Semana 24 - Deciembre 2014

Semana 24 - Deciembre 2014

Taco Count:  6

Total Taco Count:  242

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

Editor's Note:  Paige wasn't able to download pics the last couple 

of weeks but has made up for it this week!  

Yay!

She did not, however, have time for a blog.  Limited computer time.  

So this week will be all (almost) pictures.

Paige did have this to say about this picture:

"This pictures cracks me up!! These are from the games that we played 

for Christmas... I got paired with the Sister that played 

American football before her mission.  

Let`s just say... My competitive side came out. 

I wish I had pictures or everything that happened afterwards! =) it was hysterical."

A quick editor's story:  When Paige was about three-years-old 

she came in the house and announced, very matter-of-factly, that she

knew Jesus loved her.  As pleased as Dale and I were 

to hear her declaration we were curious as to what prompted it.

She pointed out the sunset.  It was pink.  

If any of you knew Paige as a little girl you know how much 

she LOVED the color pink.  Obsessively so.  

She told us that she knew Jesus loved her because he made the 

sky pink just for her.

To this day I can't see a sunset without remembering.

Yes, Jesus loves Paige very much!

Jesus loves us all very much!

Let's remember that this time of year and throughout the year to come.  

Paige wants me to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Semana 23 - Deciembre 2014

Semana 23 - Deciembre 2014

Taco Count for the Week:  0 

Total Taco Count:  236

This week is going to be short and sweet=)

Both my companion and I ended out super sick this week... 

Being sick is the wooorst!

We got some rare virus in our blood? I´m honestly still confused 

as to what it exactly is!

BUT, our zone leaders came to give us a blessing one day. 

After the blessing I felt so much better... Not physically, but mentally=)

Missionary work this time of year is just about the greatest thing EVER!!!

President invited us to do something specail for the holiday season!

As missionaries we organized a FLASH MOB! 

Okay, it wasn´t entirely a flash mob... but we all gathered in 

the mall to sing hymns and put something 

special together for Christmas=)

I also sang a duet with another sister.....

I know what you´re thinking

Since when do I sing, no?

President insisted and I couldn´t say no! 

Hahaha 

There is a back story to this one.

Anyway!

We all started singing and be fore we knew everyone in the mall 

came to watch and they all had their cameras out=)

Look for it on YouTube. I'm sure someone put something somewhere! Haha

I gave a talk in church! Super last minute! Those are the best=)

The bishop announced from the pulpit.. "We will now hear from Sister Robinson"

Then just went and sat down=)

It turned out really well though!

We had transfers this week and nothing changed with us=)=)

But today has been soooo long!

We were up until about one helping one Sister get to the airport and then bring her companion with us.

Then we had to get up at 4 to go and pick up her new companion.

Then off to the offices to go pick up another Sister.

I feel like I have been running around all day long!

Well I told you it would be short and sweet=) haha

Forgive me, pretty sure my mind's not all here right now!

Hope you all have a wonderful week=)

Someone go to see the lights at temple square and send me pictures, eh?=)

Love you all!!!

Hermana Robinson

Semana 22 Deciembre 2014

Semana 22 - Deciembre 2014

Taco Count for the Week:  5

Total Taco Count 236

Just yesterday I was writing in my journal about how this week has 

been a week of miracles=)

So here it is...

My Week of Miracles

Miracle no. 1

Before I left Mazatlan, before I knew I would be switching areas I was 

fasting for one of our investigators.

I´m not sure if you remember the story of Bigotes?

Well it´s him=)

We had already taught him ALL the lessons,

 he was coming to church regularly,

he believed EVERYTHING we were teaching him,

but he... "hadn´t received his answer"

and he didn´t want to be baptized until he had 

received his answer.

I was fasting with him to help him receive his answer.

When I left, he was out of town and I was never able to stop by 

to see what happened.

This past week after planning, H. Ruiz sent me a message 

telling me that he had received his answer and that his baptism is this Friday! I immediately broke into tears!=)

Miracle no. 2

We received a new rule as Sisters in the mission that we can´t 

contact anyone of the opposite sex.

President told us that he was impressed to put this new rule with 

us and promised us that it would help us find the families that 

are searching for the gospel in their life.

The next day we had the ENTIRE day booked solid!!!

We went to the first lesson... nobody.

The second... nobody.

The third...

the fourth...

the fifth...

NOBODY!!

We passed by all the houses of members all of the future investigators.

NO.BOD.YYYY!

We were walking in circles.

With our luck, the only people that were in the streets were men!

We couldn`t even contact!

So we started walking... haha

We finally ran into someone and introduced ourselves.

She wanted absolutely nothing to do with us!

Almost in desperation I asked if she knew anyone else that we 

could share this message with.

