September 27th, 2016

Hello!

The work here is amazing! We saw a lot of miracles this week. I know I say that every week, but they never stop coming!! I love it! The Lord has prepared so many of His children for the gospel!! 

For example, a few weeks ago, we were trying by a list of potential investigators, and one of them was listed as house #8 but on a different street than the one we were on. However, I felt a really strong prompting to knock on house #8 on the street we were on instead! So we did! A really nice African lady answered the door and told us she was busy but that we could come back another time. For the next week, I kept thinking about her and telling myself we would knock on her door again soon.. But we weren't in that area for a while. However, as soon as we were in that area again, we knocked on their door, but this time someone else answered! He told us his name was Abraham and he and his mother-in-law invited us in right away. It was such a good lesson! We talked about the love of God and asked about his religious background. He told us, "One day, I would really like to join your church." Seriously golden. At the end of the lesson, we invited him to say a closing prayer, and he prayed in the exact same way we do!! Sister Lacno and I were amazed.

So a few days went by, and Sister Lacno and I were in their neighborhood again. We called a member that Abraham said he knew named Brother Coward. After mentioning Abraham's name, he said, "ABRAHAM? From Peace River?!" We exclaimed, "Yes! That's the one!" And then he said (get this), "I baptized him eight years ago!!" We were shocked!! No. Way. He proceeded to tell us how amazing Abraham is, and how he had been praying for him and trying to help him come back to church, but he has such a crazy work schedule that it hadn't worked out. Crazy, right? He also said, "You need to teach and baptize his family! They will do amazing things in the church." So after getting off the phone with him, we knocked on their door and this time, Abraham's wife, Deborah was home! She invited us in, and we taught her the restoration. The spirit was so. Strong. She kept saying, "I really hope Joseph Smith is a true prophet. I really do." So we invited her to read the Book of Mormon, pray to know if it is true, and come to church. I am so excited to see what happens with their family!! I really think they are all going to join the church and get sealed in the temple one day.

I love finding God's children that He has prepared for the gospel! They are all around us!! Oh and as crazy as this sounds, I am actually developing a love for TRACTING! I know. We just keep experiencing miracles from it. :) This truly is the Lord's work!!

Mahal kita!!

Sister Robinson

So I just thought I would give you some updates. :) just because I love you lots.

{Jasper round 2!}

Things are going really well as far as our teaching pool and all of that! Pam just got her first calling as a ward missionary! And we are now teaching her best friend Kimmy, and she even brought her to church on Sunday! She is now preparing for the temple to do baptisms there. 

Sister Christensen is wonderful. I love her so much! We get along really well. We both love fashion and Grey's Anatomy, so we have fun together. :) oh and she and I have been trying really hard to talk to a tonnnnn of people! It's been going great so far!

The ward is awesome. Transfers are on the 15th though. :( president basically told me in an interview that I would be leaving this area. He asked where I wanted to go, and I told him I have no idea! I would love to go to Red Deer or Grand Prairie, because it would be cool to see new places. But I would also love to serve in a YSA ward or even train a new missionary. I don't know what's going to happen! I basically told him I would be happy to go anywhere! Especially BC with Sister Phillips! He said that probably won't happen though. But I do love this ward. I feel like I just belong here. It will be a sad departure when that day comes. 

{Saying goodbye to this sweet woman! I will miss her so much. This is Patricia.}

We are going to Jasper again next week! I'm so stoked. We are switching our Pday to Friday, the 9th, because of that. When we come up here as a family, we have to spend the majority of our time in Jasper. It is BEAUTIFUL! The pictures don't do it justice. I love it. I'm so excited.


Well I love you all!




Sept 13th, 2016
This was an interesting week for sister Christensen and me. I am feeling my testimony strengthen each and every single day! I just want you all to know that I know this gospel that we teach is true. I
finished the Book of Mormon this week, and I really enjoyed reading it this time around. I felt the spirit so strongly whenever I opened it up and began reading each morning. The truthfulness of that book of scripture is undeniable to anyone who has a willingness to read it with an open heart and to pray and sincerely ask Heavenly Father of it is true. Ah, I love it.


 I feel like the past few weeks, Sister Christensen and I have been sent a very clear and distinct message from God. It is this: "the field is white already to harvest." While I have been reciting D&C 4:4 my whole mission, I never fully understood what that verse meant.

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

The field is white? Okay then... Why am I not baptizing all the time then? Why are people still slamming doors in our faces? Why do I feel like sometimes I put my whole heart and soul into praying for someone and trying to help them accept the gospel, only to receive a text from them asking us not to come around anymore. The sad truth is... Sometimes the field does not look like it is white already to harvest! But you know what? I think I now know the trick. And now that I know the proper way to be a missionary, I just want to start this whole thing over and try again. Is that allowed? Probably not. But thank goodness for the atonement, right?


Anyway, it all started with a conversation we were having with our mission president. He taught us a very profound lesson using an analogy from the titanic. So right now, we are in a lifeboat, and there are countless people surrounding our boat. Of course, not everyone can make it into the boat, but we have to save a least someone! All of a sudden, someone catches your eye, and you feel this deep desire to do all that you can to save this one person. So you throw them the life preserver, and they grab onto it, but once you start to pull them into the boat, they fall off, because they aren't strong enough. So you throw it again and again and again with no avail, until you come to the realization that there are so many other people in the water who ARE strong enough, and who are just waiting
and hoping and praying that you will throw the life preserver out to them instead, but you are so focused on this one person that you miss those opportunities.


So I'm sure you can see how this analogy relates to missionary work, and I absolutely LOVE it. Now I have some stories to tell. The other day, we were knocking on a member's door who we would be having supper with that night, and we notice a man walking by slowly and sort of watching us. We smiled at him, and then he came back and said, "Excuse me, but are you church people?" We were like, "uhh... YES!" And he said, "okay, where is your church? I would like to learn about it. Can you give me your phone number so I can call you?" We gave him our phone number, and the following day, he called us and set up an appointment, which went great, by the way. And then they came to church on Sunday! It was amazing though, because he told us that he had been praying and asking God to send him someone who could help him and his wife. They really enjoyed church, and the members welcomed them with open arms!


We actually had SIX BRAND NEW INVESTIGATORS come to church on Sunday! The other four were a family that we met last week. We were out contacting and decided to talk to some people who were standing out on their front porch. They actually invited us in and let us share a message with them about Jesus Christ! We knelt in prayer after the lesson, and they were very grateful that we stopped by! Then last Saturday, we knocked on their door again and invited them to church, and the girls were very excited! However, their mom wasn't home at the time, so we didn't really expect them to be able to come... But they did!! We were just sitting down for sacrament meeting, when I heard Sister Christensen gasp and say, "LOOK WHO IT IS!!" We had to scoot our whole pew so we could fit them all in. We were beaming all Sunday. It was an amazing day. The whole family loved it too! At the end of church, the oldest daughter turned to me and said, "I really really like this church!"


Miracles! The field really is white! Sister Christensen and I are doing all that we can to keep our focus on finding those whom the Lord has truly prepared. Amazing things are happening. I wish I could share all of the stories, but I doubt any of you would want to read this email for 5 days straight, because it's so long. ;)


Oh! And breaking news: I am getting transferred to Grande Prairie! I am so excited! That is a ways up North, but it is an area that I have wanted to serve in for my whole mission! Wahooooooo! However, I am very very sad to have to say goodbye to a lot of people here in Lakewood, ESPECIALLY Sister Christensen! :( but C'est la vie! Change is good. :)

Okay, now enjoy a few pictures from our trip to Jasper on Friday.

Love you all!

Sister Robinson