What Has My Mission Meant to Me.....A Letter to President Shields

What has the mission meant to me? Well, this is a big topic! Haha! 

As I reflect back upon the last year and a half, it's hard not to get overwhelmed! I have loved every moment of it! I have had a lot of downs and a lot of ups! I have been to my lowest lows, and probably my highest highs up to this point in my life! I am truly grateful for every moment! 

The mission has really shaped me. I have learned SO much! I feel that I am finally starting to truly understand the Gospel. I am finally starting to really understand my purpose here on Earth and my relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior. Some of my most spiritual experiences have come as I have simply gotten on my knees and started talking to my Heavenly Father. Pleading with Him, seeking His help and guidance, and then listening to His counsel. 

I have truly had JOY as I have been able to serve God. I have been able to see His hand in the work. I have been able to see how He used us, His imperfect servants, to go about and DO the things that He needs Done! The best moments have been when my companions and I receive and act upon spiritual promptings and then see the fruits that come from those labors and the immediate tender mercies and miracles. 

From the experiences that I have had, I have come to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. He knows and loves me! Heavenly Father is my Father! He loves me just like my earthly father does, if not more! 

I know that the mission has helped to shape and mold me. I know that I will never forget these experiences and that it will affect the way I go about for the rest of my life! 

I am truly grateful for this time that I have had. I know that God loves us. I know that He sent His Son for us. I know that Jesus Christ has made salvation and even exaltation possible. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is really and truly the Lord's kingdom once again upon the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and reading it daily will change our lives. I know these things because I have prayed. I have asked God. and I have tested it all out. Nothing can shake my foundation of these things. My foundation is in Christ. He is my rock and I will not step off. The Gospel is true. I know it. 

These few words cannot express all of what I feel in my heart, but it is a start. I don't think I could ever put to words what the mission has truly meant. It has shaped and changed my life. I have been humbled and I am more prepared to go and do what the Lord desires of me today, tomorrow, and forever! 

I am thankful! Just so thankful! 

Thank you President! For the example of you and your wife and for being here in the CTM with us! It is the best! I love it and I love you both! Press forward! The work is great and there is always more to do! It never ends! :) 

I close this email in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Much love, Sister Robison

Week 79 - The last and final email. How strange eh? :)

                                                                                        August 15, 2016

A year and a half has flown by! I can't believe it has been that long and I also feel like it has been so much longer! 

Well, this week has possibly been the longest week of my life! hahaha! It has been good. :) It is so sad to think about leaving Ontario. I have grown to love the people here so much. 

It was a busy busy week! We had exchanges Monday night to Tuesday night with the Hermanas! That means BUS AREA! I enjoyed being on the buses one last time! People on there can be crazy.. and awesome! Hermana Mosquera is SO full of energy and kept me on my toes and going! By the time we got to our last lesson on the exchange- which was all in spanish- I had to work HARD to not fall asleep because of the heat and just tiredness from working hard! It was hilarious! :) I didn't understand most of the lessons and the contacts, but it was a good fun day in the Spanish area! :) 

Wednesday morning, I had my final distrcit meeting! We talked a lot about prayer. It was powerful! A good one to end on! We ended it all by taking some funny pictures. I'll attach them so you can laugh with me. :) 

Thursday afternoon I got to go to the temple with the other departing missionaries! Normally we would go the Tuesday right before we leave, but it will be closed for cleaning. I love the temple. :) Throughout the session, it was hard to gather my thoughts. I just felt very everywhere. I was able to talk to another sister-Sister Penrod- after, and she felt the same. I AM NORMAL! It was really a huge relief. hahaha :) One of the best parts was being able to talk to her about everything we were both feeling. She will be going to BYU as well. It will be good to be there with her and relate to her! 

