December 25, 2017 - Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone! I hope you all are having a great christmas! This past week has been crazy for me with up and downs. We also saw some pretty cool miracles happen. The biggest thing I learned this week was how blessed we all truly are. We have a couple who have been investigating the church for quite some time now. They are great people but they don't have much for food and won't have anything for Christmas. We were able to bring them some food for Christmas, but just to see how happy they were even though they had so little was crazy to me. Whenever I think of Christmas the first thing that came to mind is presents and family it's not really Jesus and what he did for us. But that's really what this day is all about and they really opened my eyes to the true meaning to Christmas. The Lord blesses us in mysterious ways also. While I've been out here, it’s been crazy to me how much the Lord helps everyone of us each day. One way that he helped Elder Pouwer and I this week was through a guy named Jonny. We had a member refer us to him. We've only met with him one time so far but the spirit was so strong. He was in awe with everything that we shared with him and everything that he learned. He made both of our days so much better and we are super excited for what is in store for him.

Elder Nelson (from the MTC)

Freezing frost

It's been a great week though. We found lots of people to teach and we even put someone on date to be baptized. I love it out here in Oregon though. It's always wet and kind of cold but the people are amazing here. I've met some of the coolest people while I've been out here and I love getting out know them all.

A funny thing that happened was one day we were over at a members house cleaning up their pig pen. The member asked us if he could take care of a pig and we said sure not knowing what he meant. But he goes and shoots it and then he asks us if we wanted some meat. It was pretty funny. 

Anyway I know that the Lord is there and helps each and everyone of us in our life. I love doing his work and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I love you all and hope you have a great day! 

Merry Christmas!! -Elder Robbins

Hey family Merry Christmas!!!! I love you all and can't wait to talk to you! We're going over to a members house at 9 for breakfast and could do the video after that? I would guess we would start anywhere from 10-11 if that works for you guys :) I can email you throughout the day also because it's p-day. I would guess once we have breakfast though it would be about 2 hours after that :) we are probably just going to go visit people and hang out with other missionaries haha. I am doing laundry right now and we aren't shopping but we have so much food in our apartment we'll be fine. love you all Note: Tyler carrying on the tradition of Christmas morning pictures on the stairs!

We have the BEST ward! So many treats and CANDY!

Other random info:

• I sang in the choir with Elder Pouwer. There were 6 men and 6 women total.
• For me this Christmas has really been humbling. We meet with a lot of people. There is a couple that we're teaching (she's a inactive member and he's not a member). They don't have much money and so yesterday we got a bunch of food from our apartment and brought it over and the guy started crying. They didn't have any gifts and barely any food. They were both still so happy though and thankful for everything the Lord has blessed them with. It's awesome! :) 
• I'm still sick which sucks. I have random cough attacks throughout the day and in the middle of the night, it sucks. I'm used to it though.
• We have laundry machines in our apartment which makes it super nice. The laundry bag is nice but one of the straps broke in the MTC bc it's kind of flimsy but it works well enough for going down the stairs into the laundry room.
• I use my tablet so much more than the phone but when I don't have my bag with me I use the phone.

December 18, 2017 - I FINALLY MADE IT!!!

Well here I am in Oregon. It's been kind of crazy how different it is from the MTC. The grossest part about Oregon is all of the moss on the sidewalk and driveways! I still love it though.  The last few days in the MTC were pretty normal days for the MTC. The food was still the same, I'm glad I don't have to eat there anymore. Something that was kind of cool that happened is that Elder Tuttle got to say the prayer in the Tuesday night devotional. We both got to sit up on the stand and be right next to a member of the 70! It was a great talk.

Coming to Oregon was my first time ever on a plane. I was super nervous at first but it was really pretty fun. I got my seat moved to the emergency exit rows and  had plenty of leg room for my long legs. 

My new companions name is Elder Pouwers. He's a super nice kid. He's been out about 9 months and knows a whole lot more about teaching people than I do which is expected. 

We do a ton of walking and have actually found quite a few people. It's interesting because sometimes the nicest looking people are rude and the hardest looking people are soooooo nice. Overall though most people here are super nice. O I'm in an town called Stayton. It's pretty small but there are quite a few members. The members by the way are great! Don't worry mom, they feed us lots of food. I've gained a few pounds because of it.

Breakfast burrito from Rico's!

Bonus! Mission Leader sells Christmas Trees!

Great smiles!

Sundays are cool days. It's nice going to an actual church again instead of MTC church. Everybody in the ward is like a big family and it is a very different atmosphere than church in Utah. I got to pass the sacrament too! Hey Nate, they only had 5 people passing and they still needed my help.

Overall I love it here in Oregon. It's very different than Utah even though it hasn't been raining a ton until today.

Some other random info from Tyler:)

• (After the airport) We just got to go straight to the mission home. They (Mission President and his wife) are so nice.  They remind me of grandma and grandpa robbins a lot. We slept in their home that night. Those beds are soooooo comfortable after sleeping on the mtc beds. 
• There are quite a few old trucks and lots of new ones too. Muscle cars too! It makes it kind of fun seeing them drive by!
• I have my bike but we haven't used them at all just lots of walking! (Tyler and his comp have a car but are limited on miles, so they walk alot.  Only the senior companion drives.)
• The ward boundary is huge and there are about 150 members. Not a lot of youth. All of the families are super nice though.
• I have a long bed it's soooooo nice not hanging of the end!
• We have dinner scheduled for every night for over the next month!
• I got to pass the sacrament that was kind of fun! all of the others who were passing we like half my size lol. 
• Our apartment is one of the nicest in the Oregon mission. (according to Elder Pouwers)
• Everything is going well! love you guys!!
  

