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