11/17/14

I have very little time today. Lots of things to do. But this week has been a pretty good week. We have been able to teach a couple new investigators week and we have seen some cool things. We met a new investigator on Thursday, just knocking on a random door I felt like we should, who wanted to come to church. His name is Nick and we shared a Book of Mormon and made an appointment for Saturday. But it turns out we were going to a baptism on Saturday at that time, so we invited him to go to that baptism and he gave us a ride over there for it, because it was in La Grande. He enjoyed it and wanted to come to church the next day. He didn't end up coming but he wanted to. We invited him to be baptized at the baptism and he said that it is something he would want to do. He really enjoyed it.
We also taught the lady who helped lay sod for and buck some hay.Her name is Sherry. Her husband just passed away about 2 weeks ago. She also had a surgery last week.  While she is recovering she said that it would be a perfect time for us to come and visit and teach her. We have been able to teach some great lessons with her and she has a pretty open heart and mind to the things we are teaching. It has been snowing and making life  pretty exciting. We don't mind the cold so much because we have pretty good clothes for it, but the wind and the ice are making life harder. We have both had our share of our bike flipping out from under us. It is fun stuff. Slow going either way. I love you all. Remember Jesus Christ in all you do.
Love,
Elder Roberts

11/10/14

Over the last couple days we have had a few cool and sad experiences.
I will tell you about one of the sad ones that becomes null and void after the happy ones. Susie, one of the previous investigators I have talked about has seemingly disappeared for awhile. She is the one who read the first 16 chapters of 1 Nephi but had to stop reading because the good feeling she was getting was making her cry too hard. And that every lesson we had with her afterward was so filled with the spirit. Last Thursday evening we stopped by her house as we normally do, with no avail. But this time she came to the door. She was not very happy, in fact kind of angry. She got on our case a little bit and ended up closing the door in our face. We walked away disheartened and I told Elder Clark that I had no idea what to do at that point. I didn't know if we should come see her or not, but after all the experiences we had had with her I didn't want to stop trying. But the next morning we got a text from her. She was apologizing for not seeing us for awhile and for how she acted. She asked that we would please forgive her. She asked for help for her roof and for us to come over later that day, so we could talk and help her with her roof. We still haven't seen her yet because of extenuating circumstances, but we still have contact with her and she still wants to meet with us.
Also Samara last week, she came to church last week and loved it. She told a member friend at school she wanted to keep coming and take the lessons, but her mother said that she could not. Andrew, her older brother that we had originally made contact with has been interested for awhile but we lost contact with him for awhile because he was busy with all sorts of stuff and the number we had for him was incorrect. But on our way home from putting Susie's trash can last night, we were riding along the main road. Now after about 8:00 pm there are never car's on the road. And if they are, they are for like thirty seconds and turn off to a side road. We were riding and this red car is coming toward us from the other direction. It slows down and stops in the middle of the road. I look in the window and see Andrew and we stop and talk and he gives us his new phone number so we can set up a time to meet. All while in the middle of the road in the dark and we weren't disturbed by any other cars. It was great and I am so glad we made the decision to put out Susie's trash can. It is amazing how the spirit works in such simple ways and how finally making recontact with these two has brought so much joy to me and to my companion who had not met either of these two yet.
Ether 2:22-3:5 pages 491-492 How does this scripture apply to us, in our desire to follow God and do missionary work? To Hasten his work? What did the brother of Jared do when the Lord asked him he question? What must we each do to know how to accomplish missionary work in our own lives?

Union... and eating

Dear Everyone,

First week in Union is over. It is a small quaint little town with a few people. Most of the members in the area are less active so lots of reactivation to be done and we have some potential investigators and actual investigators. Elder Lagunzad is very nice and humble and really loves to eat. (both of my last two companions love to eat, maybe there is a message trying to be sent... nah!) My stomach has grown 3 sizes larger since the mission began... Painful and not fun for one who does not like eating but I do it anyway, or as much as my stomach will allow.

One of the coolest experiences I have had over the last week was when we were at a lady's house who has been an "investigator/potential investigator" for awhile. She has had a Book of Mormon for awhile. She had heard that our church has a program to help people to quite smoking so we told her a bit about it and said we are trying to start up a class but we only have 2 people who potentially would want to join. She said she would want to join so that she can overcome that addiction. We then shared Ether12:27 about how through humbling ourselves before Jesus Christ we can be made strong in our weaknesses. The spirit truly touched her at that moment, because she expounded on the scripture and brought up how in Revelation it says not to add to it, and she finally understood the correct Interpretation, and that we can have more scripture today. She then said she knew of 5 other people who like to quit smoking and that they would be willing to join the class if we could get it started up. This could bring about much fruit and I hope it does, as this area needs it.

