Last week in Hawaii Honolulu Mission

We let the Davis couple into the office on Saturday, March 14 to familiarize themselves with the housing files.  Then we enjoyed the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center as it will close after today.  We went to the different island exhibits, drank and ate a fresh coconut, had dinner at the Prime Rib buffet and watched the Ha Breath of life show.  While we were walking around, we went to a ukelele demonstration of how they are made and while there, we talked with a Filipino from Iloilo.  We spent at least an hour talking with her.  She knew everyone we knew.  It was so delightful.   Also when we went for dinner, our friends the Newman's from Jerome were taking tickets so we had a lovely visit with them.  They are serving at the PCC.  Tim repairs the boats used there and Fran works in the plant nursery.   

Sunday we were scheduled to speak in the Manoa Ward but church was cancelled because of the coronaviras-19.  We did have church at the President's home and were blessed to partake of the sacrament in renewing our covenants with the Lord and we had testimonies for one hour and then back to apartments.  Each zone in Honolulu repeated this on their own turns and time during the day.  How blessed we are to know and to participate in the sacrament, the symbols of the Lord's atonement, his sacrifice to allow us to be reunited with our Father in heaven, to be forgiven of every big and little sin, a time to ponder and become aware of what we need to know to become one, or to become like Him.  Every personal revelation can show us our own weakness and offer a chance to change .  If it weren't for Jesus Christ, there would be no hope, no resurrection, no repentance,...but He did come, He did die, He was resurrected and He lived that we might know His character and His works that we might learn of Him and adjust our behaviors and allow our hearts to look to Him and become more than we could without Him.  

Monday we had a senior missionary meeting with the President over conference call and learned that some seniors may go home—that's us...yes, because of my asthma.  By evening there were more directions:  all seniors will go home except office staff.  And we were just changed from office staff last week to mls (member leadership support).  

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday was constant change of direction going from more and more missionaries to return home.  It was constant change and our poor leaders could hardly keep up with the new directions, which seemed to come hourly.  The world was changing constantly:  countries closing their borders, requiring foreigners to return to their own countries, parents calling in panic, the constant need for reassurances ...

At the same time the calm reassurance for God's prophet that this will pass but how exciting to see the Lord's hand in all things.  He is in charge.  There is no need to fear but to watch in anticipation and faith, knowing we are preparing for the second coming.  Look to Him in all things.  All is well.  He is giving the world a chance to repent, including me and these happenings are a blessing to help us REMEMBER HIM , our covenants, His commandments and His promise that as we keep His commandments we will still prosper in the land.  We have an opportunity to come home and be families again.  That's what it's all about, being a family, learning to love Heavenly Father and His family.  We must start with enjoying our own family that we know but have been so separated by so many activities.  Now we have the chance to be home and learn to become together a family who enjoys each other and loves Heavenly Father.  

We had a fantastic meeting with Elder Klebingot of the Seventy who talked about the goal.  The goal is to become like Him, Heavenly Parents.  Living together, working together, loving each other, respecting each other—losing ourselves and looking outward was the theme in the mtc by Elder Bednar.  

Friday we went to the airport at 7:30 with masks on and flew to Seattle and then to Salt Lake arriving there around noonish.  Raymond picked us up.  We went to our apartment in Raymond's basement to quarantine and enjoy the "outward reach" of Raymond and Julie, Charity and Jonathon, and April and Mike as they have served us with cleaning our apartment, filling it with food, bringing us meals and leaving them at our door while we are in a 14 day quarantine.  We are still wearing our missionary badges.  President Jackson, our stake president called us before we left to make sure we had a place to quarantine ourselves.  Some senior couples have gone to air b&b's as they did not have places to go.  We have been so blessed, our apartment is wonderful and we can watch the children go outside to play and watch April and Charity and Jonathon and Julie bring us food.  The God in heaven has truly prospered us—what amazing children He has given us to bless our lives.  As we "contemplate" (gather) our children around us (in our minds and hearts).  Each one we fondly embrace, Each a gift from our Maker, God has such wonderful taste!

Sunday we had our own church meeting in our apartment but no sacrament until after the quarantine is over.  We love you are and are grateful that you each know to Whom to look for life eternal, peace, here and now.

