Week 76 - Helloooooooo

                                                                                                                                        July 25th, 2016

This week has been wonderful as always! My biggest goal right now is just to savor every moment of each day. It is the best! 

We found out that Elder Ballard will be coming to Ontario on August 20th! If things go how they are planned right now, I will miss him by just 3 days! So, I decided to just simply ask my mission president if there is any way I could stay. I don't think I will be able to.. I am pretty sure that my travel plans have been finalized and so forth, but, it never hurts to ask! :) 

We went on exchanges with the Hermanas this week! Super fun! I was blessed to go to their area- THE BUSES! Blessed are the buses. Hermana Bahadur and I had a lot of fun. It was a really good day. We joked and lived it up, and also saw many tender mercies from the Lord.Their area is growing and it is so exciting to see! We are excited for them and their hard work. :) 

We also went on exchanges with the Etobicoke Sisters! This time I stayed in Mississauga. :( (I love etobicoke!) But, it was a good day none the less! We had some great lessons with some wonderful people! We are excited to see them all progress! The funnest part of my exchange with Sister Anthony was when we went to contact a referral after dinner. They weren't home, so we started to work in the area. It was awesome! Almost no one answered their door which was not so awesome... but we were able to talk to some cool people and had a lot of fun while doing it all! :) 

One of the highlights for the week! Sister Smoot and I went to contact a referral (we've received a lot of those lately. Blessings!) and they were not home. So, we started to talk to everyone we saw in the area! We were able to start talking with a lady named Rosie. We told her we share a 15 minute message with people about Christ, and she simply responded with, "Okay, let's hear it!" So, we started to teach the restoration! But, her kids were running around everywhere, and it was just scatterbrained. Before we got through it all, the conversation ended and they went inside. One of those things that happens as a missionary. 

Well, after that conversation, it came time for us to start heading home. As we were walking back to our car, we passed a door, and Sister Smoot got a funny look on her face- like she was deep in thought. For some reason (the spirit) she felt like we needed to go knock on number 3. We love following the promptings of the spirit, and so of course we went and knocked on the door! A YSA guy came to the door. We started to talk to him about what we do as missionaries, and about how we help people strengthen their faith. We then asked him questions about his faith. He started talking about prayer and how he has received some answers to prayer. Directed by the spirit, we then connected that thought of prayer to Joseph Smith and his experience. We shared the first vision story with him right there on his  door step, and the the Spirit was SO STRONG! The message we gave was simple and clear. The spirit testified boldly. It was so neat. :) It turns out he is originally from Cuba and speaks Spanish. So, the Spanish elders will be going back to teach him later this week. SO COOL! 

It's experiences like these that I LOVE. Being able to see how we can be led by God to those who are prepared. We don't know where or who they are. We don't know what to say or do. But, as we listen to the promptings of the Spirit, God tells us and helps us. He leads and guides us! I am so grateful!!!! :) 

I've been reading and studying my Patriarchal Blessing a lot this week. My oh my. I love it! So much comfort, direction, and peace come as I read those words. I am so sad that my time as a missionary will soon be over. But, at the same time, there is still so much work for me to do for God after. My service as a full time missionary might end, but my service as a disciple of Christ will never end! My purpose now will still be my purpose a month from now, a year from now, and in the far future. Helping other come unto Christ. That is what this life is ALL about. I am so grateful for that! :) 

I love you all! So terribly much! I hope you have a great week and enjoy every moment of it! :) 

Sister Robison 

PONDERIZE: your choice! (aka, I haven't found one yet... ;))

Sister Smoot and I trying to relax at night. :)

I GOT TO EAT PEACHES. SO GOOD!!!

It was really hot this week (113 F)

Sister Anthony and I! She's cool. :)

Week 75 - Oh My. Here You Go!

                                                                                                                                            July 11, 2016 

Well, time is just going and I've decided I don't like it! Haha.. I am terrified. Of what? I don't know... everything... haha. Well, I'll get over it. At some point... hah! 

This week was a party. We even saw Batman in his Batmobile on our way from Brampton. (pictures to follow) ;) 

Anyways, good stuff! Besides the whole internally freaking out thing, I have been doing really well! I have been feeling the spirit strongly each and every day in the various things we have been doing. Cool eh?! Finally doing something right to have His companionship! :) haha, it's good. 

