A Week In Paradise.

Mon 10/12/2015 12:20 PM

This past week was just so happy! I don't think I've ever been so happy to be a missionary before. 

Actually, I have my whole mission, but I truly believe that being in your old area has a ton to do with it. 

 

Before I get to that point, I have to boast on how great Cheney was and especially the YSAs. I don't think I've ever felt so loved before. Or much less been able to notice the results of my hard work really even pay off. They totally answered that prayer for me.

After FHE, they all went around telling me something they loved/ appreciated that I did for them. To hear everything they had to say and notice the amount of difference I made in their lives and much less the ward was so touching. I think the thing that touched me the most was probably knowing that I taught people, and not lessons. That they were able to feel God's love through me, and that I was able to love them so easily. Sister Ballif too expressed such sweet words towards me. I was a mess. Just cried for a few slight moments. I felt it was a huge answer to my prayer because I've been praying to God and asking him to help me feel good about my efforts. He loves me. I didn't realize how much of an impact I made. Cheney YSA's forever engraved in my heart.

 

I'm sorry. This will be pretty short.

 

So I'll tell you a bit about my new companion. She's Hermana Brown. From San Tan Valley, AZ. She's so sweet. Huge heart, and just really wants to work. I love that so much. I've learned much from her already.

 

It's been so neat to be able to be back in the valley. I believe God is giving me a second chance to help the work out here and to be with some of the people that have impacted my life greatly. It's been awesome to feel more desire to work than ever and the amounts of love I've grown for each person, and the area itself. Sometimes we tend to take those we love for granted, you know? It was fun to watch everyone's reactions as we showed up to their houses to introduce ourselves as the new missionaries in the branch. They then realized that my time out here is shorter than they thought due to the fact that it's been about a year since I was last out in the valley. So much happiness in a week.

We worked so hard. We had a TON of lessons, and it was nice to be able to fully speak and use my Spanish. I didn't realize how choppy my Spanish had gotten. Man, I'm just sooo happy to be back! (:

 

I did get super sick again this past week. Super high fevers, and awful flu symptoms. I felt that someone had stepped on my chest, and I just had the worst time breathing. I was recommended to hit the Instacare, but we had Zone conference that day, and I wasn't going to ditch out on the training I had to give. I resorted to a better medication. A Priesthood blessing. It totally made all the difference. I recovered in a matter of days, and am still recovering. The Priesthood is seriously the best!

 

It was the best to teach all my Recent Converts, and former investigators. Really, just everyone! We taught Jose de Jesus just like the glory days, and from catching up with him, I noticed how much he's grown. It made me extremely happy! It's incredible what the gospel does to lives! He's active in the church and everything. He's wiser, and just grown a ton! 

We exchanged stories on our side of how we found him, and what led to that, and he told us his side. Such a beautiful experience. 

We then read in the scriptures and discussed the importance of "likening" it to our lives. He then told us the story of Nephi and his family. He expressed his concern towards Nephi's bow braking, and said, "I think he just needed a stronger bow." I don't know. I just love Jose de Jesus so much! Made me so happy to see the tie mom and dad sent him! He was showing it off to everyone at church yesterday. We were also able to teach Kristina and the kids, as well as Jose Ramos. It's been a privilege to help them enter the waters of baptism (:

I really feel like I was just in the valley 2 months ago. The rest of my mission has been a blur. It's so sad. 

I'm so grateful to be in this wonderful area with wonderful people. I love my calling.

 

Hope you all have a great week!

Love ya!

 

Con amor,

 

Watching It Begin Again

Mon 10/5/2015 12:30 PM

Wow.

I'm in complete awe. Everything this past week has just blown me away. Not only that, but time totally blew away. It's super weird. 

 

My mind is so blown, and I am just so content to be a missionary! There's nothing better.

Transfer calls always bring me anxiety, but at the end of the day I know that it's where the Lord wants me and I totally feel that the Lord has cut me a ton of slack and favored me in the sense of what my assignment for this upcoming transfer is.

