Transfer 6 Week 5

Hello Everyone,

    I hope your weeks have gone well. I know mine has :D. This has been by far the strangest week in my mission. On Monday night we got a call from the member who has been suffering from Leukemia and he asked us for a ride and a place to stay. We tried our best to find someone and later found out that he was supposed to stay there. He collapsed at about 1am and was rushed into the ICU for two days. I saw him later on that week and he was doing a lot better. Well, Elder Salazar and three other Elders, including me, went to the Garcia's on Tuesday to eat and I had my first taste of squirrel. It was quite tasty actually. We went to Zone Conference on Wednesday and we ended up having an activity where we broke into teams and we played 5 different games. I ended up being team captain for the Moronites, or as my team members affectionately called me "Captain Moroni." So, true to our namesake, if all teams had been like unto the Moronites they would have won every game, which we did. After Zone Conference I went to Raleigh on an exchange with Elder Stewart. We talked to one young woman and asked if she had received an answer about the Book of Mormon. She said she had, but the answer was kindof mixed. She said the answer was yes, but that she was told not to do anything about it. My companion helped her understand that part of the answer was from God and the other from that great imitator we call Satan.

    The next morning I thought about the statement "If it does not rise with you, you shouldn't be doing it." I thought about my hobbies such as video game playing, photography, writing and whatnot, and thought about which ones would be the most edifying and helpful to work on in terms of my eternal disposition towards happiness or misery and I decided to focus on those that were the most uplifting. I returned to Durham that day and went on an exchange with Elder Childs the next day. We ran into Howie again and I was able to talk to him in more depth about how he was doing. Elder Childs and I taught some great lessons and then went to eat with the other Elders with the Rodrieguez family. On Saturday we did service at the Durham Central Park and I got a call from the mission president asking me if I could stay. I found out that my companion is getting transferred and I am taking over the area for a few weeks... Well, I take comfort that who the Lord calls He qualifies. I know that this is the Lord's work. I know that I am a member of His restored church. I know that we have a Prophet on the Earth today and that Christ knows and loves each and every one of us. He knows our pains and our afflictions. Let Him heal you. In His sacred name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 6 Week 4

Dear Everyone,

    I cannot believe that I am now in week five of the six week transfer! Time really does fly when you are serving the Lord. This past week has been pack with tender mercies and miracles. Since we lost our baptismal candidate and were able to find four new ones XD. The Lord truly does provide. The first two were referrals from a recent convert family and when we arrived the wife told us she had dreamed about us and was waiting for us to show up! The other two we found by following the Spirit. We had three really good lessons and were able to have one come to church. He said he felt the presence of the Spirit the entire time and cannot wait for us to teach him more. Sacrament meeting is such a spiritually beautiful meeting, full of the spirit of revelation and of forgiveness and love. I love to see the joy the fullness of the Gospel brings to my fellowmen.

    I have been pondering on the Doctrines of the lessons these past few weeks and I studied Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. I thought about my weaknesses I have and how much of a gift they are from God. Without my weaknesses pride would creep in and extinguish the light I do have. I am grateful for the ability to repent when my weaknesses put me contrary to the will of God, for I know that He would only have for me to be the happiest I could. I know this because I know of His love for all of His children. That is why I am here. God has blessed me with a finite portion of His endless love for His children and that love leads me to gather them so they can feel a fullness of that love. I know that God lives and that He has the same power today that He had in ancient times. I know that we need Him now more than ever and that He is the same then, today and forever. I know that He speaks through His prophets as He always has. He leads them to record His word and directions for His children as Holy Scripture as He has in times past. He is a God of miracles and He is a God of love as He has been and as He always will be. These things I know. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 6 Week 3

Dear Everyone,
 Another week has gone by and I am now 20 years old.. On Saturday I made cake and monkey bread and we had ice cream and Little Ceasar's pizza. It was quite an experience. During the past week my companion and I have found many new potential investigators, but lost our baptismal date. That is alright though, we would not want to baptize her unless she was really ready. We want to find, teach and baptize the elect, those who are seeking the truth and greater light. I think we found one last night though. He had been to several churches and he had talked to several teachers and preachers, but none of them could convince him. Well, we informed him that our job was not to convince, but to teach and testify and let the Spirit bear witness of the truthfulness of our words. We let him know that he needs to read the Book of Mormon and search it out for himself in prayer. That reminds me of another man we were teaching. His faith in prayer brought me to the verge of tears. I told him to pray and that he would receive and answer. I know both of them and anyone who puts Moroni's promise to the test will receive a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

    I know because I have received this witness for myself and many other witnesses concerning the truthfulness of this work and that God is not a respecter of persons. If He gave it to m, He will give it to any of His children. I know that God lives, I know that Jesus Christ is His Son. I know that Christ lives and guides this church today through a modern day prophet and through modern day scriptures and revelation. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and hope to continue to make a small difference where I can.

With Love,

Elder Roberts
 

Transfer 6 Week 2

Dear Everyone,

    First off I want to give a shout out to my comrade Greg and hope that all is well and look forward to seeing him again. Secondly, I want to send out my love and support to Sister Barney. :) Truly sweet is the peace the gospel brings...

    How about that General Conference?! I do not know what I would do or who I would be without it. The talks ranging from parenthood to purity to having faith and hope in the atonement and the resurrection of Christ our Lord. I was especially touched by Jeffrey R Holland's talk and also by Julie B Beck reminding us of the sanctity and beauty of womanhood and just how grateful we should be for the women in our lives. I know that I would not be here today without the help of a couple of choice daughters. My mother for one, who without I would not exist, and two my loving aunt who raised me as her own. Not to leave out the many other choice daughters who have joined in being there when needed. A heart-filled thank you to all of you. Some of you know who you are, and others may never know. Keep being virtuous, modest, neat and clean daughters of God. Your influence will be felt throughout the eternities.

    I was also shown more fully the privilege I have to be able to hold the Priesthood. It is such a blessing to have the power of God on the Earth and such a capacity for service. To be an extension of God's power and love on the Earth is such an honor. May we all live up to this great responsibility.

    As for Durham, all is well. We are working with our investigator towards her baptismal date and as a companionship it has been smooth sailing. I have been blessed wit a righteous companion and am grateful for that added strength in the work. Reflecting during conference I penned my deep gratitude for my mission and the changes that have taken place thus far. "So much has happened so far. Weaknesses [have been] tempered, relationships sown, lives lifted and homes pieced together by my being an extension of His Holy love. How I was ever given this wonderful chance I know not, but I will do my best to uphold the trust the Savior of the Wold has in me..." It is a privilege to serve. I have gained a stronger testimony of the work and of this church. I know that Christ lives and that He lives to guide, comfort and bring all of His Father's children home. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts