Friday, November 6-Friday, November 13. 2015

Friday afternoon we returned to the apartment for lunch, rested, and went back to Jalandoni.  We saw young brother Gison, who we helped with his resume and job search.  We have been here long enough now that we actually had some good ideas for him.  He is a newly returned missionary.  His sister, Meryl was a good friend and his parents are also very dear to me.  He did get a job from our leads and he starts November 16.  He's very excited.  We went home at 7pm and found that lizard that startled me two nights ago.  It hid behind our picture on the wall.  Ray swatted the picture, it ran out, hit it again, it fell on the edge of our table...disappeared.  I pulled out the table, looked under and around--aha--hiding on the side of the leg.  Ray got it, and onto the floor-smack-into the dust pan--out the door.  Aauugh!  😖. Snack, dishes, cleanup, read, bed.
Saturday routine, wash.  Ray has learned to cut pineapple in a spiral, save more fruit, and cut more deep spines out.  So...he cut a fresh pineapple for us for breakfast.  Went to Jalandoni at 9:30, seminary and institute teachers meeting and lunch.  I had a red ruffle blouse and a white ruffle skirt made to replace mine that were ruined with the iron in the water and Sister Cozzens brought them to me at the meeting--just love them.  At the meeting we watched a clip from President Clarks talk to seminary and institute teachers.  "We need to be found doing and being our best in everything so we can be the lights upon the shore, leading others to Christs light.  We need to ask the Lord two questions:  what am I doing that I should STOP?  2- What am I not doing that I should be doing?"  2:00 listening to BYU/SJSU football on KSL 17/16😜, 4:00 we attended stake conference.  After conference, we took Kate Sorilla with us to Mang Inasal for halo halo.  She's delightful.  She's planning to go to the states to nurse.  She is 30 and hopefully can meet a covenant keeper while she is there.  She is the landlords daughter.
Sunday 8:45 we left the apartment with 4 elders, 1 investigator, and 4 sisters.  Ray and I practiced with the choir.  I provided accompaniment for one song for the practice...on my ipad☺️ "Where Love Is".  Sister Gison brought me "ginger brew" and special Biscocho.  I'm going to take some Biscocho home and learn how to make the ginger brew before we leave.  I think it is delicious.  She made it for stake choir practice once and ever since she saw how much I liked it, she brings me some.  She is a beautiful wife, mother, friend--inside and out.  After conference, we came home and ate leftovers.  Loved Elder A. Robinson's letter.  I can't wait for Giovani and Julio to get married!  It is interesting how we are in three different countries around the world, Philippines, Chile, Sacramento, California, USA, and yet the stories and challenges are the same--marriage before they can be baptized.  It's everywhere.  The adversary has swept the world with his deceits but it is so inspiring when a person is taught Gods law and then "glows".  Heavenly Father gives us laws so we can be "in" on the eternal truths that govern the greatest happiness.  And Satan sells it as "control".
Monday we grocery shopped; went to the center; shopped for a gift for Ester, President Insigne's 18 year old daughter.  And we cut up watermelon to take to Sorilla's for dinner and fhe.  The parents are on their mission but Kyle 21 and Kate 30 invited us and the elders and two friends over.  It was fun and so cute of them.
Tuesday zone meeting and email from Charity--Dominic was baptized!  Zone meeting was mostly in Ilongo so we didn't get much from it except to enjoy the spirit.  It ended at 11:00 and we went to our office for a couple of hours.  Then we met the Streng missionary couple who serve in Kalibo/Roxas area.  We fed them lunch.  I had squash soup with wheat French bread and pumpkin cheesecake.  I got a heat bottle for Sister Strengs back and gave her a foot massage.  She will have an MRI tomorrow.  It has been three weeks since she fell.  They went to the mission home at 5:00 and we went to Jalandoni.  From there Kyle gave us a ride to Ester Insigne's 18th birthday celebration.  There were about 70 people there and a large catered restaurant dinner.  It probably cost the equivalent of three months rent for us here.  It was enjoyable.  Ester had a beautiful gold shiny gown and looked like a lovely real princess.  We left at 10:00 pm.
Wednesday did wash, purchased water, and by 9:30 went to the center.  We came home for lunch, brought laundry inside, went by the hospital to check on Strengs, returned to the center and taught our institute class 3-4:30, The Plan of Salvation.  Three were enrolled but only one showed up plus one that was not enrolled.  But the spirit was really strong.  After we went to the mission home.  Elder and Sister Streng are staying there.  We saw her MRI results and visited a couple of hours.  Sister Streng has a fractured compressed vertebrae from a fall three weeks ago when the heavy chair she was sitting in collapsed and broke.  They will be returning home soon.  We are so sad but anxious for her comfort.  The doctor said she has to stay flat in bed for three months.  They were scheduled to leave in February.  Anyway, we will be visiting there all we can to cheer her on.  7:10 we came home.
Thursday I called Cushings to let them know about Sister Streng.  Took a small pumpkin bar to Kate Sorilla as we were leaving for Jalandoni.  Kate is applying for a nursing job in the states--hopefully Salt Lake City.  We shopped at the Atrium and then went to Jalandoni.  Ray answered some emails; I wrote in my journal.  We later stopped at SM for the rest of our groceries and for some money.  We ate some chicken vegetable, noodle soup.  Ray is trying to get sick but he is fighting it so far.  We took a 15 minute rest, changed clothes and back to Jalandoni.  We are waiting for Elder and Sister Cushing to arrive here and then we will head to the mission home to enjoy a short visit with the Strengs.  We enjoyed our time with Sister Streng.  Elder Streng had already gone to Kalibo to pack up and pay bills and take care of every thing.  Sister Streng was in good spirits.  While we were there we changed into sparkling clothes.  The theme for the couples affair is "Rekindle the Spark" in our marriages.  We played games, watched each ward's talent dance (Mandurriao was in a different league all together.  They mostly had couples and they had a great dance routine).  We had dinner and danced the night away.  It ended at 10:00 at which time we took pictures and then took Brother Cozzens, who is giving a place to sleep to the Cushings, and Cushings to stay.
Friday, Ray is still fighting a virus, he doesn't feel great but he was an amazing dancer last night.  I did my exercise routine, showered, and cooked up a breakfast to take to Cozzens house to feed the six of us.  This morning Ray found a little lizard sharing his pillow😖.  We went to Cozzens about 8:00 with breakfast--bacon, eggs, hash browns, mango juice, and papaya.  We visited until 10:30 and took Cushings to SM and we went to Jalandoni.  1:00 to apartment for lunch, then to the mission home to spend time with Sister Streng(Ruby).  Returned home around 6:00.  Sister Robinson, Mom, Grandma

