Still in Abilene

Here is picture of Justin to go with this week's letter - don't know what type of store or business it is ( he didn't say), but obviously the name caught his eye - lol ... :)

Somewhere in Abilene ...

Unfortunatley not a whole lots happened this week. :(  i will be staying in Abilene for another transfer. Elder Oler is from Calgary! i will be picking him up from the transfer site this wednesday so thats  exctiing. i have met him once before at the christmas party. But it will be neat i think.  The hardest part of this week is actually the fact that when we go finding in the streets people literally run from us inside until we pass an then they just sit on there porch. We have people yet they get away, or just become not interested. Its an intresting town.  Our branch some weeks is big an then the next is tiny. This week we didnt have very many members show up :( Its neat to see though that those who served missions an learned spanish are the ones running the whole branch. Sounds like a lot has been going on back home with everyone. Im excited for Nysha an Dave. Im sure that will be a relief to get moved.  One exciting thing that will happen tonight is that our branch mission leader is awesome man, but hes going to cook up some squirrel for us! Im excited to try that. lol Its been a long transfer but i know that our Heavenly Father has people here ready for the gospel. Its our privelage to find an teach them. I love being a missionary, its extremely hard at times but so worth it as well. I love everyone back home.  Love from Texas

Elder Roberts

February picss

An old house Justin saw while out on exchanges - just his style -he says (?)

Six month "Tie-burning" celebration (?) He says that is not a real flame, he just colored some paper to look like it.

February 17, 2014

Because of the weather here this last week we had our Zone Training Wed. since the roads were straight ice all day Tuesday an so we decided to park the car an walk everywhere. It's been better later in the week though. Our training was great! We have those leaving this transfer bear testimony, I always love that part!! They see the change in themselves. Every thursday is bike day so we were riding lots. I actually got spit on while riding :( Wasn't too impressed but kept my cool an just kept going then pulled over after i turned the corner to clean up.. We have been struggling to find people to teach. Since the weather isn't the best most people stay inside. It's alot different then a small city like I'm use to. We had a dinner appointment with the Juarez family here an while sitting I got pooped on 3 times from a bird. :( shoulder, tie and pants. :( What a week it has been to test my patience but i know I'm not the only one who had to face trials like this. I try to think anything like this i go through is only a glimpse of what Christ himself went through for me. Our branch started doing primary for the spanish children which is exciting. Hopefully it will allow the kids to feel more loved, the future is in their hands. We had a great priesthood class about the families an how much of an attack satan has made the last 50 years since ultimately that's what it's all about here! -Learning to be an eternal family. One quote i got from it was "what makes a boy become a man? A man finishes what he starts." I relate this to anyone who knows i loved wrestling! My senior year i had the chance to wrestle for 3rd place in provincials. In the match before i hurt my knee an it was still bugging me when i decided to not wrestle my last match. I wish i had finished what i started. I choose to come on the mission an its where i know i will learn the experiences neccesary to become more of the man i need to be in the future. I hope that this week has been still okay for everyone back home. I know our Heavenly Father doesn't give us a trial that we can't handle. I have been learning that slowly but surely. I pray that we are comforted and strengthened while we are away from loved ones - that through this gospel we can find the peace that we need to continue on when things get tough. I hope the Lonsdales family can find peace while in this time of life. I love my family an friends more then anyone can know. I have noticed that grow more since being out then anything else. I love this gospel an the things we can learn in life. My prayers are that we can always put Heavenly Father first an trust in him. Elder Roberts

February 3rd pics

Another "Fire in the Sky" Texas sunset

February 10, 2014

Its been a crazy week! WE had district meeting this week, and afterwards went out to eat (all of us missionaries). It was a little homie shack that was nice to eat some real home cooked food again. (lol) But the zone leaders had training so there trainee came with us for the day an we had some fun, he's learning spanish too so it was a good day of learning. We have been having some pretty crazy weather here latetly, Its been snowing lots, then sunny and nice then back to snow :( just like home (lol) But sounds like a lot has been happening with everyone back home. My prayers are for you all back home, especially Lonsdales. I have found alot of peace in the plan of Salvation. We had to give a talk at church this week in spanish, that was an interesting time for me, but it went okay. We taught priesthood on the plan of salvation, It was an amazing lesson and I love knowing that we will all be together eternally. I have been trying to be diligent in the work here and it has been picking up. We are teaching more and more people now. Its a learning experience when you first don't really like your comp but then afterwards learn to love him. We have such different backgrounds but I am learning to just show charity the best I can. I have been loving the branch we are in right now. I got the packages of goodies this week :) thank you. I have been giving some of the snacks away. Its humbling here even to see some families still live with only the basics. I am excited to be serving a mission and to be able to continue the work of the Lord. It won't stop now. That's great that our stake back home is growing fast in missionaries leaving.( almost double since a year ago) It's amazing to see. I know this church is true. Its been a huge challenge and learning experience thus far and I continue to learn lots. I know why i came out here; to change peoples lives, just like this gospel changed mine. I know the things i teach are true, I have been seeing this last week more an more how our lessons are better when I'm focused an not worried or thinking about myself. I love you all Elder Roberts

February 3, 2014 Letter

I have been pretty busy this week with Exchanges with our district leader an having a district meeting. It's been a neat experience in a bigger city now but also has different challenges. We have been trying to really work with the Spanish Branch about getting members to come teach with us, its the way converts will stay active if those in the branch ( ward) stay out. Church was cancelled this week actually since we got a little bit of snow., its funny to see how people dont know what to do in snow. I hit my six month mark. Its crazy how fast time flies out here. We have been able to visit alot of former investigators an see some success with them, sometimes all it takes is time to evaluate life. We have a couple that were recently baptized, that are solid people. They remind me soo much of grandpa an grandma Roberts, we have been teaching them about genelogy work, an temples an they're excited to get to work. I hope that things are good with everyone back home, much love from Texas.

I have been trying to stay busy an keep working hard.

love yall

Elder Roberts

Jan. 27, 2014 Letter

So i have officially been in Abilene a week now serving with Elder Yorgesen. Hes from Mattawa Washington. We have both been out 6 months an we're in a Spanish branch together. Its been an intresting few weeks but seems to still been going good. We did the Sacrement meeting yesterday all in spanish an translate every week. We have a few solid members one of which is in the FBI. That's pretty sweet, Its alot different in a big city now, we live an apartment where there's a few other missionaries living too so its nice to see other elders every once an while. The work here is a little different than Kermit. But its been a big change, just trying to find lots to get a bigger Spanish teaching pool. I hope that things are going well back home -Seems like everyone is doing good. We had a zone conference this last week, which was really good. Its a nice spiritual uplift every other month. We also had a baptism with an older couple from Costa Rica; he was in the military but now has Alzihiemers? ( i cant spell) but an amazing couple. It was fun to be apart of that an now start teaching the new member lessons. Nothing else too crazy this week, if anyone has questions let me know. thanks

love yall

Elder Roberts