Let's All Pray for the Missionaries and Help Them Reach Their Goals!

11.30.09

Dear Everyone at Home :)

This last week was kind of rough, me being sick and all--still am. I hate being sick, it seems like it never ends. Oh well. Anyways, good news, yesterday we had seventeen people show up to church, ten of them with the other elders and seven with us. It was pretty cool.

This last month is going to be way crazy because we have so much work to do! If there is anything I personally want you to pray for, it's that we have the strength and motivation to do all that we are capable of doing and that we can accomplish the goals we have set. There are so many great people here in Jacksonville that love to talk with us, but very few who will do anything about what is taught. Almost all of the investigators we are teaching at this moment could very well get baptized, but it is very difficult to communicate everything they need to hear in order for them to understand what they need to do and why they need to do it. I guess it all goes down to having the Spirit with us so that they can feel it testify the truth to them. I guess that is also one of our main goals this transfer, to have a greater portion of the Spirit with us so we may be more effective in our service. It will take a lot of work to prove ourselves worthy of it, but it is very possible.

...Tim and Cathy are new people we are teaching. They read from the scriptures and pray every day to know the truth. We have high hopes for them, we just need to get them to come to church. Sarah, Navinne, and Entesar (means Victory in English, her name is Arabic) are another family we are teaching. Entesar is the mom, Sarah and Navinne are the daughters. Sarah is married and has a two year old son. Navinne isn't married yet, I think she is in her twenties, and she stays with her family. They are a very nice family. They can feel the Spirit whenever we meet with them, so we also have high hopes for them. We just need to continue meeting with them and teaching them the truth so they can grow the faith necessary to be baptized. There are a couple other people we are teaching that are also awesome investigators, they just need to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and then everything will hopefully work out.

Tell everyone I love them and hope everything is going well. I hope everything is going well in our home too, and I'm glad to hear you've found some new missionary friends. Being out, I realize how nice it is to have people around you who support you, even though they have really no clue who you really are; I am sure those two elders feel safe at our home, because that is what I feel like when I am with members from our ward. Thanks for everything and I'll write back soon. I love you and am thankful to hear from you every week.

Talk to you soon, Love you

Aut

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

11.26.09
Hey There,

Just thought I'd write and let you know I'm still in Normandy and will be probably until past January. First and foremost, Happy Turkey Day!!

...Time is such a hard thing to come by these days. Our new transfer starts Monday, and our goal is to get 12 people baptized by the end of the year. We have a lot of work to do this coming month, so we are going to be extra diligent, exalted missionaries as we like to say :) haha!

Anyways, Elder Murray is transferred to Brunswick, Georgia. He's doing ok though, he gets to work out at a powerhouse gym every morning! Well, that's all I got for now, I'll write you on Monday...I love you all and can't wait to hear from you on P-Day!

Love,

Austin

Another Short & Sweet Email from Elder Robbs!

11.23.09
Hey Mom, Dad, Aaron, Billy, Kendall, and everyone else!

First off I thought I'd let you know I'm planning on sending my camera home with all my pictures today (Mom Says: Yay! Finally! I'll post them as soon as we get them!), along with a journal that anyone can write in anytime they want so I can eventually read it (if you want) in a few years...

As far as food goes, someone invited us to go to their home around 2 o'clock pm for Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure if that is going to work out or not. Transfers are somewhat ridiculous this month. Normally the Zone Leaders are supposed to call us on Saturday to let us know if we need to pack for transfers on Tuesday; however, this time we are being called tonight and being told if we need to pack for tomorrow! I'm unsure as to why, but all is well. I'm not fretting over it too much.

Yesterday I was beginning to get sick so I had Elder Murray give me a blessing. It was very neat. I always know I am being watched over because every time I receive a blessing it is exactly what I need to hear. I'm feeling a little better today, but I figure I will be well soon.

We had a baptism last week, Deborah, and yesterday she was confirmed! That was also very cool. Elder Murray got to baptize a man by the name of Johnny on Saturday and he is going to be confirmed this coming Sunday. This Johnny may call you, Dad. He was born in October of 1969. I gave him your number because he is very interested in Phytoplankton. Hopefully, you'll get to talk to him soon. He is a cool guy.

Last week I had to take my bike in because my rim was bent, hopefully I'll get it back soon. On our way we stopped at a Vitamin Shoppe and I saw the Phyto in their store. The building is in the Orange Park district...I'm not quite sure where that is.

