8/20/2012

So, I'm not sure what to share about this week. It's been a really bad
week(as in bad news all over the place), with only a couple standout
highlights.

I guess I will start out with the good news; Ashley Picton is a
non-memer 12 year old daughter of a Part-Member family where the
father was excommunicated. We stopped by on our way back home on
Monday to kind of see if Ashley had read since  we last stopped
by(which was a while ago...she hasn't seemed interested in going too
far. You'll see why in a minute). Sure enough, she didn't read like we
asked, and expressed that she really hates reading, so we suggested
praying to get the help she needs to be able to read better or to
desire to read better. She said she wouldn't and that she didn't want
to. We talked a little bit more, with little progress, when it just
came out...and Elder Pack and I are convinced that it was the Holy
Ghost that pushed her to ask this question because it was completely
off topic. She said, "How can you believe there is a God?" Her dad,
the one who was excommunicated, was sitting with her at the time and
his jaw dropped. His mom sat behind us so we didn't see her
expression, but we later found out that it tore her apart to hear
that. We tried to answer her question, but she continued to reject any
idea that God would exist and that it's a silly for anyone to think
that way. We talked a lot about how you will know if you are willing
to find out, but she expressed she is just not willing to find out,
and does not see the purpose of a God.

Now, this may sound bad, and most certainly, we will have to work with
her to help her better understand that there is a One True God that
does love her, with all his being, but what was so great about this
was that this family, which has been less-active for many years, has
seen the mistakes of their choices, through what their daughter
expressed. They knew she didn't know God, because they chose not to
teach her, nor to show her by example. They both have very strong
testimonies about the church, even after the incident that got Brother
Picton excommunicated, but they have both struggled to get the
motivation to make a difference. I think that this may be the catalyst
that will change everything. We are meeting with them on
Tuesday...hopefully that goes pretty well :)

This week, we tried to prepare an event that we wanted to have at the
church for President Monson's birthday. We came up with it last
minute(this is where we really messed up), and invited all our
investigators, with mostly positive responses to come. We made
brownies, and jello(our resources are not huge, so don't judge us...at
least we made something) for refreshments. The presentation was all
set up and playing and when the time came that we invited everyone
to....no one came. It stunk pretty bad :( Oh well, we got to watch the
presentation though, which was pretty good, but I really feel that it
would have helped so many of our investigators if they could have made
it. Like I said, our biggest mistake was that it was last minute. I do
believe that it would have been better if the Ward knew about it a
couple weeks in advance to ask friends, and if we could have invited
people and then just reminded them when it got close.

As for everything else, we got some gifts for Helen, which she really
liked. She's going through some very difficult trials right now, but
she has stayed pretty positive. I'm proud of her! We gave Rosaline a
blessing, and she really liked that. I'm hoping her neck will get
better so that we can continue to help her, because she knows the Book
of Mormon is true, she knows the church is true, she just needs to
come to church, which she hasn't because of her neck problems. GRRRRR!

Really, there isn't too much else. District Meeting went really well.
I think I may try to have that recess activity in future districts,
because it brought the spirit and made the rest of the meeting super
powerful! It was great :D

Anyway, hopefully everything on the other side of the Arches is sunny
side up...On that note, I heard one of the arches fell lol. Hopefully
that won't happen to the other arches anytime soon. I love you all!
Have a wonderful week!

Elder Tyler Stephen Robinson

8/13/2012

We fought the gaping jaws of hell this week and won!!!!! I have never
seen a single person be stricken with so much opposition that we saw
hit Helen and her husband this week as she prepared for baptism. She
was in tears 4 out of the 5 times we were over at her house, as she
discussed the trials she has been hit with, and yet, strong and firm
in her determination to accept the covenant of baptism and to follow
as her Savior beckons, she was baptized on Saturday, and confirmed on
Sunday. We still have no idea how everything fell into place.
Literally Friday morning, I was not far from tears because I knew that
we had lost control of everything and it just did not seem possible
that the baptism would happen. Oh my goodness...just looking back, I
just really don't know what to say...God can do anything, and he will
if that's his desire; This case, his desire was to see his wonderful
daughter take her first step into eternal life, and it was done. It is
just remarkable that it happened. I'm so grateful to be in a position
where I can see the impossible be trampled over by God's mighty hand.

