New investigator!

We found a new person this week!  It was cool.  Sister Naylor was fasting to find a prepared person.  I would have joined her but I can't fast because then my headaches get so bad I can't work.  So...I decided it's better I don't.  But anyway as she was praying she kept having the name "Lucille" come into her head.  So she started praying for Lucille.  We talked about it and thought of Lucy, the neighbor of a newer member of the ward.  We decided to go see her.  She let us right in and we just got chatting with her and asking about her religious background.  We explained some things kind of more as friends.  Such as historical context and background of the Book of Mormon, and the need for a restoration.  She already had a Book of Mormon that she had purchased from a used book store a while back.  She said she would read some and we have an appointment with her Tuesday!  So it's exciting.  On the way out of her house I asked her if Lucy was her full name.  She said, "No, my name is Lucille."  And then lots of mental screaming and freaking out happened. :) But it was all in my head, no worries.  So we found Lucille!

Eva wasn't all that excited when we called her but we're still hoping.  

This weekend was a little crazy!  We had to babysit another missionary.  Her name is Sister Jones, and she has had some health issues for a long time and decided to go home. She also had serious problems with her companion so it was a bit of an emergency to get them away from each other.  So she flew home today, but spent the weekend with us.  We had to get a bed dragged in our room and it honestly was babysitting.  She was so done with being here and also was pretty emotionally unstable so we just worked to keep her happy.  I think we really helped her though, so it was good.  We had fun with her.  Yesterday we came home from church after sacrament meeting because my head hurt too much to stay.  I was in bed most of the day. :( It was lame.  The chiropractor this morning gave up on being able to fix me since there's been so little improvement.  That was a little discouraging, but it will all work out!

The deaf sister is going home this week.  She spoke in church.  Which means she signed and her companion spoke the words.  At the end she did her best to bear her testimony with her voice.  I understood most of it.  It was pretty cool.  She's a great sister, it's been fun to see her impact others.  Today we are going to play bubble soccer!  Look it up on google, it should come up with something.  Basically we are all in plastic bubbles and run into each other trying to play soccer.  Should be fun!  I may not be able to play long because it will probably hurt my head...but I'm gonna try!  Pictures next week.  Love you all! Oh and transfers are next week so I will write on Tuesday.

Sister Robinson

New investigator!

We found a new person this week!  It was cool.  Sister Naylor was fasting to find a prepared person.  I would have joined her but I can't fast because then my headaches get so bad I can't work.  So...I decided it's better I don't.  But anyway as she was praying she kept having the name "Lucille" come into her head.  So she started praying for Lucille.  We talked about it and thought of Lucy, the neighbor of a newer member of the ward.  We decided to go see her.  She let us right in and we just got chatting with her and asking about her religious background.  We explained some things kind of more as friends.  Such as historical context and background of the Book of Mormon, and the need for a restoration.  She already had a Book of Mormon that she had purchased from a used book store a while back.  She said she would read some and we have an appointment with her Tuesday!  So it's exciting.  On the way out of her house I asked her if Lucy was her full name.  She said, "No, my name is Lucille."  And then lots of mental screaming and freaking out happened. :) But it was all in my head, no worries.  So we found Lucille!

Eva wasn't all that excited when we called her but we're still hoping.  

This weekend was a little crazy!  We had to babysit another missionary.  Her name is Sister Jones, and she has had some health issues for a long time and decided to go home. She also had serious problems with her companion so it was a bit of an emergency to get them away from each other.  So she flew home today, but spent the weekend with us.  We had to get a bed dragged in our room and it honestly was babysitting.  She was so done with being here and also was pretty emotionally unstable so we just worked to keep her happy.  I think we really helped her though, so it was good.  We had fun with her.  Yesterday we came home from church after sacrament meeting because my head hurt too much to stay.  I was in bed most of the day. :( It was lame.  The chiropractor this morning gave up on being able to fix me since there's been so little improvement.  That was a little discouraging, but it will all work out!

The deaf sister is going home this week.  She spoke in church.  Which means she signed and her companion spoke the words.  At the end she did her best to bear her testimony with her voice.  I understood most of it.  It was pretty cool.  She's a great sister, it's been fun to see her impact others.  Today we are going to play bubble soccer!  Look it up on google, it should come up with something.  Basically we are all in plastic bubbles and run into each other trying to play soccer.  Should be fun!  I may not be able to play long because it will probably hurt my head...but I'm gonna try!  Pictures next week.  Love you all! Oh and transfers are next week so I will write on Tuesday.

Sister Robinson

I'm basically famous.

Haha. So here in Chile, I'm basically famous. :) haha.

This week the ap's called to ask if I could help train a football team here in Concepción. They had heard that I played for a year in high school and I was one of three missionaries in the mission that had ever played receiver on a team. haha. I played for half of a season. :) but it was awesome and the whole team treated us like kings. And after every run they were all asking me for advice and what they could do better, so I took advantage of their receptivity and shared a spiritual thought with them. It was awesome. It was really fun. 

Also, although my companion is still in a lot of pain, he has been able to work all day every day this past week, so things are looking up. Your prayers are working, thanks for the help. :)

We've had some good progress this week. We have two investigators with baptismal dates, and the members are really stepping it up to help us out and we have a less active family with a temple date this year! Woohoo!

 And the weather's been really nice this past week, but they say it's gonna rain this week, and when it rains here... you better hope that you have a really bright pass along card because there is no one outside because there are little rivers in the roads. But the good thing is that all the Chileans have to buy bread daily. The daily bread scripture works really well for them. So we just have to go into the little negocios to contact them while they're buying bread. Bread here is second to nothing. Not even water. So there's a little culture fact.

This week we had a talent show in the ward, and I sang a song with the other missionaries in the ward (it was Demons by Imagine Dragons), and there were several families that had stuff prepared. It's really funny, because from what I understand, the same people do the same thing every talent show. haha. One family danced the cueca (which is the national dance of Chile) and that was really entertaining. It was a really fun time. :)

I've seen a big impact done this week by example. People always talk about the importance of leading first by example. Preach the gospel; if necessary, use words, right? Well, I saw it this week. There's a mom in the ward that isn't baptized, Nancy, the investigator that changed houses. And her two daughters are members, one less active, and the other recently denounced her atheist beliefs. But Nancy is always telling them that they need to believe and have faith and go to church and do the things that correspond to their baptism. But now that she can get baptized she has doubts, which is natural. But she finally accepted a baptismal date this week. So that was good. But I just saw so clearly in her daughter that she was really following her example. I had seen it before in the good example part, but never so clearly in that it works the other way around. So if you want your kids or your spouse to be more helpful or more loving or fight less, or clean more, be the example - spirit begets spirit likeness. It's really true.

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week and that my letters aren't too boring. :) Thanks for your love and support, it honestly makes a huge difference.