Anyways, I am out of time. I am going to finish this letter in the package I am sending home.

I love you all and you'll hear from me soon hopefully,

Austin

P.S. Another food thing, there is a McDonald's nearby, as well as a Panda Express, a Wendy's that isn't so close, and a Burger King that is fairly close as well...Oh, I did get the Thanksgiving package, thanks a bunch :)

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

While we are all waiting for Austin's latest letter, let's check out this video!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Thanks to Elder Seth Blair of the Florida Jacksonville Mission and his mom, Debbie, for the idea!

Weekly Message From Me :)

11.16.09

Hey Everyone,

I thought I'd write a quick message this week, perhaps not a Sacrament talk.... I have [some] bad news, my camera got knocked to the ground by an ab workout ball. Needless to say, it no longer functions as a camera, just a photo album. So I'll be sending that home as soon as I get the chance.

Elder Pelo is a great guy, I honestly believe he would do anything for me, he has a lot going on right now--being a new trainer and all. I certainly respect him. Elder Murray and Elder Chadburn are doing well. Elder Murray had his brand new bicycle stolen for good earlier this week. They forgot to lock it up over night. We went outside in the morning only to find it long gone. We spoke with Officer Vermillion (who was the police officer filing the report) for over three hours. My bicycle is still in my possession, however...

The area we live in is pretty much the ghetto. Every night for the past month we have heard either gunshots or ambulances firing back and forth. Our ward is pretty good. There are a lot of nice people, but I still feel our home ward (Willow Creek 9th) is the best ward there is!

We meet with several people, but many of them like to listen to the message, but not act on it. So really, we only teach a few people. Most of the people we teach that are actually progressing we have met through tracting. We had one baptism yesterday, her name is Deborah. She is 56 years old and is a very nice lady. She is the one who read the entire Book of Mormon before we even met her. She certainly was prepared to receive this message.

We are not allowed to eat dinner at member's homes because the mission president feels it wastes too much time out of the day. We occasionally have dinner with investigators, but that is a rare experience. So most nights we feed ourselves. I usually make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or Red Baron pizzas--or my favorite, cereal. (Mom has to interject here...could you all hear his dad falling out of his chair when he read that last sentence?! I think protein shakes will be in the mail shortly!!!)

Anyways, although there is a lot going on, I'll be ok. What is life without a little frustration here and there. Elder Pelo seems to believe that I am going to be training a missionary when we do transfers next week...I'm unsure how I feel about it. I guess if it is what I need to do, I'll do it. But it still seems kind of scary because I still feel like I don't really know what I'm doing. Maybe I'll just fake it.

Keep me updated on how everything is going (this includes all of you)! ...I love you and thank you for the letters. Last week I was all choked up reading the emails you sent me. So I guess I have at least a little bit of emotion ;) I really liked them a lot. Anyways, I'll write again next week.

Love you all,

Aut

p.s. Mom, could you send me another copy of that talk by Elder Holland, "Remember Lot's Wife", please. I gave my copy to Deborah because she kept complaining about not being able to drink coffee. I felt very clever as I was handing it to her. Haha. Please tell everyone thanks for the letters and emails! Talk to ya'll next week! (people keep trying to convert me to this southern jargon, I don't ever listen haha)

Yo ;)

11.09.09

Hello Everyone,

I'm quite a bit short for time at this moment. This past week was pretty good, not the best, but well enough. I really appreciate the emails--they were exactly what I needed to hear. I wish I had more time, but seeing as I don't I'll keep this one pretty short.

Our baptismal dates for yesterday didn't work out so well, two of them are very sick, and the other basically decided to deny the Spirit she began to feel as she read and prayed about the Book of Mormon. It was a sad moment for me when I came to find out just how hard some people's hearts can be; to see the potential of so many individuals, yet to realize they are so far lost...--they simply will not hear the whisperings of the Spirit of the Lord.

