Pennies and Post Its

C. and his sisters at his baptism.

What a crazy week! Though I'm learning that every week is crazy so I guess that's no surprise. Okay just to throw the news out there even though there's pics- C. WAS BAPTIZED! Holy Hannah, there were a lot of tears and a lot of words and a lot of phone calls- but President told us the baptism should go through! AHHHH!!!!!! MY FIRST PERSON I'VE TAUGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE WATERS!!! yay!!! Our last lesson with that SWEET family before the baptism was on fasting and testimony. I brought heart shaped Post It notes and used pennies to help them understand the law of the fast (you get three pennies a day and each heart is a meal- breakfast, lunch, dinner. you buy the heart w/ one penny. On fast Sunday you still buy three hearts- but two hearts go to someone who doesn't have any pennies!). I just thought of how simple and beautiful the gospel is and how even pennies and Post It notes can put a look of wonder into children's faces! After that lesson we went around and bore our testimonies- their mother cried and the whole experience was so sweet. We are so blessed to be in their lives. The baptism had the sweetest spirit about it and it was truly touching to witness. Brother C. was so happy to be baptizing his kids.

Our most progressing investigator now is Sister V. who is "gung-ho" for her baptism on April 11th. She is truly an elect lady. When she came to C.'s baptism, she told us she feels she has crossed 7 oceans just to be come here and be baptized. The Lord has truly prepared her even though no one knew it- not even she. We are so blessed to just be able to watch her progress.

Sisters in more ways than one!

This week has been so full of emotional turbulence that I think my miracle is having survived. I have learned to be completely open with my companion and now we aren't afraid to chastise each other because we both know how much we love each other. I've told her that for the first time in my life I feel like I truly have a sister (after growing up with 7 brothers). It is so refreshing to not hold back but to still be kind and Christlike. I have found the balance!! YAY!

 I'm expecting this week to be no less trying and rewarding as the last week has been - but every week I'm even more grateful to the Lord than I was the last week.

I love you all so much! Remember the simple pennies and Post Its in life!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Roberts

A Broken heart and a Contrite Spirit (and apparently broken bones?!)

My amazing family,

With an Easter Cup at a Relief Society Dinner

This week has not been the best of weeks. One of our investigators, K, has made a lot of progress in repentance and changing his life, and the desires of his heart have been pure. He wanted to be baptized on his birthday in June but because of his parole he has to wait a while longer before he can enter the waters of baptism. It has not been easy trying to think about what we should tell him. Many prayers have been said on his behalf. Another of our investigators is being hindered from baptism because of the choices of his parents. C. and his little sister have been so excited for baptism and have been keeping their own commitments, but their family has not been to church in a year and during the teaching process they've only been to sacrament meeting once. The baptism announcement was made by the father himself at church. We have been calling upon God for faith and comfort and strength as we've been thinking of how we should tell the parents that their children's baptism needs to be pushed back again. Needless to say- this has not been a restful weekend for us. To add to it, we've been worrying constantly about our fellow missionaries, Sisters S. and H. in La Cross. We pray for and with them everyday that we might know what we can do for Sister S. right now and how we can strengthen Sister H. while Sister S. is sick. She's been bed ridden for days and they both need a break. We're planning to have an exchange with them today even though it's P-day so they can both take a breather. 

Through it all, the greatest blessing I've seen and the greatest strength I have had is not only that of my God, but that of my amazing companion. Words cannot express the love and strength that I have been given from her and that I feel for her myself. She has truly taught me what it means to love unconditionally and to put all that love on the altar so that others can feel it. She is the miracle of my life right now.

Otherwise, P. V. is progressing so much! We are so excited for her!! She accepted the Word of Wisdom without batting an eye and has attended every ward activity and plans to stay for a VERY long time :) 

I was also humbled again while contacting downtown. It is not my favorite activity mostly because I don't see the point of it. So Sister H. sat me down on a bench and we talked through the reasons I feel hesitant to street contact people. At the end she looked past me and said, Okay here comes a guy- let's try this."  So I gathered up my wits and my faith and BAM! We taught him the restoration and invited him to be baptized. We haven't seen him again yet, but I felt the power of the spirit testifying as we talked to him- even though it may have been awkward to pray with a stranger in the middle of the city sidewalk.  :) Miracles happen I tell you.

I love you all so much and hope you are all doing much good in the vineyard :) 

Be safe everyone ! No more broken bones or anything- That means you Mitchell!

P-Day Activity at a Bowling Lane

 

LOVE always,

Sister ROBERTS :D

Transfer Craziness

It blows my mind that this transfer is already over! We have been freaking out the last few days wondering what would happen, but for us nothing has changed. We are still the STLs, we still are covering two wards, and we still love each other like CRAZY! We will be staying really busy this transfer- but that's what we need :) My mind is a little scattered right now because of all the excitement.

