Week 15 - Our ward primary program

This week is called "Souls Day," where everyone visits their dead and "communicates" with them, so a little like Day of the Dead and a little different than our halloween. So I will miss seeing cute costumes on everyone! We will have an early curfew because of all the drunks on those days. It's funny to hear you talk about the water issues in Austin because those are two very regular things here -- boiling water to make it clean and allow us to cook in it, and rain. Two things I don't really think about anymore cause they are just part of the everyday experience. So its cute that y'all are experiencing a little of what I experience everyday!!!

I will relieve all of you who are worried by saying we did eventually get our money, and we are replenished now and eating again(: Thank you for all the prayers that made that possible! Surely a miracle(: And my blisters are healing and feeling better(:

This week, not much happened, but one funny thing did happen. So yesterday, Sunday, it was the "primary program" in our ward. I was so excited cause thats like my favorite Sunday of the whole year! So after the sacrament, the branch president got up and announced that the primary program will take place and then announced the closing hymn and closing prayer. After that, we looked around waiting for the primary to get up. It took like 5 minutes for them to gather them together which was an awkward 5 minutes cause no kids wanted to get up cause they were all very shy. They finally got up, sang like three songs very quietly (there were like 10 of them) and then two kids recited scriptures, then they all sat down. The pianist played the closing hymn, and the closing prayer was said. Hahaha so sacrament meeting was closed at 9:30, when of course its supposed to end at 10:10. and we all just looked around really confused at what to do with all the extra time, and none of the branch presidency did anything about it. So yeah, after starting 5 minutes late (because "Filipino time") we had a 25 minute sacrament meeting. And proceeded to our classes after that. Hahaha the branch is so not organized and made me grateful for our ward that is complete! Hopefully it will get better and that won't happen again cause it was very awkward!!

But other than that, we got one referral this week to someone who asked how he can join our church so thats very exciting!! Hopefully he sticks out his desire. As for people at church, no one showed up except one of our candidates who's dad wont let her get baptized because she's young or something idk so we are trying to figure that out. Everyone else with a baptismal date didn't show up to church, so not really sure what to do about that. I will keep at it(: God has perfect timing so all in his timing!!

Other than that, not a lot to update on. I am working everyday and loving the work no matter how hard or maybe disappointing it gets. I know God has a perfect plan for all His children and I feel that everyday here on the mission! I love the opportunity I have to be here and serve the people of the Philippines. Missions are the greatest opportunity of a lifetime seriously. There is nothing better in this whole world!!! Everyone needs to go on one!!! They're the best. They're not easy, but life isn't easy because salvation isn't a cheap experience!!!!! Keep up the amazing work!! I LOVE YALL!!!!

Sister Robertson

Just a picture of me on the island.

Week 14 - I ran out of money

I would like to start off with mentioning the movie "Christmas Vacation". Of course, our family knows this movie quite well. So remember the part where the daughter's eyes are shut closed because of the ice? And the dad's response is: "It's all part of the experience"? Yeah, that was my week this week. I had a very "its all part of the experience" kind of week. Hahah let me explain why. 

So the shoes I bought at the Manila MTC (rubber shoes) already have a hole in them after 7 weeks so that was kind of a waste of money, but it's all good. So I wore the Dansko proselyting shoes we bought before my mission and in a very short amount of time, I had three sore blisters and couldn't change so I just bit my tongue and waited til we returned home at night. The next day, I tried my other proselyting shoes we bought before my mission and, sure enough, it wasn't very long until I had 7 other blisters in 7 other places. Of course, I am not one for complaining so I just bit my tongue and toughed it out all day. Well, there's nothing quite like putting back on shoes the next day that rub in the exact places that hurt. So they only got worse and I am sad to say the expensive proselyting shoes yall bought me are already bloody. Oops. So every night, I just pray they will heal but I email you now with two very bloody ankles hahha. But of course, "its all part of the experience;)"

