Good stuff

Pretty good week this week! I've learned a lot. We finally added an investigator this week. She is really cool but not really that interested. She canceled her appointment last minute. But we're going to keep trying! We went and visited a lady who is not active because she's old, but she has a five year old adopted son. He's so cute! Poor kid seriously needs some attention and things to keep him busy. He's got a lot of energy and she does not, being that she is 87. Craziness. She used to have a lot of foster kids so the foster people called and asked her to adopt him. Anyway it was a fun visit. She's funny. She is a convert, and she was good friends with Martin Luther King. She was there for all the marches and everything. Dee Garrett if anyone wants to verify :) there's a picture of her on page 107 of the May 2010 Ensign.
One of our members renamed us this week. Apparently she has a thing for renaming people. It started as a joke because she would call people the wrong names and then she started just renaming  missionaries based on the name she things they look like. My new name is Erin. She's so funny, I just love her.
We had an awesome district meeting on gratitude. Then we read the talk, "grateful in any circumstance" by president uchtdorf. I love that talk, and it was a good chance to ponder on my attitude and my ability to be grateful even in times that are more challenging. Below are all my favorite parts :) I know it looks like I copied the whole talk but I actually didn't. I just wanted to share what I learned!

"Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes!

Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true. By being grateful, we follow the example of our beloved Savior, who said, "Not my will, but thine, be done."

True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will. Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges. We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain? When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ's Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven's embrace.

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands  independent of our current situation? In other words, I'm suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances--whatever they may be.

Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness."

So I am working on having a disposition of gratitude. The gospel is the best. What else do we need?
On Sunday we made dinner for a returning less active. We used a recipe from a member in El Dorado. She loved it! And we're trying to get her preparing for the temple. We're taking her on a temple tour this Saturday. Also...it's already transfer time! Crazy. So I won't write until Tuesday next week. Love you all!

Good stuff

Pretty good week this week! I've learned a lot. We finally added an investigator this week. She is really cool but not really that interested. She canceled her appointment last minute. But we're going to keep trying! We went and visited a lady who is not active because she's old, but she has a five year old adopted son. He's so cute! Poor kid seriously needs some attention and things to keep him busy. He's got a lot of energy and she does not, being that she is 87. Craziness. She used to have a lot of foster kids so the foster people called and asked her to adopt him. Anyway it was a fun visit. She's funny. She is a convert, and she was good friends with Martin Luther King. She was there for all the marches and everything. Dee Garrett if anyone wants to verify :) there's a picture of her on page 107 of the May 2010 Ensign.
One of our members renamed us this week. Apparently she has a thing for renaming people. It started as a joke because she would call people the wrong names and then she started just renaming  missionaries based on the name she things they look like. My new name is Erin. She's so funny, I just love her.
We had an awesome district meeting on gratitude. Then we read the talk, "grateful in any circumstance" by president uchtdorf. I love that talk, and it was a good chance to ponder on my attitude and my ability to be grateful even in times that are more challenging. Below are all my favorite parts :) I know it looks like I copied the whole talk but I actually didn't. I just wanted to share what I learned!

"Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes!

Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true. By being grateful, we follow the example of our beloved Savior, who said, "Not my will, but thine, be done."

True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will. Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges. We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain? When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ's Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven's embrace.

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands  independent of our current situation? In other words, I'm suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances--whatever they may be.

Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness."

So I am working on having a disposition of gratitude. The gospel is the best. What else do we need?
On Sunday we made dinner for a returning less active. We used a recipe from a member in El Dorado. She loved it! And we're trying to get her preparing for the temple. We're taking her on a temple tour this Saturday. Also...it's already transfer time! Crazy. So I won't write until Tuesday next week. Love you all!

Gucake

The title is the last name of this family. They're from Fiji and their last name looks like goo cake but is actually something like new kah kay. They're oddly obsessed with taking pictures so they took pictures of dinner the whole time. It was so funny. They have a daughter coming home from a mission next week and a son and daughter waiting for calls. Cool!

Creme brûlée

Our member got fancy and made us creme brûlée last week. It was good!

standard

The Standard of Truth

Each week in our District meeting, we have a section called Recitations. The Recitation is lead by and Elder or Sister who can choose two or three or even all four of the memorized statements called recitations. I think that maybe all missions have a similar program and they may use the same statements or maybe some are different. I think that most of the missions would include the 4th section of the D&C.

Most missions may include “The Standard of Truth” as follows:

The standard of truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;

Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

Who says things like that?  Every time I hear it I get chills up and down my spine.

The Prophet Joseph Smith included this as part of what is known as “the Wentworth letter”.  This letter was written to John Wentworth who was editor and proprietor of the “Chicago Democrat” in 1842. This letter also contained the 13 Articles of Faith, as published for the first time, along with a brief history of Joseph Smith’s life and the rise and establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Also included in the letter was a summary of the persecutions and so forth of the Saints.

What was also interesting to me was that Joseph Smith Personally experienced all of the calamities he listed: mobs, persecutions, assembled armies and calumny. He also experienced much of the going forth boldly, nobly and independent.

Praise to the Man.

I am thankful for the strength and faithfulness of the prophet Joseph Smith. He is the prophet of the restoration. He was the instrument in the hands of God in bringing forth another testament of Jesus Christ; even The Book of Mormon.

I love you all. Go forth with faith.

Dad

"Dream": to Eloise Stokes (in book)

I had the most peaceful dream last night.  I will try to recapture the essence of it here for you.
You called on the phone and we had a wonderful conversation that went something like this:  thank you for the inheritance you have given me.  The inheritance of faith, the inheritance of activity in the church, the inheritance of testimony, the inheritance of love, the inheritance of generosity, the inheritance of service, the inheritance of compassion, the inheritance of trying, perseverance,  the inheritance of leaving things better than you found it, the inheritance of beauty, the inheritance of sociality, the inheritance of hospitality, the inheritance of a mother's heart....  These things are mine and are mine to give and to see perpetuated on for generations.  I see these things in my daughters, things you gave me and I have passed on.  Thank you for the inheritance you have given me that can't be taken away.  An inheritance that continues and multiplies through the generations.
You are a wonderful mother, as they say of the king in The King and I.  You are a woman who tried.
Thank you for putting your whole heart into life.  I am thankful I have had such a mother as you.  I love you.  It was a wonderful dream and now I pass it back to you with gratitude for the mother you are.  Happy dreams to you.  Love Teresa

One year!

Hey guys!!!

Guess what! I officially completed a year since I was set apart to be a missionary! Sweet! Right? Haha. And I have the best half left! Now that I'm basically a pro at Spanish (but still learning) and have a lot more experience under my belt, I'll be able to be a more helpful servant too! Whoo hoo! It seems like it was just a little while ago that I started the mission. Years are honestly way short. But I never really thought that before. Oh well. That's life!

Sad times… yesterday we walked by the university and the students had just gotten sprayed by tear gas because they were marching or something. And obviously we didn't know and then we both started sneezing and crying and coughing. And then we both passed out and woke up two hours later and started working again. No, that's not true. But it was painful and my throat still hurts. #firstworldproblems So that was exciting!

Also, I don't know if you remember Victor from a couple weeks ago, but he didn't go to church and we went to go visit him but he hadn't been there, but on Thursday we saw him and he said that he's going to go to church this Sunday with his brother! And his brother is the 1^st counselor in the Bishopric! And that was just the funnest!

Also, Myron went to church this Sunday (it was stake conference). He said it was a little too long, but he found that he had several friends in our ward and he's excited to go again this week and he's happy that it's only gonna be an hour long in the big room (as he called it). His mother, Giovana, could not go because of work, but says she's going to go this week. I hope so! And so far the most progress that there has been with the law of chastity is that they have determined to both make the effort to try and be better. But she said that if he doesn't want to get married/be the man she wants to be married to, then she's out of there. So, that's good… I think.

And Cristian is progressing well, he smokes and drinks and might have a problem with chastity as well, but he committed to smoke only 2 a day at the most this week and he says he can stop drinking right now. But when the 18^th of September (that's Chile's independence day) comes around he says it will be a temptation… but at least he recognizes it. :)

It really was a great week. Me and Elder Anderson have been talking about how we can get rich, and then it just happened to be scheduled to read Jacob 2 and it says that we have to first search for the kingdom of God and then we can get rich, IF we use our riches to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked, and things like that. So that's basically the game plan. Also, Elder Wynn (he's about 70, I think) he works in the office doing the financial stuff and he gives us counsel about getting rich. So if anyone wants help getting rich, I now know all the ways to make money. :) #bringingsoulsuntoChrist #nobodyisricherthanHim :)

This letter is really long, but it's because it's good. I'm starting to think that this whole family history thing and the promises that go with it are really true. I believed it before, but it's really true. It is a great protection and when you really find out who they were, you start to feel their protection and love that they had for their family and for the gospel. The spirit has come, the keys have been delivered, and we have the blessing to help make it happen. #elijahspromise It's our promise, too.

Love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Elder Robinson

P.S. sorry I haven't sent names yet, there wasn't much time this week, but I'll try really hard to do it this week. :)

P.P.S. My biceps are getting huge #jackedoutofyourmind 

 and here are some pictures with my best friend, Ortensia. :)

 she's so cute. :)

