Transfer 11 Week 1

Dear Everyone,

    This week has really flown by. The Spanish Elders and I have been working with a few progressing investigators and are really glad that a couple more have begun to progress. With two of them that have begun to progress, we watched The Restoration DVD and that helped them to see the importance of the Book of Mormon. We had taught the restoration and reviewed it a few times, but the movie was a great tool in helping them visualize the events of the restoration. I volunteered at Meals on Wheels and at the Thrift Store this week, but on Tuesday I spent most of my day dealing with transfers and the organized chaos that comes with that. I ended up leaving early in the morning to pick up one of the English Elders to take him to training meeting. However, I also had to meet the Wilmington Elders in Garner. Sadly, their ride was late and so after driving to Garner I left for Raleigh and then went back to Garner for the other Elders. After I dropped them off, I had a good study at the stake center and headed back to Cary to pick up the English Elder's companion so that he could go to transfer meeting. I then provided a ride to the English Elders and headed back home for a bit until I headed off to the Temple.

    This past week I have felt the Spirit testify strongly of the reality of the Restoration. Every time we watched it with our investigators I could hear the still small voice and feel of His witness. Every time I thought back to the words of the First Vision I felt a confirming whisper to the truthfulness thereof. I am grateful for my testimony of these simple truths. It has been such a blessing to play a part in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with other people. It was an especially sweet moment as I saw the Melchizadek priesthood bestowed upon the man I had baptized the previous March. I am grateful that I have been blessed to see his family progress in the Savior's gospel and in His church.

    I have begun to read the Book of Mormon again and I plan on finishing it by the end of my mission. I have noticed many things this time that I did not notice before. It seems as though they add new things every time. Each time I read with faith I gain a greater testimony of the Savior and of His love and His Gospel. I feel a greater desire to do what is right and make better decisions. The darknesses of the world are brought to light and sin is seen as it really is , for "wickedness never was happiness."

    Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. God is our loving Heavenly Father and through the Holy Ghost He manifests Himself and His Gospel unto His children. He speaks through Prophets in this day and age, His first being Joseph Smith Jr. and His current is Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon is convincing evidence of this. Through prayer and personal revelation from the Holy Ghost all can gain a witness of the truthfulness of the message of the restoration. The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth once more, of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 10 Week 6

Dear Everyone,

    It is crazy to think that the transfer has drawn to a close. I have learned so many things this transfer and my testimony is stronger than it has ever been. I have a greater appreciation for the Gospel and for that opportunity I have to aid the spread of that Gospel through service. This week I performed my usual duties wherein I serve at the Meals on Wheels foundation and at the Thrift Store. However, on Saturday it was a bit different since I went in a few hours early and ran a book sale outside until 5pm. It was the first time I had ever run a book sale and especially one that lasted about 8 hours. It was pretty interesting though because a wide variety of people were interested and I was able to speak to a few of them. In the earlier hours people came by with scanner hardware on their PDAs to try to see if there were any books of use for their online stores. Apparently after paying ~$500 for the scanner and some undisclosed price for the service you can make it back in the first week. So, these book hunters go from store to store and I had never seen them until today. Well, now I know. One of the ladies at the thrift store taught me how to make a different style of rice and after two tries it turned out exactly as she wanted it to be. You take a clove of garlic and mince it. Add some oil to the bottom of a pot and fry the garlic. Then add 1.5 cups of water per cup of rice you intend to make. Bring the water to a boil and then add about 1/3-1/2 tbs of salt or until the water is a little too salty (not like sea water though.) Once you have the water boiling add the amount of rice you want. Before adding the rice rinse it in a coriander for about a minute to get most of the starch off. Leave the pot off and leave the water at boiling until the rice and the water are at the same level. When the rice and water are at the same level put the lid on and turn the heat down and simmer it for 17 minutes. After 17 minutes the rice is ready to be served.

    On Wednesday I attended District Meeting and we discussed "Revelation Through the Book of Mormon." We especially focused on presenting the Book of Mormon in lessons and how we could improve. Well, after much discussion we broke out into role-plays and I was able to role-play as if I were presenting it to the guy I had met at the Thrift Store. The Spirit was very strong and I look very forward to implementing it in real life. Well, that Sunday he came to church and we had a marvelous experience listening to the Primary children bear their testimonies of Christ and of His Gospel and church. It was a very inspirational presentation and he enjoyed it a lot. We were able to take a walk around the Temple and discuss a few things after he had met with his friend who attends that ward and also after being introduced to the sister missionaries. We had dinner later that night and I was blessed to be able to share my testimony of the Book of Mormon and share principles and doctrines of the Restoration. He handled the book with great care and was awestruck that he had never heard of more scripture. I invited him to read and as James directs: "ask of God." He readily agreed and after a prayer I departed. That night was an important step for me in helping me realize, in greater measure, the blessing it is to have the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was in tears on the way home just thinking of how much I have to be thankful for because of the testimony that I have of the Book of Mormon, modern day revelation, Prophets and Apostles and of Christ's divinity. The simple truths are so very powerful, yet so easily understood by the humble and pure in heart. I had the opportunity to read the entire Book of Mormon this transfer and those truths were cemented more firmly within my heart. "No evil man could write such a book and no good man would write it, unless he were directed by God to do so..."

    Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. The Book of Mormon is a record of God's dealings with His children, testifies of Jesus Christ and contains the fullness of the Gospel. I know that sincere seekers of truth can come closer to Jesus Christ and to Heavenly Father as they read, ponder upon, pray about and live the precepts taught therein. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church on the Earth again and that we have a Prophet on the earth today, even Thomas S. Monson. I am very grateful for my testimony of these truths and leave them with you in the name of Him who makes all possible, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

With love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 10 Week 5

Dear Everyone,

    This week has gone by rather quickly. I volunteered at the Thrift Store and met a new volunteer and was grateful for the opportunity of sharing our mutual convictions of Christian living. I went out with the Spanish Elders from Cary and Garner throughout the week. We have a few progressing investigators, but there is so much opposition. Yet that opposition is just a testimony of the truthfulness of the work. I was blessed to be able to attend the Temple a lot this week. I worked my usual night on Tuesday and was able to join the Elders on Wednesday morning. There is a peace, a joy and a love that can be felt there that is not as powerful anywhere else. Once you have been there, you feel an inner force pushing you above the base influences of the world. Yet, we all have the ability to choose to follow that inner strength or to submit to the darker courses laid out by the adversary. I know that with me it has been a constant battle to overcome and to continue to overcome the influences of the world. So it is with all who endeavor to follow in the footsteps of the Savior.

    I got a letter this week! I do so very much enjoy receiving mail. I know that it is a little different since I am still at home for my mission, but that does not change the fact that missionaries love receiving letters. :)

    I made a cake for a missionary this week since it was his birthday, but the frosting turned out too thin. I put it in my car so I could deliver it and when I went up the exit it slid and the icing dripped out into my seat. :( When I arrived we were able to clean it up though. Thankfully the cake still tasted fine. Next time I will whip the dry ingredients before I add the milk.

    I am grateful to be engaged in the work of the Lord with such valiant men and women. I am grateful for the strong testimonies that have been borne in my presence and the opportunities I have had to participate in the preaching of Christ's Gospel. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and the Son of God. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God for the convincing of Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ. I know that Thomas S Monson is the Lord's mouthpiece on the earth today and that through him Heavenly Father makes His will known unto His children. Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

WIth Love,
Elder Roberts

Transfer 10 Week 4

Dear Everyone,

    This week has been a very interesting one. The missionaries and I had a great lesson on Monday night where one of our older investigators agreed to work towards a baptismal date. I remember meeting him back when we were meeting with a friend of his and how I was only a few months into my mission. Now with five months left, he is on his way. :D I had the blessing of working in the Temple Tuesday night and had some wonderful experiences and one very interesting one. I was at the recommend desk and two elderly ladies were getting some help from the Temple President. Once they were finished they started to talk to me. Once they discovered I was a missionary they tried to persuade me to move near them and their granddaughters after my mission. XD  Is there anywhere safe for a missionary? On Wednesday I had the opportunity to visit the Temple again and then head to District Meeting. After District Meeting I accompanied the other Elders to Hibachi Express and then to a few lessons. We had a lesson with Alfredo who up till now was okay with coming to church, but not willing to progress or accept a baptismal invitation. However, there seemed to be a change of heart and we were very grateful for the presence of the Spirit and the sweet boldness of Elder Olaya. We had a lesson with Carla after that and were able to watch a clip from General Conference. We watched President Monson's address concerning the resurrection of Christ and the hope that it gives us of live after death. We were able to answer some questions that she had concerning the Bible and resolve some concerns. She is so ready though. We had dinner at the Santiago's and then had a very interesting lesson with a man named Jose. He is searching for the truth, but his heart was not open to it. We left that lesson pretty saddened, yet we remembered that we fought a battle in the preexistence so that our investigators could have the chance to say no. On Thursday I spent most of my day serving a member of the Spanish Branch and Friday was a pretty hectic day. I went to the Temple and had two wonderful sessions. Then I headed over to the Santiago's and helped Brother Santiago out for a few hours. Afterward I went with the missionaries and we had a lesson with Silu. After that I tried to see a Sister in the ward, but she was not home. I found out later that she was in the Hospital and will try to see her in the next few days. Saturday and Sunday were dedicated to General Conference and gladly so. I had a wonderful experience listening to and taking notes during General Conference and look forward to listening to it throughout the year.

    I am so grateful to be a missionary and to have this chance to devote all my time to serving God and His children. I know that this is His Church, that we have a Prophet on the Earth today, even Thomas S Monson, whom I had the pleasure of sustaining Saturday afternoon.  I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the promised savior of the Old Testament. I know that He lives. I bear my witness of these things, in the name of Him who makes all possible, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts