Dear Home,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Of course, I've already wished a Merry Christmas to most of my readers, and Christmas Day has passed anyway, so... It's the thought that counts. =s
But anyway, since you all want to know what I've been up to, my Christmas was great. On Christmas Eve, Elder Grimshaw and I stopped by the Wanners (members in our ward), and they had a gift for each of us. Elder Grimshaw opened his right away (after having been told that he was free to do so), but I opted to wait. I knew we were getting the same thing, though, so the surprise was gone anyway. Oh well.
Later that evening, we went to the Andresons (more members) who fed us turkey dinner and challenged us to a game of ____________(You have to guess. It's similar to the last game that I played in California, but that's probably more of a dead givaway than a hint).
Funny Story: We got there before Brother Anderson did, and I REALLY had to pee, so Elder Grimshaw and I walked back and forth in the hall outside of their apartment for several minutes. After a while though, I /had/ to go. Sister Andreson kindly stepped outside for a moment so Elder Grimshaw and I could go in and use their washroom. On the way out, however, I accidentally left the still-wrapped gift from the Wanners on the counter. Brother Andreson and some more guests soon arrived and we all went inside. Durring dinner, I noticed that I didn't have the Wanners gift anymore... and it somehow ended up underneath the Anderson's Christmas Tree. I decided to leave it there. I had already seen what it was, and I knew the Andresons would like it more than I would. I'm not going to tell the Wanners, though. I have no idea what they would think about all this. Brother Anderson thought it was hilarious when I told him. xD I think it's pretty funny, too.
On Christmas day, we tried to sleep in, but we couldn't. We forgot to turn off the alarm. =/ At about 9:30, every missionary in Saskatoon went to the Stake Center to open our gifts and have a White Elephant Gift Exchange. It went very nicely, and I got a LOT of really nice gifts! I'll have to write Thank You notes pretty soon. ^^ Then we shovelled some snow. (We would've volunteered at the hospital, but every other good person in Saskatoon beat us to it. The hospital already had all the volunteers they could handle.) As it turns out, shovelling snow can be a lot of fun, if you make it competitive. ^^ I won. =D
After snow-shovelling, we went back to the church and played board games. I lost Star Wars RISK, big time! The Empire took over the galaxy, but life goes on.
It was great to call home. ^^ It was SO nice to talk to my brothers and sisters again, as well and my Hinds neice and nephew, and, of course, my mom. I probably spent WAY too much time on the phone. I heard of an elder who took that long on the phone for his call home last year, and he lost his Emailling privilege for THREE WEEKS! But that was under a diferent, stricter Mission President. President Paulson probably won't be quite so harsh. Still, talking for two hours when we're only supposed to talk for 40 minutes is not a good thing. We'll do better next time.
The Watsons fed us Christmas Dinner. Turkey again. There's nothing /wrong/ with Turkey, but we've gotten the 'traditional' meal SO many times! I am really grateful for the Watson's kindness, and I made sure they knew that, but... I'm glad we weren't offered the leftovers.
The giant inflatable thing that I mentioned durring our phone call will have to wait to be identified next week. I'm out of time. Keep guessing and let me know what you think it was, and I'll tell you the answer next week.
I love you all, and I wish you a happy new year!
Your festive missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
While serving a full-time mission, missionaries only contact
with family and friends is by mail except for a phone call on
Christmas and on Mother's Day. (If they are in the Missionary Training
Center as Andrew was on Mother's Day, they do not get a phone call -
too few phones for the number of missionaries and they have only
recently left home.) As you may imagine these calls are highly
anticipated.
About 1pm our time, 3pm Saskatoon time, Andrew called my cell,
gave me his contact information, and I called him back. For almost 2
hours (1 hour, 54 minutes , 44 seconds) we passed him around,
including a conference call to Washington state. He was able to talk
to all of his siblings, all 3 of his siblings-in-law, a brief Merry
Christmas from a niece and a nephew, and, of course, me, Mom. (I
claimed bookend privileges.)
