Hey Family!
So this week was totally crazy. So transfers day rolls around and we drove down to Fishers and almost got in a wreck on the way there. Then I got paired up with one of the elders I came out with, Elder Simmons. We got double transferred down to North Vernon where they haven't had missionaries for 3 months. So I don't know if I told you or not but one of the investigators I was teaching in Fort Wayne got baptized on Saturday and President Collins permitted me to make the 3 hour drive back up there to baptize him, I will send pics later cause I forgot my camera. While we were in North Vernon we were staying with the spanish missionaries in Seymour, it was pretty cramped. So on Sunday we introduced ourselves over the pulpit cause they were having their testimony meeting this week because of General Conference. In every prayer at church they gave thanks that the missionaries were back in the area. I never really knew how much members appreciated us until I went there, it was one of the coolest feelings ever. So by this this time you may be asking yourself "why hasn't he given me his address yet?"
I will tell you. So Sunday night rolls around and we are planning for the next day and President Collins calls. We were like "What the?!" So we answer and he tells me to put it on speaker. He says "before you get to deeply entrenched in the work down there I'm gonna shake up your world a little bit, I need to emergency transfer both of you out of there and split you up and go fill the spots of 2 elders who just went home." So we accepted and we were freakin out cause it was 10 o'clock and we needed to pack everything up and take it to the media conference the next morning(which is why I didn't email yesterday, p-day got switched to today). So we stayed up til 3 packing and washing our clothes. We woke up at 5:30 to get all ready to leave. So we only got 2 and a half hours of sleep that night, it sucked. The media conference was a training on the new mormon.org website and the advertisements that are going to be happening such as billboards and commercials. It was awesome. You need to make a profile on there so you can refer your friends there! And Elder Evans of the first quorum of the Seventy was there and he was so intense. He rebuked us so hardcore on the relationship between a junior and senior companion. at the end he committed us to ask for referrals from everyone and he promised us that we would had more people to teach and that our baptisms would start increasing. It is so awesome when General authorities give us promised blessings for doing something because it always comes true. So I got put with Elder Thomas in Indy 2nd area. We asked for referrals from everybody last night and we got 3! Promises are so awesome! So this morning we went to the Lucas Oil stadium, which, if you know, is where the Colts play. The tour was pretty sweet, I took lots of pics. I was told the p-days here are pretty sweet cause the whole zone gets together and plays dodgeball. I am pretty stoked about that.
So that was my crazy week.
Address:
5825 Bywood dr. apt. E
Indianapolis, IN
46220
Love,
Elder Robertson

Tuesday, September 27, 2011
19 September 2011
Hey Mom,
So we got transfer calls this morning and I am getting transferred. I kind of have mixed feelings about it because I have gotten attached to the ward here and the investigators, but I would also like a change in scenery and a new companion, this one is starting to get on my nerves.
So Parker told me all about his new teachers and about how Mr. Gerig still remembers me, and I'm sure Dave Ware still remembers me too. They were definitely a great help to me and I told Parker that, and I told him accept any help from them that he can because they are very forgiving.
So I had one of the most tender moments of my life yesterday. So one of our investigators spoke at the Why I Believe fireside. This investigator is a little autistic but he is most definitely not retarded. He wrote out his testimony and he was going to read it to everybody, even though he can't read very well. So right before it is his turn to go up, he looks back at me and says, "Robertson, you have to come up there and help me". So I did. I felt as I am sure parents do when they help their children read things over the pulpit. After we sat down he looked back at me and said thank you. His forehead was a little sweaty cause I am sure he was super nervous. I love him more than anybody else I have met out here, if I could adopt somebody to be my brother, it would be him. If I don't get transferred too far away, I will get to baptize him this Saturday.
But the rest of this week has been filled with lots of finding activities which have been unsuccessful in getting new investigators. We have done lots of less active work during these 3 months I have been with Elder Empey. We have gotten 3 less-active members to come back to church, none of which are related to each other. One of them lives with a girlfriend. Another is married to a non-member who may quite possibly be interested in listening to us, we haven't tried to get him to sit in on the lessons yet but he is very friendly to us. The last one is gay and we are trying to help him over come that. I guess we just caught all of them at the right time in their lives and they were sufficiently prepared to come back to church. It has been so great to see them progress over this short time that we have met with them. Miracles are everywhere.
So that is pretty much all I have to report on right now but it has been a pretty good week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So we got transfer calls this morning and I am getting transferred. I kind of have mixed feelings about it because I have gotten attached to the ward here and the investigators, but I would also like a change in scenery and a new companion, this one is starting to get on my nerves.
So Parker told me all about his new teachers and about how Mr. Gerig still remembers me, and I'm sure Dave Ware still remembers me too. They were definitely a great help to me and I told Parker that, and I told him accept any help from them that he can because they are very forgiving.
So I had one of the most tender moments of my life yesterday. So one of our investigators spoke at the Why I Believe fireside. This investigator is a little autistic but he is most definitely not retarded. He wrote out his testimony and he was going to read it to everybody, even though he can't read very well. So right before it is his turn to go up, he looks back at me and says, "Robertson, you have to come up there and help me". So I did. I felt as I am sure parents do when they help their children read things over the pulpit. After we sat down he looked back at me and said thank you. His forehead was a little sweaty cause I am sure he was super nervous. I love him more than anybody else I have met out here, if I could adopt somebody to be my brother, it would be him. If I don't get transferred too far away, I will get to baptize him this Saturday.
But the rest of this week has been filled with lots of finding activities which have been unsuccessful in getting new investigators. We have done lots of less active work during these 3 months I have been with Elder Empey. We have gotten 3 less-active members to come back to church, none of which are related to each other. One of them lives with a girlfriend. Another is married to a non-member who may quite possibly be interested in listening to us, we haven't tried to get him to sit in on the lessons yet but he is very friendly to us. The last one is gay and we are trying to help him over come that. I guess we just caught all of them at the right time in their lives and they were sufficiently prepared to come back to church. It has been so great to see them progress over this short time that we have met with them. Miracles are everywhere.
So that is pretty much all I have to report on right now but it has been a pretty good week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
12 September 2011
Hey Everybody!
So right at this moment, there is a guy sitting in between three of us missionaries trying to disprove our church. Does he really think he will be able to do that with three youngish men who do this for a living? I asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon himself and he said no. Then I asked him how he really expected to discuss this with us intelligently when he hasn't even read what he is trying to disprove. But anyways.
So my week was good. I went on exchanges with the zone leaders on Friday. 2 out of 3 of our appointments fell through but we saw a miracle. As we were going through our back-up plans we went to a former investigators house to try and set up an appointment. Turns out she moved to Philadelphia. But, we got to help to young couple who had already brought in most of their belongings in their house. We took a lot of things up stairs for them, moved things around to organize them, we even got to rip out a carpet with them. As we were about to leave we got into a brief conversation about our church and our beliefs. We then set up a time to come back and teach them about the Book of Mormon (the appointment is tomorrow). It was just so cool that even though most of our appointments fell through and it looked like it was going to be sort of a drudgery day, we could find a miracle in the midst of it. I love my mission.
So we had a fun dinner appointment last night. For the spiritual thought we role-played with the individual family members different situations in which they could share the gospel and bear their testimonies. Having been out here we have heard just about every argument and we kinda just brought everything we have heard to the role-play. But it was fun though.
So those were the highlights of this week that I can remember anyways. This Saturday we are going to help the ward clean up a park, so that should be fun.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So right at this moment, there is a guy sitting in between three of us missionaries trying to disprove our church. Does he really think he will be able to do that with three youngish men who do this for a living? I asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon himself and he said no. Then I asked him how he really expected to discuss this with us intelligently when he hasn't even read what he is trying to disprove. But anyways.
So my week was good. I went on exchanges with the zone leaders on Friday. 2 out of 3 of our appointments fell through but we saw a miracle. As we were going through our back-up plans we went to a former investigators house to try and set up an appointment. Turns out she moved to Philadelphia. But, we got to help to young couple who had already brought in most of their belongings in their house. We took a lot of things up stairs for them, moved things around to organize them, we even got to rip out a carpet with them. As we were about to leave we got into a brief conversation about our church and our beliefs. We then set up a time to come back and teach them about the Book of Mormon (the appointment is tomorrow). It was just so cool that even though most of our appointments fell through and it looked like it was going to be sort of a drudgery day, we could find a miracle in the midst of it. I love my mission.
So we had a fun dinner appointment last night. For the spiritual thought we role-played with the individual family members different situations in which they could share the gospel and bear their testimonies. Having been out here we have heard just about every argument and we kinda just brought everything we have heard to the role-play. But it was fun though.
So those were the highlights of this week that I can remember anyways. This Saturday we are going to help the ward clean up a park, so that should be fun.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
6 September 2011
Hey!
So this week I turned the calendar to September and I saw my year mark on there and I was like "Oh my gosh!" I cannot believe it has come up this fast, it is unreal. Mom, I would answer your questions that you sent me in that letter, but I forgot to write them down in my planner again, my bad. I even thought about it this morning. Oh well.
So we had some heat this week, especially on Saturday(90). Then yesterday it was in the high 50's. I like the cold and all, but that change in temperature was way too dramatic and quick. It was chilly yesterday.
So we went on exchanges on Friday and I went to spanish land and we biked so much, it may have been the most I have biked in a single day out here. It was killer. I feel so left out when I go on spanish exchanges because I don't speak the language and I can't really contribute anything. But Elder Albers was nice enough to translate for me so I could teach a little bit in the lesson that we had. So his companion at district meeting gave his first training, and he isn't even a district leader yet, maybe he is preparing to. He did really great though.
That is all I can really remember about this week, nothing else really exciting happened. But yesterday there was a ward Labor Day picnic and we had a few less active members attend, that was pretty exciting.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So this week I turned the calendar to September and I saw my year mark on there and I was like "Oh my gosh!" I cannot believe it has come up this fast, it is unreal. Mom, I would answer your questions that you sent me in that letter, but I forgot to write them down in my planner again, my bad. I even thought about it this morning. Oh well.
So we had some heat this week, especially on Saturday(90). Then yesterday it was in the high 50's. I like the cold and all, but that change in temperature was way too dramatic and quick. It was chilly yesterday.
So we went on exchanges on Friday and I went to spanish land and we biked so much, it may have been the most I have biked in a single day out here. It was killer. I feel so left out when I go on spanish exchanges because I don't speak the language and I can't really contribute anything. But Elder Albers was nice enough to translate for me so I could teach a little bit in the lesson that we had. So his companion at district meeting gave his first training, and he isn't even a district leader yet, maybe he is preparing to. He did really great though.
That is all I can really remember about this week, nothing else really exciting happened. But yesterday there was a ward Labor Day picnic and we had a few less active members attend, that was pretty exciting.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
29 August 2011
Hey!
I figure even though nobody but my buddy Tyler sent me an email I will send you one anyways cause my week was sweet! (haha EME, you got on too early and I hadn't written...yet!!)
So first we had a zone conference in which a general authority came whose name is Elder Lynn G. Robbins. He a very intelligent man. He told us about many ways to find new investigators. He told us about what kind of missionaries we have to be. He talked about different and fun ways to mark scriptures. It was a lot of fun having him there and it was very inspiring to us missionaries to hear all that he had to say. He told us that just by entering our mission, he could tell that there was a spirit of obedience. Because he has been to missions where he could tell that there was disobedience going on. This truly is the best mission ever!
Then on Friday we had a lesson with a less-active member who hasn't been to church in about 25 years. He told us that he used to have a testimony back when he was about 17 but has since lost that because he hasn't been nourishing it, but he said that he wanted to get that back. So we commited him to do the things that would bring his testimony back, pray, read the scriptures, and come to church, the primary answers. I didn't know those things were so important until I came out here and taught everybody that that is how you gain a testimony. The primary knows whats up. He came to church on sunday and seemed to enjoy himself. He was sitting with a ward missionary during the priesthood meetings. He told the ward missionary that the reason why he came was because the missionaries challenged me and it was the right time of my life. That was so awesome to hear! Even if we aren't getting baptisms, we are still bringing people back into the church. The Lord sure does prepare people that you may not know of.
So that was my cool story of the week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
ps (So I asked EME about the families he's teaching and also, we had a friend go to IN and said there was a lot of obesity, so I asked him if he noticed that)I see obesity more than you know. One of the families we are working with are going to move to missouri. The other one kind of half dropped us. They cancelled our appointment which makes 2 weeks of cancelled appointments. They said that we don't need to keep setting up appointments because they are so busy with their kids being back in school, which is a very bogus excuse. But they said they are going to keep coming to church, it is the weirdest situation I have been in out here. Love You!!
22 August 2011
Hey!
This week was kind of slow. We had a lot of appointments set up at the beginning of the week but most of them fell through as per usual. But that is the life of a missionary, right? But over all the week was pretty decent. The highlight was our presidents interviews. President Collins told me that I have been ready to take on the responsibilities of a senior companion few a few transfers no but he didn't make me one because I needed to be with the companions that I have been with for some reason that is unknown to me. Elder Empey told me that he had been talking to President Collins for a little while now about me becoming senior companion and that now would be a good opportunity for me to start preparing myself to take on those extra responsibilities. So my companion and I are going to start switching off every other being senior companion for a week. Should be fun!
