March 26, 2018 - Hard Work Pays Off

So at this moment I'm still trying to figure out what to make this mass email about because honestly I have no idea. I'll just start typing and we'll see where it goes. The spirit always makes it go where it needs too. haha.  This past week Elder Rogers and I finally are starting to see the fruits of our hard work. In our area book (the thing that holds all the people we teach or see), there were a ton of potential investigators or people who said yes but haven't been taught anything yet. We have been walking to their homes and talking to them and finding out if they are really interested or not. Most of them were not but in the process, we talked to a lot of people on the street. And we have found some new pretty solid investigators who really want to figure out if this is for them or not.

A man named Terry, who has been investigating the church for a long time, told us that he doesn't understand why people tell us no all the time or avoid us. He would have done anything to find missionaries and talk to them about God. That made me realize what kind of a society we have now days. Most people believe in an upper being but don't know who or why it is there, or what the upper being really does for us. We talk to people all day long who say they would die to know who that being is or what it does. Yet when we say God or Jesus, they are automatically turned away and want to fight it.

It's really sad to me. God works the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is a living Christ who wants to help us in our lives but people want new, they want different. New and different isn't always the best though. Jesus performed the atonement for every single one of us because he loves us so much. The atonement of Jesus Christ helps to relieve guilt shame and sin. It was the biggest single act that changed everybody's life. It was all part of God’s plan. People look for guidance or help every single day but when it is put straight in front of them, it is almost too easy so they don't take the help.

We have so much guidance and help in our lives today. We have the Bible, the Book of Mormon, prophets and apostles who lead and guide this church, and so many other resources. If we all realize what we have and used it to the fullest potential, imagine where we would be at. I don't think we could comprehend it but God can. He knows all and what will help us the best. He has a plan for each and every single one of us, we just need to figure it out.

Sorry for the little rant haha. I know that this is the Lord’s church though and that he loves each and every one of us and only wants the best of us.

I'm doing great out here in Tillamook and am loving it. I learned how to cut my own hair now and am figuring out life and how to live in this crazy word haha. I've gone long enough now so here's some pictures.

1. Hike from last p-day at Cape Lookout. We saw some whales!
2. Picture from like 2 minutes ago so I could send out more than one picture
Other info from Tyler this week:

• Today we went to the cheese factory and I bought the green sweatshirt in the photo (with some of the cash that I had). Its so soft and comfortable and has big foot on it! We went to the cheese factory and we weren't going to get ice cream. Then some people yelled and said hey elders come here and i'll buy you ice cream. So we ran over and they were members from Idaho there for spring break. I just got chocolate peanut butter but it was really good.
• Members travel like 30 minutes to get to church.
• I kind of splurged today and bought dr pepper and doritos. whoops 

HAIL! and funny video Tyler saved:) ENJOY!

March 19, 2018 - TIME!

Four months down & loving it!

This past week was kind of rough but I learned so much from it. Funny how you learn the most when you are going through a rough time. This past week I have been studying a lot about the plan that has been set for us so that we can make it back to heaven eventually. It takes TIME though. In the last general conference, Elder Holland gave a talk called "Be Ye Therefore Perfect... Eventually". We aren't expected to do everything perfectly but we should all strive to be better than we were yesterday. 

I've learned that this earth life is a probationary state or a place of learning. We are to learn and grow and become the best we can. God sent down his only begotten son to pay for all of our sins and through him we can become perfected. It's absolutely amazing to me that God loves us so much that he would send his only begotten son to do that for us. This life takes time though, and it takes time to learn which can be frustrating at times but it's all for a purpose. Here In Tillamook we have an investigator named Rob. He struggles with some of the things that we teach him but we've noticed that about a week after we teach the doctrine to him he accepts it. At the moment he fights it but then it makes sense to him. I'm super excited to see how much he progresses while I am hare because he has some serious potential to be an amazing member of the church and will benefit so many other lives. 

During this life we are limited on what we are able to accomplish because of how much time we have. But if we do our best here and rely on the lord, then eventually time won't matter because of this plan that has been set forth for us. I know that God has an individual plan for each of us. Everybody has their own conversion story and how they found God but it takes time to build up that faith.

I love this gospel and everything that It has helped me to accomplish in such short time. I love it here in Tillamook, it's absolutely beautiful and I love being so close to the ocean. It's absolutely beautiful. Sometimes the people aren't the nicest but that's part of life.

