May 22-29

Happy birthday to Grandma Beckstead.  Did anyone have lemon custard ice cream?
Friday when we picked up Boiser and his wife, we took them to Fine Rock Hotel to check in the self-reliance committees from Roxas, Antique, and Kalibo so they can be to the meeting from 9am-4pm tomorrow.  We waited for them and then took them to their hotel, Diversion 21 for them to check in and we went over Boiser's new idea for self reliance and he brought us some "My Path" booklets so we can do more work again.  Then we met with some of the people who will attend the meeting tomorrow and had dinner at a hotel restaurant that was close to their hotel. Afterwards we took Boiser and Annie back to their hotel and we went home.
Saturday we picked up Boiser and wife again at 8:15 in the morning and went to Jalandoni for the luster meeting with both districts and four stakes of Iloilo Mission.  It is fun to see the leaders that we meet with every three months or so.  We know each other now.  The meeting lasted from 9:00 am-3:30pm with a lunch served by North stake new business lady.  She did a great job.  Lunch was eaten while the meeting continued.  There were reports by stakes who are being successful; encouragement and understanding were given.  Then organic farming was introduced for some to take on this enterprise. Home at 4:00, laid down for a few minutes and then a baptism is next.  Joshua Philip Alonte was baptized.  He is 18 years old.  I was privileged to speak.  The Spirit spoke through me.  It is so rewarding when that happens.  Afterward Sister Daroy hugged me and said she wanted to grow up to be like me.  She is so beautiful and sweet.  After the service, his aunt, Sister Cordero invited us to join them for dinner at the Sari Sari Chicken.  It tasted good.  It was so nice of them to have us.  The husband is a seaman.  He will be home for three months, then out to sea for nine months.  Home 8:30.
Sunday we attended Mandurriao Ward and Joshua was confirmed.  He's pretty lit by the Spirit.  We were able to attend all the meetings, ate lunch, and went to LaPaz for a meeting with North stake---130 were present.  Darlene went over the self reliance initiative; each area was discussed and questions answered.  I told about going to school, working three jobs: part-time secretary for housing, typing papers for other students, and reading to a blind girl.  Also about having two children, Ray dropping out and going back after he earned enough money to pay for tuition.  We had no financial help from the church or government or family. It took six years to finish the years of schooling but we did it the Lord's way.  (Sometimes these people think Americans are all rich and it is easy for us to get married and go to school.) The stake fed us afterward and President Suya asked us to speak for their next stake conference in September.  Home at 6:30.
Monday we purchased water, had the car washed, went to the Center and did FaceTime with Raymond and Julie. It has been four months since I hurt my shoulder in the temple and Raymond is my last hope before I decide to see a doctor and talk to Sister Aquino about it.  Raymond showed Ray what to do and it snapped so I'm hoping to have it begin healing now with Ray doing therapy on it 3 times a day.  We went to lunch at the Promenade---pumpkin soup to go and Greek salad...mmmm I feel good.  Back to the Center and home at 5:00 to bring in the laundry and Ray to iron shirts.  Then Cordero's invited us over for f.h.e. And Sariah's farewell party with the youth. Sariah's family were our first friends here.  He works for the government and they were sent to Madrid, Spain for six years.  Sariah stayed for this first nine months but she will join them now.  Sister Cordero served dinner and blueberry cheesecake.
Tuesday we went to district meeting but no key to the church again so we brought everyone to the bungalow for the meeting.  The lesson was on the Book of Mormon, the keystone to our religion.  After the meeting, we texted President Aquino and he was at Jalandoni so we made arrangements to meet him there.  We visited with him about apartment checks and our move to Sorillas' apartment.  There were PEF students at the Center and at lunch time we went home to eat and then returned to the Center and later watched Mandurriao play Arevalo in basketball.  Then we brought the young men home and Ray gave them a short lesson about holding to the rod and reaching the moon and needing course corrections to the moon but holding to the rod will take you to the tree of life which does not move while you travel.  I made a large pot of rice which they ate and then played bebo and they went home.  9:45
Wednesday we went to the Center at 9:00 am.  The Leganes business group was waiting for us.  They needed to register because they don't have Internet and they finished the last two classes.  All went to lunch and we met up with Elder and Sister Streng and two of their sister missionaries and had lunch with them at Kenny Rodgers.  It's ok/good.  Then we took the sisters to Arevalo and headed to Antique. After 2 1/2 hours, we arrived at the deserted couples house.  The landlord, his wife, sister, and father greeted us and visited with us about 45 minutes.  I am pretty sure they would like us to move in.  The zone leaders and sisters cleaned the house before we came.  It was very nice of them.  The sisters came over at 7:00 with two teenage investigators to watch "Meet the Mormons" on our computer.  Ray has a speaker that hooks up to it so it works well for a few people.  They left around 8:45 and we went to bed.
Thursday I had called ahead for 24 donuts and ordered from Sister Rodelia Palima, who was part of the PEF/ER group graduates and her schooling was pastries.  She delivered them with her brother at 7:45 plus a beautiful chocolate cake for us.  They were so nice to us.  Then we checked the zone leaders apartment and the sisters apartment, gave them each donuts and off to the rest of the apartments in Antique zone.  The apartments were all improved over last check.  Lucky for us we didn't go to Colosi.  The Strengs had checked that apartment because I did not order enough donuts.  Lucky Sister Palima had given us some extras.  There are 13 sets of missionaries in this zone.  We picked up four elders who will be new district leaders and took them back to the mission office after apartment checks, a 3 1/2 hour drive from Tibao.  Two were in the cab and two in the back but it was free so they were appreciative of the ride. They will have district leadership training tomorrow.  We stopped somewhere and ate lunch.  I had fries and a buko pan shake.  I would order that again.  It was great! ( coconut and tapioca flavor like). Oh well, not a good description but it was a pretty green color with caramel stripes on the inside of the glass.  It was 6:30 when we left them at the mission office.
Friday we spent the morning at the office.  At lunch time we met with Grace Villavert and had lunch at the Promenade.  We saw Sister Cagape on our way.  After we ate, she came to the Center to visit with us until 5:00 and headed back to Antique.  She served a mission in Los Angeles, California but is going to go live with Elder and Sister Sessions who were serving in Antique when we arrived here on our mission.  Her father is the District President.  Brother Sessions was his executive secretary. Grace will fly to Salt Lake and attend General Conference on Temple Square and then go home with Sessions' daughter to Nampa, Idaho.  After Grace left, two sisters came in to have their information scanned for their PEF application, which Ray did for them and then we came home.
Thought for the week:  always render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.
Ha long, Sister Robinson III, Mom, Grandma
PS. Congratulations to Emma, Jane, April and Mike for staying up with the scripture reading.  Monday we will be on page 1064!
If anyone else is still with us, let us know.  We love to brag to the missionaries.