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Aloha!

Well that's my shortest mission on record.  We have been strongly encouraged to go home. We leave Friday and are under quarantine for 14 days after our return.  Aloha!  The prophet is amazing!  He receives revelation for the Lords church.  All young missionaries who have been out 21 months will also return home.  The Lord smote Egypt; this is our turn to become humbled enough to hear His word.  What a blessing to serve as it says in Jacob 5:72...(paraphrasing) the Lord of the vineyard labors with them...  Though we will be returning home as instructed, He will still labor with us if we continue to seek Him and to do His will.  What rejoicing to be a part of His work, in the mission field or in our families, wherever He places us.  Elder and Sister Robinson

Sacrament

Today we had a one hour Sacrament meeting at the mission home. Our president is having each zone on this island come for one hour to have the Sacrament and a shot testimony meeting. 

This situation reminded me of a story I recently read about some Priests at the Sacrament table in their ward. The Priests uncovered the bread trays and discovered that their was no bread. One of the priests went to the preparation room hoping that their would b some bread but there was none. The Priest went to the Bishop and explained the situation. The Bishop told the congregation that today there would be no Sacrament. The Bishop then asked “what if there were no Christ?” Then we would be no resurrection, no remission of our sins, no hope of returning to our heavenly family, no need to have the Sacrament. We would have no need to remember a Savior and his atoning sacrifice; no need to remember the covenants we have made.

Thankfully, I believe that God lives and that his son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that it is his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His Fathers, and His children. 

Next time you do get to partake of the Sacrament, remember the reason that we do it and the wonderful blessing of hope that it can give us in our lives.

I love you all.

Dad.

March Madness 2020 in Hawaii

Dad and I so enjoy the family call each month.  A special thanks to Jonathon for the message.  

Happy birthday to Nathan and Ava (his best birthday present).  

Monday everyone in the office had interviews with the President and his wife.  We’re getting transferred as soon as Dad gets the new couple trained.  We don’t know how temporary it 

will be.  Everything is crazy.  

Thursday was the first day for the new office couple and we fed them lunch—garden veggie pizza.  It turned out good.  They are very nice; from Phoenix, Arizona.  They will be good at this housing job.

Friday was Charity’s birthday!

New information comes into the mission daily.  

Saturday was p-day so after we let the Davis couple into the office, we enjoyed the day at the PCC.  Polynesian Cultural Center will be closed until further notice. There were not many people there so that was nice for us who were there—crowds.  We walked to the different representations of the islands, drank and ate coconut, had dinner at the Prime Rib buffet.  and saw the Ha^ Breath of Life show.  

We were in the ukelele shop and met a young student from Iloilo.  She knew everyone we knew and we had a great time reminiscing.  She is married and they are staying at BYU Hawaii until she finishes. Then at the buffet taking tickets was our own Tim and Fran Newman from Jerome.  Probably most of you don’t remember but they were in our other dinner group.  It was so wonderful to see them. We had a fun visit.  And at dinner sitting next to us was another Filipino couple who were just married in the Laie Temple this morning—no family, just the two of them and their stake president.  They were so happy.  We said “halong” to them and it was delightful.

Joseph Smith is the prophet of the last dispensation of the fulness of times.  He saw God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Because of this event, we have the only true church of Jesus Christ and are blessed to be part of it and to be led continually by a living prophet of God, Russell M. Nelson.  What a blessing I feel it to be that I have known to look to Jesus Christ for everyone question or concern or trouble I have face in this life.  I can become like Him.  Look and discover how He responded under every circumstance and bend who we are to be like Him.  We can all do it and be together forever and have eternal increase.  I love you!

March1st. Fast Sunday. Visitors.

What a great start to the week:  It was fast Sunday, which I look forward to these days.  It's a really good time for me to repent, to become more humble and teachable.  "More Holiness Give Me".  

At church we always have visitors since the Tabernacle is in the middle of Honolulu. It's great.

Well, I introduced myself to the Campbell couple from San Diego, just visiting for the week.

