keep her too! She will be pink washing (when a set of Sisters take the place of a set of Elders) in Williams Lake so she will still be in my stewardship! 

I'm having a lot of mixed emotions about this next 6 weeks of my life. I am forever grateful for my Heavenly Father and the immediate peace he brings into my heart as I prepare for so many new changes in my life. I sincerely love you all and are grateful for every support you have been throughout my life and now on my mission, and I know that these next 6 weeks aren't over yet! God has done amazing things this last almost year and half of my life and I can' t wait to see everything else that he has in store. 

This past week was Josephs birthday, and we celebrated by him cooking us dinner... lol. He begged. He used to cook on cruise lines for years, and let me tell you, 5 star review. WE HAD LAMB. 

-side note, since I have been in Prince George I have now eaten lamb, elk, and moose.

Anyways, Joseph is doing just incredible. He will be receiving the priesthood this upcoming Sunday and is preparing himself to go to them temple for baptisms in March! 

Kathryn is also doing amazing! She is such a strong girl! Teaching her is such a sacred opportunity. She knows everything is true and every week when we come to see her she is so excited to know what more she can do to prepare for her baptism and to live closer to her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. Her family loves her and supports her as a person, but is less than thrilled about her decision to join the church, but she doesn't let that shake her one bit. She knows that there are a lot of things in her life that will be different, but she is looking forward to every change. It has been a testimony builder to me to watch her remain so strong despite the challenges she faces, and I know that each of us can do the same. That come what may, we can stand strong and firm knowing that our Savior lives, that He loves us, and that His church truly has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

I love this gospel so much. I know that it is true. I love you all.

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-05-005-dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng

Pictures:

1) Zone Meeting and President Burt and Sister Burt flew up to join ;-)

2) All the Sisters

3) Sister Poulson, Michaela, and I

4) KATHRYN

Week 73: God is my rock

HEY

This past week has been absolutely crazy but so wonderful! Monday and Tuesday were pretty regular days, Wednesday I woke up with food poisoning then we had a special missionary broadcast, Thursday we flew down to Richmond, Friday we had MLC, and Saturday President and Sister Burt flew up to Prince George and had interviews and a specialized training and then we drove out to Quesnel for the Sisters baptism! There's been a lot of changes made recently in the mission field and adjusting is always a little bit weird, but I just feel so a peace with everything and know that these changes are inspired from God. 

Sister Cosman has been helping me out this past week with a lot of my STL responsibilities and mean while our sweet greenies have been killing it together! Sister Tenney and Sister Poulson are both from Arizona and were together in the MTC, so they absolutely love every second they have together. 

Sorry again for still not having any pictures with any of our friends up here in Prince George! We tried to take a couple... but they aren't very desirable so we'll try again this week! 

Kathryn is doing absolutely amazing though! She is just soaking in the gospel like a sponge! This past week we invited her to pray about the things that we had shared and as she kneeled down she said, "Heavenly Father, help me to know that these things are true, even though I already know that they are deep down in my heart." She is so excited for her baptism in February!

Joseph is still doing amazing as well, he is absolutely loving church and everything he is continuing to learn! 

This past transfer in Prince George has been such a blessing in my life. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father knows me perfectly and understands what I need. Somehow He has just helped me to learn how to trust him and to just turn everything over to him. I know these feelings are ones that I have shared in a previous e-mail, but I just feel so strengthened by him everyday to do things I know I couldn't do on my own. I feel like Nephi in 2 Nephi Chapter 4, when he just glories in the goodness of God.

"O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm."

And I know that that is true. Heavenly Father loves us so much and He has created us all with such unique potential. But we can't do it on our own, and we were never expected to. I know that as we put our trust in him, rather than in the arm of flesh (man) that God can make miracles happen and that He can make us much more than we could ever be on our own. I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know they live. 

I love each and everyone of you and pray that you will continue to put your trust in God, and that He will lead you to paths that you never even thought were possible.

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

Pictures:

1) miracle of last weeks P-day one of the members bought us pizza during e-mailing (: (: (:

2) We had MLC this past week and here are just 3 of my favorites (:

3) Prince George Statue (:

4) Sister Poulson <3

5) Sister Cosman <3

6)Sister Tenney <3

Week 72: Grateful in all things

DEAR EVERYONE <3

Sorry time is so short today. My heart is just increasingly full of gratitude for everything that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with these pasts months of my life. How grateful I am that he convinced me to come on a mission. Nothing means more to me than this experience. This past transfer has stretched me in ways that I didn't know were even possible, and have forced me to rely on the Lord. How grateful I am for Him and His perfect plan for us. We can't do it on our own, and we were never expected to. I know God and his perfect son, Jesus Christ, live and love each one of us! 

A really quick miracle from this past week is our dear friend Kathryn. Man if she isn't just an answer to our prayers! This past week we had the opportunity to officially meet for a lesson for the first time and the first thing she asked us was, "How do I know if I am ready to be baptised?". She was so sincere. She has been reading the Book of Mormon every night for weeks now and learning all she can from her member friends. She absolutely loves coming to church and she just feels like everything is so right. We read through a section in Mosiah 18 in the Book of Mormon which describes some of the qualifications for baptism and asked her if she felt that she met the requirements. She was crying and the spirit was so strong. Sister Poulson extended the invitation to be baptised and Kathryn accepted. We are so excited to continue to work with her and learn from her powerful testimony! 

