Week 2/3

Oh I love you all so much!  Writing emails is basically the most stressful time of the week!  There's just so much I want to tell you all and I want to respond to everyone's emails individually but there just isn't time.  Especially since I haven't updated really for two weeks.  But I will be writing again on Monday since that's when P-day will usually be.  This week they moved it to Thursday for Thanksgiving.

So traveling to Sacramento went well.  It was a little sad again to say goodbye to the people I grew to love at the MTC but it was so exciting to get where I was going.  President and Sister Jardine are super nice and just great people.  On Wednesday (18th I believe) I met my trainer and was given my specific assignment within the mission.  I am in the Lodi (low-dye) Zone, Galt 2nd ward.  So the town I am in is Galt, and I can't quite tell the size of it exactly but it seems that it is basically "country."  It's just a bunch of nice little subdivisions and it's really beautiful here.  Lots of variety in the vegetation and really pretty trees.  The weather is nice.  It basically feels like late summer/early fall.  Also, I'm full time bike.  So we just ride around all day.  It's been quite the adventure figuring out how to ride in a skirt but I'm getting much better.  I was super awkward at dismounting and mounting the first few days but I'm doing pretty well now.  My trainer is Sister Barfuss.  I have been super blessed with her.  She is really obedient and hard working and she teaches really well.  I still get frustrated occasionally because I don't necessarily feel that my input is listened to that well but she is super great and really easy to work with and now that it's been a week we are getting into a pretty good swing of things together.  She is from Farmington, Utah and has been out six months only so she was made a trainer pretty "young."  The picture is us with Sister Weaver, Sister Barfuss' trainer.

Well I have been told so many times that missions are hard, but it turns out I had mentally prepared myself for a different kind of hard than it actually is.  I was prepared for it being hard to talk to people, or frustrating when people didn't keep commitments or didn't progress.  I was NOT prepared to not even have people to teach.  The first couple of days were so frustrating for me because we were just biking around trying to get appointments and talk to less actives and potentials and no one wanted to make appointments.  Our only appointments were practice lessons with members and dinner appointments.  So I pretty much felt like I was doing nothing but waste time.  I knew that wasn't a very productive way to think so I was trying hard to be positive and just enjoy the work and have faith that eventually someone would be willing to listen but it was hard at first.  Possibly the hardest part was how frustrated I was with myself for not having a perfectly happy attitude about it.  I guess eventually I just realized I was expecting myself to be perfect right off the bat so I decided I'd just work on being positive and give myself two or three days before I could expect myself to have positivity come naturally.  Well I guess I did pretty well at faking it because Sister Barfuss has commented more than once how positive and happy I am all the time.  Proof that the Lord can make our weaknesses strengths. :)

So by Friday I was feeling pretty positive and motivated and while studying I just really got the impression that it was the day to get an investigator. (Days feel really long around here because so much happens in a day so Friday felt like it had been much longer than 2 days).  So we set a goal to have an investigator by the end of that day.  Little did I know at the time that in order to count an investigator you have to have a lesson with them and a follow up appointment set.  Had I realized that I might not have had as much faith that it was possible but I think Heavenly Father wanted me to see the power of faith and see His hand in the work that day.  Well that day ended up being a day of miracles.

Miracle number one:

Less active member (Nikki) that we had an appointment with said a prayer with us.  In all the times she's been taught she has never agreed to pray before.

Miracle number two:

This is more a tender mercy that was also the means of a miracle.  We didn't have a dinner appointment that day and so we weren't going to be able to eat dinner until 8:30 or so and I wasn't feeling really happy about that.  I had prayed (I know this is a little silly) for help being cheerful while hungry.  Well halfway through the day our Ward Mission Leader called us and told us we had a dinner appointment with the Dobernecks.  Sister Barfuss then told me that their daughter is dating a non member and we proceeded to plan a lesson to teach.  I'll come back to the miracle part of this later but it was just awesome to see how I was taken care of.

Miracle number three:

We needed to cut up some fliers to take around to people to invite them to the ward Christmas party. At the exact moment we ended up finally making it to the church to do that some former investigators were there preparing for a community service project.  Their names are Mondo and Quina and when we saw them we offered to help.  We just know that we were sent there at the perfect time to soften their hearts with our service.  Besides that we also were able to continue helping with that community event which was putting together Thanksgiving baskets of food for community members in need.  It's a pretty big thing that the Catholic church started, and invited our church to be part of.  We got to meet a lot of Catholic people and I think it really did a lot to create good feelings towards us and the church.