I showed them to Sunday School, then Brother Campbell asked Dad if he would give him a blessing, as a problem had just come up with his arms and he was concerned.  So Dad connected with the Elder's quorum president and we went into a room after church and the service was done.  I then invited them to dinner at our place.  We weren't expecting company so it was like "feeding the 5,000 on 2 very small chicken thighs and potatoes" but it worked.  We had a wonderful visit with them.  His first wife died and this is his second marriage.  They have had ten years together.  He is originally from Canada.  Such nice people.  She said she had always dreamed someone would invite them to dinner when they would go out of town and go to church, so I fulfilled her dreams, she said.  It was just as great for us.  We drove them back to their hotel as they did not have a car.  They came to church by bus, I think.

Anyway, it was a great start.

Monday I sent out mail, made and remade and remade shadow boxes for the going home gifts for the missionaries. I was looking for a scripture about prophecy as it was discussed in Sunday School (how to receive revelation—Alma 17:2,3), but found one I needed right now.  Alma 26:27 ..."when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, ...and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give you success."  I don't always see what success the Lord has for me.  I guess this is where the patience and trust in the Lord comes in.  The song "More Holiness Give Me" has been in my heart and mind today.  I filled "Trunky Packets" for the visitor's center missionaries.  They have instructions for the departing missionaries plus some papers for each missionary to fill out like "Most Spiritual Experience on your mission", "Testimony", "Life's Lesson", Travel Itinerary, physical tb test for after mission, farewell agenda (which includes a temple trip, PCC show and farewell testimony meeting).  

After work, we walked to Safeway and back.  It turned out to be too far both ways; I had shin splints and spent the night in the tub.  How thankful I am that we have a tub.  

Thursday I had my most embarrassing moment here so far.  The President had called for a mission wide call.  We were picking up bicycles and beds at the missionaries near Kaneohe, so we needed to listen on the road.  Well, it was discovered that we had not been told about the "Messenger" which is where we get out information for the mission.  The office lady, Sister Evans showed me how to get on, the AP(assistant to the President) invited me to the group.  So at the appointed time I got on, it said to "tap" to get on, so I did—nothing happened, so I tapped again, and again.  Then Sister Olsen from the office called and said to "hang up I was interrupting the whole meeting".  It was ringing every time I tapped but not getting me on.  Later I found out that I was suppose to dial a certain number and then put in a code to get on.  Well, so much for not having all the information.  And, of course, the message all the missionaries saw was "Robinson's are calling" 3X's.  I was uninvited:(.  

Ray saw the eye doctor on Friday and it looks like it is no longer bleeding and the tear has adhered to the retina.  He will go back in 3 months to have it checked again.  After that we went to a 4:00 session at the temple.  One road was closed because of flooding, I think so we were rerouted a longer way but it was a pretty drive and we had left in plenty of time so we made it to the session.  I even had time to do two initiatories before the session.  

Our day off is Saturday but it seems that is still a busy day for Ray.  We don't mind.  We didn't come on a mission for a "day off".  We took a nice ride to pick up and take bikes, helmets, and locks (combination:  1129:)) to the elders.  We stopped and looked at scenic sights along the way.  That night we had dinner with Sister Wang and Sister Thomas who serve in our Manoa Ward at "Happy Days" Chinese restaurant.  Brother Matabele, 84 years old on May 9, Tongan, moved here when he was 32.  He had 6 children with his first wife who died of cancer; then he married his second wife and had 3 more children with her.  He has 9 children and 39 grandchildren—ahead of us by 1 each time.  He has a lot of interesting stories.  So he likes to feed us at a restaurant the second Saturday of each month.  Now that is something to look forward to:)—such a nice man.  He's been bishop 3X's.  His second wife is Japanese, Filipino and a convert.  She played in Hawaii 5 O, the long playing tv series.  It will be fun to know them better.

Sunday was a beautiful Sabbath.  Three really good talks.  "Rejoice in our every day",

Oxen yoke:  one oxen is me; one oxen is Jesus.  The yoke is the atonement and the resurrection.  I cannot bear it alone.  I cannot change my environment but I can change me.  "Come unto Jesus" was the break song.  3rd verse:  Come unto Jesus; He'll surely hear you, If you in meekest plead for His love.  Oh, know you not that angels are near you ...?  What a message.  The meeting was for me.  The other talk I got a copy of.  The first story took place in Klein Germany Jan 2, 1975 with the piano soloist Keith Jarrett.  A 17 year old Vera Brandeis was the concert promoter.  It was a sold-out concert but there was some confusion and the piano he was to play on was not there; only a small baby grand that was used for practice purposes.  Jarrett adapted to this unfavorable situation by sticking to the more soothing notes of the middle keys and he compensated to the quiet nature of the smaller piano by standing up and pounding down on the keys.  The recording taken that night remains Jarrett's most popular piece and became both the bestselling solo jazz and solo piano albums in history.