Friday, August 27-Thursday, August 27 2015

Friday after 7:00am I made oatmeal cookies from memory😜 for President Aquinos birthday on Monday
, then cargo came from the office.  After cookies were done and our lunch packed, we headed for Arevalo with cargo "out" and baptismal records and apartment check reports from central zone.  On to Tiolas at 11:45 for facilitators training and a second round of "My Path".  The specialist just passed her social work exam and thanked me for inspiring her.  I took her picture and she has promised to email me her story.  It was so sweet.  They are so quick to give us credit.  She is glowing with the gospel and her new image from "My Path".  This is an amazing branch with a great humble but powerful leader.  Home at 6:30.
Saturday we bought water, picked up 5 items at the store, went to the center and....😖😓crashed (scraped) the drivers side of the truck front with the gate.  The experience ruined Rays day but now both sides match.😜. We texted the missionaries about the baptism but they didn't get to us until it was over at 4:45.  Usually the baptisms are at 5 or 6 o'clock so we were sorry to miss.  We go to that group often--San Miguel group.  But we did go visit with Cozzens.  He always has interesting stories.  He is working now three hours in the afternoon teaching English.  I bet he's a great teacher.  His wife, Erl teaches institute.  Home at 6:00.
Sunday 5:45 am we left Iloilo and arrived in Roxas 1st Ward at 8:15, record time.  Sacrament meeting starts at 8:30 and they invited Ray to speak.  He told the story of Ben Carson from conference.  Sister Paul, a rm from here who lives in Las Vegas, was visiting with her family.  She went home in December but they all came back to see her areas.  Sister Paul was one of four sisters in the apartment with a sister hallucinating on medication from a doctor here.  We finished up with 1st Ward and went with Strengs to 4th Ward and I got to talk in that sacrament meeting.  Then Strengs finished up with "My Path" and we talked and evaluated for a bit; 4:00 o'clock we headed back to Iloilo 7:00 home and exhausted.
Monday 6:45 am we headed to Arevalo for President Aquinos birthday party with the mission leaders and two couples.  It started with Zumba 7-7:45.  That was fun.  Then there was a movie "Saturday's Warrior", then we ate and visited.  We took Elder and Sister Cushing to the W. Visayas hospital where they met up with a mother from Guimaras who had a preemie baby in June, has been in the hospital since, and it needs a blood transfusion before he goes home.  The mother had not been able to find a donor.  Cushings later went to a store.  Someone saw their missionary tags and told them they were members from Arevalo.  As Sister Cushing told the story of the baby needing blood, this lady, her husband and brother each had the blood that was needed so it will happen on Friday.  It's amazing how the Lord works and lets us in on His miracles.  We, on the other hand, went to Jalandoni to prepare for the exiting missionaries.  Then we returned to the apartment, did lesson 10 in My Foundations about Integrity.  Bed.
Tuesday we picked up Sister Villagomesa and headed to Jalandoni for the career workshop--7 missionaries leaving--this is a good group.  After the workshop, we returned the missionaries to Arevalo, took care of some laundry, ate, had a rest, went for a walk on the Esplanade, returned to the apartment, read more from Christ's Church by Tad Callister and then went to Sorilla's for a Tuesday f.h.e. and dinner.
Wednesday 6:30 am we took to sisters to Arevalo for their departure and found out that President Aquino had spent the day until 9:45 last night in the hospital.  After Zumba, he was really sore so he took some ibuprofen and he had an allergic reaction.  Today Sister Aquino is to arrive from the hospital in Manilla.  New missionaries arrive at 9:45 am, six sisters, and one elder.  We returned to our apartment at 7:45 to exercise, shower, read scriptures, and eat.  We went shopping, tried 3 times to get money but it was all down.  We went to the center.  On the way home, we went to SM to get money again, still down, but we met Sorilla's and they invited us to go to Max's for halo halo (this is a favorite of Filipino's.  It is a large dish of crushed ice topped with navy beans or small red beans, corn, large tapioca balls, half scoop ice cream, sweet cream poured over, small colored gelatin cubes).  I can enjoy it but I wouldn't order and pay for it☺️.  They also ordered sweet potatoe fries but they are white, not orange like in the United States.  We stopped by McDonalds after that for caramel sundaes and apple pies.  We ate spaghetti at home and the pies and sundaes, brought in laundry and made up our bed with clean sheets.  It has been sunny for two days so we have been doing all the big laundry we can.
Thursday 6:30 am we took elders and sisters to Arevalo for transfers and for flu shots.  President Aquino was there working hard, also Sister Aquino was there trying.  Both are recovering but give it their all.  So good to have them back.  We took Cushings with us to SM and left them.  We went to get money and we're finally successful.  We left and went to Iloilo market to get bread and went home for squash soup, took a short rest and went back to Arevalo to pick up missionaries and take them and their luggage to new areas.--2 elders went to Arevalo apartment and our new zone leader is Elder Robertson from Orem, Utah.  He is 7th in a family of 9 children and his sister is also serving a mission at the same time.  Then we went to the center.  We talked with Nina.  And with Roland.  There is much excitement because Ninas daughter and Roland and some others have applied and been accepted to work in Zions Park at a lodge somewhere there and will go next April, about twelve of them.  Visas for work etc are in the works.  Everyone is buzzing and excited.  Soon to return to the apartment to exercise before bed.  No time this morning.  Snack. Read.
Friday 45 Years!  Wow!  Where has it gone?  I'm grateful every morning that we have another day to spend together😍. Now that is for tomorrow😉

Puppy dogs tails

Hi friends!

Sadly not a lot to report on the investigator front. We're still trying to find people, working with members, and working with less actives and recent converts. One of our member families has us over
for dinner every Saturday because their daughter is less active and they're hoping one of these days she'll actually listen to our lessons. They breed schnauzers and we got here pretty much right after
they were born. The first picture is me holding one a few weeks ago. It looks like I am just holding my hands weird but there's a puppy in there I promise! Just look close. This is me Saturday with one. They're bigger now and you can see it better. They're so cute! Only as puppies though.

#compcarselfie

Look really close. Yep, there's a skeleton in the passenger seat. There's one way to get in the car pool lane...

look what I found on lds tools! All four of us :D

Funny story, on Saturday we were walking around for designated miracle time and I really needed to use the bathroom. I didn't want to use up any of designated miracle time by going somewhere else so I planned to just hold it. Ok I know this is kinda too much information but it's a funny story. So we see this family across the street and decide to go contact them. Sister Miller starts out by saying, "Random question, can we use your bathroom?" It was this huge Polynesian family and they had to run around to find the owners of the house to get permission for me to go in. We talked with those outside while we were waiting. Then I was invited in. It was so crazy! They weren't really interested but we're going to drop by every once in a while anyhow. So thus the story of how I used a random strangers bathroom. Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Robinson

August 24

Dear family,

This past week we learned that Grandma is getting married again.

This story may not be related to the latest news but the event for some reason brought to my memory something that can be considered a tribute to Eloise.

