February

Wow, I can't believe it's already February!

Oh, hello, by the way!

But it's crazy, right? One more month and we'll be headed into fall and winter again here. And you'll be headed into spring! I'm pumped for winter here. They say it rains a lot. And I have to buy rain boots and rain pants and I already bought a rain coat that should work really well. Because apparently most of the rainstorms are torrential. And they don't stop for three to four days. So that sounds pretty fun! :)

I don't have much to say for this week. But something cool that happened is that Marcela (the fiancee of Andres) bore her testimony yesterday! So that was sweet! haha. And they're not even members yet. It was awesome. And everyone in the ward loves them. So they'll be well taken care of when I leave the sector. We're gonna help them choose a marriage date this week. And talk about how they don't need to have an enormous party (here it's just ridiculous the expectations people have for their weddings) but that if they make the choice to do it so they can live more fully the commandments of God, that they will be blessed with way more than a super sick wedding party. 

Dubal and Rayen... well, hopefully Dubal can get baptized this weekend. But I'm not going to promise anything, because if it doesn't happen this weekend, there's a high possibility that I won't be there when it happens because it's the last week of the transfer. And I've been in this sector 3 transfers. Usually it's three or four. But you never know. So hopefully we can do it this weekend. We should be able to because his Grandpa came home from the hospital on Friday! And we passed by right as he got there and he asked us instantly to give him a blessing. So that means we have his trust! Which is just awesome. 

The area Presidency here in Sudamerica Sur have asked us to share two things specifically with all members and non members... or everyone. haha. And the two things are the Atonement (obviously, because we're missionaries) :) and the gathering of Israel. And the gathering of Israel because the second coming... is coming. President Thomas S. Monson spoke to us about a part in Doctrine and Covenants where the Lord said, 'For behold, I will hasten my work..' and the prophet said that we are in that time. Which means it's soon! Whoo hoo! haha. We always ask the members if they're excited after and they're always like... yay. I'm so excited for the end of the world. haha. And we get to help them understand that it really is exciting if we're doing the things we're supposed to. And that we, (being all of us) have the opportunity and BLESSING of having been born in this time and being a part of His hastening of the work. It's sweet! And the signs in the scriptures are happening. Are you excited? Are you ready? Have you helped your family and loved ones get ready? Because now is the time. And the urge worldwide for missionary work is that now we work for the members. Before we worked with them, and they worked for us if the missionaries begged for references. But now the idea is that we find new investigators, less actives, and members to strengthen as directed by the members. It's freaking awesome. The Lord is hastening His holy work, in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, or the Second coming, again to redeem His people.

And the first time He came he redeemed us, too. And we know that the first one was a lot harder to accept. But it's a whole lot easier after we accept it. He suffered so that if we turn to Him, we don't need to. But it might hurt a little. Because when we repent and become more clean, our past selves become more and more hideous to us as we realize a new level of glory, a higher level of living. But a part of the Atonement is that our past mistakes will be forgotten as we commit ourselves more fully to the work and to our new degree of life and don't look back. Heavenly Father forgets them immediately, in the moment we forsake them and repent. But it can be harder to forget them ourselves. But that's how. Devoting yourself more fully to the Lord. 

They're both powerful messages. And so clearly tied together. And the idea is that they give us hope and power to do every needful thing. And it works. I promise. :) I've seen it, first in my own life. I'm still in the process, and will always be. And I've seen the difference it makes in other's lives. From the day you know someone and then the strangeness of knowing the gospel for the first time and then fully accepting it. It changes your life. As you accept the gift and power of the atonement it's like the sunrise. When it starts you can't even see the sun, just the light is already there illuminating your world. And then as you accept it more and more you begin to see the world as it is. And it is glorious. It's beautiful and full of light and hope when we trust in Him that created us. And then we carry the light that we find with us wherever we go. And someone will ask you, how are you so happy? What makes you more special than me that you can feel content and satisfied in your life? And the coolest part is that in that moment, that they open their heart to ask these questions, the light has already started to work in them. And that's the beauty of the gospel. It's not just for me, or you. But there's enough and more for everyone. Like a big Thanksgiving dinner, when it seems like there's always enough turkey for another sandwich. :) Except there always is!

I hope you all have a good week. :) Pray for Dubal (his baptism) and Andres and Marcela (their marriage) please! Concentrated prayer efforts really do work. I love you all and hope you enjoy the first week of February! Pretty soon it's gonna be spring in temple square! And conference! And pretty flowers and trees everywhere! Woo hoo!

Much love!

Un abrazo!

Elder Robinson