Injuries + how the bike looked

 My biking injuries :)

Most men are cavemen these days

Yet another funny quote from Tom!  Who became an investigator this week.  He was the one that said to show respect by not talking to his girl who wasn't dressed yet.  We set up a lesson with him on Tuesday and we were totally set to invite him to baptism with a date.  Because that is what we are supposed to do no later than the second lesson so we were all prepared to do it. Then about two seconds into his lesson he tells us he is on probation....and we can't baptize people who are on probation without permission from Salt Lake.  Bummer.  But the lesson went REALLY well.  He understood a lot.  We could tell because he would take everything we said and re-state it in "street terms."  Hey, at least he's applying it to himself. :)  He told us most men were cavemen after he explained that he was glad we were girls because he could talk to us emotionally.  Because those cavemen just don't understand emotions!  I laughed SO hard.  Especially because he of all people was saying men are cavemen.  He is awesome and I love him, but he is the sketchiest person I have ever talked to.  We are super excited about him though and hopefully he can get his life straightened out.  At the beginning of his lesson when he was telling us about his time in jail and why he was in jail and everything I was pretty much having a panic attack mentally and super grateful we were in a public place but as he kept talking I just realized what a hard life he has had and how much he needs the gospel.  And how much Heavenly Father loves him.  So then I wasn't scared anymore and just wanted to help him.

We also got moved into our new apartment this week so we are no longer traveling from North Sac.  Our apartment is so nice!  We love it. We had a lot of help with the move which was nice since we had to move all the furniture and clean as well.

I crashed on my bike Saturday night.  We did weekly planning, finally got out and saw Richard, and we were biking to visit another family and I don't really know what happened but I kind of flew over my handlebars and completely destroyed both tires.  Flattest tires I have ever seen.  The zone leaders were really nice and fixed them for me so we are back in biking business today.

We had an awesome lesson in Gospel Principles yesterday.  It was on Sacrifice.  We talked about how the Lord requires that we sacrifice our time, possessions, and energies to do His work.  Then we talked about needing to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit so that our sacrifice is pure.  We talked about the old law of sacrifice with animals and how over time it probably became very routine and they didn't think about what it symbolized much anymore.  I am not sharing it very well, but it just really struck me that everything we give to our Heavenly Father needs to come from a place of humility, having a broken heart and contrite spirit and being willing to give of our time, possessions, and energies.  Sometimes I withhold my energies, and only give part.  It was such a wonderful lesson and helped me reconsider how much of myself I am really offering, even though I am in full time missionary service.  I need to give from my heart.  I love you all so much!

Sister Robinson

Hey!

So this week was good. :) haha. LIke every week. And we're making some good progress here, the members are starting to trust my new companion more and more and things are on the up. And I continue being amazed by the relief society of this ward. The Presidency really goes the extra mile to visit the sisters and help us and support us. I really understood something this week about how badly the church needs the relief society. because...

Well... Nancy didn't go to church today, so we went to visit her in the afternoon and when we got there the relief society preident with her companion were there teaching and testifying to her. They had asked me what she most needed for her to get baptized, and I told them she needed a testimony of the book of mormon and joseph smith. So that's what they were testifying about. They testified to her of the truthfulness of the book of mormon abnd how there wasn't a better way to raise a family than on the principles and beautiful things found in that book that invite us to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. And Nancy now has her baptismal date that she chose for the 6th of June and she says that she will get baptized that day if she has recieved her answer. And then she proceeded to fix appointments for us to pass by and read the book of mormon with her. So, please pray for her that she can recieve her answer or recognize the answer that she has already recieved. Of everyone I've ever known, she needs the power of the atonement and blessings of the gospel in her life and family more than any. 

Francisco, was in the program all week, but he said he's gonna get good grades this week so he can come home for the weekend and learn more. So... there we are, and we are hard at the process and work of finding new investigators and working with the members here. 

Also, Heavenly Father is amazing. It never ceases to amaze me the miracles and "coincidences" He works out to bless and show His love to His children. Even the ones that aren't searching for it recieve opportunites handed to them. But the crazy part is that if they're not searching for it, they don't recognize it. 

Also, two months until my birthday! Oh ya!!! My first birthday in the mission is coming up fast! haha. but from what I've seen they're just like whatever other day. But not on my birthday, my birthday is gonna be the happiest most successful day ever! But... that's still two months away, so I shouldn't get too excited. :) haha. I love you all, to the moon and back again and am reall grateful for having been blessed with my amazing family and my friends. I hope this letter finds you all happy and filled with the light of Christ. If not you can watch Dare to Stand Alone. No one found it for me, but I found it anyway. ;) haha. Thanks for the help. :) Actually like a ton of people told me what it was called, so you're basically the best. :)

Mucho cariño y amor!

Elder Robinson

P.S. Please pray for me that I might become what Heavenly Father created me to be