On thursday we will be having Zone Conference in Kokomo. Elder Lynn G. Robbins who spoke in this last General Conference will be there and everybody is excited to hear what he will say to us. I will be taking some notes down so I won't forget it!
But that is pretty much all that is going on out here right now. Sorry I don't have more to report, I will have more next week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
ps, President Collins told me that we prbably wouldn't be moving after all.
15 August 2011
Hey there,
So my week here was pretty sweet. The weather has been cooling down and it has never felt so good here. Although we have been having a few cancelled appointments but what else is new.
So remember that family I told you about last week? We took the advice that was given to us from the ward council and it turned out much better than was anticipated. So the wife started the lesson by telling us where we left off(which was talking about baptism). So the whole lesson was all about addressing that concern. We used Acts 19:1-6 and the wife got right on board for getting re-baptized. The husband still had hesitancy. We said that if he were to be baptized again he would be able to hold the priesthood and be able to call down protection and angels from heaven for his family. That got the wife pretty teary eyed caused she had dreams about how God would be using her husband. The husband was definitely softened by that lesson. Then on Sunday they all came to church, kids and all. The wife stayed in the primary the whole time with the youngest son cause he didn't want to be alone. But the husband stayed with us the entire time. After all three hours the husband said to us "I really enjoyed it, we will be back next week". He is progressing so well. And what made that day even better was that the lessons in Sunday school and in priesthood were about how families can be eternal and we got him a proclamation to the family.
We picked up another family as well this week. They aren't married and the woman has a son and the man has 2 daughters and a son. The woman is a less active member and her son was baptized a few months ago. We asked the husband why he was interested in the church and he told us that he was bored with the catholic church and that it was too repetitious, it was the same thing over and over again. We asked the oldest daughter(who is 13) if she liked going to church and she said no. That whole family came to church as well and we asked that daughter how she felt about church and she said "this is much better than my other church!"
We have been so blessed with prepared people lately it has been so awesome! We have been so busy its not even funny. So that was pretty much the exciting things for this week. President Collins emailed me and told me that he knows of my skills and talents and that he will be utilizing me. He will just have to wait till next transfer. We are going to be having president interviews tomorrow. We will be going on exchanges with the assistants on friday. We have a zone conference next week and Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the seventy will be joining us. We are just going to have a crazy few weeks ahead of us. I will tell you all about it when it happens.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So my week here was pretty sweet. The weather has been cooling down and it has never felt so good here. Although we have been having a few cancelled appointments but what else is new.
So remember that family I told you about last week? We took the advice that was given to us from the ward council and it turned out much better than was anticipated. So the wife started the lesson by telling us where we left off(which was talking about baptism). So the whole lesson was all about addressing that concern. We used Acts 19:1-6 and the wife got right on board for getting re-baptized. The husband still had hesitancy. We said that if he were to be baptized again he would be able to hold the priesthood and be able to call down protection and angels from heaven for his family. That got the wife pretty teary eyed caused she had dreams about how God would be using her husband. The husband was definitely softened by that lesson. Then on Sunday they all came to church, kids and all. The wife stayed in the primary the whole time with the youngest son cause he didn't want to be alone. But the husband stayed with us the entire time. After all three hours the husband said to us "I really enjoyed it, we will be back next week". He is progressing so well. And what made that day even better was that the lessons in Sunday school and in priesthood were about how families can be eternal and we got him a proclamation to the family.
We picked up another family as well this week. They aren't married and the woman has a son and the man has 2 daughters and a son. The woman is a less active member and her son was baptized a few months ago. We asked the husband why he was interested in the church and he told us that he was bored with the catholic church and that it was too repetitious, it was the same thing over and over again. We asked the oldest daughter(who is 13) if she liked going to church and she said no. That whole family came to church as well and we asked that daughter how she felt about church and she said "this is much better than my other church!"
We have been so blessed with prepared people lately it has been so awesome! We have been so busy its not even funny. So that was pretty much the exciting things for this week. President Collins emailed me and told me that he knows of my skills and talents and that he will be utilizing me. He will just have to wait till next transfer. We are going to be having president interviews tomorrow. We will be going on exchanges with the assistants on friday. We have a zone conference next week and Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the seventy will be joining us. We are just going to have a crazy few weeks ahead of us. I will tell you all about it when it happens.
Love,
Elder Robertson
8 August 2011
Hey There,
So this week was alright, there were a few appointments that fell through but the more solid investigators kept their appointments. We got the car back on Friday which was exciting and a huge relief. Although it would have been nice to have had it during the heat instead of this nice overcast weather that is semi Oregon-ish. I bought a suit from Goodwill a few weeks back and I had a member shorten the pant legs for me so that was cool. It is a sweet gray suit with criss cross lines on it, it is super awesome, I will take a picture in it one of these days.
So cool story of the week. We had a lesson with a new investigator couple who have 3 kids(ages:8, 5, 2). The wife has talked with missionaries before and has read the Book of Mormon all the way thru and believes every word of it, and she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The husband isn't quite as spiritual as she is but he does have a good relationship with God. We had a great Restoration lesson with them and it went very well up until the very end when we invited them to baptism when they knew that these things are true. They were relating very well to everything up until that point. They have been baptized before and they think that if they are baptized again they will be going against their first baptism. So they got spooked a little when we brought up baptism but they are still willing to meet with us which is a huge relief. So we brought this up to the Ward Council and the first councilor of the bishopric told us to share with them Acts 19. That is where some saints were baptized unto John's baptism, so Peter or Paul(I can't remember who) baptizes them again and gives them the Holy Ghost. He told us to tell them their first baptism was by faith, this one will be by authority. So we are going back on Wednesday and we will bring this up to them and I will let you know how it goes. There is my story.
So here is the news you have been waiting for. I am not being transferred! I am staying with Elder Empey another transfer. This was a big surprise to me, I didn't think I was going to stay, I thought if I did stay I would train here but neither of those things happened which is okay with me. This is going to be my first area that I stay 6 months in. That's half a year! Crazy! I definitely knows how he feels, how long has he been out by the way?
One of the Zone Leaders is going home today and his companion is going to be stuck with us until he goes to transfers which will be fun. I don't know if you remember me telling you that my district leader down in Bloomington's was Elder Roberts, but he is my Zone Leader now. Pretty cool.
Love
Elder Robertson
So this week was alright, there were a few appointments that fell through but the more solid investigators kept their appointments. We got the car back on Friday which was exciting and a huge relief. Although it would have been nice to have had it during the heat instead of this nice overcast weather that is semi Oregon-ish. I bought a suit from Goodwill a few weeks back and I had a member shorten the pant legs for me so that was cool. It is a sweet gray suit with criss cross lines on it, it is super awesome, I will take a picture in it one of these days.
So cool story of the week. We had a lesson with a new investigator couple who have 3 kids(ages:8, 5, 2). The wife has talked with missionaries before and has read the Book of Mormon all the way thru and believes every word of it, and she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The husband isn't quite as spiritual as she is but he does have a good relationship with God. We had a great Restoration lesson with them and it went very well up until the very end when we invited them to baptism when they knew that these things are true. They were relating very well to everything up until that point. They have been baptized before and they think that if they are baptized again they will be going against their first baptism. So they got spooked a little when we brought up baptism but they are still willing to meet with us which is a huge relief. So we brought this up to the Ward Council and the first councilor of the bishopric told us to share with them Acts 19. That is where some saints were baptized unto John's baptism, so Peter or Paul(I can't remember who) baptizes them again and gives them the Holy Ghost. He told us to tell them their first baptism was by faith, this one will be by authority. So we are going back on Wednesday and we will bring this up to them and I will let you know how it goes. There is my story.
So here is the news you have been waiting for. I am not being transferred! I am staying with Elder Empey another transfer. This was a big surprise to me, I didn't think I was going to stay, I thought if I did stay I would train here but neither of those things happened which is okay with me. This is going to be my first area that I stay 6 months in. That's half a year! Crazy! I definitely knows how he feels, how long has he been out by the way?
One of the Zone Leaders is going home today and his companion is going to be stuck with us until he goes to transfers which will be fun. I don't know if you remember me telling you that my district leader down in Bloomington's was Elder Roberts, but he is my Zone Leader now. Pretty cool.
Love
Elder Robertson
1 August 2011
Hey Mom,
This week we didn't really get much storms, just a little bit of rain, it didn't even come down very hard. I have been getting super sweaty since we gave the car to the spanish elders on friday. I cannot tell you how tired I am of getting so hot and soaked with sweat, I can't wait for the cooler weather. But it sounds like you guys had fun at the beach and will have more fun at the beach this friday.
Nothing really exciting happened this week, most of our appointments fell through. Typical missionary work. But this week should be different, we have lots of appointments set up. But we still had a good time carrying out the work regardless of the setbacks.
(I asked him why they are moving out of the garage apt.): It is pretty warm in there, we sweat without moving at all. It is really tiny. That is all I really think the reasons are.
Love,
Elder Robertson
This week we didn't really get much storms, just a little bit of rain, it didn't even come down very hard. I have been getting super sweaty since we gave the car to the spanish elders on friday. I cannot tell you how tired I am of getting so hot and soaked with sweat, I can't wait for the cooler weather. But it sounds like you guys had fun at the beach and will have more fun at the beach this friday.
Nothing really exciting happened this week, most of our appointments fell through. Typical missionary work. But this week should be different, we have lots of appointments set up. But we still had a good time carrying out the work regardless of the setbacks.
(I asked him why they are moving out of the garage apt.): It is pretty warm in there, we sweat without moving at all. It is really tiny. That is all I really think the reasons are.
Love,
Elder Robertson
25 July 2011
Dear Mom,
This week has been the sweatiest of my entire life by far. We were on bikes from last friday until the one that just happened. Our mission president told us to not be outside for more than an hour at a time. So we went inside every so often to cool off. I don't think I have been losing any weight that I can tell, I can't tell for sure cause we don't have a scale. The heat wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for this dumb humidity. My whole body was almost soaked in sweat this entire last week, and I hate sweating.
I hope bro. Brown doesn't lose anything, he will be in my prayers. Give me an update on him if you can next week. That is pretty crazy that Katie is getting married so soon, I knew it was going to happen, it was just a matter of time. I usually just sleep in my shorts. Can't wait for the box! All I can remember about this week was that it was hot and sweaty the entire time, we didn't really have anything special happen. But I did run into the Kennedy's (from Columbia City) at a stake picnic we had to remember the pioneers. They definetely remember that I was a log roller and that I ate more than any missionary than they have ever seen. It was a lot of fun to see them again. I had a watermelon eating contest with a few other elders in the zone and I won, that was pretty exciting. Bro. Kennedy thought I was going to win too! So that is pretty much they exciting things that happened.
Love,
Elder Robertson
I let EME know the weather while we were on together and I thought I'd post it, so he can remember!
Good news!! I just tracked your package and it is out for delivery so you will get it today!!! I'm so excited for you!!!!! Your mom must really love you or something!!!
So here is your weather forecast:
m, 88
t,91
w, 92
th, 94 t storms
f, 90, t storms
s, 89
s, 88
18 July 2011
Dear Mom,
Sounds like your week has been packed. Definitely send me pictures of that stuff. The heat sucks really bad, I would much rather be freezing cold, I hate sweating. Yes I still have to ride a bike in this weather. I am trying to drink as much water as I can but I run out a lot of times cause we don't stop by the apartment unless we are on break. Living in this garage sucks, it is almost as hot inside as it is outside. We have a ceiling fan and two little ones that don't help all that much.
So my week flew by. I can't believe it is monday again already. We had a lot of scheduled lessons but about half of them fell through, that's missionary life for you! We got a sweet new investigator who lived a life a lot like the prodigal son, he has been in prison a couple times and he is starting to turn his life around. We taught him the restoration and at the end he said "now, you know I'm going to have to pray about this right?" We were like "please do!"
We have ridden our bikes a lot since we gave the car away on friday and we will be riding a lot until then as well. When I get home I am probably not going to ride a bike again unless I need to or if I want to do it for fun. I sure wish we had a full time car, it would make working a whole lot easier and we wouldn't sweat as much. So my week has been very busy but nothing really exciting to report.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Ever since my new companion came in here we have been going over to the church to play basketball and a bunch of other stuff. So we have been doing fun things for a few weeks now.
Sounds like your week has been packed. Definitely send me pictures of that stuff. The heat sucks really bad, I would much rather be freezing cold, I hate sweating. Yes I still have to ride a bike in this weather. I am trying to drink as much water as I can but I run out a lot of times cause we don't stop by the apartment unless we are on break. Living in this garage sucks, it is almost as hot inside as it is outside. We have a ceiling fan and two little ones that don't help all that much.
So my week flew by. I can't believe it is monday again already. We had a lot of scheduled lessons but about half of them fell through, that's missionary life for you! We got a sweet new investigator who lived a life a lot like the prodigal son, he has been in prison a couple times and he is starting to turn his life around. We taught him the restoration and at the end he said "now, you know I'm going to have to pray about this right?" We were like "please do!"
We have ridden our bikes a lot since we gave the car away on friday and we will be riding a lot until then as well. When I get home I am probably not going to ride a bike again unless I need to or if I want to do it for fun. I sure wish we had a full time car, it would make working a whole lot easier and we wouldn't sweat as much. So my week has been very busy but nothing really exciting to report.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Ever since my new companion came in here we have been going over to the church to play basketball and a bunch of other stuff. So we have been doing fun things for a few weeks now.