I'm sweeping into the area out in the valley, training a new missionary, and still the STL- but for the East Valley zone! I'm content on life. I pictured to end my mission exactly how it turned out. It was my ideal situation, and I think the Lord was pleased with granting me the desires of my heart! So, I'm basically on cloud 9. No big deal. Actually, huge deal! I'm ending in the valley! 

 

 

It's so crazy. I began my mission sweeping into the valley, and to end it by sweeping it again is just the icing on top of a delicious tres leches cake. Life is good. 

So crazy to think this is my last full transfer. Enough of that though. I'm so stoked for this upcoming transfer and to leave the place I was "born" into the mission into a strong area. I seriously can't stop grinning. Like, my face hurts cause that's all I've done since I found out last night. I'm so spoiled.

 

My new address:

15318 E. 22nd 

Spokane Valley, WA 99206

 

Conference was so good! I love that our Heavenly Father answered every single one of my questions through his servants! So neat about the 3 new apostles! I about fan girl each time I see President Nelson, and think about the time he touched my elbow and grabbed my hand. I also have this really weird obsession for Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Maybe because "Robles" is the Spanish version of "Oaks"? I dunno. He's just so boss. I love Elder Oaks. 

 

We had 2 of our investigators watch conference with us! James and Josef. 

 

Y'all know enough about James. All I can say about him at this point is that the ball's in his court. He just has to pick what he does with it. Hopefully it's the gospel (:

 

Josef is legit. Sis Ballif was sick, so we had her stay all day with a member, and I worked out ways and went out on splits with several members and we just worked. 

I was with a member Caley for about the entire day. How I love her! We street contacted all over EWU's campus and spoke to a ton of people and got awesome contacts. So neat how easy it is to do the work on campus. We had legit conversations with people on the gospel and how Christ's true church is here on earth and all of the blessings that we have access to.

We met Josef, and holy smokes was he so prepared! Ah. I'll miss him! He's had so many situations that have led him to God and Christ. He's looking for something to quench the spiritual famine he feels that he has. He identified us as servants of the Lord and knows that we were led to him because he asked him for some help.

He attended Institute the following day, and loved it! Participated a ton.

The following day, we taught him the Restoration, and it's neat how many things he was able to identify that were different from what he believes in. He expressed that he noticed differences and we were bold and loving and told him the correct principles. It's neat, because he instantly accepted it. Usually most people hesitate, but he didn't. After the First vision was recited, all he said was, "WOW!". So long story short, he's on date for November 7th, and he LOVED conference. It was so neat! He refers to us as his "Sisters in Christ". Hahah He's great! Has so much potential!

 

I loved this last transfer! I learned so much! Sis Ballif has taught me so much, and I enjoyed our time together. She has easily become such a great friend to me. I love her so much. I was so blessed to have her. 

 

I'm super stoked to see what this transfer will bring. I cannot believe how quick time is flying, so maybe I'm just not going to believe it at all. 

My thoughts are way scattered, so hopefully my email gave you some sort of update. I love you all! Nos hablamos la proxima semana!

 

Ps. Mom, the elder in my zone whose brother is serving in grandma and grandpa's town contacted them and they have a set appointment! I'm so content! (:

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles 

Keeping the Torch Lit.

Mon 9/28/2015 12:30 PM

So, I wanna start off with possibly my new favorite quote. This comes from your very own President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I love that man. He's one of my favorites.

 

He quotes:

"This race of discipleship is not a sprint; it's a marathon. And it makes little difference how fast we go."

 I know. Doesn't it scream my name? I'm always about going quick, and sprinting to my next goal or destination, etc. I think one of the greatest things I'm learning in this "race of discipleship" is that it's not necessarily the destination and reaching it as quick as we can that matters, but the in-between that does. In the midst of the race, so much occurs. One may have a setback, lack of motivation, a surge of momentum occur, or simply give up. I think the biggest thing is that in-between and learning something from that. From those setbacks that occurred as one is trying to reach the destination. About how those things add to the progression we need and strive for that will help us finish strong. About what the Lord sees fit to help us reach that and gain strength to continue for what lies ahead. All I can say is that the race and tribulations that occur and training that was needed to get done beforehand that just makes reaching the destination that much sweeter!