May 16-May 22 2015

Saturday we picked up Boiser at Diversion 21 Hotel, drove to Jalandoni to leave our vehicle behind locked gates and took a taxi to Ortiz Wharf to board the Roro boat for Guimeras.  There was an hour or two wait in line for tickets because of the festival going on there.  We had no idea but because we are senior citizens, they told us to go to the front of the line.😃 We arrived around 8:00 am and Elder and Sister Cushings picked us all up and we went right to the Jordan Church to have a self reliance initiative devotional.  The District presidency was there, plus two branch presidents and some members.  Boiser presented and we both were blessed to testify.  A sister came up afterwards and gave me two bags of cashews.  She said she was so touched and inspired by my story and she gave me three hugs.  I had told about going to school and working three jobs, typing papers for other people's classes, reading to a blind girl, and being a part-time secretary but still being unable to make my housing and tuition payment, so I had to move.  But I stayed in school.  She was a sweetheart.  After the meeting, we all went to the Manggahan festival 2015 Mangoes.  There is a contest with who can eat the most mangoes in one sitting.  They are so superbly good...mm...  Then we went to lunch.  I had fixed us, Dad and I sandwiches because we don't like the food over there.  It is pretty rural and very country.  By the way, we didn't do the contest; we just bought a big bag of mangoes to last until we get back there in two weeks.  After lunch, we went to an organic farm and then home at 5:00 pm by way of the Roro boat, taxi, and our mission truck, and returning Boiser to Diversion 21.  We are worn out.
Sunday, May 17 we attended Mandurriao Ward.  The counselor was hoping we would attend.  He, Brother Salazar is now Bishop Salazar.  The past bishop was Sister Cagapes' son in law, Bishop Doricarion.  He was bishop for eight years.  We also knew one of the counselors, Brother Catapunan.  He is Sister Cozzens' brother.  So that was fun for us.  After sacrament meeting, we went into another room with the elders to teach Queeny and her 11 year old daughter, Braeky.  It went well.  Queeny cried during part of the discussion.  I think that is a good sign.  She has been really hard to catch for teaching, but this time she asked when we could teach her again and she wants us to come.  They have been in the states for about eight years, so they speak English.  They made an appointment for Tuesday.  Woohoo!  We went home and broke our fast.  Then we went to San Miguel group.  I led the singing, Ray gave a prayer.  There were four young investigators there; 8, 11, 13, and 14 year-old girls.  After we went to Jalandoni for an appointment, but they never showed up. Home at 5:30.  It is super hot.  We had popcorn and mangoes mm.....
Monday we picked up Sister Daroy for her English test along with her companion, Sister Servenzes.  Cushings tested another elder and afterwards, three zones were gathered at the Mission office to watch "Meet the Mormons".  There were two brown outs during the movie.  After the show, President Aquino provided some encouragement to obey the rules (hair cuts/ not too close on the sides, being dressed for study time, and keeping your shoes clean and polished).   Then we were all fed lunch.  I tasted my first banana catsup--it was great!  It has a spicy taste to it, so of course I like it.  We tested Elder Eenje after lunch.  After that we gave Cushings a ride to SM where they shopped, we bought drinks, and visited with other elders who were there.  They get one day a month to go to SM.  There will be an emergency transfer tomorrow.  South Zone leader has to go home for back surgery.  We took Cushings to the wharf with their three keyboards in hand and went to Jalandoni until 6:30.  We went home and discovered a phone in the back of the truck.  The sisters came by our bungalow about 7:15 looking for their phone.  They were so relieved to find it.  We fed them a mango and a glass of water and drove them to their next appointment.  To bed.
Tuesday was district meeting and then we met with Queeny and Braeky again.  I thought it went well; though the time just flew by, it lasted two hours, but was very productive.  It was 1:30 when we went home for lunch.  I hung out laundry and then we went to Jalandoni.  We stopped on our way home for water and then put the clothes away from the clothesline around 6:30.  The zone leaders stopped for a drink of water and a visit around 7:00 pm, Elder Watkins and Elder Fogavai.  It was just what we needed.
Wednesday we picked up the elders (4) at 6:40am for a community service project: painting at Bonafacio Elementary School, ten rooms inside and out and the whole face.  We came home about 10:00 am for Ray to shower.  I was already showered because they did not let the sisters do this project so I waited in the vehicle and read scriptures.  Then we went to Jalandoni.  Darlene, North stake specialist came in for help with her certificates but we couldn't help.  We came home at 3:00 to cook rice for the LaPuz graduation at 5:00.  At graduation they had samples of their businesses---jewelry, pizza triangles, peanuts, etc.  They had us come to the front to sample or try on their goods and pass out the certificates.  Home at 7:30 pm.
Thursday we went to the mission office; President wasn't there.  We went grocery shopping and then to Jalandoni.  I talked with Angela at 11 pm, poor girl. We went home for a late lunch and went out with the zone leaders, got punted 2x but we gave out 3 Books of Mormon.  We dropped them off at their next appointment and returned to Jalandoni.  Home at 6:30. We listened to Elder and Sister Bednar Face2Face.  It was inspiring.  Ray worked on his history.  At nights we are reading the Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.  I am so enjoying that.
Friday we went to Mandurriao Plaza at 6:30 to pick up Julie Mendame and three young children to go to Goducate for Iloilo youth conference.  There was a presentation by four leaders; Julie was one, Butch was one, City Ward Bishop was one and another sister.  The topics:  You Can Be Anything (career exploration) 2Be Smart (effective study habits) 3Money Bootcamp (youth financial literacy) 4TechWise (wise use of technology). We were the summary round up for 20 minutes.  I gave my short poor story, but testified that following the Lord's Plan of Happiness really makes for temporal and spiritual success: pray and read scriptures every day, every day, every day, follow the living prophets,  serve missions, marry a covenant keeper in the temple and together teach your children to walk in light. And truth--hang onto the Church for dear life--you will be rich, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God--all else will follow.  Ray asked if they thought he could play a song that they could recognize with something he was holding in his fist?  I witnessed he could. He proceeded to tell the youth that we were witnesses of the truths they had been taught and then he played "We thank Thee O God for a Prophet" on his teeny harmonica.  They gave him a huge cheer!  We brought two men home and spent some time in the Center beginning this email, but we are at the wharf picking up  Boiser and Annie, his wife, to take them to the Fine Rock Hotel.  Halong, another busy week ahead, Sister Robinson III, Mom

"Animated" sisters

more fun cartoon effects

Silly pics

Sister Naylor's camera has awesome effects.  And the last picture is after a long day of moving out of our zone.  So my skirt is untied and I'm looking classy!  Fun times.

Family Council

So we had Stake Conference this weekend with C. Scott Grow.  I laughed every single time I said his name.  I really hope he did that on purpose.  It was really good; part of the Adult Session was one of the new general authorities (Elder Wilde?  His last name is Wilde I just am not sure if I am supposed to call him Elder but I feel like yes) talking a lot about family council's.  It made me want to just start a family so I can have family council! haha.  Anyway I am pretty sure the same topics are being covered church-wide but I still wanted to share so maybe some of you can get a head-start before your stake conference. :)  Mostly what stood out to me was to make family council as natural as possible, and that it isn't a time for parents to direct and instruct, it is a time to invite input.  It's an opportunity for the family to come together to plan and discuss how the family can work more effectively together.  I feel like there could be really good things to come out of family councils as children play an active role in determining what can be done to be more unified.  I'm excited to hear the good that comes out of your family councils in the next week or two!

Lucy is going to come to church this week so we're excited about that.  Lindsay and Caleb are still doing well and reading the Book of Mormon.

Funny story for the week: this guy, Christian, promised us that he was going to come to the scripture study class that the Elders have been doing every week.  The idea is to get potential investigators to come and study the Bible with us to increase their interest so they become investigators. :)  This guy is a little bit crazy and he talks SO SLOW.  With a million ums in between everything.  It is painful.  But he needs the gospel!  So the day of the class comes and it is raining pretty hard, so he calls us and we are busy so he leaves a message.  He goes on and on about how he can't come because of the rain.  That there is lightning and he has had floods before.  Most of this is funny if you know him and how he talks because it's hilarious. But at the end he said, "please do not take this as my excuse...it is true, and real, and you can see it outside." hahahaha...oh man he is funny!

It is pretty darn awesome being a missionary.  I don't know how all you awesome people that haven't served full time missions got so awesome without it, but honestly I seriously needed it.  It's only been six months but the difference it's made in my testimony and my understanding and my commitment to the gospel is huge and I just don't think it would've happened any other way.  I doubt people could tell a difference in me, but I know the difference.  I have a spiritual strength that I didn't have before, and I have the faith to withstand trials now.  And by that I mean trials of faith (doubts).  I needed it so much.  It's a struggle but I'm SO grateful that I chose to serve a mission.

So that's about it!  Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Robinson

Family Council

So we had Stake Conference this weekend with C. Scott Grow.  I laughed every single time I said his name.  I really hope he did that on purpose.  It was really good; part of the Adult Session was one of the new general authorities (Elder Wilde?  His last name is Wilde I just am not sure if I am supposed to call him Elder but I feel like yes) talking a lot about family council's.  It made me want to just start a family so I can have family council! haha.  Anyway I am pretty sure the same topics are being covered church-wide but I still wanted to share so maybe some of you can get a head-start before your stake conference. :)  Mostly what stood out to me was to make family council as natural as possible, and that it isn't a time for parents to direct and instruct, it is a time to invite input.  It's an opportunity for the family to come together to plan and discuss how the family can work more effectively together.  I feel like there could be really good things to come out of family councils as children play an active role in determining what can be done to be more unified.  I'm excited to hear the good that comes out of your family councils in the next week or two!

Lucy is going to come to church this week so we're excited about that.  Lindsay and Caleb are still doing well and reading the Book of Mormon.

Funny story for the week: this guy, Christian, promised us that he was going to come to the scripture study class that the Elders have been doing every week.  The idea is to get potential investigators to come and study the Bible with us to increase their interest so they become investigators. :)  This guy is a little bit crazy and he talks SO SLOW.  With a million ums in between everything.  It is painful.  But he needs the gospel!  So the day of the class comes and it is raining pretty hard, so he calls us and we are busy so he leaves a message.  He goes on and on about how he can't come because of the rain.  That there is lightning and he has had floods before.  Most of this is funny if you know him and how he talks because it's hilarious. But at the end he said, "please do not take this as my excuse...it is true, and real, and you can see it outside." hahahaha...oh man he is funny!

