even more pics!

if anyone has tips on how to send more then 2 at a time I'd love it

What a week.

               Haha. It was honestly such an incredible week! I think I'm going to work my way backwards. well first of all, its way fun to be district leader because I get to go get everyone's mail and if I want to read it before I give it to them I do! haha. just kidding. But it is really fun. and its fun exercise for my brain to think about new ways to lead and help my district grow closer together. Also, I'm not sick any more! hurray! All right so yesterday was Mexico Independence day! Which means party central in all of Mexico! Fireworks (most of them homemade I heard) were going off all day! haha.  It was pretty amazing! and then at night we had a two and one half hour program to celebrate the culture and day! It was amazing! So many colors and dances and meaningful stories! It was apparently the day that the war for independence really started. They have another one for when it was finished (these Mexicans really know how to get more parties in). :) It was so amazing! and I was thinking about how all around the CCM people were getting drunk and high and hurt and probably Satan was just out there loving it. Just joining in the parties! No that there is anything wrong with celebrating independence day but they told us that we defintely know more about their culture and history than they do. Which is just sad. Like two and half hours is a long time... but not that long. And it was just a testimony to our leaders being called and inspired by God. While the rest of the country is partying we were learning about the culture and feeling the spirits of those men and women that sacrificed their lives for their country and having a good time. I was thinking that if you could see light and darkness in a spiritual sense, the auditorium in the CCM would be glowing so bright, to make an even brighter contrast to the darkness of the rest of the country. Although I'm sure there are many in Mexico that know the culture and lit lights of their own for the night. And then we went to our house and went to sleep like good little missionaries... After we yelled ¡Viva Mexico! Several times from on top our roof! and the 2nd counselor who lives next door loved it! and then told us to hurry to bed! haha. there was probably 50 missionaries on our roof. Who knows where they came from. I honestly didnt know them, but apparently word got around. and one misionary brought a martinelli's from home to celebrate and was very generous and shared it with all on our clothes and in our mouths. And they wonder how sickness spreads so quickly. Well now you know how. It was pretty crazy. and then we felt bad and said a prayer so we could have the spirit back. Anyway going back some more...

                       On Sunday our district meeting was on district unity and we had a really amazing discussion about that. But later that day (our hermanas have been sick like I said last week) the hermanas asked for blessings. so we have 4 hermanas and 4 elder companionships, so each companionship in our district got to anoint and bless one of the hermanas, after which we all shook embraced each other (metaphorically of course) and shook hands quite tightly  (my hand is still bruised from one of them) and I thought, if only every district could have that need. Our district is closer than ever and the Hermanas are all well now! and then we talked about the devotional we had, which was really good. This guy was honestly so funny, similar to John Bytheway, but he also spoke spanish. and taught some really good messages and then we watched the testaments (about Christ coming to America) and that movie has always touched me. 

               Also, last Tuesday night we heard the dedication prayer and talk by Jeffery R. Holland from January of 2013 dedicating some buildings in the Provo MTC. The dedication prayer itself was remarkable and life changing, but his talk was what really got me. He spoke so powerfully and one minute I was laughing hard and the next I was sobbing. It was remarkable. and he talked about how something that he and President Monson could not accept was missionaries who went home and then were inactive. and he said that you need to go home with at least one convert and it had better be you! it had better be you. I start to cry just thinking about it again. When he talked the way he talked I was filled with such a fire. and a burning to do the Lord's work no matter the cost, because inactive returned missionaries is something that I can not accept either, and never will. Because I know that His plan is the only way we can all be truly happy, and not just happy, but finding more and more joy with every instant that goes by. and I know that God knows it, and I can not deny it. Nor will I ever. "Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the house of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like flame unquenchable" 

           Attached is pictures of my companion and some friends and the rooftop crew and some bees on a bush. Hope you have an amazing week!

With love from Mexico,

Elder Robinson

P.S. ¡Viva Mexico!

P.P.S. I may or may not be marrying a Chilean woman.

P.P.P.S. I might have to send some of the pics in another email.

MTC week

Charity dropped us off at the curb, we checked in etc. and then we heard, "Robinson's"!  I felt "p o p u l a r" :)  It was KJ.  It was so fun.  He's great but would like to be on his way since he already knows the language.  The 6 elders who helped us in with our bags are all going to Iloilo, Philippines, so that was really fun.  After all was done for the day, Grandma picked us up and took us to PFChangs for dinner.  I was so full from the MTC that I just had lettuce wraps but they were good.  We went to her house for a few hours and she told us lots of stories.  It was good.

