November 25, 2013 "Zone Conference/Attitude of Gratitude/Hunting Season"

November 25, 2013

 

Hey all,

This past week I had the chance to go to Zone Conference and learn from our Mission President. The emphasis was on the Book of Mormon and the significance it has played in our conversions. Each missionary that stood and bore testimony of their experience in coming to know the Book of Mormon was powerful in an individual sense and a sense that no matter where each person was before, the moment they made the Book of Mormon the foundation of their study everything else in the Gospel fits. With the Book of Mormon comes every solution to each concern that any person may have with the church - God is our loving Heavenly Father, has provided a prophet in our day, and by reading the Book of Mormon we know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that God has never - will never - give up on his children.

About the work in Gresham: we've been meeting with our investigator twice a week this month and he is set on being baptized. The biggest issue for him in the past was not that he wasn't reading but that he was not praying to know the Book of Mormon is true. I have a testimony that coming to know spiritual truths is done only through companionship of searching, pondering, and praying about what we read. As Sam studies, we sit in lessons and he teaches himself as we discuss scriptures and points of doctrine. And, he's very interested in temple work.

Our other investigator continues to prepare - he's really nervous though. We had a dinner appointment with him this past week and it we continue to help him understand why the Book of Mormon is so important.

Our lady investigator has unfortunately dropped off the face of the planet.

We had a high council member speak in Sacrament meeting about cultivation an attitude of gratitude. He spoke specifically on being in a meeting and someone thanking Heavenly Father for the Typhoon that hit the Philippines; that was not something I expected to hear. He said, "When we thank our Heavenly Father for the trials and afflictions that come our way we immediately grow in strength to endure them." Certainly something to ponder and pray about. I'm grateful for the trials and tribulations that I have been through because through them I lean on the cleansing and enabling power of the Atonement of Christ. I love Paul speaking about his afflictions in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
7 And lest I should be ^aexalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a ^bthorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
 9 And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my ^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me.
 10 Therefore I take pleasure in ^ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in ^bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am ^cweak, then am I ^dstrong.

Thank you for all your love and support. I know that prayers are answered and especially this week I have found prayers answered through your emails and letters. I have the best family.
Love,
Elder Taft Robinson

November 18, 2013 "The Curse is Broken/May be getting ice skates 2 baptisms for December

 November 18, 2013

Good News!

A man who has been investigator for nearly a full year - has officially set a baptism date for December 14! When he first met with missionaries he was not friendly or polite at all but over time there has been a significant change. He's a little nervous and worried that he'll "fall off the bandwagon" and drink another beer but we are working with him to throw out the beer and move forward in his life. When we talked to him about having the Holy Ghost with him all the time and living worthy of the priesthood he was pretty excited. Larry is one of the most honest people I have ever met - when he says he'll do something, he'll do it.

Another investigator, a man that has dogged appointments for months - has begun to follow through in keeping commitments; baptism date set for December 14. There came a change in him when we taught the Plan of Salvation - his mind was completely blown as we talked about lives before coming here to Earth and then after we die. I sat next to him in Sacrament, Sunday School, and Priesthood and man-o-man he took a lot of notes all throughout. You can see the fire in his eyes and know how much he wants to know the Gospel.

Our lady investigator is always thrilled to see us come and talk with her. To our surprise, she called us her "prophets" when we came to invite her to church - haha I guess we'll have to go back over teaching about prophets.

Our new convert is doing awesome - she went to the temple and was baptized for him Mom, has a calling in the Young Women's, and recently told us that she is preparing to serve a mission! Could not be more excited for her.

I went on an exchange for a day in another area and had the chance meet with a guy who sounded like he was going to drop us. As we taught about the Book of Mormon, and got to know him better, he shared more with us and ended up 1) possibly buying me ice skates (Mom, I told him I didn't need them I promise :) ), 2) promising to buy Kocherhans a book, and 3) setting up a dinner appointment for the coming week.

We had the coolest experience towards the end of the night. It was getting late and we were on the last street before going back to the apartment. We knocked on a door and started talking to a woman about a modern prophet leading the world today. My companion and I were psyched when she said that she wanted to hear more. After teaching a short lesson about the Book of Mormon and setting a return appointment, the woman said, "Please, please, come back." So cool.

I've been reading the scriptures and found new insight in how unique the Book of Mormon is in relation to all the other scriptures. The Book of Mormon resonates in our Spirits profoundly because precious truths have been preserved. The scriptures are like love letters from our Heavenly Father; we just had to wait a little bit longer for the Book of Mormon to arrive - it got put on hold for a little while :). I know from my own experience that The Book of Mormon is the word of God; it heals the broken soul, teaches eternal truths, and strengthens our connection to our Heavenly Father. It works because it is true.

Ever faithful,

Elder Taft Robinson

November 11, 2013 "Scripture Power"

November 11, 2013

 

Hey,

It's crazy to see almost 4 months of my mission being finished. Last night I was sitting in bed thinking about all the experiences that led me to where I am now and was flooded with gratitude. This is the best opportunity and I want to be a missionary forever.

