Sister Roberts Takes Riverside: May 2016

Hellllllo!

Well, this week wasn't too crazy exciting. I was sick for most of it, so nothing too crazy happened. I got a weird stomach thing where I was nauseous all day, everyday, for 2 weeks straight, and this last week was the worst of it. #VomitingAllNightLikeABoss #GoHardOrGoHome But, the great part is, I lost a total of 10 pounds in two weeks. #Score #GonnaGainItAllBackSuperQuick #MissionLifeIsFlufflyLife

We were able to go out a couple of times, but all of our set appointments had canceled. We're supposed to walk and talk to everyone we see for 7 and a half hours a week. Due to sickness, we only really had 2 and a quarter days to do that. So, on Saturday and Sunday we walked and talked with everyone for over 3 hours straight each day. #MissionaryFeetAreGrossBecauseOfThis #WorthIt

We talked to some really great people though, and we hopefully have a few potential people to teach. :)

Yesterday was Mother's Day (Duh. If you forgot, you are a shame to your family. Buy your mom something nice that says "I'm sorry for my entire childhood and I will never be as amazing as you" because let's face it, all of that is true) and our ward put together this really great Mother's Day program. At the end, they had all the women ages 18 and up stand up to be recognized and receive a little treat. Sister Meza and I weren't going to stand up, but the speaker looked straight at us and said "Sister Missionaries, that means you too". So, we stood up in all of our awkward "we aren't thinking about having kids for a longgggg time because teaching the Gospel is way cooler"-ness and received a little handmade boutenier and chocolate bar. But I was thinking about it, and you know, there's SO much more to being a mother than just having biological children. I remembered all of the "mothers" in my life who encouraged me, nurtured me, kept me out of trouble as much as they could, loved me unconditionally, and absolutely mothered me. And I've just gotta say, I am SO grateful. I've met women who are true mothers who never had children of their own, and they have honestly changed my life. I am so humbled and honored to have so many incredible women care about me in my life. Another Sister Missionary, Sister Smith, who is serving somewhere in the south (forgive me, I forgot which state), sent the following quote out to everyone and I felt it should be shared with you all as well:

"To all of the mothers everywhere, past, present, or future, I say, “Thank you. Thank you for giving birth, for shaping souls, for forming character, and for demonstrating the pure love of Christ.” To Mother Eve, to Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, to Mary of Nazareth, and to a Mother in Heaven, I say, “Thank you for your crucial role in fulfilling the purposes of eternity.” To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle—and all will—I say, “Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion, and like the Master you follow, your love ‘never faileth.’” I can pay no higher tribute to anyone" (Behold Thy Mother, Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2013).

And ultimately, I'd love to thank my own biological mother who has put up with me for 21 years now. She has had way too many instances where it would be justifiable to kill me for my terrible terrible decisions, but instead, she still chooses to love me unconditionally and cheer me on. She is my rock, my support, and I know I can always lean upon her for strength. I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day. <3

Sister Meza got to skype her family yesterday for Mother's day, and it was wonderful. I would have too, but my family is currently vacationing somewhere cool, so I'll get to skype them in a couple weeks. :) It was so great to see her family and get to know them. As I was watching them, I couldn't help but get super homesick. I just wanted to be done and go home. But, I prayed for help to see me through the day and to remember why I was here. So, we threw ourselves into the work and at the end of the night, I was exhausted, but overwhelmed with just how grateful I am to be here and how much I do NOT want to go home, or really ever leave. Missionary work is the best thing in the world and I will never regret serving. I've officially been out for 6 months, so 1/3 of my mission is done. I have 12 months left, and I am SO grateful to have 12 more months of hard work and dedication, because it literally is the best thing in this world.

I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Roberts

P.S. Sister Meza and I are staying together here in Corona for another transfer! Whoop whoop! Elder Whiting is now my ZONE LEADER (rad) and one of my zone leaders is now Assistant to the President! #CoronaIsAmazing

What a girl

When we find our pamphlets while out tracting

Our cute area

Hola mi amigos y amigas y familia!

Let's review this week, shall we? It's always so weird, I get started this write these letters every week, and I sit down, and go "Wait, what did I even do all week?". The days start to seriously run together. But I shall do my best. :)

Our mission gave us the backlog of the past 3 years for the referrals from Salt Lake. We have to contact all of them. So, we went to go visit this lady named Olga, and she asked us to come back tomorrow. So, we come back, not expecting much, but surprisingly, she lets us in. It's her, and her two children named Kieran and Paris. We proceed to teach a lesson, and they all really liked it! So, we picked them all up as investigators and have an appointment to go back this week.

