Semana 73 - Noviembre 2015

Semana 73 - Noviembre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  6

Total Taco Count:  689.50
Average Taco Count:  1.26/day
Time Remaining:  45.5 hours
FINAL BLOG

Well, the time has finally come.

I´m coming home.

I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster.

It has been a few days full of Goodbyes but I have also been able to 

see a lot of people that I have really missed.

I had the opportunity to visit a few converts today=)

One showed me her temple recommend and told me she has plans to go to celebrate her one year anniversary as a member.

It was a really special moment!

I think this past week in San Jose was one of the best of my Mission.

I am definitely coming home on a spiritual high=)

Remember little Logan and his family?

This week was their wedding and the Baptism of Silvia=)

She has waited over a year to be able to be baptized...

Being in her wedding and baptism was such a blessing=)

We had another baptism on Sunday...

Hermano Hugo has had contact with the church for a while.

His wife got baptized a long time ago.

With time her children were baptized.

But Hugo was never interested.

I still remember the first time that I went to visit... =)

I knew in the first lesson!

He fought a little fight but I never seen someone so ready to have 

the gospel in his life.

After his confirmation the Bishop asked to have an interview with him.

I wasn´t sure why but he came to talk to us after and told me that he received a calling to be Ward Secretary.

I know!! I was shocked too.

But I know he is super ready=)

Their family is already saving to go to the temple=)

After all the miracles and fun it was time to say goodbye...

It was hard leaving San Jose but the hardest part was leaving Hermana Castillo.

I have had 8 companions and I can´t even put into words how incredible each and everyone is to me=)

I think it is one of the things that I am going to miss most.

I have come to love the mission with my whole heart.

It hurts knowing that my greatest adventure is coming to an end.

But I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity I have had to come 

and serve my Lord.

When they say the in the mission the greatest convert you have will be 

yourself.

It´s so true.

I love the person that the mission has helped me become.

I love the lessons that I have learned.

Good and bad.

But more than anything... I love this Gospel.

It really is the Gospel of Jesus Christ=)

I am excited 

and nervous 

and scared 

and anxious 

and every other emotion possible.

But I have learned to trust in His plan...

So I know that everything will turn out just great=)

President just called me in for my final interview.

See you all SO soon,

One last time,

Hermana Robinson

Semana 72 - Noviembre 2015

Semana 72 - Noviembre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  9

Total Taco Count:  683.50
Days Remaining:  9 (I know, right?!?!)

Editor's Note:  The blog has been received!  Here it is:

So last Monday after we left... we had what I can easily say was the 

BEST P-DAY EVER!!!

San Jose is so full of little treasures=)

and I have the greatest district in the whole mission!!

We were running around all week with lots of appointments!!

The investigators that we have right now are so special to me=)

It is such a blessing to be able to teach them!

Remember the little family I was telling you about last week?!

Well... we had their wedding this week=)

It was the cutest thing because we had to stop by to talk about the schedule for the wedding... it was already late so we didn´t have time to share anything.

But as we said goodbye Logan came running in with his 

little arms crossed yelling

"ORACIÓN. ORACIÓN."

He made us all go to his room and carefully put us where he wanted us.

told us to kneel...

Kneeled down next to his dad...

folded his arms again 

looked each of us in the eyes with the biggest smile I have ever seen.

Closed his eyes and said one of his sweet little prayers=)

He won´t let us leave until we have said a prayer with him!

They are both so excited for their wedding and even more excited for their baptism!!

This week we also had another activity!

I think this was the best activity I have had on my mission.

We decided to do something with all the young men and women.

Helping them get excited to go on a mission=)

YAY!!

We invited all the youth in all of San Jose.

We started out getting to know each other and watching a little video then had different activities in different parts of the chapel.

We taught 4 topics.

Listening the the Holy Ghost.

 Technology.

Law of Chastity.

Plan of Salvation.

for each topic there was a game then we had a "spiritual discussion" afterwards.

It turned out really well=)

All of the parents were blown away and all the youth have been talking about it ever since=)

Sunday was a great day too!

All of our investigators came and loved it!!=)

I am kind of nervous for this next week!

But I am determined to make it the best=)

Sending all my love,

Hermana Robinson

She DID learn to make pinatas!

