Cecilia and Church

Hello Friends and Family!

This week has been fantastic. I honestly love being a missionary for the Lord’s Church so much, and I can’t ever fully describe the joy and peace I feel when I have the chance to help aid in the Lord’s vineyard. Elder Sorensen and I have been blessed to see countless miracles this week from our Loving Heavenly Father, and hope that I can describe just a few of them to you so that you can feel of the Spirit as well. I want you all to know how much I love you, appreciate you, and feel of your countless prayers in my behalf. They are felt every day, and at every moment and at every turn. Truly, the Lord is merciful in so many ways.

This week, Elder Sorensen and I were able to have someone at Church! This may sound simple, but this is a big deal. Since coming on my mission (I’ve been out for three months so far), and since Elder Sorensen has been here in LaGrange (for over 8 months), not a single investigator has come to Church. It has been so confusing to us, because our investigators have been blessed to have very spiritual witnesses with the Book of Mormon, and we’ve had two investigators finish up the entire Book of Mormon.  However, no one seems to be able to make it, or be willing to come and attend Church on Sunday. This has been the roughest and hardest trial on my mission so far, and this week, Elder Sorensen and I saw a miracle because Cecilia came to Church! When she walked through the doors of the Chapel, I literally couldn’t believe my eyes! SOMEONE CAME TO CHURCH! My joy was so full, and Elder Sorensen and I just said so many silent prayers of thanks to our Heavenly Father as the Sacrament was passed. She loved it, and said that she has continued to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, and  ‘knows’ that this is the truth. We were also able to meet with her this week, and we saw such a miracle there, as well. When we sat down with her, she started by saying, “Well I want y’all to know that I talked with my manager at worked, and told him I couldn’t work any more Sundays because I was going to Church and start worshipping on Sunday!” I was stunned, and felt so happy to hear this, I couldn’t help but just thank our Heavenly Father again and again for providing us with someone that is finally willing to progress more in His Gospel.  Before our lesson with her started, she said, “Also, I want y’all to know that I’ve read your Plan of Salvation Pamphlet three times, and I JUST LOVE IT! Can I ask you some questions about the degrees of glory? They are so interesting to read about! I just want to know more!” I couldn’t be happier. Just finding someone so eager, so determined, and so new in the Gospel is refreshing. All I can say is that it was a miracle that she came to Church, and that for the first time in over 8 months, the LaGrange Branch finally had an investigator at Church! It was an answer to many prayers, much fasting, and much aid by our Loving and Merciful Heavenly Father.

Elder Sorensen and I were also able to witness, and be allowed to be a part of, another miracle as well. On one day this past week, all of our appointments had fallen through, and we were suddenly left with about 7 hours of contacting times (which, is quite some time to be out knocking doors). We said a prayer, and right as we were about to go out the door to go contacting for the whole day, our phone buzzed. Our Branch President, President West, had texted us. He told us about a Brother Bailey (who is less-active) who was just put on

home hospice and seems to be coming near the end of his life.  He texted us asking for us to call his wife, who is not a member, and see if we could go over and give him a blessing. We did, and she said that we could come over and do so (which is a miracle in its own right). Anyways, we went to this old log cabin about 12 miles out of town, and his wife was waiting on the porch for us. She explained that he was doing poorly, his memory was fading, and the COPD had gotten a severe hold of his brain. She then said, “I have to go shopping for a few hours, will you watch him for me?” We were caught off guard, but of course we agreed to do so for her and for him. As he left, and as we entered the house and introduced ourselves to Brother Bailey, he just smiled, told us to take a seat, and we were able to just talk with him for a little bit. After a few minutes of talking, we were able to give him a priesthood blessing. The Spirit was so strong, and I will never forget the tears in his eyes as he looked at us and said afterwards, “Even though I can’t remember a single thing, I can still remember the day when I shook hands with the leaders of the Church in Salt Lake when I was young. I will never forget the feeling of the Spirit. Because that’s in the heart, not in the mind. And I’m not losing my heart quite yet.” Those words have stayed with me throughout this entire week.  No matter what age may do to us, or no matter the difficult situations we are placed into, God will always help us by providing us with the Spirit to lead and guide us. And, like Brother Bailey said, the Spirit is held deeply within our hearts to lead, guide, and protect us from the evils of the World. We were able to have a great and long conversation with him, and before we left, he offered a prayer for us in our behalf.  Although simple, it was amazing to see how someone so hurt, in pain, and in distress could still try to serve us by offering us just a quick prayer before we left. Yes, service can and will be hard difficult manual labor sometimes. However, oftentimes, the greatest service we can do for others may just be a smile, a prayer, or a hug. No matter what it may be, all service is recognized and loved by our Heavenly Father. With this, I have no doubt of. Looking back, it was amazing to see how Heavenly Father was able to clear our schedule (which in the moment didn’t seem like a blessing at all) so we could experience a sweet miracle and a learning moment from someone far surpassed our years.