Miracle number four:

At our dinner appointment with the Dobernecks we met Joe, our new investigator!  We taught a lesson during dinner and he agreed to meet with us again!  That experience really gave me a testimony of setting inspired goals and working hard in faith.  Heavenly Father really led us along that day and it was amazing to see His hand.  We had our second lesson with Joe on Monday and he is GOLDEN.  He has no religious background but he says looking back on his life he can see how Heavenly Father has been strengthening him and he also feels he has already received an answer to prayer that the church is true.  Since he has been learning some things through the Dobernecks he had been pondering some weeks ago and praying and then randomly saw the sister missionaries (including Sister Barfuss) on their bikes and he said he had this feeling he couldn't describe and knew he wanted to know more about the church.  We are really excited to keep working with him.

Well I include way too many details because this is really long and I'm about out of time.  On Monday I will share some more general things about the area and just funny little things that happen and about where I am living and things.  And also more about the Thanksgiving service project because it was so cool to be part of.  We are eating Thanksgiving dinner at a members house out in the country today.  Our whole zone was invited by them.  How sweet is that?  People are so generous.  I love you all!

Sister Robinson

first service project, me and hermana fly at the church for the thanksgiving baskets service

What's thanksgiving?

Haha. That's a good question. And one that all the Chileans ask if it ever comes up. haha. But you'll just have to all eat some for me! woo hoo! Thanksgiving by proxy. Or perhaps vicariously eating, haha. That could be irreverent. Oh well. Hurray for sins of ignorance. This week was so much fun. And it's my companion's birthday today! Thanks goodness it was on p day so we could party a ton! But anyway...

Hey guys!

How is everyone doing? I heard that the earth's supply of chocolate is gonna run out by 2020. But I've chosen not to believe it. Who knows, though. And I heard Bill Cosby got accused for something unfortunate. So that's too bad that they want to ruin my childhood and trust in funny, nice, black comedians. Also, since they don't have Thanksgiving here I have already started giving out Christmas presents. It's really fun. The idea was Mom's. But I had to translate it into Spanish. So that was a fun challenge. And we play the guitar and I sing a Christmas song to them when we gift it. They love it. And one lady in our ward is making us these sick sweaters to look like the Chilean flag. So you can look forward to that pic. 

Also, all the missionaries are way excited here because we heard that there was gonna be an announcement from 'the church' of something new for the missions to do for Christmas. So our imaginations run wild, of course. There's talk of the church taking over the U.S. government for Christmas. Haha. I guess we'll just have to see...

As far as investigators go we don't really have any new ones, but the ones we have are progressing and we're finally getting some good friends for them all in the ward and their baptism dates are all coming up here, soon. Pray for them. Satan tries so hard to get them at this time. When they're open and susceptible to all sorts of random garbage that people say about the church. But luckily, it's the church of God, and it can never again be taken from the earth. Thank goodness for that. 

I never before thought about the fun that I would have on the mission. Literally every part of it is so fun! It's amazing how fulfilling it is. Like, don't get me wrong... there are some rough times. But they're so short and small in comparison with the good things that happen. haha. Speaking of which, I got attacked by so many dogs this week. I don't know what it was. But they really wanted to get a taste of this hunk. But they didn't. I won. Sometimes by running with my companion as fast as possible. And once because right as one was about to bite my leg my companion just booted it in the face. We had to repent for that a little later, but at least I don't have to get shots. And.... you're gonna think this is really sad. But the dogs here are all so beaten and traumatized that all you have to do to get them to leave you alone is bend down like you're picking up a rock. And even the biggest St. Bernard runs away super fast. But it's a law here that you can't kill them. So people just kick them and beat them until they're mean and hurt and scared. It's pretty sad. So we try to just be nice to them and love them. They'll be saved in cute puppy heaven. But enough with the hippie save the dogs stuff.

The biggest thing I learned this week was really obvious. But really profound and true. And more so because of it's simplicity. But I realized that the blessings that come to us are a direct result of our obedience. And there are many promises in the scriptures about that. There is a law, formed before the foundation of the world... I don't remember exactly how it goes because I only know it in Spanish. But something about that the blessings we receive are a direct result to the law upon which it is predicated. And it's so true. But what can be learned more is the degree of your personal obedience. And that's when it really is cool, because only you and God know how dedicated you are to obedience. It's the same as the pharisees and sadducees.They knew the commandments, and even made up some new ones. But they weren't really obedient. They were keeping the commandments to be seen by other men and to take advantage of the more humble people. True obedience starts with a love of the Savior and therefore a love for his counsel and commandments. And then you're well on your path to salvation, and to happiness. It's so cool. Because when you do that your mere presence will uplift and edify the people you interact with. How would that be? To have people just love having you around because they love how they feel when you're there. And what they feel is the Savor's love, through you. I can think of no greater honor. 

