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No explanation necessary

Never go to a barber

Hey there! Well I'm just going to explain my subject line right away. This morning I got a haircut. I was super excited because the ends have been super dry and nasty so I was very happy to get a little trim. My goal has been to grow out my hair for my whole mission and see how long it would get. It had reached the usual longest it gets before I get sick of it and chop it off so I was very excited to see how long it was in eight months. The plan was to trim off a half inch. An inch at most. So I went to a barber in our ward because that's where everyone said to go and I figured anyone is low risk because it's just a trim and you can't mess up, right?! Famous last words. I'm sure you all know where this is going...I told him just a trim for the dead ends and he did not ask me how much. He decided to use his judgement for how much needed to go. And I couldn't see how much he was cutting because it was behind my back. So he turns me around and he has cut FIVE. INCHES. My hair is now the length it was six months ago. So in six months it will be back to where it was this morning. I am SO UPSET! Should've known better than to trust a man to cut my hair.

Anyway, I haven't been updating on health because I just don't want to go back through my e-mails after my mission and be reading the health saga of sister Robinson, but I guess you all might want to know what's going on haha. The headaches have been consistently better for about two weeks now, so that is very promising. I still have a slight headache most of the time but it's SO MUCH BETTER! I'm attributing it to the nightguard. Guess I just had a serious grinding problem. However, in the meantime before that started helping I was put on an antidepressant, the idea being that I am so stressed and anxious as a missionary (no, I'm not) that it's causing headaches. So I have been taking Zoloft for the past three weeks. I had a whole slew of unpleasant side effects, and on Wednesday at the follow up appointment I had been having a mysterious rash for a few days. Since that can be a sign of a rather serious allergic reaction I am no longer taking Zoloft. The rash hasn't gone away just yet so it is possibly being caused by something else...I'm going to give it a few more days until I talk to the nurse about it. The stuff might just not be out of my system yet maybe. There's still a possibility of them trying a different antidepressant in a couple of weeks, but if headaches are still good by then I will just be medication free and doing awesome! So hoping for that. :)

This week we met a super sweet older lady named Lorraine. She said she'd read the Book of Mormon. We're not sure how much she understood due to her age, but we're hoping to continue working with her and see her progress.

On Friday we did service for the Elk Grove Food Bank's Clothes Closet. It was pretty cool, we sorted a bunch of clothes that will be distributed to kids in need and we got to talk to some other non-member volunteers. I love when service brings about opportunities to answer questions and talk about the church.

Saturday our stake had a Laurels and Priests MTC activity. We had two laurels come out with us for a couple of hours and join us in our teaching. The girls we had were super sweet and did a great job. Such a great activity to help prepare the youth for missionary service. It was exciting. They are working with a friend they go to school with. They've given her a Book of Mormon and are trying to help her make friends with the youth in the ward where she lives so they can give her rides to seminary and prepare her to meet with the missionaries there. I was very impressed. They've got the vision! So awesome.

Yesterday we met a woman named Jody. She was referred to us by some sisters that met her in Carmichael. She is actually a less active member that we don't have records for. She is super sweet and really struggling with some trials right now. It was cool to see how her prayers were answered and the missionaries found her. 

A scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants was shared with me this past week, "lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come!" What a blessed hour. I couldn't be doing anything better. Love you all!

Sister Robinson

Sent from my iPad

Never go to a barber

Hey there! Well I'm just going to explain my subject line right away. This morning I got a haircut. I was super excited because the ends have been super dry and nasty so I was very happy to get a little trim. My goal has been to grow out my hair for my whole mission and see how long it would get. It had reached the usual longest it gets before I get sick of it and chop it off so I was very excited to see how long it was in eight months. The plan was to trim off a half inch. An inch at most. So I went to a barber in our ward because that's where everyone said to go and I figured anyone is low risk because it's just a trim and you can't mess up, right?! Famous last words. I'm sure you all know where this is going...I told him just a trim for the dead ends and he did not ask me how much. He decided to use his judgement for how much needed to go. And I couldn't see how much he was cutting because it was behind my back. So he turns me around and he has cut FIVE. INCHES. My hair is now the length it was six months ago. So in six months it will be back to where it was this morning. I am SO UPSET! Should've known better than to trust a man to cut my hair.

