A month away from home

 Hello Everyone, 

Once more time has gone by faster than I thought. I can't believe that a month ago I hopped on a plane to head to Salt Lake City to begin my MTC experience. Now I'm no longer in the the MTC but it still feels like it was yesterday. This whole experience has just begun and I'm enjoying a lot of it. 

This week was a blast. On Tuesday I went on Exchanges ( which means I got to go spend the day with a different missionary who is not my companion) and this experience was full of fun running around and spiritual moments. We started that day by trying to stop by to see a person who we had set up a lesson with. Unfortunately they never answered the door and we hadn't gotten her contact information. So we just started going around the neighborhood knocking on doors. We did find someone else who was interested, so we said that we would be back at a time that works better with them. After we went around the neighborhood we went to go help move a safe for a member of our congregation who had just moved in. I thought this was going to be a small safe that I could move by myself. Nope. IT WAS A 900 POUND SAFE!!!! And we weren't just moving it from one end of the garage to the other, we had to move it from the Garage to the basement. I was shocked and thought that I couldn't do this, but I prayed to have strength to be of help. And everything went smoothly. We had the help of members and two other missionaries. What we ended up doing is laying the safe on it's side on a flat dolly that could hold 1000 pounds. Then we moved it on some pieces of wood so it wouldn't get stuck in the grass of their back yard and we moved it easily and got it there in no time. After that we helped move a couple of other things for her, and she gave us cookies and we shared a message.  

Still on Tuesday (sorry it was a long day and I loved it), we went and taught a grandma and her grandchild. It was an amazing time; we talked about Christ's church during his mortal ministry, and then how over time it became man's church instead of God's church. We showed this by playing a short game of telephone. The other Elder told me the phrase, " The water Buffalo is cool." For the sake of the lesson I immediately changed it to ," the fire Buffalo is cool" it was sweet to see how the lesson could be taught to these people. Then we talked about the Restoration of the Gospel, and it is such a powerful message. After the lesson we walked through the neighborhood trying to find some one else, and we did. At first he didn't want to talk because he already had Jesus, but this time I was ready. He was about to end the conversation  but I felt inspired to say, " We love hearing about people's relationships with Jesus Christ, would you mind sharing yours?" Then he opened up about how he felt and told us his story. We talked for awhile but we didn't get anywhere with trying to share our message. But it was cool to see that people are willing to talk about Jesus if just give them a chance and then we can work on that. 

You would think we are on another day, but you would be wrong; still Tuesday.  After that neighborhood  went to go to dinner with a super nice family in the ward, and it was amazing food. Then we had an awesome lesson with them about small steps that bring us closer to Christ. After that, we met up with a member of the ward where we went to go teach some people that we had set up appointments with. All three of them were not home, but we did talk to some other people that we met while walking around. There was this one lady that we met while she was working on her truck. We offered to help but she said she was fine. We got to talking about the differences of religion, and she said something that surprised me and hurt. She said that we don't pray to God, that we pray to Jesus and he tells our Heavenly Father what we say. I was hurt this person didn't have the same relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that I have. I thought about it and I don't know how someone could come to this conclusion that we don't talk to our loving Father in Heaven, I saw that this was done in fear and not love. It made me grateful for what I do have and I'm glad that I have a personal connection with my Heavenly Father. After talking for a bit with this lady we asked if we could give a prayer and I was the one who was going to give it. I was scared of what this person would do as I gave this prayer. Would she stop me, would she yell at me? I took a moment before my prayer because I knew that I was going to start by addressing Heavenly Father, and from the conversation before, I was worried that she would do something. Regardless of my fears I knew who I was praying to and a started. When I did, I was lost in the spirt speaking what my soul would say, and no force on Earth would stop me from praying to my Father in Heaven. I finished saying my prayer and closed, in the name a Jesus Christ, and I waited for the woman to explode with how I did it wrong because she didn't do it while I was praying, so I thought she was definitely going to do it now. But she didn't; all she asked is that we pray for the soldiers because they needed prayers. Once again I was shocked! I don't know if she felt the spirit and decided not to say something about my prayer, but I know that I felt the spirit. After that we kept going for an hour working till the very last moment, and I enjoyed it very much.  

The middle of my week gave me plenty of time to reflect on everything, and from it all I learned that I need to take these thoughts and this time that I have had to reflect, and put it into action. If I don't I'm not improving and learning how to help God's children. 

Towards the end of the week, we had Zone Conference and I loved it. Once again I learned a lot and felt the spirit. I got to grow closer to my fellow missionaries, and see how I can improve and learn from my experiences. It made what I do know feel stronger. We also talked about attacking the mornings and every moment of the day like Ammon would. ( not my brother, but the Ammon from the Book of Mormon). 

We had a baptism this week. I didn't know the person super well, but he is a awesome guy who knows a lot and has been working with the Missionaries for a while. I just showed up right before he was baptized. It was awesome. I was able to lead the music, and share my testimony. The rest of his family aren't members, so I had the chance to show a video about the First Vision and my testimony. It was an awesome experience and I was able to share what was in my soul. Sunday was awesome, but for the sake of time and because I want to share it later when I have more to go with it. I will say that I am grateful for my family  and that they raised me in way that leads me to Christ, I'm grateful for all my friends that have been there for me during the hard times and have helped me strengthen my testimony.

I know that this church is true and even though I'm not perfect. through Jesus Christ I can be whole. Far into the future, but for now I'll strive to be like Jesus in deed and in thought for these are the things that Jesus taught. And now so will I teach these things that need to be taught. I say these things in His perfect name Jesus Christ, amen. 

Elder Robertson  

1) we found a waterfall on my exchange  

2) the end of a long day of exchange with Elder Hunter 

3-4) Proud to still have my seminary shirt, and grateful for the person who made them. 

5) My mission president and his wife on February 1 

6) the best signs in Georgia  

7) going to spread the word to the world 

8) the first time I met my trainer 

9) Everyone that arrived in Georgia the day as me 

10) first dinner in Georgia  

11) My companion and Mathew at his baptism