 

With that said, one of those building blocks for me this past week was patience and in making it a joyful experience. Again, Pres. Uchtdorf quotes, "Patience requires actively working towards worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results don't appear instantly or without effort." It's about enduring it well! Patience is one of the toughest things for me, hence why God allows mine to be exercised a little more than others. It's a blessing though! I have a love/hate relationship with being put out of my comfort zone and not having that instant gratification. 

 

This past week was awesome. Sister Ballif is the best. Our members are the best. This area is the best. THE GOSPEL IS THE BEST! So many blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me. 

We worked so hard. Spoke to soooo many people. Of course when things go so well, Satan always tries to sneak his way in. 

After an awesome lesson, I felt super hot. I thought it was just due to the awesome Spirit that was there or something, so we kept working that night. After our last lesson at the end of the night, we got home, accounted, and prayed. It all hit me after our prayer. I was sick. I didn't know what it was, so I thought I'd sleep on it. I could not sleep that entire night. I felt sick to my stomach. Sis. Ballif is the best because she kept getting up in the middle of the night to aid me. That morning, I spoke to the nurse in charge of the medical stuff in our mission, and discovered that I caught a stomach bug. So I was out all weekend. Totally sucked. I wasn't having it. However, I was able to physically make it to Women's broadcast, but then couldn't handle anything else. Haven't been able to eat or anything. Awesome members took care of us. I love our YSAs. Sis. Ballif got to work and find miracles, so it was awesome. So that's where my patience came into play. Patience with myself.

I'm feeling better though!

 

Okay real quick. Huge miracle that happened yesterday! James! He randomly showed up to church. We haven't talked to him all week, and he came from OR to church! It was fast and testimony meeting,a dn towards the end, he got up and said, " I'm not a member of the church, but I have a testimony". He bore his, and in the end, said, "I know this church is true." WHAAAAAAAAAT?! It was insane. Sis Ballif and I were in shock. How does that just happen? Everyone was in shock. It was awesome!

 

So anyway, I'm stoked for conference. Ah. The last one on my mission.. We'll be with members and LAs and all that. It'll be sweet!

 

Also, last week of the transfer! We find out about calls on Sun.

 

Love you all!

 

Con amor,

 

Cheney Fell That Wo(Man) Might Be and Wo(Man) Are That They Might Have Joy.

Mon 9/21/2015 12:31 PM

The Lord really wants Sister Ballif and I to learn quite a few things. 

These past few weeks have been so hard in regards to the work! We're both constantly on our knees asking God what He wants us to learn from all this. I have been so humbled down, which is great, because Christ was so humble, and well.. I wanna be like Christ!

 

I was reading Hymns a few days ago, and turned to "Where Can I Turn For Peace". I felt exactly how the hymn described, and what stood out to me was, "Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace. When other sources cease to make me whole? "He answers privately, reaches my reaching..""In my Gethsemane, Savior and friend." The Spirit hit me so strong, and I remembered that I have a personal Savior. That Jesus Christ understands and that I can cast my burden upon him, and rely on his help to help me feel at peace and feel adequate enough. 

In missionary work, we sometimes have to go through our own Gethsemanes. It never occurred to me for some reason. I thought it'd be so easy and I'd help millions come to the font and enter the waters of baptism. The Lord had another plan for me. A better plan- progression.

 

During personal study a few days ago, I came across Moses 6:31-36 Enoch felt so inadequate to preach to the people about the Lord's will and what they needed to do. To invite them to repent and line their lives up. He turned to the Lord with this concern, and in response obtained a beautiful answer. The Lord allowed Enoch to view himself through his eyes. To help him know that his weaknesses will help him go forward in the work and allow him to help people come closer to him. He then allowed Enoch to view these people through His own loving, and perfect eyes. Through spiritual eyes. I realized that God wants that for each of His missionaries. He'll never allow us to go through something we can't handle. That these stretches will help us grow towards exaltation. That this will help me prepare for what lies ahead after my mission. to be a mother and wife. He sees a step ahead of us, and I feel so blessed that I can have trials to help shape me.

