Ha

My head hurt really badly during weekly planning so I decided to use an
ice pack, but I needed my hands to plan so I used an ace bandage to
hold the ice pack in place. Inventive!

The week I thought I had cancer

Hi family!

Well I will start by updating on my health. It's boring but since I don't know what Mom has told you I'll just get everyone up to speed. A couple of weeks ago I went to a different doctor for a second opinion on the headaches. He noticed some lumps on my neck and decided to have
a thyroid lab done. He said it probably wasn't related to the headaches but since he found it we'd check it out. My lab was normal but he decided to still do an ultrasound on my thyroid. Last week he called me and said that the ultrasound shows two growths, one is 1 centimeter and the other is 3. He said that these kinds of things can sometimes be cysts, but cysts are fluid filled and mine are completely solid. So we are going to do a biopsy to see if I have thyroid cancer. It definitely freaked me out a little. I felt pretty anxious for a couple of days but I have to say, being a missionary right now is the best possible time to deal with something like this. I have just felt
very at peace and that somehow it is going to be ok. Heavenly Father is very aware of my situation and I have been very blessed throughout the whole thing. I don't know why, but I know this is part of the plan for me. Being able to keep working and have a purpose has been very helpful to distract me from anxiety and keep me busy. So I'm emotionally doing quite well. A scripture I've been sharing with a lot of people is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I've definitely felt the personal application of that this week. The biopsy is not scheduled as of yet. I have an appointment for a consultation on Wednesday. I guess the consultation has to happen before the biopsy. So after Wednesday the biopsy will be scheduled. So that's the story!

Now for the fun stuff :)
We went to visit Christian this week. I've mentioned him before. He's a little crazy, and he bible bashed in my district leaders' bible study class. He is really incredibly sweet though. We were talking and he was saying how grateful he was that we came to see him. He actually started crying. It's sort of sad because he kind of thinks he isn't worthy of notice. It was cool in a way though just to see how humble he is and how grateful as well. So while I think that we are all worthy of God's notice and love, I would like to someday be that humble to feel such overwhelming gratitude for the tender mercies of the Lord.

We started making a list this week of people on the ward directory that we don't know and want to go visit. I was saying the names and then I read "Waymond...it's like Raymond with a speech impediment." Ha! We've been making jokes about waymond all weekend. Last night we just giggled and giggled saying, "hi, I'm waymond. I'm fwom Pweston." And other things that have r's in them. Sister Limb actually said "I'm Waymond Wobinson the thiwd." Not knowing that my brother actually is Raymond Robinson the third. Ha! It's probably only funny to us. But we laughed really hard.

Yesterday we went to this apartment complex to try to contact a referral.  As we were coming down the stairs there was a lady who had her door open with a curtain pulled back so it was an open doorway.  We were totally going to talk to her and then she got up and dropped the curtain.  As we walked away I turned to my companions and said, "That's right, you SLAM that curtain." At least people are changing it up from doors...

Love you all!  Keep praying for me. 

Sister Robinson

P.S.  Also, I didn't send the health stuff to Andrew.  I don't want him to know yet since we don't actually know anything and it's hard to be a missionary and have no way to get information.  So until we actually know what's going on, please no one mention it to him.  Love ya!

4th of July!!!

So the 4th of July is gonna be way exciting, basically. Because it's the finals of the American cup! And Chile might be playing!!! If they win today. They play Peru. And the ward is gonna have an activity and they invited us to come watch it and eat with them and share a message beforehand. And I get to go to a football game and sing the national anthem of the USA! So it's basically gonna be fantastic!

No investigators went to church yesterday, but that's what happens when you can't visit them more than once in the week. haha But, that being said, I believe that this week we'll get some of them to go to church. We have made some really good progress, though, with the members. They honestly love us to death. They give us so much food. haha. And it's good food, too. You guys definitely have to come here to try some Chilean food. But with me, so you can avoid some stuff, too. ;) haha Also...

The groundbreaking of the temple here in Concepciòn was finally announced!!!! It will happen the 17th of October of this year!!! And, after 6 years since the announcement of the temple in 2009, the members are ready to give their all to get it going. :) I always remind them that it took 40 years to build the temple in salt lake, so they can probably wait a couple years. :) 

Today a recent convert is giving us lunch and we're gonna have our p-day with them, because it's some sort of holiday here, so everything is closed. :) haha. I hope you all have a fantastic week and enjoy the fireworks!!!!

