Dear Home,
I have five minutes. I might go overtime today.
I've been spending the past hour sending a few quick notes to assorted people, arguing with the dumb computer about whether or not I can send a few pictures to a missionary friend of mine, and making plans for what I'm going to do with my family shortly after I get home (hopefully a lot of hanging out, and maybe some eating).
It's strange to think of how little time I have left. Two months. Less than two months. Oi. =/
Oh, well. All I can do about it is try to make the time count. I'm going to try to spend every hour I can working. I want to find people to teach. I want to get a hold of people to teach. (Some people are really hard to catch at home!) I want to teach people about the Gospel, and I want to help people accept the Gospel so it can bless their lives like it has blessed mine. Sure, there are still difficulties. I still feel down sometimes. But I feel the influence of the spirit more often than I think I would if I hadn't received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For example, just now, I was thinking 'if the Spirit gives us feelings of happiness and the gift of the Holy Ghost promises that we'll always have the Spirit with us, as long as we're worthy, how come some worthy people can still be sad sometimes? Do they not really have the Spirit with them?' But then the Spirit touched my heart, letting me know that He is there. People can experience things that make them happy, like feeling the Spirit, while also experiencing things that make them unhappy, like getting hurt. The Spirit didn't leave them, but His influence is so gentle that we can easily get distracted and forget that He's there. At that point, we might be tempted to believe that He's not there, that God, for whatever reason, turned His back on us. But that's not true. God is always there for us. I believe that if we look for His influence in our lives, we'll see it. If we feel for His peace, we'll feel it. Sometimes, all we need to do is ask God if He's still there. He'll remind us.
I leave that testimony with you (fifteen minutes overtime), wishing that I could write more (and better).
Love, your good friend, Elder Andrew Robarts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
February 22, 2011
Dear Home,
Happy Family Day!
That's what the Canadians were celebrating to keep me away from Emailing ya'll yesterday. Oh, well. I'm a day late and 6 cents short, and it's okay. =)
Anyhow, my Mom (who is probably just about as trunky as I am) continually reminds me to really BE on my mission, to really think about what's going on up here in Regina and to not think so much about what's going to happen in Sacramento and the surrounding areas when I get home. I'll try to do that today. As much as I would like to talk about family dinners, courts of honor, camping trips and baptisms, I'll just have to tell you about life over here.
There is never enough time to do everything. BUT, the members here are wonderful. Brother G is helping his friend work towards baptism, and Brother C is fellowshipping a Part-Member family into full activity in the church. The work is rolling along smoothly. ^^
I'm also improving a lot in my own personal progress. Working hard towards worthy goals. The hardest part about goals is remembering that you set them. If you forget a worthy goal, it's impossible to reach it. I need to post reminders for myself around the apartment. That should do the trick. I wonder how many people set New Years Resolutions and then forget what their resolutions were by late February. I guess they weren't very Resolute about them, not that I can blame anyone for that. I've set good goals, then fell short of them. That's when you have to evaluate your goals, reestablish your commitment, and maybe set different goals towards the same aim.
I'd love to write more, but I am seriously out of time. =( I know and communicate with too many people when I Email. It can't be done in just one hour. =/ But anyway, I'm sorry for not giving you more of my time.
Love, you anxiously engaged missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
Happy Family Day!
That's what the Canadians were celebrating to keep me away from Emailing ya'll yesterday. Oh, well. I'm a day late and 6 cents short, and it's okay. =)
Anyhow, my Mom (who is probably just about as trunky as I am) continually reminds me to really BE on my mission, to really think about what's going on up here in Regina and to not think so much about what's going to happen in Sacramento and the surrounding areas when I get home. I'll try to do that today. As much as I would like to talk about family dinners, courts of honor, camping trips and baptisms, I'll just have to tell you about life over here.
There is never enough time to do everything. BUT, the members here are wonderful. Brother G is helping his friend work towards baptism, and Brother C is fellowshipping a Part-Member family into full activity in the church. The work is rolling along smoothly. ^^
I'm also improving a lot in my own personal progress. Working hard towards worthy goals. The hardest part about goals is remembering that you set them. If you forget a worthy goal, it's impossible to reach it. I need to post reminders for myself around the apartment. That should do the trick. I wonder how many people set New Years Resolutions and then forget what their resolutions were by late February. I guess they weren't very Resolute about them, not that I can blame anyone for that. I've set good goals, then fell short of them. That's when you have to evaluate your goals, reestablish your commitment, and maybe set different goals towards the same aim.