After the session, we took pictures. And guess what! Elder Robison was there! Then something really awkward happened... we got permission to hug... SO FUNNY and SO STRANGE! I don't know how I am going to survive at BYU... What made it even better was President Shields came up and kinda awkwardly joined in... hahaha. I was dying. And everyone else was just sitting there watching it all happen. So funny. :) 

Thursday evening we exchanged with our Hamilton STL's. This means I got to go to Hamilton with SISTER BELL for my final exchange! :) I JUST LOVE HER! I am so thankful for her. I can't even tell you how much! It was a really good day. It was probably the hottest it has been yet this summer and we went out and we just worked and worked and worked and found lots of prepared people! :) It was great. We really had fun. :) I am going to miss her! 

The rest of the week pretty much carried out as normal! We did good normal missionary things. It rained a ton on Saturday and the pouring rain led us to find a really sweet potential for the YSA sisters. This girl is totally going to get baptized!!

 We also had an appointment set up with a part member family. We didn't have their apartment number though, and they never answered their phone... so, we showed up at their apartment anyways! We, by the grace of God, got in. Then, one of the elevators randomly opened. Scary, but sweet! (Side note funny story. The Elevator began to close when Sister Smoot hopped in and it didn't stop closing! So, it closed. There we were. Her on the inside and me on the outside. Neither of us being able to see each other! No bueno! But then I pressed the button and it opened again.. :) Fun times!) We both thought about floor 4. So, to floor four we went! No, we didn't find the family. But, the first door we knocked on was a guy that used to go to the church in Brussels! What the! What are the chances of that ever happening? He was not interested at this point in time, but we were able to give him a card with our number and the church address. One day, he will come back! God is real my friends. 

Sunday, I just wanted to cry at church. That is all. haha! The Spanish Elders had a baptism after church and I conducted the spanish musica! Ole! :P Haha! Then, we met with the Bishop and his wife to go over the ward list for Sister Smoot. Bishop made us Apple Pie Milkshakes. They were delicious. You have to try it. :) 

I had my departing interview last night. It was not at all what I thought it would be like... But, none the less, it was good! :) 

Am I ready to come home? No.. But I don't think I really will ever be. I don't think it has hit me yet! haha! Ah! So scary. But, I am excited to see all of your faces and hug you all! :) I know that there is still work for me to do in the kingdom of God. For that reason I am excited to carry on and find new and creative ways to serve Him! The  mission is over, but true discipleship never ends! 

I am truly grateful for this time that I have had. I know that God loves us. I know that He sent His Son for us. I know that Jesus Christ has made salvation and even exaltation possible. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is really and truly the Lord's kingdom once again upon the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and reading it daily will change our lives. I know these things because I have prayed. I have asked God. and I have tested it all out. Nothing can shake my foundation of these things. My foundation is in Christ. He is my rock and I will not step off. The Gospel is true. I know it. 

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

See you soon! Much love! 

Sister Katie Robison :) 

-SHWARMA

-Hermana Mosquera! From Columbia! She is wonderful!

-My "Funeral"... I pretty good at faking dead eh? :)

The "Dying" Sisters

-hahahahaha that one time I hugged my cousin and President Shields joined in....

We had to get a normal one as well. :) 

More dying missionaries. ahhh

The companion that proposed to me, aka Sister Bell. ;)

Week 78 - Roses are Red and Violet is Baptized!

                                                                                                                                       August 8, 2016
Well, hello again! 

This week has been so long and so short all in one. It has been crazy! We've been inside a lot which has made it a little hard.. Feels like we had more meetings than we did lessons.