The worst part about being in the ghetto that is Normandy, is seeing so many young children who are forced to grow up in such a negative environment where every evil deed you can imagine is simply a part of everyday life. I have had several young children come up to me, many under three or four years of age, walk up to me and lift their arms up in the air so I could give them a hug. I always feel so happy when it happens, but I feel worse when my mind begins to wander and my thoughts lead me to believe that the hug they give to me may be one of the only peaceful moments they may ever have in all their lives.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad, because the people in these situations are more than capable of getting themselves up and off the ground, but they lack the motivation or belief that they can do it--or they simply like to blame the circumstances around them for the miserable lives they have. I know how much this restored gospel can bless their lives if they would just open their hearts and have a little faith that Heavenly Father really is there for them. It is amazing to see how many people would rather live life in misery than happiness. I only hope they can figure it out one day before it is too late...

I guess my sadness is probably coming from reading the "Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball--it is a great book, but my goodness, it can be very frightening to read. It makes me realize how much more I can do to be a better person and how important it is that we realize that the only way we can truly be saved is through the Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Atonement is beginning to make sense to me; I'm beginning to understand that the only way we can benefit from His sacrifice is if we show our faith in Him by our actions. We can't merely believe and have everything be ok. We have to work at it, and it simply isn't going to happen overnight, it's going to take real effort.

As I apply these thoughts however, I can already feel a difference in my life, I am starting to see all the blessings that Heavenly Father has already given me, as well as all His children. I don't regret that I didn't figure this out earlier, but it certainly would have helped had I actually taken the time to find out. I guess that is why they say to experiment on the Word, to see if it will really work. No wonder they drilled this into me at the MTC: faith and obedience are directly related. Faith in the Lord leads to obedience, obedience to the Lord leads to blessings, blessings lead to greater faith. It is a never ending circle.

The longer I am out here the more I grow to admire Nephi and his example of obedience. The Book of Mormom truly was written in perfect order. Nephi begins with a little faith, but as he trusts the Lord and obeys the commandments he is given, he is blessed. He gives the Lord credit in all things and therefore always trusts him. As he continues in his journeyings, Nephi is tried more and more, perhaps to see just how faithful he will be, and without fail Nephi puts his trust in God. God blesses him even more. This process continues throughout the whole book, and pretty soon Nephi's faith is so strong that there is nothing that could possibly make him disbelieve in the Lord. He had faith, he obeyed, he was blessed. His foundation started small, but slowly and steadily grew into an unshakable fortress of faith. I'm positive that is how it can be with all of us if we just do it.

Anyhow, I love all of you very much and I'm grateful to have each of you to be a part of my life. I know that my life wouldn't be nearly as wonderful as it is if it wasn't for all of you. I'll write again next week, and I enjoyed all of your emails, they absolutely made my day.

Love,

Austin

Over 40 Days Already? Letter #3 from Normandy

11.02.09

What's up everyone,

It's me, your older brother again, or oldest son, or cousin, or grandson, or whatever you want to call me, writing to let you know that life is going well. Halloween wasn't bad, we were thinking about dressing up as--well, I won't say who they are but I will say they go door to door--for our costumes. We didn't get very much candy, but at least there was a ward party and we got to have a nice meal for dinner.

Trying to keep up with all the writing is pretty tough, I hope all of you know I love you very much and am so grateful for all the love and support you have given me. I always enjoy the emails and letters and packages! I always get to inform my companion and other fellow missionaries that I have the best family in the whole world. It's awesome.

Eliza, congratulations on your baptism, I'm so proud of you! I hope you can remember that day forever, because it is such a neat experience. You'll look back many years down the road and realize just how important that day was to you! I do all the time.

I wish I had all my letters with me, but being at the library I left all my resources at the apartment--there is so much to remember!

This week is going to be pretty eventful if everything goes to plan. We have 3 baptisms scheduled for this coming Sunday and we may even have a couple more. These people are so great. One of them pretty much taught himself the Restoration of the Gospel; another prays every day and reads every day from the Book of Mormon, came to church this past Sunday (or yesterday), and is committed to being baptized because of the Spirit she has felt; and the last one we met we found tracting one day, she had already read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and had a testimony of its divinity before we said a word to her, she will be baptized as well! I hope I didn't leave anything out, but if I did, please forgive me, I didn't mean it.

I want each of you to know that I am so blessed to be a part of this family and that I love all of you so much. I consider myself to be the luckiest person alive. I'm glad to be part of such a loving and united family and I sincerely hope it will always be this way. No matter what happens to me out here in Jacksonville, every time I think of you, my worries go away. I only hope that when all is said and done, I can say that I gave this my all. But not to worry--that is still a ways off--perhaps 700 days or so...so plenty of time.

Until next time!

Love,

Elder Robbs