Saturday, July 25-Friday, July 31 Happy Birthday, Andrew! Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Saturday we got up and ate breakfast with Elder and Sister Green and Elder and Sister Streng at the Streng's missionary palace.  Then Greens left for Dumangas for the boat ride to Bacolod.  We've had a great time together.  We went to Red Panda for lunch with Strengs and then to a Kalibo stake facilitator training meeting with Annie and President Ascuncion.  It was four hours.  They did a good job.  After we went to Streng's and played games and had popcorn and brownies.  I wrote my email journal and sent it from Strengs while the others watched a dinosaur movie.  They are so lucky to have internet at their house.
Sunday Happy Birthday, Sarah!  We attended Kalibo 1st Ward and the opening hymn was no. 305 In Our Lovely Deseret😃. It reminded us of Andrews farewell.  They speak Aklanon here.  It is very different from Illongo.  Though we don't speak either, we have grown accustomed to Illongo and can make out what they are talking about.  We miss the details but get the idea.  We were totally lost on the Aklanon.  One speaker spoke in sort of English and it was a terrific message.  He gave a poem entitled "And God Said No"
I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said "NO".
He said his spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience, and God said "NO".
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation, it isn't granted, it's earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, and God said "NO".
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain, and God said "NO".
He said suffering draws you apart from worry cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow, and He said "NO".
He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me,
And God said, "Ah, finally you have the idea"!

It was a wonderful message--the Lord gives us what we need to become like Him but it is up to us to Do It.  We assisted Strengs and Kalibo 1st bishop in starting My Path and the first Foundations lesson.  They will continue next week after the church block.  Sister Streng will train 2 facilitators at 5 pm at the church tonight.  We went to Strengs for lunch:  baked chicken, cucumbers, and cooked saboteurs with garlic, onions, ginger and chicken bouillon.  Then we traveled to Tangalan branch for their sixth lesson of Foundations.  It was great fun.  A new group that just opened up in the last three months was there for district conference.  They all came in a jeepney.    It was fun to meet these new members.  Some work in Boracay and speak excellent English.  We headed home around 3 arriving at our apartment at 7:30.  Just as we got in the sisters called.  They were locked out of their apartment and did not want to stand outside to be eaten by mosquitoes.  Lucky us, they came here to our place.  We gave them some juice and visited until a key came.  Kate Sorillas came over.  I loaned her "Horton Hatches the Egg".  She likes to read--mostly classics but she hadn't heard of Dr. Seuss.  Goodnight.
Monday laundry, went to the Center, shopped, home for lunch, SM basement for Family Search display--President and Sister Aquino were there, President Insigne, Cozzens, Hazel Garcia, Butch, Sorillas....big group.  After that we did some more grocery shopping at SM.  Home 4:00.  Raining.
Tuesday we attended 45 minutes of district meeting.  Ray did the recitations.  I did the scripture thought:  Romans 17 about how Christ put all things under His feet and so must we--day by day some point to gain--daily we must remove the Tate's from our heart and mind 'til all evil is subdued.  We picked up Boiser at the wharf at 9:15 and then picked up Sister Cagape at Jalandoni and traveled one hour to Ephrathah Farms.  It is 7 hectares of rolling hills, swimming pools, restaurant, gardens, animals, all organic stuff.  Plus they have dorm type housing, a pavilion, mountain bikes, boating, fishing, camping, a zip line, climbing wall,...it is beautiful and they have a sign:  no smoking, no alcohol, only legally married male and female couples can stay in a room together--man and wife.  The place and people are impressive.  Sister Cagape showed us the way, paid for our wonderful lunch, and then bought us all food to take home--dragon fruit, red papaya, rambutan, and  guyabano.  It was a wonderful time.  We let her off at her chicken farm and went to Jalandoni for a meeting at 3:00 with Boiser, Darlene, Julie, Butch, Sister Cagape and us.  She brought us all breads, mangoes, and carbonara(delicious).  We hurried to get Boiser to the port By 5:00 for his return to Bacolod.  We returned to the Center and home at 8:00.  Did another load of wash.  It is so nice to have the wash machine in the house.
Wednesday 2 Cor 8:14. I put in a load of wash before leaving at 7:30 for zone conference at Arevalo.  Elder Ramos was the spiritual opener.  He talked about his life two years ago on Dec 31st.  He was a military nurse/corporal-secretary for the highest general.  He had forgotten his patriarchal blessing and his mother's words.  Then he had a near accident.  He called his bishop for mission papers.  His father had had a stroke, his brother was serving a mission, his sister was in college, and his fiancee wanted to marry him right now; he was the only provider for his family.  He left everything behind.  I'm a soldier for God now.  His quote: missionary - someone who leaves everything, including family behind for a short time, so that others may be with their families for eternity.  The conference ended about 3:00 but we had to leave at 2:45 to teach an Institute class from The Gospel and the Productive Life manual. Finished around 5:00 and came home to relax before our dinner appointment at 7:00 at Tabuharos (91 year old) her birthday.  There were tons of people, tons of food.  We left early to bring the sisters home by their curfew at 8:00.
Thursday we did our routine and then did some cleaning--the fan, a bathroom wall, sweep and mop floors.  By 10:45 we were getting the truck out and a man came over to talk with us but he didn't speak English.  I texted the elders to come down.  We went to the Center.  Returned to the apartment about 2:30 for lunch/dinner, took a rest, and walked the Esplanade.  We snacked on a mango shake and potato chips while we watched "Meet the Mormons".
Friday we cleaned another fan and finished scrubbing 2 bathroom walls--two walls left.  We went to the Center and waited for Cushings to call.  We picked them up at Ortiz wharf and then to SM for Belgian waffles.  I had garlic tuna cream cheese and chocolate hazelnut and buko shake.  We walked the Esplanade and went to Arevalo to pick up boxes for Cushings and the Guimaras missionaries.  Time to send this.  Ha long, Sister Robinson, Mom

SURPRISE!

