Coming Home

Well This week has been A roller Coaster Ride. Well actually the past six months have been a roller coaster ride. It was a holiday this week but It didn't really feel much different. Mary took us to Poplar Forset (Thomas Jeffersons Get away home) For the 4th. It was very fun there was people dressed up like the way they did back then and it was all very authentic, mostly it was just great to spend a whole day with Mary. I love her so much.

Stanley.. our pet cockroach died, sadly. Sister Peirson and I both shed a few tears. haha how ridiculous is that??

Well I guess its time to get to the point, So the past six months have been the best of my entire life also the hardest of my entire life. I have been struggling a lot with my health problems. I thought that they could get better I have been to the doctor about three times a week and nothing... The mission has done everything they can for me. I thought that I could just keep goign with the pain because I have since I was a freshman in highschool but, missions are hard and they require you to be at your very best health.

My mission president called me and told me he thinks it would be best for me to go home for 30 days to try to figure out what is wrong with me at home. I cryed at first when he told me and he told me to pray about it. SO I did..

I have been being prepared for this even before I left on my mission. But I know that the Lord needed me here for the time I have been here and I also know that he needs me at home for a short time to figure out what is wrong with me so that I can be healthy. I have a whole life ahead of me, I love the Lord with all of my heart. This letter is really hard for me to write because I know that a lot of people don't understand no one really understands except for me and the Lord and that is really all the matters to me anymore. I know without out a doubt that sometimes the Lord has a plan for us that we didn't see but he loves us and everything will be okay in the end.

Last week I was feeling very depressed and confused about what to do. I felt so strongly to ask Elder Brandon for a blessing. I pushed it out of my head and said I didn't need a blessing. Well after the meeting Elder Brandon came up to me and shook my hand, he said Heavenly Father loves you I just wanted you to know that I felt that. It took me back a little bit but I didn't really think twice about it until I was in the car driving back to our area. Then it dawned on me Elder Brandon really did need to give me a blessing. SO we called him and asked him to meet us at the church. He gave me a blassing and in that blessing over and over again he said Heavenly Father Loves you so much and he really just wants you to know that. He also said He has a plan for you that is not your plan, and that I need to be willing to accept his will.

SIster Peirson and I got in the car and I said I think Heavenly Father really just wants me to know that he loves me. I am so glad I got that blessing because it was a week later that I found out I would be coming home for a short time. That was not in my plans. But it is in the Lords plans. I know that.

I love this Gospel so much. My testimony is so strong. I know that I wil NEVER falter because I now know without a doubt that living the commandments and all the thigns that seem "hard" for a lot of people will be so worth it to us in the end when we get to live with eternal Joy and Bliss with our Father in Heaven again. The joy of being a missionary and bringing someone to the Gospel is unexplainable. The best feeling in the world.

This week we found another elect person ready for the Gospel her name is Naomi Overstreet. We taught her the plan of Salvation and she was so sure that it was true. She remember it from Heaven, she set her self on Baptismal date for JULY 27TH! The spirit in that lesson was so strong and I am so glad That heavenly father let me meet one last person here in Bedford that I know will come to the happiness of the Gospel.

I won't lie I am excited to see everybody and I am excited to go to the doctor and figure this out so that I can feel like me again. and finish my mission. This week we also watched 17 miracles. We have watched it alot lately like fifty times a week. I think I already wrote about it but I will again anyways. Sarah franks true love dies while on the trek to utah and she was so devestaed but she kept going because she knew that "It will all be worth it". That is so true every trial that we go through will be worth it in the end. We are never alone and we are never ever forgotten. HE is always there. He is always the light in the darkest of storms. I now know that personally. I love you all and love the support and love that you have given me. Thank you for everything.

 Another week come and gone and now it is July. Where did June go? Time is going by so fast. On tuesday the Elders came down to Bedford to work with us in our area. They found us a few new investigators so I was super happy about that. One of them was Naomi. We went to visit her on Saturday and she seems very elect. Like she knows that she needs this in her life. I am so excited to get to teach her more. While the Elders where doing their thing we went to visit a less active named Richard. It was so FRUSTRATING. He said that he knows it is true and stuff he is just to lazy to do all the work it requires to be LDS. What the heck? I was upset because I just don't understand people sometimes. This church is true. It is Gods one and only true church of course it is going to require work, salvation is NOT easy. SO many people are just so hard hearted.

On Thursday Morning Sister Peirson was showering and all of a sudden I hear a scream, She ran out of the bathroom screaming because there was a cockroach running around the floor. She grabbed a cup out of the cupboard and put it on top of it. Then we both were grossed out and did not want to let it go to try to kill it because it was so gross so we decided to just leave it there. We now have a pet cockroach, his name is stanley. He just chillls in the bathroom with us in his cup. He is pretty cool, as long as he stays in there.