September 9th, we learned about getting to know people and finally got our passports back.  Charity had her interview with her stake president and now her papers are in.  Woohoo!  We had I a fireside with the whole MTC missionaries with Elder and Sister Sitati.  I was so tired afterwards that I went right to sleep and then we had a fire alarm at 11:30 and we all had to evacuate our building.  It took about an hour.  Rumor has it that a foreign missionary pulled the lever or whatever.  Yes, it is one way to have some excitement.
September 10, we did role plays with a fake investigator but it surely seems real.  It felt a little frustrating because I knew we couldn't follow up or take her to church.  Grandma picked us up again at night and took us to dinner at the Olive Garden.  She had us invite Castleton's now from Boise, but they lived in Preston 28 years.  He was our stake president when we moved to Preston and also a judge.  Then we went back to Grandma's house to visit.  Grandma's neighbors came over (ChloeAnn and husband) to visit.  They served in Hong Kong with Castleton's, so it was very nice.
September 11, We did more role plays with the four couples that we were grouped with all week.  One of the other couples is going to the Philippines as nurse and legal service.  Grandma picked us up again with Uncle Larry and took us all to Olive Garden along with Uncle Bob and Candy.  THEN she offered us tickets to the football game.  We went.  We won. We loved it.  Then we walked back to the MTC, all UP HILL:)
September 12, Friday, we role played with the other couple that we hadn't exchanged with and then went in with the big group and had a short testimony meeting.  Then we went back into our small group classroom and listened to a couple who had been to the Philippines.  They live in Orem now but they were originally from Tennessee and they had that fun accent.  Their talks to us were fascinating and so exciting:)  He said he lost 40 lbs in the Philippines. That would be perfect:)
September 13th was "P" day at home in Bountiful and we cleaned some more.  I got all the cupboards but one empty and washed out, the microwave and ovens all cleaned and we repacked.  The MTC was a great practice to know what we needed and what we would rather have than what we had packed.  We went over and visited with the R&J Robinson's for a few hours and came home to bed!
September 14th, we get to go to the Church Office Building with Elder Falabella of the First Quorum of Seventy.  I'm very excited!  I will finish later.  Essentially, we had a private meeting with Elder Falabella.  It was us and two other couples who will be working with PEF and self-reliance.  One couple is going to Argentina and one is going to London and us.  He gave us a broad view of the initiative, quote, "God is self-reliant, and He wants us to be."  It begins with prayer, scripture study, work...we will have more training Monday and Tuesday.

I love you so much!  I know you are in the hollow of His Hands. I am hugging you so tightly from Bountiful.  Mom

A Mouthpiece of the Lord (or striving to become one)

          I forgot to mention last week that I was made a district leader! haha. Sounds pretty exciting. I suppose it is. But mostly its just surprising because I feel like probably everyone in my district could make better district leaders than me. But I suppose that makes sense, because that means they dont need the practice! and I definitely do. Anyway, so thats kind of fun. you know unrighteous dominion and such. ha. also this week our first investigator became our spanish teacher, and he is honestly so cool. Like cool enough that I wanted to show him a picture of my sister so they could get married. He is honestly so cool and just is honestly an incredible teacher. And he always makes everyone in the district recharged spiritually, and physically, and emotionally. It really is amazing. I have 4 Hermanas in my district as well and one of their birthdays is tomorrow and so we get to bring ice cream to class, and the ice cream here is so fantastic. Next week is Mexicos fourth of July or something but its actually on September 15th! Weird stuff. So we get to see and participate in the cultural celebration and learn the Mexico national anthem, sounds a lot like a soundtrack to a race horse movie. But its really fun. If only I could understand the words. Haha. Just kidding the language is honestly coming pretty quickly now. I read the scriptures in spanish every day and I understand most everything. Actually speaking takes me a little longer still, but I know it will come. Gordon B. Hinckley promised that if you read the whole book of Mormon out loud in your mission language then by the time you were finished you would be fluent. So Im definitely taking him up on that. In my farewell talk I spoke about trusting in God. I didnt know who that talk was for at the time, but now I know that it was for me. Ive been sick with a cough or a cold or something since the second day I got to the mtc and it was just really frustrating, because I was taking vitamins and drinking enough water and getting enough sleep and doing everything I could to take care of me (even putting on essential oils every night that my mom sent to me) and I was just kind of like, why. Why is this so much harder than it needs to be. But because I was sick, it got everyone in my district sick! haha. Which brought our district close together really fast. We all have to take care of each other and help each other with things since we were all sick. grabbing tissues for each other, sharing vitamins, reminding each other to sanitize hands, sharing essential oils and so many other things. It sounds weird, but weve quickly become the closest district here because of it. and we havent even been here for long. It feels weird to think and say, but all things good or bad are from God, and because of Him, everything can be for our growth and benefit. Even maestros giving you a hard time every day! haha. But thats another story. Another huge things of this week I learned from Nephi. Take the time to think deeply and consider carefully every decision. Thomas S. Monson said that the choices you make determine your destiny. and I have come to understand that that statement is all-encompassing. Every choice we make is of great consequence. Even waving to that guy you dont know that well. You never know what that could start or add to or prevent. Love you all!