Probably about ten years ago when we were scheduled to go to Provo, to Grandma’s house, she called me up at the store and wanted me to bring a few case goods from the store. This pattern happened over several years; and we would take case goods to her. This time when we brought her case goods someone asked her why she thought that she needed so much food storage; after all she was getting old and probably did not need so much food just for one person and besides she could live with one of her children and they could eat their food and take them out to eat. When Grandma was asked about her need for food storage she agreed that her need may not be so great but what she said stuck in my mind. She said “I do it to be obedient” . That is a pretty great legacy to leave to her posterity.

Obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel is how we can be saved in the Kingdom of God. I have come to believe that obedience is a principle of power and intelligence.

I could make a long list of the results of obedience to God. Here are a few examples.

Noah: His household was saved from the flood.

Abraham/Isaac: The Abrahamic covenant – Priesthood, posterity, and a land of promise.

Jesus Christ: Our perfect example of obedience. The Messiah, our advocate with the Father, the only name under heaven whereby man can be saved.

Joseph Smith: Joseph  learned obedience, perhaps as we all do and became the Prophet of the Restoration. Through the experience he had with Martin Harris and the 116 manuscript pages, Joseph later said, "I learned this; when the Lord commands, Do it." (this quote may not be exact)

D&C 130:21  And when we receive any blessing from God it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

This can be a motivation for all of us.

I love you all.

Dad

Living the life

At least I think so!

How are you doing?! Love you guys a ton!

This week was great! We had a couple of surprises here in the office and a couple of awesome surprises in our ward! Haha. It was an awesome week.

Well first I'd like to say that Giovana (the mom of Viviana, the recent convert) went to church on Sunday and with her boyfriend! Whoo hoo!!! Best news ever, right? And the young boy, Myron, has been telling his dad that he's gonna get baptized, so that's pretty exciting! Also, they're talking about getting married and we hope that this week that comes they will go and take out a date to get married. Well, we're going to invite them to do that anyway. And it's starting to look pretty good! And Giovana understands so well, he who hath ears let him hear.  The people that God has chosen hear and understand His words.

Also, we have another investigator that is committed to church this Sunday, and he's doing really well. His name is Cristian. He's the brother of Javier (who is a new convert as well) and he's been listening to the missionaries for a long time, but this Monday when we went to visit them he said, "What do I need to do to get baptized?" my companion and I both thought he was kidding and then he asked again and we were like… are you serious? And he was like, ya, I really am. So we told him what he needs to do and we asked him what made him change and he said he was just done seeing the signs that God was sending him and denying them. He said he just couldn't continue denying that he knew it was true. God truly does work in miracles.

More exciting news is that it is Stake Conference is this weekend and a member of the seventy is coming! I'm pretty sure it's to get everyone PUMPED for the groundbreaking of the temple. So it should be pretty cool. And President Arrington tries to go to all the stake conferences so that means it will be filled with really good talks and it should be just perfect for the investigators to get really motivated to be baptized and prepare themselves to start receiving the blessings of the temple.

Now that I haven't been to a temple for almost a whole year I really understand what a difference it makes to have frequent temple worship as part of our lives as well. It honestly makes so much of a difference and I am so happy for the people here in Concepcion that will be so close to the temple. I always felt like the weekly temple visits to do baptisms for the dead always come just in the nick of time, just when I was feeling my weakest. The people here in Conce will know soon as well.  And I'm working so that they can be prepared and understand the blessing that it is, I hope it's never found empty.

I hope you all have a fantastic week and I love you all a TON! Hope you all have a good start to school in these upcoming weeks, summer is gonna start in a few more weeks here! Haha.

Love you!

Elder Robinson

P.S. Family history is the bomb. #familyhistorybowl #2k17 it's gonna be awesome!

P.P.S. Who wants free names to take to the temple? Write me your info for family search and I'll share! An Elder here taught me how to be a wizard at it!