It is pretty darn awesome being a missionary.  I don't know how all you awesome people that haven't served full time missions got so awesome without it, but honestly I seriously needed it.  It's only been six months but the difference it's made in my testimony and my understanding and my commitment to the gospel is huge and I just don't think it would've happened any other way.  I doubt people could tell a difference in me, but I know the difference.  I have a spiritual strength that I didn't have before, and I have the faith to withstand trials now.  And by that I mean trials of faith (doubts).  I needed it so much.  It's a struggle but I'm SO grateful that I chose to serve a mission.

So that's about it!  Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Robinson

Well hey guys!

So this week flew by incredibly fast! But it was a good week. 

My companion and I have been able to work really well together, so that's been really fun. He's a funny little guy. :) I'll probably send a picture of him pretty soon here. Probably next week. He's so little. He looks like a small child. haha. But he's a fun guy. 

This week we have interviews with the President, so that's always fun, because they always give us some delicious treat in his department. And Nancy is on her way to baptism, but she still doesn't really understand some things, she knows the church is true and she's living all the commandments, but she doesn't know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I don't know how the missionaries convinced her to stop drinking tea and coffee without knowing that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but there you are. I wish I could take her to see the Nauvoo Pageant! That would make it pretty easy, I think. But, that's where she's at. But she wants to get baptized, so it's just a matter of arriving to an environment where the spirit can testify to her.

And yesterday we found Francisco! :) He's pretty cool. He actually lives right next to us with a family of members, because he's training in the marine service. He's never really worried much about God or anything like that, but he committed to pray and ask if God existed and if we were teaching a true message. So that's awesome. He's honestly a really good kid. He's been dedicated to his country in the same degree of devotion that we have to our church and God. Since he was little. So he's avoided drugs and alcohol and piercings and stuff because he wanted to be healthy and be able to serve his country. He related to us really fast, because what he's doing for Chile is like what we're doing for God. That's what he told us. Then the patriarch explained to him that God gave us this earth and our lives and families so that we could take care of them. And he really understood that. Next time I think we might talk about Thomas S. Monson and his service for his country. I don't remember what the video was called about him in the army saying that he was Mormon. So if someone remembers you could hook me up fast with the deets. Thanks!

I love you all and feel your prayers and love lifting me up every day. I couldn't do this without your help and prayers. Have an amazing week! 

Elder Robinson

P.S. Please pray for me that I may be a diligent and dedicated servant.

PIcs of Andres and marcela

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=050ca3555c&view=att&th=14d44cfd5e4ebca7&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw

Let me know if that works!

May 17

We are having a missionary experience with a set of Elders here. They asked us to help teach a lady and her daughter who lived several years in Ohio. Her husband is a preacher in some church and she has gone through a divorce with him. The divorce happened because he got involved in a relationship with a missionary from their church. She came back to the Philippines with one of her daughters. She is pretty interested in our church but she is moving forward with caution. She asked a lot of questions about why we and the younger missionaries are willing to "waste" two years of their life doing this. There are some things about our church culture that are hard to explain. They are just part of our gospel culture. The Elders and we explained that we love our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ and we want to serve him and share the blessings we have in our lives with others.
I remember when Nathan was getting ready to go on his mission, our Stake President said to him more than once, be prepared to "waste and wear yourself out in the Lord's service". I have seen that phrase in the D&C and it sounds kind of harsh, but I also believe what my Bishop said to me when I was preparing to go on my mission. He said that the Lord would make it all up to me, for the time I lost in His service many times over. I know that is true. We can never give to Heavenly Father more than he gives us in return. We are always in his debt, and are "unprofitable servants". Our gospel and church culture includes an amazing pattern for success and happiness.
I am thankful to be serving another mission and I know that our blessings far exceed our effort. I know that Heavenly Father is blessing our family in wonderful ways.
We pray for you every day, and love you so much.
Love, Dad

May 8-15

We worked on some family search at the Center on Friday.  I added some memories.  At 6:00 we started our self-reliance meeting.  By 8:30 we were home.
Saturday we went to the Center, ate lunch at home at 1:00, at 2:00 we went to Mandurriaos business graduation, then at 5:30 we went to Sister Cagapes 65th birthday celebration.  What a party.  There were probably 100 people there with tributes from grade school classmates, her children paid tributes and Ray and I gave a tribute.  She is a wonderful lady, an amazing mother, and a good business woman.  She grew up very poor.  When she was young, she didn't have shoes to wear to school.  But she is keeping her children at home in the Philippines by setting them up in businesses and in homes.  She had eight children, two live in the states with their husbands and children.  But she plans on bringing them home at some point.  Home at 9:30.
Sunday we spoke in Miag-ago Group, about 30 people, only about half understood us I think.  After church there, we went to Tigbuaun and gave them some business books and education books and six Foundations books.  It was what we had left.  We came home for lunch and then went to San Miguel group.  Happy Mothers Day! Received first from the man who made me a mother, Ray, then on text from Elder now Brother Ortiz.  Early home 5:00.
Monday, May 11 we went to Cozzens; they have Internet service and they were up at 5:30 am waiting for their missionary call and said we could come there.  We got on "hangouts" with Elder Andrew Robinson then Sister Charity joined in the last fifteen minutes and then we talked with her.  Two hours went by and we had the wonderful call from Nathan, Amy, and Cole Eldon from the hospital.  What a relief to have everything done.  Welcome Little Prince!  Then Raymond and family called with Eve's delightful laugh, laugh, laugh.  It was very fun to feast my eyes on everyone!  Sarah, April, and Rachael had nice, kind words for their mother on Facebook or email.  Thank you!  The next blessing was that the district was having a party at our bungalow after the phone calls so I went home to prepare food and was happy to have things to do because it is actually deflating when the calls are over and I'm just homesick.  The district missionaries came and we watched "Meet the Mormons".  After we dropped the missionaries off at Jalandoni, we stayed for about three hours before going home.
Tuesday we went to Mandurriao for district meeting but no one had a key to get in so we took everyone to the bungalow for the meeting.  It was a good meeting.  President Aquino showed up for the last half of the meeting.  And he used a room after to have an interview with Sister Serventes.  We hung up our wash to dry after that and went to Jalandoni, went home for lunch, and went back.  We learned of our grandson's name officially:  Cole Eldon Robinson. 9 lbs.  I showed everyone I could find of this cute boys' picture.  We cancelled our meeting for tonight since we had it last Friday.  Darlene, N. Stake R.S. President and Self Reliance Specialist, needed some assistance with groceries for North stake youth conference, so we drove to the Atrium and she fed us at McDonald's.  We came home at 8:00.
Wednesday we met with Boiser and three sisters from North stake at Diversion 21 Hotel to go to Goducate where the youth conference will be held starting today.  Boiser was the first presenter; he did a good job.  His title was "Who do I want to be?"  The second presenter was the wife of the Area Presidency secretary in Manila.  Her message was on "social media" not if, but how you use it---for Christ or for the devil.  What may seem small may change your life.  Something you casually or jokingly put on Facebook can be looked at by a would be employer and lose you a job before you can ever be hired.  You can get rid of what you put on for your book but once it goes out, it can be read by others, never to be removed.  We left around 4:30 so we wouldn't have to travel back in the dark.  We stopped at home before we went to Jalandoni for the Stake Presidency meeting about self-reliance job fair in connection with 23 government agencies to be held this Friday.  We gave Butch a ride home around 8:30.
Thursday we put in one load of wash, filled the water tank and went to Jalandoni.  Just before lunch time, we paid a bill, picked up about 8 items at the grocery store and returned to Jalandoni for a 2:00 appointment, that didn't show up until 5:30.  But at 5:00 two men came in, one from Mindanao, another island and one from Dumangas wanting some help with family search and Ray was able to assist them.  They were not LDS.  They had just met each other; they are relatives.  After Cooke, the government lady, came and showed us what she wanted done for the job fair, we set up a sample and then the janitor set it all up.  Afterward we watched Arevalo young men play Molo 2 young men in basketball.  Home at 7:30.
Friday we went to Jalandoni, which is the same place as formerly referred to as the Center, at 7:30 for the job fair.  We helped a few people with resumes and gave a quick tour of the church to a man from England who was one of the employers.  The fair was a great success: 119 people came and some were offered jobs on the spot.  At 3:00 we gave Julie, Iloilo stake specialist, a ride home as we went to mission office in Arevalo to clear up some questions about apartments and shared some pamahow with the elders there.
Ha long, Elder and Sister Robinson. We love you all!

