Dear Home,
I'm staying here! We got our transfer calls last Saturday, and I'm spending my second-last transfer staying in Regina. Elder Higginson is getting moved to Winnipeg, where he'll be serving with one of my favorite companions for that missionary's last transfer, and I'm only 6 weeks behind him. Only three months left. The End of April is only three months away. Scary.
I think I've had a good mission. Lot's of fun experiences and learning experiences. I've met a lot of great people. I'll be serving with Elder Roth now. He was in my MTC group, and we'll be going home at the same time. Our missionary apartment will probably close around the same time that we leave, too. Since the mission is down-sizing, we won't need as many apartments to house the smaller number of missionaries, and the apartment I live in now is one of those apartments that we're not going to need anymore. From here, it looks like Elder Roth and I will serve together for our last 3 months, and then the apartment will stop being inhabited by missionaries. We've got a lot of junk to throw away. =S
But it'll be alright. I've been around Elder Roth quite a few times already, and I think we'll get along fine. I'm sorry to say goodbye to some other missionaries that were serving here in Regina, but I bet we'll keep in touch. If we happen to lose contact with each other, we can find each other again on Facebook, so no worries.
The only thing I DO worry about is how well the area is going to do now that Elder Higginson is leaving. He was so good at remembering everyone we talked to and everything that was said. Often, he would say 'Oh, we need to call so-and-so.' and I would say 'Who?' and he'd say 'You know, that Filipino lady, in her 30s, she has a son in Australia...' and I'd still have no clue who he was talking about. My memory is
terrible. I guess that's why they have missionaries write everything down. I would be completely, hopelessly lost without my planner. And our area book is vital, too. Man, if we didn't have those records, A LOT of people would fall through the cracks. =( I wonder how God keeps track of us all...
I've got a long way to go before I can even comprehend how amazing God is. He is, by far, the best. And I'm really grateful for that. I don't know how God knows and loves each and every one of us; I just know that He does, and that's really something. More than that, He wants us to be happy, and He knows what's going to make us happy, so He reaches out and lovingly, patiently guides each of us to where He is. I find that incredible. To think that God knows everything, absolutely everything... Wow. That just blows my mind.
Now my time should be about up. I don't want the other Elders to have to wait for me, so I'd better sign off.
Love, your cold hands, warm heart missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
- note from Mom - Andrew attached some pictures but I cannot put them on now from here at work. Hopefully, we can get them up later.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
January 24, 2011
Dear Home,
I promised all of you pictures. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera cable, so even though I remembered to bring my camera Emailing with me, I can't get any pictures onto the computer. =( Sorry! I'll make a note to bring my cables next week.
Speaking about next week, that's when I'll be able to tell you my new transfer calls. We'll be getting our calls this weekend, and even though it's not likely that I'm leaving this apartment right now, it's possible, so for those of you who mail me directly, not through the Mission Office, (which is mostly just Mom) hold onto your mail for a week. Next Monday, I'll tell you where to send it.
So, in addition to forgetting the camera cable, I also forgot my planner, which had all my notes of what I wanted to write to you, but I think I can remember the two big things.
First, my companion and I walked across the world's largest bridge over the smallest body of water. At least, I think that's what it is. It's the bridge on Albert street close to the center of Regina. I heard that, in the Guiness Book of World Records, it's listed as the largest bridge over the smallest body of water. If I'm not mistaken, that means that if there's a bridge that's larger than this one, it's over a bigger puddle. If there's a bridge over a smaller puddle, it's gotta be a smaller bridge. I heard that they built it during the depression, when everyone was just itching for something to do, so they built themselves a bridge that's WAY bigger than it needed to be. I've got pictures of it... on my camera. =/
The other piece of big news- well, it's not big news, but it's funny- is that I just recently got a bunch of CDs from a past companion. I've been burning music onto re-writable CDs for most of my mission (it's not illegal here, or so I'm told). Since I plan on re-using these CDs later, instead of labeling the CDs based on the music they have on them now, I gave them crazy nick-names. For example, I have a CD of Celtic Music playing well-known hymns. Instead of naming the CD 'Celtic Hymns', I named it 'Red Ice Homicide', just for fun. And Elder Sheffield had loads of fun naming the 5 CDs he sent me. Most of these titles are going to be in-jokes, so don't worry if you don't get it. 'Abraham Lincoln', 'Seeth Lame Go', 'Andrew, we R DNA', 'Klien Fell Over Dead', and 'Romantic Lyrics and Overtones'. I couldn't stop laughing when I read them, but I can't listen to them because I don't have a CD player right now, but I bet I'll have access to one in about a week from now.
