2/13/2012

Alright, rounding up the last bit of the transfer(Oh my goodness, I can't believe I've already almost finished with a whole transfer!).

 

It's been an amazing week, and I have a ton I want to share with all the world!! :)

 

The first thing I want to say is that I am getting letters!! A lot of them!! :) And I'm so happy and I love you all so much for being so willing to write me! On that note, I do only have one day to write back, and I'm lucky if it is any longer then an hour usually, so I am trying to write everyone, and I just want you all to know that I'm not ignoring you if you don't hear from me right away...I'm trying my best to make sure everyone does get a letter back...because you are all so very important to me; But I can only do that one letter at a time. Plus, because of Zone P-Day last week, I did not get to send any letters, so I have a huge back log to catch up on. Keep writing me; Just don't worry too much if it is taking some time to write back...because I will write you back!

 

Anyway, I guess the news you all are patiently waiting to hear is about Kevin, right? :) He is sooooo amazing!! He's reached a week and almost a half without smoking!! And he's said, "It's so weird...It's like super easy this time. It's never been this easy before!" His baptism is this Saturday, at 11, which is almost exactly 2 weeks from his last cigerette. He has agreed and has been living ALL the commandments since we have taught them to him. He's been reading the scriptures, coming to church, getting more involved and excited about our lessons...He is a rock star! His faith is just growing rapidly, and it really has been an amazing thing to watch him grow and progress!! I'm so excited for him, and I'm very excited that he is excited for himself, and is doing something that is truely so hard to do, to show the Lord how much he is willing to change and follow the Gospel. It's so cool!

 

Zone P-Day was pretty fun...We went to Cape and played football for like 4 hours...It was nuts but I loved it! I've suffered the pains of playing so long through out the entire week(I've felt like a cripple every morning since), but it really was a lot of fun and I got a chance to meet everyone in the zone, which is way cool.

 

I don't know what happened, but I'm really really short on time, so I appologize. I wanted to share much more. I just wanted to say really quick, I have learned something amazing about being called to teach over a stewardship. As I've worked with specific investigators, I've prayed for guidence on what they need, and what me and Elder Bassett can do to help them fufill their needs. This idea of having a stewardship, is very similar to a Father having stewardship for his wife and children, as a patriarch of his home. He can pray to his Father in Heaven for guidence on things he can do to help his children in very specific problems, and he can receive revalation for them, where these problems can be resolved. This is also something that we have the ability and opportunity to do for all the people who live in Carbondale, in a very individual way. I have never had the opportunity experience revalation for anyone but myself, but I have received God's direction and understanding for very specific people in my stewardship that need His help. I can't explain how amazing this is, or how real this is, but I can tell you...This is God's work, and I am only an instrument. It is more and more of a miracle as I engrain myself in the work, more and more. I am blessed to be here. I am blessed to be able to tell everyone at home of the miracles that are happening here. I know this church is absolutely true, and it is for everyone and can help everyone. It is something I see everyday...it's real and I'm honored to have this opportunity.

 

Anyway, I love you all! I hope you are doing well! Keep me up to date with everything(Besides that Whitney Housten died...I've already heard it like 100 times around here :D)

 

Elder Tyler Robinson

 

Alright, I have a ton to tell and little time to tell it, so here we go!

Very, Very first thing is that while we were teaching Kevin, we found out he has a smoking addiction. This is probably the most amazing lesson we have had with Kevin! He expressed that he has never gone without smoking more then 2 days in a row, but he has wanted to quit for a very long time, and really has the desire to stop. We told him about a couple things that we both knew off the top of our heads, as far as getting rid of a difficult addiction, like smoking, and committed him to start what is called the "Stop Smoking Workshop" on Saturday, when we actually had a copy with us that we could help him understand, so that he can start that process. He said that he would love that, and then we said told him that he was to bring all his smoking supplies, all his lighters, cigarettes, and anything else he has that would trigger his addiction. Once again he agreed.