The last miracle I wanted to share is about Sharon. We ran into Sharon in Hogansville (the city just north of LaGrange) while contacting a while ago, and she was the individual who had been meeting with the missionaries in the past, but lost contact with them. When we stopped by to visit with her, one of the most amazing things happened. She invited us in, sat us down, and got out her Book of Mormon. She said, “Now let me tell y’all something. This past week I couldn’t sleep. I just couldn’t. I got out my Book of Mormon, and in the index, looked up all the scriptures with the word ‘peace’ in them. It worked. I love this Book so much. I’m already on 3rd Nephi 5!” Elder Sorensen and I were SHOCKED (to say the least). In just under three weeks, Sharon has read all the way to 3 Nephi. She told us that she has never felt so much peace, and how she just keeps reading the Book of Mormon every night, and ‘can’t get enough of it’. What a miracle! We were also able to give her a priesthood blessing of comfort last time we visited with her, and she said how much her family situation has improved since the blessing, and since reading the Book of Mormon. She said something that touched me very deeply, and I wanted to share it with you. She said, “My son hasn’t talked to me for years. He pretends I don’t even exist.  I have been praying, reading, and praying, and now he is talking to me. For the first time in forever, my son is talking to me again.” The Spirit was so strong as her emotions showed through, and my heart was touched just thinking of my own family. To be able to think how the Book of Mormon, and the scriptures as a whole, truly have the power to aid us in overcoming any hardship, any situation, and help us understand any trial we face. I was just so moved by the love our Heavenly Father shows to us always. No matter who we may be, our circumstances, or our individual difficulties, that our Heavenly Father will never forsake us or lead us astray. Especially as we turn towards Him in reading and praying, we will allow ourselves to feel of His love and guidance even more in our daily lives.

I truly do love this Gospel. I have never been more sure of the peace it brings. I feel so blessed to have a Savior, and a Heavenly Father, who not only love us and watch over us, but will always answer our prayers. I feel it’s not a sacrifice to serve the Lord as a missionary for a short two years, but instead, it is an honor.  It is not only an honor, but a position to learn more of the Love my Savior has for me, and for all of His children.  I know in whom I have trusted, and with that trust, nothing can ever disturb my Faith in Christ.  I do know that God is real, he lives, and will forever be our loving Heavenly Father. I know that it is never too late to turn towards Him, to find Him, and to worship Him with greater appreciation.  I know that my Savior suffered for all of my wrongs, my weaknesses, and my faults. And, just as important, that it is only through Him that I can return to my Father someday.  With this, I am sure.  I love you all beyond measure, and thank you again for all your love and support.

I followed through on Carson's wish and mailed him voter
information.  3,000 miles away from Kaysville, it was still very
important to HIM to cast his vote in this years city election.

Also, I just got news that I will be training a brand new missionary next week! It's crazy going right from being trained, to training, in 12 weeks. I love you all, and can't wait to see what my Heavenly Father has in store for me!

Until Next Week-

Elder Robb