Gotta go. Our ride is leaving.
Love, your ride-bumming missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
PS. Miriam, I got your package. Thanks! =)
I promised all of you pictures. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera cable, so even though I remembered to bring my camera Emailing with me, I can't get any pictures onto the computer. =( Sorry! I'll make a note to bring my cables next week.
Speaking about next week, that's when I'll be able to tell you my new transfer calls. We'll be getting our calls this weekend, and even though it's not likely that I'm leaving this apartment right now, it's possible, so for those of you who mail me directly, not through the Mission Office, (which is mostly just Mom) hold onto your mail for a week. Next Monday, I'll tell you where to send it.
So, in addition to forgetting the camera cable, I also forgot my planner, which had all my notes of what I wanted to write to you, but I think I can remember the two big things.
First, my companion and I walked across the world's largest bridge over the smallest body of water. At least, I think that's what it is. It's the bridge on Albert street close to the center of Regina. I heard that, in the Guiness Book of World Records, it's listed as the largest bridge over the smallest body of water. If I'm not mistaken, that means that if there's a bridge that's larger than this one, it's over a bigger puddle. If there's a bridge over a smaller puddle, it's gotta be a smaller bridge. I heard that they built it during the depression, when everyone was just itching for something to do, so they built themselves a bridge that's WAY bigger than it needed to be. I've got pictures of it... on my camera. =/
The other piece of big news- well, it's not big news, but it's funny- is that I just recently got a bunch of CDs from a past companion. I've been burning music onto re-writable CDs for most of my mission (it's not illegal here, or so I'm told). Since I plan on re-using these CDs later, instead of labeling the CDs based on the music they have on them now, I gave them crazy nick-names. For example, I have a CD of Celtic Music playing well-known hymns. Instead of naming the CD 'Celtic Hymns', I named it 'Red Ice Homicide', just for fun. And Elder Sheffield had loads of fun naming the 5 CDs he sent me. Most of these titles are going to be in-jokes, so don't worry if you don't get it. 'Abraham Lincoln', 'Seeth Lame Go', 'Andrew, we R DNA', 'Klien Fell Over Dead', and 'Romantic Lyrics and Overtones'. I couldn't stop laughing when I read them, but I can't listen to them because I don't have a CD player right now, but I bet I'll have access to one in about a week from now.
Gotta go. Our ride is leaving.
Love, your ride-bumming missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
PS. Miriam, I got your package. Thanks! =)
Monday, January 17, 2011
January 17, 2011
Dear Home,
I'm not sure how much time I have. I got here quite a while ago (at least, that's how it feels), but I've spent all that time writing to individuals, and it feels like my hour may be just about up. But nobody's watching the clock as far as I know, so I should have enough time to write everything that I want to write, starting with...
A long time ago, someone asked me for pictures of the snow. And very recently, someone else asked me for pictures of my new, improved face. I haven't taken very many pictures lately, but it seems like I'll have to change that very soon. Next week, there will be pictures.
In return, there's a member in this area who wants to know what my house looks like. And a while ago, I heard some rumors about possibly painting the outside of the house, so I'm a bit curious about if the appearance of my home has changed. Would any of you be willing to mail and/or Email me pictures of my home? Thanks. ^^ (note from mom - there's been talk about future painting, but nothing happening soon)
As for news of what's going on with the missionary work in Canada, things are looking good! We've been keeping track of how much of our working hours we're actually spending working, and the numbers we've been seeing shot up almost immediately. The improvement has been huge, the Spirit has been helping a lot, and just about everything seems to be going better! We have a lot to be thankful for around here. =) I'm grateful for a God who knows just what we need to help us improve. I'm grateful that He cares enough about us that He never gives up on us. I'm grateful for the guidance that He gives us. I'm grateful that God wants us to be more like He is so we can be happy. And I'm grateful that it's possible for us to improve so that we can be more happy.
