The Unfruitful Freeze

 I have been doing much better- now that I've got the hang of things. I definitely see miracles happen every day- there are crazy highs and aweful lows to every hour it seems like. This has been a pretty uneventful week- mostly because of the season and the FREEZING! One lady, whose door we knocked on, opened her window and accused us of soliciting before threatening to call the cops. We were just like, "Okay, thank you!" and walked to the next door.  

All Bundled Up to Go Outside!

We were able to do a service project yesterday at an interfaith convention. We were basically the only people helping the hosts put everything together: I don't think we even told them we would- we were all just there setting up tables and putting out food and being friendly. Everything got done really fast once the "Army of Helaman" came around ;) It was really fun and interesting, but we weren't allowed to actually proselytize. Oh well, we had good conversations.

A miracle occurred when we were knocking on doors ("tracting") in a neighborhood where no one was listening. Finally, at the last door, a sweet lady named L. came out to talk with us. She told us about her family problems and after teaching the restoration she agreed to baptism. We even had a prayer at the door, which that very morning I had questioned during training. ('A prayer at the door? What?')  I was indeed humbled that day.
Unfortunately she has been hard to get back in contact with. Still, this week Sister E. and I have set a goal to have no doubtful thoughts. We'll see this through. Our goal has been really tested. M. was supposed to be baptized last Saturday, but didn't make it to her baptism. She's agreed to have it next Saturday, and we need to stay positive about it still happening. We've also been doing quite a bit of "tracting" since most of our appointments have fallen through. Most of that tracting is fruitless, seeing as it's the holidays and it has hit the single-digit degrees. That won't dissuade us! No Doubts! We've made a goal for our entire transfer: to visit and knock on every door in our area. It'll be tough, but I sure we can make it. I'm starting to grow a thick skin for the cold- but I have a long winter ahead. I'm excited!
M. is our most progressing investigator right now. We need to have daily contact with her, but she doesn't respond to text or phone calls so we have to go to her house to talk to her. The bishop has invited her to Thanksgiving dinner so we'll ask her if she replied yet. P. has dropped us- he's got a problem with one of the laws and is pretty upset with the doctrine. We'll keep him in our prayers but right now only the members can talk to him since he's blocked our calls and is out of town.
Other than all this, I'm doing great! Sister E. has the same goofy sense of humor as I do, so we're laughing a lot. Now that we trust each other more it's easy to teach together - she fills in all my gaps :) I'm really enjoying the training program but I need to be more optimistic about role-playing. I tend to think of it as a chore. I love listening to investigators stories and trying to think of ways the gospel can help them. I don't always get it on the head, but I'm getting better.

 Happy Thanksgiving :)

Love,
Sister Roberts

Happy 1st P-Day!

Nov 18

So I'm here! YAY! The plane was super fun with my district all being together and then the president fed us this awesome taco soup! We had a bunch of meetings and an interview.

1st Dinner in Mission Field, with Sister E.

Our first dinner was with Sister K. She is SUPER nice- a return missionary. We are always doing teaching evaluations with her. My Companion is Sister E . She is a TALKER.  My president challenged me to get a baptismal invitation within the first 24 hours but I couldn't get it in because Sister E. just kept on goin' :) We're learning how to work with each other more in lessons though. It's coming. I do wish she would trust me more. It seems like everyone here is constantly consoling me:

-" Oh it's okay it's your first time"- "You did so great!"- "Way to go!"-"You'll get better". OKAY OKAY! I got it! Yeesh, I'm not a doll. I'd rather everyone just give criticism straight than sugar coat it like this.- But it'll get better, I'm not too worried.

Some cool things going on: a lady named M is getting baptized this Saturday! Possibly with her son- but he has autism so we'll see. She is SUCH a nice lady and I already love her like crazy! Another young guy named P will be baptized on December 7th. This guy is "golden". He was led to the missionaries in Provo, then he moved here. He agrees with everything and just wants to get in the water! It's so great.