All 16 of the Saskatoon elders were gathered at a church
building, playing games and calling home. (Each companionship has a
cell phone.) A wonderful couple, Brother and Sister Watson, was
preparing to feed all 16 young men Christmas dinner.
Elder Robarts sounded good, strong, and happy. He spoke
enthusastically of the beauty of the sparkling snow and the joys of
sliding on ice. He talked about chatting with people who were out
putting up their Christmas lights, offering to help, but at least
getting to talk to them and share a brief message. He admitted that
sometimes learning to live with a new companion was a growth
experience. He listened eagerly to Christmas tales from home - for
instance how his brother Joseph twice had to do treasure hunts through
the house to find his gifts. He expressed gratitude for packages from
home, his sister Sariah, and friends the Miles family. He said it was
one of the best Christmases ever.
There was joy in his voice and it was a joy to hear it.
Sent from my iPod
While serving a full-time mission, missionaries only contact
with family and friends is by mail except for a phone call on
Christmas and on Mother's Day. (If they are in the Missionary Training
Center as Andrew was on Mother's Day, they do not get a phone call -
too few phones for the number of missionaries and they have only
recently left home.) As you may imagine these calls are highly
anticipated.
About 1pm our time, 3pm Saskatoon time, Andrew called my cell,
gave me his contact information, and I called him back. For almost 2
hours (1 hour, 54 minutes , 44 seconds) we passed him around,
including a conference call to Washington state. He was able to talk
to all of his siblings, all 3 of his siblings-in-law, a brief Merry
Christmas from a niece and a nephew, and, of course, me, Mom. (I
claimed bookend privileges.)
All 16 of the Saskatoon elders were gathered at a church
building, playing games and calling home. (Each companionship has a
cell phone.) A wonderful couple, Brother and Sister Watson, was
preparing to feed all 16 young men Christmas dinner.
Elder Robarts sounded good, strong, and happy. He spoke
enthusastically of the beauty of the sparkling snow and the joys of
sliding on ice. He talked about chatting with people who were out
putting up their Christmas lights, offering to help, but at least
getting to talk to them and share a brief message. He admitted that
sometimes learning to live with a new companion was a growth
experience. He listened eagerly to Christmas tales from home - for
instance how his brother Joseph twice had to do treasure hunts through
the house to find his gifts. He expressed gratitude for packages from
home, his sister Sariah, and friends the Miles family. He said it was
one of the best Christmases ever.
There was joy in his voice and it was a joy to hear it.
Sent from my iPod
Monday, December 21, 2009
December 21, 2009
Dear Home,
I heard that you really liked my last Email home. Unfortunately, that Email took me about an hour to write, and now I only have 15 minutes. No pressure, eh? xD
But there is a rule in the white handbook that says that I should tell you all about my spiritual experiences, so that's just what I'm going to do.... Starting next week. =/ Sorry, my mind's drawing a blank right now. But I'll take notes this week on any spiritual experiences that I could share, so there should be something worth reading next week.
Or maybe I'm just saying that so more people will read my blog. =P I'm pretty sure that there are some people that I'd want reading my blog that aren't anymore, so that's a little disappointing. =/
Not that I don't deserve to be disappointed. The packages that I sent home and to my sister, Sariah, are pathetic, especially when you consider how late they are. A 'Do not open before Christmas' note would surely be unnecisary. Open Immediately.
It has warmed up a lot since last week. ^^ It was only minus 10 yesterday. Today's a bit cooler, but we're mostly inside on P-Days anyway, so no worries. ^^
Anyhow, I gotta get going, so Merry Christmas! Talk to you later! (Well, most of you. -is excited-)
Love, your glittery snow-loving missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
(( PS note to Teresa: There is snow, but it's just frost and dusting. The snow isn't deep enough for playing in, so there are no pictures to send you yet. =S I apollogize for the delay. ))
I heard that you really liked my last Email home. Unfortunately, that Email took me about an hour to write, and now I only have 15 minutes. No pressure, eh? xD
But there is a rule in the white handbook that says that I should tell you all about my spiritual experiences, so that's just what I'm going to do.... Starting next week. =/ Sorry, my mind's drawing a blank right now. But I'll take notes this week on any spiritual experiences that I could share, so there should be something worth reading next week.