So on top of that, our "support" or money that comes in on every 1st and 15th of the month, did not arrive on the 15th. So we put off grocery shopping, until the next day. We were super low on funds, but were patient. And then it did not arrive on the 16th so we put off grocery shopping til the next day. At this point, we had no food in our house except rice and garlic and oil. So we had fried rice (or we liked to call it that to make ourselves feel better when we ate the very little seasoned rice, but rest assured it was nothing close to actual fried rice hahha) for lunch and dinner. And then it didn't arrive the next day, so "fried rice" for lunch and dinner again. Nor the next day, nor the next day, nor the next day, and I email you now with completely empty pockets both in mission funds and my personal funds. There is no ATM in Sipalay so the cash I withdrew from Bacolod awhile ago withered away after paying rent and plete or rides from our house to the church. But, again, its all part of the experience right? Little flavored rice for lunch and dinner every day for a week? Bloody ankles? No money for groceries or really anything else? Yeah its all part of the mission experience. Hahaha I truly am not upset over it, but its been quite the week. We still have no word on when we will receive our support or if we ever will this month. So that is something to try to stay positive over(: The church is true nonetheless so thats a reason to rejoice(: 

As for the missionary work, it has been awesome! We found 9 new people to teach this week, and we have two people that have accepted baptismal dates so PRAY for them that they will follow through with them. I want it so bad for them. On a separate note, yesterday was a miracle! There is one person here, a mom of three children, who we have been teaching for awhile. As long as I have been here in Sipalay. She has not been really keeping her commitments and every time we asked her to come to church she would just say she is too busy with her kids and it is not really possible for her to make it to church. This week, we were not even able to teach her because she is so busy, so Sister Melgaso and I were talking it over and decided we were about ready to drop her, because she was not progressing. And then, yesterday, all of a sudden SHE WALKED INTO CHURCH!! WITH HER THREE KIDS!!! We were completely dumbfounded. Like I could not believe my eyes. It truly was a miracle from God. So we are excited to visit her this week and talk about where she is in her desire to get baptized. So cool. After a hard week of no money, walking everywhere cause we had no money to ride the trikes (which are less than 20 cents but that is how broke we are), and hard work, our Heavenly Father blessed us with that miracle in our work. It was so amazing. I felt sooo much happiness the whole day and I just can't imagine the happiness that comes after someone decides to be baptized, because just her coming to church once brought me so much happiness. Truly- this church is so true. There is 0 doubt about that. There is no other place you can find this much happiness. Nowhere. 

This week was an adventurous and I am sure the adventures are not over! Pray that our support will come because we can't buy fooood. But we told one of the members, and then it got passed around at church, so the news got to everyone and now all the members are very determined to help us so we have received food and lots of dinner invitations, so we will be better off this week than the last. The branch members are all angels sent from heaven!! 

I am rereading the book of mormon, which i LOVE!! In Mosiah 2, verses 6-8, it talks all about how the only way we can receive redemption and salvation is through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, I know that, but I love verse 8. It says, "Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down His life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that He may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." As a missionary, of course it is my responsibility to share this incredible message with the children of God, but it is really every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' responsibility. Because with knowledge, comes responsibility. So because we have the knowledge of how everyone in this world can truly become happy in this life AND the life to come, it needs be that we share that with EVERYONE! This gospel is the GOOD NEWS everyone is looking for, even if they do not know they are looking for it. Everyone needs it. So go SHARE it!!! I love this gospel so much and it truly changes lives and eternities.

I love y'all and I miss y'all everyday!!!! I pray for you constantly.

Sister Robertson

My sweet companion who I love

We had exchanges this week and we met the owner of the kind of American restaurant! He is from California and I got to talk up a storm in English with him which is always fun(: good missionary opportunity!