Now I'm just rambling on so here's some pictures.

-Elder Robbins 

He may get a little excited when he sees a truck or rat-rod!

March 12, 2018 - Blessings Upon Blessings!

This past week was hard but also great and I learned so much! I got to Tillamook on Tuesday and was completely lost on where I was and did not know where anything was. It was kind of hard to get used to it but I'm working on it. My new companion is Elder Rogers, we don't have a ton in common but we sure do have fun. Tillamook smells like cow a lot but it's so close to the coast and it's soooooo pretty. I'll attach some pictures to this email.  There have been a lot of little and big things that have happened this past week to really build my faith in knowing that the Lord really does watch out for us. Each week I've been picking out one thing that I am focusing on doing better with. This week it was to listen to the spirit better and act on all promptings that come from it! This is a hard thing to do but I learned so much from it. I had a couple of quick experienced that I will share.

First we were in a big hurry to get somewhere and we were walking and we passed this guy who was with a little boy. After we passed him I immediately felt prompted to go back and talk to him I didn't listen to it but then it came again and so I went back and talked to him. He was a super kind and open guy and he was open to us coming back and sharing our message with him.

The second was one night we were getting ready to go inside for the night there was about 3 minutes until 9pm but I felt like we needed to go walk down the street real quick so we started walking and got halfway down the street and then felt like we needed to turn back so that's what we did. We almost got back to our apartment when I saw a guy sitting on his front porch in the dark. I only saw him because I saw his cigarette which was lit. We talked to him for a while. He wasn't interested but we left him with a picture of Jesus Christ. When we got inside I was amazed.

As missionaries, not everybody says yes but we can always plant seeds to help others find Christ in their own lives. It's amazing the impact we can have on others even in the most unfortunate ways or little ways too.

I have seen so many other blessings this week, big and small and its quite amazing to think that I am a tool that the Lord can use to bless other people's lives.

I'm loving here in Tillamook though and can't wait to see what's in store for me next. love you all!
-Elder Robbins

March 5, 2018 - Transfers!!

Senior Couple, Elders Allen, Eldredge, Robbins, & Ward

Not too much happened this past week. On Thursday night we got a call from my mission president about transfers and I will be going to Tillamook and elder ward is going to be training here in Stayton! Kind of bummed to be leaving because as of yesterday we have 5 people on date and a lot of good things happening, but I know that because I am being sent somewhere else that is where I need to be. Stayton has been amazing, and I love the people here and the town too. The only thing I won't miss is the stinky canning factory haha. I've learned so much since I have been here. About myself and how to work better with others. I have learned so much from both of my companions so far and can't wait to learn even more! This past week we put 3 more people on date to be baptized! That's 5in total for Stayton. Super excited for all of them and hope they can make it by their baptism date.

One thing I've been working really hard on since I've been on my mission is fully submitting myself to the Lord. This has helped so much in my missionary work to have that extra help and guidance in my life and also when helping others. When praying for help and guidance I've learned that it helps so much when you sit and listen for a minute so it gives the Holy Ghost time to speak to me through though thoughts and feelings. I've also been able to find many answers to prayers and guidance from the scriptures. President Monson’s last address to the public was to read the Book of Mormon every day and then he promised us some things if we did this. I have seen change in my life through relying more upon the Lord for help and guidance and it really does help a ton. A great example of someone who does this in the Book of Mormon is in the book of Enos. There is only one chapter so I would encourage all of you to go and read it and then try and apply some of the things he does to your life.

I love this gospel and I love having the opportunity to share it with others. It changes lives, I have seen happen. I know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives and that his atoning sacrifice works for us today. The Book of Mormon was translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith to help build up Christ's true church on the earth today. I love you all thanks for all of the support!
-Elder Robbins
Moving to Tillamook!

• I'm getting transferred. I'm heading to Tillamook! Sad to leave but I'm excited to go. I've done my job here I guess lol. 
• My new companion is Elder Rogers.  He's a District Leader. I've heard he's a great guy.
• I've heard that some of the food at the factory is so good!
• I hear it stinks from all of the cows. 
• It always rains on the coast from what I hear.
• I will get a ride to a church in Salem and then the member from Tillamook will take me from there.
• The area covers the coast. We are out there on an island with no other missionaries around us.