"It Was the Best of Times; It Was the Worst of Times"

Mon 8/24/2015 12:25 PM

I don't even know where to begin!

My heart was so full this last week. Full of love, humility, happiness, and also smoke.

 

So there's 30 active fires in WA right now. It is insane! The state is like on fire or something. Baptism by fire.. Hahah no. But this last Friday was probably the worst. There was heavy smoke everywhere. It was so difficult to breathe. I think I understand how smokers feel a bit now. Or maybe I don't, because these "Washingtonians" were still out smoking their joints! I don't understand how, but okay.

 

Anyway, there was ash all in the air. I've never dealt with anything like this. Never had trouble breathing in my life, but hey. There's a first for everything, right? President Dymock instructed everyone in those areas to immediately go inside and update things unless we had set appointments. In that case, we could go to those. We found a way to get into people's houses. We wanted to keep teaching! The air quality was hazardous. He also instructed us all to prepare 72 hr kits in case we needed to evacuate. Sis Norcross (roommate) and I were on it that night. I tried to throw my whole closet into a carry on bag. No comment. So yeah. People are fasting for the fires to cease and all that. It's been really neat to watch everyone's faith enhance through such a humbling experience.

 

Oh yeah. I got my darn "trunky papers" that day. It was the saddest thing of my mission thus far.

 

Not only did that happen on Friday, but such a huge blessing occurred that day too. Thus, making it the best day of my mission. Jose de Jesus. He went into the temple for the first time! Easily the happiest moment of my mission. I had waited my entire mission for this to occur. He took a few of his family names with him. I got the opportunity to do proxy baptisms with him too, so I took some of our family names. I had him do the male names on our behalf. I was so happy that he got to do it! He was the only male there so he had to do 15ish names. Poor guy wasn't even expecting it. As he was "dunked" for the 10th time, he asked "Are we done yet?" One of the temple workers asked him if he was doing all those family names I gave him, and he turned to me, pointed and said, "I'm just doing her a favor". He also referred to that worker as "Mr. Clean" because he was bald and in all white. I cracked up so hard. There was a special point right before I went, that I was waiting and talking to him. I asked him how he felt and he explained that it was a peace he has never felt before. The way he felt outside of the temple compared to the inside was drastic, and that he didn't wanna leave. I about cried for the millionth time. The Spirit was so strong at that moment. Music to my ears. He was excited to find out there were further covenants and ordinances he could make in the temple. Easily the greatest, sublime, moment of my mission.

 

 

 

 

This whole past week was so filled with miracles.

Edgar. He is soooooo golden! He has the greatest sincere desire to change and become better. He knows that the way is through Christ, and that's what he wants to change. He had so many crazy events lead him to this point, and he expressed that he knows we're here to help him and how he's so blessed for that. He thinks we're "angels". He is just so ready!!

 

Dylan. He's a YSA referral we received. Holy smokes. I have never met anyone so hungry for the gospel and baptism in my life! We texted him to contact him and he immediately said, "I want to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". I know this is my answer and the way for my eternal happiness. We put him on date via text for September 26th. He said he was so ready and he wanted to know everything he needed to do to make it possible. He said if he needed to be abstinent on whatever, he would do it. We met with him yesterday, and confirmed Sept 26th. He had met with missionaries before, and when we taught the Restoration, he knew EVERYTHING. He asked what he needed to do to have the Priesthood, cause he wants it so badly. It was incredible. The Spirit was so strong, and he easily recognized it. He told us it's testifying of complete truth and that he can't wait to grow his testimony and be baptized. This was such a first for me. Never met anyone so ready like he was! We're meeting with him tomorrow. Our members who were at the lesson were so impressed bu him and his desire. He blew each of us away!

 

Transfer calls. Okay so get how crazy this is. We get transfer calls Sunday night. President Dymock called me Saturday night and asked me to go off speaker. Asked me how I was doing. Told him I was nervous now that he was on the other line. He laughed and said that he wanted to personally deliver my transfer call to me via phone. He told me that after much thought and prayer, he needed to put me with Sister Ballif. An English speaking missionary. That he confides in me and knows that I need to be her companion. He's had quite a crazy last transfer and that he wants me to second train her. I'm excited to have an opportunity to grow. It's such an honor that President thought of me. With that said, I'm staying in Cheney YSA English and in Southwest Spanish. Solo STL of 4 sister companionships, and doing Spanish work by myself since my comp doesn't know Spanish and wasn't assigned to serve in Spanish. I'm so humbled and grateful.

 

Here's a quote that has been my motto the past few weeks.  "To thine ownself, be enough" -David O. McKay.

 

The key is to follow the Spirit and obey it with exactness. That's when we know we're successful. Whether we are or aren't missionaries. In order to grow and progress, we must follow the Spirit and learn to do so. That's why we have all these commandments. To make it possible to do that.

 

The Lord doesn't care if we baptized a million or none. He cares that we did our best. In and out of missionary work, and that we followed the Spirit. I testify this is true.

 

I invite you all to cut something that hinders your communication from recognizing the Spirit. I know you'll recognize miracles and wonders.

 

Love you all! 2 more transfers to learn and serve my Lord. Wow.

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloud 9.1

Mon 8/17/2015 12:30 PM

It's a beautiful day to be a missionary in the WASPO mission!

I miss President Mullen saying that..

It really is though! This past week was just the worst in spite of the smoky air I inhaled each day.

The air was just so dusty, and the sky was just so gray due to all the fires that have been occurring. Now add that to the heat we've been getting. It's a hot mess.

I don't get allergies whatsoever, but I don't know what was in the air that caused my eyes to itch, and for it to be difficult to breathe. It was probably weed. It's legal here, so I wouldn't be surprised.