Love,

Elder Robinson

P.S. Please pray for me that I may be an example and a worthy representative of Christ.

pictures

 

I am holding a cashew nut here. The small thing on the bottom is the nut and the yellow thing is the fruit. The fruit is edible and it is kind of sweet but I  didn't like it very well. There are other cashew nuts on the tree that do not have the fruit with it. It is pretty labor intensive to get the nut out without just smashing it. I guess that is why they are so expensive.
We are going to the north part of the Island this week for a YSA conference for the whole mission. they expect about 500 people. We were asked to give a workshop on "Self Reliance". We will see if we can keep it interesting for one hour. I will let you know how it goes.
Mother is reading the Sneeches to these children. This picture does not show all of the children, there were about 30 of them.

 

Wow! A lot of writing but it all went so fast April 18-April 24 2015

Saturday -yesterday I found an ant in my scriptures, today I found two, quote Ray, "sweet is the word."😄. I guess.  It is very hot now and it does not cool at night.--at least not enough to sleep well.  We went to Jalandoni at 10:00; Sister Cagape brought us lunch and at 1:00 a career counseling fireside was held with speakers from two government agencies, DOLE ( Department of Labor and Employment).  There were about 50 people who attended.  The lady from the government put her hand under my chin and told me, "You are so beautiful."  That felt great!  Usually everyone is calling Ray "guapo" meaning handsome.  At 3:00 there was a stake self reliance meeting.  At 4:00 there was choir practice.  They recruited me because there were no sopranos.  Today with me, there were three of us; four altos; 6 tenors; 4 basses; this is stake choir.  It was fun.  The two sopranos got on both sides of me so that they can keep in tune.  They think I'm good.😜. After choir, we went straight to Mandurriao for 3 baptisms!  7:30 home.  It has been a great week.
Sunday (3rd-fast) We went to Mandurriao for church then home to end our fast.  Next we went to LaPuz business class--they were so excited to have us come!  (It was like a double Perry Family welcome)!  They wanted me to tell stories to inspire them.😊. I told them about how I use to put eggs in 12 egg cartons and I was so careful not to break any but my dad must have thought I was too slow.  He told me to use both hands.  I would be twice as fast.  After the class, we hurried to Jalandoni for choir practice.  This time many sopranos showed up but only one alto and she was a first-timer so I moved to alto.  Late others came but still I was needed in the alto.  They served pamahow(snack) in the middle.  It was a hot ginger drink that they make and dip biscotti, a not too sweet dry cracker-like cookie.  It was good and healthy, I think.  I am going to learn how to do it so I can serve it to my family when I get home.  We finished at 6:30 and hurried to Arquolas where we were invited for a 7:00 pm farewell dinner for Sister Haun--last Sunday--leaves Monday afternoon.  They served shrimp, chicken, pork soaked in oyster juice.  I was taken by surprise after I ate two bites of pork.  I will have to more cautious .  My lip had a small swelling but not for long.  The Lord has truly protected me.  Home at 8:30.
Monday 8:45 we picked up Sister Haun and Sister Daroy.  Sister Daroy will meet her new companion today.  Sister Haun and Sister Smith fly out tomorrow for home in the United States so we took the for a buffet luncheon at the Promenade so they would experience a fancy restaurant in the Philippines.  We returned them to the mission office and let them use my iPad to write their last emails for the last time from the mission.  After all our business, we gather our things that we needed...s speaker, computer...to take to Cozzens for fhe.  We will show them "Meet the Mormons".  We were surprised when we arrived.  They had invited her sisters and brothers families also.  Dinner was had after.  They live all in the same corner of the baranguy.  Four families came to join to watch from the small Apple computer.  It turned out great and testimonies were born.
Tuesday we did the departing missionaries career workshop.  We returned all six missionaries to Arevalo for their departure to the airport.  We went back to Jalandoni and had pizza with Sister Cagape while we waited for Boiser to call to pick he and his wife up at the wharf.  After picking them up, we returned to Jalandoni to leave the church vehicle behind locked gates no the four of us took a taxi to Ortiz wharf going to Guimeras.  Cushiness picked us up there and we checked out three places to stay overnight but they were all full.  It is mango festival time, so we eventually found a fourth place and stayed there.  In our driving, we found TESDA and stopped and visited with them about schooling our members and partnering up with them for the benefit of all.  They were very eager.  Our hotel was nice because it was not far from where Cushings live and they are graciously driving us all around.  The six of us went to the Pit Stop for dinner along with the new District Presidency and their wives.  We had a private room where we could have a meeting and Boiser explained about  the "My Path" initiative.  He also talked about the poverty rates among Filipinos at large and the rates under members and active members.  It was 9:00  pm before we finished and returned to the hotel.
Wednesday Ray showered and I was exercising and when I went to shower, there was no water.  Ray went to check on the situation and they said they were working on it.  A agh!  I can't get dressed without a shower.  Good news:  it was fixed within about 15-20 minutes.  Yeah!  It is good to have reminders of the blessings from the Lord.  Cushings picked us all up at 7:30 and took us to their house to have a grand breakfast--make your own fruit bowls with watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya, pineapple, coconut strings, banana, mango.  Plus boiled eggs, fried in coconut oil potatoes--it was a spread.  So nice of them.  After breakfast, we picked up Ren-Paul on our way to the boat ride  to the Marine Center.  There were fish that are male until three years old and they get big and turn into female.  And another fish that was just the opposite.  It was all very fascinating.  And a huge LaPu-lapu fish that we took a picture of as it put its face right at the top of the water.  After the boat trip back, we stopped at a monastery and then we stopped at a little shop for lunch.  Cushings took us back to the wharf for our return to Iloilo.  Boiser and Anne took a taxi to the wharf to Bacolod and we took a taxi to Jalandoni to get the mission truck that we drive.  We are worn out.  It is super hot.  Oh Wow!  The Sorillas are having us--the district for dinner at 7:00.  It is always delicious at their house.  And we so enjoyed their daughter, Kate.  She is a nurse.  She also studied in England for her MBA.  She is a really neat girl and we love to hear her talk about her experiences in England and the culture shock she experienced in coming home to the Philippines😊.  9:30 home.
Thursday we picked up our district leader, Elder Chapman.  He is very quiet and he has not been here for only one transfer, so he was a little uncomfortable about being transferred again.  But it turned out well.  He was transferred to Tigbuaun.  We took him to the mission office in Arevalo.  Transfers, 9 new missionaries...the excitement is always so fun.  Our zone leader, Eneja is going to Molo😓 but he will still be in our zone😃. Yeah!  We are a little attached to him!   He will be assigned a problem elder, but he is so fun.  Obedience feels fun with him.  He can do this challenge.  After leaving everyone at the mission office, we went to Jalandoni to work on our presentation for next week for the single adults on self reliance at a resort in Roxas.  Ray is not feeling well.  I ate.  The cleaning lady came.  It takes her about 1 1/2 hours and we pay her 200P which is usually a full days good pay.  It equals less than $5.  We returned to the center for a self reliance meeting.  Ray started the meeting with a song and a prayer and then a thought "Nay speak No Ill"-- one of the songs we will sing for stake conference.  It changed the mood of the meeting.  Whew...
Friday at 6:00am we arrived at the Plaza Libertad and had a csm (community service project).  Tomorrow is national service day.  I scraped all around the rods of a fence.  Ray painted them.  Plus many others were working.  There are two fences all around the plaza.  There were .many there from Iloilo stake and Elder Eneja was there and he started on one end and we met in the middle twice.  Three hours later with arms like rags, we came home, exercised, showered, and took a rest.  Then at 2:00 we went to Molo Ward to read to about 30 plus children and about six adults listened in.  I read Dr. Seuss:  Horton Hatches the Egg, The Sneetches and other stories, and Chrysanthemum.  It was very fun and they all loved it, especially me.  They asked me to come back next week but we are busy.  Next was Jalandoni and choir practice from 4-6:  "Nay Speak no Ill", "home Can Be a Heaven on Earth", and "How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord".  Today we ended up having 8 sopranos,5 altos, 8 tenors, and 7 basses.  We are tired.  I made some ginger tea.  Ray has had a fever flu for three days and I just started with some mild symptoms but I think the ginger tea really helped me.  It has cooled some today which made it really nice for the csm.  Today is probably between 80-90.  It is more comfortable.  It rained last night.  Perhaps the dry hot/hot season will soon be over.
What a great blessing to be part of the Lords army in these last days!  God be with you until we meet again, Sister Robinson III, Mom, Grandma