December 14, 2017 - Oregon Bound

Tyler and his companion plus 2 other elder's morning started really early! They reported to the MTC travel office at 6:20 am. After checking out, they were bused to the Frontrunner, where thankfully they met nice people who helped them get on the correct train to Trax. Many nice people along the way directed them how to arrive at the airport. A big surprise was for our friends to see Tyler in the airport! Luckily they were lost over in baggage claim.... allowing the Christensen's to see them. A big thank you to all the kind people and the Christensen's for directing Tyler and his friends to the right places! It was a huge relief to me to get this picture showing Tyler had made it to the airport! Tyler called me at work about 10 am. It was great to hear his voice and talk for about 10 minutes. His calling card was out of minutes (not sure who else he called:) so he and Steve were google chatting. I gave Steve the phone number Tyler had called from and that worked for Steve to call it! They were able to talk, then Ashley also called and talked to Tyler for a few minutes. Yeah!

Brian, Jared & Katelyn Christensen

We received these pictures from the Mission Home later in the afternoon. We are excited for Tyler to begin his mission in Oregon!

President & Sister Tateoka

Elders: Tuttle, Robbins, Feik, Nelson

December 11, 2017 - Yeah for Google Photos!

Tyler sent me this message last week. Warms my heart!   "Thank you for all you have done to get me out on my mission! I know it's been hard for you and it's been hard for me too, but thanks for everything you have done. I love you and miss you tons!!"

Last Pday, Tyler asked me to send his blue blanket. The same one I have threatened to throw away because it stinks!!! But this is what he said: I like my blue "smelly" one. At night I pretty much bundle up because I don't have much blankets and I'm not sure how it will be in Oregon. I like my blue one because it's broke in well and gives me the perfect warmth year round. Wash it 5 times and it'll be good haha. This is how I sleep at night. I have thermals, sweats, wool socks, the shirt, hoodie, and my tennis shoes on lol. Update!  It cost $28 to mail the blanket and some other things!!! Sure love my boy!

So fun to see photos of all these wonderful young people serving God!  

They leave Wednesday for their missions.  Tyler gets to call us!  Yippee!!

Elders: Coons, Feik, Nelson, Robbins, Tuttle, Andrus

The signature THUMBS UP!

Elders: Robbins, Tuttle, Coons, Andrus, Nelson

December 8, 2017 - What a Great Week!

This next week will be kind of a weird one. I'm not exactly sure when my next p-day will be, I'm headed to Oregon this next Wednesday. I don't think I will be able to email until that next Monday but we will see. I'm super excited to get to Oregon after being in the MTC for almost a month now. It's crazy to think that I've been out here a month already. It has been such a good learning experience for me and my companion but I think I'm ready to get to Oregon finally. Anyways, this week has been crazy but so good. My favorite part about being in the MTC is going to the Temple every p-day. I love it because it helps me feel closer to God and I also learn so much every time I go. If you can't tell - everything in the MTC is to learn and grow so we can go and teach others about Christ and bring their families together for time and all eternity! I absolutely love that I can do that for others.

My next favorite day has to be Sundays. We sit most of the day but everybody learns so much. When it isn't fast Sunday, we start off our day waking up earlier because we had to go get breakfast and then go straight to our branch meeting. As a zone leader, I loved branch meeting, We were able to figure out how to better help people in the zone and our districts. As of last Sunday, they called new zone leaders so I don't have the opportunity to do that anymore. We then go to Priesthood, which isn't like regular priesthood session. We aren't learning for ourselves but we are learning how to better teach other people what we know already. Then we have district meeting, there is just another lesson in that hour. Then Sacrament Meeting, during it they will randomly call on people to come up and give a 5 minute talk on any topic. So everybody as to plan before hand. We then have about 2 hours to study/ whatever else is on the schedule. At the end of each Sunday, we have a devotional. This last Sunday we watched the 1st presidency Christmas devotional. My favorite talk was President Uchtdorfs. Some of my favorite scriptures I came upon this last Sunday are: Moroni 10;8-17. John 16:13. D&C 50: 14-16&24.

By Elder Jackson! Heading to Baltimore, MD

Throughout the week, it is a ton of studying which I have learned to love. And it is also a lot of class. In class we role-playing a ton. At first I didn't like it but now I have realized it has helped me grow. Throughout the week, we also teach our TRC investigators. I love teaching them because it's a lot like teaching out in Oregon for me. We have 3 lessons with each of the investigators throughout the week and with one of them we actually committed him to baptism in January and then we teach the other one tomorrow. Hopefully we will have the same outcome. 

Everyday is a fun day!

I don't really have much else other than some more of my favorite scriptures haha.

1 Nephi 3:7. This scripture talks about obedience. Obedience is a big part of the mission, even if we may not understand why we need to be obedient and follow rules of the MTC or commandments, I learned that the biggest part of it is to build faith. 

Helaman 15:7-8

Alma 47. I love this chapter because it teaches about how Satan works to tempt us. 

1 Nephi 22:23. I've been praying to know my purpose of going on a mission ever since I got my mission call and this scripture told me why. I am here on a mission to save souls from being cast out of God's presence for time and all eternity.

2 Nephi 1:23. This is one of my new favorite scriptures. It talks about coming to God and using him to get out of Satan's grasps.

I just wanted to tell everybody that I love you all and that I am thankful for you, but most of all that I love God and this gospel. I hope you get something out of my emails every week. My testimony has grown so much since I've been here.

Elder Andrus, Elder Coons & Elder Tuttle

Elder Patterson

My sweet new tie!  Good trade!