Spiritually Washed

Hola Mi Familia!

Riding on the bus. We are a crazy pair.

This has been such a draining week, as in physically exhausting but spiritually rewarding! The Lord has definitely been testing our patience and stamina by giving us another congregation to shepherd and shutting down the cars for several days because the roads are so dangerous. We made due though and took the bus. We had to run to catch it! Through three feet of snow! It was hilarious! We were laughing virtually the whole day. It was such an adventure and we really felt like we got a lot done despite the obstacles.

Our greatest miracle was when we were walking around downtown to visit potentials investigators and talk to people on the street when we stopped to help a lady shovel. She was so kind and uplifting that after we left her we felt such a strong spirit and we both felt inspired to tract all the houses on the street we were on. The next door no one answered, but my companion rang again and just as I was turning to go she knocked on the door. The girl who answered and let us teach her said she wouldn't have opened the door if she hadn't seen us almost leave then come back. It was so miraculous!

I am feeling spiritually washed. I've reflected on my mission thus far and have found that I am a completely different person than when I left, even though I am still me. It is wonderful working with such an inspired and loving companion. I hope I do as much for her someday as she does for me. She's really taught me that not only the people I teach are my investigators- but the sisters I serve with are as well and that I need to show immense love to ALL people- not just investigators. We have such a fun time! Tomorrow is her birthday and we are taking a road trip up to Bloomington for Mission Leader Conference. I'm also planning on sneak attacking her by getting up early to put up streamers and balloons ;) but don't tell! I really want to visit R.C. if president gives me permission since I found out she isn't learning anymore (!) This will not stand! She WILL be baptized!!! - Ha ha.

Our most progressing investigator is K.R. who has been coming to church regularly and has made HUGE leaps in changing his life. His house used to be a cloud of smoke and his hair used to be gross and long. But his house is so much cleaner! and he is so clean cut now! The entire Sunday school class is so impressed by his insightful comments- he doesn't even need our help with getting to know people in the ward- he just goes up to them and introduces himself of gives them a hug. It's amazing! We are so excited to watch him progress further. People are truly ready to be part of the gospel- they just need to hit that point in their life that will lead them to Christ.

We grew some facial hair to celebrate Sister H.'s birthday!

I love you all SO much and hope you are staying especially safe this winter! Please keep up your prayers for S.N.
who has been standing us up lately :( Also Please pray for the people we teach to be motivated to come to church! Whether by us or someone else- the number of people to church has really been suffering here :( They need to feel the spirit that rests in the Church of Christ with all the people who love them and their savior.

Thank you so much for all you do everyone!

Hurrah for Israel!
Love,
Sister Roberts

Gumption

Hello all!

I'm going to be really honest- the subject of this e-mail is not exactly how I feel right now. 

Don't get me wrong- it has been an AMAZING week. Our miracle of the week is being able to set a date with not one, but two new investigators. The father of a part member family and the nephew as well. It was the best restoration lesson Sister H and I have ever taught together. The spirit was so strong and I could really tell that the Lord was the one talking through me that night. He really wants that family to be baptized!

Sister H. and I feeling the love!

On Sunday before church we found out that we have been assigned to cover TWO wards. The new ward mission leader is NOT happy about it but there's nothing we can do. the Elders who were in that area are being emergency transferred and they gave us all their area information- which has become very disorganized even though they tried their best. There is a LOT of work to be done, but it's actually really exciting and we are looking ahead with patients and anticipation. Our companionship theme for this transfer is the need for Gumption! 

Today, however, is not a gumption day- it's a bit stressful. Our cars have been grounded because of the snow and the zone leaders didn't tell us when they'd be at the family history center so we had to drive around for a while to get the key from them. We tried going to Plato's closet to find a new skirt because one of mine ripped but they didn't have Anything- shopping is always super stressful :P . We don't have much time to grocery shop today so I have to make this e-mail quick - Sorry!!

In my new Valentine's sweater and socks.

Our most progressing investigator, S. N., told us he'd be at church yesterday and that he'd drive himself. He told us that the night before and the morning of. Unfortunately he didn't make it. Our ward mission leader went to pick him up but no one was home and he wouldn't answer his phone. The night before we had had dinner with Brother N. at our mission leaders house and had taught him the gospel of Christ. He expressed to us that he still really wanted to be baptized. We are still trying to get back in touch with him.

With my Valentine's Package!

I hope everyone had an amazing valentines! I love you guys so much! Please pray for Brother N. and for J. A.-whose mother is house ridden so she can't leave her to come to church :( Miracles can happen when prayers are said :D

Love,

Sister Roberts

Rochester 3rd Ward, MN

Hello Oregon snow! What a strange thing you see you all surrounded by white. It looks almost like here! Ha ha.

With my new companion, Sister H.