Charity

Sister Robinson with President and Sister Jardine

Charity

Sister Robinson with President and Sister Jardine

Some people are just great

So the subject line is due to the fact that I just love the people we get to teach!  Which, of course I do because that's what you do.  You love those you serve.  But I am extra blessed right now with people that are just fun!  They're weird, but that's fun. :)

I just had to share some Richard funnies because he just cracks me up.  He likes to get off track talking about random stuff and then we just give him the look and he will stop super abruptly and wave his fingers saying, "proceed."  Aw man, it's funny!  And when we call his grandson answers the phone and relays all messages between us.  We ask if we can come over, he asks Richard, and then says, "he reckons."  Probably something where you have to be there but it makes me laugh.  They are also always trying to find ways around the rule that we can't be in their house without a woman present.  The other day they told us they had a female at their house so we could come.  I was like, "What? Who's over there?"  They said, "the dog is a female!" Ay.  I told them that wouldn't cut it and they had to have a human female. haha.  They kept bringing it up so I told them to ask the AP's.  The AP's are over the grandson since he is YSA age.  Yesterday we got a text from them saying, "why do you want to go over there when they have a female dog at their house?" ya...something got lost in translation.

We also met with Barbara again this week.  I don't remember if I mentioned her but she is 81 and has been blind since she was 75.  She is a real character.  She tells us the stories she is in the process of writing with a lot of detail and animation.  She's just cute.  We love her.

I went on exchanges this week, with Sister Barfuss!  Because she is my sister training leader now.  So it was pretty much the best exchange ever because we're friends so I can tell her what I really think and what I'm really struggling with and I respect her advice because I know she gets me.  I learned a ton, and I gained a lot of confidence too so that was exciting.

Yesterday we met this awesome Ukranian woman named Eva.  She just invited us right in and then insisted on serving us tea.  We explained that we couldn't drink tea and started teaching the WoW but it turned out her tea was all herbal anyway.  I had chamomile with rosehip and hybiscus.  Plus a spoonful of honey and some raspberry syrup.  It actually wasn't disgusting.  Sister Naylor wasn't a fan though.  We talked to her about the Restoration a little bit and she asked some good questions and was really open.  She wants to talk to us again and learn more.  She is probably the most normal seeming, prepared person I have encountered yet.  I am REALLY excited to teach her.  I feel like she has real potential to be solid in the church.  We'll see how it goes!  Love ya'll!

Sister Robinson

Back problems

Hey! How's everyone doing!? It feels like it was a long time since last week. It was seven days ago.

So don't worry, I don't have back problems. Or any problems, because I was born with super powers and one is invincibility. But my companion wasn't. He mostly likely has a back hernia. So that's been pretty rough this week. We haven't been able to work very well because he is always in pain. But I'm trying to be compassionate instead of just frustrated that we can't do the work as well. It's might be pretty serious. Because if it's not treatable with out surgery, he'll have to go home. And, obvi, he doesn't want to go home. So we'll see what happens.

Just so everyone knows, Andres and Marcela from my old sector got married and baptized 2 weekends ago, and President gave me permission to call them and it was just too much fun. They're so happy and awesome. And they had watched all of conference and they were quoting me parts to help me in my mission and it was just too fun. And Dubal, the young man, also got baptized finally. So that just makes my life basically. 

The conference with Dallin H. Oaks was awesome. He talked about the Atonement and Jesus Christ, and about his second wife, and it was way fun. The signal was bad so we didn't get to hear the talks before his, but we were praying and then the signal magically worked for his whole talk. So basically, prayer works.

I love you all. Nothing new has happened yet with Nancy and her family. But they are receiving a ton of support from the members and things are going well. It looks like she has lost faith a little, because she doesn't feel like she's receiving blessings, we tried to explain to her that it's because you have to be obedient to receive blessings, and she is really receiving a ton of blessings. She just sees it as life, though. So please keep praying for her. Her family needs her to have faith in Jesus Christ and act accordingly, and well... she needs it. 

Love to everyone! Have a good week! Do a secret service this week for someone! It's too much fun!