The second story was about the London Underground tunnels that people depend on for commuting to and from work.  In Jan 2014 a strike went on by the London Underground staff and it was closed forcing thousands of British citizens to adopt alternate routes.  An economist discovered that the commuters in the thousands adopted new routes to work that were more optimal because they were forced from their comfort zones.  The third story was about Peter walking on the water and as long as he looked on Jesus, he could do it; but when he lost his focus on Jesus, looked at the boisterous wind, he was afraid.

Disorder can transform our lives.  Not that we try to create chaos but as we look to Christ, He can bless us to be transformed.  Kind of like the trimming of trees and such.  He is building out of us a mansion, not a little hut.  We must pass through adversity to become like Him. 

Back to the beginning:  "Rejoice in our every day!"  May God help us to become like Him.

Love to each of you.  And thanks for everyone being present today for the "phone call".  It feeds our souls to be in contact with you.  Love Sister T Robinson, Mother Teresa:)

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Soaking in the tropical beauty

Walk back to the apartment

Driving to deliver bikes to the Elders

Feb 22-29

Yesterday we went to “Call of the Wild” movie with three other senior missionary couples:

2 couples are missionary military relations:  the Scholes from west Bountiful and the Fotheringhams.  Elder Fotheringham went to school with me in Cedar City, same class.  He knew my friends there.  How funny is that1. Elder and Sister Hester are from New Zealand and are serving at the PCC gardens nursery.  We have a couple back home in Bountiful from New Zealand, the Wilson’s.  They probably know each other?  Ha, yes, Elder Hester was a counselor in the bishopric to Brother Wilson back in New Zealand.  They are still good friends.  They told us a lot about them.  Sister Wilson was a really good tennis player.  Anyway, it was so fun to make a connection.  The Wilson’s live in our condo section.  Connections are always fun.

After we separated, Ray and I drove to the Dole Plantation and looked around, took some wonderful pictures and shared a Dole whip.  The whip was so creamy but half a one was enough to cause my tongue to feel raw.  I will have to be very careful of my pineapple eats.  There are over 100 different varieties of pineapple.  The pineapple in the Philippines never caused a reaction. I ate all I wanted there.  Just interesting.  The pictures are of Ray with a painted eucalyptus tree, a beautiful yellow hibiscus (must be Rachaels since it’s yellow), and a chocolate tree.  If you kiss by it, you get a chocolate kiss:).  If you look closely, you can see the chocolate pods.  Ray purchased some chocolate macadamia nuts.  We ate at Taco Bell:)

We returned to Honolulu after buying a few groceries and then watched on tv the BYU/Gonzaga basketball game.  BYU 91-78!  Woohoo!  It was a great game!  

Sunday. Church at 11:30. The lesson was the conference talk by Elder Budge “Consistent and Resilient Trust”.  Surrendering ourselves to God and putting our trust in Him in all things, even in hurtful things, trusting, knowing that this hurt will or can prepare us for joy.  I loved the part “It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter.  ...Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.”

“The good news of the gospel is not the promise of a life free of sorrow and tribulation but a life full of purpose and meaning.”  We, I can overcome the world by looking to Jesus Christ and trusting He is taking care of me.  He has not left me in darkness?  He didn’t whine about how he was unfairly treated.  We can feel burdened like Martha with so many concerns, but we have the ability to seek assistance from the Lord in prayer to resolve our concerns.  He has prepared a way for me to become like Him.  Like the Jaredites in the barges, I am not in control, except to follow Him and keep His commandments; but He is blowing me with different winds (experiences) to get to the promised land.  These things can build my faith and trust in His work.  We have commended ourselves to this work here in the Hawaiian Honolulu Mission office.  I have light from Him to see me through the challenges.  I’m thankful to know He is mindful of me.  And I do not cease to pray for our families at home to seek Him, to know Him, and to do His will.  Thanking Him continually for our testimonies and seeking to be continually converted by serving others, especially each other.

