Fwd: Thanks

Thanks for sending Sister Robinson to California!  She is working hard helping us get ready for missionary meal!  Her and her companion live with us. We love it!

Mike Mullen

Thai

Sushi

I officially hit my halfway mark! Thanks for all the "over the hump" packages...haha just kidding! Spoiled missionaries get those kinds of packages! And I'm spoiled enough as it is! But yep, nine months out. Craziness. I spent my official halfway mark doing almost no missionary work. It was lame. We went to the physical therapist and he said I am grinding my teeth. We already explored this possibility about a month and a half ago sleeping with a mouth guard but he did some...I believe he called them mobilizations? Anyway he pushed around my mouth and gave me some exercises to do to correct the damage being done. He wanted me to bring the mouth guard I have with me to the next appointment so he could look at it and see why it didn't help and if I should wear it again. Could still be "a" problem and not "the" problem but if so then at least I got a problem fixed!

 I ended up going to the dentist this week too because my chipped tooth suddenly got chippier and started being extremely sensitive. Like breathing hurt. So it was a nice little quick fix with just filling the chip, but he also took impressions for a custom mouth guard. So that should take care of the grinding problem, and we will see if that fixes the headaches. If that's all it is, I'm going to wish I would've insisted on seeing a dentist months ago when it first occurred to me that it might be grinding. I saw the physical therapist again this morning. The movement in my jaw is much better so I guess I'm doing good with the exercises. He gave me a couple new ones and then scheduled an appointment for the 27th. But then we should really be able to tell if it's helping. So far headaches seem the same but maybe with the mouth guard and some more time.

We did a district lunch at a sushi buffet so I tried real sushi for the first time. It's a pretty fun place. Turns out I like sushi OK...but I don't love it. Except the super California roll which is deep fried and delicious. Go figure I like the fried stuff only. I also took the embarrassing nine month pregnancy photo. I know it's slightly inappropriate and immature but...there's got to be something embarrassing that I don't want my kids to know about. :) 

The members we live with are the Mullens. Brother Mullen went to Thailand on his mission. Sister Mullen is from Thailand and they met after his mission when he went back there to work. They're super great. I am amazed at how comfortable I am in their home. I'm normally way stressed being in other people's space but they just make me feel at home. It's nice. Anyway they do this cool thing they started when their daughters were on missions called missionary meals. They make a ton of Thai food and people around here purchase an order that feeds 2-4 people. They would use the profit to fund their daughters' missions. So they would do this once a month. Well now they still do it and they donate the profit to the missionary fund. It's an outrageous amount of work, but it's pretty fun. I thought it was such a cool project. We got to help a little. I had to take pictures because it was just cool to see the process of authentic Thai food. The pad Thai was awesome. I love that stuff. 

We had a cool time with a partially less active family this week. Partially because the wife is active and the foster son that just got baptized a few months ago, but the rest are not. We got the husband to sit with us and read from the Book of Mormon for a few minutes and he said if we made an appointment he wouldn't schedule other stuff and he'd stay for the whole thing. He likes us for some reason it seems. They're pretty fun. Real mish mash family, but most of them joined the church fairly recently. We've just got to get them back on the continuous conversion path. They're just fun to be around. Leslie is the "mom" and she is pretty classic southern baptism type. She's so cute, and she loves the church. Really funny lady. Her last name is Robertson so she's a fan of mine with the similar last names and all. 

Other than that we're just trying hard to find people to teach! Love you! Have a great week!

Sister Robinson

One at a time

And my babe comp!

More fots!

What's up beautiful?

Scripture Power!

So, how's it going!

haha. This was an awesome, crazy week! It was a good time, though. There was a specialized conference that the assistants planned, and President Arrington asked me to prepare a powerpoint to teach the song scripture power in spanish to all the missionaries, so that was a dream. haha. But we said scripture power in english because that's how they wanted it. It was honestly a blast, and I got to make a really fun powerpoint and this week I get to send out the music to all the Zone leaders so they can sing it as a zone. Talk about a fun party for me! But to be honest it was pretty stressful, we got to help with all the logistics of the conference: food, tables, silverware, a survey about how the missionaries wash their clothes and a lot of other stuff. And it was so cool because one of them was out in the country in Chillán and it's pretty out there. 

Also, we have a sweet investigator, Giovana, she's the mom of Hna Viviana, she got baptized like 2 months ago. Giovana is awesome, she went to church last sunday and she's commited to go tomorrow, she's not married, but her boyfriend of 32 years has proposed to her before and she said no (also her bf is an inactive member) But she commited to talk to him about getting married and him getting active in the church again and we'll see how it went today! 

We found another new investigator named Elsa, but she's kind of blah, but we invited her to go to church, and if she goes I think there will be a good chance that she's awesome. :)

Also, there are definitely perks to being in the office, like driving, and the assistants are our best friends so we got to go see a beautiful place this morning! So you'll see some sweet pictures of that!

As a mission we are reading the book of mormon together, as I believe I already mentioned maybe, and also are memorizing scriptures together. This week it was john 3:16-17 For god so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son, that he who believeth in him would not be lost, but would have eternal life. Or it should be close to that, some things get lost in translation probably. But the point is that there is a strength that we find in the scriptures, our testimonies have more power behind them, our feelings about the Savior and the restoration of His church are deepened and our understanding of how to live and teach the gospel become broader. I hope and pray that you are all "treasuring up the words of eternal life" every day, and I pray that I never forget to do it again. I love you all a whole bunch and hope you have a fantastic week!