The spirit them prompted me, and I gave an extremely sincere priesthood promise about how this is going to be his miracle. For the rest of his entire life, he will look at this moment of triumph where he faithfully abolished himself of a habit that has locked him down for so long and truelove will be able to witness to the world that the Gospel of Jesus Christ does save lives...It loosens the bonds of all inequity and is made for all men, women, and children so that they can be free at that last day. The only key to unlocking those bonds is having full faith, without doubt, that he can quit smoking in 2 weeks. I promised him that it is possible, and that it will be hard, but if his faith outweighs his desire to smoke, he will be smoke free in 2 weeks, and never again will he look back at the ball and chain that the addiction acted as. After I delivered that promise, he said "I know you're right. I will be able to do it." It's amazing how faithful Kevin is! I know, without an ounce of doubt that he will do this, as long as he continues to show his faith unceasingly! I'm so excited for him.

We did move his date back 1 week. He is now planning to be baptized February 18th, and Laura(his friend who has been helping him) is planning to come down from Washington to be there! We are so excited for him, and he is also very clearly excited.

On Saturday, we had been trying to get a hold of the Stop Smoking Workshop, because for some reason we didn't have any in our apartment. We contacted Cape, and Steelville for help, but after trying to get a hold of it 3 days in a row, we were pretty much out of luck. As far as we were concerned, we were going to have to tell Kevin that we won't be able to start him on the program until probably Tuesday; and we were pretty upset about it too. But only according to God's miracles and grace, we showed up at the church, and the member we invited(a recent RM), had in his hand 2 Stop-Smoking Workshops! Something he said he has never used throughout his entire mission, and he had 2 copies with him just for Kevin! Oh, it is so clear to us, that God wants to help Kevin in every way he can, and it is super clear that this workshop will do just that! We taught him the workshop, which shows how he can help his body override those natural instincts that are created by the nicotine, as well as how to increase his faith in quitting. We then took him outside and had him crush his cigarettes and chuck them and his lighters in the dumpster! All he said was "That's pretty metal!" Haha! He's soo funny! We love teaching him and we are so proud of him.

Sunday, he came to church, so proud that he was smoke free still and not yet really having any bad symptoms. I told him to not let his guard down, but to remember how proud we are of him and that we know he can continue to walk in that path that God would have him walk. He's so prepared to do this, and I am so proud!

Anyway, I'm out of time. I plan on sharing more next week...With more pictures of our Zone P-Day, which we are having today!

Anyway, I love you all! Enjoy the pictures of our tiny apartment :D

Elder Robinson

1/30/2012

Week 4 out on the mission! Actually, nothing incredibly exciting to share, but I'll do my best to make it sound as such :)

Alright, I lied, there are a couple incredibly exciting things to share:
The first is Kevin. Saturday, we taught him the Plan of Happiness by using little cut out peicesto demonstrate what happens to our bodies and our spirit's as we hit the amazing milestones of the plan. He just absorbed it all! It was pretty incredible how easily he is picking up on the material and how excited he is getting!

Sunday, Kevin showed up for church! Not only that, but he mentioned about 5 or 6 times, that the things being talked about was exactly the questions he had before he came! He is recieving revalation at church! Haha it is so crazy to see this all fall into place for him. Before he left, he said "Hey Elders, just so you know, February 11th will work perfect for me"...I'm so happy for him; and you can tell that he is so happy for himself; That this experience is really changing his life for the better; and to be honest, he really is experiencing his own personal miracles. Anyway, we have 2 lessons planned for this week with him, to help prepare him for 2 weeks from now. I think he will be ready! :D

Next, we met with Shenika, and she is awesome! She has the cutest little daughter and has been keeping up with most of the commitments from the last Elders(or possibly the ones before them...not sure if she even met the last elders). Anyway, she is still progressing. We read Alma 18 with her, and explained what was going on and she really enjoyed that experience of hearing it explained in mondern English. We did not ask her about baptism; Both me and Elder Bassett felt prompted to just read with her, and follow up next appointment, which will be Friday. I am very excited about this!! :)