Or maybe I'm just saying that so more people will read my blog. =P I'm pretty sure that there are some people that I'd want reading my blog that aren't anymore, so that's a little disappointing. =/
Not that I don't deserve to be disappointed. The packages that I sent home and to my sister, Sariah, are pathetic, especially when you consider how late they are. A 'Do not open before Christmas' note would surely be unnecisary. Open Immediately.
It has warmed up a lot since last week. ^^ It was only minus 10 yesterday. Today's a bit cooler, but we're mostly inside on P-Days anyway, so no worries. ^^
Anyhow, I gotta get going, so Merry Christmas! Talk to you later! (Well, most of you. -is excited-)
Love, your glittery snow-loving missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
(( PS note to Teresa: There is snow, but it's just frost and dusting. The snow isn't deep enough for playing in, so there are no pictures to send you yet. =S I apollogize for the delay. ))
Monday, December 14, 2009
December 14, 2009, A Testimony
Dear Home,
I don't need to tell you that last week's attempt at writing Emails home was a horrible failure. But it taught me an important lesson: First Things First.
All too often, I answer my Emails in the order I recieve them, then write 'Home'. Last week, that didn't work out so well, so today I'm following the philosophy that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Also, I REALLY need to tell you about the investigators Elder Grimshaw and I have been blessed with.
First, I promised I'd tell you about.... Megan (names have been changed). Megan is a superstar! Elder Grimshaw gave her a Book of Mormon just before I came into the area, and she's been reading it ever since. She's in the Book of Alma right now, just about to read the story about Ammon the Missionary. She is going to love it!
And reading the book isn't the only thing Megan has been doing. She calls us with her questions. A few weeks ago, she left a message on our phone asking what 'mana' was, referring to the part of the Book of Mormon where Nephi reminds his brothers of how God blessed the Isrealites. She also does the "Additional Study" in the back of the missionary lesson pamphlets, looking up the scriptures and answering the questions. Megan has made studying the Book of Mormon an important part of her life.
But it's not the only thing going on in her life (Thank Goodness!). She also spends time with her family and helps take care of her injured aunt. And between all the things she has on her plate right now and the general buisiness of the holidays, she hasn't had the time to read the Book of Mormon lately, let alone set aside time to visit with the missionaries. We continue to pray for her and her family, especially for her aunt, but as far as sharing the Gospel with her goes, all we can do is wait for her schedule to clear up.
Another investigator we have is.... Thomas. Tom is a great man, who is /VERY/ well prepared to recieve the peace that the Gospel brings. I can't really tell you too much about him because some things are just too sacred to talk about in an Email (Much less post on a blog!), but what I can tell you is that Thomas's learning of the Gopsel, especially the means by which he came into contact with the church at this time, is obviously the will of God. Seriously, if I told you what happened, you either wouldn't believe me, or you would know without a doubt that this is God's true church. I know that it is, and my testimony has been greatly strengthen by having met Thomas. I feel so blessed to be one of the missionaries teaching him. When people talk about their missions, they often mention a 'Golden Contact', someone who was so ready and willing to accept the Gospel that it was a sacred privilege to teach them. Thomas is one of those people. I'm amazed that God trusts me enough to watch over Tom and guide him through the process of conversion.
After seeing what I've seen, hearing what I've heard, and feeling the spirit that I've felt, there's no doubt in my mind that this church is true. I know that Jesus lives. I know that God lives, and loves us, and works actively in our lives. I know that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest blessing that we can have in our lives, and I am growing more grateful by the day that I have been given this gift, and that I now have the sacred calling to share this gift with as many people as will accept it. And I thank God that there are so many people that are preparing themselves to enter into the covenant of baptism so they can recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost as well. I am so blessed.
