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
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