Show some respect!

Well this week was a little crazy.  Even though we didn't get transferred we still moved so that took some time and effort.  The first night we biked home it took us an entire hour, but we were further from home than we would normally ever be so it won't be like that all the time.  It was pretty dark by the time we got to the neighborhood we now live in so I wouldn't see all the homeless people until they were right by me on the sidewalk and it was a little freaky.  Sister Naylor and I were both just about hyperventilating when we pulled into our parking lot.  Sketchy, sketchy people out at night.  Actually they probably are totally normal but when it's dark everyone seems scary.

The subject line is from someone we contacted this week.  His name is Tom, and he basically is a scientologist but not.  He says he believes in Christ but then he doesn't really.  Anyway everything he said was really confusing but he kind of liked what we said about the restoration and about Heavenly Father having a plan for each of us.  While we were talking to him some friend of his pulled up.  We couldn't hear all of the conversation but they were talking about some drama that had occurred earlier.  What we heard Tom say was, "ya, I told him, 'quit talking to my girl! she's not even dressed yet, show some respect!"  hahaha oh man.  What's sad is that weird stuff like that is so common as a missionary that Sister Naylor and I forgot to talk and laugh about it until like...the next day.

Lucy is still doing pretty well.  She's not sure but still willing and said she'd read the Book of Mormon so... #converted. :)  Our member that is her neighbor invited her to dinner with us this weekend and that went pretty well.

I'm excited for new little Robinson baby! Excited to hear a name too...

Love all of you!  Love to hear from you.  Hope Mother's day was awesome!

Sister Robinson

Show some respect!

Well this week was a little crazy.  Even though we didn't get transferred we still moved so that took some time and effort.  The first night we biked home it took us an entire hour, but we were further from home than we would normally ever be so it won't be like that all the time.  It was pretty dark by the time we got to the neighborhood we now live in so I wouldn't see all the homeless people until they were right by me on the sidewalk and it was a little freaky.  Sister Naylor and I were both just about hyperventilating when we pulled into our parking lot.  Sketchy, sketchy people out at night.  Actually they probably are totally normal but when it's dark everyone seems scary.

The subject line is from someone we contacted this week.  His name is Tom, and he basically is a scientologist but not.  He says he believes in Christ but then he doesn't really.  Anyway everything he said was really confusing but he kind of liked what we said about the restoration and about Heavenly Father having a plan for each of us.  While we were talking to him some friend of his pulled up.  We couldn't hear all of the conversation but they were talking about some drama that had occurred earlier.  What we heard Tom say was, "ya, I told him, 'quit talking to my girl! she's not even dressed yet, show some respect!"  hahaha oh man.  What's sad is that weird stuff like that is so common as a missionary that Sister Naylor and I forgot to talk and laugh about it until like...the next day.

Lucy is still doing pretty well.  She's not sure but still willing and said she'd read the Book of Mormon so... #converted. :)  Our member that is her neighbor invited her to dinner with us this weekend and that went pretty well.

I'm excited for new little Robinson baby! Excited to hear a name too...

Love all of you!  Love to hear from you.  Hope Mother's day was awesome!

Sister Robinson

New nephew!

That's a sick mother's day present, right?

Well, so that was the best thing I have heard all week. This morning, my newest nephew was born. So now I have like 33 or something. :) And they're all the coolest thing in my life. Honestly, I was daydreaming right before bed, and the things that I was daydreaming about was being in my huge mansion that I'm gonna have with all of my nieces and nephews just partying, and we know how to party. :)

I got to call and talk with the parents yesterday, and with Charity, too for about 15 minutes, and it was a dream. And then I woke up and I'm back in Chile. But it was amazing. And then everyone was talking about trunky (homesick) stuff in the house. But now we're all good again with our heads in the game. 

Just so you all know... Aaron doesn't have time for us to come by any more. He's looking for a job and stuff. But he said that he'd call us in a couple of weeks when he gets things figured out. ;) That's always promising. haha But in a couple of weeks we'll probably try to get a hold of him. Sometimes people need to have some time. And the Lord has His time, too. So that's just how it is. :)

Nancy is coming along well, we're gonna visit her today, but she couldn't go to church yesterday because she was really sick... But she still has the baptismal date for the 23rd. But today we're gonna verify if she is keeping the word of wisdom. Because if not, we'll have to change the date, because in our mission, they have to be keeping all of the commandments 2 weeks before the baptism. 

Also, just so you all know, I'm not gonna have an accent when I get back, OK. :) I'm speaking Spanish, not English with a Mexican accent. That was for Charity. But when I speak English to the new missionaries that come, I do forget some words, or they just come out of my mouth in Spanish. But that's why I try to write in my journal every day. Because that's gonna be embarrassing sometime if I can't speak my own language. :)

Also, it was stake conference this last weekend, and Elder DiGiovanni was there (an area seventy) and both sessions he spoke about the day of rest. Dallin H. Oaks also told us that we were gonna be hearing a lot more about the day of rest in this coming year. But I think it was Russell M. Nelson that talked about that in the last talk of General Conference, right? About that lists don't work any more (or they never really worked but they helped, maybe) but that what we do on the day of rest is a signal to the Lord. And to think about what signal is this sending to my Heavenly Father. I think that works pretty well. And the scripture that says that the day of rest was made for man, man wasn't made for the day of rest. Or something like that hombre no fue hecho por el dìa de reposo, sino que el dìa de reposo fue hecho por cause del hombre. Basically that God created it to help us, it's an opportunity and blessing that we have to rest and thank the Lord as families and renew our covenants. It's true. And there's a huge and notable difference between the active members that honor the day of rest, and those that go to church, and that's where it starts and ends. They're stronger, more unified, and happier, because they're less preoccupied about their children and I believe even their marriage. 

