Serving in the Lord's Vineyard

This week has been crazy!

The theme of this week has been service. As Sister S. and I have been out in search of investigators, we've also been offering service wherever we go- and people have actually taken us up on it! After one potential investigator wasn't home for an appointment, we knocked on his neighbor's house and there happened to be three friends painting their apartment pink. After introducing ourselves as missionaries, we offered to help them paint, and they said yes! We spent the next little while in giant pink shirts with pink paint all over the place having a great conversation about the church and what we believe with these sisters.  On another occasion, a man was moving into his apartment when we happened to pass by him. We offered to help and the man, though surprised, was grateful. Since he's new to the area, we found out he's been thinking of a church to attend. I'm sure we'll be seeing him again very soon. During that same hour we saw an older lady weeding her garden, and we promptly stopped to assist her. She was friendly but didn't seem interested in what we taught her. It was a lot of fun and I'm grateful we were able to help so many people! 

Me, Sister N., Sister N. and Sister S. doing exchanges

We also had exchanges for the past few days- right in a row! The sisters from Askov came before Zone Conference, and the sisters from Virginia came after Zone Conference. We had a ton of fun. I am definitely not assigned to be STL (Sister Training Leader) for me to help them- they are helping me WAY more :) 

Zone Conference was so much fun! The assistants are CRAZY; they are so pumped for the work, every word they say is meant to bring someone closer to Christ. They've come up with this phrase that we need to "sell the oatmeal", which means talk about the church so much that people really get interested. this expression came about when Elder A. was eating a bowl of oatmeal as he and his companion were getting something from their car one night and when Elder H's eyes light up and Elder. A's like, "Oh no, this is happening." All of a sudden Elder H. starts trying to "Sell the oatmeal" to a man walking by: "See that?? That's BROWN SUGAR! and that's not just any milk in there, that's WHOLE MILK! Man this is the best oatmeal you've ever tasted in your life!" And you know what? The guy took the oatmeal and said, "Wow- this is the best oatmeal I've had in my life!" Ha Ha Ha! So Elder A.  lost his oatmeal that day. But after, they taught him about the restoration and a few days later they saw the bowl returned with a note saying that he appreciated the oatmeal and that'd he'd been battling cancer. 

Dear family- The Gospel of Jesus Christ is awesome. When coming to church, there is a spirit people feel that they've never felt before. PLEASE "TALK UP THE OATMEAL!!" Bring people to church- friends, family, whoever. They will thank you and so will our wonderful Heavenly Father.

A Robe made from a blanket by Sister K.

Anyway- soap box turned off. Sister K. came to church! YAY! She was really touched by a baby blessing. (Those things are packets of spiritual awesomeness! ha ha) Our president was at sacrament because of Zone Conference. He had given a talk the night before at a fireside that K. went attended. She even drove us there! YAY! She is really excited about the gospel.

I love you guys so much! There is way too much that has happened this week to be able to write it all. 

I hope you guys are staying safe and enjoying the awesome weather!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Miracle Lane

Famillia!

This week has been significantly better than last. We had an incredible miracle a few days ago- We got a call from some sisters in FLORIDA of all places who were from a media mission- they told us one of their investigators was planning on coming to church Sunday. The sisters had talked to the bishop and had given him a picture of M. They told us they'd be passing her off to us in the next few weeks. She wasn't at church unfortunately, but we have her picture and are excited to meet her soon! We also met a long lost inactive sister that no one knew about except the ward roster. We looked at the list and were like, We need to see her. Only the night before our call, she had prayed for where God wanted her to go at that point in her life. She took our visit to be her answer. She is so excited to come back to church! Heavenly Father is awesome! He truly directs His servants to those who need Him the most!

I really think these miracles have been happening because sister S.'s and my relationship has been getting stronger. I've noticed that miracles have happened on my mission only when I am in unity with my companion. It was true for Sister H., and it's true now. I know as we come to love each other and grow in communication, even more miracles will come.

Our most Progressing investigator, H.r, is very close to moving out of her apartment and away from her boyfriend. She's agreed to be baptized on July 12th! We are so excited! We're also teaching a lady named K. who didn't come to church because she couldn't find the right pair of shoes! We went over afterwards and were like: "Sister K.! Don't let shoes keep you from feeling the spirit!" She was like, "Yeah I know." She wants us to come half an hour early next week to help her pick her outfit. Gladly!! (We tried to this last week- but now it's her suggestion, which is way more meaningful.)

