Dear Everyone,
This week I was able to do a variety of service. In addition to my usual service at Meals on Wheels and the Healing Place Thrift Store I also went with the Full-time missionaries, a ward missionary and went to the Temple. I have started having study sessions with the Spanish Elders on Tuesday and Thursday mornings so that we can work on role plays and I can improve my Spanish. Those have gone pretty well so far and I look forward to them tomorrow morning. We have a few progressing investigators and I am really excited for them. They have been coming to church, even though it has been hard catching up with them. When we are able to teach it is definitely a blessing for all of us. We had a really good lesson last night with one of our investigators and we were reviewing the first discussion. It was really nice to see them come to a better understanding of why prophets are so essential. I was glad to be able to help in a small way, even if I do not speak the language as well. It just makes it all the better when the Spirit takes over and I am suddenly able to speak fluently. I have noticed that I think too much when I am trying to teach. I sometimes mentally prepare against so many things that when none of that happens I freeze and wonder what to say. It doesn't help when I don't always understand what exactly is going on, but thankfully I am not able to "bash" because of that. That being said, it is better to do what you can to prepare and then just listen with love and reply by the power of the Spirit. Without that Spirit it is impossible to teach the restored Gospel. You can share information, but you cannot teach.
I felt more useful at the Thrift Store this week now that I am used to how things go. I almost feel like an assistant manager, or the manager's voice for the back. In the back we sort clothes and other purchasable items and prepare them for pricing and organize them in various parts until they can go out. Only two people have pricing authority, a few have clothes sorting authority and even less have toy bagging authority. Most of the people who come in to volunteer end up straightening up the room in the back, which is constantly needed due to donation traffic. Those who come in on a more regular basis decide the places for the sorted items to be placed prior to them going out and accept other such orders from the manager of the store. All in all it has been a neat learning experience.
I know that I am engaged in the work of the Lord. I am so grateful for the blessings I have experience as a missionary and the opportunities I have had to extend the blessings of the Gospel to others. I am extremely blessed to be a member of Christ's church and to have living apostles and prophets on the earth today. I am grateful for the blessing of being able to listen to their counsel. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen and watch General Conference this weekend and hear them speak. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World and that He leads and guides this church. I have a testimony of the Gift of the Holy Ghost and of the Gifts of the Spirit. I know that the Gospel can heal families and individuals and bring them closer to their Savior. I know that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and that through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end we can return to live with Him again. I know that the plan of salvation truly is the plan of happiness, showing us who we are, why we are here and where we can go as we hearken to the precepts and doctrines taught in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God to His covenant people is these the latter days. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that through him the Book of Mormon was translated, by the power of God, to stand as a testimony that the Gospel has been restored. I have read, I have prayed and I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that has been. I invite all to come unto Christ and partake of the blessings He has prepared for us. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Roberts
This week I was able to do a variety of service. In addition to my usual service at Meals on Wheels and the Healing Place Thrift Store I also went with the Full-time missionaries, a ward missionary and went to the Temple. I have started having study sessions with the Spanish Elders on Tuesday and Thursday mornings so that we can work on role plays and I can improve my Spanish. Those have gone pretty well so far and I look forward to them tomorrow morning. We have a few progressing investigators and I am really excited for them. They have been coming to church, even though it has been hard catching up with them. When we are able to teach it is definitely a blessing for all of us. We had a really good lesson last night with one of our investigators and we were reviewing the first discussion. It was really nice to see them come to a better understanding of why prophets are so essential. I was glad to be able to help in a small way, even if I do not speak the language as well. It just makes it all the better when the Spirit takes over and I am suddenly able to speak fluently. I have noticed that I think too much when I am trying to teach. I sometimes mentally prepare against so many things that when none of that happens I freeze and wonder what to say. It doesn't help when I don't always understand what exactly is going on, but thankfully I am not able to "bash" because of that. That being said, it is better to do what you can to prepare and then just listen with love and reply by the power of the Spirit. Without that Spirit it is impossible to teach the restored Gospel. You can share information, but you cannot teach.
I felt more useful at the Thrift Store this week now that I am used to how things go. I almost feel like an assistant manager, or the manager's voice for the back. In the back we sort clothes and other purchasable items and prepare them for pricing and organize them in various parts until they can go out. Only two people have pricing authority, a few have clothes sorting authority and even less have toy bagging authority. Most of the people who come in to volunteer end up straightening up the room in the back, which is constantly needed due to donation traffic. Those who come in on a more regular basis decide the places for the sorted items to be placed prior to them going out and accept other such orders from the manager of the store. All in all it has been a neat learning experience.
I know that I am engaged in the work of the Lord. I am so grateful for the blessings I have experience as a missionary and the opportunities I have had to extend the blessings of the Gospel to others. I am extremely blessed to be a member of Christ's church and to have living apostles and prophets on the earth today. I am grateful for the blessing of being able to listen to their counsel. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen and watch General Conference this weekend and hear them speak. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World and that He leads and guides this church. I have a testimony of the Gift of the Holy Ghost and of the Gifts of the Spirit. I know that the Gospel can heal families and individuals and bring them closer to their Savior. I know that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and that through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end we can return to live with Him again. I know that the plan of salvation truly is the plan of happiness, showing us who we are, why we are here and where we can go as we hearken to the precepts and doctrines taught in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God to His covenant people is these the latter days. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that through him the Book of Mormon was translated, by the power of God, to stand as a testimony that the Gospel has been restored. I have read, I have prayed and I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that has been. I invite all to come unto Christ and partake of the blessings He has prepared for us. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Roberts