The Book of Mormon is amazing and I can not restate that enough, as we come to know it is true, we learn so much more than just that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that there are prophets on the earth today, but more importantly, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that through Him and following His example we can return to live with our Father in Heaven and have everlasting Joy and happiness.
Love,

Elder K.J. Roberts

P.S. Pictures: Me and Elder Lagunzad serving at a Senior meal. The front end of the Chapel with the podium behind the choir seats and the organ, and our church building... the coolest most interesting LDS church I have ever seen.

A letter from another

Hello Sister Roberts,

I just wanted to let you know that we enjoy having your son over for dinner and to hear of his sweet testimony. I felt the spirit the first time he bore his testimony in fast and testimony meeting. He is a very valiant and humble missionary. He is doing great!  We are so glad that we have the opportunity to get to know him and have him serve in our ward. He's a wonderful young man!

Have a fantastic day!

Sister Tammy Mahler :0)

I attached pictures of them in our house and knocking on our door. Awesome Missionaries!

To everyone

Dear Any and Everybody who reads this,

So far the mission is great! I will start off with probably the general questions everyone would ask. Currently I am serving in Fruitland Idaho. It is a small town on the Idaho side of Ontario (a city on the border of Oregon and Idaho, but is in Oregon). It used to be filled with fruit orchards of all sorts. Makes sense as the name is Fruitland. There are still orchards but not as many as there used to be. It is pretty random now and people farm all sorts of different things. Mostly it is farmland out here though. Me and my companion live in a members home in a little side apartment over their garage. It is very nice and we enjoy it there. The water smells like sulfur (rotten eggs) every now and again though. It is very nice accommodations. Me and my companion cover 2 wards. The Fruitland 3rd and 4th Wards. About 6 months ago they had a ward split to create the 4th Ward. It has affected everybody and lots of different things have occurred because of that. Good and bad. We are trying to help pick up the bad by reactivating members who may have gone inactive since then. Or maybe new converts who were thrown off by it.

My companion's name is Elder Morse. He is 23 years old and from Washington. He is a convert to the church of 3 years and he has been out almost 6 months. He is my trainer and he is pretty green too. But we are both learning a lot from each other and from the people we meet and teach. He was converted because of friends examples from grade school to high school. The Mormons he knew growing up did not drink or smoke or swear. Because of a hard time in his life he remembered his friends and the lives they lived and the joy it brought them. He could see how their family lives were and he wanted that for himself. Even the Mormons who didn't live their religion he could tell they were Mormon because they still had something different about them. Remember that people are watching. I never thought someone could join mostly because of that. But because of those friends and people he knew, he investigated the church and was baptized.

He was serving in this area for 1 transfer before I got here, but the area didn't seem to start picking up till I got here he said. But we work all day trying to find people to teach. We usually go by referrals of members, or part member families. Lots of the success in these area's are based on not only our efforts as missionaries, but also the effort of the members in the area. In the 4th Ward they just had a ward conference on Hastening the Work. These wards are getting really focused on missionary work and it is great.

A book we teach out of a lot to members specifically is called "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" by Clayton M Christensen. I would suggest this book to everyone who reads this. It is the what and the how of sharing the gospel as a member. It has all sorts of advice on how to make missionary work part of your everyday life. And the best part is that it is so simple. One of the things in the book talks about using Mormon words in conversation as it may every now and again have somebody say" Oh so your a Mormon?" And it opens a conversation about the church. But I really would suggest this book.

While I suggest this book do not let it replace scripture study, especially that of the Book of Mormon. I have seen the power of the Book of Mormon in many peoples lives. And never forget to study it day by day. It can bring protection and power to us in our everyday lives and it is because of it this church has come about. Without the Book of Mormon, there would be no reason for any of this. If I did not know the Book of Mormon to be true for myself I would not be out here serving a mission. I have seen the impact and power it has on peoples lives.