Here is our zone plus the Sister Training Leaders

heres a pic with some of the fun sisters in my zone and Sister Training Leaders. It was a very fast taken picture so we kinda were ready and kinda not hahha

This food was courtesy of our branch president!! WE WILL SURVIVE!! Such an angel honestly

heres one of our like 15 times we had rice. we put meat in this one which was the very last of our money spent. it was kinda tasteless but its all good(: fried rice for daysss

this is a small part of our area where we need to get in that yellow boat to cross a river! it was very pretty!

of course it wouldn't be complete without a sunset picture(:

Week 13 - The mosquitos here are killer

As for this week- WOWOWOW I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!! I was on a high yesterday from all the revelation and truth that was talked about in Conference. The white screen in our building was broken on Saturday, so that meant 8 hours of conference yesterday. In four hour blocks. So yeah. That was a lot of sitting. But I literally soaked it allll up. I loved loved loved the theme of taking upon us the name of Christ. Seemed like every other speaker spoke about it. It was especially special for me as a missionary because we literally wear His name on our chest and general conference was a beautiful reminder of why that is so important to truly take upon us His name every moment of our lives. I loved reflecting on what it means to truly be a disciple of Christ and how I can represent Him in everything that I do. I loved Elder Holland's thoughts on forgiveness as well. Of course, I have no big issues with forgiveness right now but it was just such a good reminder about how much Jesus Christ went through from the persecutions to the hatred and He still found it in His heart to forgive every one of His persecutors, so if He can do that, we can easily do that as well.

I also just love how boldly President Nelson spoke of the name of the Church and we offend Christ if we use nicknames. As missionaries esp, we need to use the full name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and honor His name through that. I love general conference so much and am sooo thankful for our modern day leaders that receive revelation for us all. I wish I could just write about every single talk but really I don't have time for that, but know that I would if I could!!! There were so many times that I just sat there thinking- wow this is the true church and there is no way it couldn't be. We have true leaders of our church with the power of God to receive revelation for us in modern times. I know that with all of my heart. If you have not watched all four sessions of conference- drop ANYTHING you are doing and GO DO IT!! You will be so blessed. Whether you are a member of this church or not, there is comfort and guidance in the words of the leaders of this church. They truly speak for Heavenly Father.

To answer your question, yes, the mosquitos here are killer. I get TONS of mosquito bites everyday. I am constantly itchy and constantly worried about getting Dengue fever cause so many white missionaries get it here. The bug bites here are so much worse than in America. They grow as big as my palm and don't go away for days. I try not to itch them so I won't have scars, but sometimes I will wake up scratching them without realizing. And for that reason, I have a huge two-inch burn on my leg because I itched it so much in my sleep. I use bug spray everyday but still get bit TONS its super annoying but I try to stay positive still(:

As for other questions you've asked, the bathrooms are really gross and I try to avoid at all costs any other bathroom except the one in our house and the ones in the churches cause they are usually cleaner and have toilet paper unlike any of the other ones. I usually do feel clean after my showers but it doesn't take long for me to feel dirty again. If I ever scratch my legs because of bites, I get a ton of dirt in my nails no matter if I just showered or not:/ But its all good. I love it here nonetheless. And no I will never think about cutting my hair end of story(: And it has been superrrr hot this week but today it is raining a ton so yeah(:

Other than that, not much happened this week. It was super sunny and I got a nice missionary tan line on my arms so thats positive cause I expect to come home black(: But I love y'all so much and love every Monday that I get to hear about your lives! Keep up the happiness!

Love,

Sister Robertson

Here is REY!!! Sister De Leon and I waited for him EVERY night for THREE WEEKS and he never showed up and then finally our persistence and diligence paid off! We found him and have taught him twice since! SUCH A MIRACLE I LOVE THIS WORK

Excuse my nastyyyy leg and my nastyyy foot, I hadn't yet washed off the layer of dirt from the day, but here are just a few of the MANY bites I have on my legs. Oh and they leave scars also so thats fun. Ive never been so itchy in my life!

I bet you are all sick of sunset pictures so ill just attach one this week

Week 12 - I cried the whole week

I am soooo excited to watch general conference this weekend! Of course, because technology rules the world, word traveled veryyy fast, and I hear, within an hour of the announcement, about two-hour church. This only strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of Russell M. Nelson as prophet. He is constantly receiving revelation for us and is so in tune with the spirit!! He is awesome! And I am excited to see how that changes the gospel-centered family on Sundays and throughout the week! It will be cool to see that implemented while I am on my mission!