On Transfer Day

So many miracles have happened- the craziest of which is finding an Indian woman named P. who is already jumping in with both feet. She lives six doors down from the church and we caught her Saturday night leaving to pick up her kids and she agreed to come to church the next day. She is now in full fellowship with several members, is coming to two of the ward activities this week, coming to church regularly and meeting with us three times a week! She is preparing for baptism on April 12th. She has two daughters - ages 14 and 6. Her 14 year old daughter has autism but might also follow her mother into the waters. We love her so much and are so excited to see her make this covenant with God.

I also wanted to tell you guys about K. R., who is such an amazing guy- I need to get a picture of him. I might have already mentioned him- but he is so stellar! His life went from down in the pits to up in the rafters! He told us the other day that he does see how his life can change and how much it already has- we are so proud of him.

This Sunday was especially stressful. (They are always stressful since we have 6 hours of church). The C. family wasn't at church and that's a real problem because we would have had to push their childrens' baptisms back another week and that would have devastated the kids. They are SO excited to be baptized. Fortunately, after sacrament meeting we found them in the foyer! Yay! Will everyone please pray for that family? We will be talking to the parents about if they plan on actually staying active after their children are baptized. It will be a hard talk to have.

Sister H. and I having fun!

I have come to love my companion SO much and am excited to have another transfer with her. We hope to see many miracles together. This transfer I really hope to work on diligence and obedience well as constant love.

I love everyone so much!!! Stay true, stay awesome, HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!! :D

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Roberts

In it to Win it!

Crazy Scarey Icicle

What an amazing week. I don't really know where to start. Last time I wrote you all a letter I feel like I was a completely different person. 

Now I know what it means to see my companion as my #1 investigator. I would give up or drop anything to be there for the people I teach- now I would do the same for my companion. Another sister sat me down and really had to explain that one to me. My companion and I have made it a point now to tell each other every thought or hardship that comes to our heads and stop everything to work it out. It has been working like a charm and we are not as stressed out as we were before and because of this incredible change in our companionship- miracles have followed. 

This Saturday we called a potential investigator and went to her house half an hour later.We taught her about the restoration of the gospel. She is a cute Indian lady named P. She agreed to come to church and the next day we walked her there since the church was four doors down. She loved it. The entire Relief Society flocked to her. When she left us she told us how good she felt and that "I think I will join this church." The Lord surely does his own work. What can I say more.

Our most progressing investigator is C.C., with whom we had a wonderful lesson on the restoration on Friday. However his family wasn't able to make it to church so his baptism will have to be pushed back :( We think it's for the best though and that with the longer time frame we'll be able to make sure this family is "in it to win it". 

Sister H. and I are best friends!

Well, I can't thank my president enough for what he's done for my companion and me. He called Sister H. personally and gave her some advice. Her life and mine have truly changed because of the experiences we've shared this week. I have truly learned that I can be open and myself without shaming the mission or something. Call me a cliched Mulan story but it's really true. I am excited to continue learning this for the rest of my mission work as well as my life. :)

I love everybody so much! Be true to yo' fine selves while still pushing forward this amazing work!!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Roberts

I Stand All Amazed

FAMILY! 

(I won't say friends because all of you who are friends are actually family. Just so you know.) 

Celebrating Sister H's birthday!

OH my goodness! Our miracle this week is beyond belief! Last weekend I fasted for the worthiness and mind set necessary to have a date set for baptism. That whole week we had prayed in every prayer for someone who was ready for baptism to set a date with us. THE NEXT DAY, p-day, we got a call from a less active member whose family hasn't been to church in a year. She told us they had met with the bishop and that their eight year old daughter wanted to be baptized- and so does their 10 yr. old son! (!!) When I heard that I was so humbled and grateful for how the Lord answers prayers! During MLC (Mission Leader Conference)  my mission president had talked about how the Lord can do his own work- That is so true! We are SO excited to teach this family!

Our most progressing investigator is C.C., 10 years old, who is very excited to be baptized. We are going to be making a MAP for him within the week and he will be baptized with his little sister on March 22. We made a baptism calendar with them and hopefully their dad will baptize them. :) 

I am doing SO well. My companion and I have really great communication and have learned to teach really well together. I love this area and these wards, though at times handling them both can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Sister H. got little sick this week but despite that our numbers have still been healthy. I am really seeing how much the Lord loves and blesses me everyday and throughout my life :) 

Our area has really been struggling with finding people who will come to church- but this last week we had THREE PEOPLE! That is the standard of Excellence for the mission! It was such a blessing and a MIRACLE! B. was there, and C.C. with his family and K. Plus a bunch of less active people came who we've been working with! I love these people so much! It's crazy! They all make my life so happy and full of the spirit and I am so grateful! 

Teaching singing time in Primary

To sum up all my excitement- Just know that I love the Lord, and I KNOW that He loves me. this week I taught the Primary the song "I Stand All Amazed" That first line- "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me"- Perfectly describes my feelings right now. It is truly amazing how much love Heavenly Father feels for us as his children despite how imperfect we are! I hope each one of you know that and never doubt it! I love you all so much!

Prayer request this week for T. who is 16 and is really being pressured by family and friends to not learn about the Gospel. She needs support! :) 

Thanks!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love 

Sister Roberts