We are learning Patience and having Success on our Philippines Mission

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

   So Much has happened since we last wrote to all of you and onto our blog.  We have been able to Skype with some of you, Google Hangout with others.  So we will try to fill in with many of our activities on this email, even tho some of you may have already heard of some stories.

   With the most current news, Elder Roberts knee and leg gave him much pain and grief for 2 weeks.  It appeared that twisting to carry the vacuum down the stairs started his back, leg and knee nerves to severely act up.  Many prayers were said, blessings given, sometimes we did too much when feeling a little better.  So, we went to the Dr. yesterday who gave him some stronger medication, and he is resting today.  We will tell of our experiences of the last weeks.

  

As I said before in blogs and emails, Elder Roberts had a great birthday with Zone Activity.

  On Sunday April 6, Our leaders combined Districts (they are like Stakes) to strengthen them before they hope soon to make into a real Church Stake.  This is hopefully moving towards building a more active and strong Priesthood and tithing-paying people before the Urdaneta Temple is to be built.  The Youth choir was great that day.

We set out high goals and visited 18 families of inactive members in the families.  We got to know them as friends and enjoy seeing them again in their homes and a few now coming to Church.  We all need to work on our own testimonies of Jesus Christ, our own weaknesses, and love of others.  One family we visited lived in a family complex.  One daughter-in-law (her husband died) works in Jerusalem -sometimes to bring in income.  (Her daughter's name is Princess - yes it is! and the store cashier's 1st name is Lady) It is a Philippine tradition for either spouse, to work outside of the country for weeks,months, or years away from family.  We asked the Missionaries to visit this family complex with with us.  Later, the Missionaries told us they are teaching other neighbors in this complex. 

  Another lady we visited had us sit outside, and her chickens ran through our legs.

We enjoyed General Conference, watching it a week late on April 12, (because it doesn't "happen yet" (we are a day ahead )  or the transmission of it doesn't start till Monday for us).  One of the Talks was  from Apostle Elder Neil Andersen.  He said the world will not glide calmly towards the 2nd Coming of the Savior.  Some problems or whirlwinds will be of our own sin, some will not be.  Trees that grow up in a windy environment develop stronger roots and hardier branches.  And we are infinitely more precious to God than a tree! (Helaman 5:12).  Changes in personal and civil laws and marriage do not change God's moral laws.  Trust the Prophets.  The Book of Mormon and the Temple is a powerful protection from the last days whirlwinds .  Build your foundation firmly on the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

We colored eggs for Easter Sunday from the egg color we brought with us.  (They have no Easter Decorations as we know it here - they celebrate the death of Christ the week before Easter Sunday which ends on Saturday, not the Resurrection of Christ or do anything special on Easter Sunday.)  We went to Church, and because of the Philippine traditions, there were good talks on the Savior's Atonement and resurrection, but no Easter Music sung.  No one had showed up for piano playing, so a Missionary filled in. 
   They sing differently here.  The entire congregation takes long breaths during the song, we are not used to (and we keep mistakenly singing), and pause much lonnnger at the end of verses, too.  They also choose to sing some 1/8th notes and not others.  Sooo, leading music or playing the piano does not keep up to time.  It is the Philippino way for us to get used to.

When we have gone to the Church or store, people come up to us and then notice our name tags.   It is fun to talk to them and they seem to feel at ease to talk to us (and we are easy common folk to talk to).  Elder Roberts said they seem to notice we love each other, love life,  and love that we are serving the Lord.  It is more easy to share the Gospel with them.  We show pictures of our happy families and they see that we have left the U.S. to be with them for a long time.  We tell of our struggles and they relate theirs and we are both strengthened.   We have met men and families from England, Norway, Virginia.

We have been working with Elder and Sister Shamrell (from Portland, OR) on improving the Missionaries apartments.  We asked Elder Shamrell at the store -(very nice, inside a shopping mall) -one night if he had extra copies of the Book of Mormon-in English- which he went to his car and put some in our shopping cart.   5 minutes later, a man came up, introducing himself, from Virginia.  As we talked, we found he also formerly did Garage Doors in Alaska (Elder Roberts mission as a young man).  I asked if he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, he said no, but I had your Book of Mormon once, which I lost, it had some stories that I didn't understand.  I said would you like another copy (reaching into our cart) and meet with the missionaries.  He said yes, I have a lot of questions. 
The Sister Missionaries in his area were the very ones we were to help with apt. checks that week!    This week the Sister Missionaries have asked us to come the 2nd time to visit him.

Another Missionary we saw with apartment checks was Elder James Lamb, from our UT Moroni Stake

We are taking our blessings as they come, even tho our bodies are not strong.  Because of pain on Sunday, we quickly visited our local Calasiao Branch, instead of Mangaldan Branch (12 Miles away) that we are assigned to.  Many members shook our hands, smiled, and told of their families and stories.  If we were feeling well, we never would have visited this Branch.

   We have been to a couple of Baptisms.  Sometimes, it is not very organized, and we help fill in - like Elder Roberts got to be a Witness at the young boy's baptism.  His Mother's name is said - Show-me (I think it's spelled Xiomi).  He husband works in Malaysia, they are going there for 2 weeks to see him and for vacation.  I asked what do you do for vacation there?  They said we go to Legoland!

Every morning, ladies call out Tao po! Tao po (People!) with fruit baskets on their heads.  We buy mangoes, bananas, cantaloupe, eggplant.  They sell some things we don't know what it is- like wrinkled cucumber vegs, and purple vegs and red heart-shaped fruits.

Sister Shamrell had an extra keyboard!  So I can practice the piano! Great Blessings!

We are trying to be patient through this trial of pain of body, but we see that even tho we are not able to work all day, everyday as we would like to, The Lord still blesses us with Missionary work.  Members are praying for us as well as you family, too which we love you and appreciate you.

Love,

Elder and Sister Roberts

Love,

Elder and Sister Roberts