Week 33

Japan, Transfers, and work work work! 

This past week and a half has been a roller coaster and completely nuts!

So transfers... This transfer for our mission was crazy short, only 5 weeks. Time is already flying by and it's only 5 weeks, so this past transfer was as quick as a blink. Over this transfer I have learned so much! I have learned how to focus more on others and how to be more bold! I've learned to pray more fervently and to always be looking for people to talk to and serve. AND I broke the curse! My whole mission I've been transferred every 6 weeks, but I stayed! And it was honestly a bit weird not to be packing up the night before transfers. But I got a new comp and his name is Elder Moore! He's from Tennessee which is fun because I lived there for 3 and a half years! Even though this area is hard, I've learned so much about Heavenly Father's love for everyone and the love He has for me. I've also been working on focus and where that is--I've seen improvements! We also worked so much this transfer. We always could have done better, we tried our hardest and other times we didn't. And it takes time, to learn to work hard and to do that everyday. So I've been learning patience with that, learning to accept failure and keep trying. 

So transfers, Elder McMullin moved down to Queen Creek and Elder Moore came here. Elder Nelson and Anderson (Elder Anderson lived in my first house!) came up to our apartment as well and Elder Hill and his greenie (someone fresh new missionary off the plane) are in the downstairs apartments. We've shuffled the apartment quite a bit and we are making it awesome ;). We've had a busy pday, but good! We went shopping and did transfers. We cleaned out a lot of garbage as well. I also had an amazing conversation with my mom and we talk for 30 minutes before a concert while she was in the middle school hallway haha. I then talked with my dad for 25 minutes as well. Since transfers are today, I call home today, but Wednesday's are pretty busy for my family, but it ended up going really well. Shout out to my parents for being awesome!

So Japan. I turned in my visa application! I got the email last week and they needed my papers to be turned in urgently, so I got my stuff gathered and got my booster shot and then filled out my application! It was pretty crazy, but I sent it to Salt Lake last Thursday! Then today, it got to the DC Embassy! The visa process is rolling! It's bittersweet really, I have loved the people I've met here and the many experiences and lessons I've learned. 

Spiritual thought. Mosiah 18: 21, 22

21. And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

22. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

I've been studying on how to become a Child of God. We are all already children of God, but how do you "become" one? It's by letting Christ lead your life. By letting Him be your focus. When you let His Grace change you and become the central focus of your life, you "become" a child of God. You become more like Him and start living more like Him. You still mess up, we are all imperfect! But when we strive to apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ everyday, we can have joy and strength, even when we do mess up. 

So when you do mess up, don't fear, so did everyone else except for Christ and He provided a way to save you! 

I've had an interesting past week and p-day. But I've prayed for strength and I know that you can too!

I think about you guys a lot, thanks for keeping me in yours too!

ロバートソン長老

Me and Elder Moore