So transfers happened and all three of us were transferred out of our area. The shock of this will be completely lost on most of you, but it was very shocking and I was super sad and stressed. I have adjusted now though. I am now in Elk Grove! So far so good. It's pretty close to my first area so it feels like going home almost. :) 

I'm going to backtrack a little and tell some stuff that is cool that I forgot about the past couple of weeks.  In Carmichael we did a lot of service at the parks, several hours a week. Our zone was awarded Volunteers of the Quarter by the Parks and Rec department. That was really cool. We were invited to this meeting and all got to go with President and Sister Jardine. The parks and rec people said some really nice things about the quality of our work and service. It was cool to see the impact that Christlike service in the community can have. "That they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven."

With the iPad's we've had to transfer all our teaching information and everything. Since its electronic there are tons of legalities with what can be recorded abut people so we have to be super vague. Like we can't say people's medical history or religious background or health history so if they smoke we can't say it but we can say that they have concerns with the word of wisdom. Well that whole thing can be frustrating, but as missionaries we have found some humorous ways to give information while technically not giving information. For a catholic we said they are "friends with the pope." An elder in my last zone said their Buddhist paraplegic "needs to sell her disability van" and last week Sister Limb wrote, "believes that the Church of England is a fine establishment." Ha!

Love you all! Life is crazy. Have a great week!

Sister Robinson

It's the end of my missionary world as I know it

Hey guys!

This week was awesome! haha. I had a fantastic birthday, just so you all know, and the members here threw me a surprise birthday party! That was way fun. I'll try to send some pictures. :) haha. And today is the dirst day of the new transfer and that means that I'm leaving Esmeralda. Sad times. But I had already been there 6 months. ha. But it will be hard to say goodbye to everyone today. And President Arrington (our mission president) called last night to give me my first assignment. So that was scary. I have been assigned to work in the missionary office as Historiador. I don't know exactly what I'll be doing, but I'll let you know. And it means that my P-Day will be on Saturday, so I will be writing every Saturday, just so you all know. I'll let you guys know what I get to do! 

We had 2 awesome lessons with Nat the cat. I'm honestly sure she's gonna get baptized. Probably this month. Her baptismal date isthe 8th of August, but we're gonna have to change it because she couldn't go to church yesterday because her little brother got sent to the hospital so she was with her family. But she's preparing really well for her baptism. But she gave me coffee chocolate for my birthday... woops. And it had coffee. But the garbage can seemed to really enjoy it. haha. I guess they're gonna need to teach the word of wisdom this week. :) 

As a mission we are gonna start reading the book of mormon all together in the space of 2 months. And we're gonna start memorizing scriptures and stuff as a mission. That should be fun. And in the office I'll get to help with that stuff I guess. It's gonna be weird stuff. 

This week I read about the prophets in our legacy. We basically have had some way cool fellas as prophets. Each one had such an important contribution to the church, even though some of them didn't even get to be prophet for a whole year. It's interesting to think about, though. Even though we're not prophets, each of them had a focus that they had that they added to the church and exhorted the members to do. Family Home Evenings, missionary work, temple work, and now the focus on the day of rest-and they all teach them all, but all of them had a specific focus. I keep on thinking, what's gonna be my focus. What am I gonna work on the most? What legacy are we leaving behind? With th is week of pioneers that we've left behind we've been talking about that a lot. The difference one brave soul that is willing to hush their fears and trust and obey can make. In their own family, in their friendships, in their job. One that is the most obvious is their family. Thanks to six people that were blessed to be a part of the organization of the church, thanks to their missionary efforts and unfailing courage in following the counsels of God and His prophets, look how much Zion has grown. Dare to be a pioneer.

I think it was Joseph Smith that said something like after all was said and done preaching the gospel is our greatest duty. I know it's true. And it's honestly so fun. It feels so good, and that's why it's so fun to share. People don't know what they are missing out on, for their own lives and their families. Faith and obedience. There isn't a better way to live life. 

Hope you all have a fabulous week! I'll be writing again this Saturday! Love you too much!

Elder Robinson :)

July 7/18/2015 through July 24. Happy Birthday, Andrew! And Sarah!