On Sunday we were walking down a really daunting street that started with a really rude guy and ended up being empty of everyone else. We were about to leave for a meeting but I just kept walking down a street- maybe out of reluctance, probably out of prompting. Then we just happened to come across F, with whom we set up an appointment after our meeting. It was a LONG two hour discussion with him but he had never let the missionaries in before and we were really lucky he was outside. I could tell he felt the spirit and wants to learn more. We left him a Book of Mormon. We'll only be able to see him again in January because he's going out of town. Oh well.

Also on Sunday there was a Mission President's fireside where some converts bore their testimony. You can only come as a missionary if you have an investigator. I was lucky and was asked to play the piano so I HAD to go- but Thankfully M came with her son :) too. Sister T (my MTC companion) sang a solo!! It was so nice to see her :) Oh yeah!  Two of the elders from my MTC district are in my zone- and ONE is serving in my ward :) Elder C. and Elder S. It was so fun to see them!

Oh my goodness!!  Aunt Kari and Grandma sent me the most perfect 'greenie' package EVER!! FULL of green stuff'. I got it my first day and it made me SO HAPPY!

I hope everyone is doing great and that the spirit is guiding you!

LOVE YOU ALL!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Sister Roberts

Arriving in Minnesota

Diane with President and Sister Clements
Minnesota Minneapolis Mission President

 Here is a letter from President Clements:

November 18, 2013

Dear Brother and Sister Roberts,

On Wednesday afternoon, my wife, Julie, and I, greeted Sister Diane Roberts at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport and welcomed her to this great mission.  She was happy and excited to begin her mission.  Thank you for all of your efforts to prepare her for the adventure that lies ahead.  We understand what a great sacrifice you are making to support your daughter. 

The new missionaries with President and Sister Clements
November 13, 2013

We drove from the airport to the mission home and took pictures of our new group of elders and sisters.  The day was sunny, and beautiful.  We then had lunch and provided a mission orientation.  I also interviewed each missionary.  The Assistants provided training in finding new investigators. 



At about 5:00 pm, Sister Clements and I introduced them to their trainers, who greeted them with big smiles and bear hugs.  After some more training, we sent them off to their assigned areas. Sister Roberts has an outstanding trainer whom I carefully and prayerfully selected.  In two weeks, we will bring them back to Bloomington for a day of training in finding, teaching, goal setting and planning. 



Your daughter joins a remarkable corps of accomplished and dedicated missionaries.  There is a great tradition of obedience and accomplishment in this mission.  She will serve with missionaries who desire to build the kingdom and who are willing to sacrifice their all for the cause.  We serve in a beautiful part of the Lord’s vineyard where mighty rivers and beautiful lakes are plentiful.  We are privileged to serve among faithful saints.  

 

Diane and her first companion, Sister E.

Please encourage your daughter to obey all mission rules.  She will become stronger, more mature, and more self-disciplined as she faithfully follows the rules.  Her first area of service is Bloomington, Minnesota; her companion is Sister E.  

 

Regards, 

Jordan W. Clements

Mission President

 



Highs and Lows of Crazy Town

 I'll just get right into my week since I have zero time :P



Diane's MTC District

 

Saturday- I was prepping with my companion for an 'investigator' (our teacher, who is a dad) and we were talking about priesthood, when I realized I forgot to get a father's blessing before my mission! Talk about a bummer! Then I remembered I am surrounded by the priesthood here, so I asked my Zone Leaders and District Leader to give me a blessing. Elder C. my fantastic ZL, said the prayer. When I asked him to give me the blessing, he looked like he was scared, but honored. He seemed really humbled by the opportunity. I love the priesthood so much!! What a powerful opportunity for young men to feel so responsible!

In class, I learned that planning a lesson needs to center around a grand, Godly vision for the investigator. Helped a lot.

Also did Yoga at 6 am- super fun but not long enough! I discovered I have pretty decent balance.

Sunday- Lots of studying and lots of meetings- now that I'm an Sister Training Leader, I have a lot to do. Still, it was a WONDERFUL day. Fast and Testimony meeting was great- I told my "Don't let the Fish Beat You" story. (Brother Ferris will love that). We also walked up to the temple and took a lot of pictures. It was a nice change from the busy days of lessons etc.