Elder Robinson

P.S. Please pray for me that I may be an effective and humble servant

Saturday, April 12-Friday, April 17

It seems like I send a letter every other day!  It goes by so quickly.
Saturday we went to Arevalo ten minutes early and no one was there.  In five minutes about twelve more men showed up for the rebroadcast of General Conference.  Finally, Ray texted the stake president; it was changed to Jalandoni, so we put 5 of us inside the truck and eight in the bed at the back and drove to Jalandoni.  We were about fifteen minutes late for the priesthood session.  While Ray was in priesthood, I called Raymond and Sarah.  Woohoo!
Then it was time for the Saturday a.m. Session and right after was the p.m. Session--no break.  When it was all over, we took the z.l.s and sisters to Mandurriao to work and we went through McDonald's and brought home Big & Tasty meals with extra pickles and sprite with no ice.  We aren't comfortable with the cleanliness of the ice.  And this is the only place to get dill pickles.  We took it home to eat and then tried to call Nathan and Amy but --no answer😥. The good news was they were at the temple😃.  Then we took a walk on the Esplanade.
Sunday ...another glorious day of Conference.  We picked up President Insignes' family and this time it was at Arevalo.  We prepared our conference pictionary to send to our kids.  One conference session followed immediately after the other.  My seat was very sore and I was fidgeting.  Then there was a PEF meeting and choir practice.  We got home around 5:00 p.m.  I know that is not late, but we started at 8:00...yes, we were very hungry and tired.  It was all good.  I had a spaghetti dinner all ready in seven minutes.  It felt good.
Monday we went to Arevalo to do English testing for the departing missionaries.  After we went to lunch with Cushings we dropped them off at the SM Mall and then we went to Brother Cozzens house.  He worked on our iPads so we could get his books.  He has written three books about his life that are very interesting.  He is from Wyoming but he has lived in Saudi Arabia and now here with his Filipino wife who teaches seminary.  They are really neat people.
Tuesday was district meeting.  Some of our district will be leaving us.  I don't really like when they change and leave😝😢ha, Charity, I'm a little bit like you.  We ate a quick snacky lunch and went to Jalandoni where we had an appointment to help some girls register for PEF.  Ten showed up.  Tomorrow is the deadline, so both of the Center computers were in use, plus our computer, plus both of our ipads😊.  It was crazy.  We came home at 7.
Wednesday we went grocery shopping.  It really is a lot of work because most of the time, the store won't have some items:  like sour cream or chips, or cheese, or the fish I want...regular kinds of things.  Also at the front door, there is a police scanner for men on the right, women on the left and then you can get back together again.  Nice they never scan us but they do everyone else.  And the parking lot is big and we always have to park quite a ways away. Not like any store in the U.S.  It is full.  After shopping, we took the groceries home, ate lunch, and went to the Center.  Some had scheduled to come in to do their PEF but they came in early to get the secretary to help because talking with us gives them "nosebleed".  That is what they call it when they don't speak fluently in English.  Anyway, we stayed until 6:00 and were invited to an A. C. E. Meeting.  Academy for Creative Enterprise.  Charity's first companion, Sister Barfusses dad was part of the beginnings of this.  It was formed, I understand, by returned missionaries who wanted to help the Filipino people.  Well, anyway, they want to invite all graduates of the business course to join so they can better continue to help each other succeed.  We gave a sister from Mandurriao Ward a ride home after the meeting.  We arrived home at 8:15, ate, read, and to bed....
Thursday we cut up pineapple, mango, watermelon and chicken breasts.  This helps for quick preparation later.  We froze 2/3s of the chicken and cooked the rest.  And put black beans in to soak.  We took a bucket of cut up watermelon to the group of office missionaries who were helping the sisters move into the new apartment above Sorilla's office.  It feels like Christmas.  It is a beautiful place for places around here.  They have been in a rat infested house and it was out of their area so they had to spend extra time and money traveling by jeepney to their area every day.  Now they will live in their area for proselyting.  Sorilla's are fixing up a place for us beneath the elders.  We will probably move in June.  We did the sisters' bedding wash and took it to their new apartment.  We had lunch at Sorilla's with the elders and sisters.  The elders from the office put together desks and beds and closets for the new apartment.  Then we went straight to Jalandoni and at night we watched Molo 1 and Molo 2 play basketball.  We stopped at McDonald's for  ice cream and apple pie, 8:30 goodnight.
Friday morning we had a service project directed by the pulis at 6:00a.m.  It was so much fun.  We were with Molo 1st Ward and we painted walls that had graffiti on them.  We walked with our bucket of paint and our 3" paint rollers up and down the Molo baranguy which was probably about two miles, stopping and painting where there was writing.  Funny thing, I started to put my roller up and the pulis said "not that one". . It was an actual sign they wanted.  Since we don't understand the writing on the walls, we don't know what is good or bad or art😊.  We spent three hours.  Then we went home to exercise, eat, and on to Jalandoni where we are now and a sister just left after asking questions about PEF.  I think she was actually trying to circumvent the program because she only went to the first class of "Education for Better Work" and she wanted to sign up for PEF but I told her it would ask if she had finished the classes and would not disperse a loan until she had.  Anyway, it is a great program.  The class will help her because she isn't even sure what she wants to study and the class has exercises and things for you to do to help you make those decisions.  She is 33.  Well, anyway, I love you all, Sister Robinson III😊, Mom, Grandma

Baptism!

Welp, Richard got baptized!  Neither of us had ever had to prepare for a baptism before so we didn't really know what we were doing and it was crazy!  But it all went pretty well.  He looks really sad because he was bawling the whole time.  He was really excited to get baptized so he can be sealed to his wife.  He is finally smiling in the last picture because right before it he made a joke, "me and Robin will have to tweet together."  Ya...he thinks his robin jokes are funny.  I think it's funny that he thinks it's funny.  So it all works out.  He makes a bird joke every time we see him.  Which has been just about every day so it's a lot haha.  Sister Naylor and I did a musical number...it didn't go all that well haha.  She started too early and then the accompanist had us start over so we were back on track.  Awkward!  And my hands were shaking like crazy.  But I think people still felt the spirit so it was all good. :)  It was a little bit of extra pressure because the AP's are in our zone so they came.  That stressed me right out.  But I haven't been sent home yet so I guess we did ok. :) That night, after the baptism, we went to see him to take him a framed picture of the sac temple.  Well...he had a pack of cigarettes in his pocket.  We gave him the benefit of the doubt because sometimes he just likes to keep candy in the cigarette boxes.  Well the next day at church he definitely smelled like smoke.  And that's when he got confirmed.  So...that's awkward.  The thing is he definitely has the ability to not smoke because he hasn't for weeks.  So why he chose to do it again I can't imagine.  But before I even saw the pack of cigarettes I could see he had less light.  That makes no sense really but I've heard people remark on the light that church members have and I never noticed it until I noticed the lack of it.  He had light, and then it was gone.  So I am sure he had already smoked when we took him the picture.  It's really disappointing.  But repentance is for everyone!  We will keep working with him. 

We have an appointment with Alyssa this week so hopefully that works out and she is able to commit to a day to be baptized.  Pray for her in talking to her mom about it.  We don't know if she has done that yet or not.

Yesterday I was feeling kind of disappointed and bummed out that I seem to be less passionate about missionary work than I was when I first came out.  It starts to feel like a pointless routine after a while...like you just knock on doors and talk to people and no one cares anyway so why keep doing it?  Bad attitude, I know.  It happens sometimes, but right as I was wishing I had a stronger desire and more faith to find we saw the less active member we were trying to visit outside.  They never answer, but she always talks to us if she is outside.  We had a good visit with her and set up an appointment for this week.  She told us everything that was worrying her about church (being distracting to others with her children, not speaking English well) so we have a better idea of her needs.  Then we were able to set up an appointment with the next people we talked to as well, and the last people of the day it turned out they are a part member family and we met the non-member in the house and he was pretty open to talking to us.  Heavenly Father always gives us what we need!  I was reading in the scriptures this morning in Alma 43.  The Nephites are fighting for their freedoms, but they are extremely outnumbered.  In verse 49 they "cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage...and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them."  That really stood out to me.  In the selfsame hour that we look to him, he is there.  Love you!  Have a good week!