Saturday morning we picked up Franco and Ryan at the Hotel and drove to LaPaz for a PEF orientation from 9-12. North Stake served us lunch and then Boiser discussed technical/vocational pursuits.  We took Romel Palimony home with us to eat dinner and to meet Kate Sorillas.  Yes, I am matchmaking.  They both liked what they saw.  He asked for her phone number and they are texting.  He texted her about an hour later but she didn't see it until 3 1/2 hours later after she was visiting with us.  She was giddy excited when she saw it.  We went back to LaPaz to pick up Ryan and Franco and take them to the airport at 4:00.  It was a crazy afternoon, drive, drive, drive.  It was fun to visit with all of these people.  We talked to Franco about Jan and her sister, Diana's mission.  He will be their boss.  He is very excited to have them working in his office.  Ryan will be part of the same staff in Quezon City, Philippines PEF, right across from the Manila temple, and next to the Manila MTC.
Sunday we took a tricycle to the wharf from Jalandoni.  He tried to charge us P200.  Ray said, " the taxi is only P80."  "OK P100". We went to Palero wharf, Ortiz is closed.  We arrived at Jordan, Guimaras about 7:30 am.  Cushings picked us up and drove us to a crazy market where she wanted to invite a man to My Path.  Then we went to Nueva Valencia branch and attended all the meetings.  Cushings brought us lunch to eat there and then we administered My Path for 15 people in the branch.  Returned home in reverse: boat, taxi, truck at Jalandoni.  It is really tiring the early morning trip, My Path...but the people are rewarding.
Monday our readings are about Paul today.  His faith, confidence, and trust in the Lord--he was willing to suffer, to testify, all things.  His weakness became his strength.  Once he knew Jesus Christ, he was willing to do all things.  It is such a tender account of forgiveness and being valiant in our own testimonies of Jesus Christ--fearing no one but God.  Once he was converted, he never lost his focus.  We washed, hung out our clothes, went to the Center; Sister Gison (Meryl's mother) brought us a bag of huge avocados from their yard.  They will be attending her wedding Saturday at the Manilla Temple.  Sister Nina came in with questions.  Then Cushings came and we took them to our apartment for lunch.  We went to withdraw some money at SM and Cushings stayed there to shop.  We went to St Paul's hospital room 8407 Spice to visit Quennie.  She is 39 and she was having fever and chills and bleeding.  She has been in the hospital for a week now.  She had two transfusions.  Tomorrow she will have surgery.  She hopes to get out by Wednesday.  She was baptized just eight days ago.  It was 6:30 when we left the hospital.  We went to Sorillas for family home evening with all ten missionaries in our district at 7:30 and they served us all dinner.
Tuesday we went to district meeting, there are ten of us now, two new sisters. One sister is from Hyde Park and knows some Saunders.  Her name is Sister Miggin.  There was a great spirit there--the lesson was Revelation through Prayer.  I have had so many answered this way.  We went home and packed and after we had started our drive to Kalibo, we remembered all that we forgot.  Anyway, after four hours we arrived in Kalibo at Elder and Sister Strengs "palace".  It was so fun to visit.  She fixed a great pot of chili and I had brought chips, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, and humus--it was a great combo for not planning together.
Wednesday Strengs fixed us eggs, hash browns, shrimp, and mangos for breakfast plus taho (soy yogurt with native sugar syrup).  Greens arrived and we loaded up after they took a look at Strengs "palace"  and headed to Caticlan where we boarded the pump boat to Boracay.  We had an appetizer and dessert and went swimming.  Then showered and dressed to go to the beach for dinner.  They had put up a big barrier on the beach from July-October because of winds so it was not so wonderful as last time in November.  Dinner was yucky for me but then the others shopped for pearls and Ray and I bought gelato--mango, pistachio, mm....  We caught the shuttle back to the hotel.  All are tired.
Thursday I did my stomach exercises only.  We all had a delicious buffet breakfast and walked along the beach and in the ocean, the men swam in the ocean, lots of fish to see.  I visited with some guests at the hotel about "Mormons"--my eight children.  One lady said she just started reading the Bible and she is sorry she had her tubes tied.  Now she thinks it is wrong because the Bible says to multiply and replenish the earth.  But she thinks God will forgive her because she didn't know.  She hadn't read the Bible then. Anyway, we swam in the top pool and then got ready and went into town for a mango shake and shopping.  We came back on the shuttle and played Rummicube, the six of us.  It was fun.  We went to dinner at Terraza and then went to bed.
Friday we went to that wonderful breakfast buffet again, then swam in a cool pool, played Rummicube on the pool deck, packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel and went for lunch at the Terraza.  I had already eaten the other half of my dinner from the night before so I ordered a scoop of mango ice cream--it tasted like refrigerator, old and icy; Ray finished it.  Then we took the tricycle to the wharf, got on the boat, fifteen minutes later, another tricycle to the car park 2 1/2 hour drive to Kalibo from Catican to the Strengs house.  We played Rummicube with Strengs and Greens.  We all stayed the night at Strengs house.  We had dinner at the Caffe Latte...chocolate milk shake...mm. Back at Strengs we watched "The Testaments" movie and Bed.  It's been another great week.  Sister Robinson

Ha!

I knew I could come up with something funny! Here's my positivity for the week. I am officially an old person.

A week

This week was honestly just awful. It was super full of drama and emotional roller coasters. My  companions both had complete breakdowns. But there were still tons of blessings! I'm not going to go into the drama because it is just not happy and I don't want to dwell on it. I'm doing good again now. Blessings were: an investigator committed to baptism for August 22nd, the best ward mission leader on the planet, and companions that I really really love. Also a sacrament talk that was just for me. There's a Mormon message called, "Oh Remember, Remember." Inspired by that I have been keeping a blessings journal. I write down one or two a day. There is always a message from Heavenly Father just for me. And each of us. Love you all so much.

Sister Robinson

Nat the cat

Hey guys!

How's it going? I'm great! This last week was full of fun things and happiness. haha. I'm such a hippie sometimes, woops. I heard Jeffery R. Holland went to the pageant in Nauvoo! So cool, you should tell him to come visit us here! :) haha. I could be his translator! ALso, I had such a weird a cool dream last night! It honestly could have been a movie. This is how it was. 