Semana 71 - Noviembre 2015

Semana 71 - Noviembre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  8

Total Tacos:  674.50

Days Remaining:  16

I am so sorry but this week is going to be super short!!!

Things have been so crazy!

I have decided that I am going to leave the area super ready for the next missionary that gets here.

So we have been running all over the place this week!!

We have so many investigators right now!

It`s the best feeling ever=)

We are teaching a family that I have just fallen in love with!

They are both super young.

They have a little boy named Logan and he is 2 years old.

One day we were teaching them and my eyes filled with tears as we sang a hymn with them...

Seeing their little family in their little house...

all huddled together over a small hymn book singing was INCREDIBLE!

Watching Logan sing his little lungs out until the very last word!

Ahhh! I`ll never forget it!

Logan and his mom came to church with us on Sunday 

and we left walking for the bus together.

We realized half way that their dog, Teddy, was following.

We were already late so we couldn`t take him back

(this is the sad part).

Where the bus crosses is highway.

Well he followed us to the highway...

We got on the bus and he tried running after us.

Well... he got ran over.

Logan kept saying that Teddy had to sleep.

It was way sad!!

But the Sunday school class was about sacrifice.

We shared the story of what happened... and the hermana shared that Teddy was her sacrifice to go to church.

But that she was okay.

She knew she needed to be there.

We also had an activity with the ward about service!

We took food to families in need =)

I love getting the ward together and doing service!!!!

Oh, and I had a nice glory moment.

My zone leaders called me and asked if I would sing a solo in the activity.

I laughed and told them they were CRAZY!!

They sat on the phone trying to convince me for awhile and read 

the parable of the talents.

They totally roped me into it.

And I said yes.

I sang A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief...

Hahaha I know.

Okay I gotta run!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Two more weeks!

Can you believe it!?!

Me neither.

Hermana Robinson

Semana 70 - Noviembre 2015

Semana 70 - Noviembre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  6

Total Taco Count:  666.50

Days Remaining:  21

(Editor's Note:  Paige is heartbroken to have lost her camera 

along with all the pictures of her mission that she didn't send home. 

 As a result, for the few remaining weeks the pictures will be sparse 

but the memories will be plentiful.)

WOW another week come and gone...

I think this week flew by faster than any other week in my entire mission!

But it was definitely a great week=)

Thursday I went up to La Paz for a Leadership Conference with President!

His conferences are always SO powerful.

I got to see a lot of friends from the mission too=)

At the end of the conference he invited all of the missionaries that will be finishing their missions to share the "last testimony."

My heart sank the moment the words left his mouth.

A few Elders shared their testimony and then it was my turn.

I honestly can´t describe what I felt.

It´s a whirlwind of emotions...

But more than anything I am just so happy that I came.

 It´s as simple as that.

My testimony really has grown so much!

And I love the person that the mission has helped me become=)

Earlier this week we had a lesson that I will never forget.

 It was one of the most spiritual and loving moments I have had.

It was with a family here that I have a special connection with.

The lesson was going well then it fell when all the family started getting there.

We said the closing prayer and invited the oldest brother to say it.

He had never talked with us before...

But the moment he got there he reminded me so much of brother, Alec.

We taught him how to pray and the whole family joined us

(there were about 13 of us).

The prayer was kind of irreverent and people were laughing.

But he said a great prayer. =)

But it was what happened after.

The spirit came out of nowhere.

Within two seconds every single one of us were in tears.

There wasn´t a single person there that couldn´t feel it.

I shared a personal experience with them and invited them to call the rest 

of the family.

To tell everyone to come over!

So that they could say family prayer.

They all nodded their heads and agreed it was something they needed to do.

In fact, it was something they had never done.

That night they had everyone come over.

They all knelt.

And they said their first family prayer.

The next day as they shared their experience about how they felt,

I began thinking about the little things in the gospel.

Like family prayer, scripture study, going to church and much more.

That sometimes we see it as a hassle and don´t feel the need 

or the desire to do it.

But seeing so many families that don´t even know that these blessings exist.

That are completely unaware of how easy it is 

to feel comfort from our Lord, 

just by saying a prayer.

It has helped me feel grateful for the simple truths we have in the gospel.

We should trust in the promised blessings the Lord gives us 

for living 

and loving 

His gospel.

It made me miss my family and the opportunity to say family prayer 

with them again.

