Week 19 - A fun adventure & a new address for this month

So this week has been one of the most fun adventures so far on my mission!! We started off the week with some snow and we had some great lesson with some less actives in our area and also some recent converts.

On Tuesday it was cold, about 30 degrees, not that bad, and we had an awesome lesson with "R" and her kids "B" and "D" they are the most awesome little boys ever, and then the rest of the day was based around service.  Then on Wednesday I cant really remember what we did because I am going off of memory because I forgot my planner... 

But here is where it gets interesting, on Thursday we started off our day at cross ministries and then we had a few lessons with recent converts and knocked some doors. It was like 20 degrees. Then it started to rain.... don't ask me how, it just does, so as we are walking to a dinner appointment at  Sis Paulson's house we notice that our winter jackets are getting hit by rain and then within a second the rain freezes on you, so by the time we go to Sis Paulson's house we had a layer of ice all on our jackets and the hoods of our jackets. You might wonder why we walked when we have a car, but we just thought it would be fun! And it was!!!! 

Then on Friday and Saturday it was a little ridiculous, it was like 5-15 degrees the whole day both days with a nice strong breeze the whole time.  Iowa cold goes through all layers of your clothes and chills you to the bone, Elder Blauer says even in Idaho it's nowhere near what we felt this week. And its only November hahaha.  I cant wait for Winter here.

But besides the weather, the work here is going really well, we are really focused and we plan on making a big impact in the Osceola Ward this transfer, with His help!!!

It's getting into the holiday season and I think the first couple holidays away are going to be difficult for me. But that's alright I will just work so hard I don't have time to think about it. For thanksgiving we are going to the Whitlows!!! They are the best.  The coat you sent is absolutely the best thing ever.  I haven't used the boots yet but I bet they will be awesome too.  I still need to find a scarf and hat.

IMPORTANT:  Any Christmas cards or packages need to be mailed directly my apartment or I won't get them until January 2nd.  My address is:

Elder RJ Roberts

219 E. Cass St #4

Osceola IA 50213

Love,

Elder Roberts

Week 18 - Transfers this week

Sorry I didn't mail a letter last week I will this week, I just didn't have time. This week we have been super busy, we packed our schedule everyday and worked hard. 

We are getting transfer calls today, and Elder Blauer has a feeling he will be leaving. I have no clue what is going to happen to me but I will let you know.  

Lately I have been extremely pumped up to work. I cant wait to see the growth in this area. "S" didn't feel comfortable with being baptized this week so we have dropped his baptismal date for now. He is such an awesome kid. I have grown to love him even though he is wild and crazy. He reminds me of me in some ways. 

We also have many part member families that we are going to try and start teaching this week!! The Lord has been putting us in places at the right time and perfect moments. 

I'm planning on re applying to BYU when I get back I think, I have been thinking about fire fighting and it would sure be hard to stay active while being a fire fighter, I have seen while on my mission how important church attendance really is.

I love you so much

Elder Roberts  

Week 17 - The weather is "terrifyingly awesome"

So this week we had a week full of service and strengthening the members in our ward, this week we didn't see any success with finding new investigators, but that's alright we know they are out there. We also went on exchanges in Knoxville because Elder Blauer and Elder Graham had to go to a leadership meeting in Iowa City. Elder Underwood and I stayed in Knoxville the whole day and worked. We got home from Knoxville at 10:20 and we were both exhausted, I tossed my bag next to my bed and just feel asleep. Then the next day it was back to work. We haven't been seeing much success and have sort of hit a road block but this week we are trying everything and going to try and truck on through. 

My favorite thing to cook is probably fried rice and omelets. Other than that our meals are pretty simple.  We got fed 4 times this week by members!!!!! It's pretty easy to budget for me. "S" is doing great, we are having a lesson with him tonight on Faith and making sure we are still on track for his baptism.  I don't have a hat or scarf.  It's supposed to be a high of 33 tomorrow and a low of 15. The weather here is terrifyingly awesome.  I don't miss that much food from home, except your cooking which can't travel in a package. But I would LOVE recipes from home. 

I love this mission and I love the Lord.  Here are some pictures of Iowa, I have more that I will send you next week but we have to get off because our hour is almost up, and we have to be obedient.

-Elder Roberts

Week 16 - Fall in Iowa

It's so beautiful here in Iowa right now! Fall time is absolutely gorgeous. 

My week was so great, this week I saw God's hand play a role in our week countless times! I love the mission so much, it is pretty unreal. There is nothing like serving people 24/7. The best feeling ever is helping people out and seeing the smile on their face. 

This week we had a great experience, we gave a man in our ward whose name is bro sham a Pohnepian Book of Mormon, his face let up like Christmas.  Since he left Pohnpei he could not find a Book of Mormon in his language  (Pohnpei is a Micronesia language spoken on the island of Pohnpei). He is a very quiet man but when we gave him the Book of Mormon, he couldn't stop saying thank you. 

We do a lot of service but we have also been teaching a lot lately too! We taught Skyler last Monday and wants to be baptized! We set a date with him of Nov. 23 and he said yes!! He is very excited. 

Elder Blauer and I are working well together.  Transfers are on Nov. 21, and YESSSSSSSSSSSSS I want to stay in Osceola, it's amazing!!!

P.S. I got the flu shot so hopefully I won't get the flu!

Love

Elder  Roberts

The first picture is of me and Elder Brown.  On Halloween we moved our desks into our workout room, laid down four mattress and then we all had a wrestle mania.  We had to be in at 6pm on Halloween so we decided to make it fun!

The second picture is Elder Blauer while I was flinging pumpkin by at his face in the apt. it was so hilarious...