So I was somehow in a magical mystery land full of vibrant colors and creatures of all classes and it was beautiful and so exciting! And then there was this beautiful girl that was shopping for clothes in a store in my dream, and I went to go say hi to her and then I don't know what happened with her actually, but she took my advice on the shirt she should buy and left and bought it I guess. And then I went to go look for some clothes and I fell asleep, in my dream. And then in my dream in my first dream, the colors were even more vibrant and the animals more magical and incredible! And there was a bad guy, too. He was huge. So I ran up this rock formation and jumped off to kick it in the head and its hat fell off and it got way way mad. And all the creatures were like way impressed because no one had ever knocked off it's hat before and then I was in danger and a little creature brought me to this secret library and we telported, using a book, to another place. And then I got to the new part and everything was frozen and it got more and more and more frozen until my dream shattered, like that's how it looked, and I woke up. And it was pretty cold in my house, so I put on a jacket. Crazy dream, right? It was so beautiful, I loved how bright and exciting everything was. 

Anyway... this week was great We found a new investigator, Nat the cat. Her name is Nataly. I'm honestly sure that she'll get baptized. She's fantastic. She has baptismal date for the 8th of August, and turns 18 on the first of August, party times. Her parents are pretty anti, but they told her she could do what she wanted when she was 18. Lucky us. And she thinks that in the future they could be more open, too. And the members loved her a ton. One family planned an fhe with her this week. 

Barbara said she didn't really like the church... that's never happened to me before. Usually once they get there, they like it. SO that was unexpected. But we'll try to figure out what it really was that she didn't like and see what can be done. 

I studied grace a lot this week, and if you haven't read it, I highly suggest you read the talk that Elder Uchtdorf gave this last conference. It's basically fantastic. He said that the grace of God is-"the divine assistance and endowment of strength by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings we are now into exalted beings of "truth and light, until [we are] glorified in truth and [know] all things." It is by grace that we are saved AFTER wall that we can do. 2 Nephi 25:23 But it's our job to know the grace of God and to be obedient to His commandments and counsels because we love Him. I know it's true. And I'm grateful that God's grace is sufficient for us. If not, boo, hard times. But it is. Hurray! 

Love you guys a ton! Have an amazing week! 

Elder Robinson

Saturday, July 11-Friday, July 17 2015

I made noodles with white sauce and vegetables and rice with Cajun jumbalaya adapted for celebration dinner for Quennie and Brakie after their baptism in our little apartment.  Quennie requested Ray to baptize her and Elder Watkins baptized Brakie.  They said they felt different after.  It was the best attended baptism since we have been here with about 36 people attending.  They were so happy to be baptized.  Quennie had been in two churches, Catholic and Seventh day Adventist but through her reading of the Bible, she knew they did not have the elements of the true Church of Jesus Christ because there is no apostles and prophets.  During one of the lessons when she wasn't sure about baptism yet, she commented that she had this thought, " I have found the prophets and apostles, what is the delay?"  That was exciting!  They speak perfect English because they lived in Ohio and California for some years.  They are Filipino though.
Ray confirmed Quennie on Sunday and Elder Fogavai confirmed Brakie.  We attended Gospel Principles with Quennie and then Relief Society.  After church, we participated in a second round of "My Path" in Mandurriao Ward.  Twenty four attended.  Quennie also attended.  After that we hurried to LaPaz to North stake for a meeting with the sisters in the stake and all eleven Bishops/branch presidents with Boiser as the guest speaker.   It was a late night after we took Boiser back to the wharf.
Monday we went to the mission office to do a retest for a missionary going home because the test hadn't worked well.  While we were there two missionaries we hadn't known about also needed testing.  Each test takes about 1 1/2 hours with the practice, so it was pretty much most of the day but we were happy they didn't get missed.  Monday night we had family home evening at Queenies with her little boys and Brakie.  The elders gave the lesson and we played "father, may I?"  I remember how much our children loved to play that game and it was a hit here.  Queenie had prepared a nice dinner for us afterward and  we brought salted caramel corn for dessert.
Tuesday we had career workshop at Jalandoni by ourselves, meaning we were the only teachers which was a surprise.  But Ray did a great job and I think it was helpful as the missionaries go forward with their lives, getting jobs.
Wednesday I cooked some and then we took a ride up the middle of the island looking for an organic farm but after an hour and a half, we turned back, not being able to find it.  Then we went and had the truck washed, did shopping while we waited and then had lunch and went to the Center.
Thursday we took Elder Watkins to transfers and stayed for the meeting then gathered up our two new sisters luggage from Arevalo and the transfer Elders luggage and took them all to their apartments.  Sister Aquino is having surgery today in Manilla, having her nodules removed.  They do not wait for biopsy here because it takes too long.  They just removed the nodules.
Friday we cut each other's hair.  Last time I went to the hair place here, I came out looking like a boy.  So I decided what we do is better than that.  I will start growing my hair out some so I can get a great hair cut at Dressing Your  Truth when we get home.  That was Rays favorite cut.  I'm looking forward to that.  I also made muffins this morning.  It is my staple to eat.  I make it with wheat flour and oatmeal flour that I make and bananas, pineapple, carrots etc.  I added cocoa to them this time just for a change.
We came to the Center, not realizing it is some kind of holiday so we will probably go back home until we go to the airport to pick up Franco from Manilla.  He will be doing a PEF fireside from 9-3 tomorrow.  Also there is no internet at the Center today.  The physical facilities people are working on it, or were yesterday and like I said, today is a holiday, Ramadan, a Muslim holiday that they all shut down for, school, etc.  love, Sister Robinson III, Mom, Gmom

Hospital adventure, etc.

