Dia De La Madre, Y gritos Mexicanos!

Mon 5/11/2015 2:01 PM

Well, Skyping was easily the greatest thing ever!

Seriously the highlight to my week (:

It was the biggest tender mercy!

 

This email might be short because I honestly don't know what to include everyone on! 

 

We obviously worked a whole lot this last week. We had MLC where all the leaders in the mission get together and are trained by President, Sister Mullen, and the APs on what to train the missionaries on in Zone conference. It was such a powerful meeting. Super filled with the Spirit! A huge thing we focused on was hope, and the importance of having it. I was always that kind of person who would say that I hated getting my hopes up because it just sucks when something doesn't turn out the way you want it to. It hurts when something turns out that way, but something huge I came to know is that when we have hope in God, we're trusting him and showing him that. We're letting him take hold of the steering wheel and giving our will to him, but trusting that he's guiding it down curved lanes or simply straight ones with a purpose. That the reason he gives our lives plot twists are because he knows what is best for us, and will help us grow as humans to be able to fulfill our eternal purpose. I learned that it is okay to get my hopes up and if something doesn't work out, that it isn't because God is condemning me or something, but because he knows that i need a lesson to learn from that outcome, or because it simply wasn't best for me at that time, or even at all. I've seen that so much throughout my life, and the blessings of something being put on pause, or eliminating from my life, because it truly was what was going to help me grow as a human being. I've also seen that on my mission, and I'm understanding the purpose of it even more. It's tough, but i'm learning, and as i trust God more, I love him more, and those things don't become burdens to me anymore. 

 

I gave a talk yesterday, so that went well. I guess I forgot to mention that during Skype.

 

I already mentioned about the whole experience we had at the Rodriguez yesterday. I just love them beyond words could express. They are such a great example of what a family should be. Hno Rodriguez treats his wife like such a queen, and she treats him like a king! They are just the cutest thing ever, and I admire their marriage so much! Taught me a huge lesson and on how it should be. How important it is to be an equal companionship.

 

Have a great week! 

I can't believe the fam is going to Peru again!

I'm so jealous!

Love you all!

"May the '4th' Be with You."

Mon 5/4/2015 12:29 PM

I've been looking forward to emailing and saying that for the past two weeks, and I can finally do it now (: As I reminisced on that cheesy little line, I remembered all the Star Wars marathons Danny and I would have growing up. That's something I never fail to forget. 

 

Okay. So much happened this week! It's been such a rewarding week! I really don't know where to begin!

 

First of all, I got to meet a sister missionary that dad served around when he was on his mission! The member whose property we live on, texted us and told us that there was a sister who she serves in the YWs with that served her mission with Dad and was a good friend of his, and how much she was dying to meet us. It was so cool, and random! Dad, I think Sister Hollingsworth told me more stories of you as a missionary than you've ever told me! Just saying (; But it was awesome to hear all these good things a fellow missionary had to say about him, and it made me so happy to know that dad was a good, diligent, missionary. It was a super touching moment for me, and feeling so close to home through that. I'm so grateful for that great example and counsel you've set for me as a missionary. It's rewarding. It's great that you were thought of as a hard working and obedient missionary. It meant a lot.

 

The Hollingsworth family is so special. They have such a strong christ like love that can easily be felt. They opened up so easily to us, and immediately accepted us in. She kept reminding me how similar I was to dad through some of my mannerisms. It was pretty cool. We had a great spiritual and literal feast. The spirit was so strong, and one of the strongest I've ever felt it. By the end of our visit, we were left in tears due to the spirit that dwelt there. I felt at home. Like it were another home to me, and that I was with family. Such a touching experience! I love and am so grateful for all the strong friendships I've been able to form with different people throughout my mission.

 

I also had the chance to talk to my Recent Convert Jose Ramos. It's crazy that August marks his year of being a member! Where has time gone?

It was awesome, because we got to speak over the phone, and like always he exclaims, "Robles!" He thought I had gone home, and that I went M.I.A or something. It was so touching to be able to speak to him and hear of his progression. He was just the vibrant Jose he was when we taught him, and we set a goal to get him to the temple and do baptisms soon. I told him I'd be there for when he does that. He was so excited about it. He thanked me for the help, knowledge, and hope Hna. Walton and I brought into his life through the gospel, and he referred to us as his "angels". He bore his testimony of it, and I was so touched. He said some touching things that I'll hold so dear to me, and we reminisced on his journey to baptism and the peace he felt as he was baptized.

Honestly, it's so easy to become discouraged as a missionary, and we do tend to feel that way when baptisms don't roll in or when no one is willing to listen or commit to the invitations we give them, but something huge I noticed and came to realize and gain a testimony of is that we are touching lives wherever we go, and I was so grateful to receive a tender mercy from the Lord reminding me of how my work helped someone come closer to Christ and how it changed them for the better. I also realized that the Lord has a sense of humor, 'cause we had a baptism the first few weeks I came into the field, and it's been tough to have them "roll" in as if to speak. The Lord must have been telling me, "Hna Robles, I'll give you some success, but this is just to show you that if you want more of these, you'll have to work very hard." And boy has he been right! I've learned a lot from that though. The mission is easily the hardest thing I've done! Yet, the greatest thing I've been doing! I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING. 

 

So we got this interesting phone call last week, and we found out we were the STLs for 2 zones! Normally they keep it for just one zone, so we were rather stressed. We laughed about it for  a long time because we thought these missionaries were playing a joke on us until we realized they were serious. So that was funny.?

 

The work in the YSA is something. I don't really know how to explain it, but i love it! We're currently working with a RC here on his mission papers and in preparing for his mission, so it's rather nostalgic, but such a great experience. I love watching the enthusiasm of these future missionaries and seeing how much they love the Lord, that they're willing to put it all on the sacrificial altar.

 

I cannot believe that Mother's Day is on Sunday! I remember counting down the days 'til Skyping for Christmas! I even started at day 55 on down. This has happened too quick, and I didn't realize how close we were to it! I am so grateful for all the wonderful mothers in my life. Especially those Missionary moms who support all us missionaries across the world. The support really means so much to us! I love you so much mami, and you are the greatest mother I could possibly ask for! I'll see you all Sunday around 3:30 Washington time. I cannot believe this is my last Skype!

 

Hope you all have a great week, and fill someone's day with love!

 

Con amor,

 

Sister Robles