On Sunday Sister Peirson and I were asked to talk in church. She was going first but for some reason we felt that I was supposed to go first so we switched and I ended up talking for 30 minuts on missionary work! Sister Pierson didn't even get to talk. I never in a million years thought I would be able to give a talk that long but I did. I am becoming a Virginian!! haha. I love Bedford it is my home. Transfers are in two weeks and I think I might be leaving finally. I am very sad about it. Things are good here. Not a lot happened this week to write about but it was good! They came out with a new mormon message It is so good!!! http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#origin :) I love you all, sorry I don't have much to say except that there is no where else I would rather be than Bedford Virginia right now. WRITE ME :)

This week was so fun, hard, happy, and discouraging. All mixed together in one. I did not even know that was possible. Monday night after P-day ended our two new branch missionaries came over for the 24 hour exchange. Kimmie is 16 and Haley is 17. Haley just baptized almost two months ago and Kimmie struggling with her testimony very much. Sister Peirson and I were up to the challenge. It ended up being so much more than I thought it was going to be. We went to Mary's house for dinner and the girls both bore very powerful testimonies after the lesson we taught. We then decided to take them tracting, where they saw how much fun rejection is!! Then we came home and went to bed. Then 6:00 A.m roles around (We wake up early to have enough time to run) we woke them up and they looked like zombies as we were running down the street. They got ready and studied with us. Then we went to a less actives house Erica Quick, we did the analogy of the savior washing his disciples feet and gave eachother pedicures! It was so fun. After that we went to Visit a potential investigator LaCarol. She let us in and talked ot us for about an hour. I was so impressed with those girls they were asking questions and bearing there testimony with out us even having to say anything. I just sat back and was really trying to figrue out what LaCarol needed it finally came to me and I asked her if I could share a scripture with her from the Book of Mormon. I shared Ether 12:27 she was like WOAH! That is exactly what I needed she marked it on the page and put a book mark in to show to her daughter. Then she turned to me and said you've been studying me out. haha it was kinda funny, but really cool to see the spirit of discernment working. She became a new investigator! We went to dinner at the Wolfs and then came back. The girls were so tired they could barely even function. It was so funny! We had them each share their testimony and it was amazing to see how it had grown just in one day. The church is true. I know that!
The next day was a district meeting and I had to teach the other missionaries the principle of Chairty. Just the week before I had to teach Obedience. I think I must be needed to learn something about christ like attributes. haha since they keep asking me to teach them. But something new that I learned about Charity that I was really needing this week was how the second greatest commandment is LIKE unto the first and that is to love thy neighbor as THY SELF!  How can we expect to be able to love others the way chirst does if we don't first love our selves. When we truly recognize who we are but more importantly WHOSE we are, Children of God. Then we can forget ourselves and serve others. This video is a perfect example of that christ like love http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#god-will-lift-us-up She easily could of said, "Why me?" but instead she turned to the lord to bless others who had it worse than her. That truly amazed me. We can never forget who we are and our purpose on this life. Another video is by Elder Russel M. Nelson about our identity http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#mens-hearts-shall-fail-them Sister Peirson and I show tese viedoes to the people we teach all the time. They are so powerful.
Friday was another one of those days like last week, we went tracting and no one let us in. Carolyn and Larry dropped us. and to top off the night we stopped at Ray's house (a potential) his wife answered and she said you know we aren't intesrested I believe the bible is the only true book on the earth. and I am honestly not sure where the courage came from but I remeber looking her straight in the eye and saying I respect you and your belief but I would be lying if I said you are right. The Book of Mormon is the words of Chirst it is true and I know it and he wants you to know it too. I promise you that it will bless your life in ways that you can't even imagine. She turned us away but kept the book of mormon. When we got in the car Sister Peirson was like wow that was powerful and I just started crying because the spirit was so strong. If nothing else It completly changed my mission and the way I view the book of Mormon and that is that Heavenly Father wants all his children to read this book and that is true. There is no doubt in my mind about it. And everyone is just to hard hearted and stubborn to realize that, they won't let the spirit into there lives it requires work. Well eternal life and eternal happines.. guess what it is worth the work. EVERYONE NEEDS THIS!! And we can't do it alone we need the members to invite their friends that is the only way people will listen. I never want to get to heaven and someone I love look at me and say "you had this and you didn't bother to tell me about it".
Everything we have been doing lately has just not been working. Everyone keeps dropping us and we just could not figure out what is going on. After that braodcast last night our eyes were opened as to why nothing has been working out because heavenly father does not want us doing this alone anymore. He wants the members to do it and we are just to assist. I know that will help and that will be so much more effective than trying to knock on doors all day. This church is true! I know it. and it was reaffirmed to me last night.Go to this webstie and skip in to 36;50  snd watch to 42:28 then skip to 100:47 to  105;25 those were my favorite parts!  http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast?lang=eng I hope everyone has a good week! I love you all so much :) Thank you for everything you do.

