We are learning many things here on our Philippines Mission. We are learning some Tagalog language, ako po si Sister Roberts, I am Sister Roberts. Naniwala ako ki Jesu Cristo. I believe in Jesus Christ. We are so grateful to Heavenly Father to send us on a mission.
We are learning how loving- the Filipino people are, whether in the Church or not, or what age, they smile and shake your hand, and are interested to know us and answer our questions. Every member, active or not has been so kind when we visit.
We are so thankful to have the time in our lives to read the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon more fully and have time to ponder. How we love reading Preach My Gospel, it is truly full of the Spirit of the Lord and we feel that every sentence was prayed about.
We are learning how to take care of each other even better.
We start the morning at 6:00 or 7, and get ready with scriptures and prayers, and always take time for a good breakfast. We always have a grapefruit, they are smaller here, and we wash all of our raw fruits and vegetables with vinegar water (which we have been instructed to do for intestinal safety). We have eggs and toast, or Kellog's corn flakes, or cooked quick oats with butter and honey, or pancakes. The milk here is pasturized with a very high heat, so it is like canned milk. It tastes like dry milk,, mmm ok. Although we both have lost 10 lbs here, it is because of walking, the apt. stairs, exercise, and more scheduled meals and snacks.
Elder Roberts always wears a short-sleeved white dress shirt, and Sister Roberts usually wears a colored shirt and skirt.
We love representing the Lord Jesus Christ by truly wearing his name tag on our shirts -
ELDER ROBERTS
THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
It is something every member of the Church can feel that they are wearing, their own name tag in their heart, to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.
We study personally and then together, the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, and Liahona (Ensign) magazines, and other talks by the General Authorities. We make a plan of what we will - talk about to the members of the Church with some of their inactive family.
We pack a lunch, and snacks and put them into a Tupperware box or Ziplock bag. We have to eat lunch or snacks outside of the car, or ants will find any crumb inside of the car! Every night we put 1/2 full water bottles, with purified water, into the freezer, and take several with us.
Because we are learning about the members and where they live, we usually go with the young Missionaries or other members to find their homes. We live in Calasiao, but are assigned to work in Mangaldan city 1st and 2nd Branches.
The members invite us into their home, find enough chairs or benches for us to sit, are always so very respectful and give us the best seat. Many feed us, though some probably barrow a drink or snack from a neighbor. We start by talking of their family, jobs, our families, etc. We have a song, (Filipinos always sing every verse), and have a prayer. We share a message with the family. Our assignment is to love them and encourage them to be active in Church attendance, pay tithing, and the men to be worthy Priesthood holders, and be worthy Temple recommend holders. We remind them that the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson has announced to build a Temple in Urdaneta, closeby.
We usually get home at 6:30, for some reason the summertime here gets dark early. We always pray before leaving, for the Lord to protect us as we drive. The driving here is dangerous, compared with American driving rules. We watch out for people to inch their way in-between other vehicles, look out for casual walking across the road pedestrians, look out for vehicles passing you on the left and the right, and coming towards you. We ask for your prayers also to Heavenly Father for our protection.
We have been eating at some interesting places. We like Insal fast food restaurant, with the large pieces of chicken. It's kind of a barbeque with soy sauce. We like Jollibees hamburgers and chicken, the service is great. We liked McDonald's and their fries are great. We loved Shakey's Pizza. We didn't like Kentucky Fried Chicken with the fishy gravy taste.
We had the opportunity of teaching an investigator about the Gospel. We had met a man from Virginia, USA in the Grocery store and just so happened (or was it fate?) to have an English Book of Mormon in our shopping cart - just dropped in by another Couple Missionary Elder Shamrell.
The Sister Missionaries taught him the 1st Discussion and asked us to come for the 2nd. We loved talking with Brother Roger, and bore our Testimonies of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. He showed off his wonderful full Indian Chief Headdress and peace pipe that was given to him being the Chief Officer of the Air Force in Alaska (Elder Roberts served in Alaska as a young Missionary). Roger also had installed Garage Doors - which is what Elder Roberts does for a living. We made another appt. to visit him.
When we rode up the next time, he was outside, down the street from his home. He was reading the Book of Mormon, and had read a lot. But, he was sad, and very quiet. He explained his wife was very against us coming into their home, and teaching the Gospel to him. He explained he wanted to respect his wife and their home. We were sad, but so very thankful that we had gained his friendship, we did leave as great friends, he is a great man.
We love you all and Happy Mother's Day !! Sister Roberts got to speak with her Mother and Daddy on the phone ! through Skype, that son-in-law Justin McMurray so graciously gave to us for Mother's Day. We are so grateful that Sister Roberts brother - Elder Mike Martin and wife Terry are also on a Mission in Micronesia Guam. They posted on our blog,,, about a Martin Garage Door saving a life in the Philippines many years ago. Check out their blog at micronesianmission.blogspot.com.
We love you all and hope you are all well and safe.
We will write more about Mothers' Day later.
Love,
Elder Dennis and Sister Beth Ann Roberts
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