I'd love to write more, but I am seriously out of time. =( I know and communicate with too many people when I Email. It can't be done in just one hour. =/ But anyway, I'm sorry for not giving you more of my time.
Love, you anxiously engaged missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
Monday, February 14, 2011
February 14, 2011
Dear Home,
I have proof. O_O I'll try to figure out how to attach it... A member
made this after a dinner appointment.
No way. That worked! =D I love computers! I hope you all can see it.
^^ Man!! If only I were not so red! =/ I think I'm part German. I'm
almost certain I'm part German.
My companion is done Emailing already. Where has the time gone??
I recently got a letter that inspired me to set goals for my
happiness. If I could sum up my new goals in a nutshell, it would be
to Think Positive. If I do something, I think of how well I did it, or
how good it was that I did it. For example, I did pretty well at
touch-typing in the Emails I sent to Mom and Sariah. If I see
something, I make notice of the good in it. For example, I'm grateful
that I'm able to Email you all, even though I have no time left to do
it. If someone else does something good or well, I compliment them.
For example, I thanked Elder Roth for washing the dishes and cooking
breakfast, and for letting me listen to his CDs.
Of course, there's another element to the Think Positive, Seek
Positive goal that I really like. This was a suggestion that was in
the letter I got. Eat Chocolate. I expanded this to Do Things That You
Enjoy, like eating chocolate, bearing testimony, playing UNO with
other missionaries during P-Day activity, and singing hymns. Hope of
Israel, Rise in Might! =D
Good stuff. ^^
But I've got to go. Have a great week!
Love, your happy (and handsome?) missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
I have proof. O_O I'll try to figure out how to attach it... A member
made this after a dinner appointment.
No way. That worked! =D I love computers! I hope you all can see it.
^^ Man!! If only I were not so red! =/ I think I'm part German. I'm
almost certain I'm part German.
My companion is done Emailing already. Where has the time gone??
I recently got a letter that inspired me to set goals for my
happiness. If I could sum up my new goals in a nutshell, it would be
to Think Positive. If I do something, I think of how well I did it, or
how good it was that I did it. For example, I did pretty well at
touch-typing in the Emails I sent to Mom and Sariah. If I see
something, I make notice of the good in it. For example, I'm grateful
that I'm able to Email you all, even though I have no time left to do
it. If someone else does something good or well, I compliment them.
For example, I thanked Elder Roth for washing the dishes and cooking
breakfast, and for letting me listen to his CDs.
Of course, there's another element to the Think Positive, Seek
Positive goal that I really like. This was a suggestion that was in
the letter I got. Eat Chocolate. I expanded this to Do Things That You
Enjoy, like eating chocolate, bearing testimony, playing UNO with
other missionaries during P-Day activity, and singing hymns. Hope of
Israel, Rise in Might! =D
Good stuff. ^^
But I've got to go. Have a great week!
Love, your happy (and handsome?) missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
Monday, February 7, 2011
February 7, 2011
Dear Home,
What a week! The last few days have been especially good. My new companion, Elder Roth, and I get along Super well!
So, let's see what's been happening: Elder Higginson had been spending his last few days in this area having a few Goodbye meetings with people he had become friends with. Then, on Thursday morning, he left. Wednesday night was spent packing for him, and for me, I was spending time with Elder Roth and Elder Hall, who had come down from Saskatoon. Elder Hall was transferring to Winnipeg, and spending the night with us. It was great talking with him again, and I'm really happy about serving with Elder Roth. After saying goodbye to Elders Hall and Higginson, we spent the whole morning cleaning up the apartment. (It's amazing how bad things can get if you let them go for too long!) Now our apartment is super clean, and thanks to Elder Roth's air-freshener, it smells great, too. =) It's such a good atmosphere. ^^ I can really feel the spirit in our apartment.