Anyway, I haven't been updating on health because I just don't want to go back through my e-mails after my mission and be reading the health saga of sister Robinson, but I guess you all might want to know what's going on haha. The headaches have been consistently better for about two weeks now, so that is very promising. I still have a slight headache most of the time but it's SO MUCH BETTER! I'm attributing it to the nightguard. Guess I just had a serious grinding problem. However, in the meantime before that started helping I was put on an antidepressant, the idea being that I am so stressed and anxious as a missionary (no, I'm not) that it's causing headaches. So I have been taking Zoloft for the past three weeks. I had a whole slew of unpleasant side effects, and on Wednesday at the follow up appointment I had been having a mysterious rash for a few days. Since that can be a sign of a rather serious allergic reaction I am no longer taking Zoloft. The rash hasn't gone away just yet so it is possibly being caused by something else...I'm going to give it a few more days until I talk to the nurse about it. The stuff might just not be out of my system yet maybe. There's still a possibility of them trying a different antidepressant in a couple of weeks, but if headaches are still good by then I will just be medication free and doing awesome! So hoping for that. :)

This week we met a super sweet older lady named Lorraine. She said she'd read the Book of Mormon. We're not sure how much she understood due to her age, but we're hoping to continue working with her and see her progress.

On Friday we did service for the Elk Grove Food Bank's Clothes Closet. It was pretty cool, we sorted a bunch of clothes that will be distributed to kids in need and we got to talk to some other non-member volunteers. I love when service brings about opportunities to answer questions and talk about the church.

Saturday our stake had a Laurels and Priests MTC activity. We had two laurels come out with us for a couple of hours and join us in our teaching. The girls we had were super sweet and did a great job. Such a great activity to help prepare the youth for missionary service. It was exciting. They are working with a friend they go to school with. They've given her a Book of Mormon and are trying to help her make friends with the youth in the ward where she lives so they can give her rides to seminary and prepare her to meet with the missionaries there. I was very impressed. They've got the vision! So awesome.

Yesterday we met a woman named Jody. She was referred to us by some sisters that met her in Carmichael. She is actually a less active member that we don't have records for. She is super sweet and really struggling with some trials right now. It was cool to see how her prayers were answered and the missionaries found her. 

A scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants was shared with me this past week, "lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come!" What a blessed hour. I couldn't be doing anything better. Love you all!

Sister Robinson

Sent from my iPad

September 15

Here are some pictures of our trip to Bacolod. I suppose that Mom sent you some details of our trip. These pictures were taken at some ruins near Bacolod on the island of Negros. The mansion was burned to avoid having it for a place for the Japanese to use during the WW2 invasion.

Heping hands

Hey everybody!

How's everyone's week been? For us this week was crazy. It was the week of transfers, and for us that means we get to drop off the people that go home at the airport and pick up the new missionaries! Haha. And a lot of other things, and it was really exhausting. But it was fun! And plus! There was a kid from bountiful high  that came this week! I'm not sure if any of you will remember him, but he was in the musical and stuff with me, but they moved to virginia after that. But his name is Carson Ashby. So that was fun and crazy to see him! And last transfer Thomas Regis came and it's just like a bhs party here sometimes. :) But it was lame because we didn't get to work in our area as much...

And this morning I guess today was national service day or something. So all the nearby stakes and the missionaries were invited to put on some helping hands jerseys and clean concepcion! So that's what we did all morning! It was pretty disappointing because supposedly it was for the members, but from all 6 stakes that are here in Conce, there was about 20 members that were there. At the most. But with all 120 missionaries that were close enough to come, we got a lot of cleaning done! :)

But Christian is having some issues. He's scared, I think, of leaving behind his drinking buddies and not having any friends, because that's just where his "friends" are. But we just have to pray and help him have some spiritual experiences to help him choose the right. 