I've been thinking a lot lately about how teaching with power and authority is part of our calling as missionaries. Until we act on the impressions we have, that authority won't work. I've been wondering how I can truly know that I have that Divine power. I've been trying to implement this phrase: A thought is a spiritual prompting until proven otherwise. As I've become more aware of the spirit in our lessons and the words that my companion and I speak, I have realized that there truly is power in a testimony. 

I hope everyone is reading Preach My Gospel, as President Ballard suggested! That is some GOOD stuff. If anyone ever has any questions on how they can use the things in PMG right NOW- please ask! I LOVE questions and would love to talk about it with you guys! 

I love everyone so much!! I love to hear about your adventures and good times! Keep 'em coming! 

Good luck with the last days of school everyone! Stay strong and stay true! The Lord can help in ALL things :) I can't believe I've been out as long as a full year of school! Crazy! 

Hurrah for Israel!

P Day Excursion to Gooseberry Falls

LOve forever and ever!

Sister Roberts

P.S. It's actually sunny here! It got up to 60 degrees and we were burning up!

Best Mother's Day Ever

Skyping with Diane on Mother's day!

SO! This was a neutral week- except for the AMAZING day I got to see my FAMILLIA!!! You guys are so BIG and my companion thought it was funny seeing you all try to cram into the screen space :) Ha Ha Ha.

I miss you guys a TON but I'm super relieved that seeing you didn't make me want to go home- it just made me more excited to do this amazing work! 

So the area has been pretty low in investigators, we've been serving a lot and tracting a lot. I met this lady who gave us lunch before we taught her the plan of salvation then raked her leaves :) It was fun. 

Oh by the way the snow is GONE! Yay! I even saw flowers :) It's a balmy 50 degrees and rainy :)

I got to see Sister H at MLC. On exchanges we saw this Egyptian lady who talked to us for 10 minutes straight in Arabic. :P Adventure is out there! In another lesson- we taught a lady about the Book of  Mormon and she was like "Shut up. That did NOT happen," then she told us to get out. This is the LIFE! :D

Not much else to tell you guys about the week- I'm still holding strong on my no desserts/ sugar foods kick. :) 

I love you guys so much!(In case you can't tell.)

Will every one pray for a guy named R? We had to pass him to the elders- but he's really searching and needs answers. Also could you pray for a girl, H.- she's been trying to move out of her apartment with her boyfriend- she really wants to be baptized!!

Hurrah for Israel!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

New in North Shore

In front of my new Apartment in Duluth, MN

Duluth is beautiful! It's this cute little vintage town on a hill right next to Lake Superior and I love it SO much!. It's much colder here than Rochester- but I brought the sun :) ha ha. It's starting to clear up! My first lesson was with a recent convert whose 19. She did NOT like me very much. The sister who just left was here for almost five months- I knew it would take time for the people to get used to me. She gave me a hug at the end of the lesson though! and at our next lesson she was super friendly :) Progress! We also helped a cute family move all this stuff to a junk hunt thing. They made all this cool vintage furniture and sold it at the junk hunt. Sister H. would have been going nuts!! I was overwhelmed with all the cool stuff there! 

I was sad to leave Sister H. behind- it was a very tearful goodbye. we've been through a lot together, but I really admire Sister S. Something I'll have to get used to is her way of communication. She seems to have a lot of thoughts in her head and we've been working on talking to each other and communicating- it gets better every day. It's just different since I'm used to talking about everything with Sister H.

This week started out pretty tough. Sister S. has kind of a hard time with change and to top it off one of her recent converts left us a note on her door saying she needed time and she'd come back to church when she was ready. That was really emotionally trying for both of us. But- the miracle is that the ward stepped up and helped the recent convert back on her feet and she came to church this Sunday :) This ward is AMAZING. The Relief Society is so loving! There are three sets of missionaries here- two sets of Elders and us. They are super enthusiastic and really great missionaries. I'm so excited to work in this area!!
Our most progressing investigators here are is D. and A. who are scheduled to be baptized May 19th. I haven't met them yet, but I'm excited to see them progress!

My new Companion and me

I love you all so much!!!

Hurrah for Israel! (Apparently the Ward Mission Leader and missionaries yell this after every coordination meeting :P )

Love,

Sister Roberto