I'm also grateful for this sweater I'm wearing. It was getting pretty cold a while ago, so I decided to go the full nine yards and make sure I was doing everything I could to be warmer, including wearing a sweater. A few days later, I went without the sweater layer, and I noticed a big difference. Now I'm wearing a sweater that's warm enough to make a difference, yet thin enough to not get it the way. Strangely, the sleeves of my arms like the feel of this sweater. But it's so warm in this building where I am that I kind of wish I weren't wearing it right now. Lol. Oh, well. I'll appreciate the sweater pretty well once I get outside. =)
Anyhow, I think my time is about up, so I'd better get going. Keep the faith!
Love, your many-miles-but-few-months-away missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts.
I'm not sure how much time I have. I got here quite a while ago (at least, that's how it feels), but I've spent all that time writing to individuals, and it feels like my hour may be just about up. But nobody's watching the clock as far as I know, so I should have enough time to write everything that I want to write, starting with...
A long time ago, someone asked me for pictures of the snow. And very recently, someone else asked me for pictures of my new, improved face. I haven't taken very many pictures lately, but it seems like I'll have to change that very soon. Next week, there will be pictures.
In return, there's a member in this area who wants to know what my house looks like. And a while ago, I heard some rumors about possibly painting the outside of the house, so I'm a bit curious about if the appearance of my home has changed. Would any of you be willing to mail and/or Email me pictures of my home? Thanks. ^^ (note from mom - there's been talk about future painting, but nothing happening soon)
As for news of what's going on with the missionary work in Canada, things are looking good! We've been keeping track of how much of our working hours we're actually spending working, and the numbers we've been seeing shot up almost immediately. The improvement has been huge, the Spirit has been helping a lot, and just about everything seems to be going better! We have a lot to be thankful for around here. =) I'm grateful for a God who knows just what we need to help us improve. I'm grateful that He cares enough about us that He never gives up on us. I'm grateful for the guidance that He gives us. I'm grateful that God wants us to be more like He is so we can be happy. And I'm grateful that it's possible for us to improve so that we can be more happy.
I'm also grateful for this sweater I'm wearing. It was getting pretty cold a while ago, so I decided to go the full nine yards and make sure I was doing everything I could to be warmer, including wearing a sweater. A few days later, I went without the sweater layer, and I noticed a big difference. Now I'm wearing a sweater that's warm enough to make a difference, yet thin enough to not get it the way. Strangely, the sleeves of my arms like the feel of this sweater. But it's so warm in this building where I am that I kind of wish I weren't wearing it right now. Lol. Oh, well. I'll appreciate the sweater pretty well once I get outside. =)
Anyhow, I think my time is about up, so I'd better get going. Keep the faith!
Love, your many-miles-but-few-months-away missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts.
Monday, January 10, 2011
January 10, 2011 Accutane and Arnold
Dear Home,
The problem with keeping secrets about things is that you can't tell anybody, even when it's really exciting, inspiring, and encouraging. Just know that miracles are happening right now, and it's the best thing that ever happened to me. =)
In other news, Elder Higginson's finger is healing well. He cut it washing a knife at a member's home a while back, and we spent all that evening driving back and forth from the hospital. At first, we were just going to fix it ourselves, but we felt like we needed professional help. Medical treatment is free here, if you're in the right circles, and we have health cards now, so we thought 'what could it hurt?' As it turns out, Elder Higginson's Health Card had expired at the end of the year, and there apparently was some kind of problem when he 'renewed' it a month or so ago. So we thought 'well, that's just great. We'll HAVE to fix it ourselves now.' So we bought some bandaging stuff and did the best we could, but it wasn't good enough. With the advice of trusted, wise adults and mission leaders, we went back to the hospital, worried that we'd be costing the mission a fortune, but knowing that something needed to be done. After a long while, Elder Higgionson's finger was properly medicated and treated, and we were all free to go home. But the fun didn't end there. Elder Higginson very diligently sought information as to the status of his health card. Why wasn't it renewed in time? We don't know, but it's renewed now, and the hospital was told to back-date his coverage, so the mission won't be charged and arm and a leg.