Things are just going, and time is just going, and I don't quite know what to do with myself other than just keep missionarying. ... I know that's not a real word, but that's all that I can think of at this point in time. :) 

Violet was baptized this Saturday, and I wanted to take some time to write about her! She is just wonderful. Potentially one of the funniest people I have ever met.. hahaha, she just makes me grin from ear to ear! :) 

Violet has been meeting with missionaries since before Christmas. At first, at least to my knowledge, it was more of a social thing. She liked having them over and she enjoyed how she felt. Shortly before I got to Mississauga, Violet turned herself over to the Lord and took a break from the missionaries. Then, right before I came in, she took back what she did. She noticed that something was missing. Since that time, she has been sincerely learning. She has learned and grown so much! We started over with the lessons and did our best to help her develop friendships and find friends and feel the love our Savior has for her! 4 months and many miracles, tears, and cigaretts later, here we are! :D Violet was able to overcome her addiction to smoke. Since after about the first week, we really haven't heard any thing else about her desires to smoke! God has really taken a more active role in her life. She is a changed person. She has so much more hope and purpose in her life. She is feeling better and looking better! She is just so awesome! I know as she continues to learn and grow, the gospel is going to continue to change her life and to help her! 

The baptism went really well! The spirit was SO strong. One of the highlights of the service was the special musical number! Elder Flint and Sister Smoot and I sang "Lord I Would Follow Thee." Violet started to cry. It was hard to refrain from crying myself! AHhhh!!! I just love it! I love her and I am so happy for her!! Something else that was neat was that in her confirmation blessing, she was blessed to be able to follow the spirit to find someone to marry in the temple. ETERNAL FAMILIES! 

So wonderful. THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE! This also makes me grin from ear to ear. The Lord is so wonderful. This work is so wonderful. I am thankful for this time that I have to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength! :) 

We have a good week lined up ahead of us with 2 more exchanges, many lessons, my final district meeting, and lots of time to see lots of miracles! It will be good. I am excited. :) 

Next week I will be sending President Shields an email all about what the mission has meant to me. I imagine I will just be forwarding it on. So, look forward to that! It should be a good one! :) 

God loves you and so do I! Have a blessed and safe week! 

Love you! 

Sister Robison

-GRACE! I finally got that package! THANK YOU! I LOVE IT! 

-VIOLET! :) 

Hurrah!!!

Saturday morning training! Don't mind the double chin... :[] haha... 

The Church is true, the Book is Blue! Sister Smoot and I with our Zone Leaders! After our Zone Council we put on. Funny people. Please also take special note of Elder Monson in the back. :P 

-The young women made us dinner, so we heart attacked their 
chalk board before their class! :)  They're the Best!!

Week 77 - God is so Good!!!

                                                                                                                     August 2, 2016

So many tender mercies this week! I am so grateful! This work is so real and God continues to constantly show us that! Lots of great things have happened this week, but I want to share 2 of the best with you! :) 

**Warning, these stories might make little to no sense... I am not a good story teller.. But, it was cool, I promise!**

On Wednesday we taught our new investigator Jennifer! We had contacted her outside her house while her sister was over and shared some about the restored gospel. We then set up a time to come back and got a phony number from her sister. We were nervous things weren't going to pan out. But, when we got there, she was sitting there waiting for us! She made us slightly nervous when she told us her husband wasn't super happy about two mormons coming over.. We got a little more nervous when he walked in 5 minutes after we started the lesson.. But! Miracles my friends. We rounded him up and invited him to join us! Together, they sat there and listened as we taught about the Church Jesus Christ had established, how it had been lost, and then about how it has been Restored through a living day prophet because God loves us all that much. After sharing the first vision, Jennifer remarked that it gave her goose bumps! It was a wonderful time to testify of the Holy Ghost and how He teaches us truth. We continued on and taught about The Book of Mormon, and her husband Sam got so excited! He was puzzled to know why he hadn't heard of it before and started asking more and more questions to understand it. They are so excited to learn more. SO cool! Jennifer grew up atheist. She went to church for the first time after she had attempted taking her life. That is when her faith in Christ began to flourish. Sam was born in Jerusalem. He has been a Christian for a long time, but he is excited to strengthen that faith. They have many kids from other marriages/relationships, but together have a little baby boy named Isaiah after the Bible prophet. Anywho, they are just so cool! :) The spirit was so strong in their lesson and we are so excited to come back and teach them more this next week! 