Well, first off, my companion! Sister Smoot! Companion numero 12! :) She is awesome! She is from Kaysville UT! Yay! We are actually really similar and can relate in a lot of ways that I haven't been able to relate to other companions. So, it's awesome! We are enjoying it. :) She is just so cute and so good and just what I need for this next little bit! I am grateful. 

Second, Mississauga! Our area is officially under renovations. We are turning lots of people over to the Lord. They just aren't quite ready. We spent a lot of time this week in weekly planning cleaning things out and preparing it all for a great transfer. It has been impressed upon both of our minds that it is time for us to pray and plead with the Lord for the desires of our hearts. Then, to get up and go out and work work work! As we've been praying to find those that are prepared, we have seen many wonderful miracles! Like what you ask? Let me tell ya'. :) 

- Shalina! Shalina is Indian and, based off a conversation we had with her mom the first time we called, we are pretty sure she grew up Hindu. But, as we met and talked with her a little, she expressed to us that she has been going through a lot of challenges the past 15 years of her life and through it all she has come to know that Jesus is the Christa and that God is there. She had requested a bible through our website. When we showed up to give it to her, she was just filled with gratitude. We were able to talk and testify of the Book of Mormon as well, and invite her to follow Jesus Christ's example and be baptized! The spirit was so strong. It was wonderful. :)  

-The TEMPLE! We received special permission from President Sheilds to go to the Temple with our New Convert Shaun! So, Saturday morning we got to go to the temple with the ward and support Shaun as she did Proxy Baptisms! Happy was the day Shaun got baptized. Happier was the day I saw Shaun in the temple being baptized for her beloved Grandmother. Filled with Joy. That is the only way I can describe how it felt. :) It was amazing! I am so grateful that I was able to be there. Creating Eternal Families is what the gospel is all about. Now, Shaun's not the only member in her family! And, all of her other family members are starting to learn about the temple becuase Shaun has sent missionaries to them! 

I'm running out of time, so I am going to quote Sister Smoot's email a little with her permission.

" -Mississauga is just an ongoing adventure. It's a city, with lots of skyscrapers + funny people. Friday, our investigator came down and was acting all weird in the lesson. She held up this mini crystal ball thing and told me that I was 'fuzzy'.... Well we pretty much ended the lesson and walked away, until she came over while we were talking to a guy, turned to me and started massaging my face!!!! Hahahaha I was like "Hey Andrenne... what are you doin?" ...She just kept saying "Don't worry my hands are clean." Needless to say that we are turning her over to the Lord for help... One day she'll be ready!

-We took a member to a lesson with us.... The GPS led us astray though and we ended up in the next city over- Etobicoke- at the airport. The member, Sis Ennever kept saying "There is no way she lives here." Are you sure? ;) I kept saying to Sister Robison "Man... I know you're going home soon, but I didn't know you wanted to go THAT badly." :P So silly. Nothing but good times on da mish."

In other news, We had MLC's and it was wonderful! President and Sister Sheilds are lovely. We love them already! :) Just good things going on. Good things happening. Love it. Love the missionary work. Love the Lord. Love it all. :) 

Well, I hope you have a good week! Pictures to follow! Know that I love you all!! 

xo Sister Robison :) 

Ponderize: D&C 68:6

Transfer SLEEPOVER

We have all been companions now! Cool eh?

Fam pic with our new mission parents. PRESIDENT+SIS SHIELDS

Week 74 - This week was LOCA!

                                                                                                                                     July 4th, 2016  

Congrats Nate and Maddy! I am so excited for you! :) I loved the pictures I was sent! They are so great!! :) They made my day. :) 

Transfer news came! I will be staying in Mississauga and training a new Sister Training Leader! Sister Smoot! I have heard so many wonderful things about her and I am really excited! She's served with many of my previous companions, so it's gonna be a party!!! :) Sister Nabhan will be going to Orangeville in the Berry Zone. I love her so much. She is a really awesome person. She is going to do great things there with a great companion! 