11 July 2011
Hello,
So, funny story, we went to go try by somebody yesterday and we talked to him for a little while and then we walked away. We were walking by somebodies house who we used to teach and then we saw her walking toward us on the sidewalk. When she got close enough we saw that she had some cocaine still on her nose!! Crazy lady drug addict!! Another time we were tracting and we walked up to this black guy who looked a lot like lil wayne with dreads and everything. As he was walking toward us i spied a pistol tucked into his shorts!! We in the GHETTO!! It is a good thing I am a missionary, cause if I wasn't I probably wouldn't last very long around here. Oh, mission experiences. It's a good thing I am a missionary otherwise I probably wouldn't last too long where I am right now.
So this week we commited Cory and Serena to get married. We are focusing on getting them married before we start for baptism. They didn't come to church like they said they would. We had a lesson with Kathy Hagan that was super awesome. We taught the restoration and the spirit was so thick you could cut it with a knife. We commited her to pray specifically about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and about coming to church. She came to church so something good must have came from that lesson. So those were pretty much the exciting things that happened this week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So, funny story, we went to go try by somebody yesterday and we talked to him for a little while and then we walked away. We were walking by somebodies house who we used to teach and then we saw her walking toward us on the sidewalk. When she got close enough we saw that she had some cocaine still on her nose!! Crazy lady drug addict!! Another time we were tracting and we walked up to this black guy who looked a lot like lil wayne with dreads and everything. As he was walking toward us i spied a pistol tucked into his shorts!! We in the GHETTO!! It is a good thing I am a missionary, cause if I wasn't I probably wouldn't last very long around here. Oh, mission experiences. It's a good thing I am a missionary otherwise I probably wouldn't last too long where I am right now.
So this week we commited Cory and Serena to get married. We are focusing on getting them married before we start for baptism. They didn't come to church like they said they would. We had a lesson with Kathy Hagan that was super awesome. We taught the restoration and the spirit was so thick you could cut it with a knife. We commited her to pray specifically about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and about coming to church. She came to church so something good must have came from that lesson. So those were pretty much the exciting things that happened this week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
5 July 2011
Hi Mom,
My 4th of July was pretty fun. We had a 4th of July Breakfast at the church with the ward which was fun. Then we went home and cleaned a little bit and I cut my hair. Then we went to the church again to play basketball and soccer with the zone leaders and the spanish elders. I am so sore from that, I haven't done anything that fast paced in a long time. The reason why I had to be with the zone leaders last week was because my companion left on monday so I had to be with somebody until transfers on wednesday. Then we went to the Appel's for Cecilia's birthday and for dinner, that was pretty fun. So that was my 4th of July here. We didn't see any fireworks.
I am happy to hear that you all had a great time in Utah. I am not sure how I feel about you potentially moving there. But when my mission is finished, no matter where the rest of my family is, my plane is taking me to Oregon.
My new companions name is Elder Empey. He is my District leader, which means I am still a junior companion. But that doesn't bother me one bit. I love my new companion and he is from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He went to BYU Idaho before he came out here. There is also another Elder that was really cool who is now going to Rexburg. His name is Jack Carskaddon. I don't know if I spelled his last name right but he was really awesome.
A few people from my MTC district are training right now which is super crazy. So that is pretty much all that has gone on since I talked to you last.
Love,
Elder Robertson
My 4th of July was pretty fun. We had a 4th of July Breakfast at the church with the ward which was fun. Then we went home and cleaned a little bit and I cut my hair. Then we went to the church again to play basketball and soccer with the zone leaders and the spanish elders. I am so sore from that, I haven't done anything that fast paced in a long time. The reason why I had to be with the zone leaders last week was because my companion left on monday so I had to be with somebody until transfers on wednesday. Then we went to the Appel's for Cecilia's birthday and for dinner, that was pretty fun. So that was my 4th of July here. We didn't see any fireworks.
I am happy to hear that you all had a great time in Utah. I am not sure how I feel about you potentially moving there. But when my mission is finished, no matter where the rest of my family is, my plane is taking me to Oregon.
My new companions name is Elder Empey. He is my District leader, which means I am still a junior companion. But that doesn't bother me one bit. I love my new companion and he is from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He went to BYU Idaho before he came out here. There is also another Elder that was really cool who is now going to Rexburg. His name is Jack Carskaddon. I don't know if I spelled his last name right but he was really awesome.
A few people from my MTC district are training right now which is super crazy. So that is pretty much all that has gone on since I talked to you last.
Love,
Elder Robertson
27 June 2001
Hi Mom,
So I just emailed Parker and wished him a Happy Birthday. I sent a box home on friday with a present in there for Parker, a bunch of clothes that I don't need, a tie for Mitchell, and my sunglasses which are for Mitchell's B-Day and I put them in my beenie. I want you to open the box and not them. But the clothes in the box anybody can wear.
I haven't gotten a new calling and I am not getting transferred. I get to go with the zone leaders for the next few days until transfers. I don't know if I will go senior companion or not yet, I will find out at transfers. I am just happy I'm not getting transferred, it would have been really sucky for the area if I had been.
So you remember the Appel's? We had dinner with them this week and they have a little boy named Jaxon who liked to beat up on me. It seems like a lot of kids in this ward like to beat me up. Especially this little deaf girl who totally has it out for me. We get to have dinner with the Appels again on the 4th of July which is Cecilia's birthday (their oldest daughter). The weather has been a lot like Oregon this past week. Overcast pretty the entire week, and it hasn't really been raining, just misting. Indiana has really weird weather.
This week we had 6 investigators at church which is a new record for me! We have been really blessed with people to teach the gospel to lately. So today Elder Goodwin drives down to the mission home and then flies home in the morning. He is getting butterflies in his tummy and is really nervous. He has a girl waiting for him back home and she is really nervous too. They will probably get married pretty quick after he gets home.
So that is pretty much it for this week. I love you.
Elder Robertson
So I just emailed Parker and wished him a Happy Birthday. I sent a box home on friday with a present in there for Parker, a bunch of clothes that I don't need, a tie for Mitchell, and my sunglasses which are for Mitchell's B-Day and I put them in my beenie. I want you to open the box and not them. But the clothes in the box anybody can wear.
I haven't gotten a new calling and I am not getting transferred. I get to go with the zone leaders for the next few days until transfers. I don't know if I will go senior companion or not yet, I will find out at transfers. I am just happy I'm not getting transferred, it would have been really sucky for the area if I had been.
So you remember the Appel's? We had dinner with them this week and they have a little boy named Jaxon who liked to beat up on me. It seems like a lot of kids in this ward like to beat me up. Especially this little deaf girl who totally has it out for me. We get to have dinner with the Appels again on the 4th of July which is Cecilia's birthday (their oldest daughter). The weather has been a lot like Oregon this past week. Overcast pretty the entire week, and it hasn't really been raining, just misting. Indiana has really weird weather.
This week we had 6 investigators at church which is a new record for me! We have been really blessed with people to teach the gospel to lately. So today Elder Goodwin drives down to the mission home and then flies home in the morning. He is getting butterflies in his tummy and is really nervous. He has a girl waiting for him back home and she is really nervous too. They will probably get married pretty quick after he gets home.
So that is pretty much it for this week. I love you.
Elder Robertson
20 June 2011
Hola Mi Familia,
This week we didn't have the car so we rode our bikes so much this week. I am so exhausted from bikes, but at least we get the car this week. We had Presidents interviews which was cool. President Collins pretty much told me that I was going senior companion this next transfer. Although he didn't flat out say it, he hinted pretty heavily toward it. I am about to have a lot more responsibility. I am going to have to be the driving force in all aspects. I am doing my best to step it up so I can be a good example to the companion I will be getting in a week.
I had some funny experiences last night though. On our way back home we saw a guy pushing a shopping cart down the sidewalk with something on fire in it. Fireflies came out last night! It was so exciting! One of these nights I am going to catch a few in a jar.
Those were pretty much the only exciting things this week. Like I said, it was a slow week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
PS
So I got aunt suzy's package from disneyland a little while ago but I forgot to tell you last week. I did get the shirts and it has been nice not wearing the same shirts for a few days in a row. I got Nancy's thing this week and it has been nice to use, I will send her a letter today. I can't think of anything I want from Bruce's, except for taffy. Last week we had to go to lunch with one of the members way downtown because he has a couple co-workers that used to have the missionaries out to lunch with them and the member.
Love,
Elder Robertson
This week we didn't have the car so we rode our bikes so much this week. I am so exhausted from bikes, but at least we get the car this week. We had Presidents interviews which was cool. President Collins pretty much told me that I was going senior companion this next transfer. Although he didn't flat out say it, he hinted pretty heavily toward it. I am about to have a lot more responsibility. I am going to have to be the driving force in all aspects. I am doing my best to step it up so I can be a good example to the companion I will be getting in a week.
I had some funny experiences last night though. On our way back home we saw a guy pushing a shopping cart down the sidewalk with something on fire in it. Fireflies came out last night! It was so exciting! One of these nights I am going to catch a few in a jar.
Those were pretty much the only exciting things this week. Like I said, it was a slow week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
PS
So I got aunt suzy's package from disneyland a little while ago but I forgot to tell you last week. I did get the shirts and it has been nice not wearing the same shirts for a few days in a row. I got Nancy's thing this week and it has been nice to use, I will send her a letter today. I can't think of anything I want from Bruce's, except for taffy. Last week we had to go to lunch with one of the members way downtown because he has a couple co-workers that used to have the missionaries out to lunch with them and the member.
Love,
Elder Robertson
13 June 2011
Hey!
This week was great! We had 5 investigators at church yesterday! It was so awesome! I got a call a little late from President and Sister Collins wishing me happy birthday, they thought I was turning 21.
Kevin Hagan's son died on thursday and we will be attending the funeral on tuesday. A few weeks ago, before Kevin's baptism, we showed him Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration and it really hit him hard. We called him a couple days later to get his thoughts on it and he told us that he doesn't think any less should be expected of us. I think he knew after he had watched that movie that some huge trials would be awaiting him. He was right. But he is doing okay now. He is working towards getting the priesthood and going to the temple so he can baptize his son.
We had some more thunder storms this week, shocker. No pun intended. It got really hot this week too, but now it is starting to cool down, we had to put our jackets on today. So that was my week pretty much.
Love,
Elder Robertson
This week was great! We had 5 investigators at church yesterday! It was so awesome! I got a call a little late from President and Sister Collins wishing me happy birthday, they thought I was turning 21.
Kevin Hagan's son died on thursday and we will be attending the funeral on tuesday. A few weeks ago, before Kevin's baptism, we showed him Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration and it really hit him hard. We called him a couple days later to get his thoughts on it and he told us that he doesn't think any less should be expected of us. I think he knew after he had watched that movie that some huge trials would be awaiting him. He was right. But he is doing okay now. He is working towards getting the priesthood and going to the temple so he can baptize his son.
We had some more thunder storms this week, shocker. No pun intended. It got really hot this week too, but now it is starting to cool down, we had to put our jackets on today. So that was my week pretty much.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Friday, June 10, 2011
6 June 2011
Hey Mom,
My birthday was awesome!! I love the new pen, scriptures, twinkies, and most of all, the pictures. I'm glad you sent a picture of me logrolling, I finally get to show what it looks like to people! I loved the picture of Ruger too, I miss playing with him and laying on the couch with him. The picture of my friends holding the paper is awesome, even though I don't know 3 out of 7 of them. The picture of you guys with my shirts on was pretty sweet too, it only took me a few seconds to notice you had my shirts on too. I thought it was really cool that you told the Appels that it was my birthday, her and 2 of her daughters came up to me and wished me a happy birthday at church, it was pretty sweet. We got to meet Earl the Parrot at dinner, he is a big noisy Maccaw (I don't know how to spell that). It was a really good birthday overall.
It has been so hot here the past few days! I thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion on Saturday, that was probably the most I have ever sweat my entire life. On the bright side though, I'm starting to get pretty tan, my legs are pretty white though. My teaching skills are getting better, I'm still doing a lot of fine tuning, but I know that will be happening my entire mission. There is always room for improvement. President Collins sent me an email like he does every week, in it he informed me that Elder Goodwin will be leaving soon (which I already knew), then he told me he would be needing my skills and abilities. Sounds like I might be getting some kind of leadership position soon, scary! Hopefully I will be able to step up to the challenge. I'm not too scared though, I'm usually able to step up and take the lead.
Well thanks again for everything that you sent me and all that you do for me.
Love,
Elder Robertson
My birthday was awesome!! I love the new pen, scriptures, twinkies, and most of all, the pictures. I'm glad you sent a picture of me logrolling, I finally get to show what it looks like to people! I loved the picture of Ruger too, I miss playing with him and laying on the couch with him. The picture of my friends holding the paper is awesome, even though I don't know 3 out of 7 of them. The picture of you guys with my shirts on was pretty sweet too, it only took me a few seconds to notice you had my shirts on too. I thought it was really cool that you told the Appels that it was my birthday, her and 2 of her daughters came up to me and wished me a happy birthday at church, it was pretty sweet. We got to meet Earl the Parrot at dinner, he is a big noisy Maccaw (I don't know how to spell that). It was a really good birthday overall.