AND we have music now!!! =D Not only do we have a car this transfer, complete with a built-in CD player, Elder Roth has a CD player of his own, so we've been able to listen to music a lot lately, and it is wonderful. Elder Roth has a lot of good music. Some soundtracks, some Celtic, some classical. It's all good. ^^ And he has been letting me listen to my new EFY CDs, even though I can kinda tell that EFY isn't his favorite kind of music. Luckily, he likes piano music, so those Paul Cardall CDs that Sariah has sent me are being put to good use. ^^ I love music. I don't think I could live without music. I think there was someone in our church who said that there is no music in hell ( D= ) because all good music belongs to heaven. I want to listen to the kind of music that I can listen to in heaven. I think God would let me listen to EFY. I know that He would love classical piano music, and if He's not in favor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, we're doing something wrong. He may or may not like Celtic music. It might depend on the piece. I'll probably ask Him about it next time I see Him. (Which hopefully won't be for another few decades!)
It's a good thing that Elder Roth and I get along so well. Not only has it been doing wonderful, amazing things for my spirituality and self-esteem, we each only have 3 months left (this transfer, then another one), and we've been told that our area will be closing in three months (so the missionaries that are here now will go elsewhere, and other missionaries will start teaching the people that we've been teaching), and Elder Roth has heard from President Paulson that he (Elder Roth) and I will be serving together for our last 3 months, and closing the area together. Man, I really hope that's true!! It only makes sense. Plus, since Elder Roth and I get along so well, they'd better not split us up just for the last month of our missions! That would be so disappointing! But we don't have to worry about that kind of stuff until mid-march. For now, all we have to worry about is working hard where we are for as long as God keeps us here. President Uchtdorf might call that Lifting Where We Stand, and if I'm not following President Uchtdorf's advice, I'm probably on the wrong track. I love that man.
I want a General Conference so badly! My only upset about next GC is that I won't be with my family for it. =( Oh, well. I'll be with my family only a few weeks after that, so I'll catch the next General Conference with them for sure! Plus, if the tradition of having the missionaries over is still the same as it always was (for as long as I can remember), General Conferences should be even more special for me from now on. Before my mission, I never really thought about the missionaries. Sure, Mom would have them over for dinner sometimes (I'll always remember that Mom had them sing hymns after dinner), and I saw them at every General Conference (picnic lunches between the morning and afternoon sessions), but I never really thought about who they were or what they were doing. They were (and are) servants or God. They are messengers of God. They teach His gospel to His children every single day. That's amazing to me.
I'll admit that there are some days when I feel like I'm ready to stop being a missionary and just be home with my family already, but when I'm actually doing the Lord's work, the Lord's way, by the Lord's power, there's nothing else that I could think of wanting to be doing (except maybe riding my bike). Nothing is better than living and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary. Yes, it is hard, and it can be lonely, but I love it. I love the spirit I can feel, serving God's children. I want to continue serving His children even after I go home. I want to keep touching people's hearts and blessing people's lives. If I stop doing that, I'll stop enjoying life, and I never want that to happen. I love life. I love God. I love my Savior. I love the Spirit. I love nature. I love my family. I love hymns. I love myself. That's a hard thing to say sometimes: I love myself. But I do. I really do. I'm grateful for who I am. As someone who sometimes struggles with low self-esteem, I don't feel bad for talking highly of myself. I'm a good person, and I need to remember that. I do good things and I do them well, and I feel confident that God is pleased with me. Of course, He's not done with me. He won't be satisfied with who I am until I'm like He is, but I'm working on that. I daresay that I'm getting there. I follow Jesus Christ (as closely as I can), And I'll keep following Jesus Christ long after my mission and LONG after I die. He is my Redeemer. I would be ungrateful if I wasn't His servant for a while - at least long enough to become His friend.
But my time is about up (and I have to use the washroom (not that you needed to know that!)), so I'll wrap things up.
I hope that you all have a great week and remember that I love you and that I'm looking forward to being home with most of you in a few months. Until then, may God and His spirit be with you always.
Love, your Christian missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
What a week! The last few days have been especially good. My new companion, Elder Roth, and I get along Super well!
So, let's see what's been happening: Elder Higginson had been spending his last few days in this area having a few Goodbye meetings with people he had become friends with. Then, on Thursday morning, he left. Wednesday night was spent packing for him, and for me, I was spending time with Elder Roth and Elder Hall, who had come down from Saskatoon. Elder Hall was transferring to Winnipeg, and spending the night with us. It was great talking with him again, and I'm really happy about serving with Elder Roth. After saying goodbye to Elders Hall and Higginson, we spent the whole morning cleaning up the apartment. (It's amazing how bad things can get if you let them go for too long!) Now our apartment is super clean, and thanks to Elder Roth's air-freshener, it smells great, too. =) It's such a good atmosphere. ^^ I can really feel the spirit in our apartment.