So this week started out very great. On Wednesday we had specialized training with President Pitt. He taught us how to use our time more effectively and that we need to be swimming in deep waters every single day. So Sister Peirsen and I set some very high goals. Well on the way home we were ready to accomplish those goals and there was a horrible horrible reck so we were stuck in traffic for three hours and by the time we finally got home the day was over. We decided to try again the next day even harder. First we decided to try our investigator Bobby, but he was drunk with his friends so we left and knocked on a few doors only one guy answered and I am pretty sure he was drunk too. he siad "im just chilling so im good" haha wierd. Then we picked up Mary to take her to a lesson with us we got to the lesson and the lady didn't answer her door. Of course. So we went back to Marys house and then a huge storm tornado warning came out of no where and we tryed to go outside and literally almost got blown away so Mary made us stay at her house for a while until the storm cleared up. Then we tryed to visit this lady who had asked for a book of Mormon but there was a tree blown down in the road so we had to take a detour and on the way we saw this lady outside picking up twigs and stuff from the storn so we decided to stop and help her, she didn't want our help but we helped her anyways then we tryed to talk with her after but she basically ran inside. so that was a bust. After Dinner we tryed the lady I mentioned above who wanted a bookd of mormon and first she didn't answer but then we saw her in the window and waved (she was annoyed) she came to the door and said no before we could even talk. I was feeling frustrated and felt the need to be bold with her I just bore her my testimony and told her that if she ever got the opportunity to hear this message again she really should not pass it up because she needs it in her life. She was sorta taken back but then agreed to take a card form us. After that There was this guy walking on the street so we walked up to him and turns out he was a baptist preacher. He tryed to convince us that we had not been saved. IT was a great way to end our night. It was because we set such high goals that nothing worked out. I call that the trial of our faith before the miracles!! and that is true because the next day was exchanges ...

So I took Sister Richards with me to try a referall from one of the members her name is Dianne. She saw us and just hugged us and said that she has read the book of Mormon and met with Elders before she knows about this church and she was begging us to come back. he was so funny she told us her whole life story including that she waited to have sexual relationships until she was married and then proceed to high five us. hahaha. She also talked about how if we are all christian then it does not matter what church we belong too. Then she said, Right? and I just looked at her she said you don't belive that do you and I said well do you want to know why and she said YES but not right now I want you to come back and tell me, my daughter, her friend, and my boyfriend! 3 referalls all at once. That was awesome. So we left and told her that we would call and we would come back. She also told us that she was $15 short of rent and she started crying when she was talking about how she just did not know how she was going to make it but she had been praying and she knows that God will provide a way. So the next morning Sister Richards and I went running and on the way back she saw $5 on the ground. She picked up thinking sweet and that it was only five bucks. Well then we went home and showered and got ready then she opend the $5 and there was a $20 inside. Then we felt bad but had no idea how to get it back to the owner. So the thought came to mind it is for Dianne. I suggested that we mail it to Dianne and she agreed. So we stuck it in an envelope with a little note that said God is Listening. It was so awesome to feel like the Lord was giving us that money to send to her. Then when we got back to the apartment a little later that day there was an envelope in the door with $40 dollars in it. When you give you always recieve. It was such a cool miracle.

I was happy when exchanges were over though because Sister Peirsen came back. We have so much fun. It is seriously like being with your best friend all the time but doing missionary work together. It makes a HUGE difference. Lately we have been focusing a lot on the Less Actives and the young women. That is who needs us right now. and that is what President Hodge has asked us to do. Things are going great with that. I couldn't be more happy. I love you all!! Have a great week. 