We have been working on digging out the Less-Active list, and finding all the Part-Member families, and we have a ton! Like 20! That's a lot! We met with Bob and Cindy, which Bob is a Non-member, which I think went very well. He is going to church and has been reading the Book of Mormon(although he struggles to understand it), and so we hope to be able to meet with them again. Also, Carl Jr, Bob's nephew has expressed a desire to take the discussions and be baptized, so we will be getting a hold of him tomorrow :)

We do have some bad news...Of course, with all good news comes bad news. Henry dropped us before the second visit. He found himself doing research in some anti stuff, and could not get something he found, and decided he didn't want to meet with us. He wrote us a note, but the thing he is hung over on is pretty silly, and clearly lacking understanding, but since he won't meet with us, I wrote him a letter bearing my testimony of this church. I guess I will find out how that goes later this week.

As for the letters so far, I did get a letter from Mom, a letter from Grandpa, a letter from Marilee, and a letter from Mike. I wrote back to Mike and Mom, I will get to the others next week(since I got them before I came to email lol). But keep sending me letters! I wrote and sent 6 letters today, so hopefully I will also be filling your mailbox soon too! :)

Anyway, there is only an hour here at the library, and I have to write the mission president before my time is out(plus nothing else, super exciting happened...except the Polar Bear, which happened pretty much right out our house :/ More on that in my journal[or you can look it up on the Carbondale news, I'm sure]).

I love you all!! Keep writing me! I love your letters!!

With love,
Elder Tyler Stephen Robinson

1/25/2012

So, as you know, January 21st was my one month aniversary on my mission :D I celebrated it by handing out two Book of Mormon's, walking back to the house :)

Anyway, this week has kind of been lacking any real prominant events. Our biggest event, though, was meeting with Kevin on Thursday. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He had already read 2 Nephi 31 without us asking him, so he knew quite a bit already before we went into the lesson, but we showed him how the Gospel can be used in our lives, no matter what the situation is. We talked a little bit about his dreams, of who he wants to be, and how he expects to get there and I showed him that the only way we can become that person we see our selves becoming, is through change...through faith in Christ, repentence of our sins, being baptized and receiving the remmission of those sins, and recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost and once we have reached that point, start over...do it again. Change more, become better then you were. There is an infinite ceiling on the person we can become and the only way we can continue to approach that person, is by always making changes that improve on who we were, and that the ordinances of the Gospel are put there so that we can, one day, reach our goals and our potential; and at that final hour, God will open his gates and accept us into his kingdom, to receive all that he has promised.

Lights went on for Kevin...he understood why we would need the Gospel, why we need a Savior, and why it's important for him. He now has a date, February 11th. This means, we need to continue working with him to help him progress and to repent so that he is prepared to make those everlasting covenants with God, in the waters of baptism! I'm so excited for him. Not only did he agree to work towards being ready for that date, but he even prayed outloud for us, which is something he has refused, sincerely, since our first visit. It was so great! We are so very proud of him and his progression so far :)

Anyway, Kevin is a stud! I do ask for all you at home, to keep Kevin's mom, Karen Klien in your prayers, as she is currently going through difficult surgeries that has Kevin very worried. Thanks :)

Sunday night, we went over to the Tolley's house. Bishop Tolley(the old bishop of the ward), is a professor at SIU for Forensic Chemistry(Bree, you would love to meet him :D); He teaches classes, but he does a lot of research. He has worked on a way to test reactions of medication on single cells of the body, so that you can find out what effects will be caused, what side effects will be caused, and any other good/bad thing that medicine can do to the human body. He also invents Chocolate :) He gave us some that had some South American Choa choa bean, which he said "Meh, this isn't really the best I make"...It was AMAZING!! Like, I could easily say that it was the best milk chocolate I've ever had. Not only that, but he has actually made one of the greatest protein bars ever made. It tastes like candy, is 65% protein and 35% fiber...No carbs. We didn't get to try it, but he says his kids will eat them for dessert because they are so good. By the way, they have 7 kids :) They were way cool, and made us a really good itallian soup :D

Mom, I forgot to send you the recipe for White Chili that I mention in my letter(you will understand when you get it), so here is the recipe, which I am sharing with every one...it is so good(Bytheway Brenda, I used your recipe book at the Babcock's house to get this recipe). Anyway, here it is:

4 Chicken breast

1 tsp. oil

1 tsp cumin

4 stalks of celery

1 onion; chopped

2 cans; cream of chicken

2 sm. cans; green chilies

2 cans; Great northern white beans

3 1/4 cups water

2 cubes chicken bouillon

1 bag of tortilla chips

monterey jack cheese; shredded

sour cream

In a large stew pot, put cumin, oil, and celery

Add Cream of Chicken, chillies, white beans, onions, water, boulillon cubes

When finished, top each serving with chips, cheese, and sour cream

Also, this is for everyone who reads this. I need excercises that can be done without equipment. I know a lot of you have your own ideas and do different things, I would like a good variety, so send me them(Best would be through the mail, not email). I do all the same excercises every day, and it is getting harder to do them because I'm working the same muscles. Anyway, yeah please do this :)

Yesterday, we had district meeting. We talked about Finding, and what we can do to improve the way we find people. We focused on the fact that find means to uncover something that has been sought. We are seeking for those who are prepared to hear what we have to say, and we have to approach every person like they might be who we are looking for. Finding has probably been the hardest thing we have done so far; and it's all because we haven't really learned how to approach people with boldness. Give them a reason to recognize that we have something important to share with them, before they loose interest. It's tough, but as we continue to practice, we continue to see improvement :)

Also yesterday, after District Meeting, we had interviews with President Clark. I got a chance to tell him how everything was going and to express how happy I am to be here in Carbondale(because it really is an amazing place to be put at). He said several times that he put me and Elder Bassett here because the area has been so bad lately, that he knows that putting his best missionaries here will turn the area around. I don't want to sound like I'm boasting, but I do agree; we could see a large amount of success in this area. It is just a matter of showing working as hard as we can, which we are.

Anyway, I don't have any pictures this week. I should take one of me and Elder Bassett, but we just haven't had the time yet. We will next P-Day :)

Until then,

I love you all!!! Write me!!!!!

Elder Tyler Robinson

514 S Wall St Apt# 11

Carbondale, Il 62901

I seriously get no letters, so yeah, please write!! Mom, Grandpa, make sure everyone in the family get's a copy of this(Brenda, Ken, Kevin, etc) Thanks!

Hope all is well in Utah! :D

Elder Tyler Robinson

Mississippi River from Cape Geradeau

First week as a District.  I took the picture so I am not in this one.

Me wielding a light saber...MTC trains missionaries and Jedi's :)

Hanging out with Elder Foster on New Years Eve

District Goodbye pic with Brother Thacker on far left, Brother Peay right next to him in back and  Sister Dunn in the front right.

District Temple picture

Iceland joining our temple picture, holding the Iceland flag

Full group of missionaries that came out on Tuesday.  Sister Clark and President Clark are in the center.

Sister Clark, Elder Tyler Robinson, President Clark

Mission home

Cool duck statue in Cape Geradeau.  They fly across the street.

1/18/2012

Picture by Elder Jared Alvarado
Top Lt - Rt Elder Foster, Elder Robinson, Elder Mitchem, Elder Hunt, Elder Eidam, Elder Oberle
Bottom Lt - Rt Elder Nicholes, Elder Alvarado, Elder Williams, Elder Marberry

1/17/2012

Alrighty! So I'm actually in Cape Gerardeuo(or something like that) today for exchanges for the next 2 days, but for the last week, I've been in Carbondale.

First off, today is not P-Day, but because Martin Luther King day was yesterday(Monday), we had no access to computers, and since it is a requirement to email every week, we get to spend some time Today(Tuesday) to email.

Anyway, let me tell you about Carbondale. It is a college town, where Southern Illinois University is the very heart of the city. The city itself has about 20,000+ permanent families that live here, and about another 17,000+ students that come in and out every semester. We live about 5 blocks from the University entrance and have access to a booth inside the school once a week; which is pretty cool! Our total area is actually pretty big...the church is in between Murpheysboro and Carbondale, and we have majority of Murphysboro in our area. The most northern city in our area is Dequin(Prenounced De-coin), which is 20 miles north of Carbondale. The most southern city is, I believe Dongola, which is about the same distance south of Carbondale. We cover quite a bit East and West, but no one really lives out there, so I don't know what the cities are called.

