Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The True meaning of Christmas

Well, I'm sure you've all been sitting at the end of your seat with the cliff hanger I left you all with last week, so I'll get to the point! I'm comps with Elder Boekweg now!! And it has been awesome!! Seriously. Everyday is a blast, and my sign language has improved exponentially it's awesome. And. Being comps with deaf companion means
what? Interpreter duty 24/7. Which has made for some funny experiences. Like interpreting all the million puns Elder Hendrickson makes. Just an FYI, puns do not translate well. If at all. Also, because it's Christmas, sometimes I have to explain things like why do we say "Falalala" and other such things. The stories seriously could
never end just from this week alone. It's gonna be a good transfer. Hopefully longer!

So! This week! Met with a family, from India. You know T. the guy I told about forever ago? It's his best friend. Awesome. Amazing family. Came to church and stuff! Haven't taught me anymore Nepali, but I guess we still have time.:)

We went caroling, which was awesome. Super cool. And again, tender mercy that I know ASL and don't need to sing.;) also. Me and elder Boekweg went tracting. Hearing tracting. As in when it's my turn to talk, I simcom (speak and sign at the same time) and interpret for Boekweg, and when it's his turn I voice interpret and then interpret.
Awesome. 

Very excited for Christmas! It's funny, this is the first Christmas without being able to listen to the carpenters Christmas album. And without any hope for snow. It's different, but the spirit is still the same. Because the true meaning of Christmas isn't bought in a store, or on the radio, or even from the sky in the form of frozen water. It
comes from the kindness everyone shows. It's amazing being a missionary, and the amount of love were shown. I've been given more cookies than I can count. Cookies without number, if you will. Anyway. It's been a blessings to see that the Christmas season isn't special because of what everyone first thinks of when Christmas is mentioned. New perspective.

Anyway. Hope everyone has a safe fun holiday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Elder Roberts


Transfer is coming and The Temple is amazing

This week was pretty good! We were able to go to the Temple as a zone on Friday! it was awesome! it was president's Christmas present to us! what an amazing present that was, too! The Temple is so incredible. seriously. I absolutely love how the spirit inside each is the same. Each temple is so different from any other in construction and outward appearance,  but inside, the blessings, insights, and feelings are the same. 

It's a common thing that missionaries sort of argue and compete as to which temple is the "best" (btw, it is clearly Bountiful) but seriously. Each temple is really just an extension of the others. each is the house of the Lord. and each is just the best place on the planet. ah. It was a very good day. went to a deaf drama Christmas thing on Friday after the temple, and one of our members was in it, and it was so fun!

On Sunday, we had an awesome youth musical Christmas fireside, and they wanted the missionaries in the stake to do a number, "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing." it was beautiful. seriously. one of my favorite moments. me and Elder Boekweg signed it while everyone else sang (that is prolly why it was so beautiful is that i opted out of using my voice.)

also! found out! I'm getting transferred! no clue where yet! will prolly need to wait and find out tomorrow. the suspense. gonna miss Elder Hendrickson a ton.

love yall!

Elder Roberts

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

#ASaviorisBorn

This week was a good one! We weren't able to get in and teach B. he works like an insane person! so much! So it's hard to get in a lesson where he isn't just falling asleep the whole time. so... that's a struggle. He's such a fun guy though! And very down to earth. I don't know what exactly he needs, but a push of some sort. I honestly believe he's prepared. He always helps his kids pray at the end of our lessons, and it's super awesome! So... we're getting there!

Other than that, on Saturday, I helped a girl with her homework! Because we do a weekly tutoring thing for the branch. I explained fractions and how to turn fractions into decimals using asl. It was super fun. I love asl so much. seriously. It's such a fun language. lucky for me, and her, she was super smart and picked up on it pretty easy. Her name is M, and she's awesome.

Another thing! we served at a place called crr, can't remember what that stands for, but basically we help deaf people learn independent skills, like driving, math, etc. so we read the texas driving handbook, and the word "duty" came up a lot. and how they signed it? the same sign for messy. Which made me snicker every time. *chuckle* "he said duty!" *chuckle*

Now! onto spiritual things! Stake conference was this Sunday! and it was super good! something about being a missionary makes things like Stake conference something of way more import.One of the speakers used the quote "the best defense is a good offense!" and then applied it to the gospel! it was super powerful! it made me think of the saying that if our testimony is not growing, it's diminishing! If we are merely trying to stop the adversary from gaining yards on us, and we're never trying to gain our own yards, that is a losing game. So go on the offensive! Share the gospel! The church has created an amazing video for this Christmas season! SHARE IT! I promise, it will change your life.

It was a super good week. Love y'all.

Elder Roberts



Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Thanksgiving

This week was pretty good as usual. Lots of funny experiences. For instance, on Monday we visited on of my all time favorite families, and the mom started on this super random rant about something, and after like 4 or 5 minutes, I was beyond lost. But of course, I smile and nod, oh I sees and what nots, and of course she goes "understand?" And I go "yep. Uh huh." And she goes "what'd I say?" And I go and kill myself. Just kidding. But seriously. That is like, every missionaries nightmare. And so ya. Key to success, when pretending to understand,
don't look confused as all get out. On other news, my poker face won me the national poker competition. So that's cool.

Other than that, this week was a pretty typical week! Visited lots of families and had a good lesson with B. He's a funny guy. He came to church, and almost killed himself leaning back in a chair. It was hilarious. I also blessed the sacrament, which was super cool. Also, I've decided I've lived in Texas for too long. Why? I'm starting to really enjoy hot dogs. They have these things here called kolaches, and it's basically pigs in a blanket times infinity. It makes me cry tears of straight fat when I eat them they're so delicious. Also, on Wednesday, we were going to an appointment and boom. Got stuck behind a train that was moving slower than tar, and then, eventually came to
a complete stop 30 feet from the end passing us. It was the worst luck. And with a line of Texan drivers behind, in front, and to the side of us, we were stuck. So. Of course, I decided to lighten the mood by teaching elder h the ever so popular game of "name the forehead." That passed the time. Lemme tell you.

Now. Thanksgiving. We went to this families home, their name is the M. and they're awesome. Anyway. Their 90 million year old grandpa was there, and of course, they go where should we set grandpa?? By the missionaries! Excellent! So we talked to grandpa M., and listened to his awesome stories about how FDR was the worst president ever, and other things that made the night, that I should not necessarily repeat. It was hilarious. And I guess they liked us. Because they invited us back on Friday for a "second thanksgiving" sort of thing. And then we had a "third thanksgiving" on Saturday with some members. In other words, Texas did not disappoint. Hobbits have second breakfast, Texans have second thanksgiving dinners.

Love y'all! Hope you're all doing well, and that thanksgiving was great for all of you, as well!

Love,

Elder Roberts