12/9/2013

Well not too much to say. It's frozen here. The weather from the west found it's way and froze everything, so of course that's been joyous. It's not as cold as home, but it's cold. This week has been good. We had 3 lessons this week with members, we also have a baptism in our ward happening next weekend(my last weekend :D). That's going to be really awesome...He's super solid(I talked about him last week). 

So our goal this year is 450 baptisms...We are at 399 as of this weekend. We have about 45 solid baptisms that will happen this month, with a handful that could or might happen...it's going to be an extremely close year! :) It's been nice to see both years all the way through and to see our success as a mission. Both the 365 and the 450 goals were part of me as I served here, because I was here when they were set and I was here when we were on the final stretch for both. It's going to be very interesting.

Well, we have a trip to columbia planned for today with the big van. We'll make sure to take it safe. Next week, on Monday, Elder Bullough and I will be going to the Visillica :D It's an old Cathedral with a ton of stained glass and paintings and stuff. Jake is taking us to that, and I'm pretty pumped. I guess I'll tell you more about that when it comes :)

Love you all...See you in a weekish :)

Elder Tyler Robinson

12/6/2013

It's been a long road, these last 2 years. It’s been full of difficult, and yet ever so wonderful experiences and growing points. There is a lifetime worth of stories and lessons learned that I could put here, but instead, I want to share some remarkable results that I've seen that has influenced my testimony in missionary work. 2 years ago, a young man in Carbondale was referred by a member in Washington (the state) to take the missionary discussions. After learning, praying, and reading, his firm testimony lead him to quit smoking and was baptized. 1 year ago he was sealed for eternity to his dear wife in Washington. 2 years ago, a young lady, also in Carbondale, was referred by a really good young man in the ward...through her independent decisions, and in some ways opposing her family's core beliefs, she was baptized. She now is a faithful member, going to school at BYU-Provo. Another story; A 30 year old woman with 3 children, suffered through a divorce was left homeless. After struggling personally to keep her life in check and keep her children fed and taken care of, the Lord led her to the Church, through a Less-Active member. She was baptized a month or so later, and her children followed suit.Just last month she took out her endowments in the temple. Another 30 year old woman with 2 children and a wonderful husband, struggled to make it in somewhat of a crazy time in their life. Although life was good, things were missing and they knew it, and struggled to find it. Through interesting coincidences, her doctor suggested learning from the missionaries. Within that year, 2 of her friends had been baptized after taking the discussions, and her search for a path that was straight was finally brought to her. After taking the discussions, and truly searching her heart, she was baptized. She was endowed a month ago. 3 years ago; a young man was invited to go to a institute function. At that function the spirit whispered to him, and led him to eventually start researching the church. He began reading the Book of Mormon, and although he was skeptical, it began to speak to him, and eventually led him to pray about it. He began coming to church, and eventually stayed all 3 hours. Missionaries began to teach him the discussions and after a few lessons, invited him to be baptized. He accepted and was baptized. He went through the temple 2 years ago, and is writing this Harvester message at the end of his 2 year mission.

Elders and sisters, this is the work of God. These are just small snippets and only a handful of the absolutely amazing experiences that I have seen happen on my mission. Make your own miracles. This work is real and the God is ready to richly bless you for your faithfulness! Do not give up! Don’t take this opportunity lightly, because you will never serve in this capacity again. Believe that God is the creator of the Universe and that he is finishing his work in us and through us. It is a marvelous work! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

12/2/2013 only 2 more weeks!

This week was awesome! It was super busy, but we made it through...It's interesting being a missionary on Thanksgiving, because it seems like everyone slows down, where we seem to be just as busy :)

On Tuesday we had a zone conference in St Louis. It was really good! Our zone leaders are awesome and they prepared a really good conference. This was our "Actual" zone conference, so we participated like a normal area, and it was fun and we learned a lot. I bore a departing testimony in the meeting; It was nice since, we won't do departing testimonies any more, to be able to share that with them before I left.

We then, after zone conference, met back with the Office Sisters, and went to a famous St Louis style BBQ restaurant called "Pappy's." I got a full rack of ribs, and it was soooooo good! Yum, Yum :)

Wednesday, we had North zone conference. We switched their phones out and did some of their media. We only stayed for part of it...We had MLC on Friday and had a ton of preparations to do. So we took off early and did a bunch of printing....Like 2000 pages haha. It was good.

Thursday, We had Lunch at President Morgan's...It was awesome! We had a ton of missionaries there, and the rule this year was if there was a football game on, we weren't allowed to tell the members to turn it off, so we got to watch the Lions and Packers game...It was a pretty embarrassing game, but it was fun to watch :) We left around 4 to go to our dinner appointment, which was with the Christensen family in the Rockwood 1st ward. They are from Australia, and they were awesome! They made a great Thanksgiving dinner(believe it or not...they make great American food :D), and then to top it off, he owns a custard shop, and so he pulled out this giant tub(like 4 or 5 times larger then what you buy at the store) of ice cream, and it was the best ice cream I have had in a really long time! It was sooooo good!

After stuffing our gullets, we went to the office to prepare supply orders for MLC. Usually, all day thursday goes into getting ready for Friday, but since we had the day off, a lot of the prep ended up taking place Thanksgiving night. We ended up working on getting Supplies to the building and getting the building ready for the day after, and didn't end up finishing till around midnight. Rough night for sure. Friday we had MLC, which was good. My last one :) We then went to Buffolo Wild Wings, and had a great dinner. Basically, this week we ate very well! :)

Saturday, we drove back up to Decatur(remember how we were there the week before...we had to go again this week haha). We helped move Decatur 2 in. Long drive, for a 20 minute drive but that's just how the work is sometimes :)

Sunday was amazing. Fast and Testimony meeting was awesome. There is a young man, Matt, who is getting baptized on the 14th. He is being taught by some other missionaries, but has been going regularly to the YSA. He got up and bore his testimony, even though he's not a member yet...It was aboslutely amazing! I loved his analogy that he shared...He said he was a man of faith his whole life, but he felt that he was like an explorer with a compass who was in the middle of the South Pole. every direction pointed him North, but there were so many choices and that not all took him to the destination he knew he needed to go. After finding the church he knew the correct direction and he is going to be a strong member of the Church! It was awesome!

This morning we got donuts...That's just a random thing I wanted to share...We got them from this amazing donut shop and they were awesome! :)

Well Christmas is on its way...We've been listening to Christmas music! It's brought a great spirit into our work! It's nice to rejoice everyday that a baby boy was born into the world, that would forever change human kind by the things he did for us. :)

Anyway, I love you all! Have a wonderful week! Elder Tyler Robinson