But really. I found my eyes watering and super itchy this whole week. It was tough for me to look "professional". 

 Aside from that, I've been

 

on Missionary "Cloud 9" all week. or, "9.1" as I call it. So many miracles. It's been incredible.
 

If you couldn't tell, yesterday was the best Sunday, ever. Why? I'll tell you why. 

Jose de Jesus. Ah! The sisters in the Valley told me the week previous to this last, he passed the sacrament. Yesterday, he blessed it! Happiest news ever! He wore his white shirt and black slacks, and a tie! A TIE!!! Apparently his was too long, so he had to wrap it around his neck like twice. So adorable.

 

 

We also had our investigator Adan come to church! He looked like a total Priesthood holder with his white shirt, tie, and black slacks! I just couldn't get over that. HE NEEDS TO BE BAPTIZED! He was so engaged during the meetings. Sung the hymns. Read 3 Ne 18 during the sacrament, took notes, participated in class, and made friends with everyone. It was just the best. the spirit was suuuuper strong!

Oh, and we got 3 of our less actives at church! It was so awesome!

Josh. Okay, he's so cool. It was quite some time since he last came to our ward. Before I even came into the area about 4 months ago. We had a super awesome lesson about the Atonement and charity and how that correlates in with our lives and personal conversion. This happened Friday night. We invited him to church and he said, "I was planning on going this Sunday. It's been too long. I need to be there." So yesterday morning, we came by, and he had me pick out his tie. I chose pink cause Sister Flores and I were rocking that color for the day. That's beside the point though. He let whatever was holding him back (Satan) go, and put God first. It was cloud 9.1 indeed. Yesterday was the best Sunday.

 I'm pretty out of time, but this week is the last week of the transfer. So weird. Doesn't seem real. Time is just obscure to me. I feel that I'm getting transferred out. Been here a good chunk of time. Crossing my fingers I get transferred to the valley. I feel that this will be my last area, and it'd be the greatest to "die" with my Recent Converts. It'd be a great end to a great journey.

 

Oh, and we met this awesome golden latino named Edgar who really wants to change and grasp in everything we're teaching him. Watch me get transferred out.. Haha
 

Love you all! Have a great week (:

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles

 

Ways the Atonement Strengthened Me This Week

Mon 8/10/2015 12:30 PM

So we received this phone call last night from the APs. It's very unlikely for them to call unless something is going on. I answered the phone and they asked me how I was doing. Well, of course I wasn't doing fine at that moment because I knew something was going on. They told me that President felt strong about this and that my companion and I were getting swept out of our area. We needed to be packed and out of our place by 6:30. I about fainted. My heart shattered and I had to gasp for air. I couldn't believe what they were telling me. A million things ran through my mind and I didn't know what to think or what to do next. Who to call to arrange everything. I asked the APs if they were serious, and I heard one of them laughing his head off in the background. The other said, "Nope, but we'd like for you to give a training at Zone Conference on Tuesday." That's our APs for ya. By giving me a huge scare, they eased their way into making me say "yes" over training 3 zones combined at tomorrow's Zone Conference. They're cleaver. 

 

 

 

P-day wasn't that long ago, so I don't have that much to update on.

However, I had a really neat experience while partaking of the Sacrament yesterday that changed a lot for me.

It's vital that we always remember and focus on the importance of the Savior's Atonement and what that means in regards to taking his name upon us and remembering him always. We tend to just take the bread and water, and call ourselves good for the week, and let the Atonement help us start over. Yes it's important to recognize that, but also to ponder on the significance of the sacrament and what exactly that means. It's the only ordinance we repeatedly do for ourselves. We can't take that for granted. If we do, well, I invite you to wholeheartedly repent and change that (: I'll be the first to admit that I've had to do that several times. Now remember that repentance is not a negative thing. It's simply humbling ourselves down and allowing for the Atonement to change us once we make restitution with our imperfections.

 

With that stated, I whipped out a sticky note and titled it "Ways the Atonement Strengthened Me This Week." It was incredible to be able to instantly jot down what it was that made it possible. I'll share a few things. I had the strength and will to let Mark go, I taught lessons with power and authority, I gained charity for each person I spoke to because I asked for it, I was enlightened through different missionaries and at MLC through the Spirit. I was able to remember the things I needed to train on at Zone Training on Friday, Self mastery became more of a possibility than struggle, and I was able to repent through partaking of the sacrament. By the end, I felt so good! So relieved. I then thought to myself, "Well, I've recognized these things, but now what do I have to stop doing, and begin doing?" It was great to recognize that instantly and let go of anything I held back in my heart from the Lord. So I invite you all to think and really ponder, "What do I need to quit doing, and now start doing?". You'll recognize your answer. 

 

I love the concept of "self government". President has made that a huge thing in our mission this past week. We're adults. We can govern ourselves and make decisions to help us grow, so now we're putting that to the test. We have boundaries in this mission, but he's allowing us to govern ourselves and pick our own consequences. He trusts us. That's how our Heavenly Father is. He does the same. He wants us to grow and develop ourselves. 

Mom and dad, I know you both have gone through that a ton the past year.With me leaving on a mission, and now Danny moved off to college. I get it. I finally understood. You've "trained" us and guided us to make the right decisions based off the doctrines and principles of Jesus Christ's gospel, and you trust that we'll make the right choices and ultimately be happy. You've done your part, and now it's up to us to either follow it, or stray away. I can tell you that I've learned the happiest, and easiest way is through God and Christ. Through their gospel. It's the ultimate key to happiness. So thank you.

 

I hope you have a great week, and pray that I don't mess up on this training tomorrow. Training a zone is do-able for me, but 3 combined.. I don't know. I'll probably trip over myself or something. 

 

Love you all!

 

Con amor,