Love,

Elder Robinson

Week of July 31-August 6

Friday we cleaned another fan and finished scrubbing two bathroom walls--2 left to scrub.  When the owner hired someone to clean the apartment for us, they painted the tile and the floor.  Well, of course, the paint is peeling off the floor from the shower water.  The owner scrubbed some of the paint off the tiles but it still needs scrubbing.  One tile was still completely white except where the water drips.  We received an email from Charity.  The topamax that the doctor gave her for the headaches is not working.  After a week, she woke up with her face tingling.  The good news--no more drugs.  She may have to return home for a complete neurology work up.  We went to the Center and waited for Cushings' call.  We picked them up at Ortiz wharf and went to SM for Belgian waffles.  I had garlic tuna with cream cheese and a chocolate hazelnut one for dessert and Ray got us a buko shake.  We walked the Esplanade.  It is a beautiful river walk in bricks and beautiful flowers and trees.  Then we went to Arevalo to pick up boxes for Cushings and for the Guimaras missionaries.  Perry baby, Kenneth Rob Perry born this morning!  I may have repeated some of this.  I just noticed.  Sorry.  Maybe the second time is more interesting😜. We took Cushings to our apartment and ate beans, guacamole, sour cream and chips and played Rummicube.  At 4:30 we took them and all the parcels to Ortiz wharf.  We drove a new road (just made and just partially opened).  They are in a constant improvement mode here.  This is a progressing economy.  Then we went to McDonald's for chicken, apple pie and caramel sundae.  We will re-listen to April conference and go to bed.
Saturday we received the baby news but in the states it was really Friday...well, I don't know.  It was the 31😀.  I have struggled since February with a frozen left shoulder.  And answers came today in an email from Ranae yesterday and in my reading in Philippians 4:6, 11, 13. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  11 not that I speak in respect of want:  for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  And then Ranae's letter came saying that it would take past my mission time to heal.  I am exercising it from information about frozen shoulder on the Internet.  I feel encouraged.  We went to the Center, came home for lunch, brought in the wash, went back to the Center; talked with Butch about a fireside and came home 5:30.  Fasting.
Sunday Mandurriao church at 8:00.  We took all six missionaries with us.  We had an interesting experience during the sacrament. It was stopped halfway through.  The water was bad.  Yes, we got some of the bad water but it didn't make us sick.  It was a different experience having it interrupted and then re-prepared, re-blessed and then passed to those who had not had it yet.  We received Andrew's email today.  His p day is now his Saturday, our Sunday.  He's pretty excited about his situation.  At the same time a sadness weighs on my mind and heart for Charity.  After Mandurriao church we made a quick bagel sandwich and went to the Center to talk on the phone where we can get good reception to President Jardine.  Then we went to San Miguel group--2 investigators, 1 convert.  President Garcia attended and bore a strong heartfelt testimony.  I led the music, Ray said prayers.  Home at 4:45.  Looked over some church videos to show to Quennie and Brakie for f.h.e.
Monday we went to the Center.  We were asked to teach Institute again Wednesday.  We showed Quennie and Brakie "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration."  We fed them rice and my Filipino version of jambalaya and corn flake treats (rice  krispie treats but with corn flakes).  We don't find rice krispies said here.  Received email from Rachael.
Tuesday we talked with President Jardine and they will try a physical therapist for a couple of weeks and see if that helps.  We had a district meeting in our apartment.  Everyone was up on their scripture reading, NT 1512 so Ray and I cut up dragon fruit, papaya, guyabano and made cinnamon roll pancakes with cream cheese glaze and four seasons juice and pineapple/ orange juice.  One, Sister Serveza said she didn't like cinnamon but that was the best pancake she had ever had.  It was lots of fun.  Unfortunately, I ate half a pancake with all that sugar and I had eaten an almond snickers bar (hard to find); They are usually with peanuts:  yep, sugar overdose.  Now I have my first illness in eleven months:  head cold, sinus, sore throat, fever, chills.  Good news: experience is a good teacher.  That's why Heavenly Father sent us here.  Sometimes we learn and relearn from experience.  Whoa! This is about Wednesday.  Back to Tuesday, after district meeting, we had the car washed and did a little shopping at Robinson's across the street from the car wash; we went to the Center, then 2:00 home for lunch; then back to the Center where Ray helped a sister from Leganes get on the website for "Starting and Growing My Business".  Home 7:30.  And I'm having chicken broth with onions, whole cut up lemon, and vermicelli noodles.
Wednesday, yes, I did my exercises and I believe my shoulder is responding--there is less eye closing/stomach sickening pain.  So I'm happy with some more progress.  This afternoon we taught Institute again.  The students came back for a second round of us😜.  It's a great group of single adults, with two return missionaries in the group and one preparing to go.  2 Timothy 3:15-17. There is a way to salvation in these latter-days.  Thanks to all who are reading from the scriptures and having prayers daily.  "You lift me and I'll lift thee and well ascend together."  Try it.  Back to back.  Arms linked at elbows.  Lean against each other and see if you can rise together.  It works but there is a learning curve.😀. Class went well.  We came home by 5:30.  I feel awful.  I had onion, garlic, chicken broth with rice soup.  Ray made himself a cheese sandwich.  Goodnight.  I have all day to rest tomorrow.
Thursday we to the Center until 1:30 then back to the apartment for the day.  My voice is gone and my energy.