The Jaredites were 344 days on the water.  We must trust His timing and trust His care of us in the storms of life.  I know He lives and loves me and I’m thankful for every tender mercy He shows me.  

We went to a baptism of Ampai last night.  She’s probably in her late 50’s.   Her and her husband, Courtney married yesterday.  He was a less active and they were living together.  Now she’s been baptized and it was really a wonderful service.  The talk on baptism was amazing.  He told the story in John 3:1-5 and D&C 13.  His presentation was great!  The talk on the Holy Ghost was amazing also.  He turned off all lights and had us close our eyes and then he lit his phone.  So much to learn from that.  We are not left to walk in the dark but we need to be quiet and pay attention.  So many times we receive promptings but ignore them, brush them off as our own ideas, or even think to ourselves “I know another way”. “It won’t matter this time”. Etc.  That first thought is generally the Spirit if it’s good. Then we must act or we are stoning the prophets so to speak.  

Monday I mailed out birthday cards to a few missionaries, during our lunch break Ray helped me cut up vegetables for a huge roaster pan of roasted vegetables.  Tonight is family home evening at the President’s house and all senior couples on our island are bringing something to eat that they love.  We played a game that was really fun.  We were seated in two circles, inside and outside circles facing someone and then we were asked a question and each person responds and then the outside circle moves one person and another question is posed, such as: What are two pet peeves of yours?  If you were singing karaoke, what song would you sing?  What is one thing you would change if you could go back?  What are your hobbies?  What is one thing you can’t live without?  What changes over time? ... After we have  all changed completely, then it was asked who could name 5 people with their answers.  It was fun.

Tuesday was missionary leaders conference (mtc). 60 missionaries and the office ladies all cut up pineapple, made salad, cut up apples to put in chicken salad for croissant sandwiches, and washed grapes then served it in the courtyard and cleaned up after.  

At night, we had a new missionary come in from Japan and 4 from Hong Kong, reassigned because of the coronavirus.  

Wednesday was the beginning of Mission Tour with Klebingot as the visiting authority.  He’s German, his wife is from Russia and teaches at BYU-I.  They are very young.  I missed some of the talks because I was setting up for the luncheon (130+) and cleaning up after.  But what I heard was great.  They go to Maui tomorrow and the Big Island on Friday.  

Friday Sister Foster and Sister Evans were not in the office, they both had stomach flu.  I answered the phones, ran off tabs for the Book of Mormon and the copy machine is broken.  They came and thought they fixed it but it won’t copy anything; it just shut down:(.   The phone answering is interesting .  We have a regular caller that is institutionalized who calls every week and wants the missionaries to come visit him and he talks a long time.  It is really sad.  The missionaries have been told that they can only go once a month.  

Saturday we drove to Laie to the temple, the Olsen’s who were our friends in he mtc met us there and we went to the 8:00 session.  The temple is small and only runs on the hour.  They hand out numbers when you enter and when the numbers are gone, you wait for the next session in another hour.  We drove in the dark, leaving at 5:45 am , arrived at 6:50 but too late.  The numbers were all given out.  

After the temple, we went to the Visitor’s Center and saw our friends, the Cottrell’s there.  They just came this week to serve.  They served as guest service missionaries (gsm) the same time we did on Temple Square and the Conference Center.  His father served as the director of the (VC) some years ago.  He has passed away.  But they were thrilled with their mission call.  It ties them back to his father.

The Olsens drove us around the campus and pointed out where they serve (in the student services).  And then we went to their house and had chicken vegetable soup.  It tasted like home.  It felt so good to my soul.  We drove back to Honolulu after that.  Ray was going to take me out to eat but we never can find a place to park downtown.  I didn’t really want to go anyway.  (I know “sour grapes”). But it’s true. I’d rather eat where I know what I’m getting—not too adventurous .  

Today is fast day and next week is our family call!  So sorry we are missing all the plays going on there.  We love you, Elder and Sister Robinson