Dear Everyone,
It is crazy to think that this was the last week of the transfer. It feels like it just started last week. Meanwhile, it feels like January was just a few weeks ago and it is now the Christmas holiday season. Well, that just means I have to buckle down even more and make the most of it.
Monday afternoon I went with the Elders to Ignacio's and taught his son about the restored Gospel. He said he would pray about it and in the closing prayer he expressed his sincere desire to know if it was true. We were pretty confused at the end since he seemed to have a lot of doubts during the lesson and not that much interest. Afterward we had a Family Home Evening at Sister Lara's and she tried to teach me and the Elders how to make papusas. Papusas are an amazing food which is essentially a bean and cheese filled corn tortilla, but made in such a way that you fill it with goodness and then mold more mix over the top to seal it. They are hard to make, but very delicious. I tried, but failed pretty miserably and even dropped two of them that I was trying to mold. There was a need for coordination between my hands which I had hitherto not achieved nor tried before.
Tuesday we had a mission tour with one of the Seventies. He came and we were thoroughly instructed for a long while by him, his wife, the mission president and his wife and several Zone Leaders. Seventies are responsible for visiting all of the places the Apostles are not able to go. We first see mention of them in the scriptures with Moses and we also see them set apart in the New Testament to assist the Twelve Apostles. The duties of the Seventies are laid out in more detail in the Doctrine and Covenants. I felt that the most important thing that I took from that conference was the importance of learning and utilizing the language of the Spirit. I pondered this morning about what would happen if all the members of the church actively invited the Holy Spirit into their homes and made it their priority to make their home a refuge from the "world". It struck me how much missionary work would be done just by non-members walking in and feeling the Spirit in the home. There truly is power in consecrating our homes to the Lord. I know that there awaits a peace and joy beyond measure to those who study and live this principle.
That night that missionaries and I visited Vicente and he was really sick. Thankfully we were able to shortly teach about priesthood blessings and were able to give him one. He has so much faith. One of the missionaries commented that he had never had as much faith that a man would be healed as with Vicente.
On Wednesday I went back to the Thrift Store and we went through the van full of stuff I dropped off on Tuesday. We were able to get through a lot of it. The following day I was able to have a marvelous Thanksgiving with the McNiels and then go with the Spanish Elders to stop by a few people.
On Friday I continued sorting through a lot of clothes and such at the Thrift Store and some people came in who were doing a scavenger hunt. I had a lot of fun helping them find items and watching them take pictures of each other as proof, until they needed someone else to pose with a winter sweater. I ended up being the one to do so and that would have been fine, but they came back since the photo was supposed to include the guy in the party. So, we posed again. That afternoon a lady came in and bought that same sweater.
On Saturday I had a really good study and then went and helped the Holly Springs Elders and the Green Level Elders switch back companions. I then went to the Thrift Store and helped out with cleaning and sorting toys. That night we had a really good dinner with the Martinez family and I actually tried the really spicy salsa. I poured salsa, lime, onion and cream in my soup and was able to finish the entire bowl. The bowl was about two times the size of the rest of the bowls. XD We then departed and went to Sister Santiago's and then home.
Sunday was really good. We had some great talks and the other two lessons went really well. After church I had my study and took a good long nap. I was in much need of one. I then went with the Spanish Elders and we taught a couple of lessons to end the night.
This week I have gained a greater testimony of the importance of the Spirit and of the peace and joy He brings. I know that this is Christ's Church and that through His Spirit we are able to teach and shout this message to all the earth, inviting them to come unto Christ and partake of His goodness. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that the Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of this. There is so much power within its pages. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He has given us this life to learn, grow and prepare to live with Him forever. Jesus is the Christ, the savior and redeemer of the world. Let us praise Him in our thoughts, words and deeds this Christmas season. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With Love,
Elder Roberts
It is crazy to think that this was the last week of the transfer. It feels like it just started last week. Meanwhile, it feels like January was just a few weeks ago and it is now the Christmas holiday season. Well, that just means I have to buckle down even more and make the most of it.
Monday afternoon I went with the Elders to Ignacio's and taught his son about the restored Gospel. He said he would pray about it and in the closing prayer he expressed his sincere desire to know if it was true. We were pretty confused at the end since he seemed to have a lot of doubts during the lesson and not that much interest. Afterward we had a Family Home Evening at Sister Lara's and she tried to teach me and the Elders how to make papusas. Papusas are an amazing food which is essentially a bean and cheese filled corn tortilla, but made in such a way that you fill it with goodness and then mold more mix over the top to seal it. They are hard to make, but very delicious. I tried, but failed pretty miserably and even dropped two of them that I was trying to mold. There was a need for coordination between my hands which I had hitherto not achieved nor tried before.
Tuesday we had a mission tour with one of the Seventies. He came and we were thoroughly instructed for a long while by him, his wife, the mission president and his wife and several Zone Leaders. Seventies are responsible for visiting all of the places the Apostles are not able to go. We first see mention of them in the scriptures with Moses and we also see them set apart in the New Testament to assist the Twelve Apostles. The duties of the Seventies are laid out in more detail in the Doctrine and Covenants. I felt that the most important thing that I took from that conference was the importance of learning and utilizing the language of the Spirit. I pondered this morning about what would happen if all the members of the church actively invited the Holy Spirit into their homes and made it their priority to make their home a refuge from the "world". It struck me how much missionary work would be done just by non-members walking in and feeling the Spirit in the home. There truly is power in consecrating our homes to the Lord. I know that there awaits a peace and joy beyond measure to those who study and live this principle.
That night that missionaries and I visited Vicente and he was really sick. Thankfully we were able to shortly teach about priesthood blessings and were able to give him one. He has so much faith. One of the missionaries commented that he had never had as much faith that a man would be healed as with Vicente.
On Wednesday I went back to the Thrift Store and we went through the van full of stuff I dropped off on Tuesday. We were able to get through a lot of it. The following day I was able to have a marvelous Thanksgiving with the McNiels and then go with the Spanish Elders to stop by a few people.
On Friday I continued sorting through a lot of clothes and such at the Thrift Store and some people came in who were doing a scavenger hunt. I had a lot of fun helping them find items and watching them take pictures of each other as proof, until they needed someone else to pose with a winter sweater. I ended up being the one to do so and that would have been fine, but they came back since the photo was supposed to include the guy in the party. So, we posed again. That afternoon a lady came in and bought that same sweater.
On Saturday I had a really good study and then went and helped the Holly Springs Elders and the Green Level Elders switch back companions. I then went to the Thrift Store and helped out with cleaning and sorting toys. That night we had a really good dinner with the Martinez family and I actually tried the really spicy salsa. I poured salsa, lime, onion and cream in my soup and was able to finish the entire bowl. The bowl was about two times the size of the rest of the bowls. XD We then departed and went to Sister Santiago's and then home.
Sunday was really good. We had some great talks and the other two lessons went really well. After church I had my study and took a good long nap. I was in much need of one. I then went with the Spanish Elders and we taught a couple of lessons to end the night.
This week I have gained a greater testimony of the importance of the Spirit and of the peace and joy He brings. I know that this is Christ's Church and that through His Spirit we are able to teach and shout this message to all the earth, inviting them to come unto Christ and partake of His goodness. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that the Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of this. There is so much power within its pages. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He has given us this life to learn, grow and prepare to live with Him forever. Jesus is the Christ, the savior and redeemer of the world. Let us praise Him in our thoughts, words and deeds this Christmas season. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
With Love,
Elder Roberts
