New Start

December Singing

Christmas in Rochester, MN

 I think the most thrilling things in life are new starts. The start of a new year, new day, new place! There are so many things that are new and exciting! It's when things get old and boring that excitement leaves. I'm gonna encourage everyone to live in new moments and always be excited!

Not much has happened this week, Christmas was amazing- we went to the W's house and they gave us stockings and lots of candy and I did a puzzle and finally learned how to play clue :) 

My new companion, Sister Y.,

is wonderful, but we're working on helping her not be homesick, have a desire to be obedient, and work hard. It's a little hard cause I have those weaknesses too at times :/ no bueno.

 I'm so sorry this is short :/ we haven't had a lot of time to write lately because of the holidays. Everything's been pretty off the wall.

Caroling Downtown

Anyway I love you all so much!!

Love,

Hermana Roberts

Christmas bells are ringing again!

My new companion, Sister Y!

This week has been chaotic. Our apartment is pretty crowded and messy with four sisters living in it, and we're still trying to get our bearings as far as what we should focus on and where we need to be regularly. I'm excited to get back into the potential of this amazing area. 

Our most progressing investigator, R.K., who we met two days ago, has agreed to be baptized on Jan. 2. She still has an issue with the word of wisdom unfortunately, but she'll be ok. She didn't come to church this week because she was sick. We're going to try and stop by later today to see how she's doing, but I really hope that she isn't getting cold feet.

 I really hope we can keep up the momentum of this place- we just need to get on the right track first

So with my recent study of the Christlike attributes- I was studying about faith and diligence and how they're related- and I read in true to the faith that faith is having a goal and working towards it. That is definitely something we can't see. It's like building the temple brick by brick- those people couldn't see the final picture, but they worked hard every day so that someday they could. diligence is a help to that- it is the steady, consistent effort of being faithful to a goal. :)

Just find out what you're goal is first or you'll be shooting blind! kinda like how I'm feelin now :P hahaha

I'm excited to spend another Christmas in the field! It is the best time of year to feel the spirit and share the gospel :)

Have a merry Christmas!!

Love ,

Sister Roberts

Rockin the Roch... again :D

Sister Roberts

And now the moment you've been waiting for..

I"M GOING BACK TO ROCHESTER!!!! YAY!!!

So yeah I'll be finishing the training for Sister Y., who's companion and trainer had to leave early due to sickness. It'll be crazy! I haven't met her yet- but we're meeting at the Oakdale chapel next to the temple- I finally get to see the St. Paul temple! Hurray!

Cherry Berry Ice Cream

Today has been strange- There are four sisters leaving the mission field early for school. Since I'm basically waiting around for my companion to get here, I got to eat lunch at the mission home with the departing missionaries, the office staff, and the assistants. So strange. But then again- it was sort of like this when I was in Bloomington. It's like being back home :)

I Will Share the Gift

I'm so excited to be going back to Rochester! I love those people and can't wait to get to work. The office ladies tell me Sister Y. is very sweet- so I'm excited to meet her. It was sad to leave Sister C.- but I know Sister S., her new companion, and she'll take good care of her.

I'm excited to see my friends from Rochester :)

Me and Sister C.

One last meal at the Creamery

The Magnificent M. Family

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission 2014

P Day at the Hogan's Barn

Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army

Snow Angel!

St. Paul Zone missionaries

Merry almost Christmas!!!

Love,

Sister Roberts

Christmas Time is Here!

Ready for a night of Christmas Caroling

Family!

This has been a great week. There is this new Christmas video out on christmas.mormon.org that the church has put out as an initiative to spread the word that Jesus is our Lord! He is the center of

The Elders made this Giant Book of Mormon

Christmas! This is a HUGE movement! With the new Christmas initiative, we've been caroling with the elders in our ward and inviting people not only to watch the video, but also to come to the ward Christmas parties. It's been a lot of fun and we've seen a lot of success because of it. 

Caroling with the Elders in our ward

The investigator we wish was progressing more is C. M., who still hasn't made the decision to be baptized. He has said he'll do it by the end of this year, however. Our fervent prayer is that this happens.

Getting Ready for Christmas!

We'll be going on an exchange with some other sister missionaries this week. They'll be coming to our area after our district meeting. We're excited to encourage them, since they are so young we want to help them understand the joy and fun in serving a mission. Snowmen will probably be involved in our morning workouts :)

There's a group of youth in our ward that I've really been concerned with the whole time I've been here. Yesterday we were able to teach the Sunday school class of all these youth and really see what has been going on. It's pretty saddening, cliques and backbiting are rampant. There are a few youth we've pinpointed that we really want to sit down and talk with. Hopefully we will be able to help. They've been a worry of the whole ward for a long time.It reminds me of the Nephites and how after the big war in 3 Nephi, when all the people go home after being hunkered down together, there's a time of peace at first- but then suddenly they get all rich and there's one group of people who bite back when they are "reviled" and another group who stay humble in the face of mockery. I want you guys to ask yourselves- which group are you? The one who takes offence and bites back, or the one who stands as Christ did before King Herod- silent, dignified and humble?

Anyway- I hope you all find the joy of selflessness- serving others is the only way to be truly happy!

I love you all so much! Stay on the Lord's side :)

I'll never get tired of the Sunrises in Cambridge

Love,

Sister Roberts

SURPRISE!!

Playing with "Boo", our landlord's dog

There have been a LOT of surprises this week! On Tuesday we got a call from the housing office: We found out that we're leaving our little piece of heaven sooner than we thought! We'll be leaving Cambridge on December 17th- the half-transfer, because four sisters are leaving early to get back to school on time, and they need replacements. We were heartbroken! Our beautiful, precious Cambridge left in the hands of elders again! (no offence) so sad :( we'll find out on the 15th where we're going.

Anyway, our dinner for Thanksgiving cancelled and then another invitation came from somewhere else. Our first bishop's counselor had us over with his family, we played some turkey-bowl that morning- it was so fun! I even caught the ball and got a touchdown! Yeah! 

Also, Brother M. asked us what the next step was to be baptized by the end of the year! He's so close! We also got to help a less active family decorate their Christmas tree :) All in all, it has been a week full of miracles and blessings. How thankful I am to be serving in this beautiful place.

Playing Basketball with my district

A lady we met this week was obviously prepared to receive us- we ran into her the first time while she was in the middle of a bible study. She looked a little startled when we came. When we went back she let us right in and the spirit was so strong as we testified of the first vision!  

The M. family have really been on my mind lately; where the father isn't a member and all four children have turned away from the gospel. It breaks my heart, especially when I hear their daughter, who's a little older than me, talk about the church and how it's all fear based and just a lie. It's so sad, because now that her father is spiritually prepared and ready to be baptized, his children are not. It really reminds me of the last few verses in 1 Nephi 1- the rising generation of the Lamanites losing faith brings a LOT of sorrow to the people :( GRRR! Talk about an aching soul! Let's just say the last few night's sleep have been rudely interrupted by a few tears. 

 

Cambridge Mission District

Please, Please, PLEASE! If you do not already have a starting if not firm testimony of the gospel, do not let doubts and anti-literature infest the holes in your young faith! Remember the story of the tomato plant- the little girl saw the amazing potential her little plant had with all it's little seeds- but when the plant was neglected, that potential seemed to die with it! Renew the life of your testimony every day! READ the word of God and WONDER about it's meaning in your own life and LIVE it in order to PROVE it then ASK GOD if it's all true!PLEASE! It is so worth it!

Anyway, I love you all so much, I hope your Thanksgiving happens everyday of your life- just don't gain too much weight... ha.

Cambridge in Winter

God Bless You! 

Love forever, 

Sister Roberts