August 14-August 21

Friday, August 14 I woke up in the night with dating ideas for Romel Pomello.  I couldn't go back to sleep until I got up and wrote them down.😍. I'll save them for Andrew too.  We did our wash, went to Jalandoni and shopped.  In reading The Blueprint of Christs Church p 158. He writes about when he was mission president he encountered a missionary who was struggling with obedience.  In a frustrating moment in the interview, he blurted out, "what do you want me to do?" "I'm sorry you have missed the point.  It is not what do I want you to do, but what do you want to do?"  There was a moment of silence and then the missionary said, "President, you don't want me to change my behavior, you want me to change my nature."
If this missionary got up on time because his companion leaned on him, he would be obedient but not changed.  We want to change our nature so that while we are obedient, it doesn't matter who is watching or who knows, we do it because we have a change of heart.  Then when we go home from our missions, we are changed and do not have to succumb to our old Goliaths but we have overcome them.
I just thought this was so great.  I want to conquer my own Goliaths.  "Repentance not rationalization". Forsaking...when we have a resolve to refrain from a certain course of conduct, no matter what happens, repentance is in the works.
Saturday finished reading the Bible today.  We left for Roxas at 8:00 am and arrived at 11:30 at the church, met Strengs and we picked up my gold ring.  I had brought Rays moms plain gold band to wear here on the mission but Brother Alvert, brother to President Oliveras wife is a jeweler and he remakes bands into works of art so Sister Streng took my band and told him to make it like hers that he had done earlier.  Anyway, I can't quit looking at it.  It is so pretty.  We went to lunch at the Veronica Hotel restaurant and then checked into the Lawaan Garden Hotel.  --no toilet seat, no toilet paper, no towels, no electricity.😟. We had to keep requesting everything.  They turned on the electricity, brought us towels, then toilet paper(there is a sprayer by the toilet so they don't always give toilet paper), then they brought a toilet seat and put one screw in.  Very exciting.  Ray just asked for the wifi password...waiting....  Ray called President Sorilla, counsellor in the mission presidency and our landlord.  Before we left this morning we had a fire in the outlet by the table--smoke, black on the wall.  No outlets on the bottom half of the walls work in the whole apartment.  Strengs have gone back to the church to do another English test.  The missionary was scheduled at 9:00 but couldn't come until 4:00.  When they finished, they came back and we had Tostitos with salsa and avocados, and cheese sauce and sour cream while we watched Amazing Grace movie, a true story of the slave trade in England and one mans efforts to change it in England and make the world better.  We also had milk chocolate macadamia nut cookies from Pepperidge farm!  Taste of home.
Sunday we separated from Strengs.  They went to 2/4 wards while we went to another building for 1/3 wards for "My Path" starts.  Meetings started at 8:30 and 1:30.  They asked us to speak in 3rd Ward 10 minutes each.  Their speakers cancelled last minute so that was fun.  We knew several people in the ward from our PEF/ER visits with Elder and Sister Green from Cedar City Utah operating as self reliance missionaries out of Bacolod.  Forty-three attended in 1st Ward and ten in 3rd Ward.  Both wards went well and they will finish My Path next week and keep track of their expenses each week for the next four weeks.  If their group books are in, we will go back in four weeks.  Drove home arriving at 7:30 pm, night driving is wearing because they think it uses gas if they run their lights so many of them don't use lights and you can't see them until you almost hit them in the dark.  When we got home to our apartment, there was a brownout.  We put things away with a flashlight.
Monday we discovered mold in and out of my closet.  I wiped it down with alcohol.  Hope that works for 6 1/2 more months.  It was gross.  In the corners, spider webs wrapped around my hand as I cleaned.  A agh!  For some reason I had diarrhea last night and this morning.  Breakfast:  Ginger brew and yakult.  English testing this morning at Arevalo for four missionaries. Reading today is Book of Mormon page 14.  We heard from Rachael this morning that Dave took a job in Preston.  She will move next week with the kids.  She will move in with Mary Ellen.  After testing, Cushings went with us to the Promenade for lunch.  I had pumpkin soup; the rest had buffet.  I'm still a little "ify" with my bowels.  Home at 3:30.  They are working on our electricity.  Yea!
Tuesday we had district meeting.  Came home and ate and went to Jalandoni. President Tigulo from North Stake presidency brought his wife and Nina and I bananaques, cooked banana with brown sugar coating on a stick.  There were two on a stick, so I took Ray one.  He was in the office.  Then we walked the Esplanade.  It is such a beautifully landscaped walk next to the river.  Came home, brought in the laundry, ate, did dishes, read.
Wednesday we went to Jalandoni, Cushings came and we went to the bamboo store but they didn't have anything new.  Cushings found stuff they wanted so that was nice.  Then we went to SM and paid our phone bill and cleared up a phone ring charge.  Something weird.  Cushings did some of their errands and then we went to our apartment and had pasta with spaghetti sauce but with vegetables and pineapple.  It was great.  Then we took a walk on the Esplanade and then went to Arevalo to check on dates for apartment checks for south zone.  Sister Aquino is back in Manilla for radiation even though she said her nodules were benign.  She is in isolation right now.  I think this is really a difficult time.  This will be two transfers with her unavailable.  After Arevalo we took Cushings to catch the boat to Guimaras.  Home.
Reading in Christs Church pg 163:  There is not one of us here upon the earth that is not greater than his sins, is not greater than his weaknesses and his faults.  But for how long must I forsake?  ..until there is a mighty change of heart and a new mind to make the Lords will supreme in our lives, regardless of our own passionate desires.  Measuring rod:  attitude, not time.  It is not the passage of time but a change of heart that is the key.
Thursday we started at 7:45 with apartment checks for Central Zone with Elder Tolentino and Elder Fogavai.  After checks we took them to eat at McDonalds and then dropped them off at the apartment and we went to Jalandoni.  We will teach Institute at 5:30, emergency substitution.  My part will be Enos-Words of Mormon.      I heard that my mother is getting married again😃. Congratulations.      The class went great!  Attendance was close to 15 plus.  It was fun.  There was a convert of less than a year who has put his papers in to fill a mission.  He is 22 years old and just glowing.  He shared how he got answers to prayers when he was investigating.  He is so excited about the Family Proclamation.  7:30 pm we went home and crashed.
Friday we rushed to the Center at 6:00 am to call Raymond.  The internet wasn't working, the alarm went off in the church, everything was locked up so Ray got soaked under an umbrella while unlocking the parking lot gate.  I called President Insignie to learn how to disarm the alarm.  It was all an exciting morning.  We will go back to the apartment soon after 7:00 am to exercise, shower, eat, read....  We have a full day so I will complete Friday activities next week.  I love you all, Mom, Sister Robinson III

Coloma

Well this week has been interesting. I was pretty much just trying to survive until exchanges. I normally dread exchanges but if I need help then I can't wait! It's been hard because we still don't really have anyone we're teaching. I feel like I'm doing everything I can but our companionship is not unified at all. We teach ok together but all the rest of the time we're pretty much two separate people. It just doesn't work! We're not being very effective but I just don't feel like I can do much to change it because all my ideas are shot down pretty quickly. But in one of the talks from last conference, "Latter Day Saints Keep on Trying," an experience is related  about a missionary in a similar situation. 

