Time flies

How true that is. It seems like only yesterday... :) haha. But honestly, it does. I got my flight itinerary for my travel to Concepcion! 8 1/2 hour flight to santiago, and then a short one hour flight to concepción and then go to your area! Which could be in the city, or in a mountain village, or even some get to go to little islands off the coast! But there are only ever two couples at any of those. (I think there are 3) But it's honestly so weird to even think about not being here in Mexico, with my companion. But I suppose I'm entering a new life that may continue for my whole life. A life of changing as soon as you start to be comfortable. I would suppose that it stays that way for the rest of your life, but obvi, I don't know. :) Also, the excitement for general conference here is unreal! You can feel the buzz and energy of this coming weekend all over! Everyone is running on full sprint right now! Especially those of us that are leaving right after. I leave on Monday, by the way! So the next time I write I'll almost definitely be in Concepcion! I'm honestly gonna miss it here. Like, the food was gross and the people even more so, but I love it! :) Haha. just kidding. the people here are amazing! I've grown really close to one of my teachers here, which is surprising, because he can only speak spanish. And some slang words we taught im in English that he loves to death! (he had some english speaking companions on his mission so he loves it). And my sister Charity got her mission call to Sacramento California! she leaves November 5th! But to highlight some sweet things this week...

                          The guys in my casa and I had a really long discussion about revelations... like the book in the Bible, and Chronicles of Narnia, and JRR Tolkien, and stuff like that. It was incredibly uplifting. And If i were to theme this week it would be a combination of the last chapter of revelations and Ether 12. Both are amazing chapters. Ether 12 is one of my favorites, because it references other amazing stories in the book of Mormon, and Moroni adds his own powerful testimony. In a way so powerful and humbling that as far as I know, only he and the Savior can do. Wouldn't it be amazing to speak with the power that they do. In Spanish or English, or any language for that matter. Also, fun fact, Revelations in spanish is Apocolipsis. They like it a little more obvious I guess. 

                     Another highlight was a talk by David A. Bednar that we watched on Sunday. It was given on Christmas morning at the Provo MTC a couple years ago (before the missionary age change) and it was so incredibly powerful. He talked about the Brother of Jared, and receiving revelation (one of his favorite topics, I think) and the difference between true converts and people with testimonies. It was incredibly powerful. And also about how understanding the character of Christ (which you can really only possibly come to understand by your own searching, pondering, and praying) and how one important thing is how when the natural man would turn inward, Christ turns outward. And there are so many examples of that. When He healed the guards ear, when He sent angels to minister to one of His apostles in prison near the end of His forty day fast, and after Satan had tempted him with everything He had, and then finally on the cross, doing missionary work for the thieves on either side of Him, making sure His mother would be taken care of, and then, praying for His enemies, that they would be forgiven. It's a powerful example, and a perfect one, of what we too should be striving to do. It's easy to think about others when you have everything you need, but can you when your life is at it's very hardest. And the answer is, that with the Holy Ghost by your side, you absolutely can. And easy is the way

                     Another highlight was the importance of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Can you imagine if you were living your life in such a way to have the Spirit with you at all times... How could anything go wrong. In the time of the Prophet Joseph, the President of the United States asked him how the mormons beliefs differ from that of other christian religions. He said that we believed that the power of God and the Holy Ghost could be given to all men, and that he supposed that all other differences lied within our belief in the Holy Ghost. ALL other differences. Now maybe I'm reading into it. Maybe he just felt like he shouldn't disclose all the details to the President, but in either case, it must be a true statement. And a powerful testimony to the simplicity and beauty of the gospel. And I feel that it is true. All other differences lie within our trust and belief and companionship of the Spirit.

                 Much love to you all from Mexico! (but not for long),

                           Elder Robinson

P.S. Please forgive any misquotations of the above stories. But hey that's why I didn't put it in quotations. But it's the Spirit of the message, right? :)

Monkey

Iloilo

We can now call in the Philippines. Ray was able to purchase a SIM card.  

Friday the office missionaries had Ray drive to our Self-Reliance Center and to our bungalow and past our church that we will be attending and then back to the mission home.  Ray drove very well and I believe he is really getting to know his way around.

