July 30, 2018 - Becoming Jesus

This past week we have been very very busy. We have spent a lot of time trying to track people down and teach them the first lesson. It was a very successful week though with many highs and a few lows. On Sunday LaTasha got her limited use temple recommend and my companion and I are both so excited for her. She is very excited also and even though the temple is closed at the moment she is still going and visiting the visitor center. One of the hardest things I've had to do while on my mission is fully submit my will to God. This is so difficult because as humans we are prideful and only want what is best for us and usually if we have what we want then we can help others. So this has been very difficult for me. As I have been studying the scriptures this past week though, I read about Paul who fought against the saints and his conversion story on

how he became Christ's chief apostle and a very powerful minister to others. He became the person he did because he submitted himself to God and not what was best for him, and for this he received many wonderful blessings and power from God.

I have been trying to submit myself more to God and what he wants me to do. I have realized it doesn't come all at once but it comes over time in small steps just as happened with Paul. I have decided to study about patience and hope and how I can have more of it in my life. Through this God has helped me to become a better servant of his and learn to accept God's time and not my time. It has helped me to have a better relationship with my companion and my investigators too. I have found the best way to have patience is to truly love those around you. I have learned not to try and fix who they are but to love who they are and who they are becoming. In the past, some people may have offended us but they are trying also and they have changed so we must forget who they used to be and let them be who they are now. When we love others we lift them up, we help them in their righteous desires, and we want what is best for them. Jesus Christ loves us for who we are and he is our perfect example. May we all be more like him and love one another. -Elder Robbins
Other tidbits:)
This past week we have been very busy running all over it seems like but we have got a lot of work done and met some amazing people. LaTasha is doing great! We started doing her family history, it is super easy to do! She got her limited use Temple recommend yesterday so once the temple opens up from cleaning she can go in and President Tateoka said that we can go with her for the first time! Some members are taking her to the visitor center this saturday. We have had quite a few appointments and just many other things going on. We had interviews Wednesday. I always love those because of the mental and spiritual boost it gives me.

Frogley's with my truck!

July 23, 2018 - I'm a big boy now

This past week has been full of finding and many small miracles. A big miracle that happened is that I'm still alive to see my 19th birthday haha. This past week the Lord has really blessed both Elder McElmurry and I a ton, in our companionship and also personally. One scripture from the Book of Mormon that has helped me greatly this past week says this. 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

I love this because it helps me to realize how much more I have to grow and learn. The only person to achieve all of these attributes is the Savior and he is our perfect example. He will help us to learn and grow so that one day we may become like him.

This week we put forth a lot of effort into finding new people. Because of this, the Lord blessed us a lot. We were able to find a new investigator everyday of this week and teach many lessons also. Our recent convert LaTasha is doing great. We are currently preparing her to go to the temple so she may do baptisms for the dead and feel the spirit of God there in the temple. It still amazes me how much the Savior can help us to overcome and how much he has helped LaTasha overcome in such a short period of time. The prophet Nephi says let us remember him and not hang down our heads for we are not cast off. God loves each and everyone of us so much and will never shun us or push us away but has an everlasting love no matter how many wrongs we have done.

A few funny things happened this week. We had an old man tell us about all of the girls that his corvette attracts. We had a lady yell at us saying that she was grouchy then walked away. We are working with someone who randomly messaged us and asked us if it was a sin to take off work. I shot Elder McElmurry with some silly string so today he drenched me with the hose as we were washing the car. Overall it has been a very productive week filled with success and many more blessings. God is so good. -Elder Robbins

Pizza Delivery!

July 16, 2018 - The BOM

This past week has been amazing but also kind of crazy! I have officially made it to 8 months. This has been the best yet craziest journey of my life so far! The biggest thing is that LaTasha was baptized this past Saturday and then confirmed in church yesterday. It has been absolutely amazing to see how much someone can change through the atonement of Jesus Christ. She has a new light that just radiates in her everywhere she goes. At the baptism, my mission president and his wife showed up and both mine and Elder McElmurry heart dropped because they didn't tell us they were coming! LaTasha says the baptism went perfectly though and we got to go to lunch with our mission president which was a lot of fun. We met a man who claimed that he was chosen by God to be one of the 144 thousand people who will inherit the kingdom of God. He was kind of crazy but a very cool guy. We also had someone tell us that a soul weighs 2.6 grams, I'm not sure who weighs people as they are dying but okay. We had a man run up to us and ask us to pray with him as he was going through a lot of trouble in his life. It was a very cool experience because we were able to testify to him that the Book of Mormon can bless his life in many ways and so he accepted one.