I hope you all have an amazing week! And today I was craving haagen dazs shakes from smashburger, so if someone could go eat some and send me a pic, that would be almost as good as eating it. :)

Love you all!

Elder Robinson

P.S. Please pray for me, that I may be filled with the light of Christ, so that through Him, we can light the way to eternal life. 

Happy May Day - May 8

1 Nephi 17:3. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them
Friday, May 1st after we did the car wash etc., we went to Arevalo to have a referral sent to Texas.  A Filipino girl, who was born and raised here is a nurse and works in the Houston area.  She needs some young single adults to fellowship her.  Her mother has been taking the missionary lessons but has not been baptized yet.  Also we went to Jalandoni and visited with Hazel Garcia.  She is 25 returned missionary, has a nursing degree and is going for a law degree.  She would just like to get married and have a family and she is darling.  Anyway, the single adults just returned from conference where we presented.  We locked up the church and went home when all were gone.
Saturday I made muffins, banana,pineapple,carrot.  Ray and I cut up watermelon and pineapple--we are prepared for Sunday night after the fast.  We also went to Iloilo Market to get what I needed for a Sunday bag for Geraldine and her three year old.  Then to Jalandoni to cool.☺️. Oh it is Labor Day here.  We went home at 1:30. Between 2:30-4:00 there was a crazy rain/wind/thunder storm.  It cooled things off to probably 85.
Sunday Ray is wearing his fast-tie from Pinegars that tie us to Andrew on fast Sundays😇 We have increased our scripture study now to also include the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes a day.  I figured it out for me if I read five pages a day, I will be finished and ready to start again with the schedule in October.  It feels good to be regularly reading in the Book of Mormon also.  There is comfort and peace and love in that book, a spirit that I like in my life every day, every day, every day.😃
Sunday has been fast and testimony meeting and we attended Mandurriao ward at 8:30.  We broke the fast at 1:00 and then went to San Miguel group meetings at 2:00.  (Elder) brother Baccai, our past district leader, returned here for a visit and business.  We gave him a ride after church to the jeepney stop in Jaro.  Hazel and Chesca, 25,22, respectively, came over and we played rummicube and visited.  They are both darling!  They left at 9:30.
Monday I put one load of wash in and we had an appointment at 10:00 in Jalandoni.  It was for PEF.  After, we came home, cooked fish and vegetables, ate took a nap, and returned to Jalandoni.  At 5:30 we watched Arevalo and Leganes young men play basketball.  Leganes came back from a 7 point deficit to win it by 3 points!  We bought apple pie and ice cream at McDonalds. F.h.e. Was Foundations number 4 Manage Money.
Tuesday was district meeting.  The lesson was on inviting others to be baptized.  I did the closing song and prayer and taught them how to lead the song "How Gentle Gods Commands."  They know how to swing their arms but not on the beat.  They generally don't know that part.  We went to McDonalds with them and took them back to work.  We challenged them to keep up with their scripture reading and we will have a district breakfast and movie "Meet the Mormons" on p day.  How are our children and grandchildren doing in keeping up with us on your scripture reading?  May 8 is page 896.  Because missionaries change so often, we can just repeat the same activities.  Then we went to the Center, at 5:00 games started: girls volleyball and then ym basketball and older men basketball.  So we watched and cheered.  We gave Sisters Cozzens and four youth a ride home before we returned home.
Wednesday was triple zone conference:  North zone, central zone, Guimeras.  We picked up our district missionaries @ 7:40 and went to LaPaz for the conference.  The meeting was great.  The theme was "What Think Ye of Christ?" TODAY I WIL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. To do this memorize scriptures, memorize hymns, 1-testify more often of Christ 2-teach of Christ from the scriptures 3-use the words of Christ 4-apply the questions of Christ to yourself.  "I will not let past failures haunt me.  Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I will not rummage through my trash heaps of failures.  I will admit them.  I will correct them.  I will press on, victoriously.  No failure is fatal.  It's OK to stumble.  I will get up.  It's OK to fail.  I will rise again.  TODAY I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  Then he, President Aquino wrote his own daily psalm.  (It might make a great f.h.e. Activity). My Daily Psalm:  today I begin a new life
I will greet the day with love and a smile in my heart
I will persist until I succeed
I am natures greatest miracle
I will laugh at the world
Today I will value a 100-fold
I will act now
I will pray for guidance"
Just a side note, if you remember at the beginning of our mission, the president was gone and we were called to visit the four sisters.  One was crunched up in a fetal position and wouldn't open her eyes.  I thought maybe she was hallucinating?  Well, anyway, I won't retell the story but she gave part of the training on being a consecrated missionary and she was amazing!  She has grown exponentially!  It is so rewarding to see.  She gave me a note along with a painted wooden strawberry key ring.  The Lord is amazing--the love and support He gives us.After zone conference at 3:00, we delivered 8 missionaries to their areas and picked up President Sorillas, a counselor in the mission presidency.  We went to Iloilo DRS. Hospital.  What a difference.  It is a private hospital and is almost as nice as some in the USA.  Ray and President Sorillas administered to Sister Tupas.  She was visiting from Norway and got pneumonia.  Her father was the first stake president in Iloilo but he is dead.  She lives in Norway with her husband.  We also met her brother who is a U.S. Citizen getting his nursing degree here and then he will return to the states.  He was in the Army and served in Iraq and in Afghanistan.  The mother lives in New York.  Then we left President Sorillas at home and visited Mel Cozzens.  We were there just in time for Ray to help his relative resubmit her PEF loan papers.  It was great timing.
Thursday we threw in some wash, went shopping and went to the Center.  Ray took me to the Promenade for dinner, for Mothers Day.  I had salad and brought home pumpkin soup.  For the two of us the equivalent of $14-15.  It is the nicest restaurant herein Iloilo, or on the island.
Friday I am writing emails and looking forward to calls on Monday from the missionaries, Elder Robinson and Sister RobinsonIV!
Happy Mothers Day!

Hallo

Well, I am staying in Carmichael with Sister Naylor!  These are pictures of our we're-so-happy-we-are-both-staying faces!  We got to find out a little early because Sister Naylor needed to make an appointment and so President told her a few hours early so she could make the appointment.  It was nice to get a few hours less of anxiety.  We have an appointment with Lindsey tonight, she is super cool and has two sons and we gave her the Book of Mormon test so we will see if she passed!  The test is, if they don't read it they aren't prepared for the gospel yet.  But she seems ready!  And she said she would read.  And she would be such a great church member.  So hopefully she accepts the joy of the gospel!

In other news, we had a lesson with Alyssa.  She is 12 and adorable and hopefully she moves in with her dad soon so she can be baptized.  Lesson went well, but afterward she was super cute and offered us water and then we saw their baby quails.  Well I picked up on of the baby quails and then it flew out of my hands and landed on the floor.  And then it flopped around for a while before I could pick it up again and then it died in my hands.  Yep, I killed an investigators pet.  Good think there are like seven other quails but it was kind of traumatizing.  

We are also moving because a random guy moved in with our members and that is against the rules.  So today we moved all our stuff to an apartment that is actually outside of our zone.  That is temporary until a different apartment is found.  So we will move again within in a few weeks.  The apartment is full of random clothes that elders have left haha.  But it's fun to have our own space!  So it's been a crazy day trying to get keys and pack and everything.  Due to that, I am out of time!  Love you all, hope all is well.