"At one point he was assigned a missionary companion who was immature, socially awkward, and not particularly enthusiastic about getting the work done.

One day, while they were riding their bicycles, Curtis looked back and saw that his companion had inexplicably gotten off his bike and was walking. Silently, Curtis expressed his frustration to God; what a chore it was to be saddled with a companion he had to drag around in order to accomplish anything. Moments later, Curtis had a profound impression, as if God were saying to him, "You know, Curtis, compared to me, the two of you aren't all that different." Curtis learned that he needed to be patient with an imperfect companion who nonetheless was trying in his own way." This was a good reminder for me. It's frustrating but I'm not perfect either. So all I can do is keep trying! :)

We had Zone Conference and that was fun. President spent about an hour teaching about charity so...that felt weird to me haha. It was really good though and I got to see a bunch of mission friends so that was really fun. 

On Saturday we planned for a miracle! Because it is way past time for us to have an investigator. In our area book planner we planned an hour for "miracle in blue" then we chose some cross streets and planned to walk around in that area. We said a very specific prayer about it and went to it. The first person we talked to was in his garage and we just walked right up in there. I hate doing that but you can't just ignore that person when you've prayed for a miracle! Or ever but especially then. Anyway we had a good conversation with Johnny. A few weeks back Sister Jardine came to our district meeting and watched us do role plays. We were practicing contacting and I was trying to contact by tying whatever they were doing into the gospel. So my companion opened up her iPad and then I contacted her just chatting about the iPad and how she liked it. Then I talked to her about, "this super cool app, it's called the gospel library. It makes checking the cross references super easy because you just click the link. It also has talks given by modern day apostles and the prophet." Well back to Johnny, we actually talked to him about the app. Crazy! Roll plays prepare you. And then we shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon with him and gave him a copy. He said he'd read it and we could meet again! So sadly he isn't yet considered an investigator but that is the most interest anyone has shown since I've been in Elk Grove so it was exciting!

Today I went to Coloma! They take departing missionaries there for a last hurrah. They only go in summer though and I guess they decided this would be the last trip until June so they included May missionaries. So super early for me! But I was way excited to find out I got to go this time. It's a historical site for the Gold rush and some Mormon battalion people. It was pretty cool and I got a little phial of gold and garnet flecks that I panned for. 

So that's the news! Love you all!

Sister Robinson

Hey guys!

I hope your week has been as fantastic as mine was! Because that would mean it was really fantastic. The mission is such a blast, I highly suggest it. It does have some down sides like there aren't any good in n out burgers or anything similar, and there are no smashburger shakes. And not even one costco! But there are some weird foods that are pretty good that I'm gonna make you all eat! Later. 

First off, my comp is the man. And he's got a rich girlfriend that sends him sweet packages. But that's what I get for not going into sports. :) haha. But he's also gonna play lax for UNC when he gets back, which is basically a big deal. And we found several investigators this week and that was just too cool.

One is called victor he's 62 and his brother has been a member for forever and he has never shared with victor! So we shared the message with him and he said he really wanted to know if what we said was true. So he's going to church tomorrow! I hope! haha. But he really thought about it seriously before he commited to go, so I'm thinking he will go. 

We also found two young men, but they don't live in our ward but they both accept a baptismal date for the 5th of september and we explained to them that they could come to our ward this week with their friend (Javier, an 18 year old recent convert) and then if they wanted to keep learning we could pass their information to the missionaries in their wards. Javier was really happy and so were they! Also, Javier leaves and visits with us every single day almost. It's pretty impressive, and he is starting his mission papers this week! WHOO HOO! 

And Giovana, the mother of Viviana, is doing well, she started working so we havne't been able to visit her very much this week but we're gonna find out today if she talked to hour bf and what they decided. She also told us that if he doesn't want to get married, she's out of there. Because she wants to get baptized!!! oh ya! But she probably will go back to Peru or something if she moves out, so we'll just trust that she will make sure to find the missionaries, and the ward if she ends up going. But I personally think that wedding bells are ringing. Also, her son Myron, he's 12, he wants to get baptized as well. Imagine that!

Basically we have been really blessed to find some really good investigators, and severl lame ones that I probably won't talk about. :) haha. Also the members here are so funny. They all have there little quirks that are just too weird and hilarious. Some of them get jealous if we spend too much time with another family, and some of them (Ortensia) are definitely crazy and asks us to heal her broken arms, which are not broken, and then she says they feel better, but when we come around again, they're broken again. haha. Rough life. :)

I've learned on the mission how important it is to have a strong testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I've also learned that there are so many people that really have the same beliefs as us, they just don't know that God has put a church, with all the teachings from the scriptures, here on earth with living apostles and prophets, with new revelation, with authority, and with the amazing power of the priesthood, that knows and understands the roles of mother and father and of husband and wife. And then when we talk to them they kind of realize, oh! This is what I wanted to hear all of my life! But I didn't ask you guys because I thought you worshipped Joseph Smith! #miscommunication #theadversary

I love you guys so much! #sharethegospel How great shall be your joy if you should bring many souls unto Christ! And I know you do it, and it's so awesome!