Anyway, not too much more to report this week. We tracted a lot,
trying to find new investigators and taught only a handful of lessons.
We are planning to really turn it around this week though...Get back
to having lessons nearly every day. It's going to take a lot of really
hard work and focus, but as I've already seen...what God wants, he'll
make happen, and we know that he wants us to produce success here in
Mexico.

Just some prospects; The new district is going to be amazing this
transfer. So far, all the companionships are getting along really well
and are actually excited to go out and work. I look forward to see
what we will be capable of doing. As for the zone, we have already had
5 baptisms this month, with at least 10 more dates for the next couple
weeks. That's amazing!

The Gospel is true! It changes lives everywhere that it's preached!
Whether it is Utah, St. Louis, Peru, France, Japan, India, Italy, etc.
The Gospel is the same and so very true and relevant to every single
person, and the Lord has provided the way that all may learn, know,
and accept his truths, thereby allowing all men everywhere to develop
faith and repent of their sins, accept the baptismal covenant by being
baptized by His Holy Priesthood, and receiving the Holy Ghost that
will lead, guide, testify of truth, comfort, provide special gifts,
warn, protect, and otherwise deliver direct communication from the
Father. It is the responsibility of all of God's children, to try
Him...to really test the basic principle of Ask and Ye Shall Receive,
by asking Him if He is real. Ask Him if He loves you. Ask Him if the
Book of Mormon(a set of ancient scriptures that testify of God, the
Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the promise and Covenant that
God has made to all those who turn to him and repent) is true. If it
is true, which I testify that it is, you will know the Glory and the
level of Love that God has for you, for it truly teaches of His Love
for you. Try it...Test it out. You can't know until you do!

Anyway, that's enough rant :) I love you all! Have a great week!!
Elder Tyler Robinson

8/6/2012

It's official. I'll be here in Mexico for at least 6 more
weeks(although I believe I will probably be here for at least 12
because Elder Pack is on his 4th transfer here).

I had a very interesting week of being District Leader! I did
Exchanges with all the Elders in Fulton, which meant I was switching
companions for 3 out of the 7 days. It was a lot of fun, but man it
sure can be stressful trying to be a good example, to teach them and
to try and learn something from them. It's like getting a new
companion 3 days in a row, where you just try to figure out where they
are at and how you can help them. I made it through though! We had
some mighty fine missionaries in the district! :)

We also had Zone P-Day which was a ton of fun! The Zone Leaders
planned out a bunch of cool events and we were playing against the
opposite side of the zone. We also had a District Leader Zone Leader
meeting where we talked about the zone a little bit more, and how we
can help. It was pretty cool :)

As for our teaching, Richard and Helen are doing well. Helen is still
getting baptized on Saturday...Keep her in your prayers! Satan has
really trying to pull them down lately, and it would help so much if
there were prayers of others working to help them stay strong with all
the blows they are taking.

We also went to the temple on Friday! It was great! It was Elder
Pack's first time, so I was excited to take him. It was a great
experience, which will probably leave us with a harder time with miles
this month, but it was worth it. Hopefully we will be able to find a
ride up sometime later this month, because it really is a remarkable
place. We taught a lesson with Richard and Helen about the temples,
showing them pictures and they really liked it...In one year, they
will be able to go into The Lord's Holy House. They want to go to Salt
Lake actually for their sealing :) I'll still be on my mission when
they get to go though :(

Anyway, not a ton much happening here. It's Mexico, Biofuel Captial of
Missouri, Saddlehorse captial of the US, and Crossroads of the
Midwest...And there isn't too much going on lol. I did go to
Ozarkland, which is a big souvenir shop...Didn't buy anything but I
was tempted...Everything was super expensive and there wasn't really
anything that stood out that I had to have. Oh well...I'll try
Nastagia-ville next time and see if there is anything there :)

Love you all...I'm super behind at writing everyone back...I'm sorry.
I've struggled to find time where I wasn't absolutely pooped to write.
I will make an effort to write everyone back by the end of this week!

Elder Tyler Robinson