Now we get to MY medical issues! xD I told you all that I'm on Accutane. I was prescribed it on December 8 and was given a month's supply. Elementary School math will tell you that I'm out of Accutane by now. I have been for the whole weekend. Here's what happened. On Friday, we were going to get my prescription renewed, but we missed our bus, got there way later than we wanted to, and were told that the line was so long that the earliest we could get in was 6 oclock. We had and appointment at 6 that evening. =/ The next day, their hours were from 9am to 6pm. We had back-to-back appointments all day until that evening. The day after that was yesterday- Sunday- So we couldn't get in then either. We're going into the clinic tonight. A member is giving us a ride there. We'll be let into the clinic almost immediately after it opens. In the meantime, I've been enjoying a break from the annoying side-effects. =P
Wanna know the really bad news? Accutane is expensive, and even though I have a working health card, it doesn't cover prescription medicine. Good news, there are very generous members in Winnipeg who donate money to the mission for whatever expenses the mission may have. Still, I don't want to be cutting into the money that could be better spent in other ways. Sister Paulson (who's in charge of the medical stuff) told me not to worry about it. I still will. But, by the end of my mission, I'll have saved up enough money out of my monthly allotment to pay the mission back for the Accutane. That makes me feel less-bad about the situation, but, in my opinion, it still stinks.
Good news: Accutane works! I've been taking it for a month now, and there is a noticeable difference! How do I know? I've been getting compliments from multiple people that I've never gotten from anyone before my mission (back when my acne was bad). Apparently, without the acne on my face, people think I look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I don't know how true that is, but I've heard it enough times from enough people to think there must be some truth to it. Coincidentally, I've been working out a bit harder lately- goodness know why.
But that's about all the news that I have for the general body. I still have an Email or two to send out to individuals, so I'd better get on that. I'll write to ya'll again next week!
Love, your (apparently) good-looking missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
PS I'm happy. ^^
The problem with keeping secrets about things is that you can't tell anybody, even when it's really exciting, inspiring, and encouraging. Just know that miracles are happening right now, and it's the best thing that ever happened to me. =)
In other news, Elder Higginson's finger is healing well. He cut it washing a knife at a member's home a while back, and we spent all that evening driving back and forth from the hospital. At first, we were just going to fix it ourselves, but we felt like we needed professional help. Medical treatment is free here, if you're in the right circles, and we have health cards now, so we thought 'what could it hurt?' As it turns out, Elder Higginson's Health Card had expired at the end of the year, and there apparently was some kind of problem when he 'renewed' it a month or so ago. So we thought 'well, that's just great. We'll HAVE to fix it ourselves now.' So we bought some bandaging stuff and did the best we could, but it wasn't good enough. With the advice of trusted, wise adults and mission leaders, we went back to the hospital, worried that we'd be costing the mission a fortune, but knowing that something needed to be done. After a long while, Elder Higgionson's finger was properly medicated and treated, and we were all free to go home. But the fun didn't end there. Elder Higginson very diligently sought information as to the status of his health card. Why wasn't it renewed in time? We don't know, but it's renewed now, and the hospital was told to back-date his coverage, so the mission won't be charged and arm and a leg.
Now we get to MY medical issues! xD I told you all that I'm on Accutane. I was prescribed it on December 8 and was given a month's supply. Elementary School math will tell you that I'm out of Accutane by now. I have been for the whole weekend. Here's what happened. On Friday, we were going to get my prescription renewed, but we missed our bus, got there way later than we wanted to, and were told that the line was so long that the earliest we could get in was 6 oclock. We had and appointment at 6 that evening. =/ The next day, their hours were from 9am to 6pm. We had back-to-back appointments all day until that evening. The day after that was yesterday- Sunday- So we couldn't get in then either. We're going into the clinic tonight. A member is giving us a ride there. We'll be let into the clinic almost immediately after it opens. In the meantime, I've been enjoying a break from the annoying side-effects. =P
Wanna know the really bad news? Accutane is expensive, and even though I have a working health card, it doesn't cover prescription medicine. Good news, there are very generous members in Winnipeg who donate money to the mission for whatever expenses the mission may have. Still, I don't want to be cutting into the money that could be better spent in other ways. Sister Paulson (who's in charge of the medical stuff) told me not to worry about it. I still will. But, by the end of my mission, I'll have saved up enough money out of my monthly allotment to pay the mission back for the Accutane. That makes me feel less-bad about the situation, but, in my opinion, it still stinks.