Sister Robinson

oh and p.s. tomorrow is my 6 month birthday!  Crazy! 1/3 of the way through, one year left

Hallo

Well, I am staying in Carmichael with Sister Naylor!  These are pictures of our we're-so-happy-we-are-both-staying faces!  We got to find out a little early because Sister Naylor needed to make an appointment and so President told her a few hours early so she could make the appointment.  It was nice to get a few hours less of anxiety.  We have an appointment with Lindsey tonight, she is super cool and has two sons and we gave her the Book of Mormon test so we will see if she passed!  The test is, if they don't read it they aren't prepared for the gospel yet.  But she seems ready!  And she said she would read.  And she would be such a great church member.  So hopefully she accepts the joy of the gospel!

In other news, we had a lesson with Alyssa.  She is 12 and adorable and hopefully she moves in with her dad soon so she can be baptized.  Lesson went well, but afterward she was super cute and offered us water and then we saw their baby quails.  Well I picked up on of the baby quails and then it flew out of my hands and landed on the floor.  And then it flopped around for a while before I could pick it up again and then it died in my hands.  Yep, I killed an investigators pet.  Good think there are like seven other quails but it was kind of traumatizing.  

We are also moving because a random guy moved in with our members and that is against the rules.  So today we moved all our stuff to an apartment that is actually outside of our zone.  That is temporary until a different apartment is found.  So we will move again within in a few weeks.  The apartment is full of random clothes that elders have left haha.  But it's fun to have our own space!  So it's been a crazy day trying to get keys and pack and everything.  Due to that, I am out of time!  Love you all, hope all is well.

Sister Robinson

oh and p.s. tomorrow is my 6 month birthday!  Crazy! 1/3 of the way through, one year left

uhhh

Here we are with our mini missionaries! Mine's in the back! and you can see him in the other one. :)

 Also, it's pretty much freaking cold here now. :) Much love!

Happy Star wars day!

hey, so Rachael reminded me that today is Star Wars day so... May the 4th be with you. :)

Also, if you've heard about the sister missionaries that were robbed and violated in Chile, that wasn't in my mission, and everything's being taken care of, and the guilty are already in jail, and were within an hour and a half of the incident, the mission asked us to let our families know that the security of the missionaries is top priority, so don't worry about us. Although, a drunk guy threatened to kill me the other day, but that's hardly unusual. :) haha. But honestly, we're totally safe. So sleep well. :)

Also, this past weekend I was blessed to be sent a mini missionary!!! I don't know if any of you have ever heard of the program (I hadn't) but it's for everyone that wants to from 16 to 18 to go around as a missionary for 4 days. They have almost the same schedule as us, study with us, and teach and contact and do everything with us. So I had a new companion for the whole weekend! And he was the freaking man! He was a convert from Parral (way out there in the country) and he was baptized 11 months ago and he already has the Melchizedek Priesthood and is filling out his mission papers. So he's way good. And we were honestly just best friends and he wants to marry my niece, Susan. haha. I told him he'd have to learn English and fight me first. :) He was honestly awesome. And we had a ton of success together.

We found 2 new investigators this weekend, and we commited another investigator to church with a baptismal date for the 23rd, his name is Aaron. Cool, right? He already has a book of Mormon, and bible name. And they were both pretty sweet guys. And he's cool. He acts really distracted during the lessons, and I get frustrated, but then I verify to see if he's understanding, and he seems to understand and take in everything even if it looks like he doesn't care. haha. He's kind of like a child in that way, but he's honestly way smart, and he came really well dressed to church on Sunday, and the members loved him. He's already popular. And Nancy also has a baptismal date for the 23rd as a goal, and is progressing slowly, but steadily. Her biggest impediment would be her half atheist, half believing daughter, who is a member. But she's coming along as well.

Also, it's Mother's day this week! So that's awesome! Also, tomorrow I go pick up my new companion, he is Peruvian too. I already know him because he was in my Zone in Andalien (that's where Andres and Marcela are) he's really teeny. Like probably a little higher than my elbow, but he's a cool guy. I'll be sending some pics in a sec, so just hold on. :) Also, shout out to J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter for having the best mother's day quote: "... love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person you loved is gone, will give us some protection forever..."

Have a good week! Love you!

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.

May 2

Hello everyone!
This week we were invited to attend and give a presentation at a YSA conference for our area. This included the whole island and a neighboring island. there were around 500 attending. The conference was held at a “resort” which was about a four hour drive from Iloilo and we followed the busses that came from our area. We got separated from the busses and I discovered that the resort was not where I thought it was. After driving around for a while we found the busses and then followed them again.
when we arrived at the resort I was tired and somewhat anxious because I was worried about our presentation and if the media things we had prepared were going to work in this facility. When we arrived and the young people were arriving too many of them greeted us and seemed so happy to see us and shake our hands. The experience was so delightful that I was I was immediately energized and felt great. I think that our presentation went well and the people seemed to enjoy it and were inspired by some of our media presentations.
Our presentation was on Self-Reliance but we broaden our interpretation of what is included in “Self Reliance”. Ours is really more of a “fullness of the gospel” message. The other missionary couple, who had been asked to present on “Family History” said to Sister Robinson, “I thought that you were going to present your  Self-Reliance program." I took that as a complement because if you could identify our message as “Self Reliance”, I think that it would be pretty boring. Besides, many of the people have been involved in the “program” already because they are students.
Some of the other presentations  were about preparing for marriage,(done separately for men and women), and missionary preparation, and school opportunities (BYU Hawaii). I felt kind of sorry for the young people. It seems like such a stressful time of life. Too many things to think about. The young people seemed to be interested and having fun with it but I am glad that I am past all of that. The age group of the YSA’s is 18 to 30 years but they all seem so young to me. The Philippino people all look young to me. Often a new sister missionary comes into the mission and they look like they are about 14 years old.
This past week I was in a priesthood meeting and we were discussing about the Book of Mormon from the Teachings of the Prophets, (Pres. Benson) and I expressed a  thought that seems pretty amazing to me and that is that The Book of Mormon contains a promise that I believe has a 100% success rate ( all of Heavenly Father’s promises are 100% guaranteed) but this one seems such a great invitation to try. Moroni 10:4. People can gain a testimony in other ways and come to the waters of Baptism but everyone really needs, at some time to apply this invitation to receive and ask with real intent, having faith in Christ. We can extend that promise with full confidence of fulfillment.
I am thankful for the blessings of the gospel in my life.
I love you all.
Dad

