Hola Hola!

Mon 3/23/2015 12:28 PM

I can go on a huge rant about how quick time has been flying. Since when was it the end of March?? SINCE WHEN WAS IT EVEN MARCH?! I thought we were still in November.. Too weird!

 

So, i guess you might wanna know about how my week went. Well, I'll tell ya that it was full of pure opposition. I'm not really sure how we survived it. Well, actually, we did through Christ and his Atonement. We were literally filled with trials ALL week. It was awful. It was tough, but it was a great learning experience, because life isn't really filled with rainbows and butterflies. Satan will always attack us. Especially when we are doing the right things! So funny that after our mission decided to up our goals, work efforts, and STRICT obedience (Our mission eliminated somethings that would get in the way of us not feeling the Spirit), that Satan would totally rage. Our zone got together with President & Sister Mullen and talked about this past week and the blessings and experiences we gained through following our mission goal. All these companionships were listing blessings and miracles they'd seen, and my comp and i looked at each other in distress because we were just getting pulled down. We shared our experience and what Pres. said to us really touched us. He told us that through our obedience and hard work, all the companionships in our zone were able to experience these miracles. Most of those miracles came from referrals we had given them and through the outcome of the situations we had faced. It made us look at things differently, and it was so touching. The love we got from both our zone, and Pres and Sister Mullen was incredible this last week. We felt heavenly father's love so strong. It was a great learning experience, and although we faced so many things that brought the work down in our area, our numbers increased so much! It was incredible! I can tell you one thing. Satan sure didn't stop us from working ourselves off. I've never been so physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted in my life. Luckily, I have the greatest companion by my side to motivate me, and help me work through it. Alongside with that, we have the greatest members ever who have shown us so much love! (:

 

We honestly haven't been seeing much progress in our area, and we were both thinking of just starting completely over with new people and ideas, but as we thought about that on our drive to the last house we were going to try last night, I felt the Spirit prompt me so strongly to pull the car over and talk to a man out by the street. I ignored that prompting because well, I'm still learning to listen to the Spirit, and cause I just wanted to try out this last house before we had to go in for curfew. I felt the Spirit nudge me again, so I turned the car around and spoke to this man. The first thing I asked this man was if he knew of any Latinos in the area. He told us he was! That he was from Columbia. His name was Ruben, and honestly, Ruben didn't look Latino whatsoever. He expressed that he had lost some of his Spanish and is trying to pick it back up. We told him that we were missionaries and our purpose and asked if he'd seen them around. he expressed that he had met with them before, and I honestly felt a little doubtful because the past people who have told us that told us that they weren't interested. Ruben asked me about my background and we told them we were from Utah. He expressed that he had gone there last Spring for General Conference, and what he said next blew me away. He told us that he knows that everything the speakers said were true and that their messages answered some of his questions. We testified of the Priesthood and that we have a living day prophet this day and that Christ's true church has been restored to the world. He was super intrigued, and to be honest, I cannot remember any of the things that came out of my mouth, and I know with all my heart that each thing i said to him came from the Spirit. Everything i said led to a need of his and intrigued/ touched him. We asked him if he was ever baptized before, and he said yes. I honestly thought that he was a Less Active, and we found out that he was baptized into the Catholic church. The next thing he said blew me away! "You know hermana, I've been baptized, but I just feel an emptiness in my soul, and I've been thinking about getting baptized again, but I just don't really know where.." MUSIC TO OUR EARS! We invited him to be baptized if he found out what we taught him was true. That he could have and find that Spiritual nourishment he's looking for in his life through meeting with us. He said yes. What determined it all for us was what we asked him next. He had expressed that he's struggling with Spanish, and is picking it back up and understands it, so we were considering on passing him off to the Elders in that area. We asked him what he'd prefer to attend: and English or Spanish congregation. He replied, "Spanish!" and it became official. We left him with a Book of Mormon, set up a time to meet, and with a prayer. He became our new "golden" investigator. It was the greatest "drive by" lesson I've ever had! Hermana Whipperman and I were super blown away by what had just happened!! We screamed with joy! We KNOW that this was the miracle God had in store for us after a week full of burdens. 

 

Sure our burdens weren't taken completely away and scars were left, but like Alma and his people, the Lord knew the thoughts and intents of their hearts as they prayed to him while in bondage form Amulon and his people, and he made their burdens lighter and so they had the strength to overcome them. (Mosiah 24:13-15) Crazy, how we had been teaching that lesson to people this past week too. God made our weaknesses become strong, and I learned a huge lesson this week- to always stick right by the Lord's side especially when we're facing something tough. 