AND we have music now!!! =D Not only do we have a car this transfer, complete with a built-in CD player, Elder Roth has a CD player of his own, so we've been able to listen to music a lot lately, and it is wonderful. Elder Roth has a lot of good music. Some soundtracks, some Celtic, some classical. It's all good. ^^ And he has been letting me listen to my new EFY CDs, even though I can kinda tell that EFY isn't his favorite kind of music. Luckily, he likes piano music, so those Paul Cardall CDs that Sariah has sent me are being put to good use. ^^ I love music. I don't think I could live without music. I think there was someone in our church who said that there is no music in hell ( D= ) because all good music belongs to heaven. I want to listen to the kind of music that I can listen to in heaven. I think God would let me listen to EFY. I know that He would love classical piano music, and if He's not in favor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, we're doing something wrong. He may or may not like Celtic music. It might depend on the piece. I'll probably ask Him about it next time I see Him. (Which hopefully won't be for another few decades!)
It's a good thing that Elder Roth and I get along so well. Not only has it been doing wonderful, amazing things for my spirituality and self-esteem, we each only have 3 months left (this transfer, then another one), and we've been told that our area will be closing in three months (so the missionaries that are here now will go elsewhere, and other missionaries will start teaching the people that we've been teaching), and Elder Roth has heard from President Paulson that he (Elder Roth) and I will be serving together for our last 3 months, and closing the area together. Man, I really hope that's true!! It only makes sense. Plus, since Elder Roth and I get along so well, they'd better not split us up just for the last month of our missions! That would be so disappointing! But we don't have to worry about that kind of stuff until mid-march. For now, all we have to worry about is working hard where we are for as long as God keeps us here. President Uchtdorf might call that Lifting Where We Stand, and if I'm not following President Uchtdorf's advice, I'm probably on the wrong track. I love that man.
I want a General Conference so badly! My only upset about next GC is that I won't be with my family for it. =( Oh, well. I'll be with my family only a few weeks after that, so I'll catch the next General Conference with them for sure! Plus, if the tradition of having the missionaries over is still the same as it always was (for as long as I can remember), General Conferences should be even more special for me from now on. Before my mission, I never really thought about the missionaries. Sure, Mom would have them over for dinner sometimes (I'll always remember that Mom had them sing hymns after dinner), and I saw them at every General Conference (picnic lunches between the morning and afternoon sessions), but I never really thought about who they were or what they were doing. They were (and are) servants or God. They are messengers of God. They teach His gospel to His children every single day. That's amazing to me.
I'll admit that there are some days when I feel like I'm ready to stop being a missionary and just be home with my family already, but when I'm actually doing the Lord's work, the Lord's way, by the Lord's power, there's nothing else that I could think of wanting to be doing (except maybe riding my bike). Nothing is better than living and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary. Yes, it is hard, and it can be lonely, but I love it. I love the spirit I can feel, serving God's children. I want to continue serving His children even after I go home. I want to keep touching people's hearts and blessing people's lives. If I stop doing that, I'll stop enjoying life, and I never want that to happen. I love life. I love God. I love my Savior. I love the Spirit. I love nature. I love my family. I love hymns. I love myself. That's a hard thing to say sometimes: I love myself. But I do. I really do. I'm grateful for who I am. As someone who sometimes struggles with low self-esteem, I don't feel bad for talking highly of myself. I'm a good person, and I need to remember that. I do good things and I do them well, and I feel confident that God is pleased with me. Of course, He's not done with me. He won't be satisfied with who I am until I'm like He is, but I'm working on that. I daresay that I'm getting there. I follow Jesus Christ (as closely as I can), And I'll keep following Jesus Christ long after my mission and LONG after I die. He is my Redeemer. I would be ungrateful if I wasn't His servant for a while - at least long enough to become His friend.
But my time is about up (and I have to use the washroom (not that you needed to know that!)), so I'll wrap things up.
I hope that you all have a great week and remember that I love you and that I'm looking forward to being home with most of you in a few months. Until then, may God and His spirit be with you always.
Love, your Christian missionary, Elder Andrew Robarts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)