March 7, 2016

this week was pretty great! last week with Elder Boekweg, i found out! which is super sad. i'll miss that kid! but. since we're both still asl, i will still see him fairly often... meaning almost daily. so it's all good!

this week had 2 exchanges! one with the spanish elders, which was a blast. i went with them to introduce them to an awesome family we tracted into who we've been meeting with weekly to "help with homework" but they never have homework, and so it's basically we show up, and they feed us, and we leave after conversation where the kids translate for us, because the mom speaks very little english. and honestly i've been wrought with guilt, because they are golden, but i wasn't sure how to transition them to the spanish elders! but this week we figured it out, and hopefully everything will be awesome! 

we had another deaf social on friday, which went well! i love being able  to really talk with people in asl. my 3 day in the field, we went to this social, it's a monthly thing, and i can remember leaving after and feeling like it would probably be a good idea to just light myself on fire than try and do that again. but of course, i've done it again, about 8 times now, and each time it's better. PERSEVERE!!

tracting a lot this week! last week i'll do the whole sign speak interpret thing, which is too bad. it was always a blast!

like i said me and Elder Boekweg are splitting tomorrow! find out who my new comp is tonight!

love you all!! 

Elder Roberts

The ASL missionaries in a nutshell

Elder Boekweg artwork

Elder Roberts and Boekweg after Spanish exchanges

March 1, 2016

Big long week! It almost felt like I got a year older it was so long!

*snicker snicker snicker*

The week was good! We teach, or try to teach, 2 ASL classes as part of
our community service and one of them has literally brought one person
the past 2 months. And so needless to say, we were inches from
shutting it down, but this week we had 4 new people show up for the
first time! Awesome! It's so fun to teach ASL. I get to act like a
complete fool, and somehow, that helps people understand ASL! Imagine
that!

We taught a great deal of lessons this week! We've been able to get in
with more less active deaf, which is awesome! Seriously, a couple of
members who've struggled when we first came are seriously making
strides! It's amazing to see! one of my favorites is named Z., and, because

my name looks like the sign for testimony, that's just what she calls me,

which I can't lie makes me super happy! She's just so fun! sweetest lady!

Been thinking a lot about Christ, and it's incredible how much our church 

focuses on the joy of Christ life, and not so much the cruelty of his death!

love you all!

Wait, there was a holiday??

So, I'm going to start with some funny things!

Elder Boekweg sometimes, when I'm singing along to the music in the car, because he can't hear the words, he makes up his own. and sings, and it's so funny. I've died so many times! Also, one of the things he
can say loud, proud, and just about perfectly is "Fatty Matty." So I guess i'll never be free of that.

Also, deaf people are hilarious.One of the "sign mails" one of our members left this week was way funny. Sign mails are like voice mails, but through the video phone, and literally before you send it, you have to click "yes, i want to send this." and so that's why I think it cracked me up so bad. Because she felt like it had enough important information to send. 

So! this week, we took one of our recent converts who is incredible, and he shadowed us for a day because he wants to serve a mission this summer! Awesome! So he shadowed us, and we set up an appointment to do our family history training, and I was helping L. and his family tree is super tough, because he's a
first generation Mormon, and a first generation born in the US. so basically info on family is near impossible, and after about 45 minutes of no luck finding anything on his great grandpa, he looks at me and just
goes "I just want him to be saved." That really struck a cord in me. and I'll never look at family history work the same. The spirit of Elijah is so strong! It's amazing.

The second experience is we read the chapter in the Book of Mormon stories with M. and D. about Lehi's vision. That chapter usually requires some explaining, that it's all symbolic, and so when we finish, we go "so, what'd you learn?" and boom. They understood it. as in these people who can hardly read understood almost perfectly the symbolism of the tree, the building, and the rod. It was incredible! 

Every Sunday it is a wrestle to get them to church, because they don't have a car, and they can't ride the bus
with 3 wild chillens, so it's so stressful to get them a ride, and typically, it's one of our hearing members that go get them, which is hard, because our hearing members live forever away, so we've been trying really hard to activate this one member named O. who lives by them, for like 4 months. FINALLY not only did he come to church, he brought M. with him! MIRACLES!! God is so good. this week was awesome!

I love you all!

Elder Roberts

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