We're trying really hard to find some new investigators, as always, and we've been trying to use the book of mormon in our street contacts. Surprisingly enough, people don't want to accept a free book! So we started telling them that we were just going to let them borrow it to read it and then we would pass by to pick it back up. That worked a little better! :)

We're reading the book of mormon still as a mission and this week we were reading in Mosiah about Alma and King Noah and then King Limhi and all of that good stuff. And it was so cool and interesting to see and understand that God puts in our path only what we have prepared ourselves for. We heard a lot more doubts this week from members and converts and less actives and investigators this week than normal, and they were all answered with what we had read this week in the book of mormon! It was so cool. And I've been studying a lot more in Preach My Gospel in chap. 10. Obviously we study that chapter a lot, but this week I kind of got to understand a little better that we have to prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually to bring others unto Christ, we need to develop our gifts and talents that God gave us and continues to give us to let our good works glorify Him! I always tell people that Bountiful is the city that is upon the hill that can not be hid. :) But seriously, I know that we all need to let our good works shine before men. We are the noble and great ones, after all. :)

I love you guys a lot and hope you have an amazing week! 

Elder Robinson

P.S. Get shredded with me this week. :)

Dinner at Golden Fortune

September 5, 2015-September 11

Why is it so long in between emails from our kids but so short between writing my weekly email?
Saturday we did South Zone apartment checks, after starting on Thursday with two apartments but we couldn't finish until Saturday but it was nice to end by 11:30 instead of 1:30.  We took the zone leaders, Elder Elkington and his split companion to check until we came to Elder Stewart, the other zone leader.  Then we finished the apartment checks and took them to eat at their pick:  Mang Inasal--chicken, unlimited rice and banana split which is a banana slice rolled in like spring roll and deep fried, two on the tray with 3 heaping Tablespoons of ice cream in between😆.  It was good though and the elders thanked us.  They had never had the banana split.  We came home around 3:00.  Read some and started our fast.  Listened to 2014 Sunday morning conference.  Interesting as I think about the factions in this Ward.  I think each of them should just let it go.  Others enjoy each group.  They have been counseled to let it go.  Stop it.  Push out bad thoughts with hymns or scripture memorization.  "Let us oft speak kind words of each other."  Count your blessings verse 3:  when you look at others with their lands and gold, think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Sunday we attended Mandurriao Ward, broke our fast, picked up some young men in our Ward and took them with us to the San Miguel group--29 today in attendance, lots of testimonies.  I was blessed to lead the singing.  We gave 5 people rides home.  Just as we drove in front of the apartment, we could see a sheet of rain just two houses in front of us.  We watched it move towards us.  I jumped out and opened the gate for the truck and ran for cover.  At that moment it showered our apartment but I made it, Ray had an umbrella.  Crazy fun!
Monday as I was reading Mosiah 7:30-- the effect of covetousness, contention is poison.  Who would drink poison?  ...turn to the Lord with full purpose...trust and serve Him with all diligence of mind..  We did a load of wash, went to the Center;  President Hernaez came in to talk and thank us for substituting.  He got really sick at their I statute meetings in Cebu and when he returned, he ended up in the hospital dehydrated.  At 12:30 we went to the SM food shopping, home, lunch,back to Jalandoni, then took Sorilla's for dessert at the Plazuela and home at 9:00pm.
Tuesday zone meeting, all the missionaries, 4 sisters in the back seat and 4 elders in the pickup bed, 7:30 am we headed for Jalandoni.  It was our best zone meeting ever.  President Aquino said that the more time you spend in the field, the more you will feel the Spirits direction.  Jacob 4:6 "faith unshaken". Obedience will bring blessings.  Even obedience in the little things, such as being on time, excellent obedience, will bring blessings.  Continue To Rock. We studied Jacob 5 during training.  I can feel the goodness of this zone and the deep excitement of doing the Lords work, being submissive, the Lords way.  There is a change happening in this zone.  "A true servant is someone who follows the will of his master."  All that He asks is that I keep His commandments--His promise:  I will prosper in the land.  We returned to the apartment for lunch.  Ray scrubbed on the bathroom floor; I took a rest.  Then after we purchased water, we returned to the Center.  We returned to the apartment for the night at 5:15.  Opened my new toothbrush for the last six months of the mission,  it's purple😍.  Thanks Dr. Derek for the donation.  A new toothbrush feels so good here with must and moisture and mold everywhere-- a brand new unopened toothbrush!  It's Christmas.