Also, just some food for thought. The temple here was announced in 2009. It's been announced that they were really gonna start it at least 5 times since then, and still there's nothing. It's been announced to start again in the spring of 2015. But now it's kind of a joke among the missionaries. And the cause of much discussion among the members. What more do we need to do? Are we not ready? Did we do something wrong? and all sorts of questions like these. But you should also know that the potential in my ward right now here is 1,000 members. And that's fairly typical. But the attendance (which has gone up by about 20 and rising since we've arrived) is about 110. Talk about plenty of less active people to work with. But the thing is, that there were so many people baptized all at once and not enough priesthood to keep track of it all. And now there's plenty of leadership, or sufficient, but not enough active members. And the people that were baptized already forgot the church and have joined another one to find the friendship and help they needed. It is sad. And a work to do. But it's rewarding to help the less active people come back to church. It's interesting to see the dynamics here, and I could talk about it for a really long time. But that's all I'll say. You can send me your thoughts. I'm not looking for anything. I just thought it was interesting and possible profundity and edification to be found in it.

Much love to you all! Have an amazing week! It's almost Christmas! ;)

Elder Robinson

El Regalon

Sunday November 23. Second chances!

Another great week.
Elder Robinson spoke at City Ward on Sunday.  Then we went to Molo 1st Ward council meeting.  Then to the San Miguel group meeting.. We finally went home but I had a feeling that we were not through for the day.  We went to Visyas Hospital....do you believe The Lord gives second chances?  Remember about a month or six weeks ago a sister bore her testimony and I did not take care of her?  Well, I had a second chance!  Analisa was at the hospital with her four month old baby boy and we found them and took her dinner.  He, Harold will have surgery on Thursday.  There is a hole where fluid leaks into his face from his skull or something like that.  I feel so grateful for second chances.  We will visit her all week.
Then, we went to another home where the Elders administered the sacrament and I gave a short talk.  The Sister had a stroke, but she is still very pretty.  There was house help there and the daughter.  The Sister did not want me to leave and Ray had to come back in the house to get me.  What a dear.  ....anyway, it was a big Sunday.
Monday, preparation day..I washed a load of clothes, went to the Center(that is a church on Jalandoni Street where Institute is held, family history has a room there and self reliance center is there also).  Sessions, a member/leadership support couple missionary came from Antique and looked for us to have lunch with and so we all went to McDonalds:) I know.  We would never even go there in the states, but it is the best it gets here, then we went grocery shopping which always wears me out because I don't recognize the food still.  It is as foreign as the language.  They have different fruits and vegetables and I don't know what things are and I can't find stuff I'm looking for and the employees don't understand.  I asked for pumpkin the other day.  Well, we gave that up.  We took a meal to Analisa at the hospital and visited and then back to the bungalow.
Tuesday was district meeting with our new zone leaders.  Then practiced making some Filipino noodles and vegetables in preparation for our Thanksgiving celebration.  It turned out great so we took it along with rice to Analisa and her non member husband, Jeffrey who was at the hospital now.  I hope the missionaries visit him while he is there.  They live way way out in the bushes.  But she said he has read the Book of Mormon.  We also visited our 91 year old mother to get a date for her to be sealed to her deceased husband.  She is thinking about it.  Next we had our meeting with Sister Cagape and the volunteers at the Center.  Received an email from Aunt Ranae and she has connections with Sister Cagape.  Their friends the Mortimers served as mission president and as temple president in Cebu and they know each other very well.  It was fun telling her.  Charity won't remember, of course, but Linda Mortimer made her blessing hat.
Wednesday we did another load of wash, took lunch to Analisa and Jeffrey, then went to the Center and ran off leaders guides because we don't have any except online. To the mission home next to make arrangements with the guard to have the gate open at 4 am so we can leave the truck there and take a taxi to the airport Thursday a.m.
Yes, Thursday we left early and took a flight to Manila where we took a taxi to the office there at the Manila MTC and then drove 4 hours to LaLuze Resort where we had training meetings for self reliance, had dinner on the beach (it was beautiful), and played some fun games that we can't wait to play with our grandkids and children:)
We also were able to visit with other self reliance missionary couples and find out what and how they do what they do and that was very very helpful.  We went to our room and slept and then up early for breakfast and more meetings.  A four hour trip back to Manila and then Jim, one of the self reliance employees decided to take us to the American cemetery in Manila.  I can only say it was a very reverent, humble experience.  Then he drove us to our hotel by the airport.  We went to the mall across the street, wow!  The lights looked like giant kaleidoscopes.  We ate dinner there and it was very good.  When we returned to the lobby, a young 30 year old American hygienist had gotten separated from her group.  She was there with a dentist on another island, Tacloban, the one that was wiped out.  He served his mission in the Philippines years ago and when the typhoon hit, he came over and helped build houses, but he is really a dentist, so he came back with her and some others to do dental work for the missionaries going out and those hurting.  They were really busy.  Anyway, they were on different planes and her phone ran out of batteries, he had her backpack with her charger and could not find him.  Anyway, we fed her and spent an hour or so with her until she could make a good plan of what to do and she went to another hotel.  Of all crazy things, she is from Bountiful over by Winegars grocery store!
We slept well and flew back to Iloilo Saturday am, took a van to SM City (a mall), and then a taxi to the mission office church, we sat in on a grow my business self reliance meeting, picked up the truck, went to our bungalow, picked up some My Path booklets and headed to another meeting back at the mission office church.  We came home about 5 pm and we are tired.  Busy, rewarding week.  But I am so thankful for second chances, but I hope that I am more aware next time an opportunity of any kind to do good comes my way..Make my hands like those from Galilee, with love, Mother T, Grandma, Sister Robinson