Baptism!

Welp, Richard got baptized!  Neither of us had ever had to prepare for a baptism before so we didn't really know what we were doing and it was crazy!  But it all went pretty well.  He looks really sad because he was bawling the whole time.  He was really excited to get baptized so he can be sealed to his wife.  He is finally smiling in the last picture because right before it he made a joke, "me and Robin will have to tweet together."  Ya...he thinks his robin jokes are funny.  I think it's funny that he thinks it's funny.  So it all works out.  He makes a bird joke every time we see him.  Which has been just about every day so it's a lot haha.  Sister Naylor and I did a musical number...it didn't go all that well haha.  She started too early and then the accompanist had us start over so we were back on track.  Awkward!  And my hands were shaking like crazy.  But I think people still felt the spirit so it was all good. :)  It was a little bit of extra pressure because the AP's are in our zone so they came.  That stressed me right out.  But I haven't been sent home yet so I guess we did ok. :) That night, after the baptism, we went to see him to take him a framed picture of the sac temple.  Well...he had a pack of cigarettes in his pocket.  We gave him the benefit of the doubt because sometimes he just likes to keep candy in the cigarette boxes.  Well the next day at church he definitely smelled like smoke.  And that's when he got confirmed.  So...that's awkward.  The thing is he definitely has the ability to not smoke because he hasn't for weeks.  So why he chose to do it again I can't imagine.  But before I even saw the pack of cigarettes I could see he had less light.  That makes no sense really but I've heard people remark on the light that church members have and I never noticed it until I noticed the lack of it.  He had light, and then it was gone.  So I am sure he had already smoked when we took him the picture.  It's really disappointing.  But repentance is for everyone!  We will keep working with him. 

We have an appointment with Alyssa this week so hopefully that works out and she is able to commit to a day to be baptized.  Pray for her in talking to her mom about it.  We don't know if she has done that yet or not.

Yesterday I was feeling kind of disappointed and bummed out that I seem to be less passionate about missionary work than I was when I first came out.  It starts to feel like a pointless routine after a while...like you just knock on doors and talk to people and no one cares anyway so why keep doing it?  Bad attitude, I know.  It happens sometimes, but right as I was wishing I had a stronger desire and more faith to find we saw the less active member we were trying to visit outside.  They never answer, but she always talks to us if she is outside.  We had a good visit with her and set up an appointment for this week.  She told us everything that was worrying her about church (being distracting to others with her children, not speaking English well) so we have a better idea of her needs.  Then we were able to set up an appointment with the next people we talked to as well, and the last people of the day it turned out they are a part member family and we met the non-member in the house and he was pretty open to talking to us.  Heavenly Father always gives us what we need!  I was reading in the scriptures this morning in Alma 43.  The Nephites are fighting for their freedoms, but they are extremely outnumbered.  In verse 49 they "cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage...and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them."  That really stood out to me.  In the selfsame hour that we look to him, he is there.  Love you!  Have a good week!

Dallin H. Oaks!

Hey guys!

So basically, Dallin H. Oaks is coming to Chile! I don't know if I'll actually see him or if it will just be broadcast from Santiago, but this Saturday we will listen to him speak and I'm honestly so pumped. He still looks and talks and teaches like a lawyer, right? It's like, you know that your argument's lost already when he starts speaking. There was a quote I read the other day... I think it's from Thomas S. Monson. It says that the wisdom of God often appears as foolishness to man, but when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right. Or somewhere around there. It's good stuff.

Also, crazy things happened this week. Someone sent me a portion of a talk about teaching in the Savior's way, and I really strived this week, and studied to try to be a better teacher, because I'm honestly not that great; when the Spirit's there, it works, but it could work even better, right? If I'm more prepared. And the mission president said that the difference between missionaries that have success and missionaries that don't is their bravery to say the things that other people don't want to. Christ always taught and rebuked with love and surety, and so this week my companion and I were really focusing on that. And crazy stuff went down because of the grace of God and the love He has for his children. So here's the long story made short...

On Wednesday we went to an investigator's house, I haven't talked about her before because she is what is called an "eternal" investigator. An investigator is eternal if they want to get baptized, but they are doing something that makes it so they can't, and they aren't willing to go to church, but usually they go to church most Sundays. Her name is Nancy. And she couldn't get baptized like she wanted to because she was living with a man that was not her husband. He was abusive, and an alcoholic, but she stayed with him, because she knew what it was like to grow up without a dad. So this Wednesday we went with the plan to leave her committed to either leave the house, or get married (well, that was before we knew the guy was abusive). When we got there, she was crying, with the two kids that are left at home, a 16-year-old girl (who was baptized) and a young boy, and her mother, who is old and a little crazy. She quickly told us what had happened and we prayed with her and left her with the commitment to pray for the courage to leave her house with her kids and mom. She had told us that she had the money and a house chosen, but she was obviously scared. Heavenly Father was definitely watching over them. Friday night they left the house with all their stuff and we helped them move in with the time that we had, and the next day we all went to help them move. (In the version that isn't for the kids the guy came to their new house with a huge knife that same night, to do who knows what, but the other daughter with her husband were there and he still pushed them around and threatened them with the knife, but nothing more happened, but now Nancy is talking with the police and everything is sorted out... basically) This Sunday they all went to church and they're receiving lots of love and support from the relief society (I honestly don't know what we would do without the Relief Society). And she can get baptized like she has wanted to for so long. But that will have to be in a couple of weeks, because of mission rules. And I think it's better that way as well. 

But on Sunday we went to visit them and we were talking to the sixteen year-old daughter, and the topic of marriage came up, and she said that besides the Elders, men just bring trouble. Thankfully a sister was with us to testify that she's married to one and he brings her the greatest joy. But it just made me so grateful that I was born to faithful parents, faithful to each other and to God. And that I have brothers and sisters that are married happily and living in righteousness. I have so many examples to look to for the kind of family that I want. I felt so much pain for that girl and for the little boy, that are going to have difficulties trusting in their marriage in all of their lives. Please pray for this family so that the pattern of righteous living can start with them, and we know that it will be a blessing for them for generations and generations. As it says in the scriptures, when we put the kingdom of God first, He blesses us with riches and everything we need, as long as we are seeking after it to build our families and those that are in need. 

I love you all, and I know that when one person decides to start the pattern of righteous living, it will bless all of those around them. And their families will be blessed with the blessings of the everlasting gospel. It's so simple, and it never fails. I know it's true. And I know that I have been blessed with an amazing family, filled with testimonies of Him. 