Monday-  We had fun practicing door approaches with our teacher, Brother K.- we mostly ended up laughing the whole time at K's imitations of  investigators. We practiced teaching a  high schooler in TRC- she talks a LOT. We could barely get a word in. This last time we taught her, she basically said in her prayer- "please don't let me be pressured by the devil." Great. Shows what an awesome job I'm doing. Blech. That was a bad slump. We also met "Ron" who is actually Brother K. We got him to pray! That was a big thing according to the Elders who had taught him. -And I didn't dominate the conversation, which I tend to do when I'm nervous. Yikes.

Tuesday- Really bad. Had a break down. Every day has crazy slumps and awesome highs. But I had a BAD slump. We taught "Charly" and she just wasn't giving us anything and when she prayed, I suddenly felt like I just loved her so much and I wanted her to know God's love for her but I was failing her some way because I coudn't get it across to her. Let's just say the faucet turned all the way up. I ducked out fast after the prayer into an empty room and exploded all over poor Sister T. I guess all the pressure and change finally got to me because I was a sad, sobbing mess. Sister L. tried to help us evaluate but I just started all over again. I tried to laugh at how ridiculous I looked but that made it sound like choking. It was ugly. However, the next time we taught "Charly" it went super well and she finally took a Book of Mormon!! YAY!

Wednesday- We met our new district!!- The new sisters came in and they are so cute!! Can I have been one of them only a week ago?? Weird. I love them so much already! They don't know what they're in for.

Yesterday I had in field orientation. Pretty boring, but necessary. Lots of meetings.

Today I am going to the temple again! YAY!! Also, I'm getting my hair cut AGAIN (Hey they're free okay?? haha)

I love all of you!! BE SAFE!!!
Love,

Sister Roberts

Rush! Rush! Rush!

Hello all!!

Only three days? What? Feels like three weeks.

My MTC Host helping me with my bags.

Okay where to start- I rolled up to the MTC and immediately was pestered by my host who took all my bags despite my protests and made me fall in love with her like THAT! She was so cute and when she found out it was my birthday she wouldn't stop telling people. I got my beautiful badges, got my books and went to the "new student orientation." Afterwards I went to my first class!! Yay!

My Companion is Sister T :) from here in Utah and we're basically on the same wavelength all the time so it's awesome! I love her like crazy! We've been called to be the sister training leaders already- which isn't hard because there are only four of us in the whole branch :P I'm the senior comp- because my last name came first in the alphabet- she's older :)

Sisters McC and T are from Utah as well- they are the sweetest little sisters. We all get along really well in our room which is a crazy relief. They are super nice and always good for a laugh :)

District leader is Elder H from Colorado and his comp is Elder E from Virginia- he's the youngest and it shows... ha ha. Elder C is from Idaho, H is from Provo, and S is from Canada. I think they are all great and wonderful young men :)

So rushed!!

Seriously it seems like we rush ALL the time- rush to bed-rush to get showered-rush to eat-rush to learn-rush rush rush... It is EXHAUSTING! I was able to go to the temple today which was a great relief to just wind down. But now I'm rushing to get this letter out- sorry! Super fast.

We were able to teach our first 'investigator!' named Travis who is actually Brother S, our teacher- He's golden. Totally ready for the gospel- if only we were good missionaries! ha ha. I completely dominated the conversation- I kept looking at T to stop me but she is very polite and let me go on and on.... ugh. Well I did feel the spirit. But it's not about me- it's about the investigator!!! We have focused so much on that and CHRIST! He is the absolute CENTER of what converts people! I wish I could explain everything I've learned- but there's no time!!

Okay, well the food is great. The air here is SO dry- I've been drinking tons of water but I still ended up getting a bloody nose last night. Not fun. Well- my time was up 15 min ago :( I love everyone! Please stay safe!

Love

SISTER Roberts :)