I love Sister H! She is my new companion and we talk about EVERYTHING together- it's so nice! Even though the Rochester 3rd ward isn't quite what I'm used to- there are wonderful people here and I can't wait to serve them all. Before transfers, I had been praying for a companion and an area that would push me and be the place where I am most needed. Let me just say- Heavenly Father REALLY answers prayers! I have been working so hard here and I've never been more exhausted in my life! The teaching pool here is not very good. This is a very old area and the ward and the people seem pretty worn out :/ It's really too bad. LUCKILY hard work and faith prevail!! 

We did bring a man named S.N., from Liberia, to church on Sunday. Apparently this area hasn't had someone to church for a whole transfer! That is unheard of! We will make miracles happen :) We aren't sure if S.N. fully understood everything at church  because of language barriers, but we are confident that he feels the spirit there. He recently reached out to the sisters again to learn more. Last we met with him, he told us he knows he needs to be baptized but is not ready quite yet. Our ward mission leader has invited him to have dinner at their house along with us to have a lesson. We are so excited to see Brother N. progress!

The brightest of all the many miracles we've experienced this week is being able to see a less active member named Sister S. The sisters here had been trying to talk to her for weeks and we were finally able to see her. She said she wants to relearn everything and start over. After Sister H. delivered a powerful account of Joseph Smith's First Vision, the room was silent and all Sister S. could say was 'Wow.' She thanked us for never giving up on her and coming to see her. She'll be coming to church next Sunday and we'll see her again Tuesday! We also met a sweet 16 year old girl who is so set on being baptized! Her name is T. and she loves how much her life has changed ever since her friends introduced her to the church! She will be baptized very soon :) Count on it.

My ward is also a Spanish ward! You can't tell- but the Elders sit in front and translate the whole meeting into speakers. Sometimes a Spanish-speaking member gives a talk in Spanish and someone has to translate it. It can be a little distracting. The people here are so nice, but it's clear they aren't very missionary minded- YET! Hahaha. They will get there.

I love everyone so much!!

Hurrah for Israel!

LOVE

Sister Dread Pirate Roberts

TRANFER x CRAZY=MIND BLOWN!

I AM GOING TO ROCHESTER!!!! SO CRAZY!!!! I'm going where Grandma lives :) Ha Ha! Just kidding. It's Rochester, MN. My new companion is Sister H. and I am hearing AWESOME things about both the area and her!  It's located more down south so a little warmer ;) Sister E. will stay here with Sister D. who is from Australia!! Put some shrimp on the bahbie! I will be moving on Wednesday, February 5 in the  morning and I am SO EXCITED! President called us this morning during personal study time and I could NOT concentrate for the rest of the hour! and GUESS WHAT! He called me to be a Sister Training Leader! What is he thinking?! I have no idea what I'm doing still!

Thumbs Up!

Sorry I keep yelling at you guys but I am just SO SUPER excited! My brain is exploding!

P. WAS BAPTIZED!! I was so blessed to see that this weekend and to be part of it before I left. In this ward the missionaries teach the lesson on the restoration  of the gospel while we wait for the person to get dressed after they are baptized. I always recite the story of Joseph Smith's first vision and this time it was so powerful! What an amazing experience Joseph went through. I was so happy for Brother B. :) But I forgot my camera- ugh! I need to get pictures from Sister E. :P Brother B. even brought his girlfriend to church the next day and bore his testimony.This guy is SO solid! YAY!

This week we have been SUPER bold with people. I think I've had a feeling that I'd be transferred. I've been thinking lately- 'I'll never see them again so I might as well tell it to them straight.' During my last lesson with Brother D. I just said- "Brother D., your wife deserves to have the priesthood in her home. You deserve to have the Holy Ghost. Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the proper authority of God?" -- When we left I was like... Did I say that? Yikes. --- But he said he'd think about it. We were also very bold with a new "gator"- L. who is 20 and SUPER Sweet- but she JUST moved in with her boyfriend. So we laid out the Law of Chastity for her. BAM! Just like that. These lessons were like- do or die. The best we could say that day was that nobody dropped us :P

The R. and T. C. Family

We finally sat R. and T. down and asked them if they want to know the church is true. T. was like-- I think it's true but I need to keep praying-- and R. was like-- I don't see myself getting baptized yet.-- Still, they agreed to keep reading the Book of Mormon and we set specific times that we'll see them and gave them a date by which they could get their answer- that date is the day they will be baptized! I will pray forever for them! We are having the Assistants work with their son Kevin now.  I just know how much peace he could have if he only accepted Christ !!! AH! JUST DO IT! We have to give a lot of our single male investigators to the assistants- they are over our area as well.

Well everyone, this has been another crazy long email from the Dread Pirate Roberts. I hope every one is reading their scriptures and staying firm in the faith ! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

 Hurrah For Israel!

Love,

Sister Roberts