Have an amazing week! Much love!

Elder Robinson

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

PICTIONARY

Mom in the fish spa (not pictionary, of course)

Pictionary: A

Pictionary: B

Pictionary: C

Pictionary: D

April 4-10

I forgot to send my joke from last week.  Ray says everyone has heard it but it was new to me:  joke from the scriptures:  "Man cannot live by bread alone."
That's why the sandwich was created😀😝😜!  Anyway, at the last "My Path" in Tigbuaun Branch, a sister told me that one after they served some rolls for pa ma how(snack) after meeting.
Saturday we ate at 11:30 and went to the Center for rebroadcast of Women's Conference.  199 were present, more than double from October.  It felt so good to sing together and feel the strength of all there.
Sunday was our fast and we attended Mandurriao Ward, closed our fast and went to San Miguel group, then to Oton for a branch leadership self-reliance meeting with Ivan Lim.  It was great!  All were involved in making goals.  It was so exciting to see the enthusiasm.  It is always surprising to see how some branches are so amazing, responding better than bigger wards.
Monday, April 6, was Jesus' birthday.  Our district plus Roland, the ward mission leader, came to our bungalow and we had pancakes with mango syrup and fresh pineapple and fresh mango cut in small pieces and whip cream.  It definitely tastes like dessert.  Wow!  They all loved it.  I think over 60 pancakes were eaten.  We had the Easter story egg hunt and each person told what reminded them of Jesus whoever was on their right.  Ray had me and he said something really nice about me, "Sister Robinson is steadfast and I moveable and she always wants to do what Heavenly Father wants her to do."  Of course, I wanted to hug and kiss him but I just said thanks in front of all those missionaries😊.  And of course we stood up Jesus' picture and sang, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives"!  It was felt.  After, we took the missionaries to Robinsons Mall and dropped them off.  We went to the Center and served one sister and her daughter and listened to some of conference.  At 7:00 pm all the district plus President and Sister Aquinos family went to Sorillas for fhe.  They served dinner first but we didn't know so we had already eaten.  I still had one bite of four different things.  Hey always have good food.  Elder Watkins gave a lesson about how Heavenly Father answers prayers, we played beebo, and ate dessert.
Tuesday was district meeting and after we went to Arevalo to turn in our car payment receipts and to find out when our rent is paid until, to see when we could move.  They already cut a check through June 27😣.  We were sorry about that because our bungalow is really hot, the other place we want to move is not.  Ray is ready to move.  We think the hottest season will be over by the end of June.  We also let the office elders know we would be by their apartments tomorrow for apartment checks.  We had lunch and returned to the Center.  At night, they are having volleyball and basketball tournaments every night in the Centers parking lot.  It was fun to watch and visit.  The weather at night outside is just right for hanging out.
Wednesday, we started one load of wash and did office elders apartment checks.  They were both "celestial".  We went grocery shopping and to the Center.  We went home to eat then picked up Boiser at the wharf.  He came a day later than usual.  We took him to TESDA, some kind of educational center, then to the Promenade for dinner.  I had chefs salad.  That is the only time I have salad is at a restaurant.  It is risky to buy and difficult to get it clean enough for consumption.  Some people put it through Clorox water but that doesn't seem healthy to me either.  But the nice restaurants know how to take care of it safely.  After we went to the Center for a self reliance meeting.  Home at 9:30.
Thursday we picked up South Zone leaders and did apartment checks:  Oton, Miag-ao, Tigbuaun, and Tiolas.  We left the zone leaders back home around 12:30 with a big dish of rice and some vegetable/sausage topping for lunch.  We went home and later went to the Center.  We did a little cleaning in the kitchen, washing eggs, cupboards, dishes and to bed at 9:00pm.
Friday we picked up a few fruits and vegetables at Iloilo Market and then went to the Center.  The days are very hot.  Nights just cool to pleasant outside not cool. We heard yesterday from our leader, Boiser, that the Church will not be sending any more couples here to replace those who leave.  After this transfer in one more week, there will not be any more foreign sisters here(from the states), only Filippinos .  Maybe soon they will staff all their own missions with Filippinos.
The next two days, we get to soak in General Conference---this is the time when all of you, though not living in the future like us, we are living in your re-broadcast.  Our turn to soak in the words of our Prophets, seers, and revelators!  I love you all!  Sister Robinson III, Mom, Grandma

He Lives!

How GREAT what conference!?  So great.  Loved it.  Unfortunately no one that we invited to watch it did so.  But we were able to invite a lot of people to watch the "Because of Him" video so hopefully they do. I don't have a lot to report because...well we still don't really have people that are letting us teach them regularly.  It's a little frustrating.  But we do get the chance to talk to people and give them the opportunity to learn so that's what we can do.  I don't remember if I talked about Richard or not, but he is getting baptized this weekend.  He technically isn't an investigator because he used to be a member and asked to have his name removed.  He's in his 70's and is kind of crazy.  He'll go off on the craziest tangents during lessons and then he looks at our faces and will just break off and say, "Proceed."  haha it's so funny.  I was super uncomfortable the first lesson with him that I was here for, but I just love him now.  He is not a classy fellow, but he secretly has a tender heart.  I'm excited for his baptism.  We also had a lesson with a 14 year old girl named Alyssa.  She has been seeing missionaries for quite a while now.  Her parents are divorced, her dad has remarried and he and his wife are active members.  Her mom is not a member.  The hang up has been that her mom wouldn't give her permission to be baptized.  She has now decided to just live with her dad, which will give her the opportunity to have the gospel in her life and to be baptized.  She is afraid of her mom's reaction (she hasn't told her yet) but she wants to be baptized.  She's pretty much the cutest, and totally broke down crying while we were there.  She said she could just feel Heavenly Father's love for her so strong.  That was a really cool experience.

There's always something crazy and ridiculous that happens, so I will share a story.  We went to go try to visit someone and we parked down the street in front of some house.  As we were getting out of the car a lady poked her head out and asked if she could help us.  We explained that we were just parking there to walk down the street and asked if it was ok and then explained who we were.  She said, "Oh how funny you ended up in front of this house; we are Jehovah's Witnesses."  I laughed and then asked again if it was ok if we parked there (because I expected her to be grumpy...JW's tend not to like us).  She was super nice and then I gave her a "Because of Him" card.  She said she'd watch it...we'll see.  And then she gave us a JW book about religions that I assume tries to persuade people that they are the right religion.  Then across the street we contacted her neighbor who just kept telling us about the rapture and going on and on about how that was going to work.  She pretty much listened to nothing we said.  People like to talk and not listen.  Anyway I told that in a boring way, sorry. Haha.