Sacramento!

Sorry if I missed anyone!  I just have a quick minute to let you all know that I am now in Sacramento!  I'm exhausted, it was a super early morning.  Since the last email I learned so much again!  It is just crazy how much you learn at the MTC!  Hopefully I can update more on that on my next P-Day, which will probably be a week from today I'm guessing.  I feel a little overwhelmed again but I'll get over it faster this time :)  I'm really working on establishing who I want to be as a missionary.  I thought I had a pretty good idea before, but it's expanding.  I'm safe, I'm healthy, and I'm excited for everything I will learn this week!  I have appreciated and enjoyed all the emails so much!  I haven't quite gotten around to reading them all yet...email time goes SO fast!  But it just is fun to have things to look forward to reading.  I love you all so much!

Sister Robinson

November 16, 2014

The weather here has become more mild; usually 80 degrees. We also haven’t had much rain for the last three weeks. I have heard that winter type weather has come early in Utah and Idaho.

This week we have gone to the north part of the island two times. (we left Sunday to go to Roxas, after conference, came back on Monday and went to Kalibo on Friday and came back on Saturday night.) The trainings were for different purposes each time. I think that we will not need to go as often after these initial trainings are done because then the Stakes and wards will be able to carry forward with their own people. This week we will be flying to Manila for a training of Self Reliance missionaries and employees.

We had a Zone meeting this week with the new zone leaders and several new Elders and Sisters in our Zone. We had several Elders and Sisters go home last week. We had gotten to enjoy them a lot in the few weeks we have been here and we are missing them.

Today I gave a talk in the Iloilo City Ward. I talked about the blessings of living the gospel. Commandments are really invitations to have blessings extended to us.( D&C 130:20-21 ) Anyway, I guess it was some of the things I talked about in my missionary farewell.

It was heartwarming to hear about the events surrounding Charity leaving for her mission. Thanks to everyone for making it so special. Charity’s mission setting apart was emotional to us, as the expression of our Stake President that the Lord loves our family, was related to us. We feel Heavenly Father’s love each day. I love all of you and we pray for each of you everyday,