So I invite all of you to do whatever you can to get the family together and to say your family prayer=)

Read your scriptures together!

And enjoy the little blessings=)

Love you all=)

Hermana Robinson

Semana 69 - Octubre 2015

Semana 69 - Octubre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  5

Total Taco Count:  660.50

Days Remaining:  29

To answer various worried emails...

Everything is fine=)

Hurricane Patricia was the talk of the town this week.

Everyone was talking about how it was the biggest hurricane in the 

HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

I think everyone here was really shaken up from Hurricane Odil 

that hit Cabo last year.

They saw the announcements that said it was category 5.

Odil was category 3.

I can tell you there were a LOT of people praying that nothing bad would happen.

Everyone was shocked to hear what little damage was done.

But, I think it is real evidence of the power of prayer. =)

Apart from Patricia everything has been really calm this week.

We continue seeing mircales daily in our area!

The other day my comp was asking me the things that I was going to miss about being in Mexico.

It has now become a game.

As we walk in the street we always share the random simple things that make being a missionary great.

Being able to just walk up to someone and tell them your name.

The way people look at you in the street.

Having everyone offer you food the moment you walk in their home.

The banda that is constantly BLARING in the streets.

How little kids always yell at me in English, "How are you? How are you?"

Telling my comp I love her before going to sleep every night.

The awesome tan lines that we get on our feet.

Always showering with cold water.

Seeing the look in someone eyes the first time they feel the spirit.

Eating amazing Mexican food DAILY.

The way the spirit leads and guides you in every moment.

Receiving answers to prayers almost immediately.

Trying to find a rock in the sand to knock on the fence to get 

someone to answer.

And if not...

Yelling, "BUENAS TARDES!" over the barking dogs until someone 

finally comes out.

These are just a few of the million things that we mention every day=)

We have found a lot of new people to teach this week=)

And we are making a lot of progress with those we are already teaching!

One of the new investigators we found through his brother.

We were talking with another lady and he walked by and yelled at us,

"My Brother wants to me Mormon!"

We finished contacting and ran to go ask what he was talking about.

He gave us his brother's address and we went.

Almost ready to find out it was a joke...

When we got there we were both surprised because it was totally true!

He told us he wants to be part of the church!

We have started teaching and he is progressing quickly.

He use to be a drug addict... but he cleaned up his life 

and now he wants to be Mormon!

We were also surprised by the investigators that showed up 

to church on Sunday.

It is always interesting waiting to see who is actually going to follow through with their promises.

But all those that we expected to come didn´t come.

But all those we kind of just invited without following up...

Showed up early Sunday morning!!

It makes a big difference in seeing those that are really interested=)

Well, the time has come once again...

There are souls to save=)

Con amor,

Hermana Robinson

Semana 68 - Octubre 2015

Semana 68 - Octubre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  12

Total Taco Count:  660.50

Days Remaining:  36

This week was a little crazy but it has been great=)

We just got back from waterfall exploring!

It was about 102 degrees so we baked a little...

It still BAFFLES me how crazy hot it is!

We are in the middle of October and we still get home 

drenched in sweat every day.

But everyone says it should start to cool down now.

The first few days this week we weren´t even in our area.

The first day we went with a couple to finish the papers they need 

to get MARRIED=)

Then the next day we spent the whole day with the other Sisters.

One sister is opening the area and training at the same time.

We cleaned their house...(long over-due)

and then went to the airport to pick up the new sister.

Our week started on Thursday.

It made this week fly by much faster than I would have liked.

Romel is doing just amazing=)

We had the most spiritual lesson with him.

He wanted to learn more about baptism=)

We taught him about that and also talked about repentance.

At the very end I remember feeling the spirit SO strong...

I honestly don't remember what I said to him.

But, I could see the look in his eyes as the spirit touched his heart.

I know it wasn´t me that was talking.

I walked away from the lesson thinking, "Wow!"  

That´s something I am really going to miss.

Being an instrument in the Lords hands and seeing that what you 

are doing is helping others in the things that are 

really important in this life.

We have also been visiting the husband of a recent convert.

In the beginning he wanted NOTHING to do with the missionaries.

He opened up with us this week=)

He told us he WILL be baptized.

He thanked us for helping him come to that conclusion.

He told us it probably wouldn´t be soon.

He explained his situation and we told him not to worry about it.