Saturday was a duo-stake activity in the parking lot of the mission home and office.  Quite fun games: A paper plate was folded like a horn and attached to a rope and teams took turns blowing their own down the rope.  2. They put paper under arm, between shoulder and chin, between knees, and with one hand fan your face and go a distance around a chair and back.

We visited and met many people. Visiting is quite wearing when I can’t understand what they say.

Anyway, President and Sister Aquino took us and the office missionaries to a floating restaurant for lunch. We took pictures.  Ray tried to catch his own fish for dinner but the fish just kept eating the bait off the hook.  It was fun though.  The pole was a bamboo stick with a floater and a hook.  The other Elder who fished caught a big one but the string broke and it got away☹.  After lunch the elders helped us move into our bungalow and go shopping.  We shopped at Robinson’s Market.  It wasn’t the best place to shop; but everyone knows of it and teases that it is ours. I tell them it is not our business but we are “rich”; we have 8 children. I carry the calendar around to show everyone who will look!

We had a first night at a bungalow. I feel safe here. We have bottled drinking water. We use our purified water for washing dishes and hands and brushing teeth.  The stove doesn’t work yet, so we are really glad we bought a lot of fresh fruit:  papaya, mango, bananas …

Sunday the President and Sister Aquino picked us up for church to introduce us to the ward.  The Bishop had us bear our testimonies and tell something about ourselves.

We exercise each morning, shower, prayer and read 7 pages of the Book of Mormon and study ½ hour from Preach My Gospel.  This is a great experience.  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Remember, remember, to follow our modern day “liahona”.  Remember, remember, it only works if we are praying, reading the scriptures, and having family home evening.

Our liahona  is to follow the words of Christ.  If we follow this course, it will protect our families and take us (even in this life) to a far better land (home) of promise.  But as with those who came before us, if we are slothful because of the easiness of the way, some of us may get lost and our homes and families will not be all they could be.  Don’t let other “good” things get in the way and cause us to be slothful.  Remember, remember the sacred things.  Do not mistake busyness for righteousness.  We are building families unto Christ.  Gather your families daily for dinner together where you can join in “thanks” to our Father in Heaven.  He said the way is easy.  If it is hard, we are doing something out of His order.  Love each other.  We love you, Mom

On the first part of this week we went through Immigration and we got our Philippine driver’s licenses. I still did not know that I would be driving here but I later learned that I would be driving a lot. The driving rules are “don’t hit anybody and don’t let anybody hit you.” They say that the traffic laws are really just suggestions. Our Mission President says that is not really true, but by observation it is mostly true. I can’t tell if it makes any difference whether a pedestrian is in the cross walk or not. No one stops.

On our flight to Iloilo we went “business class” because our luggage was much over weight and that was cheaper than paying for excess weight. It was only about $45.00.

We stayed at the Mission Home until our apartment was ready. Two couple missionaries came to give us an orientation. They mostly work in Member/Leader Support. Both couples live a couple of hours away. One couple took us on a ride around Iloilo so that we could become familiar.

We are in our apartment now but not everything works as it should. We took cold showers this morning but it wasn’t too bad.

We attended church in our ward and I realized that I was the tallest person in the room. Mom was very tall too, as usual.

Christmas starts here with the “ber” months. The mission has Christmas decorations and we sang Silent Night in Priesthood meeting. Do you think we will get tired of it by January? It is special that the people value the memory of Our Savior’s Birth.

A sister missionary told a story that I can share with you.

A young boy, living in Florida, lived near a pond just behind their house. The boy often went swimming in the pond. One day he went rapidly to the pond taking off his clothes as he ran. He jumped into the pond and went swimming toward the center. At the same time a large alligator came swimming toward him. The boy’s mother saw the alligator and began yelling for her son to hurry back. The boy began swimming back and arrived there at the same time as the alligator and his mother. The alligator grabbed his legs in its teeth and the boy’s mother grabbed his arms. They were struggling when a farmer drove by and had a gun and shot the alligator.

The boy was in the hospital for several weeks but did recover with many scars. Later a reporter asked to see his scars. The boy showed him the scars on his legs and then showed him the scars on his arms where his mother had dug her fingernails into his arms. The boy said “These scars are from my mother holding onto me. My mother wouldn’t let go”

The people here are fun happy and beautiful and many of them have pretty difficult lives.

