"This is my home!"

After receiving this weeks email from Josh, I was in tears...well OK, that happens just about every time, but this time the tears were from joy and not from missing him so much. Elder Robertson spoke about some of the people that he is teaching, Chuck, Monica, Katon, Annie, Tin, Torien, Martez, Serenity, Collin, Marcy, and Matt. I could feel through his words that he loves each one of them and he genuinely wants them to feel the peace that comes from living the gospel. He spoke of one couple's inability to understand the importance of the Book of Mormon and unwillingness to accept it's teachings. He felt so frustrated by this and wrote the following. "The Book of Mormon is the most perfect thing we have and Joseph Smith is a true prophet. I was so discouraged because I felt like I didn't do my part to convince them, but I know I can't really. It's up to them and they weren't willing to do anything about it. I wish I could have the power to manifest it unto everybody, but I can't." Elder Robertson has truly caught the vision of missionary work! He closed his letter with these final words. "I miss all of you guys, but I wouldn't rather be in any other place. This is my home. I love Spokane and I love the work. Just keep my investigators in your prayers." These are words that I have been praying to see him write. I am so happy that he has gotten the emotional connection to the sacred work that he is doing. He will truly be able to be used as a tool in the hands of the Lord.

I sent Josh these giant chocolate lips and reminded him that these would be the only lips he could put his lips on this Valentines day......I think he didn't appreciate my humor!

Elder Robertson and his companion, sporting their Valentines Day t-shirts.

Valentines Day tough for a missionary!

Elder Robertson....it is hard for me to call him that. It sounds like and old person, but the name of Elder is an important one right now for him. Even though he will always be Josh to me, he has committed to the Lord to be Elder Robertson until Dec. of 2010. So, I will call him Elder Robertson.
This week he wrote about Valentines day and how it is tough for a missionary on this day about love. No one is interested in what he has to say and people are all "lovey dovey". Spoken by a true missionary who left a girlfriend behind. I sent him a t-shirt that said, "I love Missionary Work!" along with lots of candy that had scripture verses about love and charity printed on the package so he could give them to people. A little different than sending candy and flowers to a girl.
He asked for special prayers to go up for one of his investigators, Chuck. Chuck's mother and girl friend recently died. He has some pretty serious medical problems, and he is also on the verge of losing his home. Please include Chuck in your prayers and ask that he will feel peace in his heart and the Spirit will testify to him of the truthfulness of the gospel.

Katon Bethay, #97 of the Spokane Shock arena football team. Elder Robertson and his companion are teaching him and his family.

First Transfer Day

Well, transfer day is tomorrow and it also marks Joshua's 2 month mark since he entered the MTC. He got the official word today that he and his companion are staying together for at least another 6 weeks. He was very happy about it, because he and his companion have worked very hard together teaching several people and they wanted to see it through together. They have added to their teaching pool a young college girl, named Marcy Murray along with her boyfriend. He also mentioned that they were teaching another part member family. The husband, Kayton Bethay, is a member but hasn't been active in some time. Kayton has a wife and a couple of children, and apparently plays for the Spokane Shock, an arena football team. Josh is very excited about teaching them! They have been teaching some Marshalese families, but the mission president just brought in a companionship that speaks Marshalese so they will be turning these families over to these new missionaries to finish teaching. Josh was a little disappointed to not be able to see them through to the end, but he said, "as long as they are baptized, I'm fine."
Elder Robertson also reported that in spite of working out "hard core" every day and playing basketball once a week, he has gained 10 lbs since he left. He mentioned a member of the ward, Sister Conklin that is a good cook! He also mentioned another family, the Millers, in the ward that have them over for dinner often and also offer to have investigators in their home to have the lessons. The Millers had two different people over to be taught by Josh and his companion, at different times on the same day. What a wonderful example these people are. I am sure that there is more that we can be doing to help the missionaries here. It certainly makes me more aware and hopefully we can do better to help.

Elder Robertson loves kids! He is pictured here with the children of a Marshalese family that they are teaching.

While Elder Robertson is working in the Shilo area he is only about 30 minutes drive to the Spokane Temple. He and his companion were able to attend a session last week.

Two weeks ago, Josh wrote and told me that he was FREEZING! So I asked a few other moms for some tips on keeping missionaries warm, since they are outside so much. One mom suggested silk socks and gloves to wear under regular socks and gloves. I got on line and ordered some for him right away. When he got them in the mail he thought the socks were pretty funny looking so he decided to model them. However they did the trick and he is much warmer now!

Elder Robertson along with other missionaries and a Marshallese woman wearing traditional dress from the Marshal Islands

Investigator Update

Elder Robertson is just one week away from his first scheduled transfer day. On transfer day, the mission president makes new area assignments to missionaries. Some move to a new area, some stay. Elder Robertson is anxious to see what happens, as am I! Not often does a new missionary transfer out of his first area in just one transfer period (six weeks), but it does happen. We will just have to wait and see. Elder Robertson and his companion are teaching several people, but he has mentioned one women several times. Her name is Annie. She calls Josh, "little boy" and she calls Elder Hunter "big boy" Josh says that Elder Hunter gets the big boy title because he is older. Annie is Vietnamese, and speaks with an accent that Josh seems to like. She loves him like a son and says that he now has two moms. He laughs when she tells him, "Put your hat on little boy, it is cold outside!" Along with Annie, they are teaching an Indaina man named James that lives with Annie, and Annie's daughter, Tam. Elder Robertson is very excited about the progress they are making. There is a community of people living in their area from the Marshal Islands. They are teaching one of the Marshalese families and Elder Robertson wrote in all caps... AND THEY CAME TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY! He realizes that if investigators can commit to attending church they seem to progress faster because they feel the spirit during the meetings so strongly and they begin to bond with other members. He has also mentioned other investigators, Monica and Rachel. He asked us to pray for all of them, so please remember them in your prayers too. Hopefully next week we will have some new photos to share.