 

I love my heavenly father, and Savior Jesus Christ so much. They are my rock, and my salvation. I couldn't face life or this mission without them.

 

I am so blessed for Christ's atonement, and I am so excited to be celebrating Easter soon. With that, the church has a new initiative. It's the Because He Lives initiative. Just like He is the Gift, we have a video coming out this upcoming Saturday (the 28th) . YOu can go on helives.mormon.org and access the video, adn SHARE it with EVERYONE. Everyone deserves to know the infinite power of the Atonement, and how it heals and strengthens lives. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of it and how I've seen it impact my own life. I love the gospel, and I and so grateful to be a missionary. I love it with all my heart. I love my Savior with all my heart. I KNOW He lives for all of us. So we can have peace, strength, and comfort in our lives.

 

I hope you all can feel it too. If not, I invite you to seek how you can. 

 

I love you all, and hope you have a great week. Also, Feliz Cumpleanos Mami (En Miercoles) Te amo muchisimo, y con todo mi corazon. Eres lo maximo! <3

 

 

My fav line for the week: (Talking about Johnny Lingo and Mahala's hair) Me:" So is my hair worth 8 cows?" Elder: "No, It's worth 10 cows!" I don't know why my hair is fascinating to the missionaries in this mission.. Oh well (:

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles 

 

Revelation.

Tue 3/17/2015 12:31 PM

So, I hit my halfway mark tomorrow, and I cannot believe that. I just wanna cry. I don't want my call as a missionary to end, ever. I do know that I will continue in the work after I get home in a million years.

 

Our mission had Elder Hamula of the 70 speak to us this last Friday. He taught us about revelation. Something huge I took out of it was how Faith all lies on trust. Here's how faith works to me.

 

Knowledge-> Hope->Action-> Personal Witness. Need I say more? Trust lies in the middle of it all. We need to trust that God will help us. That he answers prayers, 'cause he does!

 

Hence, where my faith has come into play about getting a baptism this transfer. I know what I need to do, and I am, but I'm simply trusting it all in the hands of the Lord. 

 

 

I learned something that's so simple, but finally clicked for me. When we receive revelation, it's not necessarily a huge storm or those things the scriptures may talk about. We have to ACT on our Faith and ask questions that we'll act upon. We can receive it through the scriptures or through someone and something they say. Isn't the gospel just so simple? I don't understand why people make it look or seem harder than it really is. This is God's work and gospel- not man's. That's something huge to realize. Sometimes, it's tough for us to see the bigger picture, but that's why we have to act on our faith and the knowledge that we do already have and let it guide us through. Acting by following God's commandments and doing what we know we should be doping. The right things. 

 

We found out Elder Russell M. Nelson from the Quorum of the 12 is coming to the WA-SPO mission towards the end of the transfer. Our mission is preparing. We're all being 200% exactly obedient, and working SO hard until he comes. I've learned the importance of obedience, and how it draws us closer to God. I have a testimony of it.

 

Gotta go, but have a great week!

 

Con amor, Hna Robles

The Little Missionary That Could

Mon 3/9/2015 12:31 PM

The work is really hastening up in the North Spokane area, and I am so privileged to be a part of it!

 

We have had a crazy busy week. We've been so exhausted, but always came home so happy due to how hard we've been working ourselves off! Good thing we're staying together another transfer in the same area (: We'll be celebrating my halfway point, General conference, and birthday together, so I'm very content (:

 

We just had 28 missionaries go home, and 3 new come in. The mission is gradually decreasing as far as missionaries out here, so now we have 200 serving. Many areas got combined and huge changes occurred, but everything in the Spanish work is the same. Our areas are already huge, that nothing affected the Spanish work. 

 

Our numbers have really increased this last week. WE HAD 8 INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH. HOLLLLLA! We were so content about that, and our lessons, Baptismal invites, and Gospel Conversations have really increased. Why you may ask? Those are the results of talking to EVERYONE. Like I mentioned before, we fear no man, and our comp motto is to talk to everyone. The cash registers, workers, waiters, people at gas stations, EVERYONE. We do what we like to call "Drive bys". Drive by lessons, gospel conversations, baptismal invites. Yep. Super out of the ordinary, but I don't mind because i know that no matter how ridiculous we may look, we are slowly touching lives one way or another. We're not even weird about how we approach and start these conversations, and it's awesome the miracles we've seen from it. It's how the work hastens, and how we'll bring people closer to Christ which is our purpose.