Baptism!

Wahoo! It finally happened! I consider this my first real baptism since I actually taught him start to finish. He is so great, it was so exciting to see him be baptized and confirmed. It didn't quite go off without a hitch though, but almost! The baptism was at 1 and we asked David, his foster dad, to have him there by 12:40 so he could change and everything so we could start at 1. At 12:50 we started stressing a little. We started making phone calls and trying to find out where he was. At 12:58 we decided to send a member to his house to see what was going on. And all this while our mission president and his wife, and the stake president are sitting watching us haha. Oh man! Anyway before the member got out of the parking lot David answered his phone and told us he was on the way. Phew! So we saved our member the trip by catching him before he left. In ward council the next day people were joking about it, saying they were looking around as all the big priesthood guns walked in, expecting President Monson to be next haha. Anyway the talks were really great, and Dominik's dad and previous foster parents came and both took copies of the Book of Mormon. Our missionary moment went well too. In our mission while the people are changing the missionaries teach the Restoration. I was really nervous about it since everyone was there, but it really did go well. A couple of the senior missionaries I knew in Carmichael came as well and they commented how much I'd grown since being there 3 months ago. That's always nice to hear!

The confirmation was nice too, and at church he gave us each a note telling us that his baptism was good in every way and thanking us for putting it together. He also said he had come up with a way for us to stay in touch after we go home. (facebook haha) It was so cute that he wants to stay in touch. I am just so thankful for the opportunity I've had to teach him. Our bishop went over with us last night to get his dad's permission to interview him to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. Permission denied. He is worried that the additional responsibility will overwhelm him. That was sad. But he said it was ok for us to check in periodically. I also spoke in Sacrament meeting yesterday. It went pretty well, and the youth speaker actually spoke for a long time so I didn't have any time to make up. Ironically my
topic was, "why does Heavenly Father want us to be healthy?" as I am trying my hardest to speak clearly through my congestion. However I did manage not to cough at all during it so that was a blessing.