On Friday we got an awesome text from one of our members about her landlord! We had gone over to visit her during one of the first weeks of the transfer and were late to the appointment because we were having a great gospel discussion with her Landlord Dan. We had talked about the basic beliefs of our religion, as well as The Book of Mormon. Crazy enough, he had just picked one up from his church a few weeks earlier with the intent of reading it in the future. He expressed a desire to read it and meet with us more, but didn't know when he would be able to since they were headed out of town. We weren't able to get a number, but knew we would be able to get in touch through our member. Well, Friday, we got a text from our member expressing that she had talked to Dan about us! He wanted to meet with us sometime in the next few weeks! We were so excited and decided to try dropping by that night! We did and they weren't home... sad. 

That night in planning, we had some time to fill and decided to go out and Blitz (hang up ESL flyers). When we started to think about where, a random plaza came to my mind. I first pushed the idea aside. But, a few more seconds went by and nothing else came, so I told Sister Smoot about my idea and we decided to go! I felt that it was an impression from the spirit, but I was totally confused. The plaza is not that busy of a place and neither is the street right in front of it. Usually we like to Blitz in busy and diverse areas so we can contact people as we do it and find those that are prepared! Well, we got to the plaza and decided to go in this little French Bakery to see if we could hang up a poster in there. As we went in we saw this guy that kinda looked familiar, but neither of us could place him. We had talked to the store owner and he respectfully declined us hanging anything up. So, we were about to leave when the familiar looking man approached us. (and of course, you can guess it who it was... (: )  It was Dan! Woah! Miracles! Here he is in this random little french bakery off to the side, far away from his home. And, here we were! In this little french bakery that isn't very buys, trying to hang up ESL flyers because that is where God told us to go. It was just so sweet. We were able to talk to him for a few more minutes and grab his number so that we could reach out and contact him come next Sunday when he and his family are back in town. 

I am just so grateful! SO grateful for everything! haha! I love this work! I love seeing the hand of God in our lives so perfectly each and every day! Jesus Christ is real. God is real. The Holy Ghost is real. The Book of Mormon is true. The Church of Jesus Christ is on the earth today. Hallelujah!!! :) 

I want to invite all of you to pray to recognize the little miracles and tender mercies in your life each day! I can promise you God will open your eyes as He has mine! He is so involved. We just don't always see it. :) 

A few other quick highlights: 

- We had a Jolly July District Meeting and even took a Christmas Card Photo! So fun. :) 

-The Mississauga Libraries are no longer on strike! We are happy about that! And, Canada Post never went on strike.. oh Canada. How I love you. :) 

-Yesterday was Ontario Day! Hence emails today. 

-This week I ate Korean food for the first time. ... I am just really glad I am serving in Canada. I get a taste of all these different cultures, but there is still lots of normal canadian/american food. The mission has taught me that I can be a picky eater.. :) 

-Violet will be getting Baptized on Saturday! We are so excited for her. She is doing awesome. She is truly converted. She still has lots to learn, as do all new converts, but she is so excited and ready for this step in her life. :) 

-This week is going to FLY by! We have preparation day on Tuesday, MLC on Wednesday, Exchanges all day Thursday, Zone Council on Friday, and Violet's baptism on Saturday! Wooh! Crazy fun. :) 

Time is winding down. I will be home on the 17th. It gives me even more of a reason to just be grateful for God's hand. I love the mission. I love the work. I love the people. I am just going to soak every second of it up and you should do the same! Life is precious. Let us enjoy it eh? :) 

Have a great week! Take lots of love and care and luck and prayer! :) 

xo Sister Robison 

PONDERIZE: 2 Nephi 2:25

-Well, this happened... haha .... CHICKEN AND WAFFLES! 

-Some of my awesome Daily Dose (ESL) Students! :)

- The C N TOWER!

-JOLLY JULY EVERYONE!