I love you,  Dad

Another wonderful week

Self reliance is keeping us fairly busy but it feels more like public relations.  Always missionaries coming and going, every six weeks and when they leave, we put them through a four hour career workshop about their strengths, resumes, interviews....and faith and trust in The Lord.  We have learned the important words:  pamahow(snacks), Salamet(thank you ), and halong (take care), mayong aga (good morning) mayong hapoon (good afternoon), mayong gab i(good evening). It's a new week so I need to learn another word:).
Sunday dad sang in the choir.  For Rachael, I didn't because I wasn't invited.  I like to think it is because they always need more men, but not women:). We ditched out the side door after conference so we could get to Roxas for another roll out of "My Path" .  Most chose "Starting and Growing My Business" as their path.  We were with Boiser.
We stayed over night at the Veronica Hotel.  It is very nice and they always remember us. In the morning we exercised, showered, ate breakfast, and rushed back to Iloilo, reading the scriptures out loud on our way.
We met Elder and Sister Sessions and Elder and Sister Taylor above the Atrium at a nice restaurant there.  Taylor's are back in the states now, in Colorado.  Both couples are member/leadership support missionaries.  We had an inspiring visit for several hours and then we needed to be at the Center to meet with Sister Cagape.
Tuesday am was zone conference.  We have new zone leaders, past ones are back in America.  In the afternoon we visited with our 91 year old sister and showed her pictures of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and us when we were little and married.  Then we hurried off to Jalendoni(center) to teach the English class but no one showed up.
Wednesday, we went to SM and paid our power bill and finally got to make our Sunday call to Rachael. Kate and Dietrich played the piano for us...just a bit of Heaven transported through the air.
Thursday we were at the Center and read an article Charity recommended by Elder Bednar.  My favorite quote was: character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural instinctive response is to be self absorbed and turn inward.  Char(Charity) act(do good)er....interesting break down...
We also re-listened to President Oaks area conference here.  It seems I learn by hearing over and over and over.
Thursday, our landlady introduced us to her cleaning lady so we had her come in and clean the bathroom, windows, and floors.  It was great!  We paid her 180 pesos.  High actually for here.  180 equals approx. $3.50. Then we left for Kalibo.  We arrived at the Hotel Marzon around 3:30 and just relaxed.  Traveling these roads in a pickup seems to really wear us out.
Friday we participated in a roll out in Kalibo. That is the introduction to the church initiative for self reliance for the Philippines.  We have a friend who thought we should be on a public relations mission.  I think that is just what we are doing.  We just go places, someone else does the work. It's like we represent the salt lake authorities to the people.  Kalibo is lush, lush, green everywhere and people come here to go to Baracay which is a really nice resort, we are told.  It is a 4 1/2 hour drive from Iloilo.  We hurried back to Iloilo after it was over and arrived around 9:30 pm. We stopped in Mambusao to eat with Boisers.  It was a good trip!  I love you all, Mother Teresa, Sister Robinson

Week 1

Family and friends!

Oh there is just so much to tell!  Every minute is full of revelatory experiences and I just don't know how to get it all in!

Ok so after a beautiful morning of saying goodbye to the family, the Perry's dropped me off at the MTC.  I was doing so good not crying until the kids all started singing the missionary song to me and then I lost it.  But my host sister was so nice about it and helped me get going.  Picking up all the orientation things like my tag and everything was a total whirlwind.  Then I went straight to class.  We jumped right into sharing scriptures about Christ and simple as that sounds I was just so disoriented that it was a bit overwhelming.  Then I met my companion, Sister Sapoi.  She is Tongan and from Texas.  It's her second time at the MTC because the first time she went home because she was homesick.  More on that later.  It was crazy walking places with her because apparently all Polynesians are family so they stop each other to say hi.  So they are actually total strangers and they just walk up and say, "Hey, you a Poly?"  And then they talk about what flavor of Polynesian they are (Samoan, Tongan, etc.).  It is pretty funny but also a little awkward because I am 100% excluded from those conversations.

The first couple of days were overwhelming to me because there is just so much to learn and I want so badly to be a really great missionary so I was just trying to remember everything and apply everything and it is honestly just too much all at once.  I've been learning how to be easier on myself and take it a step at a time and just do the best I can.  What is funny is that as hard as I thought the first few days were (although I was doing well and not breaking down crying or anything) it was just a stretch.  I have now learned what hard is.  And I'm pretty sure I will keep adjusting my definition of hard as things get harder.

About the third day my district started getting really close.  There are four sisters.  Me, Sister Sapoi, Sister Pope, and Sister Johnson.  Once we were assigned a district leader (Elder Tapusoa, who is Samoan) things really took off.  It was amazing to me to see what good leadership can do.  Elder Tapusoa started having us sit at lunch with elders between sister companionships so we got to know each other better.  Once we were all comfortable together things really took off as far as our class discussions and everything.  It also got a lot harder to focus haha.  Anyway I have definitely come to understand better how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us because I feel I have been granted a portion of that ability to love people as Heavenly Father loves them.  I know I never could have come to love my district this much without that.  But they really are just great people.