She pointed at a door and told us to go visit them.

I asked if she knew what their name was...

She had no idea hahaha

We passed by anyway!

A women answered the door and once again we introduced 

ourselves and asked if we could share something with her.

She was hesitant at first but invited us in to sit down.

We started to talk to her husband as she got us a glass of water.

One by one each of her kids came and joined us.

A complete family ready and anxious to listen to our message!

The lesson that we had with this family is by far the most spiritual 

lesson I have had in my entire mission!

Every single one of us were in tears! 

The spirit was there the second we walked through the door, 

and I know that it stayed with them even until after we left. =)

Miracle no. 3

We have been working with a young family that has wanted 

to go to the temple.

They have spent so much time passing through so many 

different struggles!

Just a few weeks ago the mom broke down to us, 

explaining how she just wanted to go to the temple... that it 

was something good!!! She didn´t understand how a 

goal so good could be so hard to accomplish.

Last Sunday she called to see if we could pass by.

When we got there she was jumping around the house telling us that 

they were going to the temple this weekend!=)

We got a call from her everyday with a new question=) haha

The whole ward went to the temple this weekend and we didn´t 

see them until Sunday at church.

When they walked in and sat down... The ENTIRE chapel was filled with the spirit!

Husband, Wife, and their one-year-old little baby.

They were glowing the whole day=)

Hermana Iniestra and I turned to each other when we both saw them... 

both of us in tears!

She bore her testimony and expressed the love and joy that 

she was able to feel in house of the Lord.

Despite all the challenges that she went through she knew it was all 

part of the plan=)

I have learned more than anything this week that 

this is the work of the LORD!!!

it´s in HIS time frame.

It´s something so simple, yet I seem to forget it every so often.

Sometimes the answers don´t come when we want them to, and certainly not when we expect them to! But they always come=) 

He has a plan.  

We are His children. 

We aren´t just walking...

We´re walking with purpose.

Put your faith in Him.

I love you all=)

Hermana Robinson 

Semana 21 - Deciembre 2014

Semana 21 - Deciembre 2014
Taco Count for the Week:  15
Total Taco Count:  231

I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving this week=)

Everyone is putting up their lights and Christmas trees!!

I still have the hardest time wrapping my head around the idea that it`s 

already Christmas...

I´m blaming it on the weather.

I made the mistake of mentioning that I know how to cook Turkey.

Bishop is planning on me cooking the ward Christmas dinner..... for about 300!!!!

Do you realize how many turkeys that is?!

There has been a lot of excitement in the mission with the new 

HE IS THE GIFT.

It puts a whole new spin on things but we have already seen 

such success from it=)

Make sure you all share the video!

And check out YouTube this Sunday!! It`s gonna be AWESOME=)=)

So we had Jezabel's baptism this week=)=)

The whole entire thing was a surprise!!

Even though we put everything together last minute it 

turned out AMAZING!!

Her boyfriend is a member, and they are already planning their wedding and preparing to go to the temple=)

YAYYY!!!!!

We also fasted with one of our investigators! =) She works 

every single day from 6 in the morning to 11 at night.

She needs more time to take care of her two little boys and 

more than anything she wants to be able to go to church on Sunday!

She was so excited when we taught her about fasting.

We told he we could all fast together, and she jumped asking if we could start right then!!

After we finished the fast she invited us to go get tacos with her=)

We just got back a little while ago from the zoo!!!=)

President invited me a couple weeks back when I first got to Culiacan.

We spent most of the time contacting and teaching! 

than looking at the animals.

It's always interesting with President there! 

This week was filled with so many ups and downs!

I have been so blessed in my mission so far because everyone has been so receptive!

I have never actually had someone say NO.

Believe me, I have no idea how that´s possible.

We had one day where every single person we talked to said NO... 

Doors slammed. Letting dogs loose to chase us.  One lady actually started shooing us away with a broom!

I went from all YES's to hard NO´s!! 

There wasn´t much to do but laugh brush it off and move on!

Missionary work isn`t easy. It kicks ya in the butt.

But...it´s the greatest work there is=)

Do what you can to participate!! Share the gospel!!=)

I need to run... but I love you all=)

con amor,

Hermana Robinson

Semana 20 - Noviembre 2014

Semana 20

Taco Count for the Week:  6

Total Taco Count:  216

Editor's Note (from Paige's mom):  Due to vacation schedule 

I won't be able to post Paige's blog again until 

mid-December.  So sorry!

So I never officially introduced all of you to my new companion=)

Her name is Hermana Iniestra, she is from D.F. just like Hermana Ramirez!

I am convinced the Lord really wants me to embrace the Mexican culture=)

We have the same amount of time in the mission which is really cool, because she has the same desire to work super hard just like I do!=)

I get lucky with my comps=)  

aaaaaand....

IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK!!!

wahoo=)=)

We out with a family from the ward for sushi=)

Everyone here is convinced I am about to finish my mission...

instead of asking how long I have in the mission they ask if I will be home for Christmas!

It`s good and it`s bad.

A lot of people ask me if I am from Mexico.

I don`t even respond... I just point at my face

Apparently I talk like I am from the south. =)

More or less just because I know so many slangs words!

But I don`t have my thick american accent anymore!=)

This week was full of ups and downs. We contacted like craaaaazy!!

As a result we have a lot of promising future investigators=)

We had our big multizone conference!

President and Hermana Velez are so incredible!! I seriously 

can`t even say it enough.

We received such revelation during this conference!

President is coming with us to visit our investigators this week and to 

see how we are working!

It`s totally nerve racking and exciting at the same time=)

The elders in our ward had a baptism this week.

I can honestly say that I never ever thought I would witness a baptism like this in my life.

it was so so so hard to watch!

I have such a testimony of baptism, the importance, the SIGNIFICANCE, what it actually means!

I sat in the back crying to myself, as my heart was  soften as the Lord was helping me realize the potential that my investigators have... the IMPORTANCE of the message that I am sharing EVERY day!

It`s through the little every day actions that we recieve the greatest blessings the Lord has in store for us.

Remember the words of President Monson:

"Decisions Determine Destiny"

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

con amor,

Hermana Robinson

Semana 19, Noviembre 2014

Semana 19 - Noviembre 2014

Taco count for the week:  4

Total taco Count:  210

My first week in Culiacán=)

It´s been a jam-packed week full of lots of miracles!

I honestly can´t even tell you how different Culiacán is from Mazatlán...

I went from sitting in dirt teaching lessons, picking weeds out of my hair, plugging my nose in the street because of all the garbage... etc.

 Don´t get me wrong, I LOOOVE Mazatlán! There will always be a special place in my heart for that City.

BUT.

Culiacán is TOTALLY different! The houses are huge and super nice! 

I almost feel guilty sitting on the pure white couches.

The biggest surprise to me were the members! The ward is GIANT!!! 

The chapel is even bigger!

My whole area are little gated private communities, super high security.  

We have to basically pass an interview every time we enter!

I wanted to meet the members in the area...

So we passed by to meet everyone. We were with one family and 

he was explaining to me how much he loves to help the missionaries!

He has 4 different chauffeur, whenever we or one of our 

investigators needs a ride

they´ll be there!!

Uhhhh...... OKAY!

I was so overwhelmed with love for these people yesterday during the Sacrament meeting!

I can see how blessed each family is...

yet at the same time they are the most loving and generous people 

I have ever met.

The ward is working so hard to do their part and more than anything 

show their support in missionary work!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here!

the standard is about 20x´s higher here...

The members expect the best=)

for that...

I am being pushed in so many new ways and have learned so much 

in just one week!!=)

Friday morning we got a call from one of the members, he had set a 

lesson up for us=)

During the ENTIRE lesson, from the moment we sat down to 

the moment we said goodbye, the spirit was ridiculous! 

Everything that we taught was completely inspired!

We invited him to be baptized...

He accepted=)

After that I turned and took one glance at my compy and back 

to him and invited him to be baptized on the 29th...

of this month.

When I said that my companion glanced over at me like I was crazy! Haha

The rule in the mission is that investigators need to have attended 

Sacrament Meeting five times.

That obviously isn´t possible.

My absolute favorite thing about the mission is being able to rely 

completely on the Lord.

When the Holy Ghost tells me EXACTLY what I need to do and when 

I need to do it!

I know this is the work of the Lord=)

I love you all so much and you are all in my prayers=)

Romans 1:9

con amor,

Hermana Robinson

Semana 18, Noviembre 2014

Semana 18

Taco Count for the Week:  6

Total Taco Count:  Over 206

Editor's (Mom) Note - SPOILER ALERT!!  Since Paige 

was transferred this week many things are "out of whack."

Cords were packed to download pictures.

Taco count went awry.

We'll do better next time.  :)  Thanks for your patience.

SALUDOS DESDE CULIACÁN!!!

It happened... my first real change in the mission!

It´s weird everything that goes through your head when you are going to change!

Saturday we had our stake conference, and President was there with us=)

It was actually really cool, we finished the conference and all huddled around and we were able to listened to our changes as a zone... WITH President!

We only had a little bit of time to run around and say goodbye to everyone.

I was doing fine with everyone... until I said goodbye to Carmen (my first convert).

She is going through some really nasty stuff right now and when we hugged for the last 

time we both just lost it!!