I, too, could feel in that moment the leader that he will be in the church.

He is taking his time.

But, I have also learned to trust in the Lord's time frame.

We also had a great day yesterday=)

There is a Sister here that is getting old... She is blind.

It´s sad because her family just leaves her locked in the house

home all alone!!

She gets so excited she crries when we come to visit her=)

She explains the things that she liked to do when she could still see...

She explained how she made the best sopes in all of the Baja!

She told us that if we came to help her that she would teach us!!=)

So yesterday we went and had helped her and ate her famous SOPES=)=)

She is so sweet=)

I also want to share just how amazing hermana Castillo is!!

We love being together!

It almost makes me laugh because despite the fact that we are ALWAYS together...

We never get sick of it.

Every night when we write in our journals we always ask

"Are you gonna write here or in the room"

So that we can be together.

We even wash the dishes together! haha

I am going to have a hard saying bye to her...

I have loved my companions so much =)

Each and every one of them has a special place in my heart=)

Oh and I also took this picture so that you won´t worry if I am eating or not.

This is what one of our comidas looked like.

ALL THAT FOOD FOR TWO PEOPLE!!

I kind of thought it was a joke.

She put down one plate...

Then kept coming back with more and more and more!!

If you can´t see in the picture there is one plate with fried chicken salad and fries.

Another plate FULL of vegetables with cream and cheese.

a bowl overflowing with Arroz con Leche (rice pudding) with a whole banana sliced on top.

then a plate with two slices of cake.

I am almost embarrassed to admit it... 

But we ate it all

HOW?!

I have NO idea.

But I left a little plumper=)

Gotta run=)

Sending all my love=)

Hermana Robinson

Semana 66 - Octubre 2015

Semana 66 - Octubre 2015

Taco Count for the Week:  10

Total Taco Count:  648.50

Days Remaining:  43

Well it is OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL...

I am in the first day of last transfer of my mission.

¡¡¡QUE LOCO!!!

I am also happy to let you know that I will be finishing my mission with Hermana Castillo=)

Prayer answered.

I am SO excited to see what happens this next transfer.

We have found some incredible people who are so ready for the gospel.

One of them is Romel=)

He is 30 years old.

We were looking for his mom and we got there and he came out with 

a smile on his face.

We shook hands and he let us right in=)

He put out the chairs and left to go buy tomales for us...

It´s always a good sign when they offer food. Haha=)

He asked us why we hadn´t passed by sooner.

We were a little confused.

He told us that about 3 years ago there were two Elders 

that were teaching him.

They told him he had to stop drinking alcohol, using drugs, 

and drinking coffee before he could be baptized.

The elders stopped visiting him... but Romel didn´t stop changing his life.

In the past 3 years he has stopped using drugs stopped drinking alcohol 

and even stopped drinking coffee.

We got there and he explained he "didn´t meet the requirements" 

to be baptized before.

But that now he was ready=)

He has been praying the the missionaries would stop by his house so that he could be baptized and start a better life.

The day we arrived was the day his prayer was answered.

We also have a family that is planning their wedding and once they are married they are ready to be baptized=)

One of my favorite people here in San Jose finally made the 

decision to be baptized!!

We have been working with her SO much!

We were finally at the point that we were going to drop her and stop visiting.

The day we went to tell her she surprised us and said, 

"I´ve been meaning to call you because you should know 

that I am ready to be baptized! 

This Saturday!"

And that´s exactly what happened=)

Her baptism was beautiful=)

and she was beyond happy.

The happiest I have ever seen her!!

I had to share this picture!

This is one of the pioneers of Mexico!!

She is so crazy faithful in the church=)

Every Sunday we eat lunch with her and after we finish...

we take out our scriptures and all read together.

We talk about "doctrina profunda" and she shares her thoughts.

She is going to Mexico to be sealed to her husband this week=)

He died many years ago but she is excited to have her Eternal Family.

I have attached a couple of pictures from the zone!

I seriously love it here!

In the beginning being here was really hard...

But I love seeing that a little hard work and sacrifice really does 

have its reward=)

I love how I am changing and growing!

I wish I could explain more in these letters the spiritual experiences 

that happen every week...

EVERY DAY!

But the time is too short.

I feel like Nephi in 2 Nephi 33:1

con mucho amor,

Hermana Robinson