Saturday night we had a lesson with Jaivyon. He is still struggling and doesn't seem that happy. We  had a good lesson though and I felt we left him better than we found him. I hope so. This week went
really fast with baptism preparations. Not much else to report, most effort went to preparing him.  Love you all so much!

Sister Robinson

Us at a pretty park we bike through all the time.

Sorry it's blurry! I'm sad it's blurry, I got distracted by President Jardine coming in so it didn't turn out good ha. So I wrote that out and set up the table to look nice and take advantage of the missionary opportunity at the baptism.

Dominik is in the middle. The other one in white is McCord, the member that has come to most of his lessons and baptized him. He'll go on a mission after the school year.

Evidence that I really did speak in church (for the fourth time in the past year).

We decided to take selfies with Sister Barfuss and Sister Diamond.

April sent me this for Christmas. Isn't it cute??? The best part is, I get to give it away! She sent it with a New Era article with a story of a family who gave away one piece of the nativity each day for the 12 days before Christmas, ending with the baby Jesus. I'm so excited to choose someone to give it to!

Miracles

Hey guys!

Man, do I have a sick story to tell you guys! But I'm not gonna tell you.... just kidding! I am! Because it was too cool! But first, how was your guys week! It was so beautiful here! It's starting to get really warm, it's a little overcast today, but still beautiful. And yesterday we went to San Carlos (which is about two hours away) to help the missionaries out there with a couple of things, so that was cool. But anyway....

So remember Giovana? Well... on Tuesday we had a really good lesson with her, we had left her to read the pamphlet about the law of chastity (because she is co-living) and when we went to visit her, it was obvious that something had changed, she told us straight up that she had realized that she had been fornicating, and that she needed to stop, so we asked her if she would like our help in making a plan to get married. And she said, YES! So we made a plan, and the first one was, obviously, talk with her boyfriend, Julio. So we wrote down three steps and a date that she chose, which was December 5th. And so that was her homework for this week, to speak with Julio, and we planned to go back on Thursday. And it just happened to be that we had to go pick up Hermana Arrington (the President's wife) and Elder Jaen (our friend, and one of the AP's.) So we asked them to come with us...

And they did! So we got there and Giovana was absolutely glowing, she told us that her boyfriend Julio had seen the paper and said, "I see you've already commited me to marriage!" And he started making plans! And not only to get married, but to spend more time with the family, to leave behind his drinking friends and everything! And she told us that she had started reading the book of mormon and praying every day! haha. How incredible is that. And so we had planned on teaching them about the importance of keeping the sabbath day holy. And it went incredibly well. We asked her why she she wanted to keeep the sabbath day holy for the rest of her life and she said, "I want to keep the day of rest so that I can be prepared to be recieved in His glory when He comes again." It was amazing. I honestly felt that the Lord was pouring His spirit and blessings up her and her family. Not to mention the fact that she had a dream, and recieved her answer about the book of mormon, and in the dream a voice told her that Christ would be coming soon and that she needed to prepare herself. Nothing huge. :)

So we're feeling pretty happy, and gratfeul. It is such a joy when people finally get it. It's like they finaly start cheering for the right team! Well, for their own team, really.

I love you guys a ton, basically. And hope you  have a fantastic week! 

Elder Robinson

P.S. There were other sick things that happened this week, but I have to save some stories for after the mission! :D haha.

November 8

My verse:
2Ne. 26:24
He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him . Wherefore, he commandeth none that that they shall not partake of his salvation.
I was reading "The Infinite Atonement" by Tad Callister. In the book he talks about the blessing of motivation as it relates to the atonement. The suffering of a righteous person whom we love and respect can motivate us to do better, make better choices and so forth. He tells of an interview of a man with Mahatma Gandhi. (Gandhi had fasted on more than one occasion, to bring about changes, or stop a war, or for other good causes. His people changed their direction because they did not want Gandhi to die of starvation.) The interviewer asked Gandhi, "Isn't your fasting a species of coercion?" "Yes, he said very slowly, the same kind of coercion which Jesus exercises upon you from the cross".
I thought that was an amazing statement. When we come to understand what Jesus has done for us and his love for us, we can be motivated to do better and to try harder. It is like when missionaries fast for one of their investigators it is important that they let the investigator know that they are fasting for them, (along with inviting them to fast with them). When the investigator feels of the love and concern of the missionaries, they are often motivated to try harder to keep their commitments.
Well, have a great week
I love you, Dad