Our apartment is tiny. I didn't realize how small it really was, until we stayed at the apartment that the missionaries in Cape were staying at. It has 2 bedrooms, which we pretty much entirely fill one up with our two beds; the second room is where we do our studying. Our kitchen is extremely small...we have a microwave and a toaster oven that have to sit in the living room because there is no room for them in the kitchen(no complaints though...we work pretty well with what we have). We have a crockpot and a ton of pans, so don't worry about sending us any cooking supplies...I believe we have everything that we may need. Our dining room/Living room is really crammed cause the last missionaries left their bike in the middle of it, as well as some of their other supplies, so it is kind of a mess...oh well.

My companion is Elder Bassett. He's from Layton, Utah and has been out for 4.5 months. He is extremely motivated and loves to work, and trust me...we have gotten a lot of work done :) Anyway, he is training me, and so far we've worked really well together. He is a bit of a health nut, which I'm ok with...just means I have to deal with skim milk and whole wheat bread(I honestly don't mind lol). He actually was originally assigned to Chile but they sent him home in the MTC for medical leave...so this is his second attempt for a mission, and I think that is why he is so motivated to work as hard as he does. It's been great for us because we don't ever just sit around for anything. We are actually Whitewashing this area, which means that we are starting off completely new here...both of us, and because of this, our first week had nothing to go off of and nothing to really do, but we found things to do and were always busy, and it has paid off immensely! I'll share a bit more on that in a minute. So far, we have gotten along really well...Just bonded from the very beginning.

So just to tell you guys a little bit about our mission president. His name is President Stephen Clark. Him and Sister Clark used to live in Provo before being called to being the mission president. They have a daughter who suffered an extremely severe plane accident. They actually made a Mormon message about her and her accident. She was severely burnt and has received skin grafts to fix as much of her skin as possible. Since the accident, she has started a blog where she expresses how the Gospel has continued to change her life and help her cope with the pain of the accident, while raising a family and living in normal society. The blog is actually extremely famous and has changed many lives, with all the advice she gives to her followers. You can see the Mormon message on her here: http://bcove.me/vql1kayb. Sister Clark shows up in the video :) Anyway, President Clark was really nice while we stayed in their house, and I'm really excited to work with him!!!

Our first day, President Clark took us to the St. Louis temple and explained the story about the temple. The plot was originally owned by the Baptist church, where they used to have a school. Prayerfully, our church decided that the location for the St. Louis temple, was supposed to be in that location and approached the Baptist church about purchasing the lot. The Baptist church declined any offer, and told them that they would never sell the plot to our church. When the local members found out that they declined any offer, they began to pray for a miracle that may take place that would cause the land to be sold to the LDS church. Such an event happened. The baptists ran into financial trouble and decided that that lot was costing them too much money and put it up for auction. The LDS church put up a bid for it, but because they would not sell to us before, they completely declined the churches offer.

A local member who was extremely rich(he is the founder of the pixi stick...they call him Willie Wonka here) offered the baptist church $6,000,000 for the plot of land...The baptist church accepted under one condition; He was not allowed to ever sell the land to the LDS church. He accepted this condition, and handed them a check. Immediately after, he went to the church and gave the entire plot of land(that he just paid $6,000,000 for) to the church for free. Because the contract did not say that he couldn't give it away(because that is pretty much an unheard of act), it was a completely legal transaction. The miracle that the local members prayed for was completely full filled!!! So cool! :D

Anyway, let me tell you a little bit about the progress in our area. As I said we started out pretty much completely fresh. Neither of us knew the area, we didn't know any members or any investigators or anything. They did leave us with 2 sort of progressing investigators, but we haven't been able to meet with them, due to specific circumstances involved with each of those families. Now, less then a week later, our investigator pool is now 5. Let me explain who they are and how they are doing :)

The Stamm family: One of the families that the other missionaries did leave us. They are currently going through some personal legal issues that has them in a situation that they don't want to get us missionaries tied into. It is personal for them, so I won't share, but it is nothing that would prevent them from being able to continue to progress and be baptized. We haven't met them yet because of the situation, but President Bartholomew(ward mission leader) says they are pretty close to ready, and so I figure we just need to teach a couple lessons to refresh them, once things cool down and their family of 5 will be ready for baptism.