Wednesday morning Ray checked early on his phone for emails and found Charitys.  The Lord is blessing all His missionaries.  I feel His arms around us and His coaxing me to move forward, let go of the world.  We wipe white mold out of my closet weekly and I'm still breathing.  Missionary life is amazing.  We did our regular routine this morning and a load of wash, hung it to dry, and went to the Center.  It rained off and on with the sun shining all day long so the wash stayed inside with an electric fan.  It will take all night to finish drying.  Elder and Sister Cushing came to the center around 11:00 and we visited there for about 45 minutes and then went to the Promenade for the buffet lunch.  I ate too much.  For about a month now I have been having oil slicks in my urine.  I thought it was weird but maybe just unloading extra fat.  Ray looked it up on the Internet.  As a precaution, he is having me drink coconut water, cranberry juice with fresh lime.  Anyway, after lunch, we brought Cushings to the apartment and played Rummicube--Sister Cushing won, then Ray won the next game.  We took them to the wharf and went back to Jalandoni.  Came home at 7:27 pm☺️.  It was a fun day.  Ray is ironing shirts and I am going to get ready for bed.
Thursday we did our morning routine and packed up to go to Bacolod.  We walked a little with our small but heavy bags down our street and took our first jeepney ride.  We went to SM where we got off and got a taxi from there to the wharf P100.  We got there at 9:00 am and the Weesam Express was leaving at 9:05 Perfect.  While Ray waited in line, I went to the cr(comfort room) and onto the boat. P250 each equals P500 one way.  The trip takes about an hour and fifteen minutes.  I can't wait to spend some time with Greens again.  They are through with their mission and will go to Cedar City, Utah after they go on a safari to Africa and then to Paris for more adventures.  They are meeting up with friends/relatives who are through with their mission also and will trip around together.  It will take them a month to go home.  In six months, there will be one scheduled detours for me.  I am ready to see my family now but six months will go fast as we do all we can to serve and lift others.  It's a great job!  Greens picked us up at 10:45 and we went to Mariano and Maria's Ruins.  Had a photo shoot there.  It was so much fun!  We went to lunch at the Mooon.  We had nachos, chicken fajitas, tostitos, and a chicken-cashew salad.  We went grocery shopping and then to Greens hotel/house where we made a bean salad, visited and later went to a Chinese place for dinner, Golden Fortune where we had sweet and sour pork, pineapple rice, lemon chicken, asparagus chicken soup.  They have many more nice eating places here in Bacolod.  Greens served us napoleons, which are like a thin pastry with  mango custard in between the layers and a light icing on top.  Yummy. I ate two!  No weight loss this week.😓. We played Rummicube and to bed.
Friday we exercised, went for a walk, read the scriptures, and ate onion, peppers, saboteurs 3 egg omelette with watermelon, mango, real milk from Holstein milk cows in Sagay, wheat toast with blackberry jam and apricot jam. Wow!  This is the best we have had it!  We went to The District, a most American grocery store.  It was huge and beautiful, not like Iloilo stores.  They bought food for two parties, one party tonight for about sixty people and one party on Sunday for the Ward after Sister Greens piano recital.  We came back to their beautiful house, unloaded groceries, and worked on boiling eggs, and potatoes for five cookie box size potatoe salads.  More next week.  It is interesting to come over here.  Each persons missionary experience is so different....the homes with live in or apartments, the islands are each so different, the facilities and equipment...even in just our mission--the other three couples live in nice homes with washer and dryer, dining rooms, etc.   We live in an apartment just like the single missionaries.  I think we are getting a "real" Filipino experience.  But like the temple missionaries in Cebu, all live in an apartment above the patron house and there are many of them that have the together etc.  Panay couples are all separated, one on an island, one way up north, and us in Iloilo.  It is nice that we get to travel the entire island and go to the separate island plus here in Bacolod. We get to see other couples every couple of weeks.  I need that.  I think the couples really feel isolated in our mission.  It is a great experience to realize how much we need each other. I am looking forward to working on Temple Square again and all the people😃. Love Sister Robinson III, Mom, Grandma