Friday, October 30-Friday, November 6, 2015

Friday while doing apartment checks, there was a young mother on the street with her two young children.  We were walking to Elder Crooks apartment in LaPuz when this young mother and her children passed us, the mother was holding tight to the little girl.  The little girl stretched her mother's arm to reach me and took my hand and pressed it to her forehead as she bowed her head--a sign of great respect.  Oh, it was so precious.  My heart  just melted.  Friday night we attended Sorilla's going away party and Kyle (their return missionary son in June) 21st birthday.  I made a fruit tray that read "21" and a fruit salad to contribute.  They had it catered.  It was delightful.  Hopefully they will visit us in the states when they finish their mission in two years.
Saturday 6:50am we headed to Jalandoni to park and catch a taxi to Ortiz wharf.  We saw a sister we recognized from the Church and she signed our names in for the pump boat.  She was also going to Larry Abellas funeral.  Larry had just been put in the branch presidency two months ago.  She told us all about the pump boat capsizing, yes just like the one we ride all
the time and the same route between Iloilo and Guimaras.  I am now a little uncomfortable on the boat.  It seems so safe before.  Larry was a very good swimmer but when the boat capsized, he was hit in the head unconscious.  The boat had an experienced crew also but you just can't always tell when a  wind gust will turn and flip the boat over.  It can change all of a sudden.  A mother with 3 children died also and the father who had sent them off for a vacation, committed suicide after they all died in the boat capsizing.--Anyway, Lola was so happy to see us and we hugged and cried.  Ray took pictures of her and her six daughters.  It was interesting though all the conversations that Larry and Lola had had that let her know it was all in the plan and they were all in the Lords hands.  I remember how comforting that was for me when John died and conversations came to my memory that reassured and comforted me.  I found this to be a really heart wrenching day.  Ten days ago in the same branch, a darling happy sister's brother died in a motorcycle accident.  He was 30 with a wife and 3 children.  It all brought back to my heart and mind my own father and brother--so fighting back tears left me with a headache.  The day was very sobering but I felt I was in the right place at the right time and was able to administer some love and comfort to these people.  Cushings picked us up at the wharf and we attended the funeral together and they fed us lunch after and returned us to the wharf.  I was very nervous on the pump boat going home--wind and bigger waves; we were even splashed with the salt water in our faces and on our clothes.  I'm glad to be in the apartment.  Fasting.
Sunday November 1 we attended Mandurriao, had choir practice for stake conference; had a "non-Samaritan" experience in the road on the way home which I will not describe here; ate sweet 'n sour chicken to break fast and attended San Miguel group where we were blessed to be able to bear our testimonies.  Home 4:30 popcorn!
Monday brown out; cold shower.  8:30 power came on, started the wash; Jalandoni; went to Cozzens to try on clothes that were made for the stake dinner/dance(must be sparkly).  Home for lunch.  Worked on lunch for tomorrow, as there will not be any time for preparation tomorrow.  Ray worked on a Sisters English test that didn't work.  We will go to Arevalo at 4:30 to read minister the test.  We purchased water on our way.  Sister Lauti came late but we got it done.  At 6:00 we went to McDonalds for apple pie and home.
Tuesday off at 7:30, 5 new shingles on the left side this time--Jalandoni for self-reliance missionary send off, 11:43 took the missionaries to Robinson mini mall and headed to apartment.  We ate lunch, brought in dry wash, and went to Arevalo to administer an English test to a return missionary sister who did not get it on her mission exit.  After we helped Cushings with their four keyboards to the wharf to get home to Guimaras.  Then at 4:30 we took a brisk walk on the Esplanade--happy to be able to breathe to do it again.  5:15 home, ate mango/banana shortcake with whip cream!  Yum!  Relax and read.
Wednesday 8:00 am we left for the airport--one mission truck is in the truck hospital.  It was a "lemon" to start with and should have been returned I. The beginning to the dealership, but anyway, a blessing for us.  We were asked to help with the pick up of new incoming missionaries and their luggage--woohoo, 4 out, 9 in!  One sister is from Viewmont High School n Bountiful and knows Jessica Wadley.  One elder is from Anchorage, Alaska.  He wasn't even born when Elder Raymond Robinson served there but it was a connection anyway.  One Elder from Tonga is the only active member in his family.  He is the youngest of five children.  Four months before he came out on his mission, his parents split up.  A lot to deal with.  His best friend and cousin was to enter at the same time and his family was having problems and he committed suicide.  These missionaries deal with so much.  He loved the MTC experience.  He said it was the best part of his life.  He can't wait to be in the field.  Two sisters came in from Tonga, six elders overall.  After we left the missionaries at the mission office, we ate at Mang Inasal, so satisfying and then went grocery shopping and to the apartment to put away the groceries, take a rest, and then to Jalandoni.  We came home around 6:00 and Sorilla's texted us as soon as we arrived to come over.  We did.  They just wanted to visit; tell us all the details surrounding their call.  They will be so loved and appreciated in the Area Presidency.  They are charming; funny; and faithful, and dedicated.  9:30 back to our apartment.  Bed with a happy heart.
Thursday routine, load of wash, Ray opened a fresh coconut.  Today is transfers and we are waiting to pick up Elder Paxton, our district leader, to take him and his luggage from San Miguel to the mission office in Arevalo for the transfer meeting and change. At transfer meeting, I got a big Cadbury milk chocolate bar for my birthday coming up.  After the meeting, we took Elder Swanton (from Nibley) and his companion and their luggage to Molo.  They are both new to the area and didn't know where it was.  Then we took a-new-to-area sister to Jaro.  She transferred from Roxas and no companion came to meet her.  Then we took the luggage of our new district sister to Mandurriao. Finally we took our new district leader, Elder Gomez and his companion, Elder Villanueva to San Miguel.  Lots of travel.  We came home at 2:30, ate, rested, went to Jalandoni.  At 5:00 we took a brisk walk on the Esplanade, home, ate 6:00.
Friday cleaned the fans in our apartment, ate pancakes with mangoes and whip cream😋.  I baked carrot/pineapple muffins and cake; prepared dinner/lunch.  Then we went to Arevalo to return co detectors, deliver English test results, and took pictures to the office for a missionary's going home.  We took the car for a car wash and shopped for a few items at Robinsons mall store across the street from the car wash.  Arrived at Jalandoni to finish my weekly journal email.
 NOTE:  "punted" means like "stood up".  If the missionaries find the investigators or the members not home when they go for an appointment, it is referred to as "punted".  If we find our missionaries are not home when we do apartment checks, we are "punted".  Love you all, Sister Robinson III