Since Sister Sapoi had gone home once before I've been praying really hard to be aware of her and her needs so that I could help support her and keep her doing well so that she would succeed and make it out into the field.  Well on Sunday we pretty much had the most spiritual day ever.  I honestly couldn't even contain how strong I was feeling the spirit and I was just crying all day.  We had this amazing Relief Society meeting.  Sister...somebody spoke.  The Young Women's General President.  Sister Oscarson?  Something like that.  Anyway I wish I had a copy of her talk because it was awesome and so helpful and inspiring.  Then our Sacrament Meeting with our Zone was incredible.  Sister Johnson sang "Oh Lord, My Redeemer" and it was just beautiful and she broke down crying in the middle of it and the spirit was so strong and everyone (Even the Elders!) cried.  And then our branch President, President Boone spoke and I can't remember anything he said but it was honestly just super great.  I wish I could remember but I was crying too much to take notes.  After the meeting Sister Sapoi wanted to talk to President Boone so I waited while she talked to him.  She came back and we were having class time and then she said she wanted to go talk.  So she and I went out in the hall and she told me she was struggling and that she was supposed to go talk to the District President.  So we went to the front desk and she called to talk to the District President.   Anyway long story short it wasn't too long before I could tell she was trying to go home.  But at that point I didn't have an opportunity to talk to her.  President Boone came down to the office and we talked some and I was bawling because I felt so guilty that she was probably going to leave again and I hadn't done anything.  He was really nice about it and told me there was nothing I could do.  Lots of details I have to skip but eventually he just sent me to go with the other sisters in the district.   And Sister Sapoi just never came back.  Her stuff is still here but she isn't.  Last we heard she was with her dad that lives in Utah somewhere.  No one will tell us anything.  So I struggled with losing my companion for a while.  And now I am in a tripanionship with Sister Pope and Sister Johnson.  President Boone said some really really nice things to me though and that made me feel good.  Something about me being great and him being proud of me and wishing he had three more of me.  I guess he thought I handled things well.

So it was a struggle dealing with her leaving, but then getting into this trio has been even harder!  I never expected that because I've been really liking the other sisters but Sister Pope has been frustrated with me I think.  Anyway we had some seriously terrible role plays and lessons with investigators because we just did not have the spirit in our lessons and it was SO depressing.  I wish I could explain all the thoughts and feelings I've been having.  But I have been trying so hard to have a good attitude about it and see what I can do to fix it and everything but it has been hard because I just don't want to waste time dealing with companionship drama.  But I have had the best advice and help from my teachers.  They are so amazing and have really taught us to our needs which has been such an example to me of how I need to teach.  We finally had companionship inventory last night and I think that helped.  Not sure it is completely fixed because I'm not sure that Sister Pope completely opened up about what is bothering her but at least somewhat I know how to help her now.  But during the devotional last night I was reminded of what one of my teachers asked me when Sister Sapoi left. "How is the Lord strengthening you?"  As that thought came to me it changed my perspective so much because it helped me look at the many ways that the Lord is helping me through all this and stop focusing on what is hard and what I'm worried about.  And at the end we all sang Love One Another and I started crying because I knew that I just needed to love Sister Pope.  I already knew that but it just brought it to my heart I guess.

So things are going better and I really am grateful actually for these things happening here because it is giving me a chance to learn how to deal with problems while I have teachers to help me and the resources to learn so that I am more prepared for what is to come.  I have been blessed and taught so much and I am so happy!  I wish I could just share every detail of everything but this email is way too long already.  I love you all and I feel I am really being converted unto Christ and I am so excited to share this with everyone!  If you weren't all so amazing already I would be trying to convert you because I am just so desperate for everyone to understand the character of Christ as I am coming to.  Speaking of, on Sunday we watched this talk Elder Bednar gave at the MTC called the Character of Christ.  It was seriously so amazing.  I don't know if it is available for you all to watch but check because everyone should watch it!

I love being Sister Robinson.  Thank you to all you other beautiful Sister Robinson's out there and previous Sister Robinson's that make me feel the name is special.  I love wearing that name on my heart along with the name of the Savior.  Love you all!

Sister Robinson

p.s. Sorry Rachael I don't have the blog address with me right now.  Left it in the residence but I'll do better next time!

Oh also I won't be able to write next week I'm thinking because I am traveling on the 18th which is before the next P day!