How is it that another week, another month has passed? Saturday, April 26, 2015

Saturday we purchased a few groceries at Iloilo Market(it is about the size of our store in Jerome but not as clean or as nice); it is close and easier to get to when it is not busy, in the morning.  We went home and then to Arevalo.  This church is bigger than Jalandoni and is also the mission office, so stake conference is held there. Ray sang at the priesthood leadership conference and I went to another room and visited with Amy and Nathan on the phone.  It was delightful and felt so good to hear their voices.  Then we had the Saturday afternoon adult session where we both sang in the choir.  We had a visiting authority, Elder and Sister Meim of the seventy.
Sunday was another conference and the choir, which included us again sang two more songs.  The theme was families.  It was told that President Insignes son always texted him when he returned home from school or whatever saying, "I am home". He said his son loved to be home.  He is on his mission now but will be home sometime this summer.  I thought it was so sweet.  We were told to make home a heaven.  Don't just talk about it.  "Walk the talk"☺️. Sister Meim talked about reverence and said that Reverence invites Revelation.  It is a sacred principle and covenant that we take in sacrament meeting.  And too many of us are violating the covenant in the very meeting we are making it( by texting, messaging etc). Elder Meim talked also about Gethsemane and how the Savior asked His disciples to wait with Him one hour?  And he related that one hour to the sacrament meeting hour.  Can we not wait (be reverent and remember Him, ponder) one hour and ten minutes in His sacrament meeting?
Monday we had off.  We did two loads of wash and other p-day stuff and then spent some time at the Center reviewing and practicing our plan for the hour we have to present self-reliance for the Young Single Adult Conference.
Tuesday was zone meeting.  Which now I understand happens after every transfer.  It is all new missionaries again, well not all but mostly.  Elder Kei from American Samoa is a new zone leader.  He's great!  Elder Watkins is still with us as the other zone leader.  The leader sisters, Sister Daroy and her companion and the zone leaders did training on "welcoming each day with joy, how we have been called of God to serve, and He knows we Can Do It.  A testimony was also given of the Book of Mormon.  We ate lunch, just Ray and I, at the Promenade--I had fish and chips.  We went back to Jalandoni for an appointment we had with a family from Oton.  Then we went to Arevalo to take some flyers we had to the A.P.s to be given to the Cushing couple for the Guimeras units about a "Job Fair".  We also visited with President Aquino about our car payments which the Church has changed a month ago but we just received notice and we have already paid two months in advance.  Well, I know that is nonsense to anyone but us.  And we discussed our move in June to an apartment underneath the zone leaders apartment.  It is smaller than where we are now but there is room for the vehicle behind high gates which is more desirable than on the street.
Wednesday I cut Rays hair and we went to the mall for the second time to try a Filipino hair cut.  It looks better.  We also paid the phone bill, got gas in the truck, picked up cash from the BDO(an ATM machine outside the bank.  The bank will not do the transaction inside).  We picked up a few groceries, made lunch and a casserole (gluten-free😃) and took to the neighbor whose mother just died on Saturday.  The father died in December.  Alvin and his brother are older but have never married or left home.  This is very hard on them.  Anyway after taking  the carbonara with sausage casserole over to the boys, we went to Jalandoni to practice our presentation for tomorrow.  It looks like 45 minutes.  Ray is going to redo his part.  We went home, had a snack and I prepared some breakfast sandwiches for us to take since we are to be at Jalandoni by 5:00 am.
Thursday we met the buses at the appointed time and an hour later, the kids were there ready to go.  We caravan end with three big buses, Insignes and Hernaezs in their van with their three children between them and us in the pickup behind.  It was a four hour trip to get to the Merimert Resort which could accommodate 500 plus young single adults for a mission-wide conference.  It started at 10:00 am with orientation, lunch at 11:00, 12:10 was a presentation on family history by the Streng couple assigned in Kalibo member/leadership support.  She ended with a family history story of her father who died last year.  She had not known him, maybe saw him 3-4 times in her whole life, her parents divorced while she was very young.   She is a convert to the Church.  Anyway, when he died, she did his work over here with her husband at the Cebu Temple and she heard him say, "thank you, Baby Girl". She feels like she knows him better in death than she did in life.  It was very touching.  Our presentation on self-reliance was next from 1:10-2:00.

I used the second half of Corner of the Sky to begin the second half of our one hour presentation to the single adults conference.  There were 500 plus in attendance.  Our topic was, of course, self reliance.  But what the Spirit wanted them to know about self reliance was that eagles are born to fly and we are born to become like our Father in Heaven.  He is not poor; he created the heaven and the earth and all things therein are His.  He has prepared Mansions for us.  He is rich.
How do we become like Him?  This is life eternal that we might know Him, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.  We must read His words every day, every day, every day. Seek Him in prayer...constant "may my heart be turned to pray, pray in secret day by day, that this boon (help, assistance) to mortals given may unite my soul with heaven."
D&C 59:3 those who obey the gospel, receive the good things of the earth....
Sacrifice what you are for what you want to become.
Who do you want to become?  Fix it.  Keep moving forward.
You have everything you need to become like God.  Jesus Christ made it possible for all of us.
We told the scripture story of Nephi building a boat.  Also of the Jaredites building 8 barges and the different ways the Lord answered their inquiries.  As in given complete instructions, waiting for them to ask; letting them figure out and do things and taking their ideas or stones to the Lord and asking Him to touch the stones.  The Lord honored their requests after they put forth their best efforts.
Because of faith, The brother of Jared saw Jesus Christ before He was born in the flesh.  Because of our faith, we can also see the hand of the Lord in our lives.
We put our own lives on the path of success or failure.
1-we must know God, read His words every day, every day, every day
2-unite your soul with heaven through constant prayer
3-return missionaries find a temple worthy partner
4-make a plan and go to work, inquiring of the Lord at every point
You were born to become like your Father in Heaven.  You can do it.
Of course, this was an hour presentation, so these are the highlights.
Dad told about "paying his tithing" and how that gave him power to go to the Lord for a job when he got let go when we were in our first year of marriage and how the Lord honored him in helping him get a job within less than 24 hours.  There is power in obeying the Lord's commandments.

It was a fun experience even though we're petrified of the large group and also concerned about our ability to keep the attention for that long.  We also had no idea if our technical video clips would work, having never been to the facility before but two worked, one didn't and dad just told the story which I thought it turned about more engaging than the clip.

They had a room for us at the resort but I wanted to go home.  There were teeny spiders crawling on me every time I sat on the bed.  I set my water bottle down and when I picked it up, I killed 5 plus spiders from the bottom of it and some went crawling up my arms.  They were teeny and fast.  I just couldn't sleep there.  So we let some who were short of accommodations have our room and we took a young man who needed to get back to his school(he was texted by his teacher that he was to give a report next morning), Syril is his name.  We took him back with us and he kept us enjoying the whole trip.  It went by very fast.  He was great in English, in conversation, in just enjoyment.  There are nine siblings in this family.  They live in Lapaz.  Super neat family!  We dropped him off at a jeepney stop, traveled on to McDonalds and picked up Big and Tasty and went home.  The conference gave us a bamboo/palm and coconut tree/Nepa hut picture with an easel as a "thank you".  It was very nice.  Here is the funny thing.  I had seen one that the Cushing couple had and they told me where to get one because we both really liked theirs.  And now we were given our own.  We were thrilled.  We were sorry to miss the dinner that night and dancing and the testimonies the next morning but we were glad to be in our own bed😊.
Friday we had the car washed, shopped while it was being done, and went to the Center to write and send emails.  We had to unlock the gate, the outside doors and the inside.  Everyone is still at the Resort.  Make each day joyful, love Sister Robinson III, Mom, Grandma

P.S. Elder Gustillo was baptized one year before he left on his mission in February.  He spoke in sacrament meeting and he sounded like a rm already.  He had a girl he liked in the ward and she left for a mission in Canada after he left by two weeks.
He is golden.  His parents and family are Catholic and they are not writing him so I'm next best.