Well to begin, as most of you know I officially do NOT have cancer.  Bonus. :)  But I had quite the hospital adventure!  Since a biopsy is technically a surgery I got an official little wristband, wore a hospital gown, and was wheeled around on a gurney.  It was exciting.  But after all that I walked out with two mismatching band-aids.  Which I was not allowed to remove until the following day, so ward members definitely saw them and asked.  In the second to last picture you can faintly see the 12 little poke marks from where the needles went in.  It was less painful than the dentist.  Although my neck was pretty sore the few days after and it still hurts to yawn.  All in all a small price to pay to know for sure you don't have cancer.  So I guess those little growth things are just benign nodules that decided to hang out around my thyroid.  I believe the process now is check them in about six months and then once again six months after and if they don't change in size then they will probably never be cancerous and you just ignore them.  So that's my big story!  The last picture is just of us washing one of our members dogs.  It's actually the most adorable dog in the world, but when she's wet she looks like a little rat.  Other than that this week was just full of craziness trying to get our iPads figured out.  We got the Area Book app this week and it has been a bit of a nightmare trying to get things updated.  Everything takes 3 times as long as normal.  It's been a little frustrating.  And I am having a bit of a mid-mission-life crisis.  Just having a lot of days lately where I feel like I have accomplished absolutely nothing.  However this is definitely not the first time I have felt that way on my mission.  It always passes!  Our investigators aren't really progressing, so hopefully we will get them in gear this next week.  Love you all!

Sister Robinson

Elder's Quorom, chilean style

What's up guys!

Haha. I thought you could all find some enjoyment in the chilean elders quorom. It's basically hilarious. This week in Elders quorom we planned an activity that's gonna happen this saturday. Someone suggested it before the meeting and then we talked about that for 15 minutes. :) and then it was over, because we started 45 minutes late. haha. And then the leader said, and is everyone gonna visit at least one family this week? And then everyone said yes. haha. That's ok, though. They'll get it. :) haha.

Barbara didn't come to church this week because she got sick and so she decided sleeping would be better. Obviously, her doctor isn't a member or else he would have prescribed her to attend sacrament meeting (faith and works). Ha. But she still wants to get baptized and she commited to live all of the commandments. So we're going good. 

We also recieved what they told is is an amazing refernce this last week that we have an appointment with this Tuesday. The only problem is that her parents don't like us so we can't visit her in her house. BUt she's 20, so she can choose for herself. We don't know her yet but the second counselor knows her and wants her to get baptized, so go members! :) Sounds pretty promising. 

This week I started reading Our Legacy. It's pretty great. :) It's that book about the start of the church and all of the persecutions and miracles and everything. SO far they've just gotten to Missouri. It always amazes me to read about what things they went through. It's helping me to understand better the context of a lot of the revelations given in Doctrine and Covenants. But I read that Bishop Partridge was tarred and feathered and he said that he took it so meekly and calmly that the mo was struck. Without a struggle. Did you know that when you kill a lamb they don't do anything? Almost all other animals put up a fight or struggle. But you just pick up the lamb and it just stays perfectly still. Even looks at you as you pick up the knife to make the sacrifice. Well, we don't do that now, but that's how it was before Christ came. It is amazing, isn't it. That he would care for me, enough to die for me. The apostles were all ready to put up a fight, the Jewish priests wanted Him to do something, and He just let it all happen. Whom say ye that I am? He is the Son of Man. Our Savior. Don't let another opportunity go by to testify of Him. When we say nothing, we deny, as Peter did. Look at the example of the pioneers, they could have stayed quiet and maybe recieved less persecution, but everyon knew what they were doing because they told everyone they could. The gospel is still the good news. Share it today! :)

I sure do love you guys a lot. I'm having a wonderful time. I honestly am. I'm grateful that I have amazing brothers and sisters that are teaching their children and living their lifes in the same way as the early pioneers. And many of my friends are as well. "Keep moving forward." -Wañt Disney :)

Have a fantastic week!

Elder Robinson

P.S. If you could please pray for my beautiful sister, Charity, that she can find a permanent solution to her head problems (not those kind of head problems ;) That would be amazing. Thanks!

Sister Charity Robinson (in book)

Sunday, July 5

We fasted specifically for Charity today.  Her biopsy will be Wednesday, July 8.  The mission nurse will accompany her.  

Wednesday, July 8

Progress report on Sister Robinson.  Today she had her biopsy which went fine.  She was a little nervous but little pain.  After the biopsy the nurse took her to a follow up appointment with Dr, Spears for her headaches.  He is going to change the medication but said that was all that he could do in treatments.  His referral is to a neurologist for additional work up ( which we know that mission medical will not approve here in the field).  We are going to give this new medication a week to see if any improvement.  Sister Robinson is still inquiring about Topamax but Dr. Spears does not like the side effects and we are  calling missionary medical to see if they will approve.  The side effects are lethargic , sleepy, no motivation (He calls it dopeamax) - because it makes you feel dopey.  Not sure that it will be conducive to missionary life.  The test results on her biopsy will be back Friday or Monday and we will let you know on that
We sent her home to rest for the day.  We are sure trying to get a handle on this and feel so bad she is struggling.