Love,

Elder Robinson 

P.S. Here are some photos of our FHE with some members last night, with sopaipillas and don't eat joseph! (a fun game my companion and I brought)

 

 

August 14

Hi everyone.
I was just thinking this week, what a different life we live in the United States, compared to here. I suppose that life in the United states was more like this in the Philippines, over 100 years ago.
We have running water in our apartment, but many of the people who live on our street do not have running water. People in the neighborhood come to a pump across from our house and fill buckets to carry to their houses. Some people pour water over their clothes right there and soap themselves down, and rinse off. Most people have electricity in their homes. Most people seem to have enough food. I asked a Bishop what type of assistance people come in to ask for help with. He said that it was mostly for medical bills and sometimes rent payments. I have wondered why we are so blessed, to have all the material blessings and opportunities we have. Education is well accessible to people in the United States and here it seems to be a struggle for most people after about 15 years of age, when their high school stops. (they are just now changing it to a K-12 system, so that they can compete better in the world)
One theory that I have is that Heavenly Father blessed our nation as the birthplace of the Restoration, (although it was a considerable struggle to establish the church even in a “free society”). Without the wealth of members of the church and the nation it would have been difficult to take the gospel to all the world. Even though there are a good number of Philippine missionaries  serving here in our mission (well over half of the missionaries are Filipino), I don’t think that hardly any of them are paying more than a small percentage of the cost of the mission. It is a blessing for them to serve and many of them are excellent missionaries. They will be a strength to their wards and branches. I am convinced that it is the Lord’s way of providing for his saints.
One thing that I know for sure is that it is a blessing to have the fullness of the Gospel in our lives. May we all live our lives in a way that shows our gratitude for the many blessings we receive and that we love one another as our Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ has loved us.
Love, Dad

Small house on a nice small farm. Very peaceful and quiet. On island of Guimmaras.

Big spider in our house.

That’s me eating seaweed.

Small fruit stand.

