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.
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