 

In 1 Ne 14:11-12, it's expressed that the numbers of the abominable church are much greater than those of the true and living church. It breaks my heart that it's that way, but everyone has their agency. Agency is such a gift, when used correctly. Truthfully, I wish the people in this area would use their to recognize that their lives could improve through the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Just saying. 

 

I think one of my favorite experiences this past week was with James. He came back for a few days and was on date to be baptized October 3rd, but the Lord still needs to continue to work in his life. Both of our on dates dropped us.. But! Here's the best part. We taught James the Nature of God and how that pertains a lot to who he is and who he can become. You know, exaltation. As soon as we finished teaching him, he prayed to God and told him wholeheartedly that he loved him. It was so powerful! I had never experienced such a thing! It was so sacred! We know that we helped him draw closer to God, and that is enough for us.

 

We also had this awesome experience where we taught Dylan and as we left his place, we saw a lady on her porch and we spoke to her. She asked what church we're from, and when we answered she said, "Get up here right now" We did and she said, "I've been waiting  months for you to arrive." 

 

Stay tuned for next week..

 

Love you all!

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles

Heartbreak Warfare.

Mon 9/14/2015 1:13 PM

I'll be honest here.

 This past week was the stinkin' pits! Take it however you want. 

 Satan.. Gosh. Satan totally sucks!!

 Regardless of how it all went, it was a huge eye opener to me. 

Huh, we sometimes have tough weeks, and tough experiences to actually learn something? Say what? Yep. It's super easy to look at these things like burdens rather than lessons, and to allow it to teach us a thing or two. Maybe even to count our blessings more, and recognize what we could possibly improve on. Anyone can easily be the first to ask God, "Why me?", and I'll be completely honest, I questioned that. However, it humbled me down a bit, because I realized that I was wrong. That the Lord was giving me a few trials as a blessing so that I could grow. I repented immediately.

 

With that said, I'll share a bit of what occurred.

All of our progressing investigators dropped us. Okay, I'm not lying at all, and totally laugh at me if you will, but this was the worst break up of my life!! Gee, I never thought.. Don't wanna go there, but let me tell you, when you really love your investigators and they drop you, gosh. It hurts! So bad. I don't think I've ever hurt that bad. It totally sucked. It was "the pits"! (Sis Griffith taught me that phrase, and I'm probably using it in the most incorrect way, but..) 

 Dylan. I'll probably binge on some chocolate after I express what happened with him. This was easily the toughest one I've had. He was doing so well! But when one is doing so well, and is drawing closer and closer to God and Christ, Satan taps on our weaknesses per say, and takes advantage. He doesn't want us to progress, and that's probably one of the toughest things for me, ever. (Like, I'm just so stoked for the Millennium!) Dylan was on this spiritual high, and was ready for his baptismal interview, when Satan knocked on his door.. I don't need to go into any further description, but he shot us a text expressing that he made up his mind after some thought and contemplation, and that he doesn't want to enter that straight and narrow gate- baptism. 

 

I truly felt like Satan punched me in the stomach. We were so heartbroken and distressed. It was the toughest thing. So much opposition all in one week. Don't think I've ever been on my knees begging God to help that person we'd so dearly come to love that much in my life. We were constantly praying for him, and at that point, I didn't even care the least bit amount for myself. I just wanted him to progress and allow God to help him so badly. I didn't understand why this was happening especially when it was for a good cause, but in my heart I realized that I shouldn't doubt God's plan or question His ways. I felt selfish. That he knew better, and knows what was best for Dylan. At that point, I realized that I needed to repent, and accepted what was happening. It hit me how powerful God is and how His way is always better. That this is His work, not mine. I felt as if my Savior's arms were around, comforting me and helping me recognize that we didn't do anything wrong, that it was all okay, and that Dylan would be okay. 