Sister Jardine

Friday, July 3, 2015-July 10, 2015

Friday we purchased some avocados for chips, we bought a water connection, and we went to the Center.  We came home and Ray hung the water heater for the shower with duct tape.  The walls are cement so they required a drill.  Warm water!  It felt soo good!
Saturday, Fourth of July, another warm shower--I could get use to this.  It has rained for three days.  There was a brown out for six hours last night but a nice breeze came through the windows.  I made brownies for our Fourth of July lunch with the elders.  They wanted to celebrate so they bought ground beef and buns and invited the Sorillas family over and us to celebrate.  It started with just the four of us.  Elder Watkins had a flag cutout smaller than a postage stamp, but we did the pledge of allegiance and sang the national anthem☺️.  Then we prayed and ate.  I made a dip of tomatoes, beans, corn, cilantro, spices for Tostitos.  We found cilantro for the first time and finally found Tostitos again after three months of none so we bought all the store had (3) bags.  Well, actually, Ray wouldn't let me get all three but when we shopped later in the week at another store, we bought another one.  The elders went to work and then Sorillas family came over, dad, mom, sister, brother.  They stayed and visited for a few hours.  After they left, we took the elders to Queenie and Brakies house for their baptismal interview.  That took about two hours but it was fun.  It was a brownout so we just visited inside the apartment while they were interviewed one at a time outside.  After that we attended the Mandurriao Ward fellow shipping night.  8:00 home.
Sunday we had to postpone for two weeks our "My Path" in Guimaras because of the typhoon spinning around.  So we attended Mandurriao Ward and then San Miguel group for fast Sunday.  Ray and Elder Watkins and Elder Fogavai administered to me for my shoulder.  The pain seem to go away but not the stiffness yet.  Queenie asked for Ray to baptize her and Brakie wants Elder Watkins to baptize her.  Pop corn tonight!
Monday we did one load of wash and were able to hang it outside until lunch.  We purchased water and went to the Center.  Roland stopped in to say "hi".  We went home for lunch.  Brought the clothes in before the rain started up again.  I made sloppy joes.  They really hit the spot.  I think we are pretty hungry for American food.  We picked up our water bill from the past bungalow and paid it at S&M and we picked up about three items at the store while we were there and then returned to the Center.  At 5:30 we returned home by way of McDonalds and purchased four apple pies and two sundaes for the dessert.  I weigh 62.2k now!  Yea!  20 lbs to go....and I only have 8 months to do it.
Tuesday we had district meeting and talked about being comfortable with the Spirit so you don't make silly comments.  It became a good meeting.  We went to S&M to get $P, pizza and buko juice, and shopped a little.  Then went to the Center and ate the pizza and juice.  A couple of men came in for help with resumes, one from Pavia(north stake) and one from Guimaras(newly returned missionary).   Then there was to be an information meeting with sirs but Sister Cagape never came.  Butch showed up so we outlined a new career development workshop for exiting missionaries.
Wednesday I did my wash before we went to the Ford dealership to have the truck services---3 hours later we came home.  Yes, a Minute Lube would be great here.  We waited three full hours for the same work.  This morning before we went to the dealership, I made us a mango shake with banana, pineapple, mango, coconut water and frozen coconut.  When I started to pour in the coconut water, it was pink.  I had grabbed the grapefruit juice but I didn't get too much in so I didn't think it would hurt it and then I got the right box out of the refrigerator, yes, clear coconut water.  I had put everything in except the frozen coconut.  I was waiting for it to thaw slightly.  Blended it up.  Poured us each full glasses.  It tasted a little strange.  I didn't expect it to be that strange from the tablespoon of grapefruit juice that I had poured in.  After a minute, Ray said it tasted fishy.  Oh, yea, I could taste that.  Are you sure it was coconut that you put in?  He didn't think we had any more coconut.  Did it look brown and white?  Yes, I think so.  Yes, it sure did.  I looked in the bottom of the blender and there were two white chunks that I picked up.  Whoops!  It was frozen fish!  It ruined my stomach.  Ray was worried we would get sick but the fish had been breaded with corn flake crumbs and cooked thus the brown and white.  😝. Well, it did taste weird.  Bummer.  We spent the rest of the day at the Center.  Julie Mendame came in with her three bouncy young children.  We closed up the computers😆, put away the stack of copy paper, and told them not to run the water onto the floor😇.  The drinking water.  We went home around 6:00.
Thursday we did some ironing, some cooking, some shopping, and some preparing for the baptism on Saturday.  We went to the Center and then to the Promenade for lunch.  We returned to the Center and had two young girls come in for help with their resumes.  Darlene Casas, North stake relief society president and stake specialist, came in before she taught her institute class to make sure we were attending north stake on Sunday.  We returned home to unpack groceries, do food preparation:  wash eggs, cut up pineapple, etc.
Friday we did some more cooking, jello with pineapple and apples, and bananas for Saturday.  Ray cut up carrots, cabbage, onions, garlic for the other food for Saturday and I cooked them.  He tasted and proclaimed it tasted.  It has continued raining every day and night since July started.  Only sunshine has been when I washed our clothes and that was just a brief time, long enough to get the clothes started trying.  It is very moist and damp.  Rays ties are starting to smell moldy.  But our skin is so soft.  We are at the Center now for about three hours.  This is when I write my journal email.  Baptism tomorrow!
Love Sister Robinson III

This is Christian

Plerry

Thank you all for the fasting and prayers. You know how to make a girl feel special :) the biopsy is scheduled for this Wednesday morning. Based on the consultation though it seems super unlikely that there is anything to worry about. Apparently tons of people have nodules on their thyroid and very rarely is it cancer. But we should know for sure by next week. Also I'm probably getting off the medication I'm on because it's been a long while and it isn't helping so I'm excited to get off it because it makes me super tired. 