So this was a week of sadness but so much happiness! So today, I said goodbye to my beloved trainer, Sister De Leon. I cried this whole week! We were a mess! We went to do weekly planning yesterday, and we, instead, did weekly crying. Not much planning occurred. Hahaha it was quite a girly cry fest. I don't know what I am thinking getting so close to foreign people who live across the world! Makes my heart ache!! But I know that we will be friends forever, because missions are amazing like that. Missions truly are forever.

But as for the week of happiness, Sister De Leon and I set a goal to find one new person to teach everyday, or else we can't go home. We wanted her last week here to be awesome. So we set that goal and totally easily accomplished it! It was so cool to see that when we set goals that are within God's goodness, He will help us accomplish them. There was one day, we almost didn't go home, but the first person we opened our mouth to, accepted the first lesson and asked us why we walk around. I got to bear my testimony that I am here walking around in a third world country, because I know this gospel is true. I know this gospel is the only true way to happiness and that every person on this earth needs this gospel. I started crying cause I love this gospel so much. It was such a powerful testimony and hopefully we will be able to teach him again. He works a lot that makes him need to travel everyday for hours and hours. But anyways, it was sooo cool to see the miracle of the Lord working in our work as we found new people to potentially save for eternity. I love this gospel so much and don't want to think about where I would be without it! It is just too good to not have! Truly, I could talk forever about how amazing this gospel is!!!

Today was transfer day, so I am in Bacolod today, so I have fast internet!! Yay!!! I got my new companion and she is from Mindanaw Philippines and her name is Sister Melgaso! It is ALSO her last 6 weeks here in the mission so I will yet again be sending my companion home. I will be leading the area so I am excited about that! She seems super sweet and I am excited to see how the Lord needs me to serve her! I know every one of my companions is who the Lord wants for me! So I am excited to learn lots from her these next 6 weeks.

This week, I finished the Book of Mormon AND Jesus the Christ!! I read Jesus the Christ in 24 days and The Book of Mormon in 2 1/2 months. I love both of those books so much. Like sooo much. I loved reading about my Savior and learning more about all his miracles and sacrifices for us that he did. The most astonishing thing to me that I learned while reading the 735 page book called Jesus the Christ, is just how selfless our brother, our Savior is. He went through the most horrible kinds of torture again and again and mocking and hatred, and yet, he failed not to look outwards and find opportunities to serve. After he went through the most deepest and darkest pain in Gethsemane, he healed one of the guards ears that had been cut off under Peter's anger. He healed a guard that was taking Him to His death. That is so amazing and I want to be like that.

There are countless stories in the Book of Mormon about how charity and obedience brings exaltation and obviously disobedience and pride bring damnation. Without charity, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Without charity, it is as if we are nothing. That is so powerful to me. I want to become more like my Savior by becoming more charitable. I want to, when people hurt my feelings and treat me horribly, turn outwards and serve them. I did that once here about a week ago, where I was feeling angry feelings and wanting to be heard, but instead I got up, wiped my tears, and asked how I could help and found different ways to serve. I immediately felt happier and my tears were dried up and replaced with happiness. I know turning outwards, no matter how much justice you want for someone else's wrongs, will bless you immensely. Try to think about how Jesus would act in that situation and the answer will always be "turn outwards." I love this gospel and if you are not reading the Book of Mormon everyday, DO IT. And if you have not read Jesus the Christ, DO IT. NOW.

I love y'all so much and I am so so thankful for my wonderful family that will be with me forever and ever through the Atonement of my wonderful Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Love,

Sister Robertson

Our last week together

My new companion

In the striped pink shirt, is one of our new investigators. And then the rest are people we already teach. We taught four different lessons in one hour!

This was us with shiny eyes because we just cried hahaha. Our last night together :(

Branch president and his wife

Matoy and us! He is a fisherman and its really hard for him to come to church because of prime fishing time but he did!

Our Sunday Best

Another one of our new investigators. Her name is Lordes and she feels happy during our lessons

Our cute branch threw a going away party for Sister De Leon!

