Service with a Smile 😁 August 1, 2022

 Hello ye people of the Lord, 

This week was a crazy week again, so throw on your reading glasses and let's get started! What a blessing this week has been and I'm grateful for the lessons God is trying to teach me. I do my best to see what He would have me see. 

I guys we will start at the climax of crazy that happened this week. 

It all began on nights as I was writing in my journal. I got a call from the AP's (assistants to the President). They called and asked if we were ready for some news. We told them yes and they told us the news, obviously. They told us that we were getting another companion and would have to pick him and his current companion up the next day. And so the excitement began. 

Got up ready for a new day excited what would happen. As we are studying for the day we get a call from our Mission President asking how we were doing and where we were. We told him that we were studying, he then asked if we knew about our interviews. We were confused and told him that we didn't know anything about them. Then he told us that they were today and asked if we could be at the church in 15 min, so we hopped in the car. There was a miss communication, so none of the Elders new about interviews because they only told the sisters in our district. Interviews were quick and helpful as he expected us to finish our new companions training when we got him. 

Now let me tell you of the Story of Elder Witte. (Our new companion) . He was only in his second transfer of his mission, and because of that we would be finishing his training. And when a missionary is training that Elder is called a Dad, and his trainee his son. So Elder Cameron and I would be His news Dads. We learn that Elder Witte has already had two Dads in the mission before us. His first dad was awesome, was with his first dad for a transfer then was transferred to a new area with a new Dad. 10 days past and then we get the phone call that we would be his next Dads. So for those that are counting that is 4 Dads in 2 transfers. 

We picked him up and dropped off his second Dad. It was a tight squeeze in the car. We then spend the day getting to know Elder Witte, and he is awesome! Love him. Go about our day planning emailing our ward and getting stuck in traffic. After we had dinner we headed to visit a member when we get a call from our Mission President again. He asked if Elder Witte had already unpacked and he had. President asked if he could pack back up because he was getting Emergency transferred back to his first area with his first Dad! We were loosing our minds and our son. Craziest day ever 2 Emergency transfers in less than 24 hours. And that is the Story of Elder Witte and how I was a dad for 9 hours! I miss him and hope to see him again.  

With that out of the way let's move on to more crazy stuff. We had a lot of service this week. And that normally doesn't happen in this area. One day we ended up mowing a lawn for a member family, and a part member family that live in the same house. (Long story, and we don't have the time). Latter that night we weeded for a member and laid down mulch. I was sweaty and tired for sure by the end of the day. The next morning we helped a new couple in the ward move in. They have been waiting on their truck with all their stuff for weeks and it finally came! It was a fun moving in with fun challenges. Which I will relate to you now. 

• They had elevators, but if we used them we had to take it to the Third floor, walk down the long hallway, take an elevator to the second floor than walk down the hallway again to get to their apartment. 

• I guess someone thought it was a good idea with the way they built the apartments to have the elevator go up to the second floor, only down to the second floor.  

• They had four couches that all connected, but we all wrapped in plastic. That made it impossible to gripp. It was like our hands were covered in lotion dipped in soap while holding sticks on butter. It was interesting. 

Despite all the challenges it was still a very fun move and we got to know the couple more, and they are fun. Talking to each other in Russian. Man I wish I could speak Russian, in fact I wish I could speak all languages. Oh well, I'll stick with English.  

Once again we found a lot of people this week and met wonderful people that were willing to learn more. Hope they mean it. We had a lesson with our Friend Donovan, and he is awesome. He has meet with Missionaries in the past and loves them because they would send him encouraging words and scriptures. And he needed that because he is a High school teacher, and a high School Football coach. Taught him the restoration and gave him the Book of Mormon and he was excited to read, especially when he learned it wasn't meant to replace the Bible. 

Update on the house with all the kids from last week. We stopped by again and they were excited as always. The kids that asked for the Book of Mormon has read all the way through Mosiah 27! I still can't keep up with him. He also said that he has been watching videos on Gospel library! Exciting times. We still are trying to get them to church and meet their parents. Small Steps at a time to help them.  

This email is already longer than I thought is would be, but let's keep going. We had a lot of member messages on Sunday and loved it being to share personal experiences and testimony. We shared a video about President Monson and him will to "Dare to Stand Alone" loved when I was younger and still love it so go watch it!  We shared it this one family that we have been seeing more and more. And when we first meet Brother Jin ( the father) he was quiet. But now he is talking the most and Sharing his experiences and testimony and they are truly great. He has been one the Dared to Stand Alone! From it all he has still been with the church. Love that family and pray for them please pray them too. 

 

Once more I feel that I have learn from God while I am in His service. This week I felt the gratitude of having a living prophet. I feel of their love for me and for all of us. I know that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet and that he translated the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon! The teaching the story the spirit. While I gave my testimony in the week I called the Book of Mormon Family. And it truly is family and like family we have to grow our connection and love. I have done that, and we all need to do that through  out our life. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

So it might be hard to see but there are a ton of Spiders, and they are massive about the size of my hand. I lost count after 20. 

Sorry for the poor pictures. I won't promise to do better because I don't think I will. Have a great week y'all 

☆Elder Robertson