This testimony would be a lot more moving in person. =/ I wish that everyone who's reading this blog could hear me bear my testimony in person. I love you all so much, and because I love you, I want to share with you the things that I know, the things that I've learned. I wish that all the people on Earth could learn the things that I've learned. It would bless them all so much. But, like Ammon said toward the end of the record of his mission, I should be content with the blessings that I've been given, and not wish for any unearthly power to share my testimony with everyone. Just the people I know personally. Still, I wish that I could share my testimony with all of you. Maybe if I'm faithful, God will grant me that wish.
Love, your greatly blessed missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
I don't need to tell you that last week's attempt at writing Emails home was a horrible failure. But it taught me an important lesson: First Things First.
All too often, I answer my Emails in the order I recieve them, then write 'Home'. Last week, that didn't work out so well, so today I'm following the philosophy that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Also, I REALLY need to tell you about the investigators Elder Grimshaw and I have been blessed with.
First, I promised I'd tell you about.... Megan (names have been changed). Megan is a superstar! Elder Grimshaw gave her a Book of Mormon just before I came into the area, and she's been reading it ever since. She's in the Book of Alma right now, just about to read the story about Ammon the Missionary. She is going to love it!
And reading the book isn't the only thing Megan has been doing. She calls us with her questions. A few weeks ago, she left a message on our phone asking what 'mana' was, referring to the part of the Book of Mormon where Nephi reminds his brothers of how God blessed the Isrealites. She also does the "Additional Study" in the back of the missionary lesson pamphlets, looking up the scriptures and answering the questions. Megan has made studying the Book of Mormon an important part of her life.
But it's not the only thing going on in her life (Thank Goodness!). She also spends time with her family and helps take care of her injured aunt. And between all the things she has on her plate right now and the general buisiness of the holidays, she hasn't had the time to read the Book of Mormon lately, let alone set aside time to visit with the missionaries. We continue to pray for her and her family, especially for her aunt, but as far as sharing the Gospel with her goes, all we can do is wait for her schedule to clear up.
Another investigator we have is.... Thomas. Tom is a great man, who is /VERY/ well prepared to recieve the peace that the Gospel brings. I can't really tell you too much about him because some things are just too sacred to talk about in an Email (Much less post on a blog!), but what I can tell you is that Thomas's learning of the Gopsel, especially the means by which he came into contact with the church at this time, is obviously the will of God. Seriously, if I told you what happened, you either wouldn't believe me, or you would know without a doubt that this is God's true church. I know that it is, and my testimony has been greatly strengthen by having met Thomas. I feel so blessed to be one of the missionaries teaching him. When people talk about their missions, they often mention a 'Golden Contact', someone who was so ready and willing to accept the Gospel that it was a sacred privilege to teach them. Thomas is one of those people. I'm amazed that God trusts me enough to watch over Tom and guide him through the process of conversion.
After seeing what I've seen, hearing what I've heard, and feeling the spirit that I've felt, there's no doubt in my mind that this church is true. I know that Jesus lives. I know that God lives, and loves us, and works actively in our lives. I know that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest blessing that we can have in our lives, and I am growing more grateful by the day that I have been given this gift, and that I now have the sacred calling to share this gift with as many people as will accept it. And I thank God that there are so many people that are preparing themselves to enter into the covenant of baptism so they can recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost as well. I am so blessed.
This testimony would be a lot more moving in person. =/ I wish that everyone who's reading this blog could hear me bear my testimony in person. I love you all so much, and because I love you, I want to share with you the things that I know, the things that I've learned. I wish that all the people on Earth could learn the things that I've learned. It would bless them all so much. But, like Ammon said toward the end of the record of his mission, I should be content with the blessings that I've been given, and not wish for any unearthly power to share my testimony with everyone. Just the people I know personally. Still, I wish that I could share my testimony with all of you. Maybe if I'm faithful, God will grant me that wish.