Our new investigator has a baptism date: November 23! He's been investigating for almost a full year now and gone through probably 6 sets of missionaries. It has been really cool to witness the changes and influence of the Spirit. When we talk about having that "good feeling" at church with us all the time he says, "you know, that'd be pretty cool". Ya, - it's awesome. So we're trying to get him to throw out the booze so he can be baptized in 2 weeks.

We've found more investigators in surrounding cities and have had a few first lessons with people. Most people say, "I'm interested in learning more but really don't think I'm going to join your church." Then, we hand them a Book of Mormon and if they read - everything falls right into place. Here's hopin'!
  

Our other investigator has been having some more health troubles and we continue to pray for her. When we talk about the scriptures with her she says everything just makes sense so we're hopeful that all will be well with her.

The chicken slaughter was last week and I had a blast. I had the chance to lop some chicken heads off, pluck them with a huge machine, and then gut them. It was the strangest experience - and one of the strangest smells - I've ever had. But, it was also one of the greatest; who knew I would be gutting chickens and grinding deer meat on my mission.

Grandma Rekow continues to try and set Muirbrook and I up with girls in the ward and members of her family. And so, we pull pranks on her: I slid down the woodchute to scare her and hid the 5 pineapples that she bought at the store.

This ward is awesome. Town of 586 and congregation of about 100 or so. We went to a dinner appointment with a family of all girls: Elder Muirbrook turned to me and said, "There are a LOT of girls here." (Yep, we're awkward missionaries.)

Keeping warm. Working hard. Laboring in the Vineyard.

--Elder Taft Robinson

November 4, 2013 "Halloween/Transfers??/Onward Ever Onward

 

November 4, 2013

Hey y'all,

It's been a crazy 3 months! I've just moved onto my 3rd transfer here in Wisconsin and it really doesn't feel like 3 months have gone by. I remember getting off the plane and wondering why my pants were sticking to my legs and why there was Packers stuff all over the airport. Already I have seen changes in my life and the lives of the people of this small town of 586 being changed through missionary work.

We've been able to work with a few family members in "Flooding the Stake with the Book of Mormon". Our stake president received a prompting that the Wasau stake needs to flood this stake with 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon - the same number of copies that were printed in the first edition of the Book of Mormon - within the next 3 years. In this year alone I think they are just over 1,000 so one of our goals is to plant as many copies as possible in our proselyting.

A lot of the work in this area is helping to reactivate those that have strayed away. We've been working with a family ever since I arrived in Gresham who has been wanting to come back for a while. We were able to give them priesthood blessings and that was an amazing experience. Having worked hard and acted in faith, they now have the privilege of going to the temple as a family this coming Saturday.

We had a lessons with our recent convert and were going to talk about temple attendance and working towards the temple - turns out, she already had her interview and is going on the youth temple trip this coming Saturday. She's awesome.

A new guy we've been working with is thinking about being baptized. When I arrived he wasn't sure if the church was true and didn't want to be baptized. In my second transfer he began to see his own conversion happening as he recognizes the power of the Holy Ghost influencing him on occasion. And now, the first thing he said to Grandma at church was, "I think I'm gonna get baptized." He's praying about a specific date that we talked to him about and we continue to work with him - I think this is the transfer he'll be baptized.

This mission can be a roller coaster at times; the adversary really is working his hardest to fight against our Father in Heaven. But the thing that I continue to learn and love is God's love and mercy towards each of us. God doesn't expect perfection; he expects improvement.

Thanks,

Elder Taft Robinson

October 28, 2013 "Mohican Pow-Wow"

October 28, 2013

Dear Family,

Our investigator is officially a member of the church! Seeing her confirmed was such a cool experience. I feel the joy that comes as I watch others join into the loving covenants of the Lord. She is getting along really well with all the people in the ward and she will have no problem jumping right into faithful activity in the church.

When we taught our newer investigator we have been looking forward to meeting with her again but it appears that she kinda dropped off the face of the planet. I pray that we'll be able to talk to her soon and set up another time to teach her.

We have an appointment with our convert's cousin tonight at the Stake President's house and we are hoping that Baptism will become a goal for him. He had a previous preacher, while he was in Alaska, that basically stalked him because he wanted him baptized into that preacher's church. So, we are hoping that as we teach the Spirit will communicate the importance of baptism to him.

I've just hit my 3 month mark as of this past week and am blown away as how quick it's gone. Some days I feel like I may never make it through and then other days just fly right by. Transfers are coming up and it'll be a strange experience if I get transferred out of Gresham but I'll go where I'm needed.

Dennis - Grandma's son - recently killed a buck and we got to watch him clean it out and carry it to the garage. It would have been cool to have been raised on a farm :) Never a dull moment out here on the farm.

This past weekend our new convert invited us to a Mohican POW-WOW on the reservation just out of Gresham. Did I mention that she is the Mohican Veteran's princess? So, we had the chance to walk in and be the only white guys there. :) We were introduced to all the Indian Elders of the tribe and were invited to eat with everyone. There were prayers and songs sung in Mohican and they gave each of us a small bag of prayer tobacco - what on earth do I do with it? One of the coolest things of the POW-WOW was listening to the drumming and singing; I don't think it is healthy that they yell and chant like that but man it sounds cool. She did a short dance and then we had to go. I'll see if I can get a picture sent out. We are literally among the Lamanites out here on the reservation!

-Elder Taft Robinson