San Miguel Church Group

2nd such honor in the week

Rubber Boa ctd.

On Halloween night before we went to lock down, we had dinner with our members and brought the Hermanas along with us. We all (except Sister Miller) held their rubber boa. I was proud of myself. It was actually really cool.

When Dominik came to church yesterday he had 3 pages like this of questions. I love number 9 (the 7th is his baptism). His questions made me laugh-he has such a good heart.

We went to our ward trunk-or-treat and ended up spending a lot of time with a 17 year old who is technically baptized but has no idea what that even means. He's really opening up so hopefully we will get to teach him and help him really grasp the gospel. He's a cool kid. This picture is us with Sister Shaffer, our new bishop's wife. She was quite disappointed we weren't allowed to dress up, so she bought us cat ears to wear. If you look REALLY close and have good eyes you can see them. She's Maleficent.

Being a missionary is the absolute best thing in the world. I'm so glad I chose to serve! Love you all!

Sister Robinson

Rubber Boa

Hope y'all had a great Halloween!  I am going to send a second email with a few more pictures. Took a lot of them this week.  First of all, Dominik is getting baptized this Saturday!!! Wahoo! I'm so  excited for him.  He had his interview yesterday and it went well, except he couldn't remember all the parts of the law of Chastity so we will get to review that and then he should be good to go.  Please pray for him this week!  The adversary works hard when they're so close.  The first picture is of me and Sister Diamond coming out of a lesson with him. Our companions decided to stalk us and  creepily take pictures of us from the car. :)  He was so cute in his lesson, we read a scripture that talked about, "pray always and do not faint."  I asked him what it meant to him. He said, "I think it means to pray not just to check it off a list, but to really pour out our hearts and talk to Heavenly
Father."  His understanding never ceases to amaze me. He shared a story about the first time he prayed. His old foster dad was drunk and being destructive and scaring him. He went in his room and prayed and less than two minutes later the wife came home and the dad stopped and apologized to the kids.  It was amazing to see how Heavenly Father has led him along and prepared him for this time.

These turkeys are just randomly hanging out in a parking lot. They don't know they're about to be dinner ... :)