It has been so hot here the past few days! I thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion on Saturday, that was probably the most I have ever sweat my entire life. On the bright side though, I'm starting to get pretty tan, my legs are pretty white though. My teaching skills are getting better, I'm still doing a lot of fine tuning, but I know that will be happening my entire mission. There is always room for improvement. President Collins sent me an email like he does every week, in it he informed me that Elder Goodwin will be leaving soon (which I already knew), then he told me he would be needing my skills and abilities. Sounds like I might be getting some kind of leadership position soon, scary! Hopefully I will be able to step up to the challenge. I'm not too scared though, I'm usually able to step up and take the lead.
Well thanks again for everything that you sent me and all that you do for me.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Thursday, June 2, 2011
31 May 2011
Hi Mom,
Yeah, we kinda had a tornado warning in our county. It was the worst storm I has ever been in by far. Not to scare you or anything. But it was pretty cool, every time we went into an appointment, it started raining, when we came back out, it stopped, The Lord really will take care of his servants. Well when we got the tornado warning we were in a less-active's home and she had the TV on and the warning came on, but our county wasn't on it. The second time the warning came on our county was on it. Now I kinda want to see a tornado in person, but when I saw our county on the tornado warning, I got a really bad feeling in my stomach. I was kinda scared. It rained so hard that day, more than I think I have ever experienced, and it was off and on. Luckily the tornados avoided Fort Wayne, but we still had a lot of rain and wind up here
So I told a lot more stuff to Dad because he was the first email that I opened this week, so I will forward that message to you, cause there was some cool stuff that happened.
So we might have a cool prep day today. We are going to learn some self defense from a member who is coming back to activity and is a cage fighter. Should be fun.
Love,
Elder Robertson
BTW I don't think I have sweat so much in my entire life than I did yesterday. There is nothing like this humidity. It was rediculous.
Hey Dad,
But on Preparation Days we could probably go to one of those festivals you were talking about, maybe we could walk around on a regular day and just talk to people. That is a great idea, I'll bring it up with my companion. Maybe we could do like a district blitz where we have our district go there at the same time to get more people talked to at once. That would be awesome!
Well Now that Kevin Hagan has been baptized, which was our last solid investigator, we have run out of investigators that will have us over on a regular basis. But on the bright side, we are teaching Kevin's wife, Kathy, so hopefully she will do the things we ask her this time around. So far she has started reading where the Savior comes to the Nephites like we asked her, so that was good. Earlier this week we had a lesson with a Seventh Day Adventist pastor. The lesson went well until the very end when they brought the saturday-sabbath thing. It was pretty dumb. Then just yesterday we had a lesson with an apostolic preacher which wasn't planned. Him, his wife, and his daughter were very nice to us. We gave them a Book of Mormon and they said they would read it. So I know it sounds like a long shot but I think something good might come out of that.
We got to have President Collins at our sacrament meeting yesterday. He gave a great talk during sacrament meeting about member missionary work and he gave great training during the third hour on member missionary work to the adults where he kinda smacked down on some things which was pretty awesome. He and Kevin connected instantly. They were both in the military and apparently they have a lot in common. President Collins made a great impression on Kevin. During the Gospel Principles class President Collins leaned over to me and asked how long Kevin has been a member, I told him 1 week. He said, "he's gonna be good". He sure knows how to call them when he sees them.
So that was my week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Monday, May 23, 2011
23 May 2011
Hey there,
So my week was good and it sounds like your was too. Well there was one bad thing. So you remember our recent convert David Bonbrake that we baptized a few weeks ago? Well we had an appointment set up to go see him in the afternoon a few days ago and everything before hand fell through so we thought we would go over a little early. So we drove over there and much to our surprise we saw him on his neighbors porch smoking. If you want to feel let down like never before, watch your recent convert smoke, that will do it. It was definitely inspired though, cause if we had not caught him, he would never have told anybody. So now he is meeting with the bishop, and hopefully that will fix the problem.
Kevin Hagan's baptism went fantastic! Elder Goodwin baptized him and I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. In my talk I read the words to hymn number 143, which I think really meant a lot to him. It was the first time in Elder Goodwin's 23 months that he had baptized somebody on his mission, and he was nervous. He said "it's supposed to be the members job to baptized people". And I said "not when they ask us to do it". Brother Hagan was confirmed a member of the church yesterday and he said that it was really powerful. And his wife Kathy surprised everybody when she showed up. It was the first time she came to church and she stayed for all 3 hours. So hopefully she will keep coming back for more.
Last night we had a sweet awesome thunder and lightning storm with heavy rain, and we got to ride our bikes through it. You haven't experienced a thunder and lightning storm until you have been in one in Indiana. When there was lightning, it lit up the whole sky, it is beautiful. The thunder was so loud. Before the storm hit it was nice and warm. When it started rolling in, the temperature drastically changed and cooled down. We were soaked head to toe by the time we got back to the apartment. It was a good experience.
We were tracting in a trailer park this week and this one lady was like "it is illegal to solicit in here". And said what we always do, which is "we aren't solicitors". So we walked off her porch and she followed us down and she said she was calling the cops. She bluffed. We waited around and no police showed up. So that was my week. Hope everybody's was just as eventful as mine.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So my week was good and it sounds like your was too. Well there was one bad thing. So you remember our recent convert David Bonbrake that we baptized a few weeks ago? Well we had an appointment set up to go see him in the afternoon a few days ago and everything before hand fell through so we thought we would go over a little early. So we drove over there and much to our surprise we saw him on his neighbors porch smoking. If you want to feel let down like never before, watch your recent convert smoke, that will do it. It was definitely inspired though, cause if we had not caught him, he would never have told anybody. So now he is meeting with the bishop, and hopefully that will fix the problem.
Kevin Hagan's baptism went fantastic! Elder Goodwin baptized him and I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. In my talk I read the words to hymn number 143, which I think really meant a lot to him. It was the first time in Elder Goodwin's 23 months that he had baptized somebody on his mission, and he was nervous. He said "it's supposed to be the members job to baptized people". And I said "not when they ask us to do it". Brother Hagan was confirmed a member of the church yesterday and he said that it was really powerful. And his wife Kathy surprised everybody when she showed up. It was the first time she came to church and she stayed for all 3 hours. So hopefully she will keep coming back for more.
Last night we had a sweet awesome thunder and lightning storm with heavy rain, and we got to ride our bikes through it. You haven't experienced a thunder and lightning storm until you have been in one in Indiana. When there was lightning, it lit up the whole sky, it is beautiful. The thunder was so loud. Before the storm hit it was nice and warm. When it started rolling in, the temperature drastically changed and cooled down. We were soaked head to toe by the time we got back to the apartment. It was a good experience.
We were tracting in a trailer park this week and this one lady was like "it is illegal to solicit in here". And said what we always do, which is "we aren't solicitors". So we walked off her porch and she followed us down and she said she was calling the cops. She bluffed. We waited around and no police showed up. So that was my week. Hope everybody's was just as eventful as mine.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Monday, May 16, 2011
16 May 2011
Hey!
We had a great Stake Conference yesterday. We had a little meeting for investigators last night called "Why I Believe". It was great, Kevin Hagan(our investigator who is getting baptized this Saturday) bore his testimony and the Spirit was so strong there. The stake president talked about the importance of 1 while reading out of Luke 15, which is the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and the prodigal son. I encourage you to read that chapter and figure out what was lost, how it was lost, how it was found, and the ratio of how many were lost and found compared to the total number of items in the parable.
So I went on an exchange this week and one of the spanish missionaries came to my area with me. We had a lesson with a less-active member who is a 22 year old girl who has 2 kids and is living with a guy and she isn't married, that seems to be the norm around here. So we brought with us a member who has recently been brought back to activity. It was a great lesson. Bro. Silvers(the member we brought with us) said something pretty funny. We were talking about the Restoration and about Joseph Smith and bro. Silvers said that Jesus baptized Joseph Smith. We were like woah, back up, John the Baptist gave the authority to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and they baptized each other. True and funny story. That just goes to show you that you don't need to know every detail to know that the church is true, that is a great lesson that I learned and I will never forget it.
So I'm sure everybody is wondering if I or my companion are getting transferred on Wednesday. Well neither of us are being transferred!! I finally get to be with a companion more than 1 transfer, and it is his last transfer before his finishes his mission. I am just so happy that I get to be the last missionary to serve with Elder Goodwin. He is a great example to me and a great tool in the Lord's hands.
Love,
Elder Robertson
We had a great Stake Conference yesterday. We had a little meeting for investigators last night called "Why I Believe". It was great, Kevin Hagan(our investigator who is getting baptized this Saturday) bore his testimony and the Spirit was so strong there. The stake president talked about the importance of 1 while reading out of Luke 15, which is the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and the prodigal son. I encourage you to read that chapter and figure out what was lost, how it was lost, how it was found, and the ratio of how many were lost and found compared to the total number of items in the parable.
So I went on an exchange this week and one of the spanish missionaries came to my area with me. We had a lesson with a less-active member who is a 22 year old girl who has 2 kids and is living with a guy and she isn't married, that seems to be the norm around here. So we brought with us a member who has recently been brought back to activity. It was a great lesson. Bro. Silvers(the member we brought with us) said something pretty funny. We were talking about the Restoration and about Joseph Smith and bro. Silvers said that Jesus baptized Joseph Smith. We were like woah, back up, John the Baptist gave the authority to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and they baptized each other. True and funny story. That just goes to show you that you don't need to know every detail to know that the church is true, that is a great lesson that I learned and I will never forget it.
So I'm sure everybody is wondering if I or my companion are getting transferred on Wednesday. Well neither of us are being transferred!! I finally get to be with a companion more than 1 transfer, and it is his last transfer before his finishes his mission. I am just so happy that I get to be the last missionary to serve with Elder Goodwin. He is a great example to me and a great tool in the Lord's hands.
Love,
Elder Robertson
9 May 2011
Hey,
Well I don't have much to say after talking to everybody yesterday. It was so weird to hear Mitchell and Parker's voices. They sound so much different than the last time I heard them. Parker was talking about getting a job when he turned 16 and I was just thinking that it would be so weird to see Parker with a job. When I talked to Hailey I asked her if she was gonna get married before I got home and she was like "don't count on it". It's going to be really funny when she gets married before I get home. Well it looks like next P-Day will be pretty fun cause the member that we live with said that he would take us out to the driving range so we could hit some golf balls. Should be pretty fun. Well that is pretty much all I got this week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Well I don't have much to say after talking to everybody yesterday. It was so weird to hear Mitchell and Parker's voices. They sound so much different than the last time I heard them. Parker was talking about getting a job when he turned 16 and I was just thinking that it would be so weird to see Parker with a job. When I talked to Hailey I asked her if she was gonna get married before I got home and she was like "don't count on it". It's going to be really funny when she gets married before I get home. Well it looks like next P-Day will be pretty fun cause the member that we live with said that he would take us out to the driving range so we could hit some golf balls. Should be pretty fun. Well that is pretty much all I got this week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
2 May 2011
Hey!
Well this week has been awesome! We got an awesome and hilarious couple investigating the church now! They both came to church together for the first time and they both loved it! When we had a lesson with them on Saturday Clayton and Mary Moore (the couple) told us how they felt about some of the churches they have been too. Currently Clayton doesn't go to a church but his wife does or did. Mary was like "I'm tired of people speakin' in tongues and babbling and fallin' into the isle!" It was the funniest thing ever! Best of all, they are a member referral! Statistics show that 1 in 1000 people the missionaries talk to will get baptized, but 1 in every 2 people the members interact with will get baptized. Missionaries need more members referrals!
One of our investigators, David Bonbrake, got baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was so awesome. His room mate came who isn't a member, which was good, we were glad he came to support brother Bonbrake, but when he was going into the font and everybody was being reverent he was getting loud and saying "this isn't a time to be reverent, we need to be excited and to rejoice, it's a wonderful day!" Needless to say he was a little disruptive.
We have been so blessed lately with finding people that are ready to receive the gospel. It has been a wonderful week for us!
Love, Elder Robertson
P.S. The stake president here, President Shumard, is awesome! You should be expecting a call from him sometime this week :) You should be getting a call from him because he asked for a number to contact my family at cause he wanted to talk to my parents cause he's awesome. Apparently he calls the families of the missionaries that he likes.
Well this week has been awesome! We got an awesome and hilarious couple investigating the church now! They both came to church together for the first time and they both loved it! When we had a lesson with them on Saturday Clayton and Mary Moore (the couple) told us how they felt about some of the churches they have been too. Currently Clayton doesn't go to a church but his wife does or did. Mary was like "I'm tired of people speakin' in tongues and babbling and fallin' into the isle!" It was the funniest thing ever! Best of all, they are a member referral! Statistics show that 1 in 1000 people the missionaries talk to will get baptized, but 1 in every 2 people the members interact with will get baptized. Missionaries need more members referrals!
One of our investigators, David Bonbrake, got baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was so awesome. His room mate came who isn't a member, which was good, we were glad he came to support brother Bonbrake, but when he was going into the font and everybody was being reverent he was getting loud and saying "this isn't a time to be reverent, we need to be excited and to rejoice, it's a wonderful day!" Needless to say he was a little disruptive.
We have been so blessed lately with finding people that are ready to receive the gospel. It has been a wonderful week for us!