This past week was, as almost always, crazy! Haha :) I spent the first 4 days out of the area on various exchanges! Lets see, with the YSA sisters, the Hermanas, and the Credit View sisters! They are just so great. All of them. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to go on so many exchanges- as tiring as they may be. I learn so much from each sister and exchange. Some times I feel like they help me more than they help them... :) 

HIGHLIGHTS! :) 

On exchanges in Churchville YSA, we had a lesson with a recent convert all centered on receiving revelation as we read the scriptures. We began the lesson by having each of us think of a question. Then, we kept that question in mind as we read the scriptures. The spirit was SO strong! Oh my. I didn't receive an answer to my question. But, I was lovingly reminded that this is something I can/need to do more often. God is so wonderful. He answers our questions as we ask and seek. 

Exchanges with the Hermanas reminded me of how absolutely scary and terrifying bus contacting can be, but also how wonderful and joyful the work can be as we forget about yourself and go to work! Talking to everyone on the buses was just SO much fun! Exhausting. But, so worth it. 

On exchanges with Credit View, I was basically sick the entire time.. God really helped and blessed me and I am so thankful. We spent the day going from appointment to appointment. And when we came to our dinner appointment with a member, I was so exhausted and sick to my stomach that I couldn't even sit at the table. So, I slept on the couch while they all ate dinner, and then had some cinnamon sugar toast before we left. Haha, it is a meal appointment I will remember for the rest of my life. :) But, after resting, I felt MUCH better! And we made it out just in time to go to RAMAN AND MARIYAM's HOUSE! My recent converts from Etobicoke! Mariyam, like Kara, is super pregnant! We were able to go over and be there as the bishop gave her a priesthood blessing. So blessed. I am just so grateful! Raman and her are doing so well! They still have crazy work lives that often keep them from church. But, Mariyam is excited to be on Mat leave so she can attend! Raman holds the Melchizedek Priesthood and is going to strive to prepare to bless their baby girl after she arrives! :) Happy day. Happy day! :) 

After those exchanges, both Sister Nabhan and  I were basically dead... haha! Still feeling sick, we visitied with the mission nurse. I am pretty sure I was just super dehydrated. But, when I tried to drink water, it just made me feel more sick. That is when I learned that our bodies also need sodium! So, the mission nurse prescribed me some Potato Chips and Powerade! Just to be sure, I also received a priesthood blessing. Some really neat things were said that I wanted to share. I was promised that I would be able to finish the mission with power. I was told I would be a light to others and would be able to help many people as they work towards their next saving ordinance. The feelings that I had came from working so hard. I was blessed with more energy from the spirit and more energy and power as I talk to everyone I see. It was neat. I was really grateful for it. The priesthood is a powerful thing! :) 

Okay, one last story. It's a good one, I promise! So, Friday evening, we had some extra time and we decided to go home and do some weekly planning. Sometimes, well, actually all the time, finishing weekly planning is a struggle. We just get busy with so many other things... Anywho! We had pullled in for the night until the Spanish Elders called and asked us to open the church for the Chinese Badminton activity. Before we left the house, Sister Nabhan prayed and asked to be sensitive to finding situations. I thought to myself, "Interesting!" So, we went there, unlocked the doors, drove home to grab some extra rackets, then drove back, delivered the rackets, and then started the drive home. Each time we had gone to and from the church, we passed a man just standing outside on the side of the street. Finally, as we passed him the final time, I couldn't help but think that we needed to talk to him. Knowing if I didn't I would regret it for the rest of my life, I flipped a U, and we drove back to him, rolled down the window of our Car and started chatting it up! His name is Lez and he loves Christ! By the end of the visit, he became a new investigator! We will be going back to teach him later this week. :) I feel like I've been able to reconnect with the spirit. I feel like I went for a time where I know that He was there, and I could recognize Him and the promptings He gave me, but it wasn't as strong or as present. I feel like it's back now. I am so grateful. :) 

We got to meet the new mission President, President Sheilds, at MCC's this Sunday morning! He is awesome! I am excited to be so close and to continue to work with him and brake him in! :P He is a man called of God to be here and it is going to be awesome! 

I am looking forward to this week and this transfer. Time is precious, and so are souls! So, the plan is to get out there and get it done! Leave nothing left. Most importantly, remember the Savior- who He is, and who I represent. It will be one for the books! Well... Journal. :) 

Have a great week! Love you all! :) 

Sister Robison 

PONDERIZE: Doctrine and Covenants 84:45