Love,

Elder Robinson

P.S. Please pray for Nancy, she's way sick and she hasn't been able to work for the whole week, which equals no food for a single mom with two growing kids at the house. She just needs to get better fast so she can go to work tomorrow. :) Thanks, love you!

Saturday, June 20, 2015

We live below the zone leaders now so we will check their apartment first, then the sisters (one house away), and then finish the rest of the apartment checks.  After apartment checks, we took our zone leaders to McDonald's, took them home, and then went to the Center.  At 4:00 we headed to Manduriao for two baptisms:  Jinky and Jeni.  At 7:00 we took the sisters to Cordero's where their investigator for baptism next Saturday.  At 8:00 we dropped the elders at a jeepney stop and took the sisters home. (Sister Serveza and Sister Villagomesa)
Sunday we went to Manduriao Ward where the two girls were confirmed.  After sacrament meeting, we met with Queenie and Brakie and the elders who taught about the plan of salvation, well at least the pre earth life.  Raymond tried to call but we were in the lesson.  So happy our posterity is gathering this week to strengthen each other in the gospel and to renew friendships in our family.  I made Ray a revised potato casserole (no cream of chicken soup, sour cream is runny), fried chicken pieces with cabbage and basil and a version of sherbet (coconut water, banana, pineapple, mango--frozen), and sour dough rolls with mango jam.  At 2:00 we attended the stake self reliance committee meeting, the specialist never came but the meeting was very good and some problem solvers were considered.  President Cagape shared with us his new chicken farm--8200 chickens--open building style.  He will build another closed, controlled building but he wanted to start making money with what was there already.  I was so happy that he wanted to share pictures and information with us.
Monday-p day.  My shoulder is showing signs of improvement.  The LaPuz massage sister came today.  It wears me out but no time to rest.  After she left we went to the Center.  We had our schedule laid out for the week by Boiser.  At 5:00 we met with the missionaries at our apartment with Queenie and Brakie for "Meet the Mormons", pizza, rice, 5 seasons to drink and two cookies.  They want to be baptized on July 11!  8:30 bed.
Tuesday we had district meeting.  Ate lunch and went to the Center.  Read our missionary emails.  Came home around 4:00 and began to prepare food to take for the next three days on the road.  Clean-up, make water😋, mop floor and pack.  Took a senior missionary privilege and listened to music: MoTab "Showtime Music of Broadway and Hollywood".  Don't do it.  It made me homesick.
Wednesday 7:00 am we left for the wharf to pick up Boiser and stopped at the mission office with some papers and headed after that for Antique for a meeting at 11:00.  We had our meeting with about a dozen people--very disappointing for Boiser but after the meeting we met with three different business people.  There are only two business classes started here--one on lesson 5 and one on lesson 1.  But two of the businesses are on their way.  When they finish the business class, they will be transformed.  They just need the class.
Thursday we traveled to Kalibo--we visited 5 sisters with their new education and their new equipment.  Hoping I will have pictures: one cooking, one tailoring, hamburgers next to basketball court, store bakery, ?  Then we had 132 attend meeting at 5:00 pm.  Elder and Sister Streng joined us.
Friday we went to Roxas for a meeting at 10:00.  We had around 30 people attend.  The first hour was spent with PER/ER concerns and a PIN number for loans and a problem with CRAAS school and the NII exam.  Then we spoke a little about the "My Path" initiative and encouraged them to get started.  After the meeting we took President Olivera with Boiser to the CRAAS school and things were straightened out and the test will be given in July.  Then we went to lunch at a restaurant on the beach.  A little beggar boy came asking for money so we fed him and then bagged up the leftovers for him to take home.  It was so fun.  We drove back to Iloilo but no one came to the Center for the meeting so we took Boiser to his hotel and we went home.
Another week is gone.  May God help us to be all He knows we can be.  Let us all give Him something to work with.  Love Sister Robinson III. Mom

Last transfers zone at transfer breakfast

Injuries

My companions

Sister limb is the blond and sister Christensen has the Googly eyes