Love, Elder Robertson
P.S. The stake president here, President Shumard, is awesome! You should be expecting a call from him sometime this week :) You should be getting a call from him because he asked for a number to contact my family at cause he wanted to talk to my parents cause he's awesome. Apparently he calls the families of the missionaries that he likes.
25 April 2011
Hey there,
Yesterday at church I ran into 2 guys who somehow know Steven, so they took a picture with me and they said they would send it to him. Small world!
Mt. St. Helens was a lot of fun, I'm happy for all of you. Maybe this time you will get to be with the group that makes it to the top. Rafting on the John Day could be a spiritual experience for the youth of the stake, but there may be better things than that that you could come up with. Coos Bay was great and so was going out to Brother Bever's ranch.
So yesterday we presented a quit smoking program to a couple who are investigating the church and trying to quit smoking. The program involves 15 steps that you must follow with exactness over the course of 7 days. If they can do that, they will be non-smokers in no time.
One of our investigators, David Bonbrake, was interviewed for baptism on saturday and he is all set to be baptized on this coming saturday. He has been investigating on and off for about a year now and he is finally taking the leap. He is 69 years old and is missing a lot of his teeth like a lot of the people around here because they have smoked for years and have not taken care of their teeth.
I had a pretty great Easter. I got to have dinner with the mexican family that we live with(we live in the garage with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom and we get to use their washer and dryer) and we had some delicious South American food. Now I'm not sure if that food did something to me or not, but I woke up at about 5 this morning and I had the worst tummy ache and I felt like I was gonna throw up. But the food was good though, so it was worth it. Funny story, I dished myself up the first time, and when I went back for seconds they piled more food on than I had the first time! It was pretty cool.
Love,
Elder Robertson
18 April 2011
Hey Mom,
I am loving my new area and companion. His name is Elder Goodwin and he is from Utah and is about to finish up here. He goes home next transfer and he already got his flight plans, crazy! He plays Lacrosse just like me.
The weather isn't as nice as the area I just came from but I am managing just fine. But it looks like we will be getting some not so fun weather here pretty soon. Oh well.
That is so crazy that Tayler Knowles is getting married. But that is even crazier that Cassie is getting married, I never would have guessed she would get married this soon. But good for her.
I'm pretty proud to hear that Oregon is doing so well sports wise. Now we just need to get an NFL team and we will be set.
Well my time is about up so you will have to get the details I sent to dad.
Love you mom,
Elder Robertson
Hey Dad,
The time out here is passing by just as quickly as it is for you. It's insane, I can't believe I've been out almost 7 months. When I say 7 months to my self it seems like a long time. But when I look back on it, it really isn't very long. Maybe it's because I have had so many companions that has made it go by so fast.
That's pretty cool that you guys got to go to the temple with Steven to get out his endowments. How did he like it? When I went through for the first time I was in awe the entire time and I didn't understand too much of what was going on. And I have gone through too many times since then because there isn't a temple out here, so there is still a whole lot I would still like to learn about it. Guess I'll just have to wait till I get home.
Are you guys doing a rafting high adventure? I loved rafting so much. So many good memories came from rafting and kayaking.
The weather is a whole lot worse than Bloomington. It is always just gloomy here. It's almost always cloudy and it is windy pretty much always which is no fun ever. Well it sounds like Oregon is being Oregon as per usual. The weather out here changes so dramatically so fast. Just a few days ago it was all hot and stuff, now it is kinda cold, rainy, and cloudy. Indiana is so weird.
Something cool that this ward does is something called the Lost Sheep program. Once a year, the members go out for 2 saturdays and go visit every less-active member on the roster. We got so many names to go try by, we are going to be so busy. It is happening this saturday and the next one. Speaking of next saturday, if all goes according to plan we will be having a baptism!! His name is David Bonbrake and he has been investigating for almost a year now on and off. He has quit smoking and he is all ready for his baptism on April 30th.
So my companion is the district leader, and as you probably know, they go on exchanges with the zone leaders. We will be going on those exchanges tonight and it will be my first exchange with a zone leader. What was the highest leadership position you reached? I'm not sure if I want to reach very much leadership, all I really want is to train a new missionary. I think it would be fun to do that. So that is pretty much all I got this week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
11 April 2011
Here is my new address:
8307 Hunter's Knoll place
Fort Wayne, IN
46825
So I got sent back up to the Fort Wayne Stake, oorah! We share a car with Columbia City which is where I was born as a missionary, and Elder Bodily is still there. The work here is so much better than down in Bloomington, so many more people are wanting to learn here. So many people were comfortable where they were in life, but so are some of the people up here. My new companion's name is Elder Goodwin and he is my district leader. He only has this transfer and the next until he goes home, crazy. I got to see one of my old investigators again. She used to be in Columbia City but then she moved here into the Fort Wayne second area boundaries. She is in worse condition than I left her. Apparently she is having thoughts of suicide now. She reads from the Book of Mormon but she doesn't remember a single thing about what she reads. She's not even trying anymore and she thinks just by us coming over and talking to her is good enough and she doesn't have to do anything. She is in for a rude awakening. So not much else is happening here as of right now but I will let you all know when something awesome goes down.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
--
Love, Elder Robertson
4 April 2011
Hey there,
Right now we are in the library and it is raining like crazy outside. And there is loud thunder and lightning, it's pretty intense
This morning we got transfer calls and we are being double transfered out. Another companion down. I'm coming into my fifth transfer and fifth companion. I want to stay with at least one of my companions more than one transfer! But I guess this is what the Lord wants of me, so I will go where he wants me to go. This has been by far the most trying transfer thus far in my mission. We didn't teach more than 10 lessons in all the entire transfer and their were many other trials too. But luckily our companionship has been unified through this whole thing, so that has helped tremendously. We met lots of good people, even though they didn't really want to talk with us, atleast they we polite about it. Their was also funny times too.
General Conference was awesome! I loved every minute of it. My companion and I were looking out the front doors of the church and watched as people drove by in their cars. Elder Swanson turned to me and said "if only people knew that a prophet was speaking, they would all come flooding in here to here what he has to say". So many people are searching for what we just had the honor of witnessing, but they are to blind and hard-hearted to look into our church because they hear so many false things about us. They can't bring themselves to learn for themselves that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. Sometimes I wish I could tell people how misinformed their churches really are so they could see how true ours is. Oh well. They will have to find out the hard way if they won't listen to us as messengers of our savior and redeemer.
I am grateful for or beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson and his counselors, the twelve apostles, and all church leaders. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord for this short amount of time to declare the truthfulness of this gospel, and to give back what He has given me. I am grateful for President Collins for being there for me whenever I need him and for being the inspired and loving man that he is. I am eternally grateful for the love and support from everybody back home, especially my family. I am so so grateful for my family, for being patient with me, for supporting me in everything I have done, and for helping me here on my mission. And I am grateful for this church and this gospel and it's members. I know the church is true and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith was it's translator who brought it to pass as our first prophet in this dispensation. This is my testimony and I bear it with all my heart.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
--
Love, Elder Robertson
28 March 2011
Hey everybody!
This week we worked our butts off everyday but nothing got done. Every Sunday night our district leader calls to get our numbers for the week to see how we did. We reported that we got zeros for everything. Everybody keeps telling us that no effort is wasted, but it is kinda hard to see the rewards when we can't even teach a lesson to anybody. Nobody seems to want to here about the gospel here in Bloomington.
As you all know, last week I was feeling a little down and homesick. You'll be glad to know that I am getting over that, thanks to my companion and my mission president. Yesterday President Collins came down to Bloomington for sacrament meeting so that he could talk to both of us. I love President Collins, he is such an inspired and loving man. He made me feel so much better about being out here and to not worry about how things are going here and to just keep working. He said that sometime soon he is going to be making some changes to the mission and he is going to show the missionaries that we can have fun while serving the Lord. President Collins also talked to Greg. Greg used to be an investigator but has asked that we don't come by his house anymore. Greg is gay and doesn't want to change and he lives with another man. He also comes to church every Sunday and has told us on several occasions that he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the church. So President Collins asked me if Greg would be open to talking with him. I said that he probably would. He then asked well if he doesn't want to talk with missionaries why would he talk with me? I'm like a missionary on steroids! President Collins is awesome! President Collins is also a lawyer which makes him that much more of a better missionary, and he is the number 1 lawyer for the church in Utah. We don't know how their conversation went but Greg looked like he was in deep thought after church.
The only thing I can say now is that transfers can't come soon enough. I want to get out of this area and go somewhere that the people are willing to talk with us.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
This week we worked our butts off everyday but nothing got done. Every Sunday night our district leader calls to get our numbers for the week to see how we did. We reported that we got zeros for everything. Everybody keeps telling us that no effort is wasted, but it is kinda hard to see the rewards when we can't even teach a lesson to anybody. Nobody seems to want to here about the gospel here in Bloomington.
As you all know, last week I was feeling a little down and homesick. You'll be glad to know that I am getting over that, thanks to my companion and my mission president. Yesterday President Collins came down to Bloomington for sacrament meeting so that he could talk to both of us. I love President Collins, he is such an inspired and loving man. He made me feel so much better about being out here and to not worry about how things are going here and to just keep working. He said that sometime soon he is going to be making some changes to the mission and he is going to show the missionaries that we can have fun while serving the Lord. President Collins also talked to Greg. Greg used to be an investigator but has asked that we don't come by his house anymore. Greg is gay and doesn't want to change and he lives with another man. He also comes to church every Sunday and has told us on several occasions that he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the church. So President Collins asked me if Greg would be open to talking with him. I said that he probably would. He then asked well if he doesn't want to talk with missionaries why would he talk with me? I'm like a missionary on steroids! President Collins is awesome! President Collins is also a lawyer which makes him that much more of a better missionary, and he is the number 1 lawyer for the church in Utah. We don't know how their conversation went but Greg looked like he was in deep thought after church.
The only thing I can say now is that transfers can't come soon enough. I want to get out of this area and go somewhere that the people are willing to talk with us.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
21 March 2011
Dear Peoples,
This week had it's up's and down's. First I will tell you about the up's. We got to talk to so many people on their door steps which was nice because they usually don't leave the door open long enough for us to talk, it was nice even though we didn't get very many return appointments. We found a girl who let us in when we were tracting some apartments that were kinda in the hood. Her name is Brandy and she told us that she was depressed all the time, has thoughts of suicide, and has an abusive boyfriend who she just got out of jail. The only reason why she doesn't commit suicide is because she has a little 3 year old daughter that she doesn't want to leave alone for 2 seconds because she loves her so much. So even if she doesn't want to join the church, we still want to go over there to comfort her and talk with her so she doesn't end her own life. We had dinner with a family last night and the husband served his mission in Spokane, Washington and he has a picture of Mt. Hood on his wall. It was so awesome to so Mt. Hood again!! We have been teaching a 11 year old Jamaican girl who is the daughter of a member here who converted last year. And we are pretty sure this little girl is going to get baptized, slowly but surely because she can only take in so much at a time.
Now for the low point of the week. Friday morning before district meeting I kinda broke down and cried because I was feeling pretty home-sick. I just missing so many things from back home. I wanted to see everybody again, I wanted to play sports, hang out with my friends, and do many other things. The mission was just starting to weigh down on me because of all the stress and difficulties and exhaustion. I felt like I was done. But because of my superman companion, he lifted my spirits and I was happy by the end of the day. This mission is harder than anything I have ever done or accomplished, and it will probably be the hardest thing I ever will do, the hardest thing anyone can do. I think that the only way missionaries finish their mission is because we have a companion by our side every step of the way to build them up. I know that I probably wouldn't be out here anymore if it weren't for my companions. So I say to all those who are considering to serve a mission to prepare yourself now, both spritually, mentally, and physically. Because this is tough.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
This week had it's up's and down's. First I will tell you about the up's. We got to talk to so many people on their door steps which was nice because they usually don't leave the door open long enough for us to talk, it was nice even though we didn't get very many return appointments. We found a girl who let us in when we were tracting some apartments that were kinda in the hood. Her name is Brandy and she told us that she was depressed all the time, has thoughts of suicide, and has an abusive boyfriend who she just got out of jail. The only reason why she doesn't commit suicide is because she has a little 3 year old daughter that she doesn't want to leave alone for 2 seconds because she loves her so much. So even if she doesn't want to join the church, we still want to go over there to comfort her and talk with her so she doesn't end her own life. We had dinner with a family last night and the husband served his mission in Spokane, Washington and he has a picture of Mt. Hood on his wall. It was so awesome to so Mt. Hood again!! We have been teaching a 11 year old Jamaican girl who is the daughter of a member here who converted last year. And we are pretty sure this little girl is going to get baptized, slowly but surely because she can only take in so much at a time.
Now for the low point of the week. Friday morning before district meeting I kinda broke down and cried because I was feeling pretty home-sick. I just missing so many things from back home. I wanted to see everybody again, I wanted to play sports, hang out with my friends, and do many other things. The mission was just starting to weigh down on me because of all the stress and difficulties and exhaustion. I felt like I was done. But because of my superman companion, he lifted my spirits and I was happy by the end of the day. This mission is harder than anything I have ever done or accomplished, and it will probably be the hardest thing I ever will do, the hardest thing anyone can do. I think that the only way missionaries finish their mission is because we have a companion by our side every step of the way to build them up. I know that I probably wouldn't be out here anymore if it weren't for my companions. So I say to all those who are considering to serve a mission to prepare yourself now, both spritually, mentally, and physically. Because this is tough.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
14 March 2011
Hey Mom,
What did the Sister missionaries call you about? Sister missionaries are so jack. We ask members anytime we talk to them if they need any help from us with anything but they always say that there isn't anything we can help with.