We had a lot of good appointments with members this week and some less active members came to church yesterday. One of the senior missionaries that attends our ward found someone for us to teach. Her name is Emily and she is awesome. We also saw Christian again this week. He said, "Your visit, unexpected as it is...Makes my heart jump with happiness." Someday I'll read that out loud in his voice and you'll get why it's funny. 

The Fourth of July was pretty fun. We had half a p day but we had a lock in at the church because they didn't want us out and about. So we played sports and stuff. I just played badminton without a net with sister Rasmussen. We had fun. 

We had zone training this week and were asked to study "is it still wonderful to you?" From this last conference. It was so good! The gospel is wonderful, truly. It amazes me every day. I don't know why I'm so blessed to have it, but I'm happy I get to share it! Love you all!

Sister Robinson 

These are plerry's. We named them. Sister Christensen found them on a tree and decided to risk eating them. They look like cherries but taste like plums.

Service at fair oaks park. Sisters story, christoffersen, Christensen, limb, Covington (my mission sister, trained by my trainer) Barfuss, and Robinson (me!)

We drew out the plan of salvation on the sidewalk at the park.

Sent from my iPad

Happy 4th of July!

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July! Everyone here celebrated, too! Because Chile won the Copa America!!!! So that's basically a huge deal. And they beat Argentina, and supposedly they are the second best team in the world. So... woops. Turns out it's actually Chile! :) So the whole country went crazy. Some young people started a fire in the middle of the road, and everyone was throwing paper all over the place, and since fireworks are illegal, they shot off flares. :) haha.

And I went and sang the national anthem after the game for a game of football, and that was way fun. Some Elders carried the american flag, and they presented President Arrington with a thank you plaque for letting the gringo missionaries help train the team. So that was really fun. And now everything can go back to normal as far as our schedule goes. We couldn't leave the house on Saturday because it was too dangerous. Haha. So that was pretty lame. But we still got to watch the game, at least. :) 

And yesterday there were only 40 people in church. Counting us four missionaries. haha. Because everyone had stayed up all night partying because of the game! ha. and it was over at like 8! Imagine that. But and investigator that we found this week came to church! And she has a baptismal date for the 25th of July! But she might just be interested because her boyfriend is a member. But I hope not. :) So pray for us so that we can visit her without her boyfriend this week! 

Also, the members here just love us a ton. They invited us to go to an all you can eat with them and play basketball after for our P day. And last week they gave us pizza and played some board games with us. Haha. It's pretty fun. Perks to being in an area for 6 months almost. 

I'm grateful that we live in a world where most of the people have religious freedom. I've been thinking about the constitution and other things this week. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We really have been blessed to be in a world where these rights abound in the majority of the world. Everyone here has been asking me how I feel about the new same-sex marriage law in the U.S. And it does seem coincidential that it was made so close to Independence Day. But instead of feeling distraught we can remember the promise of the prophet. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands. The gospel will continue to roll forth boldly, nobly, and INDEPENDENT. And it will. Independent of whatever outside influences that there may be.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Elder Robinson

I Will Be the One

I recently heard a talk in the Area Conference here in the Philippines given by Brent Nielson of the Seventy. In his talk he used a story of an expression that we had heard several times. "I will be the one.”

Soon after we arrived here in the Philippines I was getting ready to take my luggage upstairs where we would be staying for a couple of days in the Mission Home. The man who helped us in with our luggage came and said to me “I will be the one,” as he quickly took our bags upstairs. I thought that was an interesting thing to say.  A few days later, after a Sunday school class, people were stacking up chairs. I began to stack chairs and then pull the stack to the side of the room. A brother came up to me and said, “I will be the one,” as he took my stack of chairs to the side of the room. (I think he thought that senior missionaries should not do heavy work) The members here in the Philippines are very kind and helpful to us. On another occasion we had visited a small farm that offers classes for “Organic Farming”. When we were leaving the gate we had passed through had mostly closed and so I got out of our truck to open the gate. The woman caretaker rushed past me and said, “I will be the one,” as she began to open the gate.

In Brother Nielsen’s talk he said that he learned from a linguist that the expression “I will be the one” is a Filipinoism, used to offer service or a kindness. I am not sure how the expression developed but it is quite charming in the way the people present themselves for service.

Brother Nielson applied the expression in a “doctrinal” context.

In the book of Abraham “the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. (or restated, “I will be the one” and the glory be thine.)

We all have the opportunity and challenge to step forward in our calling as missionaries or primary teachers or fathers or mothers when we recognize the need for service and say,  “I will be the one.” Many times there is not any one else who can say that for us, or who can take our place at that time.

It is fun to have new thoughts and be taught by the spirit.

I love all of you.

Dad

July 4

We had a small July 4th celebration today. The two Elders who live upstairs wanted to cook “American hamburgers”. One of the elders is from Malad Idaho and the other elder is from American Samoa. We recited the pledge of allegiance and sang The Star Spangled Banner. Two Sister missionaries came over a little later and then a family in the ward, who we rent our apartment from came over. We had a nice visit.