So, This was such a good week. Tuesday was Sister Curtis's birthday and we had a dinner appointment at the Balls. We walked in and there was streamers and baloons and pizza and a huge ice cream cake and they all started singing to her. It was so cute. I was glad that she could feel loved on her birthday. But the best part was Brother Barton was there and he brought us out two fishing poles with a bow around them for each of us to have. Who knew birthdays could be so enjoyable for the comapnion as well ;) So needless to say now I have a pretty cool fishing pole, not sure how I am going to get that home, but yes I will now be the missionary who carries a fishing pole with her to every transfer. haha 

When we got home there was a million lightning bugs outside, we just sat on the porch and watched them for a minute. I didn't know lightning bugs really existed but they do. they are so cute. When we came inside the Zone leaders called us and they sounded very hesitant. Elder Brandon says "so you know how I said you weren't getting transfered... well you are." Sister Peirsen who was being trained by sister Jang and Sister Curtis who was being trained by me just swapped areas. So now I am trainging Sister Peirsen. It was so unexpected and I was a little bit concerned about it but I can testify that the Lord really does know exactly what we need. SIster Peirsen is like my twin sister. We get a long so great, we keep saying how sad we are that we will proabably only get to be together for six weeks and have to keep reminding our selves that we should just enjoy the time we do have together.  We have so much FUN! This transfer was defineatly and answer to prayers. I finally ahve a companion who is the same age as me which is awesome as well.

Thursday was amazing before we picked up SIster Piersen to do the transfer we got to go with Mary to get her partriatichal blessing. It was such a neat experience. Mary was glowing and all the promises were amazing. It was wierd to think that if I didn't come on a mission I would have missed out on the oppurtunity to teach Mary the gospel and let me tell you she is elect. I feel so extremely blessed that the Lord is using me as an instrument in his hands. Then to make things even better we went to her house for dinner that night and Dee was there. We resolved his concern and he was willing to meet with us again. So we didn't lose him!

Our new district is full of leaders. It is crazy! The zone leaders are in our District, Sister Tucket (the sister trainer leader) is in our District and our District leader was the A.P last transfer. So no big deal we are just feeling a little pressure to get our area improving. Saturday night we got two new investigators. The Anamparans. They are from Mexico. Aquiles is a retired surgeon and the most humble guy I have ever met. They had met with missionaries before. She was catholic and he was baptist so they settled for episcipal. (however you spell that) That just does not make sense to me. They don't go because they know it is true or believe it they go just because. I really hope we can help them see why they need the Gospel.

Also Carolyn and Larry are going through a very hard time right now. Larry's sister just died suddenly from a massive anueirsm and so he is very heart broken. When we went to his house he said with tears in his eyes, "maybe you can help me" and then he started talking about her death. I know they will be baptized someday i can feel it.

The youth in this branch are struggling so bad. Last night we went to dinner at Sister Bass' house. She is the yound womens counsler she is single and has two daughters Melanie and Kendall. Melanie is 17 and very prideful and Kendall is 14 and very mouthy. She is always thinking that everyone is picking on her and begging for attention. In a way I have a lot of empathy for them because I have been there but also it really makes me want to hug my parents and tell them I am sorry for all that they had to put up with and thank you for never giving up on me.

Bedford is going to start blossoming again, I know it. Sister Peirsen and I are going to do great things together! I love her soo much.

Hello everyone! It is me Sister Robinson! Boy do I love being Sister Robinson. I love Being a missionary and I am so blessed that I have a father in Heaven who hears my prayers and loves me dearly! After about a month of disappointment and discouragement I have finally made it through. That is how I feel anyways. So I was having a particularly hard day last week and was laying on the couch thinking to my self, "Why me" then I said to my self. "Don't think like that, there is a reason for everything" So I said a prayer and pleaded with Heavenly Father to let me know he is there. When I opened my eyes I noticed the light shining through the blinds and it reflected onto the ground a little rainbow right where I was laying. That to me was a tender mercy like Nephi talks about it Chapter 1 of the book of Mormon. I knew at that moment that everything would be okay and that this is where I am needed and I think I once heard someone say, "Come what may, and love it" We can't change Gods will for us, I don't know why I am sick a lot but I do know that he loves me and he wants me to be happy so why not be happy! I am so grateful that I can finally feel a little bit like myself again.

You might wonder why I am so happy when I tell you about all the discouraging things that happened this week. But it is because I know that I am a daughter of God. He loves ME. He cares about ME. and nothing is going to change that :)

So Tuesday evening we had an amazing lesson with Mary's son Dee. We taught the restoration, showed the Joseph smith movie, and asked him to pray at the end of the lesson. He was Golden. He said his mind was very open to this and Sister Curtis and I couldn't be more excited. Two days later we called Mary and asked how Dee was and she said not good he doesn't want to learn more after sleeping on it. I think he needs more time. Sister Curtis and I were really sad about that but we decided that we will talk to him next week and see what is really going on and plus we had an awesome evening planned at another investigators Linda's house.

We got to Linda's and I asked Soooo have you read from the Book of Mormon Lately? She said no I will not read that book. Every time I pick it up something tells me so strongly to put it down. And I don't believe that families will be together forever that is not Gods plan. (soo sad right) So we left feeling a little more discouraged but we were still not going to let that get us down.