Friday, August 7-Friday, August 14 2015

Friday we used the truck to transport 4 sisters and 4 elders to move apartment and church equipment to a house where church will now be held on the main floor and the elders will live upstairs in San Miguel.  The district leaders are very excited about it.  It took about four trips with one trip taken by Bishop Salazar and his van/truck.  We were done by noon to shower, read scriptures, etc.  this is my first time to skip exercising.  I stayed in the truck the whole time and slept while Ray carried stuff along with the missionaries that we brought to help from our district.  After they ate lunch in the house but Ray kept coming out and staying with me.  I was just sleeping.  At this point I had no voice.  I realized, to my delight that he preferred my sick companionship to that of missionaries having fun.  We are bonded.  Another sick night, he came in on the bed and just read beside me.  He wanted to be with me!--not alone.  It is so fun.  We received an email today from Andrews mission president, President Arrington, informing us of Andrews attributes that make him good for his new calling in the mission office.  It was very nice.  There have been golf ball size raindrops for days now and flooding.  Not us but I took some pictures of places down the street.  Boiser could only get a boat to Dumangas so we will be driving an hour to pick him up.  The meeting tonight was cancelled because we can't make it there and back.  We took him to SM and home to bed.  Yeah!
Saturday I slept better last night but around 3:59, I think there was an earthquake.  The bed was vibrating and Ray was not causing it.I swabbed my throat with a q-tip and metrosexual to see if it would help me get well.  We picked up Boiser at 8:30 and there were 30plus people there already waiting for the 9:00 meeting.  Remember, here a 9:00 meeting usually starts at 9:30 and people don't show up until 10:00.  We just kept opening more walls and setting up more tables and chairs.  It was great!  Largest group was from Kalibo--3 1/2 hours away and through rain storms which usually cancels church.  Next biggest group was Antique 2 1/2 hours away on the other side of the island. Also, Grace Villavert sent with her father an ointment for me to try for my shoulder.  That was so thoughtful of her and so nice of him to bring it.  Back to the attendance.  This shows their interest. There were over 115 people showed up. They were rewarded.  Tony SanGabriel came and spoke for 45 minutes--a real spiritual treat.  This was unexpected until the night before.  By 11:30 lunch was served, more meeting until 2:10.  We were able to take Boiser to the Fast Cat this time; it was running so that is only 20 minute drive.  That was nice because we had an invitation to Theos 1 birthday party.  This was like a wedding reception.  We were suppose to wear something yellow.  Yes, I did.  I took pictures.  It was wild.  A full catered dinner; a dj did games; and a magician did a fun show.  What a lot of work but it was so much fun!  And also this night there was a young girl, Abigail, 11, baptized and a man who we had passed on the road many times using a four legged chair as a cane and we had talked about buying him a cane.  He was also baptized.  He cut his hair, shaved..he turned out nice looking.  And he has seven canes at home but likes the chair best.  It also gives him a place to sit down when he gets tired.  Anyway, it was astig!  My new Illongo word, meaning awesome.  Home to bed.  It was a great, tiring, day.
Sunday we attended Mandurriao Ward, loaded up the sisters and elders and drove there early as we have been counseled to be at the church 30 minutes early but the gates were all locked.  But our newly baptized man with the four legged chair was there at the gate waiting to get in.  We all waited through the rain before someone finally came 20 minutes later.  The man was lucky, he had a chair to sit on😜 after the car gate was open, Ray drove in, walked around to let me out and slipped in the water.  He was soaked all the way through fr his neck to his pants and legs.  He had to go home to change.  I should have gone with him.  (Never leave your companion, even when it seems innocent).  While he was on his way out of our parking, a motorcycle had parked in our area and he bumped it with the truck.  It fell and broke some things..  We'll find out an estimate tomorrow.  And I just worried at church, did he black out?, you know, whatever can be dreamed up and worried about...waiting.  Lesson learned:  NEVER be alone; stay within sight and hearing of your companion.  Anyway, after church we went home, ate leftovers and went to San Miguel group.  I still don't have a healthy voice so I just listened.  But I am improving.  We went to Arevalo to get internet.  It was locked up but we could stand by the office windows and get reception.  We could read Elder Andrews letter and see his pictures.  Then home.  Read some scriptures.  We were short of time this morning.  Quennie and Brakie were at church.  They are very faithful but I think they will flourish in the states.  Brakie only speaks English and Chinese.  Goodnight.
Monday I realized that to keep from wrestling with coveteous thoughts, I need to memorize scriptures.  The president gives us three every week.  After routine laundry, we headed to Jalandoni.  Still struggling with frozen shoulder and head cold but both are improving.  Received email from April and Rachael.  Ray got cash to pay the guy to fix his motorcycle, about P1900.  We made phone calls to make arrangements for apartment checks in Antique and called for hotel rooms for then and also for Saturday for My Path in Roxas, four hour drive.  We ate lunch and returned to the Center.  Came home and had lesson 8 in Foundations.  We talked about plans for when we return😜.  Maybe we better stay😇.  Anyway we are having a "brown out", a power outage.  No electricity from 6:30-9:30 pm.  It gets a little warm without fans.
Tuesday we took entire district to zone meeting at Jalandoni 7:15 am.  Outstanding training by Elder Taguiam on Obedience.  Sometimes we think what is being asked is too small and inconsequential, like Namaan when told to wash in Jordan 7 times; and sometimes we think what is asked is too big like Abraham and Isaac.  But Jesus set the example:  John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him who sent me.  Blessings:  Mosiah 2:22 and behold all that He requires of you is to keep His commandments; and He has promised you that if he would keep His commandments, he would prosper in the land; and He never doth vary from which He hath said; therefore, if he do keep His commandments He doth bless you and prosper you.  And Sister Serveza's training was :  I Can Do This
If you have it available, she played an amazing video clip (we have a copy and will show you all when we return) Barcelona Olympics sprint.  Then a missionary contributed this:  F.     A.    I.    L.  First Attempt In Learning. I loved this.  We went to our office to prepare for apartment checks and "My Path" for the rest of the week.  Ray is working on a furniture business plan for the branch president in Tiolas.  Lots to do before we leave tomorrow morning.  We came home and ate my own version of squash soup:  steamed a squash of some kind, took out the pulp and blended it, added coconut milk, dried cream of chicken soup, salt, and pepper.  It was satisfying.  Put a load of wash in and out to dry.  Preparation, preparation, preparation.  There is no place safe to eat so a lot goes into an overnighter to Antique.
Wednesday we left at 6:30 am for Antique, a 2 1/2 drive through the mountains.  It is so beautiful.  I can't imagine the Garden of Eden being more beautiful!  We arrived at the zone leaders apartment at 9:00 as planned and the baker, Pomello came up with the birthday cake I order about 30 seconds later.  Elder Rubow, 20, birthday tomorrow so the cake is to give pieces away to all the missionaries in his zone for apartment checks.  He's a great elder so he has been the presidents baby sitter for three companionships.  He has a good comp now.  Their apartment is the nicest elders apartment in the mission.  Having said that, they have a rat cage.  They have caught three in five weeks.  They come in through the drains.  Anyway, we checked San Joes, Hamtec, and Dao today.  While at Dao we waited for two missionaries to go up the mountain for a baptismal interview and the other two to work.  While waiting, Ray always thinks of something good to do.  We went to the beach and walked in the waves.  We saw a young boy fishing with something shaped like a skate board with a fin and a post with a fishing line about 75 yards long and it had several short lines and hooks dangling from the long line.  He walked along the shore pulling.  It was so interesting.  We watched him get a tangle and stop, run, untangle and run back and as he pulled, the skateboard swam like a fish out into the waves as he pulled at the other end.  We headed back to see if the missionaries were ready, and we were within 30 of our timing so it was great.  A rain storm started just as we dropped them off at their apartment and really poured down after we got into our hotel room at the Pinnacle 2:13 pm.  We are actually tired.  It is a lot of driving...from 8:30-2:30, with an hour break and no lunch.  😟 we laid down for a bit and then went to Gaisanos Mall and had chicken mang inasal and a buko shake.
Thursday we picked up the zone leaders at 8:00 and drove to Sibalom (30 minutes) for more apartment checks, the to Bugasong (45 more minutes) then back to San Jose where we took Elder Bowden and Elder Rubow for lunch (Rubow's birthday today Aug 13).  The four sister missionaries and Grace Villavert joined us.  1:00 we headed back to Iloilo along the coastal road.  It is beautiful.  I am sending some pictures.  We reported to Arevalo (the mission office) with the apartment check reports and our vehicle report.  After we went to Jalandoni to meet up with President Sedano with a plan for a furniture business.  To the apartment at 6:30, put away dry clothes, unpacked, killed mosquitos, lizard, and had a snack, and relax.
Friday August 14 a day to prepare for our weekend trip to Roxas and send our emails.

Antique Coastal Drive

Birthday party plus Aug 8 rain