I cried again when I said goodbye to Hermana Ruiz=(

But I have left my first area and am where the Lord needs me to be=)

Tuesday it rained and rained and rained some more...

ALLLLLL day long it rained!

We found out the next day that we weren´t suppose to leave. Oops.

We spent the whole day drenched from head to toe!

Walking around with the water up to our knees=)

I took a warm shower for the first time in Mexico.

It was the most enjoyable shower I have had in my entire life! hahaha

We had interviews with president Velez Saturday morning!

It was my first interview with him... I didn´t even have one when I got here=)

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I have never felt the spirit so strong in an interview before. 

His testimony is SO strong!

There are a million things that I want to tell you about but we are leaving so hopefully next week=)

Hope you all have a great week=)

Sending all my love from Culiacan, 

Hermana Robinson

Semana 17 Octubre 2014

Semana 17

Taco Count for the week:  6

Total Taco Count:  200

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

A tad late... but it still counts!!

We spent the ENTIRE week celebrating!

Not necessarily Halloween, but there were a bunch of birthdays, too!

Different members and one of the missionaries.

We had a bunch of Asados... SO YUMMY!!!

With cake at the end of every one=)

Halloween isn´t as cool in Mexico... let´s be honest.

BUT

Día de los muertos is pretty dang awesome!

Our president told us we needed to organize a big project as a zone to contact on 

Saturday and Sunday.

It was so cool!

Let me explain a little of what goes down on this day... Everyone and their dog piles in the car and goes the the cemetery.

They all gather in front of the graves of friends and family and do a bunch of different things.

Some pray and cry, other have fiestas and mariachi bands and who knows what.

Outside the cemetery there are tons of people selling different flowers and giant pictures of Christ and balloons, etc.

So here´s what we did=)

We set up a giant booth thing with a huge diagram of the Plan of Salvation.

Some missionaries stayed and contacted at the booth while the rest of us all went inside to contact people=)

We sang hymns, painted tombs, chopped grass with a machete, cried with them, consoled them, explained the Plan of Salvation,

carried dozens of buckets of water, started fires, and whole bunch of other stuff!

We spend all day Saturday, and half the day Sunday!

IT WAS SO COOL!!!

The beginning of the week was filled with different problems... we ended out in the hospital for two days. My companion had some problems.

She was prescribed two more days at home.  During the two days I went out with one the young women in the ward the is preparing for her mission=)

It´s super weird having someone following your every move! haha

It´s hard to explain all the things that you experience with the companion you have.

This week was definitely a rough one for my comp.

I love her like crazy! I´ve never laughed so much with someone=)

I definitely lucked out=)

We have transfers next Monday.

Which means... I don´t know where I will be nor who I will be with this next Monday!

FUN FUN FUN=)=)

Love you all!

Enjoy the Fall weather for me=)

Miss you!

Con Amor,

Hermana Robinson

Semana 16 Octubre 2014

Semana 16

Taco Count for the Week:  8

Total Taco Count:  194

It was easily the greatest yet hardest week I have had in the mission!!

I don´t know how it´s possible. haha

We had a big Family History activity with the whole stake...

It turned out AWESOME!!!

This is a family from our ward! The Dad made a giant collage of all their pictures.

He walked around the chapel gathering everyone to come and look at the pictures.

He was SO proud.
 It was cute.

Sunday we had the primary program=)=) This is easily one of my favorite Sundays of the whole year! It always has been!

Our attendance was through the roof! All the primary invited their friends to come to church on Sunday to see the program and after we had a lesson with them about missionary work. =) 

But all there friends brought along their families! We met a lot of new families that

 want to hear about the gospel=)

We were walking down the street one day and I heard something weird behind me...

I turn around and this little guy was following me=)

I don´t know how many ducks I am going to try and save in this life. haha

We took it to a members house. They now have a pet duck.

This is the third time I have done this.

First a cat.

Then a bunny.

Now a duck!

So the reason this week was super amazing and super hard at the same time?...

Well, a couple weeks back there was a leaders conference in Culiacan. Since my companion is the Sister Training Leader, she went to it.

We had a zone conference the following Saturday and it was there that we 

read a story from President.

It´s a 40 day 40 night challenge. it´s called ¨Purificarnos¨

It´s related to when Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.

It is easily the most spiritually challenging thing I have ever done.

My comp and I are doing it together.  We only have two weeks left in this transfer 

and we aren´t sure if we will be able to finish together.

Which adds a whole other spin to it! haha

I have never felt the spirit like I have this week.  I have never been so tested before in my life!

I honestly can´t really describe it.

I know I haven´t really given much infomation about what it is that I am doing. 

But I will continue to explain through the weeks. =)

I invite you all to share your testimony this coming Sunday=)

Con amor,

Hermana Robinson