Love, your greatly blessed missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
December 7, 2009
We didn't get a regular email letter yesterday, but Elder Robarts did answer a couple of emails from me - working out our Christmas phone call : ) and about the mail.
In one, he mentioned that he was on a 15 minute computer. 15 minutes??!!
Dear Mom,
The mail system here seems to be a bit irregular. It may be because I move so much, or it may just be Canada, or I don't know. I haven't really been documenting how often letters come. I'm usually too excited to think about what day it is or when my last letter came.
The computer just told me I only have five minutes left, so I've gotta get moving on.
More later, I promise!
Your cold missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
PS, it's -40 C outside right now, with the windchill. Normally, we would stay inside when it's this cold, but when you have important things to do, like going to appointments, or church, or to email your family, etc, you can go outside unless it's -50. At -50, you stay inside no matter what (if I'm not mistaken).
Dear Mom,
I got myself another 20 minutes. This computer has been reserved for someone else to use at 11am, so I'll have to get off then.
I'm not sure I like this library. =S
But anyway, to continue:
Don't worry about me feeling neglected and unloved. I know that transfer times are hard. But the good news is that we got our calls early this time around, so I already know that I'm going to be staying in Oakwood (206-535 3 Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK -whatever postal code I gave you last time-) for another month and a half.
Yeah, letters from the office vary in their travel time. The letters you send there will get to me at the next Zone Conference, visit from any missionary living in Winnipeg, or usually each transfer. Actually, I don't know a lot about how the system works. I just know that It's guarenteed to get to me, but it's also guarenteed to be slow. I think I would prefer it if letters were sent to my current address (if it's transfer time, just hold on to it for another week), and packages were sent to the mission office. I think that would work out nicely.
In closing, I would just like to say that I know that you're always thinking of me, especially when it's cold. It's actually not so bad right now. I just don't want to STAY outside. Walking from place to place is fine. ^^
Eh, once again, time's up.
Much love! Elder Andrew Robarts
In one, he mentioned that he was on a 15 minute computer. 15 minutes??!!
Dear Mom,
The mail system here seems to be a bit irregular. It may be because I move so much, or it may just be Canada, or I don't know. I haven't really been documenting how often letters come. I'm usually too excited to think about what day it is or when my last letter came.
The computer just told me I only have five minutes left, so I've gotta get moving on.
More later, I promise!
Your cold missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
PS, it's -40 C outside right now, with the windchill. Normally, we would stay inside when it's this cold, but when you have important things to do, like going to appointments, or church, or to email your family, etc, you can go outside unless it's -50. At -50, you stay inside no matter what (if I'm not mistaken).
Dear Mom,
I got myself another 20 minutes. This computer has been reserved for someone else to use at 11am, so I'll have to get off then.
I'm not sure I like this library. =S
But anyway, to continue:
Don't worry about me feeling neglected and unloved. I know that transfer times are hard. But the good news is that we got our calls early this time around, so I already know that I'm going to be staying in Oakwood (206-535 3 Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK -whatever postal code I gave you last time-) for another month and a half.
Yeah, letters from the office vary in their travel time. The letters you send there will get to me at the next Zone Conference, visit from any missionary living in Winnipeg, or usually each transfer. Actually, I don't know a lot about how the system works. I just know that It's guarenteed to get to me, but it's also guarenteed to be slow. I think I would prefer it if letters were sent to my current address (if it's transfer time, just hold on to it for another week), and packages were sent to the mission office. I think that would work out nicely.
In closing, I would just like to say that I know that you're always thinking of me, especially when it's cold. It's actually not so bad right now. I just don't want to STAY outside. Walking from place to place is fine. ^^
Eh, once again, time's up.
Much love! Elder Andrew Robarts
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