 

I just remember in the beginning of the mission not thinking I was ever capable of being able to help someone come closer to Christ; to talk to strangers easily or be able to adjust to this new lifestyle. The Atonement helped me with that. It's changed mer. Living the gospel fully has changed me, and I am so grateful for not giving up, and thinking that I can do all things- through Christ that is. That's how it will be after the mission (which i don't want to think of anytime soon)

 

We just finished the Book of Mormon. Wow. I love the B.O.M will ALL my heart. I have gained an even stronger testimony of it. This book is so real! So true! I don't doubt anything about it. It's amazing how every question I have can be and is answered as I read it. It is so powerful, and I am so grateful for the tool it is in our lives. I remember taking it for granted before I went on a mission, and I know I missed out on some great blessings and counsel. The fact that I was able to finish it in a transfer blows me away. I understood everything so clearly, and I learned that the reason I never understood it before was because I wasn't reading it with real intent or even trying to understand it. Also, because I didn't pray with full intent to have help in understanding it. It all just clicks to me, and I always want to be reading it and scrutinizing it. I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON.

 

So the Evaristos. We've been having great lessons with them! They came to church yesterday, and watched Hna Whipperman give a talk in Spanish. (May i just add how incredible my companion is?! She blows me away every day by just trying so hard, and working herself off. Our companionship just makes sense. I love her so much!) We went to lunch with their daughter, and a great talk about the Strength of Youth! I found out they were able to talk to mom on the phone and was able to fellowship them! How awesome that mom and I could working on our together! So cool that she has been able to help me with missionary work from back home! Maria told me that talking to mom made her that they have been friends forever! So cool!

 

I hope you all have a great week, and I really hope you all seek to come closer to Christ!

 

Love you all!

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles

 

 

Miracles Left and Right!

Mon 3/2/2015 12:31 PM

This last week was suuuuuuuuuper great! 

I cannot believe it's already March! That just blows my mind away!

You know, just like every week on the mission (:

This is the last week of the transfer, and it's so crazy how quick it went by. Time is just flying ):

 

This past week was filled with miracle encounters. 

 

 

Something I have gained a huge testimony on is how the Lord is so aware of us and his work.

 

 

We keep wanting to up our goals, and I found myself praying specifically about some of our goals and asking that we could meet them. The Lord put us in circumstances that allowed us to meet those exact goals. It sure required faith and acting on our part, but when we leave the rest to him, he helps make up the difference. So does the Atonement. Gosh. I am just so grateful that we have an Atonement. I cannot imagine life without it. Without the tools that the Lord has given us in our lives to help us move forward and encounter life. He helps us along the way. It truly shows how much he loves and cares for us. He never abandons us. We might think he does, but that's not true. We simply need to act on our faith, or get some if we don't even have any. That's what missionaries are for! To help people recognize how to do so. We're here to support people and recognize that we have a loving God who will help us, that we have tools and knowledge of a perfect plan that will help us make it through this life. We are preparing to one day be able to live in the presence of our father in heaven. This is where my weekly miracles came into play.

 

 

The Evaristo's. Boy. I love this family so much. We have become so close with them. Angel was telling us the other day that when we first knocked on his door, he made up in his mind that he would not let us in or give us a try. He felt something so strong tell him that he needed to let us in and to talk to us. He said he was so grateful for that because he sees something in us that  he wants his family to have. He's so worried for his daughter. She's going through those adolescent years in her life and he expressed to us the other day that he wants her to be just like us. That he wants her to think, act, and have a testimony like ours. That he knows through her doing so, that everything will work out for her. He trusts us so much with her. He begged us to go out for dinner with her and he'd even pay for all the dinner. He's so kind. I think what really stood out to me was the trust he holds in us. He desperately wants to know if what we're teaching him is true and will bless his family, however he's having a hard time recognizing his answers to his prayers. Luckily, we're there to help his family with that! I tend to talk a lot about the family with people, and he mentioned that something he admires so much that i do is call dad "Papi" when I speak about him. He said that's how he can tell that I truly love my family with all my heart and that my relationship with dad is so strong. He mentioned that to his daughter, and when she texted him the other day, she said, "I love you Papi". It brought tears to our eyes when he mentioned that. Obviously I cried like a baby. We expressed how he can have that. How the gospel will strengthen his family like it has done to ours. They agreed to come to sacrament meeting this next weekend. We have an appointment with them tomorrow, and I really do love this family so much. I know that through working with their daughter, they will see how the gospel will bless their lives. The fact that they trust us with her is HUGE. They became family to us. We care so much for them!