That night, we received a text from Dylan. He expressed that he has a lot going on right now, and that he needed to take things slower. He has a lot of personal things going on in his life, and it's just something that he wants to take slowly, which we understand. The Lord just needs to work on him a little bit more. We're here for him, not us. 

He hasn't kept contact with us since..

 

James. Now he seriously became a brother to me. He's progressed so much, but due to a few things, he's going to have to move. He left yesterday for Oregon. He came to church for his 3rd time and after we had a "Second Sunday Supper" after church, he took us off to the side, and told us that meeting with us has really helped him. That we needed to help his relationship with God grow, and we had done just that. He's felt and noticed that more, thus why he wants to improve that, and the best way for that to happen is by moving elsewhere. He told us that he knows the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true, and that he wants to find out his answer for baptism. We just love him so much! We've been able to see the Spirit guide us in every possible way to help him and guide him. It's been incredible. We gained so much charity for him, and we're just so excited to find out about his baptism. We were sad that we couldn't be there to teach him and watch him get baptized, but we realized that other missionaries may need him in their lives and need this experience more than we may, which we accepted. He also told us he was taking us Salsa dancing after he's baptized. Total inside joke, but it was hilarious. He was such a miracle. When we bore our testimonies to him, he bore one to us, and he totally cried. It was so tender. We're excited for him. He has a bright future, and it makes all the difference in our lives when we could help our investigators realize that.

 

We realized this past week that a ton of our investigators are in it for the wrong reasons, so we've passed them off.

I'll try to briefly explain the whole car door incident. 

So we went to a lesson I had to each in all Spanish. We didn't have any Spanish speaking members available to join this family we were going to teach. When we arrived, the father invited his brother in. Let's say he thought he was looking for something we weren't. Awkward because poor Sis Ballif didn't speak any Spanish, so she didn't really know what was going on. She did however, know how to read body language, which I'm grateful for. As I was teaching the Restoration, homeboy was just asking irrelevant questions on my personal life. Haha don't know how many times I had to express that my purpose as a missionary doesn't align to whatever his intentions were. Normally I wouldn't mention something like this, but it was hilarious. So I'm teaching about Joseph Smith and I asked him what he thought that Joseph did to receive an answer from God. his response, "Pray, but that's what I've been doing. I mean, I'm praying to find the right girl, and I know you're here for a reason.." and I'll end it at that. No further need to explain more. I expressed that just like he prayed for answers to his prayers, Joseph did just that, and shot straight into reciting the First Vision. After the lesson, I felt so uncomfortable, and his brother expressed that he knew his brother was attempting to flirt. We expressed it's not our purpose, and so now we're handing him off. So here's the best part. I was complaining about it to Sis. Ballif on the way out and filling her in on what happened that whole lesson. i was so annoyed, and as I was talking to her, I yanked the car door open so hard, and the edge of the door hit me straight in the eye. If I were any taller, it woulda knocked my eye out! So that was a humbling experience for me, and everyone thinks Sis Ballif and I duked it our in comp inventory or something. So there's a laugh for ya!

 Anyway,

We're so heartbroken that our progressing investigators left, but we realized that it's all due to the Lord's will, and he knows them best. It was such a privilege to be able to view them as God would, and love them as He would. It makes all the difference when you view them with eternal, spiritual eyes, rather than our physical mortal eyes. You grow to learn what charity is about, and I can testify of the truthfulness of that from the bottom of my heart.

 I was certainly humbled down this past week, and I realized it's another opportunity to trust my Heavenly Father more. I know this experience will help me down the road, and I'm grateful for the blessing I've been given to learn. 

 Again, I invite you all to continue to build your relationship with him. Pray to him. Ask him if He loves you. What he thinks of you. I've done that, and I can't even explain how sacred of an experience I had with that.

 

I love you all so much!

En realidad. Have a great week. I'm praying for you all.