Did Mitchell's choir place at all or did they not do that at this concert? I'm glad they did well, sounds like my fasting paid off.
So I got a letter from the ward again and somebody whose name I couldn't read asked me to write the young men and tell them what it is like being on a mission. It looked like the name was Decker? IDK. But anyways, if I get the time I will try to write something for them and I will just address to you or dad.
So this week has been a bit better. We have some new investigators and things are starting to pick up. We had a lesson with a referral we got from headquarters and she seems like she has lots of potential to be baptized. At the end of our lesson we asked if she would get baptized if she came to know that we are the true church and she said she would. So we were pretty darn excited about her. So that is pretty much the most exciting thing that happened this week, everything else is pretty much the same. lots of tracting and trying by potential investigators and former investigators.
Love
Elder Robertson
What did the Sister missionaries call you about? Sister missionaries are so jack. We ask members anytime we talk to them if they need any help from us with anything but they always say that there isn't anything we can help with.
Did Mitchell's choir place at all or did they not do that at this concert? I'm glad they did well, sounds like my fasting paid off.
So I got a letter from the ward again and somebody whose name I couldn't read asked me to write the young men and tell them what it is like being on a mission. It looked like the name was Decker? IDK. But anyways, if I get the time I will try to write something for them and I will just address to you or dad.
So this week has been a bit better. We have some new investigators and things are starting to pick up. We had a lesson with a referral we got from headquarters and she seems like she has lots of potential to be baptized. At the end of our lesson we asked if she would get baptized if she came to know that we are the true church and she said she would. So we were pretty darn excited about her. So that is pretty much the most exciting thing that happened this week, everything else is pretty much the same. lots of tracting and trying by potential investigators and former investigators.
Love
Elder Robertson
7 March 2011
Dear Dad,
This has been another one of those tough weeks. My companion and I figured out our boundaries. It turns out that everybody that we were teaching were barely on the other side of our boundaries. So we had to give all of our investigators away. Back to the drawing board. Now we will be doing lots of less-active work and tracting.
We were unable to go to the baptism of the guy that I was teaching last transfer because we got some appointments set up during the time the baptism was happening. Then all the appointments fell through.
I can't believe that I have been out almost 6 months. It doesn't even feel like I have been out for very long. But I guess when you look at 2 years compared to your whole life, it isn't all that long anyways. So I guess I'm not sacrificing that much of my time to the LORD, but it is the least I can do.Dear Dad,
I love you all.
Love
Elder Robertson
This has been another one of those tough weeks. My companion and I figured out our boundaries. It turns out that everybody that we were teaching were barely on the other side of our boundaries. So we had to give all of our investigators away. Back to the drawing board. Now we will be doing lots of less-active work and tracting.
We were unable to go to the baptism of the guy that I was teaching last transfer because we got some appointments set up during the time the baptism was happening. Then all the appointments fell through.
I can't believe that I have been out almost 6 months. It doesn't even feel like I have been out for very long. But I guess when you look at 2 years compared to your whole life, it isn't all that long anyways. So I guess I'm not sacrificing that much of my time to the LORD, but it is the least I can do.Dear Dad,
I love you all.
Love
Elder Robertson
Monday, February 28, 2011
28 February 2011
Hi Mom!
So my new companion's name is Elder Swanson. He is from Ogden, Utah, but he grew up in Arizona. We get along so well and we are off to a great start. No dog attacks yet. Today we will probably go to the Institute building and play pool and some ping-pong. and maybe go and eat lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Hopefully those Sister missionaries can't dress too scandalously. I hope you have fun shopping with them though!
Since my new companion has gotten here we have been doing a lot of tracting because he likes it. But we have gotten 2 new investigators from it and one of them is married to a member who hasn't been active since her high school days, and we don't have her records here. So maybe we can baptize him and reactivate her all at the same time. We are also teaching members the missionary lessons in hopes that they will trust us enough to invite their friends to be taught by us. So far it is going pretty well.
Bro. Jayne, a man who was baptized a little over a week before I entered this area, wasn't coming to church for 4 weeks in a row but finally showed up to church yesterday for the last 2 hours. I was so happy to see him. We didn't know why he wasn't coming but we are glad that he finally came.
That will be so weird being that close to you guys when you come to Chicago. That's too bad that I didn't get to see Brad, if he was there on the 23rd, he could have came to transfers in Fishers, which is in Indianapolis. But oh well.
Love, Elder Robertson
Hi Dad,
I'm pretty jealous that you had those cool experiences with an apostle. I wish I could have been there for that. But I think President Collins is just as good as an apostle and I get to email him every week and I can call him anytime. But that is so cool that Elder Perry hugged you and told you that stuff.
I'm so happy to hear that Steven got his mission call. And I'm jealous he will be having warm weather his whole mission. That's pretty crazy that he is going somewhere that is pretty close to home though.
So my new companion's name is Elder Swanson. He is from Ogden, Utah, but he grew up in Arizona. We have a lot in common and get along so well. I don't know how President Collins knew that we were so alike, but I am so glad he put him with me. The power of revelation is so awesome! I haven't had a companion who I have not loved yet, and I have had a different companion every transfer so far. But I do get to meet lots of missionaries, so that's cool. But it would be nice to serve with at least one companion for more than 6 weeks. But oh well. So far it has been a great transfer and it is only going to get better, I just know it.
Love, Elder Robertson
So my new companion's name is Elder Swanson. He is from Ogden, Utah, but he grew up in Arizona. We get along so well and we are off to a great start. No dog attacks yet. Today we will probably go to the Institute building and play pool and some ping-pong. and maybe go and eat lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Hopefully those Sister missionaries can't dress too scandalously. I hope you have fun shopping with them though!
Since my new companion has gotten here we have been doing a lot of tracting because he likes it. But we have gotten 2 new investigators from it and one of them is married to a member who hasn't been active since her high school days, and we don't have her records here. So maybe we can baptize him and reactivate her all at the same time. We are also teaching members the missionary lessons in hopes that they will trust us enough to invite their friends to be taught by us. So far it is going pretty well.
Bro. Jayne, a man who was baptized a little over a week before I entered this area, wasn't coming to church for 4 weeks in a row but finally showed up to church yesterday for the last 2 hours. I was so happy to see him. We didn't know why he wasn't coming but we are glad that he finally came.
That will be so weird being that close to you guys when you come to Chicago. That's too bad that I didn't get to see Brad, if he was there on the 23rd, he could have came to transfers in Fishers, which is in Indianapolis. But oh well.
Love, Elder Robertson
Hi Dad,
I'm pretty jealous that you had those cool experiences with an apostle. I wish I could have been there for that. But I think President Collins is just as good as an apostle and I get to email him every week and I can call him anytime. But that is so cool that Elder Perry hugged you and told you that stuff.
I'm so happy to hear that Steven got his mission call. And I'm jealous he will be having warm weather his whole mission. That's pretty crazy that he is going somewhere that is pretty close to home though.
So my new companion's name is Elder Swanson. He is from Ogden, Utah, but he grew up in Arizona. We have a lot in common and get along so well. I don't know how President Collins knew that we were so alike, but I am so glad he put him with me. The power of revelation is so awesome! I haven't had a companion who I have not loved yet, and I have had a different companion every transfer so far. But I do get to meet lots of missionaries, so that's cool. But it would be nice to serve with at least one companion for more than 6 weeks. But oh well. So far it has been a great transfer and it is only going to get better, I just know it.
Love, Elder Robertson
22 February 2011
Hi!
So yesterday we got transfer calls and Elder Duren will be leaving and I will be staying here in Bloomington. 4 transfers, 4 companions. I have had a new companion every transfer and I haven't enough time with those people that I love. To make things more sad, you know how I have been covering 2 areas? We we have been covering Clear Creek as well as Bloomington. There is a part-member family over there and we have finally convinced the husband to get baptized and the date is set for March 5. Now they will be putting missionaries into the Clear Creek area, so I won't be able to see him be baptized. Congrats to those Elders who won't have to do any work to get a baptism next transfer.
But it has been a pretty fun week. We taught a lesson to that part member family. We had a sweet district meeting on Friday. But the best experience was when we got trapped by a dog and almost got attacked. True story. So we were tracting and we knocked on this house and a big black dog came around the house and trapped us in a corner and there was no way out except where the dog was standing. Earlier in his mission, Elder Duren had been bit by a ferocious pit bull, and he has been petrified of dogs ever since. So as the dog was barking at us, Elder Duren was so scared he was literally shaking uncontrollably and it looked like he was going to cry. Meanwhile, I was trying to calm the dog down and my companion at the same time. The dog was barking at us for a good 5 minutes, during that time he went to the bathroom on the bushes. Then a tiny dog came around the corner of the house and barked at us from a little ways away. The dog that was barking went over to that dog and sniffed him. I saw the opportunity and moved to where we had a clear path away from the house. I told my companion to walk down and away from the dog but he was still frozen with fear. it took him a good 2 minutes to move. Then we got away safely and unharmed.
Now don't think of me as some hero after hearing that story, I did what I did because my companion wouldn't. I am still just a regular missionary who looks out for his companion. I am not prideful about what I did to get us out of there, I am just happy we didn't get hurt, although it would have been cool to get a battle scar.
BTW, my socks have been wearing out and getting holes in them, if you could send me a couple of black socks that would be nice.
That is my cool story of the week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
So yesterday we got transfer calls and Elder Duren will be leaving and I will be staying here in Bloomington. 4 transfers, 4 companions. I have had a new companion every transfer and I haven't enough time with those people that I love. To make things more sad, you know how I have been covering 2 areas? We we have been covering Clear Creek as well as Bloomington. There is a part-member family over there and we have finally convinced the husband to get baptized and the date is set for March 5. Now they will be putting missionaries into the Clear Creek area, so I won't be able to see him be baptized. Congrats to those Elders who won't have to do any work to get a baptism next transfer.
But it has been a pretty fun week. We taught a lesson to that part member family. We had a sweet district meeting on Friday. But the best experience was when we got trapped by a dog and almost got attacked. True story. So we were tracting and we knocked on this house and a big black dog came around the house and trapped us in a corner and there was no way out except where the dog was standing. Earlier in his mission, Elder Duren had been bit by a ferocious pit bull, and he has been petrified of dogs ever since. So as the dog was barking at us, Elder Duren was so scared he was literally shaking uncontrollably and it looked like he was going to cry. Meanwhile, I was trying to calm the dog down and my companion at the same time. The dog was barking at us for a good 5 minutes, during that time he went to the bathroom on the bushes. Then a tiny dog came around the corner of the house and barked at us from a little ways away. The dog that was barking went over to that dog and sniffed him. I saw the opportunity and moved to where we had a clear path away from the house. I told my companion to walk down and away from the dog but he was still frozen with fear. it took him a good 2 minutes to move. Then we got away safely and unharmed.
Now don't think of me as some hero after hearing that story, I did what I did because my companion wouldn't. I am still just a regular missionary who looks out for his companion. I am not prideful about what I did to get us out of there, I am just happy we didn't get hurt, although it would have been cool to get a battle scar.
BTW, my socks have been wearing out and getting holes in them, if you could send me a couple of black socks that would be nice.
That is my cool story of the week.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Happy Valentines Day!
Hi Mom
These past few days have been so warm and beautiful. It has been a great change from the harsh conditions that we have been enduring. I wish I could have heard Bro. Hornibrook's talk, his talks always inspire me, maybe you could get a copy of it for me :). I have not had to give a talk yet in either of my wards, but I'm sure it will happen sooner or later.
I did get a new camera last P-Day and it is awesome. It is a Fujifilm camera and it takes great pictures. Those Japanese sure now how to work technology.
That is pretty cool that you guys are re-doing your closet, I bet it will look great when it's done.
The Zilch's blessed their baby yesterday in sacrament meeting. That's crazy that you know somebody who is friends with them.
We checked the weather this morning on our phone using Tell-Me, and it said that it was 42 degrees outside. Then I checked what the weather was back home, and it said rain, and I was like "of course". It was pretty funny.
The work is going alright, things are finally starting to pick up. We had 6 lessons this week and 3 of them were with members. It was a busy week! We haven't done a lot of tracting lately, mostly because I keep telling my companion how un-effective it is. Do you remember that girl named Star in my last area? Well she got baptized yesterday! So happy for her!
Love, Elder Robertson
These past few days have been so warm and beautiful. It has been a great change from the harsh conditions that we have been enduring. I wish I could have heard Bro. Hornibrook's talk, his talks always inspire me, maybe you could get a copy of it for me :). I have not had to give a talk yet in either of my wards, but I'm sure it will happen sooner or later.
I did get a new camera last P-Day and it is awesome. It is a Fujifilm camera and it takes great pictures. Those Japanese sure now how to work technology.
That is pretty cool that you guys are re-doing your closet, I bet it will look great when it's done.
The Zilch's blessed their baby yesterday in sacrament meeting. That's crazy that you know somebody who is friends with them.