I love you all.

Dad

Elder Andrew Robinson with his district

This week

I am not sure how long we will have internet. We may move into our bungalow on Saturday. We will see if it is ready. Our mission president was an accountant and his wife a nurse. They are very nice. So we are staying in the mission home until the bungalow is ready. Unfortunately we will have a car. Everywhere is too far. Our assignment seems like it will be very exciting! Elder Boiser is our boss. He is a paid employee and he is awesome!

As you might guess everyone wants to know our ages because we have a son on a mission and a daughter going:) Surprise to them! We are so excited for Charity's assignment to Sacramento and it seems the timing is perfect, too. I can't wait to hear of her adventures for the next month.

Monday we spent the day doing immigration papers and getting drivers' licenses. Our driver who drove us everywhere....well, we were so grateful. Manila is a crazy traffic city. Ignore the lane lines. There might be 4 painted lines but 5 cars squeezing through. There might be 2 inches all around of space, motorbikes cutting you off... The only rules are: patience, stay close, and don't hit or get hit! 

Tuesday our driver took us to the Manila temple. We went through a session and were blessed to be the witness couple. There were only, well, less than 27 total patrons and 2 workers, same film. It was so small. I dressed in a small dressing room and then took my clothes to a 7x7 locker. It was very nice.

After the session we went across the street to see brother Franco, another PEF employee of the church. He is a stake presidency member and another great man. He went through some of the characteristics of the people. It was very helpful.  He had the office lady take us to the cafeteria and then he took us upstairs to Elder Bowans office for a short visit. He was very nice and told us of some of the projects he had worked with Raymond on in the Priesthood department. He obviously thought a lot of Raymond. That was very fun.

When we went back to the hotel, the sister missionaries were there and we had dinner with them. I had Hawaiian Izard and Dad and I shared a 3 scoop ice cream dish. It was really good.

Wednesday 6am found us with scrambled eggs and garlic rice for breakfast and then off to the airport. We had too many kilos of luggage so the cheapest way to go was to upgrade to business class and then the luggage was free. It was great! Lots of seating and leg room, lounge privileges while we were waiting with food and wifi. A couple talked to us who were there to pick up their son from his mission.  They were so excited! Then on the plane (1 hour flight) they served us warm ham n cheese and tropical punch.  Upgrading on an airplane is crazy!

President Aquino and his wife and other assistants picked us and 28 other elder/sister missionaries up and took us to the mission office for orientation, lunch, and testimonies, and pictures. Later that night they took us to look at the progress on our bungalow. We will take pictures when we move in.We had breakfast by ourselves at the mission home table. Then 2 elders from the office took us driving. Ray drove to help us get comfortable. We went to our self-reliance center where we will work, then to our bungalow. It looks much nicer now...windows and screens, refrigerator and stove with oven. It all looks like when we first began our marriage except it is not in the basement. Dad practiced getting in the driveway gate. It was too narrow so they will change the gate soon. We are using Sister Aquinos washer and dryer to do our clothes. Maybe tomorrow we will move into our bungalow.

Thursday, of course we were waiting for Charity's call and went right over and announced it to the missionaries. They all were aaah! America is exciting to them.

We had breakfast while we were there: rice, over-easy fried egg, 2 short fat sausages, short sweet banana, and 3" sweet pancake. It was very good.  We returned to the mission home for scripture study. Then the Taylors and the Sessions trained us. At 11 brother Boiser from SRC came to train us and all listened. We had lunch at the mission home and then the Sessions drove us around to SM mall where Ray purchased a SIM card for the phone and we went to the grocery store to look. They stopped at a pie shop to treat us on the way back to the mission home. We had fish like frozen breaded that we would have at home and some cream soup that was tasty.

Friday am we exercised 10 minutes, then shower, now breakfast is ready.

To be continued . . . see "Iloilo" post from Sep. 28.

Temple week!

Dear friends and family,            

          

                I'm going to go backwards again! SO first off, or most recently, our district got to go the temple here in Mexico city today! It was amazing! But we didn't get to go into the actual temple, just the visitors center, but the visitors center here is amazing! It might be even better than the one on temple square! It was amazing! and we watched this video about families, and it was amazing. and of course it made me miss my family and cry for a while. But by the end of our discussion about it after, I was just so happy that because of my covenants and that of my siblings and parents and their parents, we get to be a family forever! And what an amazing gift that is! It made me just so excited about families and the families I am going to teach in the mission field!