My favorite thing in conference was whoever it was that was talking about the gospel being a dance.  It perfectly described some thoughts I've had since my mission.  Looking back I feel like my testimony and understanding of the gospel was so weak before my mission.  When he was talking it just made sense.  I knew the steps of the dance and I was doing them but I didn't understand how they connected.  I had heard the music faintly a few times.  Now I hear the music.  And I am sure that it will only get better, but I feel like now it's all together.  Really helpful concept for missionary work too.  Investigators need to hear the music, and that reminds me of...Elder Oaks I think it was?  His talk about the parable of soils.  I don't want people to be converted to me, or to the programs of the church.  I want them to be converted to the gospel and the joy that living it brings.  And that's how all of us maintain our conversion; it isn't enough to go to church and activities.  Conversion requires forward movement.  Complacency doesn't cut it.  Scripture study, prayer, family home evening, conscious decisions to become more Christ-like, these things are what keep us moving closer to our Heavenly Father.  Love you all!  Have a good week.

Sister Robinson

He Lives!

How GREAT what conference!?  So great.  Loved it.  Unfortunately no one that we invited to watch it did so.  But we were able to invite a lot of people to watch the "Because of Him" video so hopefully they do. I don't have a lot to report because...well we still don't really have people that are letting us teach them regularly.  It's a little frustrating.  But we do get the chance to talk to people and give them the opportunity to learn so that's what we can do.  I don't remember if I talked about Richard or not, but he is getting baptized this weekend.  He technically isn't an investigator because he used to be a member and asked to have his name removed.  He's in his 70's and is kind of crazy.  He'll go off on the craziest tangents during lessons and then he looks at our faces and will just break off and say, "Proceed."  haha it's so funny.  I was super uncomfortable the first lesson with him that I was here for, but I just love him now.  He is not a classy fellow, but he secretly has a tender heart.  I'm excited for his baptism.  We also had a lesson with a 14 year old girl named Alyssa.  She has been seeing missionaries for quite a while now.  Her parents are divorced, her dad has remarried and he and his wife are active members.  Her mom is not a member.  The hang up has been that her mom wouldn't give her permission to be baptized.  She has now decided to just live with her dad, which will give her the opportunity to have the gospel in her life and to be baptized.  She is afraid of her mom's reaction (she hasn't told her yet) but she wants to be baptized.  She's pretty much the cutest, and totally broke down crying while we were there.  She said she could just feel Heavenly Father's love for her so strong.  That was a really cool experience.

There's always something crazy and ridiculous that happens, so I will share a story.  We went to go try to visit someone and we parked down the street in front of some house.  As we were getting out of the car a lady poked her head out and asked if she could help us.  We explained that we were just parking there to walk down the street and asked if it was ok and then explained who we were.  She said, "Oh how funny you ended up in front of this house; we are Jehovah's Witnesses."  I laughed and then asked again if it was ok if we parked there (because I expected her to be grumpy...JW's tend not to like us).  She was super nice and then I gave her a "Because of Him" card.  She said she'd watch it...we'll see.  And then she gave us a JW book about religions that I assume tries to persuade people that they are the right religion.  Then across the street we contacted her neighbor who just kept telling us about the rapture and going on and on about how that was going to work.  She pretty much listened to nothing we said.  People like to talk and not listen.  Anyway I told that in a boring way, sorry. Haha.

My favorite thing in conference was whoever it was that was talking about the gospel being a dance.  It perfectly described some thoughts I've had since my mission.  Looking back I feel like my testimony and understanding of the gospel was so weak before my mission.  When he was talking it just made sense.  I knew the steps of the dance and I was doing them but I didn't understand how they connected.  I had heard the music faintly a few times.  Now I hear the music.  And I am sure that it will only get better, but I feel like now it's all together.  Really helpful concept for missionary work too.  Investigators need to hear the music, and that reminds me of...Elder Oaks I think it was?  His talk about the parable of soils.  I don't want people to be converted to me, or to the programs of the church.  I want them to be converted to the gospel and the joy that living it brings.  And that's how all of us maintain our conversion; it isn't enough to go to church and activities.  Conversion requires forward movement.  Complacency doesn't cut it.  Scripture study, prayer, family home evening, conscious decisions to become more Christ-like, these things are what keep us moving closer to our Heavenly Father.  Love you all!  Have a good week.

Sister Robinson

Pics

Let me know if this works

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/q0rl1vfcdbohmnc/AAC4vsIl5KcS_LiLYbSEet1Ga

.

Conference/Easter Weekend!!!!!!

Hey guys!

So this weekend was basically the best! All the gringo missionaries got to watch conference in a separate room in the stake center to hear it in English and everyone brought food to share and we just had a blast! And for the talks that were in Spanish, we switched channels to listen to it in Spanish. It was honestly so cool. I was thinking, "I knew learning Spanish was gonna pay off." haha It was honestly so fun. Also, Elder Jorge Zeballos, that spoke in Spanish, is from Chile and is a seventy in our area. So we're basically best friends. :) haha. So I basically spoke in conference, too. The talks were so powerful. And it really impressed me how in the Sunday afternoon session there was that commotion and then the talks were so fitting. About fearing not, and having courage, and it was honestly so clear that they are inspired men and women.

I wish I could see and read all of your notes about conference so that I could learn even more! One of the fun things about being with a bunch of other missionaries is that they all had questions and thought and insights about the same stuff, and things that hadn't occurred to me. Also, we all wanted to get married and have a family so we could start putting into practice all the things that were said about that. Whoops... too bad we can't for at least two more years. :) haha.

Elder Holland's testimony and story about the two brothers was so powerful. I believe that everyone has felt like that at various points in their lives. That feeling of falling and grasping and only feeling sand slipping through your fingers, and to imagine, that if they don't receive that help that is our Savior, they're stuck in that feeling until they find it. How blessed are we for having the gospel in our lives so we can feel those arms, like lightning in a summer storm, reaching down to help us in every moment. 

Also, I had never really fixed myself a lot on the letter from Alma the younger to his son Shiblon. (I think he was the one. 2 out of three of the letters were main topics in talks) But the one that's really short. Like 15 verses or something. I made the choice to try to be like him as well. Doing the right things because they are the right things, and because we want to show our love for the Savior. As another speaker said, our obedience comes from our love of the Savior, and another said that our acts on the sabbath day is a sign to the Lord of our dedication. And I believe that's true every day. What sign is this act sending to God. They were powerful messages, and the music was so beautiful. :)

I hope you all have a good week and can really do the hard part, which comes after conference is over. The difference between studying medicine, and performing the surgery. Now you get to actually do it, and see how well you really learned it. :) Love you all! Wish you the best! 

Elder Robinson

P.S. Here are some pictures of some stuff. A beautiful flower. A disgusting thing I pulled out of my ear, and a cool fruit that also exists in southern Utah. :) and maybe more...