We checked the weather this morning on our phone using Tell-Me, and it said that it was 42 degrees outside. Then I checked what the weather was back home, and it said rain, and I was like "of course". It was pretty funny.
The work is going alright, things are finally starting to pick up. We had 6 lessons this week and 3 of them were with members. It was a busy week! We haven't done a lot of tracting lately, mostly because I keep telling my companion how un-effective it is. Do you remember that girl named Star in my last area? Well she got baptized yesterday! So happy for her!
Love, Elder Robertson
7 February 2011
Hi Mom,
The "monster storm" was crazy this week. We were told to stay inside for most of Tuesday and all of Wednesday. The car was grounded for most of the week, so that stunk. All of the sidewalks and ground and trees and just about everything was covered in a thick layer of ice and snow. So it was pretty dangerous walking places, even after we were told it was okay to go outside. We didn't lose power at all but our lights did flicker a bit. The Elders down in Bedford lost power for a couple hours though. The roads are clear enough for us to drive on them, luckily we have lots of snow plows here and they drop lots of rock salt to melt anything that may accumulate on the roads. The new boots are hoding up quite well and have been a big help. the inside had been getting thrashed because I walk around in them so much.
I don't know if we will do something fun today. We might hit up a Goodwill and some other stores, but who knows, my companion likes to do things his way, but we will see.
That is pretty sweet that the Packers won the Superbowl, I was hoping they would. I heard that a reporter had an interview with the player on the Steelers team who had a big beard, and he interviewed the beard. It sounded way funny.
That is way sweet how Mitchell is in an official quartet now and is doing shows and stuff. Tell him that I am proud and jealous of him. We have been practicing with the ward choir here and it is pretty fun. We are doing a song that was made from the 23 Psalm. It is pretty cool. And there is only one tenor besides me and there is a part in the song where the tenors have to hold out this big long note. It's pretty sweet.
Yes, I did get Aunt Susie's package for Christmas and it was way awesome. They gave me gift cards to a bunch of fast food places. Tell her I am so grateful for that. I would write them but I don't have their address. And yes, I got the book you guys made of me with you guys in Disneyland. I loved it! I look through it all the time.
I will definitely read through Enos. That is pretty sweet that they passed around a card for me, I can't wait to get it!
I am doing alright. I am doing my best to stay positive and to look for the good in everything that happens. Although I do miss some things and people from home (that includes my family), I am trying to not think about those things so much so that I can stay focused on the work. But I do find myself wanting to be doing some things back home, But I am trying to keep myself from being homesick.
This is my last email today. I love you Mom and everything you have done for me out here.
Love,
Elder Robertson
The "monster storm" was crazy this week. We were told to stay inside for most of Tuesday and all of Wednesday. The car was grounded for most of the week, so that stunk. All of the sidewalks and ground and trees and just about everything was covered in a thick layer of ice and snow. So it was pretty dangerous walking places, even after we were told it was okay to go outside. We didn't lose power at all but our lights did flicker a bit. The Elders down in Bedford lost power for a couple hours though. The roads are clear enough for us to drive on them, luckily we have lots of snow plows here and they drop lots of rock salt to melt anything that may accumulate on the roads. The new boots are hoding up quite well and have been a big help. the inside had been getting thrashed because I walk around in them so much.
I don't know if we will do something fun today. We might hit up a Goodwill and some other stores, but who knows, my companion likes to do things his way, but we will see.
That is pretty sweet that the Packers won the Superbowl, I was hoping they would. I heard that a reporter had an interview with the player on the Steelers team who had a big beard, and he interviewed the beard. It sounded way funny.
That is way sweet how Mitchell is in an official quartet now and is doing shows and stuff. Tell him that I am proud and jealous of him. We have been practicing with the ward choir here and it is pretty fun. We are doing a song that was made from the 23 Psalm. It is pretty cool. And there is only one tenor besides me and there is a part in the song where the tenors have to hold out this big long note. It's pretty sweet.
Yes, I did get Aunt Susie's package for Christmas and it was way awesome. They gave me gift cards to a bunch of fast food places. Tell her I am so grateful for that. I would write them but I don't have their address. And yes, I got the book you guys made of me with you guys in Disneyland. I loved it! I look through it all the time.
I will definitely read through Enos. That is pretty sweet that they passed around a card for me, I can't wait to get it!
I am doing alright. I am doing my best to stay positive and to look for the good in everything that happens. Although I do miss some things and people from home (that includes my family), I am trying to not think about those things so much so that I can stay focused on the work. But I do find myself wanting to be doing some things back home, But I am trying to keep myself from being homesick.
This is my last email today. I love you Mom and everything you have done for me out here.
Love,
Elder Robertson
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
A new hope 31 January 2011
Hi!
This week has been a little bit of an improvement since last week. We had 3 sit down lessons and found a few sweet potentials(one of which has a sweet '65 Mustang). One of the lessons we taught was to a math student at Indiana University( GO HOOSIERS!). He seems pretty interested but at the same time skeptical. He said that he doesn't really how to come into full faith into our religion. We told him that we would be happy to discuss his concerns during our later visits. We had a funny talk just yesterday with a Jewish lady and her daughter. They were asking us questions about our faith and what we believe. They tried to make us look dumb when they asked about what we think happens after we die. Some people just don't understand that when they try to make us look stupid it just doesn't work because our faith makes sense.
I went on an exchange with our district leader in Bedford (the southern most area in the mission). It was way fun and we got to learn a lot about each other and from each other. When we had our exchange review he had nothing but good things to say about me. the favorite thing he told me was this. "I couldn't even tell that you have been out for 2 and a half transfers, you are doing so well it was like I was serving with a seasoned missionary". Elder Roberts always makes me feel good.
Every week every missionary is supposed to send President Collins an email telling about that weeks efforts and how the missionary is feeling about how he is doing. Last week I reported to President Collins that that week was the hardest of my mission so far because we were working so hard and nothing was happening. He told me that he was so sorry that I was going through a rough time. But he was so proud of my willingness to keep working and to stay positive. Then he said a few other things that also made me feel good. President Collins is awesome!
We have been told that we will be receiving ice or snow over these next few days and it's going to be bad weather. So the fleet is probably going to be grounded as soon as we get the car. Sweet.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
This week has been a little bit of an improvement since last week. We had 3 sit down lessons and found a few sweet potentials(one of which has a sweet '65 Mustang). One of the lessons we taught was to a math student at Indiana University( GO HOOSIERS!). He seems pretty interested but at the same time skeptical. He said that he doesn't really how to come into full faith into our religion. We told him that we would be happy to discuss his concerns during our later visits. We had a funny talk just yesterday with a Jewish lady and her daughter. They were asking us questions about our faith and what we believe. They tried to make us look dumb when they asked about what we think happens after we die. Some people just don't understand that when they try to make us look stupid it just doesn't work because our faith makes sense.
I went on an exchange with our district leader in Bedford (the southern most area in the mission). It was way fun and we got to learn a lot about each other and from each other. When we had our exchange review he had nothing but good things to say about me. the favorite thing he told me was this. "I couldn't even tell that you have been out for 2 and a half transfers, you are doing so well it was like I was serving with a seasoned missionary". Elder Roberts always makes me feel good.
Every week every missionary is supposed to send President Collins an email telling about that weeks efforts and how the missionary is feeling about how he is doing. Last week I reported to President Collins that that week was the hardest of my mission so far because we were working so hard and nothing was happening. He told me that he was so sorry that I was going through a rough time. But he was so proud of my willingness to keep working and to stay positive. Then he said a few other things that also made me feel good. President Collins is awesome!
We have been told that we will be receiving ice or snow over these next few days and it's going to be bad weather. So the fleet is probably going to be grounded as soon as we get the car. Sweet.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
24 January 2011
Hello from B-Town!
This week has been very discouraging. We didn't teach one single lesson to
anybody. Most of the people we tried by didn't answer the door. The teaching
appointments that we had set up fell through. This has definitely been the
most difficult week of my mission thus far. But our district leader, Elder
Roberts, tells me that when we are going through a tough time like this, it
means that something miraculous is coming our way. So I am going to keep my
head up and look for that miracle.
When Elder Duren and Elder Roberts went up to Indy for a leadership training
from Wednesday morning to Thursday evening, they left Elder Quinney and I to
take care of this area. I have been out longer than Elder Quinney so when I
first found out that this was happening, I was so nervous and stressed out.
But fortunately things went very well. We visited lots of potentials and set
up some return appointments, even though they fell through. We had dinner
with some members at Five Guys, yes, they have Five Guys here. And we played
volleyball with the elders quorum which was way awesome and fun.
I am always cold when I go outside, even when I but on billion layers. It was down in the negatives a few days ago which was an experience I have never had. It is much colder and I hear that we are getting more snow down here than up in C-City. I keep hearing that the temple will be built in Carmel but they don't have the exact site yet, so it is still going to be a while until the groundbreaking.
My new area is nice even though the work is very tough here. I'ts a bit bigger than my last area but I think I am starting to get the hang of it. I am jealous I couldn't be at the snow trip, we don't get to do that stuff here. I miss the chili dogs, I've been thinking about getting stuff to make them. I am also glad that Mitchell used his snowboard, you can tell him he is welcome to use my stuff if he wants to, and I don't care if anything happens to them.
I'm sorry to hear about the youth in the ward, I also saw that they were up to no good when I was there. You leaders should plan a fun activity so that they will all come, and then have a bold talk with them either before or after the activity, telling them that they need to set their priorities straight.
I miss movies and music so much! I wish I could have had a movie night too, but I can only watch movies that have the church label on them.
The ward we have here is way cool and a bit bigger than the C-City ward. It's made up mostly of younger couples who are going to school. They feed us almost every day which is awesome because I love getting good food instead of the stuff that we eat at the apartment.
We give service every Tuesday and Wednesday from 12-2 at the Shalom Center, serving food. I haven't had the chance to shovel any drive-ways yet but I'd love to. But I am going to go ahead and get off cause my companion is done and he is ready to go. But I love you and everybody else back home!
Unfortunately I don't have much to report on this week because not much
happened. But I am doing my best to stay positive and to look for all the
blessings that are being given to me. It sounds like you guys had a better
week than I did and I am happy for you.
Love,
Elder Robertson
**If his letters seem a little off, it is because if we are on the computer at the same time, we email back and forth so I am trying to patch emails together so he can enjoy everything when he gets home!**
This week has been very discouraging. We didn't teach one single lesson to
anybody. Most of the people we tried by didn't answer the door. The teaching
appointments that we had set up fell through. This has definitely been the
most difficult week of my mission thus far. But our district leader, Elder
Roberts, tells me that when we are going through a tough time like this, it
means that something miraculous is coming our way. So I am going to keep my
head up and look for that miracle.
When Elder Duren and Elder Roberts went up to Indy for a leadership training
from Wednesday morning to Thursday evening, they left Elder Quinney and I to
take care of this area. I have been out longer than Elder Quinney so when I
first found out that this was happening, I was so nervous and stressed out.
But fortunately things went very well. We visited lots of potentials and set
up some return appointments, even though they fell through. We had dinner
with some members at Five Guys, yes, they have Five Guys here. And we played
volleyball with the elders quorum which was way awesome and fun.
I am always cold when I go outside, even when I but on billion layers. It was down in the negatives a few days ago which was an experience I have never had. It is much colder and I hear that we are getting more snow down here than up in C-City. I keep hearing that the temple will be built in Carmel but they don't have the exact site yet, so it is still going to be a while until the groundbreaking.
My new area is nice even though the work is very tough here. I'ts a bit bigger than my last area but I think I am starting to get the hang of it. I am jealous I couldn't be at the snow trip, we don't get to do that stuff here. I miss the chili dogs, I've been thinking about getting stuff to make them. I am also glad that Mitchell used his snowboard, you can tell him he is welcome to use my stuff if he wants to, and I don't care if anything happens to them.
I'm sorry to hear about the youth in the ward, I also saw that they were up to no good when I was there. You leaders should plan a fun activity so that they will all come, and then have a bold talk with them either before or after the activity, telling them that they need to set their priorities straight.
I miss movies and music so much! I wish I could have had a movie night too, but I can only watch movies that have the church label on them.
The ward we have here is way cool and a bit bigger than the C-City ward. It's made up mostly of younger couples who are going to school. They feed us almost every day which is awesome because I love getting good food instead of the stuff that we eat at the apartment.
We give service every Tuesday and Wednesday from 12-2 at the Shalom Center, serving food. I haven't had the chance to shovel any drive-ways yet but I'd love to. But I am going to go ahead and get off cause my companion is done and he is ready to go. But I love you and everybody else back home!
Unfortunately I don't have much to report on this week because not much
happened. But I am doing my best to stay positive and to look for all the
blessings that are being given to me. It sounds like you guys had a better
week than I did and I am happy for you.
Love,
Elder Robertson
**If his letters seem a little off, it is because if we are on the computer at the same time, we email back and forth so I am trying to patch emails together so he can enjoy everything when he gets home!**
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
18 January 2011
Well Hello,
The reason why I did not write yesterday is because it was a holiday and the libraries weren't open so we are having our P-Day today. So as you all know I got transferred to a new area. I am now serving in Bloomington, Indiana. My address is 2305 East 2nd St. Apt B1, Bloomington, IN, 47401.