LaTasha's Baptism

We were able to witness many miracles as we put many miles on our feet trying to find new people. We decided at the beginning of the week that every person we talked to we would try and teach them about the Book of Mormon and then give them one. Our goal was to get a Book of Mormon in every home. This was a very cool experience as we taught people about the Book of Mormon just because it holds so much power in it. As we would tell them of some of the stories that are in it we could feel the spirit so much and so could the people we were talking to. We saw many people's hearts soften and open to the gospel. It didn't matter how young or how old the person was, as we taught them about the Book of Mormon it brought a new light into their eyes. It brought a new hope into their lives. The Book of Mormon has so much power in it and can answer any question we may have whether it is spiritual, mental, or physical it can help us.  Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, anything is possible! The only limit is what you limit yourself to.

July 9, 2018 - 6 more in the mook

Elder & Sister Nielson

We got transfer calls this past Saturday and Elder McElmurry and I will both be staying in Tillamook for another transfer! I am so excited as the ward here is amazing and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. Most missionaries in this mission don't get to see the ocean let alone serve on it for six months, I have been very blessed. This past week as Elder McElmurry and I have been focusing on becoming more unified in all that we do, we have seen many blessing and miracles happen. We have been able to find quite a few people this past week and many of them seem to have a lot of potential. A huge miracle is that LaTasha has had her baptismal interview and is super excited to be baptized this upcoming Saturday! Both Elder McElmurry and I have been very blessed to see all of the changes in her and witness first hand really what the possibilities are through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He can help us to reach our fullest potential, or destiny, if only we rely fully on him.

One of my favorite scriptures at the moment comes from Mosiah 24: 15 "Now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience." I love this because when we pray to God and ask for strength he doesn't just leave us in all of our troubles but he helps to lead and guide us through them all. He will strengthen us if we turn to him, it may not come immediately but it will come eventually when we need it the most.

I absolutely love this gospel and everything I am learning about. I know that God loves each and every one of us. He will lift us up in our trials and carry us through them. He is a perfectly just and merciful God and because of that he sent his son so we could all live with him again. I love you all!
Elder Robbins

Richard

July 2, 2018 - Good Week

Brother & Sister Lyons

This past week we were super super busy. It felt like we were running all over the place. We got a lot done though. The big updates is that LaTasha is still progressing great and is absolutely loving everything she is learning! Her baptism is coming up in less than 2 weeks. It has been amazing to see all of the help from God that she has been getting to help her change her life for the better! Richard is still on date for August and doing great. He loves the people at church and has really been turning to God to help him overcome his trials.

This past week as I have really seeked to have the Holy Ghost with me more, I have noticed a considerable difference. When we align our will with God’s will, then our path will become more clear. I am very grateful to have God’s help in this life because at times it can be crazy but through Christ all things are possible. I hope you are all doing great and have a wonderful week!

-Elder Robbins

June 25, 2018 - Cheese Factory

This has been a great week. I have learned so much and grown so much. We had a zone conference which focused a lot on working with the members of the church and helping them to be missionaries followed by the exchange. Elder Hinck came to Tillamook with me and we had a wonderful time and I was able to learn so much from him. Over these past few weeks, the investigators we have been working with have been making a lot of progress! LaTasha came to church and absolutely loved it! She is getting nervous but very excited for her baptism and is loving all that we and the members have taught her. Richard is moving a little bit slower but is still loving the gospel and is thinking about pushing his baptismal date forward. He has seen some major changes in his life since he has been living the basic principles of the gospel.  On Sunday I gave a talk but in preparation for it I was reading through all of the general conference talks from this past general conference. As I was reading and listening to President Nelson’s talks, the holy ghost testified to me of the truthfulness of his message. After that, I searched deeper and one thing that he says many times is the Holy Ghost and how we can better hear it and follow its promptings. As I implemented this into my life as a missionary, I was able to overcome many of my fears such as talking to people. I was also better able to love the people and truly find out what they need to hear at that moment to help their heart soften. The holy spirit has been a huge blessing in my life as it can help to lead and direct every thought.

Elder Hinck

Elder Long (same birthday as Tyler!)

Rob

So they went to the Cheese factory but Tyler forgot to mention it in his email:)