April 5

Easter week here in the Philippines was really different. The Philippines is mostly a Christian nation and so Easter week is observed. Most stores and businesses were closed on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and then most were opened on Black Saturday and opened also on Easter Sunday. I have not seen so little traffic ,on any day,  as we had on Thursday and Friday. It was so quiet that we wondered where every one had gone. We understood that people were just home with their families and having quiet time. On Good Friday There were some quiet celebrations and some parades. Some areas have a mock crucifixion and some areas actually have a real person nailed to a cross. What surprised me was that they don’t seem to elaborate the Resurrection. Even in our ward we did not sing any traditional Easter hymns. I was somewhat disappointed but it was Fast Sunday and so no talks were assigned. We were told that people do not do much in their homes like have a special easter dinner or Easter Egg hunts. It is pretty much like any other Sunday. We never did much in our home with traditional Easter activities but we did create our own celebrations.
It was interesting to me to have so much attention given to the events leading to the death of our Savior and not much attention to his resurrection. I don’t want to sound critical and it is commendable that they revere this event so highly, but I do wonder if they really know about our Savior’s atonement and that he willingly have up his life and then was resurrected and made it possible for all of us to be resurrected. I am thankful for the restored gospel and for additional scriptures and for living prophets that help us understand our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation. It is good that missionaries all over the world have the opportunity to introduce the people of the earth to their Father in Heaven and his son and our savior Jesus Christ.
I love you all. Dad

Last week of March-April 3

Last Friday, I reported a water problem in the house we were using.  It turned out that the pipe just needed to be tightened.
We took the Antique zone leaders their stuff they had left in our truck and then took a ride along the coast to find some beach.  We found a beach resort, drove in and I walked into the ocean up to mid thigh.  The ocean water was bath temperature.  Nice.  We drove back to the couple missionary house and washed the sand off my feet and shoes and watched some church videos:  Moses etc. and I fell asleep.  Later we read and then went to Gaisonos Mall and ate at Manf Inasal (teriyaki chicken), and outside the door, we got a Buko juice.  It was all great!
Saturday 9:00 am we had a meeting to attend but it started at 10:00.  It was graduation for 59 students of ACC. With PEF/ER (Advance Central College).  After the ceremony, the baking and cooking students had prepared lunch for us.  It was great!  This is really a good baking school.  At 2:00 all branches were there and we started "My Path" but only finished the middle of the budget part and Boiser ended it.  He told them to order the pamphlets and do it individually as a branch.  Then he answered questions about PEF.  At 4:30 we stopped for another Buko juice and headed home, 2 1/2 hour drive.  We arrived at 7:30 and I'm exhausted.
Sunday, a new fast day, the fifth Sunday.  I was up with leg cramps 2x in the night; I was short of water, I believe.  We are fasting for Amy and the baby.  Tigbauan branch is our target today.  We enjoyed combined priesthood/relief society, then Sunday school, and we spoke in sacrament meeting.  They fed their group and then we orchestrated "My Path" without books for 19 people.  It is draining and insufficient to do it without the pamphlets.  But for some reason this branch does not have any budget.  Two new members were confirmed today--adults.  It was great!  One, a man, is blind from birth and he does massage.  He is very self reliant.  The other new member is a young wife.  They thanked us for our inspiration.  We were the ones inspired. What wonderful people!
Monday---I just feel so grateful for an honorable companion who loves the Lord and is a covenant keeper.  I'm a blessed daughter of my Heavenly Father.  We went to the mission office and turned in our monthly car miles report, visited with the elders and then picked up Cushings at the wharf.  We all went to the bank, did some odds and ends shopping and the four of us went to lunch at the Promenade, then did some grocery shopping, went to Jalandoni where we showed them some video clips that we show during the missionary career workshop, we discussed. The English testing, visited and took them back to the wharf.  We picked up water and home.  We made a little something to eat and then relaxed.  Oh, by the way, they ate buffet.  I ate pumpkin soup.😀 Just knew you wanted to know.
Tuesday was zone conference at Jalandoni 8:00 am.  It was the best so far.  Elder Eenje did a great job; I cried.  The theme was "finish the race". We got a copy of the video clip he showed.  Consecrated missionaries never give up on the Lord's work.  They hunger and thirst for instruction, correction, chastisement.  Your life in the future will depend on the quality of your mission experience.  Elder Eenjes motto: "It is easier to go down the hill than up; but the view is on the top." President Hinckley would probably add:  "The joy is in the climb." I think that is right.  It is great to look back on out lives and enjoy our grandchildren, but the journey daily with our own children was where the trip was the hardest and the most rewarding because we were on the path together, experiencing...now we have a great view!  But feel very tender, longing for the trip.  After the meeting, we returned to bungalow, took a rest, and went to Jalandoni for self reliance meeting; just Ivan and Butch came. But Butch was so excited about his meeting with Iloilo Stake so it was fun to get his report.  He said the specialist, Julie, did a good job.  So I think this stake is getting on the self reliance train now.  After the meeting, I made muffins.
Wednesday I put in one load of wash and then we did central zone apartment checks. We took the zone leaders with us and took them to McDonald's for lunch, turned in the reports at Arevalo, then went to Jalandoni.  Darlene came in and Ray was able to help her report to Boiser.  We saw the south zone leaders, so we gave them a ride to their apartment so we could know where it is for next week apartment checks for that zone.  We got home around 8:00, made a coconut, banana, pineapple, yogurt shake and went to bed.
Thursday, April 2, I prepared the eggs for p-day with the Easter story for our district.  We did two loads of wash and went with the elders to Teresa's house where they invited us for lunch, a big spread.  We stayed until 3:00.  I showed them pictures of my family and my ancestors.  I also played them some of Andrew's cd.  We visited a lot.  We will go back again before ten days are up because her family will be returning to the United States.  I testified of the importance of families being together.  Then we went to Jalandoni to listen to Women's Conference before it is actually broadcast here.
Friday we went to the Center and I talked with Angela and April.  That was fun.  Everything is dead quiet around town.  Yesterday was Maundy Thursday, today is good Friday and every business is closed.  There are no vehicles on the streets except us.  They really reenact the crucifixion.  On Guimmeras they actually nail someone's hands to the cross.  They reopen everything on Sunday.  Well, anyway, we picked up Butch and went to Oton with 23 present for a PEF meeting for college bound people.  It was very productive and informative and we answered questions.  After we dropped Butch off and went to Arevalo to drop off some bills for the President from Antique proprietor and Ray put the license plates on the blue office truck with Elder Seeds.  They didn't have any tools to do it.  Here is my thought for the week:
          Six Characteristics of Real Servants---
1-real servants make themselves available to serve
2-real servants pay attention to needs
3-real servants do the best with what they have
4-real servants do every task with equal dedication
5-real servants are faithful to their ministry
6-real servants maintain a low profile
I'm trying to be like Jesus, the greatest real servant.  Love, Sister Robinson III, Mom