So far this area is way cool, it's a bit bigger than my last area so it's gonna take a little while to get the hang of this place. The ward here is awesome, it's filled with young couples and way cool families. My companions name is Elder Duren, he is such a goof ball but we get along so well. When President Collins announced at transfers that we were serving together I thought that he was gonna be super nerdy, but he is hilarious and always makes me laugh, I'm glad I was put with him.
One cool experience I have had already here in Bloomington is that when we were coming in for the night on Sunday, we got a call from a member called us and told us that he had somebody for us to teach. He told us that he wanted to get the missionary lessons and that he wanted to be baptized. So we will be going over there sometime this week. So I will let you know how it goes. We also met this catholic guy while we were tracting and he doesn't want to talk about religion with us but He will give us a ride whenever we need it, so that was pretty cool.
Tomorrow my companion will be going up to Indianapolis for a leadership training meeting with our district leader(our district leaders' name is Elder Roberts). So I am going to be left here with our district leaders companion, and I don't know the area very well still, so this should be interesting.
But over all I have been having a good time. I love all of you.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
P.S. Transfers got moved from wednesday to thursday last week because of the snow storm. It was pretty funny.
The reason why I did not write yesterday is because it was a holiday and the libraries weren't open so we are having our P-Day today. So as you all know I got transferred to a new area. I am now serving in Bloomington, Indiana. My address is 2305 East 2nd St. Apt B1, Bloomington, IN, 47401.
So far this area is way cool, it's a bit bigger than my last area so it's gonna take a little while to get the hang of this place. The ward here is awesome, it's filled with young couples and way cool families. My companions name is Elder Duren, he is such a goof ball but we get along so well. When President Collins announced at transfers that we were serving together I thought that he was gonna be super nerdy, but he is hilarious and always makes me laugh, I'm glad I was put with him.
One cool experience I have had already here in Bloomington is that when we were coming in for the night on Sunday, we got a call from a member called us and told us that he had somebody for us to teach. He told us that he wanted to get the missionary lessons and that he wanted to be baptized. So we will be going over there sometime this week. So I will let you know how it goes. We also met this catholic guy while we were tracting and he doesn't want to talk about religion with us but He will give us a ride whenever we need it, so that was pretty cool.
Tomorrow my companion will be going up to Indianapolis for a leadership training meeting with our district leader(our district leaders' name is Elder Roberts). So I am going to be left here with our district leaders companion, and I don't know the area very well still, so this should be interesting.
But over all I have been having a good time. I love all of you.
--
Love, Elder Robertson
P.S. Transfers got moved from wednesday to thursday last week because of the snow storm. It was pretty funny.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Why, oh, why??!!
Yep! Another dead possom! They found this little guy, frozen solid, while they were tracting. Gross!
10 January 2011
Hello!
This week was pretty boring because I got quarantined to the apartment because I got sick. Sister Collins said it is probably bronchitis. Super lame and I felt totally useless cause I wasn't preaching the gospel.
One highlight of the week was that Star came to church on Sunday and brought her boyfriend who goes to a Catholic church with his parents and he told Star that he liked our church better. Booyah! Even though they only stayed for sacrament meeting, but that is fine.
President Collins truck was broken into and his briefcase was stolen which had a bunch of important stuff inside it including his scriptures, church keys, mission documents, and some other stuff. So the whole mission fasted so that he would find his stuff. Not long after that a lady called an Elder in the mission and said that she found a briefcase with all this stuff in it laying outside of a bank. The power of fasting works and that is just one example.Nothing else really happened cause I was inside for the majority of the week so I don't have much to report on. But I hope you guys are having a good time back home because I am having the time of my life out here.
Also I got a call this morning telling me I am being transferred, so I will tell you where I am next week. So don't send anything here anymore, cause I won't be here. I'm a little sad cause I love the people here and Star is making so much progress and she wants to get baptized so bad. I have no idea where I am going, they only tell us at transfer meeting. And something funny and cool, Sister Kennedy told us that we eat more than any other missionaries she has seen, and I have only gained like 3 or 4 pounds since I've been out and I eat like it's thanksgiving every time I eat at a members home.
Thanks for your words mom, I love you too! I'm doing the best way I know how to be a good person, by taking on the attributes of Christ. somebody told us this week that our parents are lucky to have us cause we are so great and loving, I guess they were right.
Love, Elder Robertson
This week was pretty boring because I got quarantined to the apartment because I got sick. Sister Collins said it is probably bronchitis. Super lame and I felt totally useless cause I wasn't preaching the gospel.
One highlight of the week was that Star came to church on Sunday and brought her boyfriend who goes to a Catholic church with his parents and he told Star that he liked our church better. Booyah! Even though they only stayed for sacrament meeting, but that is fine.
President Collins truck was broken into and his briefcase was stolen which had a bunch of important stuff inside it including his scriptures, church keys, mission documents, and some other stuff. So the whole mission fasted so that he would find his stuff. Not long after that a lady called an Elder in the mission and said that she found a briefcase with all this stuff in it laying outside of a bank. The power of fasting works and that is just one example.Nothing else really happened cause I was inside for the majority of the week so I don't have much to report on. But I hope you guys are having a good time back home because I am having the time of my life out here.
Also I got a call this morning telling me I am being transferred, so I will tell you where I am next week. So don't send anything here anymore, cause I won't be here. I'm a little sad cause I love the people here and Star is making so much progress and she wants to get baptized so bad. I have no idea where I am going, they only tell us at transfer meeting. And something funny and cool, Sister Kennedy told us that we eat more than any other missionaries she has seen, and I have only gained like 3 or 4 pounds since I've been out and I eat like it's thanksgiving every time I eat at a members home.
Thanks for your words mom, I love you too! I'm doing the best way I know how to be a good person, by taking on the attributes of Christ. somebody told us this week that our parents are lucky to have us cause we are so great and loving, I guess they were right.
Love, Elder Robertson
3 January 2011!
Hey!
New Year's Eve wasn't very fun here cause we had to be in our apartment by 6:30 to do our weekly planning and be asleep by 10:30. But New Year's Day was the best! We went on exchanges with the assistants to the mission president. I went with Elder Roundy again which was awesome. We did lots of tracting and had great and funny experiences while doing so. Elder Roundy got into an argument with this Nazarene lady who was just didn't know what she was talking about and she started bashing on our faith and the Book of Mormon which upset Elder Roundy so bad. Elder Roundy totally owned her! We also got a return appointment set up with another lady that we tracted into and it is set up for tonight. Remember the lady I talked about who had dementia and wasn't supposed to make it to Christmas? Well Elder Roundy and I visited their house and she died New Year's Eve. Sad day. Loris (the lady's daughter) told us she really appreciated us coming by and that it meant so much to the whole family. She invited us to the funeral on Friday and she will be cremated. Then we went and taught Star about Tithing and Fasting and we committed her to fast for something and she said she would. We then went back to the apartment and had our exchange review which went very well. He told me that he had seen a huge improvement since we last went on exchanges and that I was becoming a great missionary. He makes me feel so good, I love him.
I had the best experience of my mission last night. Star came to church yesterday and stayed for 2 hours and then had to leave. She told us that she was fasting which made us way happy. Then we were laying in bed and we got a text from her saying that something awesome happened. We asked her what it was. She said she was having a fever of 102 and was getting a bad headache, so she prayed and started reading the Book of Mormon. She read for 45 minutes and her fever went back to normal and the headache went away. She said it was an answer. We asked what it was an answer to. She said she knows the church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true and that she is done drinking and done breaking the law of chastity. She told us that we were the greatest people that she ever met in her entire life and that we do amazing work together and that she will cry when we leave. When we heard all that stuff we were jumping for joy cause Star had gained a testimony of the gospel. She then told us good night and said she was going to read to her kids then go to sleep.
This has been one of the greatest and toughest weeks of my mission so far and it has been so rewarding. These experiences have given such a great testimony of the gospel and I love every minute of it. I hope all of you back home are having as great a time as I am having.
Love
Elder Robertson
New Year's Eve wasn't very fun here cause we had to be in our apartment by 6:30 to do our weekly planning and be asleep by 10:30. But New Year's Day was the best! We went on exchanges with the assistants to the mission president. I went with Elder Roundy again which was awesome. We did lots of tracting and had great and funny experiences while doing so. Elder Roundy got into an argument with this Nazarene lady who was just didn't know what she was talking about and she started bashing on our faith and the Book of Mormon which upset Elder Roundy so bad. Elder Roundy totally owned her! We also got a return appointment set up with another lady that we tracted into and it is set up for tonight. Remember the lady I talked about who had dementia and wasn't supposed to make it to Christmas? Well Elder Roundy and I visited their house and she died New Year's Eve. Sad day. Loris (the lady's daughter) told us she really appreciated us coming by and that it meant so much to the whole family. She invited us to the funeral on Friday and she will be cremated. Then we went and taught Star about Tithing and Fasting and we committed her to fast for something and she said she would. We then went back to the apartment and had our exchange review which went very well. He told me that he had seen a huge improvement since we last went on exchanges and that I was becoming a great missionary. He makes me feel so good, I love him.
I had the best experience of my mission last night. Star came to church yesterday and stayed for 2 hours and then had to leave. She told us that she was fasting which made us way happy. Then we were laying in bed and we got a text from her saying that something awesome happened. We asked her what it was. She said she was having a fever of 102 and was getting a bad headache, so she prayed and started reading the Book of Mormon. She read for 45 minutes and her fever went back to normal and the headache went away. She said it was an answer. We asked what it was an answer to. She said she knows the church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true and that she is done drinking and done breaking the law of chastity. She told us that we were the greatest people that she ever met in her entire life and that we do amazing work together and that she will cry when we leave. When we heard all that stuff we were jumping for joy cause Star had gained a testimony of the gospel. She then told us good night and said she was going to read to her kids then go to sleep.
This has been one of the greatest and toughest weeks of my mission so far and it has been so rewarding. These experiences have given such a great testimony of the gospel and I love every minute of it. I hope all of you back home are having as great a time as I am having.
Love
Elder Robertson
December 20, 2010
Hey there,
This week has been really cold! we have been keeping semi warm when we walk so that is good. We have the car until Christmas Eve but we can't use it because we are almost out of miles. So we are probably going to go over the limit this month unfortunately. The work has been really slowing down lately, just like everybody said it would during this time of year. Which means lots of tracting. Our p-day only lasts till one o'clock today because the assistants said that Christmas will be our p-day this week.
A new family moved into the ward this week and they are way young. They are from Sacramento, California. They are the Bates family. We tried to help them move but we didn't have a car at the time and we couldn't get a ride over there. We called them and told them we were so sorry. A few days later Bro. Bates called and invited us over for Christmas. That was so amazing and meant so much to me. This family with one child, who had not even seen us face to face, invited us over for Christmas. We told him we already had plans with the Kennedy's but we could try to make over there a little bit later. He said they were just going to play some card games or something.
We helped one of our investigators move some of their stuff to their new apartment on Friday. Which is kind of sad because we set a baptismal date with them and now they are moving. But luckily they will be staying in our district so we will still get to hear about their progress. We will be helping them again tomorrow with the heavy stuff.
Funny story, When we were on our way to district meeting on Friday we were taking some back roads which were a bit covered in snow and icy. We came around one of the turns a little too quickly and we slid right off the road and into a ditch. Luckily the ditch was located about 50 yards from a members house. So we called them up and he invited us inside, then he called somebody to come tow us out while we drank hot chocolate and played Skip-Bo. So the guy pulled us out of the ditch and we continued on our way and made it to the district meeting a little bit late. And I would just like to clarify that I was not the one driving when we got stuck. And that is pretty much everything exciting that happened this week.
I love you all,
Elder Robertson
Merry Christmas!
This week has been really cold! we have been keeping semi warm when we walk so that is good. We have the car until Christmas Eve but we can't use it because we are almost out of miles. So we are probably going to go over the limit this month unfortunately. The work has been really slowing down lately, just like everybody said it would during this time of year. Which means lots of tracting. Our p-day only lasts till one o'clock today because the assistants said that Christmas will be our p-day this week.
A new family moved into the ward this week and they are way young. They are from Sacramento, California. They are the Bates family. We tried to help them move but we didn't have a car at the time and we couldn't get a ride over there. We called them and told them we were so sorry. A few days later Bro. Bates called and invited us over for Christmas. That was so amazing and meant so much to me. This family with one child, who had not even seen us face to face, invited us over for Christmas. We told him we already had plans with the Kennedy's but we could try to make over there a little bit later. He said they were just going to play some card games or something.
We helped one of our investigators move some of their stuff to their new apartment on Friday. Which is kind of sad because we set a baptismal date with them and now they are moving. But luckily they will be staying in our district so we will still get to hear about their progress. We will be helping them again tomorrow with the heavy stuff.
Funny story, When we were on our way to district meeting on Friday we were taking some back roads which were a bit covered in snow and icy. We came around one of the turns a little too quickly and we slid right off the road and into a ditch. Luckily the ditch was located about 50 yards from a members house. So we called them up and he invited us inside, then he called somebody to come tow us out while we drank hot chocolate and played Skip-Bo. So the guy pulled us out of the ditch and we continued on our way and made it to the district meeting a little bit late. And I would just like to clarify that I was not the one driving when we got stuck. And that is pretty much everything exciting that happened this week.
I love you all,
Elder Robertson
Merry Christmas!
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