Week 43: Oh Canada

Our favorite Asian bakery we get after e-mailing on P-days!

Dear Family and Friends,

First before I forget apparently there is a weird mail strike going to be happening in Canada on July 1st and we have no idea how long that will last.... so if you plan on sending anything, we have been instructed to send things through FedEx or UPS or to the Point Roberts Address. 

PO Box 149

Point Roberts, WA 98281-0149 

Sorry for that inconvenience... this should be interesting. 

Sariah sent this cute onsie to her nephew, so in honor of
 Canadian Independence Day on 1 July  I thought I'd share this adorable  pic!

This past week we had Zone Conference and it was absolutely amazing. I just love President and Sister Burt and am eternally grateful that not only did God send me to British Columbia, but to them. President Burt shared an insane personal experience during his training of a time when, as the Young men's leader in the church at the time, he and some of the other leaders took the young men to some cave in which long story short, there was a flash flood and they were literally fighting for their lives, and for the lives of these 15 youth boys. The experience was just crazy, but was tied to the life that each of us lives. How we each go through challenges and trials and we feel completely in the dark, and sometimes something happens and we really think, we aren't going to make it, I can't do it. Well the only way back up out of the Cave was a small hole (the one they had shimmied down through) that was entirely filled with water. But they knew they had to make it. Their guide there with them (the spelunker is what they are called) had less faith, but after being instructed by president Burt and some of  the other leaders, and knowing just as well that that hole was the only way out, made his way through the tunnel. President Burt continued to relate this to several different things in our lives and on our missions but the question that was asked was: 

Are we willing to fight for our lives?

Each of us is fighting a different fight during our lives. We are faced with adversity each and every day and Satan is trying to win.

Are we really willing to keep our eyes focused on the Savior, and do everything we can to trust him and to fight for our lives?

I can't even explain the way that I felt as he told this story, but I know that God loves each of us and his "work and his glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." he wants us to be able to return to live with him someday. His plan is perfect. he knew we would face challenges and that we truly would have to fight for our lives, but he provided a Savior, Jesus Christ, to illuminate the way before us. His life and his teachings are truly the guide to peace in this life and joy in the eternities. I know that this life can be so hard, and we can be so overwhelmed and torn down by the things of the world, but as we keep our focus centered on Jesus Christ, as we pray, and read our scriptures, and go to church,and o all those things that He has asked us to do, we are built with the spiritual strength and armor that we need to fight against the temptations and challenges of the adversary.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Also, we just started teaching the cutest single dad and his daughter, Brianna. I will send an update next week and hopefully a picture too ;)

love always,

Sister Robertson

Service for Sister Howitt (:

Persian candy...

Week 42: Heyyo

Heyyo,

So fun fact, it is almost July and it rained pretty much everyday this last week and I wore 2 pairs of tights for about 77% of the week so that's fun. Lol really I love it, but I had totally forgotten that summer was even a thing until Sister Seiter pointed out that it is June now and in both our home towns its over 100 Degrees. Looks like I have been in Canada for too long ;)

Anyways, things are great! Sorry I haven't had loads of time to write these past couple of weeks but I did just want to send something out as tribute to all the dad's, and especially my dad for Father's Day. 

I know that each of us grows up in a variety of different circumstances. Some of us may have had a father, others who didn't, others who may had had a father biologically but he was never really more than that. But I'm grateful that no matter what our circumstance may be, that we have our Heavenly Father who loves and knows us perfectly. 

In my own life, I have been blessed to have a father who has striven to support me throughout the many phases of life. And I am especially grateful for not only meeting my physical and emotional needs, but for my spiritual needs as well. I am so grateful to my daddy for doing his best to teach me the ways of my Heavenly Father. For teaching me about sacrifice, about love, about laughter, about priorities, about self-less service. Many attributes in which our Heavenly Father posses. And yes, Heavenly Father has a sense of humor too. I am truly grateful to him, and for all the other male influences in my life who have striven to be righteous and faithful priesthood holders and who do what they can to reach out and care for God's children. 

Thank you daddy, for taking your responsibility and calling of being my earthy father seriously. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-002-earthly-father-heavenly-father?lang=eng

I pray that for those who may have not been blessed in the same circumstances will know more than anything that they are truly a child of God. I know that He loves and knows us, and that He will do anything that He can to bring us back to Him. 

"For he looketh down upon the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of their heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning." Alma 18:32

Our Heavenly Father knows us perfectly, and we each have the opportunity to choose to be who He needs us to be, so that we can be that better Earthy Father or Mother to those who are in need. 

I LOVE YOU ALL

Love always,

Sister Robertson 

I Love her!