Much love from Mexico,

Elder Robinson

At the CCM at last!

                Oh man! Its so good to be here at the CCM (which is spanish for MTC)! My companion is so sweet! He went to Lone Peak High School and played on the basketball team there and he is such a good kid. And the other companionship in my room is so cool too! Elder Sperry and Elder Bryan! Fom alta and davis high schools! Theyre so much fun and were honestly already best friends. Its so weird but it honestly feels like wive been tight forever. Ive met some amazing people here! and the experinces are even better! The power went out on friday and the security was going all around the wall, which by the way is 20 feet tall and topped by razors. One of our investigators said it was like a prison. Haha. We told home itwas more like a sanctuary of safety. Right outside our back door and behind the wall is the most dangerous part of Mexico City. We hear severl gunshots and ambulances every single day. So of course we climb the wall and look through the fence as often as possible. Ducking down whenever we see someone coming, or we tried to introduce the gospel to one guy that was walking by, but he just ignored us. Anyway so during the power outage the security was out because every time the power goes out the bad guys try to come in and take our stuff and kill us. What a thrill. haha,. but we have some pretty tough securty guys. They wont even let our investigator bring us food from his hamburger joint! Anyway, our investigator is gonna get baptized on September 27th. But I still think hes a fake investigator! Haha. Im pretty sure he is, anywway. But if no thats pretty cool. Language is still a barried but me and my companion make a pretty amzing team, if I do say so myself. Haha. a ton of missionaries come over to our casa at night and I play ukulele and we all sing unti lights out. Its bascically a dream come true. Everyone kept telling us that the first couple days were awful, but my companion was just like, well our first days are gonna be freaking amazing! And so they were. I miss home, but it feels good to focus on improving and learning how to be a good teacher. The best example of a good teacher, of course, is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Someone suggested to me to write dowen an attribute or subject that I wanted to work on at the beginning of my book of mormon and fiocus on that as I read it, and then re read it with a new topic. Im pretty sure a general authority said that but I dont know who. and since I get to read in Spanish and English I picked two topics! and both have a lot to do with being a good teacher, and a good student. One is patience and understanding. The other is gentility and kindness. Both are things that I struggle with, and I have found even in the short time that I have been focusing on those I already feel myself getting a little better. Its amazing how powerful gentleness. And the Savior is so good at that. 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' What a perfect example of gentleness and the power of truth. He didnt call anyone out or put anyone on the spot, but just gently reminded them of the truth. and the truth of God cannot be denied. Love you all! 

Much love from Mexico,

Elder Robinson

Scouting Broadcast

That scouting broadcast was amazing, wasn't it? I decided to grab a couple of screen shots of an awesome young scouter we all know and love:

Love it! Way to go, Raymond IV!

Baby Bill of Rights

Emma recently read the Bill of Rights and her writing assignment afterwards was to create her own on a topic of her choice.

1. All babies have the right to clean clothes.
2. You should have lots of baby toys.
3. Babies need to be snuggled.
4. Proper play clothes should be kept for the baby.
5. Don't treat us like trouble.
6. Treat us like fun.
7. Babies should be played with.
8. We need sweet things because our first tooth is a sweet tooth.
9. We need freedom, let us run around.
10. Love us!


We have thought of this daily as Lucy is into everything right now and have quit calling her "trouble". It has brought many laughs and smiles here! Enjoy your babies! :)