                Also, last night we had a riff off of hymns for family home evening with our zone and that was just too much fun! And I was in charge because our zone leaders just left to the field early Monday morning. We got way close to the other districts in our zone and it was sad to see them leave. And I have more stories about that that I'll tell later... but on Sunday, for district meeting we had a discussion on rendering an account. At the beginning I was really worried that no one would have any thoughts about it, but boy was I wrong. Like, I had an idea of what that meant and why it was important before, but now I could teach at least a 2 hour forum on it and do a brilliant job, too! So if you have any questions about that, I probably know the answer from my district. If you know what rendering a video file means, that alone offers so many powerful insights. And also tying that in so perfectly with return and report, which in itself is so important. ooh. and setting goals! Like I said, it was a very powerful and educational discussion. Look on pg. 150 of Preach my Gospel and it says, "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." and I'm pretty sure that was Thomas S. Monson. Anyway, it would take too long to disclose the whole discussion. So that's all about that! Also, we just all took in a lot of important learning on Sunday, and it was amazing.

                   Saturday evening... let's go a little further back to my first week here. An Elder in our zone came into our classroom and shared an amazing story with us about him and his conversion and the miracle of life, and our district was so touched by it that me and my companion knew that it was a story that needed to be shared with as many people possible. Especially in this transition time when everyone is going through some challenges and everyone could use a reminder that miracles exist. Anyway, so this week we finally went and talked to the CCM president and asked if we could set up a devotional and he said we could, but he wasn't gonna announce it or anything and we would have to fin our own place to do it. (Keep in mind that we've talked to him a couple of times and then instead of answering he'd just change the subject, and when the president tries to change the subject, you just let him... but persistence prevailed) and on Friday we spread the word around that there would be a short devotional on Saturday night and that everyone was invited. We planned on having it in our classroom, (which could have fit maybe 50 people comfortably) but we ended up finding a much larger room in a different building. Anyway so then almost 200 people showed up to hear this guys story, and me and Elder Marsden did a special musical number and the devotional went amazingly well, and people are still coming up to me and my companion and telling us thank you so much for setting that up, and that they really needed to hear it. Sometime I'll email you guys his story. It truly is incredible. Anyway, apparently President Pratt didn't tell anyone that he gave us permission, though, and we almost got in trouble with some of the teachers, but everything was cleared up and I made friends with a couple of the teachers! So interesting to see how everything happens for a reason, even almost getting a big fat lecture. :) 

                    Basically there is more to tell but that definitely hits the highlights! Also, fun fact... my companion was on the lone peak basketball team that won the national championship this last year, and he was starting shooting guard, Zachary Frampton. and he's humble and just a good guy. but he played with all the new byu legends like tyler hawes and Erick Mika and those guys. Anyway. I hope everyone has an amazing week! Love you all and think of you often!

Much love from Mexico,

Elder Robinson

P.S. A little less than two weeks and I'll be on my way to Chile!

P.P.S. My parents are in the Phillipines and my sister Charity is getting her mission call hopefully this week!

P.P.P.S. And the rest of my siblings and nieces and nephews seem to be baptizing everyone around them. More literally than you'd think. We're basically a missionary family. As are we all in this church led by God through my main man, Thomas S. Monson

P.P.P.P.S. (or p to the 4th power s) I talked to a guy this week named Joshua Jerome and he was in the 2009 yellow cast of the nauvoo pageant and 2010 set up crew! So fun to make another friend through that!

Manila

We have wifi for one hour. We love you! We arrived at the motel about 11 pm this time. We were traveling about 25 hours. My feet were swollen fat. It is weird. Today is Saturday and we get to rest. Tomorrow someone will pick us up for church. This place reminds me of Hawaii 50 years ago...just old, rusty, saw one bug in the first five minutes. Dad killed it. There is a monkey outside our window, chained. I talked to him. He raised his eyebrows at me:) maybe you can send message back soon. In 20 minutes. Love mom and dad let everyone know we are safe and fine.