Most importantly do not forget to pray. Over the past month and a half I have grown a lot stronger testimony of prayer. I have seen this in my own actions and things I pray for but more importantly those I serve. We had a lesson this last week in which our investigator was asking about prayer as he had never prayed before and he has been coming to church for 9 months. Elder Morse first prayed to show him a little bit of how we did it. Then I prayed and showed a slightly more personal prayer. And then Glenn (our investigator) asked about praying more for ourselves, how we ask questions to find out things for ourselves. How we pray for help in our own individual lives. We then had the person who had invited us over and Glenn over, whose name is Beax (pronounced like Beau or Bo) pray. And he offered an amazing prayer. He is another person we teach and he was excommunicated. He served a full time mission and is anxious to be re-baptized but has to go through a lot of steps to get there. Mostly with the Stake President and Bishop. He offered a prayer asking for help in his situation and for those things that he needed in his life, for his son and for his recent ex-wife. His prayer invited the spirit so strongly that my companion and him were crying at the end. We then had Glenn pray for those things that he needed. He offered a prayer truly from his heart asking to know what he needed to do, and for comfort in his decisions as hard things would come about from him joining the church. He knows his family is against the church and he needed peace. After the prayer everyone in the room was crying except me, I think mostly just cause I am lame and don't a lot. Then Glenn asked where he should start reading in the Book of Mormon and if just starting at the beginning was okay. We told him that great and that starting from the beginning is exactly how to start. Beax's other friend named Lorren then gave the closing prayer (and she had been out of the room for most of the lesson, but came back in right at the end). Everyone in the room had given a prayer but her. So she gave it. She has been inactive for a while. But she gave an immensely beautiful prayer also. Every one of us five were touched by the spirit. Two missionaries, one excommunicated, one inactive, and one investigator. Truthfully the only reason this came about was because of Beax. Glenn had been coming to church for about 9 months and was having a hard time accepting the missionary discussions. But after our gospel essentials class Beax (who had never met Glenn before today) shared with him the promise in Moroni 10:3-5. He talked about how Moroni was a bona fide warrior. That he would not lie, or challenge someone to do something he had not done for himself. It was amazing. He then invited Glenn to his house for dinner and to have the missionaries over. It is because of Beax that we taught Glenn. We need member missionaries, and it will likely not take that shape or form, but we need them, and the "Power of Everyday Missionaries" is an amazing place to start.

With Love and Need,

Elder Roberts

Oh, just the latest

Companions Name: Elder Morse
From Kent Washington (close to Seattle)
He has been out about 5 months so he is pretty green too but our mission is rapidly expanding because of the number of missionaries. He is a convert to the church of about 3 years.
Our days are busy. We mostly teach inactives, but we are also constantly looking for referrals. And in active families often have non-member family members so we can teach them. And we have a few Potential investigators we have met through street contacting. We have tracted before but houses are far apart and it is pretty ineffective so we mostly just try to listen to the spirit and guidance.
We find people through member referrals mostly. Sometimes we just serve people members and non-members alike to help get a footing in to maybe teach someone. We have a few people we are kind of teaching, but none so much that I can mention names specifically. We have some people who are potential and are kind of being taught. Beax Clayton is a returned missionary, recently divorced and excommunicated so we are teaching him in preparation for re baptism. But he is way open and ready, and he loves the church and the gospel and knows it well, but because of different regulations with excommunication he has to wait for a bit and meet with the bishop. But he is very nice and friendly and open. We have met another family, the Loomis's due to lots of cancelled appointments and the like. And a few hours of searching. But this is more of a potential investigator. John Loomis is from Las Vegas and is up here to help fix up his sister's place so she can sell it and move. She is a member and has some health issues. He really thinks our church is the best at taking care of it's people, especially the old people. He seems very open and receptive to being taught, and we are trying to help with the house and serving them so that it can be a good opportunity to teach. But there is a lot of sickness going around especially this last week. So we couldn't do some service there on Saturday because John was sick.
The members make dinner for us every night and we just go around and meet different members who sign up to feed us. Some of them we know better because they sign up more, but it is a good opportunity to receive referrals and to teach a little more about member missionary work.
I actually just made french toast this morning for me and my companion. I tried the cinnamon thing that you do and I might buy some nutmeg. I try to eat at least of serving of everything when I have dinner at members houses. Just things with fruit are especially hard for me, because I really can't handle it. But I am learning to not mind food as much which is good. I haven't really gained any weight. I am still in the same weight area as when I left. Also having specific questions like that really helped me write more. But things are good. My companion still says things are picking up since I got here, partially because I am obedient and partially because I am a hard worker.

Love you guys,
Koogy Waggy, K.J. or Elder Roberts

His new companion

Dad,

Yeah! My mission companion is very hardworking and I am glad to have him! He says missionary work has picked up a lot since I got here. I think is because we have an obedient companionship, not so much because of me. But he says that it is easier for him now to be guided by the spirit and he feels like he can trust me to be able to teach by the spirit also. He says so many different kind of things have happened just since I have been here that haven't happened before. Like we have had a few different opportunities that were odd and out of the blue but totally inspired. I am glad that I could come and change things a little bit, even if it just by being obedient. He is also very glad that not only am I obedient but I am also hardworking and he thinks it's great. Hahaha! I don't think very people can actually like pictures of themselves. There are lots of pictures I don't mind of myself, and some I like better than others. But I don't often like any picture of myself in particular. Also do I need to start writing a general one that you can send around to people? Or do you just send around the ones I send usually?

Love,

Elder Roberts or KJ

PS The address to send stuff to is actually:

Elder Kenneth Roberts

IDAHO NAMPA MISSION OFFICE

1008 W Sanetta St

Nampa, ID 83651

Yes put my first name. That is the mission office and they forward things to me. But they can not forward anything but US postal service packages. Otherwise we have to wait until I go down there, someone else goes down there or someone from there comes up here. If you want my direct address you can call this number208-463-4385 It just that if I am transferred than you will need to find out my address and fix where it was sent. Or whatever.