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
 

Transfer 6 Week 1

Hello Everyone,

    Guess what? I got transferred again! XD 7 areas in almost seven months, I think that's a record. This time I'm serving in the Durham 5th Spanish Branch with Elder Salazar. So far we have been able to do a lot of good in the area. We have taught a few lessons, set a baptismal date and have discussed several ideas for finding new investigators. I hope to make a difference while I am here. I know that the Lord will use me as an instrument in bringing His children closer to Him and His Son Jesus Christ.

    I have had some pretty amazing study sessions the past few days. Most of them focused on the heart and where we place our focus. We are taught in the Book of Mormon that God will grant unto His children according to the desires of their hearts, whether it be unto salvation or destruction. I mentioned in an earlier blog about Laman and Lemuel and how their hearts were set on their riches in Jerusalem, this disqualified them from revelation and caused their hearts to be hardened against the Holy Ghost and led to their apostasy and the creation of the Lamanite culture. Lot's wife was another example of how having one's heart in the wrong place can lead to destruction. When she disobeyed God and looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah longingly she was transfigured into a pillar of salt. These examples not only show a lack of love for Heavenly Father, but also a lack of faith and hope in the promises that He has made unto His children. We can renew our faith, knowledge and hope in these promises by heeding His holy Prophets, reading the scriptures that they have provided and by cultivating a personal relationship with God through prayer and pure worship, meaning emulation or trying to be like His Son Jesus Christ. A great way to hearken unto the Prophets which God has provided unto us is by listening to the General Conference this next Saturday and Sunday. During the General Conference many subjects with both eternal and temporal importance will be addressed. What a great blessing it is to have men and women called of God to administer His message unto them! I would invite all to participate in this conference this weekend and to come with a question to be answered. I know that as you do so in faith, that that and other questions will be answered.

    I am so grateful for this gospel, for the opportunity to share it and see how it changes my life and the lives of the people I serve. I am  grateful to have a Prophet and twelve Apostles on the earth who lead and guide us in the path Jesus Christ has set. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation which contains simple, yet marvelous principles and doctrines that tell us who we are, where we came from, why we are here and where we are going. I am grateful for the direction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings into my life and for the testimony I have of the truths therein. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the church of Jesus Christ, that same church that He set up, restored again through a modern day Prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is another testament of His Son Jesus Christ and of His love and plan for each and every one of us. I know that we are all children of Our Heavenly Father and that He knows and loves us. These things I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 5 Week 6

Hello everyone,

    I cannot believe it is Monday already and not only that, but the end of the transfer as well. These past 6 weeks has flown by. This past week I was able to volunteer at Meals on Wheels, Helping Hands and the library while also finding time to help the missionaries and attend the Temple. I also gained a greater love for genealogy and will be starting shifts at the Family History Center this week.

This I found out that my good friend Elder Chupin is being transferred along with Elder Rodrieguez from the Garner Spanish area tomorrow and I will miss them both. I know that they are going where the Lord would have them go though. It has been really crazy this last transfer. We've had a few baptisms, found many new investigators and learned and taught quite a bit.  I have found a greater love for my Heavenly Father and have felt His love and His Spirit more abundantly as I have been laboring in His vineyard. I may not be the smartest, well equipped or best missionary, but the Lord knows when I am trying and where my weaknesses lie and He has found the most tender ways of using me to bless the lives of others, even using the weaknesses. I know that the Lord has a plan for all of His children. Not only here, but all over the world. He is not the God of one people or one nation, but the God of the whole earth and everything in the universe. He knows each and every one of His creations and both notices and loves them. However, we, as His children, are particularly dear to Him. Enough that He sent Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, to show us the way home. We lived with our Father before, we can live with Him again. As we come to follow the Savior and His teachings we will find ourselves on the path back to Our Father and into His kingdom. I know that we have a Prophet on the Earth today, who leads and guides this Church as a mouthpiece of God. When he speaks, he carries the marvelous messages that Our Father would have us know. As we follow him we come closer to the Savior, as we come closer to the Savior, we come closer to The Father. In so doing we move closer and closer to life eternal where we will know "the only true God and Jesus Christ whom [he did send.]" These things I know and leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With Love,

Elder Roberts

Transfer 5 Week 5

Hello everyone,

    This past week was amazing. I assisted the missionaries in moving a lot of people progress towards baptism, attended the Temple and still found time to volunteer at Meals on Wheels and The Helping Hands Mission. There were two baptisms on Sunday for the Spanish Branch and I had the sweet experience of being able to baptise Enrique while Hermano Juanico baptised his wife Estella. I was still a bit nervous since my last baptism was a couple of years ago and in English as opposed to Spanish, but all went well. I've really gained a stronger testimony and conviction of the commandments of God and the standards of the Church. In the places I volunteer I have been able to see how living at various levels of law can really affect freedom and personal happiness. There is a distinct difference in the feelings of comfort and peace that attend those who keep the commandments and the feelings of frustration and contention that attend those who do not. It really hurts to see people living certain lifestyles when you know that they are missing such an important thing in their life. It reminds me of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah when they saw the Lamanites and their murderous and wicked ways. They wanted to bring them to a knowledge of the false traditions of their fathers and bring them into the light of the gospel. They suffered all manners of affliction: being smote on the cheek, stoned, bound with cords and cast into prison, spit upon and mocked. They suffered all this that "perhaps [they] might be the means of saving one soul." For in doing so they supposed they would have joy. So, they pressed on in spreading the word, bearing affliction with patience and faithfulness and their success was so great not only in the quantity of souls, thousands, but in the quality of the conversion inasmuch as they did never fall away. I hope to develop such a zeal for the redemption of my brethren.

    I know that this is the Gospel of Christ unto the salvation of everyone that believeth. I know that this Church is the Church of Jesus Christ and that He leads and guides this Church as of old, through a modern day Prophet, even Thomas S. Monson. I know that salvation cometh only through the Lord Jesus Christ and there is no other name given whereby salvation cometh, but that He came not to save people in their sins, but to save them from their sins. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He has prepared a way that all might repent and come unto Him. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that through him the Church of Jesus Christ was again restored on the earth, with a foundation of Apostles, Prophets and the Chief Corner stone, even Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God and that man can come closer to God by abiding the precepts and doctrine therein. I know this because I have sought and gained a testimony for myself, by the power of the Holy Ghost, who reveals all truth to the children of Man. These things I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

With love,

Elder Roberts

P.S. Have a wonderful week!