Close To Home...

12.07.09

Dear Household of the Robbs Family ;)

Life is going well. I'm finally getting over this sickness, aside from the lingering cough (seriously, it never leaves Mom!). The past few days have been kind of rough because we were dropped by most of our investigators due to so called "loss of interest". Such is life.

One thing to mention, if you didn't get to watch the Christmas Devotion from the First Presidency you ought to, it was really good. We watched it last night and it made me feel better about myself. After it ended I went outside the church building away from the other missionaries and sat down and looked up at the stars. It's always peaceful to look at the stars, especially when it's a clear night and quiet all around. I enjoyed the moment of solitude.

It's interesting what you said to me the other day in the letter from home, about how it seemed like I was right there with you even though I'm not; I feel as if all of you are right here with me now, as if all I had to do was walk down the road a little bit and there you'd be--it's as if the distance away from home doesn't really exist and I'm still there seeing everything, being a part of everything. It is a calm and reassuring feeling to me, I know everything is going to be ok, no matter what. I feel as if Heavenly Father is with me now, and all I have to do is close my eyes and I'm in His Kingdom again. I can feel the Savior's love and I can feel Him bear me up in all my trials.

As I continue to read and pray I begin to see people as they really are, sons and daughters of God. My judgments of others, my ability to see other's weaknesses and faults, they don't seem to matter much. I feel the Savior's love for others and wish to share it with them, that they too may see life as it really is and take hold of the joy I have within me. I have difficulty seeing people with my eyes because I view them with my heart. Much like President Uchtdorf's comments during the devotional, the things you see with your eyes can be misleading, but what you see with your heart will always be true--and so I feel it is, or is beginning to be with me. Life is much easier and much more hopeful when we recognize the love Heavenly Father and His Son have for us. One of my favorite scriptures right now is in the Book of John (I think), and it is of Jesus speaking to the disciples:

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid."

It is such a heart-warming sentence, especially with the way the world is seemingly becoming. I love you all so much and am grateful to be a part of our family. I feel your prayers always. I enjoy every letter you send, they always build me up.

Talk to you soon.

Love,

Austin