 

Con amor,

Temple Spires.

Tue 9/8/2015 12:30 PM

THIS PAST WEEK WAS THE BEST EVER!

 

Really, every week on my mission is. Easily the best time of my life. Why? 'Cause I've given it to the Lord, and he's molding me.

 

I've felt so exhausted this past week, and words cannot express how good it feels! I don't know. I feel good about my efforts when I get home, get ready for bed, and am able to pass out within seconds. I feel that that's when I've completely given my time to the Lord and he helps me recognize that I did enough that day.

 

So, cool experience. I so made a gangster cry. Actually, it was the spirit that did it, but I was an instrument, and I just thought that was cool. We were working in Spo-Compton one night, and our appt with Dylan fell through, so we just walked around. We found this guy named Raymond, and he was just up to gangster stuff. Spoke to him about the Plan of Salvation, and he softened his heart, and totally cried due to the Spirit. He's trying to quit drinking, and we invited him to quit. I asked him of I could take his bag filled with alcohol, and he said, "You ain't takin' my alcohol from me." We had a good talk about alcohol, and he committed to quit. It was gnarly. So yeah. I felt legit, nbd.

 

Oh my heck. Dylan!!! Ah!

He has just been battling with Satan like crazy! He's been trying to cut down and quit smoking, but each time we leave a lesson, the Spirit comes in knocking on his door and tempts him. We helped him recognize that, and we've just been doing all we could possibly do to help him. We call him every 4 hrs to help him, and stopping by to give him the friendly reminder. It's super cool because our ward including himself and other of his supporters in the area prayed and fasted for him. We've been praying for his desire to smoke to completely leave him so that he'll progress and be able to be interviewed for baptism this upcoming Saturday. He called us Sunday night and told us he went down to just 1. We knew the Lord was answering our prayers. We received a call from him yesterday and he said, "Sisters, I can do it. I'll be able to quit before Saturday. I'm losing my desire to smoke, and I know that trusting God has played a role in this." We couldn't believe what we heard. We totally did a little victory dance as he was telling us about this. Dylan, is breaking the chains of temptation, and watching him go through this has been such a great testimony building experience. With God, everything is possible. He is loving the Lord, and has turned his heart to him. 

 

 

It's so awesome the support he's getting from everyone. So many people support and love him. People he doesn't even know!

One of our members came up to him Sunday and gave him a ton of ties from his mission, and told him that every new member could use new ties. It touched me heart. it's awesome to watch the charity we all hold for one another. Dylan is such a miracle. So prepared.

 

I'd talk about James as well and the best lesson we had with him, but I'm out of time! However, he has learned how to trust in God, and through the Spirit we discerned that need of his, and have helped him meet it. It's such a privilege to be a part of all these miracles!

 

I just love being on the Lord's errand all the time. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope you all continue to grow your love and trust in him. Have a great week.

 

Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles

The One Where the Love Story Didn't End

Mon 8/31/2015 12:31 PM

I know what you're all thinking,

"Hermana Robles, why are you thinking about love stories?" Or something along those lines and the importance of having a "locked heart" on my mission. 

Pues, si.

But, let me tell you about the greatest miracle EVER first. 

And basically, this may be all I'll email about today. Quizá.

 

Dylan. Oh man.. Dylan! So remember how I mentioned that he was just "so golden" last week? Yeah, well.. So true! Probably more gold than that calf people used to worship back in the days of Moses!

Dylan is literally the walking miracle of the enabling power of the Atonement. He has strengthened my testimony like nothing else. I don't even know where to begin. This last week was just the best. We taught him some of the best lessons this past week. The Spirit was evidently present, and the strongest. I can't even express how I felt in those lessons. So sublime. So sacred. Powerful, and filled with charity. The best thing is that he recognized it in the first lesson. He's so intelligent, and he's recognizing it more and more. 