I love each of you so much, and am eternally grateful for the many small and large impacts ya'll have made in my live. Thank you for blessing me the way God needed you to. I pray that each of us will continue to turn to Him, and allow Him to lead us in every step of our lives. I love you all and hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Love always,

Sister Robertson

PICTURES:

It was full of exchanges this week :) :) :)

1) Sister Tenney

2) Sister Tenney and I hiding in the laundry room to scare the other sisters

3) Happy Early Valentines Day LOL

4) I love Jesus Christ

5) SISTER FALEONO

Week 71: Heavenly Father loves me

Friends and Fam Jam,

HOW ARE YA???

This week has been such a special week. I have just been reminded time and time again of my Heavenly Fathers perfect love for me. I know that He truly knows each one of us on such an individual level, and knows exactly what we need. This week He has just blessed me in every way, and I know that as we are looking for those blessings, that each of us can see that He has truly been there every step of the way. 

I am so grateful for prayer. This past week I have had a lot of things weighing on my mind, especially in understanding how to meet the needs of others. Time and time again new ideas and thoughts came to my mind as I prayed. They weren't anything earth shattering, and I didn't feel any burning feeling in my bosom. They were simple ideas that came easily, and helped my heart to feel at peace. I've often wondered if ideas like those really do come from God, but I've been learning and am reminded time and time again of what it teaches us in the Book of Mormon, that

"That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually..." Moroni 7:13

I know that answers to prayers come in many different ways, and often when we least expect them. But I know that no matter who we are, that God loves us, that he really truly is our Heavenly Father, and that He is anxious to answer us. Keep trusting in Him, and He will always bless you. 

Teaching was slower this week, everyone is getting the flu. Cold weather has so many pros (: But really, we are grateful and love Prince George more than words can even describe! 

Joseph is still A+ as always. He is absolutely loving the Book of Mormon and loving being a member of the church. He even went out Home Teaching this past week (: Shannon and Ron said their first prayer as a family this week, and it was the sweetest and most special thing. They are so excited to make it a "regular thing" (: And my sweet Sisters up here in Prince George have just stolen my heart. They are the best missionaries you could ask for. 

I love each of ya'll so much and am grateful for all your e-mails! I hope this new year has been a good one! LOVE YOU SO MUCH, BUT GOD LOVES YOU MORE!

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

Pictures:

1) Zone Meeting with our fab Zone

2) Sista Sistas <3

3) Sister Tenney, Sister Poulson, Sister Cosman :'-)

4) s/o to my baby sister Hannah for the coolest necklace of my life

Week 70: just a quick message

Hey chickens (:

I am just going to go ahead and apologize for the lack of e-mail today. Here is a really quick update on all our friends, but just know things are wonderful here! It may or may not be -30 this next week, but we're grateful!

Kat and Coral are still progressing, and despite going back to school and New Years, kept their reading commitments. Unfortunately with the time change for our ward they are struggling now to come to church, but we know with these new fundamentals all we need to do is help them to understand the importance of church and the role it plays in their conversion. 

Joseph is doing STELLAR. We saw him again on Saturday and taught the restoration and the priesthood and he understands and loves every bit of it. He also has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday and understands a lot of it, and is excited to understand more of the things we talk about in church as he continues to read! Everyone in the ward is so excited to see how well he is doing and how much this really all means to him! 

This past week we were able teach so many new people (:

Shannon, Ron, and their daughter Allison, are friends with some of our members and actually had us over for dinner Saturday night. They are really excited to start learning and came to church on Sunday!

We also have Kathryn, WHO IS ABSOLUTELY DARLING. She is bffs with one of our members as well and has loved coming to church and is excited to start learning too!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Pictures:

1. Saying goodbye to 2016 by hitting my 16 month mark..

2/3. MLC with Sister Seiter ;-)

Week 69: New Year, still love Jesus Christ

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!

I can't believe it is already 2017, time literally flies by in the blink of any eye. Everyone always tells you that, but you never believe it until it actually happens.

This week has been another great week! It was a little bit crazy with transfer and flying down to Richmond to pick up Sister Poulson, but we are so grateful to have our new Sisters here! Joseph enjoyed his first Sunday of a new year, living a new life as a new member. He is doing so well and is eager to continue to learn every day!

We also have been teaching these two single mom bffs, Coral and Kat, (who we have yet to take a picture with because they "never look good that day"), but who are absolutely wonderful and have such a great desire to follow God. They both accepted baptismal dates for February 11, and we are excited to help them draw closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and the special opportunity I have had to be on my mission this entire past year. My mission means everything to me because my Savior means everything to me. How grateful I am for the life that He lived and continues to live. My amazing trainee has the most wonderful quote about the atonement that I'd love to share this week.

"We know that on some level Jesus experiences the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. it's our faith that he experienced everything- absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means Jesus knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer- how it was for your mother, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student-body election. He knows that moment when the brakes locked, and the car started to skid, He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana to Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. he experienced napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism... His last recorded words to his disciples were, 'And, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the World." (Matt 28:20) What does that mean? it means he understands your mother-pain when your five-year old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth-grader, when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Down's syndrome... He knows the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children who ever come are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. he's been there. He's been lower than all that."- Chieko N. Okazaki

And that is my testimony to each of you. That your savior Jesus Christ knows and loves you. He has descended below it all, and because he has, you don't have to. 

I love you all each so much, and pray that will this new year, that each of us will make a little bit more room for our Savior, that we will let him heal us and transform us into the people He needs us to be and the people that we want to be. I promise you it's worth it, and nothing brings more lasting joy than following our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love you all, and wish you the best that this new year has to bring! Let is change you, let Him change you. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Pictures:

1) Christmas Sunday with the FHE group

2) Christmas Sunday with all our amazing missionaries serving in the Prince George area

3) Sweet Sister Poulson. She is from Gilbert, Arizona and let's just say living in P.G is a lot of fun when you're both from really hot places :'-)