Week 67 - A Lot to Say...

...but no real words can explain my week here in Iowa City.

The work here is probably the busiest I have been on my mission. The problem we have here is making it to appointments on time because we have too many of them to fit in the hours of day we have to work! That is a pretty good problem to have as a missionary!!

The people we are teaching right now are amazing and we are really trying to help them personally come closer to their Father in Heaven.

This week we taught a husband and wife who are of the Baptist faith. They were very eager to battle with us and as I sat their quietly realizing the would not let us teach, I felt sorrow for them. I can imagine how the Savior felt when he taught in a pure and perfect way and yet the people's hearts were closed. If the hearts of the people are closed, the Spirit cannot enter and teach them. We do have another lesson with them this week and we plan on really explaining why we there and what our purpose as missionaries are, and if they aren't ready to accept the gospel maybe they will be in the future!!

We also taught another family this week. The mother of the family was raised in a home with LDS standards, but was never baptized. She is interested in learning more, especially because she wants the best for her children!! The lesson went great and we are excited to see the Gospel help strengthen their family!!

The members here in the IA City 4th ward are amazing!! They are so missionary minded. This week members here gave us 12 names of their friends who they have talked to about the gospel and are interested in talking with us and learning more!!!     

We are truly blessed to be serving here!! The work is so much more effective when there are many laborers and not just 4 or 5.

I love you all

Elder Roberts

[RJ didn't explain these pictures, but it looks like they got it all cleaned up!]

Week 66 - Iowa City!

Monday – Monday night we got transfer calls and we found out I would be getting transferred.  I was pretty surprised.  We were at Jaime’s Laundromat when we got the call. I only spent one short transfer with Elder Gregor, he was great.

Tuesday – I said goodbye to people.

Wednesday – I packed up and we had pday and I finished saying goodbye to people.

Thursday – We had transfer meeting so we drove all the way to Iowa City, and there I stayed!  We taught a couple of people.  We met the R family.  We met JC.  I met R.

Friday – We had weekly planning and our first district meeting, that was really good.  We had FHE which we do here, which is fun.  We taught the lesson.

Saturday – We helped Francis with insulation.  I climbed up into a small area full of insulation and had to crawl across.  Then we had 30 minutes to get to our apartment and clean up and get to the baptism where we would be teaching the restoration.  

Sunday – We had an amazing church service.  The ward here is awesome, they really understand missionary work.  We had a lesson with a man named A and went over the restoration and invited him to be baptized on December 13 and he accepted that.  We also taught the V family.  That was one of my first lessons in English, we pretty only teach Spanish-speaking people here.  We met the H family and they are really cool, they are from El Salvador.  We have a lot of potential here in Iowa City and we are super excited.  

And my new companion is Elder Jackson, we get to serve together once again!

Saying goodbye in Perry:

 One of my favorite people, Jaime:

All packed up to head out:

Driving to transfer meeting:

Elder J at his desk in our apartment.  Our apartment is really nice, we even have a weight set!

Together again:

Week 65 - Blessed

What a week!!!  During my studies this week I started to have some really interesting impressions come into my mind.  Here they are:

Did the Savior Ever Stop?

Did he ever say to those in need, I am too busy right now I can't help you 

OR
Did he say come unto me?

To those afflicted did he ever say, you'll be fine

OR
Did he say be thou healed?

Did he preach the gospel to just some people

OR
Did he preach the gospel to everyone?

Did he see people with disabilities and afflictions

OR
Did he see them as they really are as choice sons and daughters of God?

Did he have pity on himself the evening he knew he was going to be betrayed

OR

Did he wash the feet of those he truly loved and broke bread?

Did the Savior ever stop?

NO!

Then we should never stop

Monday- We had P-day! Afterward we taught Cristian about the Atonement and helped him understand the importance of it. Then we had dinner with the Pearson family in Madrid.

Tuesday- We taught Cristian once again and taught him about service and missionary work. Then we had dinner with the Hill family! 

Wednesday- We focused a lot on finding and found a few really nice people who are interested in learning more. And then taught Cristian about Temples and Family History

Thursday- We had district meeting and afterward taught Cristian a little bit more about temples and eternal marriage, we also had an amazing dinner with Sister Isom. She fed us waffles and ice cream!!

Friday- We had weekly planning. After we visited John Keni. Then we went over to Cristian's house and taught his girlfriend the Law of Chastity. The lesson went really well.

Saturday- Was an amazing day, full of the Spirit

Sunday- Church was great and afterward we celebrated Elder Petersen's birthday at Jaime's home! And then had a couple great lessons afterward.

Love,

Elder Roberts

Week 64 - Amazing week (except for hitting a skunk), getting cold here

This week was so amazing!!!

Having the opportunity to listen to the latter-day prophets and apostles at General Conference is such a blessing! I learned so many things and am so excited to apply them  in my life and grow.

On Monday here in Perry we helped Jaime move into a different home. Then we relaxed with the English elders here and just walked around town. In the evening we went over to C's house and went over the baptismal interview questions with him, and after that we headed to the park to play soccer with three of our investigators.

Tuesday- we had an awesome lesson w/ M, we taught him about the Plan of Salvation and focused a lot on the spirit world, the resurrection, and the kingdoms of  glory. Then we went over to J's and helped him read the Children's Book of Mormon Stories book, and explain it to him.

Wednesday- I went on exchange with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Rose. We had a great time and had many crazy things happen. In the evening we taught Agnius and Chanum about the Restoration and invited them to be baptized! It was a great lesson.  I hit a skunk on the way to dinner and it smelled SO bad!  

Thursday- I went on another exchange with my district leader Elder Manning. That went really well also! C had his baptismal interview and passed!!!!

Friday- We went to watch Meet the Mormons in Des Moines!!!! It is such an amazing movie. If it is being shown in a theater near you I really advise that you see it! It is incredible, and invite everyone!!

Saturday- In the morning we got picked up from a member who lives in Marshall Town and he drove us there. We watched Conference there. We went there because E, a woman who Elder Gregor had taught, was baptized!!!

Sunday- we traveled back to Perry and watched Conference at the Marwedell's home and visited C after the second session.

I can't believe it's already getting cold here, it was 34 degrees here on Saturday.

Love 

Elder Roberts