Good news: Accutane works! I've been taking it for a month now, and there is a noticeable difference! How do I know? I've been getting compliments from multiple people that I've never gotten from anyone before my mission (back when my acne was bad). Apparently, without the acne on my face, people think I look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I don't know how true that is, but I've heard it enough times from enough people to think there must be some truth to it. Coincidentally, I've been working out a bit harder lately- goodness know why.
But that's about all the news that I have for the general body. I still have an Email or two to send out to individuals, so I'd better get on that. I'll write to ya'll again next week!
Love, your (apparently) good-looking missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
PS I'm happy. ^^
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 3, 2011
Dear Home,
What a week!!
Sorry I wasn't able to Email you all last week. The computer place was closed, and it remained closed ALL WEEK LONG. Actually, It's still closed. I'm standing in a library now, using a temporary library card that a nice librarian made for me.
Christmas was great. =) Christmas morning Elder Higginson and I opened gifts with other missionaries in the area. Then we headed over to a member's house and basically spent all day there. They were SO nice! They gave us presents, fed us, let us use their telephone, and played Star Trek UNO with us (that was fun). They're great people. I am super glad I know them.
Actually, now that I think about it, we spend a lot of time with that member. He had us over for Christmas and New Year's Eve. He went out to a teaching appointment with us on New Year's Day, in the afternoon, and we ended up spending the rest of the evening with him as well. That's actually a funny story. Or a story that's kind of sad now, but will be funny later. The member already thinks it's hilarious, but it's still a bit soon for Elder Higginson to laugh about it. I want to tell you the story (and Elder Higginson's okay with that), but I may not have time. The same member I've been telling you about is coming to pick us two up from the library pretty soon and I don;t know if I'll have time. Maybe I'll just save it for next week.
Why would we need to be picked up from the library by a member? Good question. We don't have a car anymore. We HAD a car, but another car in the same District as us in one of the small towns outside of Regina accidentally wrecked their vehicle, and they need one more than we do, so the mission did some switching around with the cars and we ended up not having one, so a lot of our time over the past few days has been spent walking and riding the bus, and it's going to stay that way until the end of the transfer, which will be around....early February. But we'll be fine. Especially with those hand warmers I got for Christmas! Those things have saved my fingers at least once so far. That was an especially cold day, though, and we don't get many of those.
Anyhow, I've got to go. Thanks so much for being patient with me! I'll write you next week, I promise.
Love, your happy and well-blessed missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
What a week!!
Sorry I wasn't able to Email you all last week. The computer place was closed, and it remained closed ALL WEEK LONG. Actually, It's still closed. I'm standing in a library now, using a temporary library card that a nice librarian made for me.
Christmas was great. =) Christmas morning Elder Higginson and I opened gifts with other missionaries in the area. Then we headed over to a member's house and basically spent all day there. They were SO nice! They gave us presents, fed us, let us use their telephone, and played Star Trek UNO with us (that was fun). They're great people. I am super glad I know them.
Actually, now that I think about it, we spend a lot of time with that member. He had us over for Christmas and New Year's Eve. He went out to a teaching appointment with us on New Year's Day, in the afternoon, and we ended up spending the rest of the evening with him as well. That's actually a funny story. Or a story that's kind of sad now, but will be funny later. The member already thinks it's hilarious, but it's still a bit soon for Elder Higginson to laugh about it. I want to tell you the story (and Elder Higginson's okay with that), but I may not have time. The same member I've been telling you about is coming to pick us two up from the library pretty soon and I don;t know if I'll have time. Maybe I'll just save it for next week.
Why would we need to be picked up from the library by a member? Good question. We don't have a car anymore. We HAD a car, but another car in the same District as us in one of the small towns outside of Regina accidentally wrecked their vehicle, and they need one more than we do, so the mission did some switching around with the cars and we ended up not having one, so a lot of our time over the past few days has been spent walking and riding the bus, and it's going to stay that way until the end of the transfer, which will be around....early February. But we'll be fine. Especially with those hand warmers I got for Christmas! Those things have saved my fingers at least once so far. That was an especially cold day, though, and we don't get many of those.
Anyhow, I've got to go. Thanks so much for being patient with me! I'll write you next week, I promise.
Love, your happy and well-blessed missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
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