 After our first lesson with him last Sunday, we returned Tuesday. We taught him the Plan of Salvation, and it just clicked to him. It was incredible how the Spirit taught him. He recognized it off the bat. He expressed that he was feeling the spirit so strong, and that he understood his purpose on earth and the purpose that God has for him. We spoke to him about the temple and Family History and put him "on-date" to attend the temple and do Proxy Baptisms for Oct 2. Right before Gen. Conference and the end of the transfer. He accepted and expressed how excited he was for that. We're helping him see his eternal perspective and looking towards a goal to work towards. Right now, and based off his desires, the Priesthood and the temple.

After that lesson, he expressed a few things regarding the Word of Wisdom. He's doing his best to completely cut cigarettes before the 12th of Sept. We had a few members with us and asked him if he wanted a Priesthood blessing.

Austen, our WML gave him such a beautiful blessing to help give him comfort and strength. I just love the Priesthood! It's been such a blessing in my life, especially on my mission. 

After Austen gave Dylan his blessing, Dylan expressed that as soon as Austen placed his hands on his head, he felt a surge of energy flow through his body. That he'd never felt anything like it before, and that he knew the Priesthood is real, and so powerful.

Since the blessing, Dylan's gone from 10 cigarettes a day, to 7, to 5, to 3, and is slowly but surely letting go of them. THIS ALL HAS HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST WEEK! We've been at his place everyday giving him things to help him, and our members have too. The guys even brought him church clothes to wear on Sunday and just been in constant touch with him.

It's so great that the ward has been in unity to help Dylan quit. Such a huge testimony builder. I expressed to him that I possibly couldn't imagine what he's going through and the massive amounts of self mastery that he has. In order for me to support him, I was going to give up something that's been a struggle for me too, and that I just love so much- desserts. I found myself committing to that before thinking it through.. but not surprised. I would do such a thing. It's cool cause Sis Ballif also committed to doing it, and that 3 of us are keeping each other on tabs each night and sharing scriptures to help. 

 

Each lesson we've taught him this past week has been so great! I can't even fathom it. 

However, yesterday's lesson taught me and strengthened both my testimony and conversion more than I expected. 

We "homecourted" him at our Stake president's home. The McCombies are seriously my mission parents. They remind me of mom and dad. It's insane. After church, we all went to their home and had dinner followed by a lesson. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Easily the most powerful lesson of my mission. Wish I had time to really go into detail. We spoke about how living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a lifestyle- the lifestyle to real happiness. The spirit once again stronger than ever. I remember just powerfully testifying and saying things I wasn't planning to say, or even expecting. I knew the Spirit was working through my companion and I to Dylan. When we checked for understanding, he in return taught us through the things he said that he learned. He recognized that without the Lord, we are nothing. That the best and most intelligent thing we could do is let God take hold of the steering wheel in our lives, and TRUST. He understood that repentance isn't an event, but a process. it clicked! Everything clicked.

 President McCombie asked him why baptism. Why does he want to be baptized. He shared the most touching testimony and my heart was just so filled. I bawled lie a baby. This man WANTS Christ and God, and he recognized that he NEEDS them. How they will help him and strengthen him throughout life's perils. He is deeply rooted in to the Gospel. He's tasted of the fruit, and has received a witness that it's good and delights him. He expressed, "Well, baptism would be a love story that doesn't end." Poet. He said that he knows how sacred and serious of a covenant baptism is and that he's in. His heart, mind, will, and actions. He wants it. 

 

 

THE ATONEMENT IS SO REAL. 

 I've been praying to find someone like Dylan that i could help bring closer to Christ, and the Lord has answered my desire. I recognized that sometimes we have to push further and be at that last point before our prayers are answered. That is how God teaches us. He wants us to learn something throughout the process. Proves how loving God is. 

 

This is something I have such a strong testimony of. I know that God loves each of his children and is working in their lives. That his plan is better for us than what we think ours is. That our wants and desires should always point to him. I love him with all I have in me, and he surely has the streering wheel in my life.

 

I invite you all to allow him in your hearts if you haven't.

 

Have a great week!

 Con amor,

 

Hermana Robles