Our cute new investigator Ben Daito. He is a pastor and so so active in our lessons

this is me doing my wall sit while peeling potatoes hahha. So I usually read Jesus the Christ while I do wall sits every morning or the Book of Mormon, but this morning, Sister De Leon needed my help with breakfast so I helped her while doing my wallsit hahha. I have gotten up to a 3 1/2 minute wallsit!!!!

these were the cute nanay's cooking a lot of food for sis de leon's farewell

Late night selfie. We wanted to take a lot of pictures this week for our last week together

golden hour selfie hahha

You asked for pictures of my apartment. Here you go. This is our living space.

Here is our room! Right is my bed and left is Sis De Leon's (:

This is our office space (:

Our bathroom

Our Shower

Our sink and stove

An obligatory sunset picture. I could take these every day. They're so beautiful

Week 11 - It started raining again this week

Okay so I just typed out my whole email and then lost it because the computer crashed so you gotta love the Philippines(: But nothing super interesting happened this week having to do with missionary work. One sad thing. We had my first baptism date scheduled for two little girls (9 and 10 years old) and the day before their baptism, they said they couldn't get baptized anymore because their grandpa said they would be forbidden to stay at his house ever again if they did. So that was super sad and we are trying to work things out there. I was really excited and it was so heartbreaking to see them crying over the fact that they couldn't get baptized.

Other than that, really only one thing interesting happened. So Sister De Leon and I were on the way home from our last appointment of the night. We were almost home, when all of a sudden, I saw a white guy walking towards me. Probably in his late 20's or early 30's. Of course I was shocked cause there are none of those here, so I went to say hi. I spoke in Ilonggo cause I'm super ridiculous and can't speak english naturally. So after he looked confused and I realized I needed to speak english, I said hello. He seemed very happy and said "It is so good to see another white person" hahha. Of course, in my missionary mindset, I was like OH OPPORTUNITY! So I was thinking we could teach him the next day. He was from Poland and said he travels the world for a living, so he is constantly on the move. But he said he saw boys with the same nametag as us on the bus. So I was excited, but he said he would be out of our area the next day. Then.. things got weird. Hahah. He was like "do you want to go get some chicken?" And I told him we were headed home and he was like "no lets go get some drinks. On me." And thats when I realized he didn't want the gospel.. he wanted a date. So I nervously was like uh sorry we got to get home. And shook his hand goodbye and walked away. Sister De Leon and I walked right home and locked the doors. Hahahha so yeah I got asked out on a date for the first time ever on my mission. So yeah that was my first experience with a white person here! So great! :,) 

But yeah thats really the only interesting thing here this week. The rain has started once again so we've just been living life as usual in the Philippines. This week went by really fast and it was a happy week for me. We had a lot of fun. Sister De Leon goes home next monday so thats superrr sad and we are super sad about that. But of course, her family is super excited to see her. I am so sad to lose her though. She is such a light in my life and we are constantly laughing which is such good medicine for anything. 

I love being here. I have had so many little miracles on my mission already. God is so amazing and hears and answers prayers. He still does miracles on the earth today, through our faith and prayers to Him. I love this gospel so much and am so thankful for the opportunity to share this knowledge with others.

I love y'all and miss y'all always!!!!

Sister Robertson

this is our sweet friend Gonaly. She is 18 and has three husbands and has a 1 year old baby. But shes super amazing to teach

Sister De Leon made Chicken Curry!!! YUM!!

me with an okay sunset(:

Sweet Mary (left) and Princess (right)

 found my basketball!! Hahah represent the robertson nameee

this was us getting american food from an american owner! Super yum! But dad, your burgers are wayyyy better;)

we got a microwave this week!! SUPER FANCY YAY

here is us going through rice and sugar cane fields to go minister to a family in the ward. so Missionary!

another breathtaking sunset

Our mission president wanted us to write three words that are meaningful to us and take a picture with them for our keepsake at the end of the mission. so this is what I wrote(:

Here is my picture I sent with it

here is me being artsy. what is new?!