June 27-July 3 2015

Saturday we had another meeting with Iloilo stake leadership, bishops, branch presidents, relief society presidents--7 out of 8 units were represented(25present).  It was an effective meeting.  At 2:00 we took Boiser to the wharf for his return home to Bacolod.  Then we returned to the Center to write emails.  Home for an hour and back to Mandurriao for a baptism:  Maria Pamela Henson, 35ish.  Ray conducted, I led the rest music while she was getting dry dressed and I played prelude.  Yes, at baptisms they are desperate for help.  I was the best available.  I think I will practice when I get home.  8:10 retire to bed!
Sunday we attended Mandurriao.  Pamela was confirmed and after sacrament meeting, we met with the elders and Queenie and Brakie--kept the lesson to Sunsay School time only so they could attend mutual and relief society.  The lesson in relief society was on temples.  And the Bishop came in to review the interview questions.  Queenie really liked it.  After the block, we attended San Miguel group.  I was the chorister;  Ray gave the prayers.  It was very inspiring.  The talks were about "charity" (yes, I missed having Charity near to smile at or nudge).  It was all in Illongo but the Spirit carried the message to our hearts.
Monday we went to Arevalo and did English testing for 3 outgoing missionaries.  After that we went with Cushings to Promenade for lunch buffet.  It was American food because of the Fourth of July coming up.  Those who work there were even dressed up in cowboy clothes minus the boots.  We did some grocery shopping at the Atrium for Rays birthday meal and then took Cushings to Robinson Mall.  We stopped at SM Mall for about 5 items from the grocery store there.  Home.  We met with Queenie and Brakie and the missionaries for a lesson at our apartment on the Word of Wisdom and Chastity.  It was great.  Queenie said her skirt was too short.  She also committed to stop drinking coffee.  Her habit is four cups of black coffee a day, she will get headaches without it.  I fixed them all rice and jumbalaya and mango/pineapple/banana shortcake with whip cream.  (No Cajun spice here so the recipe is Philippines modified😄).
Tuesday was zone meeting and the spirit was great.  After the meeting, we stayed at Jalandoni in the office for a few hours and then went home where I fixed Ray a birthday meal--jello salad ( cranberry jello that was natural favors)
I jelled the jello the night before and then just cut it up is how they do it here and then added fresh pineapple and bananas and sour cream and stirred it up, also potatoe salad which I had already cooked the potatoes and eggs and cooled them so it was just putting it together with pickles ( it is very difficult to get dill pickles here and very expensive--only the Atrium has them and only sometimes), cucumber and tomatoe salad with thousand island dressing, chicken breast with a pineapple slice, avocado and melted cheese--(it was suppose to be bacon, not pineapple but I forgot to defrost the bacon--it would have tasted better with bacon), and mango, pineapple, banana short cake with whip cream for dessert.  No, it wasn't chocolate but I haven't found a chocolate mix here so the chiffon cake we were given in Roxas, (fresh made just for us).  It was delicious.  At 5:30 we picked up Queenie and Brakie and brought them to our apartment for another lesson on the "gospel of Jesus Christ".  We also went over the baptismal interview questions.  Brakie will be interviewed Saturday (Queenie requested to save time for her also but she is not ready to say yes yet to baptism).  She wants to read more of the Book of Mormon and be sure.  I fed them chips and 7-layer dip--they loved it.  And Queenie went without coffee all day and no headache but she thought she felt a little tired but said she would continue to not drink it.
Wednesday we did wash while the sun was shining, went to Iloilo Ford to make an appointment for the six month check on the mission truck, went to the Center, bought water, came home for lunch.  Not so much work for lunch today...leftovers from the birthday!  We brought the clothes back in before it started to sprinkle (yeah!), I laid down on some heat for my shoulder and back; after a rest, we returned to the Center.  Back home...we got the news from Queenie...She wants to be baptized May 11!!!  Woohoo!!!  Fantastic as Ray says.  We are so excited!  We felt confident she would be but "when" was the question.  When we started out with her, I asked when she discovered that the Church was true, would she be baptized?  She said, yes, but she needed to study its history and make sure, so maybe by December she would know.
It all kind of went like this until she was committed to reading the Book of Mormon.  Once she started reading, it has gone beautifully.  The Book of Mormon just carries a spirit of peace, of love, of truth.  I love the Book of Mormon.  It was great how in the last conference we were instructed to read it every day, every day, every day.  It was also mentioned that you don't have to be a missionary to do it😉.  I am jumping high!
Thursday we had the vehicle washed and picked up a few groceries across the street at the mall named Robinson.  It always brings smiles and comments because of our name tags matching the mall and grocery store name.  The rain came pouring down as it does here and I commented that it would stop raining when it was time for us to walk back across the street to get the truck.  Yes, that is just how it happened and then we headed to the Center until lunch.  After lunch, I took a little rest with heat on my shoulder, then we went and visited Cozzens.  I just love this family.  She is Filipino, he's American, their daughter is on a mission in Canada, her convert before she left from here, Nathan is also serving a mission in Davoe.  They are very impressive members.
Friday we are down to just a drizzle of rain this morning.  It has poured for two days.  We were wondering how much, as in inches has come down here in Iloilo.  We are enjoying our new apartment.  There was a brownout last night, meaning no electricity and we get such a nice breeze coming through with all the windows.  So nice.  Until next week, Love Siater Robinson III