This is Maliheh <3 She is from Iran and pretty much only speaks Farcy. She was baptized 1 month ago. 

Week 41: Dear home ❤

This past week has just been incredible. God is so good it's actually ridiculous. I feel so close to Him and to my Savior Jesus Christ. Things are always challenging, but they are always worth it. 

​Erin is a recent convert here in Port Moody. She is the greatest!

Sister Seiter just continues to amaze me, she is such a little rock star. And it's been cool to be with her and to reflect on where i was at in the beginning of my mission and my how things have changed. I am SO grateful for progression. 

This week I just wanted to share a quick video that many of you have probably seen. It came out last year in April, but it is absolutely one of my favorites. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng

I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves us enough to sacrifice his only begotten son. so that through him, we truly can endure and overcome every trial and challenge that we face in this life. I know that it is o n l y because of Him and His sacrifice, that we are able to find joy, that we are able to be cleansed from sin, that we can find victory over death, that we can be healed from any heartache, sorrow, or pain. I know He lives and He loves us. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see first hand how the atonement of Jesus Christ is working in others lives.

This morning I received an e-mail from Van and Thang. They are my sweet Vietnamese couple that I found and worked with in Surrey. I wanted to share a piece of their e-mail with you. 

Hi Sister Robertson,

How are you doing in Canada? How about your missionary works? Please remind us the name of the city you are in now?

We left Canada to return to Vietnam 2 weeks ago. At this moment we are staying in Thang's hometown named Son Tay that is 40 km from the center of Hanoi to the West and we are going to stay here for several months. Thang is still reading one page of the book of Mormon a day and I am also reading the Gospel Principles book.

We miss you very much. We hope we could see you again very soon and we also hope one day you can come to Vietnam to visit us. We will be very happy to welcome you in Vietnam.

We pray Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ bless you.

Bests,

Thang & Van

In church on Sunday one of the Elders in my ward gave a talk. In part of that talk he shared a story. For lack of time, I am going to summarize the story. The story starts out with two best friends in the pre-mortal existence waiting for their "call to earth". One receives his call to the United States in which he will have the opportunity to grow up in a family who knows and loves the gospel. His call letter includes several other opportunities he will have and be blessed with in result of living in an economically better off country. Him and his best friend rejoice. Minutes later, his best friend receives his "call to earth". He is told that he will face a lot of adversity throughout his life, due to poverty. He will not be born into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will be born in Costa Rica. Him and his friend mourn together. And the one promises the other that he will find him. 

We each have that same opportunity. There are people in this world who need us. They need what we have. They need a friend and they need Jesus Christ. I pray that each of us with look for opportunities to serve among our circles of influence. To be lifters and lovers of the Savior. 

Love always,

Sister Robertson

Happy to be in Port Moody :)

Its my 9 month-mark.
(I guess since Sariah left when her oldest sister was newly pregnant, and while she has been out on her mission, she has taught and met so many many pregnant and new mommy's - this silly pic is appropriate ;) That pillow is a little lumpy... she's been out for 9 months now, only 9 more to go!  Silly Sister Robertson)

Sister Chandler. We had exchanges with our STL's this past week. SO grateful for her!

Week 40: Port Moody

Hey ya'll <3

This week has been full of crazy adventures. We are the Port Moody Sisters but we actually live in Coquitlam, which is a really big city near Burnabee and Vancouver, so I'm just getting further and further into the lower main land. Sister Seiter is my new companion and she has been on her mission for 6 weeks! Man she is just the greatest. She is from Arizona and is as tall as me, which is quite the change! 

In Coquitlam we teach a lot of Asains and Iranians, and it has just dawned on me this past week how lucky I am. I may be serving in Canada, which is barely out of the states, but because of the diversity here, I have the opportunity to truly serve throughout the entire world. It is just incredible to see God's promise being fulfilled.

"And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."

D&C 133:37

There are so many countries who have limitations or have no access at all to learning about God and Jesus Christ, but what a tender mercy that through the process of being refugees they are given the opportunity to learn about their Savior and Redeemer. 

Sisters

 We had mini-missions this past week. That basically means that local youth ages 16+ have the opportunity to be with a set of missionaries for a weekend. They stay with us and get to experience the missionary schedule and teaching. Our sweet Sister, Sister Decapate, is actually 19, and already has her mission call to Birmingham, London. I know, close call to home right? She leaves in about a month. I am just so amazed by all the youth that came out across the mission for this mini-mission experience. they are so brave!

Sister Decapate, Sister Robertson and Sister Seiter

Mini Missionary Sister Decapate

Also, here is my new address for anyone wanting to send letters or packages (:

881 Herrmann St 

Coquitlam BC

V3C 6E7 Canada

Love always,

Sister Robertson