Shenika Hatcher: The other investigator that was left for us. She left for Chicago for the 3 day weekend break, so since she was gone we did not get a chance to meet her yet. We do know that she has received all the lessons, has been going to church regularly, but is struggling with understanding the BoM so we plan on just working with her to teach her how she can learn how to understand the Book more fully. Otherwise, she is ready. Just need to meet with her :)

Dillion Minks - 9 year old boy who has member parents. He's received the first lesson, so once we get the opportunity to teach him the rest of the lessons, he will be ready to baptize(And by his dad no less). His dad is way nice, and sat next to us during priesthood meeting. He has a speech problem, but is really funny, so we look forward to their family having us over :)

Kevin Klien - A media referral. Has a friend in Washington that he grew up with who is a member and told him to read the BoM. We called him(because the other missionaries hadn't bothered with his referral) and he offered to drive up to the church to meet with us...He lives in Dongola; That's a 45 minute drive! We gave him a church tour and told him a little bit about church and the members, then we started teaching the Restoration. He sucked it all up and understood everything... Like, he's seriously been prepared for us! We committed him to come to church next week, to read the BoM and pray about how true it is, and committed him to Baptism! He then told us "Every time I read this book[BoM], it's like it is talking to me"...It's amazing! He is already receiving revelation and everything!!! I'm really excited for him. We meet with him again Thursday.

Henry Dews - Another media referral. He called the number on one of our pass along cards, and I guess told the guy on the other line he wants to be baptized. We went over yesterday(during our P-Day time) and talked with him. He is about 60 years old and has lived a very hard life; He used to curse god, but he received some personal Revelation in his 20's that shaped him up and has drove him to do his best for the last 40 years. He is totally into history, and loves world religion. He has been looking into so many churches and desires to find the church that lines up to all the things that he knows God is, and that he knows Jesus Christ is. We taught him a tailored version of the restoration(not originally our plan...we just wanted to introduce the BoM to him) and included all the very specific historical events so that he was on board with what he was saying. As we taught, the lesson became more and more the lesson that I think Henry was looking for. He really appreciated everything we shared with him and for someone who knows so much history and so much scripture, the church fit exactly all the things he had been looking for. We committed him to read the BoM and we will be meeting him again next Tuesday!!! So exciting :)

Anyway, yeah...in 6 days, this is what we have been able to do...Not only that but we are booked out with appointments all the way into next week. Quite a good start, don't you think? :)

So the story behind me being in Cape. Actually, it's because Elder Bassett has leadership training, so he is going up to St Louis with the District leader who is in Cape, so me and the District Leader Buddy are now companions until tomorrow night, so I will be treading new territory for 2 days :S Anyway...I wanted to get pictures up, but I left my cord in Carbondale(I know...I'm sorry...) so I will remember next week...I promise!

Anything else?? Hmmm... The ward here is amazing! They sacrifice a ton for us, and we are so grateful!! I really enjoy getting a chance to meet and teach the members, because they really are so nice, and they teach us so much. They are a really dedicated ward!

My new address is
514 S Wall St Apt #11
Carbondale, Il 62901

So send your letters there. I haven't received many so yeah, write me so I know what to say in future letters and emails :)
Also, if you send a package, if there is a way to make them hold it at the Post office or something, that's what you should do. Our door step is super easy to see from the street, and I'm sure it wouldn't take too much to convince someone of swiping it away from us. If not, then I'm sure it will be ok...Just better safe then sorry. Also, I will be in this area for 3 months, and possibly more then that. I'll let you know when I find out :)

Anyway, got missionary work to go do...hopefully this long letter is sufficient enough for everyone :) I love you all!!
Elder Tyler Robinson