October 29, 2018 - Inspired of God

Elders: Johnson, Crafts, Rasmussen, & Robbins

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference and it was all about the Book of Mormon and how truly important it is in people's conversion. My testimony of theBbook of Mormon has grown so much as I have applied the teachings of it to my own life. In the Introduction, Joseph Smith says that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book and that a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts. This has for sure happened to me, on average it says Jesus Christ every 1.7 verses. There is no way it can't be from God. I got to see a bunch of MTC companions and past companions while I was there. It was a good time and filled with the spirit. James who I talked about last week, we have had a really hard time getting in contact with him. Pray that we can because he is ready to receive it into his life!

Sunday was Stake Conference and the speakers talked about relying on Christ to get through trials. One of my favorite scriptures is Helaman 5:12 which talks about making Christ our rock and when the temptations of Satan come upon us we will have all power to resist it. It was a very powerful conference.

Also on Sunday we got a call from a member saying he has someone who wants to hear the gospel. We go and visit these people and turns out Elder Crafts had taught them before but they just disappeared over night and they lost contact. They were all talking about how they want to be baptized and be sealed in the temple. The father is a member, he has been teaching them all about the gospel so they are already super knowledgeable. It really showed me that even though sometimes we may struggle to find new people to teach that he will lead those who are prepared to hear the gospel right to us.

I have been studying in the book of Alma this past week specifically the story of Ammon and King Lamoni. The one thing that impressed me is the love that Ammon had for the king even though he was going to persecute him. He served him to the best of his ability and never faltered from the gospel. We can all learn from his example of living the gospel everyday and being an example to those around us who may not be members of the church yet. As we truly love and serve all of God's children, we are serving God. We and they will be blessed for the efforts that are put forth. These blessings may not come immediately but they will come whether in this life or in the life to come. Be faithful.

-Elder Robbins

MTC Roommates: Elder Nelson & Feik

Elder McElmurry

Elder Hinck

Elder Pouwers

October 22, 2018 - Miracle and No Time

I am very short on time so this will be a short one. We saw a huge miracle happen this past week. We were at dinner with some members and he received a text that a man we have been trying to get in contact with. His names is James and he is from Africa, his wife was baptized but has since gone inactive. He came over and was in shock that we were there. We then taught him about the plan of salvation and restoration and he loved all of it, it all made so much sense in his head and he is a smart guy. It was amazing to teach him and we have another lesson set up to go back and teach him. Best part, is that he said he would be baptized once he knows more. We have been working with members a lot and have seen many miracles come from that. Thanks for all the support and love! I hope you all have a great week! - Elder Robbins

Exchanges with Elder Lubbers

Playing baseball

October 15, 2018 - Faith to Drop, Faith to Find

Elders: Rasmussen, Johnson, Lubbers, Peterson, Crafts & Robbins

This past week we have been doing a ton of walking and talking to people. We had quite a few people when I first got here but we soon after found out that many of them aren't willing to repent or act on the things we teach them. It's sad to see from our perspective, we know how much this can bless their life if only they could see it. We are working hard to find those people that the Lord is preparing us to find. One of the people we are working with named Brandon is awesome! He is currently on date for November 10th and is working hard to make that date! We teach him twice every week and he soaks it all in. He loves being at church and loves all of the people there. We are also working with the Bates family. The father is a member with very little knowledge about the church. They seem to be super prepared and want to be baptized! Both Elder Crafts and I are very excited about them and how much their lives are about to change for the better!

As we were walking one day we were waiting to cross the street. On the other side this guy just starts walking across the street even though he shouldn't be and about gets hit by multiple different cars. We aren't sure what this guy was on but he walks up to us and just asks who is younger? I was so I said I am and he throws this nasty shirt at me and then walks off. It was so weird, I threw that shirt away and washed my hands as quickly as possible. This other guy at a bus stop (he was about half my size) starts telling us how he heard Joseph Smith was on drugs and that's how we got the Book of Mormon. Now he was yelling all of this and spitting all over the place (he was way too close also). And so we wanted out of there, we had no idea what this guy was going to do. We addressed his concerns and gave him a Book of Mormon. Thankfully a bus pulled up and we were able to get away.

People here in Salem can be kind of crazy but I know that the Lord will protect me as we are diligent in keeping the commandments and doing what the Lord wants us to.

 -Elder Robbins

October 8, 2018 - It’s So Loud

Elder Crafts

One week in Salem down! It has been a huge adjustment going from a small town to Salem. Walking down the street, there are so many more cars and so many more people. It is great! I love it here and the people are super cool even if it does smell a lot like weed at night. We are working with quite a few people right now and some of them should be on date here soon! One of the most progressing is Brandon, we walked in and almost right away him and the ward mission leader were picking out a Baptismal date. It was cool when the spirit directed me to show him what comes after baptism and I even challenged him if he got baptized to start preparing to go on a mission. At first he was all against it but then he really opened up to the idea. We have a lesson with him tonight so we will see what happens.

Another guy we are working with is named Randy. We watched the first session of conference with him and he loved it. As he watched, we think he drank four cans of beer. He still seemed to get stuff out of it, just another trial to work through with him! There are so many people who could use the gospel here, if only they knew how it could bless their lives.

I loved General Conference. It will be a huge adjustment going to two hour church but it will bless the lives of members and non members as they study at home and make that the foundation of their faith. I am so glad that we have prophets here on the earth today to lead and guide this church. One of my favorite talks was by Elder Uchtdorf when he says "Believe, Love, Do" that rang with so much Power to me. It creates a vision in my mind of how I must minister to all people, member and non member. We must believe that something can happen, we must love them enough to make it happen, then we must do it. The time is coming near and we must hold together strongly, as long as we listen to the Prophet and his teachings then Satan will not have power to drag us down to the endless gulf of misery and woe.

 -Elder Robbins

Cleaning up

October 1, 2018 - Headed to Salem

The time has come. I am being transferred to the Jan-Rae Ward in Northeast Salem. I have loved it here in Tillamook for these past 7 months. From all three my companions I have learned a lot, I have also learned a lot from all the members and the people I came in contact with here. There were many fun adventures and lessons that I will remember for a lifetime. These past few weeks we haven't had much time to go finding. We have been busy teaching many people but the Lord has blessed us with people to teach. It seems that he understands us perfectly and that we are trying to work hard and be good missionaries. Because of this he is placed many people in our path even though we have not had much time to find. I still can't get over that God trust me enough to teach his many children and help them to return to live with him again.

District Conference - Elder Hulsey, Elder & Sister Nielson

This past week I finished reading the book of Mormon. In the book of ether, the brother of Jared is asking the Lord for guidance. The Lord then asks the brother of Jared what he thinks he should do to fix the situation. I think that many times we ask for help, but many times we need to do the work and then the Lord will help us to fulfill that plan we have made. It may be scary but with enough Faith Anything is Possible.

A big miracle we saw was with Latasha and her family. We had dinner at their home this past week and afterwards as we were leaving a message with them Latasha brought up baptism. Her mom mentioned that she has been thinking about being baptized, we hadn't even brought it up with her. Since Latasha has been baptized she has seen how much it has changed her life . she's been talking to her family about it and it has really interested them. Through sharing her testimony and the experiences that she has had she has slowly but powerfully been able to share the gospel. We can all do this we all have a testimony no matter what we believe in and we can share it to bless the lives of others.

I've been very blessed my whole mission so far, I am excited to move on to a new area and have many new experiences. I love being a missionary!

-Elder Robbins

Frogley's