We went on a Blitz for our area as well as Citrus Hills (another ward in our stake). It went very well! Hermana Madrid (from Peru) and I went together and walked the historic district of Corona, which is incredibly beautiful by the way. We talked to a lot of people, and only 3 of them spake English. I'm SUPER grateful Sister Madrid was there to save me. hahaha We even met a refugee from Mexico! She told us her story and I seriously teared up as my heart broke for her. Where they were living, people would come knock on there door, and the family would have to pay these people money or else they would legitamately kill the entire family. And sometimes, someone would ring the doorbell, and the family would go to answer it, and there would just be a dead body lying on the ground. That's the "light" stuff of what she told us. My heart broke for her, and she wants to learn more about the Gospel, so Spanish missionaries are heading over there soon. Regardless of political party, persuasion, or opinion, we all need to come together and do everything we can to help the refugee crisis. The church has asked SO many times now for us as members to do what we can in our communities to help our brothers and sisters around the world (regardless of nationality, origin, religious persuasion, and circumstance). Brothers and Sisters, I exhort all of you to PLEASE do what you can to help in your own sphere of influence. You don't even have to spend money. You could teach English to a local refugee, help them go shopping and understand American currency, teach them how to use local technologies, etc. Let's not forget that Christ himself was a refugee. He and his family had to flee from King Harod to escape certain death.

We also picked up another investigator named Hector! We taught him the Restoration and he really loved it. He's on date to be baptized even. :) We're super excited to see where things go with him. We also taught Karen the restoration, and she lovedddddd it. She basically cried the whole time. She has had SUCH a rough life. She has cancer, fibromyalgia, MS, and a few other things I can't remember. But her faith is so incredibly strong. She's definitely an example to me of the type of person I want to be. She's still so happy with her life and she works for Disney and loves it everyday. I'm really excited to keep teaching her (hopefully).

Transfers are this Saturday! We'll see how that goes! I could have a new companion, I could move to a different area, I could become a trainer or Sister Training Leader, or everything could stay the same. Ohhhh the possibilities. ;)

I would like to give a shoutout to my unbiological little bro, Kutter Hine! He has received his mission call, and is going to the Russia, Rustov-na-Danu mission!!!!!!!!! <3 I am SO proud of you, bud. You are going to do AMAZING things in Russia, and your life is going to change immensely on September 14th when you enter the Missionary Training Center. Be ready for the wildest most amazing roller coaster of your life. <3 I do not regret a single thing coming here and serving a mission. It is literally the best thing you will ever do. It might not be the best 2 years of your life (if it is, you need to live more), but it WILL be the best two years FOR your life. Of this, I humbly testify.

Our Zone is super fun, that's all I'm saying. Today, for Pday, we had a gigantic nerf gun war. A company came and set the whole thing up and it was probs the best time ever. Just saying.

I was reading the scriptures (as always. #MissionLife) and came across this scripture that I felt I should share with you. Not sure why, but hey, when the Spirit tells you to do something, you do it. Nephi, a prophet, asks to see and understand the vision in which his Father, Lehi, had. The angel is in the process of showing him, and asks him a question about God. Nephi replies "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17). This verse really hit me this week. Sometimes, if all we know is that God loves His children, it's okay. You're in the same boat as Nephi, who was a prophet of God. It's okay to have questions. It's okay to not know. And it's more then okay to ask God for answers. He will answer you. It may not be the answer you want (I'm a testimony of that. Hello. This mission was NOT in my plans at all), but when you put your trust in the Lord, where He takes you is infinitely better than where you would be on your own. God loves us infinitely. No matter who you are, what choices you've made in your life, where you're from, how old you are, how imperfect you are, etc. He adores and loves you more than you can ever comprehend. If that is all you know, or even want to believe, it's more than okay. I promise. If you faith the size of a mustard seed, it's more than okay. You are TRYING. And the best thing of all, is that God is so proud of you for trying. He's cares so much more about where you are and where you are willing to go with His help, than where you have been.

I love you all so much! I hope you have a fantastic week. <3

Love,

Sister Roberts