 

Last night, we were knocking on a door, and we heard a woman walking around the street crying. I asked her if she was okay, but she didn't answer and kept walking. After talking to the person whose door we knocked, I told Hna. Whipperman that we needed to find the lady crying. We drove around until we found her. We pulled the car up to her and told her, "We have a message that can help you. We can help you!". She agreed to listening to us and we parked the car. We then officially met Kay. We testified of her Father in Heaven's love to her and how the Atonement can help her with all that she's going through. She stood there and just cried her eyes out. We had a full on lesson with her and left her with a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and Book of Mormon. I shared Mosiah 14:4-5 with her, and she said she's going to let us help her. The story was longer, but I'm out of time. Sorry!

 

I love you all, and hope you have a great week. Don't ever forget to pray. It is such an amazing tool we have to communicate with out loving heavenly father! 

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles

Holy smokes! This past week has been FILLED with one thing after another!

Mon 2/23/2015 12:30 PM

This area is filled with much progress! We're constantly running from one place to another, and it's so hard to fill our schedule because it's already super packed as it is. I honestly love it! unfortunately, we haven't been able to contact all the people we've wanted to just yet, but that's okay because we're making time for it (:

There's been 7 families that have impacted me a ton this last week, and this last week made me grow even more love for the work. I won't have time to write about all, but this week was amazing. I honestly didn't think I could possibly love missionary work more than I already do. i still remember my first few transfers out and constantly hear my companion tell me about how much she loves the work and being a missionary. I thought she was crazy because I felt so stressed, worn out, and super out of my comfort zone. I never thought I'd be able to say the same thing she had. Little did I know that the reason I didn't feel that was simply because my heart and mind weren't in the right place. I simply hadn't given my will to the Lord's, and that was my biggest mistake. Luckily, "there's an Atonement for that"! (My favorite phrase, that I overuse) I have felt an immense love for missionary work and in fulfilling my purpose. 

Whenever something gets tough, I'll live in that moment for  a bit, wipe myself off, get up, and repeat my favorite phrase that Hna Walton would say, "Let's get to work!" There really isn't anything greater that I could do at this point in my life.

 

Okay. I'll start off with Sunshine. She became our new investigator Tuesday. She had met with missionaries before and was listening to them a bit beforehand, but never really made anything of it. She poured herself out to us, and we addressed her needs. Honestly, everyone's needs can be met through the Atonement of Christ. The only thing is that we need to help people realize the "HOW" part. That's our purpose. To support these people and help them realize how the Atonement of Christ heals and strengthens. We talked to her about the Plan of Salvation and how she'll be able to recognize God's purpose for her. She accepted to be baptized and we're going to put her on date tomorrow at our lesson.

 

We received a phone call from the Elders in our branch and asked us to accompany them to a lady's house. They received a call from her mother in law telling them that her daughter in law just has a miscarriage and asked if they could give her a blessing. her husband was out of town. We went with them, and when we went inside, we noticed how everything was falling apart in that home. The elders gave her a blessing, and we shared a message with her about the Atonement. I turned to her and asked her if we could do her dishes. We spent the morning completely tidying her house up. We all used our cleaning skills as we let her take a rest. She had 5 little kids she needed to take care of, so we wanted to ease her burdens a bit. We enjoyed helping her, and it was a blessing for us to do something that we knew would help her a bit especially as she was going through this trial. She wrote us a letter telling us how we came at the exact moment she needed that and how she gained a greater testimony of the Lord's love. It touched our hearts. We had done exactly what she needed. The letter was so touching.

 

We had a lesson with the Evaristo family on the P.O.S. It was such a great lesson, and the Spirit was strong. We're going to continue meeting with them and getting them fellowshipped (:

Leo, leoniel, and Coralia. they are incredible. They're a family from Cuba who WANT to be baptized. There's just a few issues that need to get fixed in Cuba with a previous marriage. That's the only thing holding them back. Due to certain circumstances, they have to live together. It's a long story. I have honestly never met a family as humble as them! They aren't doing so well financially and they are just so humbled! They just got a little apt and gave us a tour of their puny apartment. They were so happy the whole time, and seeing their circumstances and how they literally have nothing really humbled me down more. It was so cute. We had a lesson sitting on their rug and the spirit was so strong. Although they aren't members, they paid their tithing yesterday! They have seen the fruits of the gospel and are so converted (: I love them so much! They've taught me a lot!

 

All of these things lead up to one. The Atonement. I am so grateful for it!

 Have a great week! I love you all! (:

 Con amor, 

Hermana Robles