The next day we went to a potentials Jenny. Her mom was there and her husband. We taught them all the restoration and they all expressed feeling like pieces of other religions were missing and they took a Book of Mormon. The spirit again was so strong and they even asked how to get to the church. we set up a return appointment for Saturday. When we left we were like yes that was awesome that must have been what we needed to do. Then.. the next day Jenny called and said they really just weren't interested at this time. MAN! Satan is really working on these people. BUT Sister Curtis and I studied every day about faith and patience. So we know this is just the trial of our faith before the blessings  come because they will come. I know.

Now there was a lot of good this week as well. Here is a list of all the good:

On Thursday we had lunch with our miracle Carolyn and Larry. we talked a little about the plan of salvation. they have been reading the Book of Mormon and they are just so awesome. I love them. We are going back this week to teach them again with President Hodge and Sister Hodge.

We went tracting and met an awesome guy named Cory who accepted a Book of Mormon and was so open about it.

I saw a firefly for the first time!! They are the cutest thing ever. they make me smile.

Erica Quick, the less active that we have been teaching came to church on Sunday and her mom came too!! Then she came with us to teach a lesson to Mary and Haley during Sunday school and I have never felt the spirit so strong. Here I was in a room with Four of my favorite people whom I love dearly and who love me. Sister Curtis, Erica, Mary, and Hayley. It was a good moment.

Lastly, we decided to walk to church on Sunday to save miles. When we left the apartment it was really humid and cloudy Sister Curtis said do you think it is going to rain. Since I am all knowing I said no of course not. So we went to church and left our umbrellas behind. Well when we went to leave church it looked like it would rain any minute. The church is a little less than a mile away and so we just said lets hurry and try to beat it. Well about half way home the sky literally started dumping buckets on us. It was GREAT!! I couldn't stop giggling the whole way home within seconds we were drenched from head to foot and people driving by kept giving us weird looks. haha ah I love the rain.

This really was a great week. I know that the priesthood is real and the power of prayer and fasting is real. Because of all those things I have the strength I need to enjoy every moment of my mission. That is all I want. To love the little things in life and accept all the imperfections because they are going to come that is what makes life great like getting caught in the rain. :)

I love you all and I can't wait for this week and all the adventures we will have!

-life is good-

I don't really know where to start. This week was a roller coaster ride. I got sick and then Sister Curtis got sick, but despite it all we were still able to see a lot of success. We went to Mary's house for dinner on Thursday evening and her son was there. We haven't really gotten to talk to him since Mary was baptized I was grateful for that opportunity. After Dinner we just shared a scripture from the Book Of Mormon, then the spirit took over. We were not planning on asking him if he wanted to learn more but we did and he was so willing to read the book and learn more. Mary just piped in while we were teaching explaining to him what the Book of Mormon was and why she knew it was true. It was so awesome! She was just glowing.

There is a less active that we met this week Named Erica Quick. I love her. I see so much of my self in her. She is really struggling right now. I have been feeling like someone has been praying for us and I just wanted to find them. Well we found her. She said she has been praying for us to come. She is 23. She is awesome! She wants us to be her best friends so that she can surround her self with good people because her work enviroment as a waitress is not very good, there is a lot of temptations. She will be such a good example to her family by trying to get back into the church. I love seeing people change their lives around through the atonment. I know that the atonement is realy. that Heavenly Father really does forgive us and turn us into the person that he needs us to be, the person that we are destined to become.

The past few weeks have been hard for me, I have had to rely on my Heavenly Father more than I ever have before.Therefore I know that he really does know each of us personally and wants each of us to return to live with us again. The trials that we go through are never one alike but there is someone who understands it all and that is our savior. he suffered for everything we go through and that is why there is no one better to turn to in times of trouble than him. My favorite scripture is in D&C 84:88. I know that I have many angels on the others side who are bearing me up. Who are with me every step of the way. I know that Everyone at home is praying for me as well and I can feel all those prayers.

I know that I didn't really write about much this week but i guess that is really all I have to say. It seemed like I had a lot more. One other thing we went fishing yesterday with Brother Barton. IT was a much needed stress reliever, I caught 6 fish in one hour! It was pretty impressive if I do say so myself. Pure luck. I would throw in my fishing pole and two seconds later I would catch a fish. I really truly love being a missionary. I love Bedford Virginia and I know that it is where the Lord needed me to go. I feel so blessed and grateful that he let me come on a mission. Despite everything going on right now one thing I catch my self saying ALL the time is "life is good..." Because truly it is no matter what there is always something good to come out of every day!