201.11.24 email

Dear Home,

Another week, and boy was a good one. So many miracles. First off, there was a Baptism yesterday that has to be mention. He met the missionaries months ago. Slowly progressed in the Gospel, but Baptism was always just out of reach. Then transfers came, he met missionaries a while, but disappeared soon afterward. Then, a couple weeks ago the other elders meet him suddenly on the street. He agrees to meet, but he's going to military- Tomorrow- and neither of them thought he'd be ready before then to be Baptized. Then we had Stake Conference, the missionary who originally taught him was there, and they were able to talk. Mission President had a two hour lesson with him too. Afterwards, he decided to pray if he should be Baptized. The next day he said he wanted to. So this last Sunday before he leaves he was Baptized and Confirmed. It was my first time giving a Baptismal interview since that short time as DL in the MTC. Completely different. The spirit was so strong. Going in, we were concerned if he might be really ready. He'd had doubts about if God really exists, but we could see the faith in him. I decided to fast the day before the interview, and we saw some cool miracles that day. (later...) But we talk, and it's clear he's ready. We talk a little about Holland's April Conference Talk, and he showed a lot of commitment to follow Christ, even though it will be hard during military service. A really cool experience. And it shows the Lord's timing so well. It never could have happened like this if the Lord hadn't helped. Align them to meet again in the street, talk together at Conference, and soften his heart so that he could receive this answer for himself.

So cool. We also got a text from a former investigator. He was golden. Started as a wrong number. Had interest, progressed, worked towards baptism, then suddenly disappeared. He says he feels terrible for not contacting us. He's been so worried and stressed about an exam he's preparing for his work. But the exam ends in two weeks and he wants to meet again. I think he's ready. Ever since I met him, he's seemed like someone has prepared us to teach. Praying for a miracle. ^^

Met an awesome Korean couple that lived in America and came to visit family. Going back this week, but they said they wanted to learn more about "Mormon." Little seeds. ^^ 

 

Also met with an investigator, loves members, just doesn't get the importance of a one true church. Yet this time he seemed to really take it seriously. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he opened up a lot. He asked him to pray about Baptism, and if he really needs it. He's doing great.

Other than that, lots of wind today. Yesterday too. Leaves EVERYWHERE. It's cool watching them from a window in our apartment. Clouds of leaves carving between buildings. I got a picture from the ground to send, but it doesn't do justice.

I love this work. The more you remember that the only way you find, teach, and Baptize is through the Lord's miracles, the more success you see. I love you guys. Miss you terribly. But I find peace in the power of this message.

Take care! Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for the package! 잘 먹겠습니다! ^^ Time goes so quickly here... I don't want this time to end. But that just makes us push harder. ^^ Have a great week!

 

~Elder Robarts

 

2013.11.17 email

Another good week ended on a high note. We had our Stake's Stake Conference this weekend, and it was amazing. Some really awesome talks about missionary work, and how we can see the Lord's influence in our lives through sharing that influence with others. Also, with so much more instruction from the Brethren on the importance of missionary work and going to the rescue, we've seen a huge change. The Youth is almost the most impressive to me. Almost all of them are willing to visit LA young men together. One of them calls a number of them every week. And they've invited a number of friends to activities here. The love of God is contagious, and it's spreading here. We're still trying to help transition these experiences to opportunities to teach and help them become converted, but the efforts here are moving forward.

We also had a meeting with the Mission and Stake Presidents to train us. Awesome men. The Stake President shared an experience of his youth, wanting to go to church, but having parents that were against it. He would pretend to go out to play soccer, then change and go to church. He decided he wanted to study at BYU so he could go to church, even though he'd been accepted into one of the greatest universities in Korea. The whole time, he prayed for his father's heart to be softened. His commitment to the church and his love for the youth is evident in everything he does. They're so important to him, and he has a fire about him that is incredible to see.

Lately, I've had a lot of experiences that have strengthened my testimony of the Gospel. Investigators who live without the truth of the Book of Mormon, seeking for answers that are so easily found in its pages, but blind to see them because they do not look. Other churches that teach of secrets and shadows, but reject the gift of revelation and a loving Father. This is the truth. God lives, He speaks, and He is a part of our lives. He'll guide our steps as soon as we reach out for His hand. We are blessed to have a living Prophet, and the Restored Priesthood on the earth, through which we can return to live with our Father in Heaven, together with our families. The answers are before us. All that is left is to trust him.

Truly, 2 years is to short a time to share this message.

I love you all. Before I wrap up, a few fun things. Had a funny experience today. So there are kind of bath house things here. 목욕탕. Usually, you go, and there are showers and hot pools and sauna type rooms. But it's full of a lot of naked guys usually. Today we found a really small one near our house, but there was no one there. So, just the two of us. A little weird, but it was relaxing. Been a couple months since I've been to one.

Found a new obsession with index cards with good scriptures that I hide in my Korean Bible I carry. Maybe pictures later, but one of them focused on cross references that connect the Bible to the BoM and restoration. (That one was fun. ^^) Analogies are fun to collect too. One new one recently compares our relationship to God with 정. So simple, but genius. Lots of people don't know much about God here, or how it's possible to have a relationship with Him, but everyone knows 정, and everyone knows how it's formed. With God, it's the same.

Started snowing a couple minutes ago. First snow here in 광주. Winter is on the way. ^^ 

When you can, read D&C 88. We're reading it as a mission for Purification, and it's Gold. You'll find some familiar scriptures, but there's some that are truly hidden treasures.

Outside of that.. I got the package! Halloween and Thanksgiving! The Halloween one was great, we used the decorations for our Halloween party. ^^ And I've started my thankful chain. Not much time, but I'll get it finished by Christmas. You guys are the best. Have a great week!

~Elder Robarts

2013.11.11 email

Okay, so it feels like it's been a long time since I've gotten in a decent email, and lately our time keeps feeling shorter and shorter, but here's some catch up.

So, we're working with someone just plain incredible. We met him on the street, and at first he seemed busy, but we started bearing testimony and he stopped. Since meeting with him, he's opened up more and more, even telling us that he wants the kind of life we live. It's hard for him to leave everything else he's known, especially since he's still going to another church with his wife and children, but he's diligently searching for answers. It's not every day you meet someone like him. People generally have their religion here and they don't change much. Either that or they're so used to other "Revelation" churches (Don't think there are as many in America. They make missionary work tiring sometimes.) that make people distrust what we teach. Lot's of those 'false prophets' like it talks about in the Bible. Luckily there's an easy way for people to find out, but some people aren't eager to try. It's always special when we find someone who will. ^^

We're also doing a 40day fast as a mission to help become more spiritually prepared missionaries. It's been going pretty good so far, today we're fasting. It's amazing how much you can find to improve about yourself if you take time to look. Even more amazing when you can look back and see how you've grown.

It's hard to think of what all's been happening really. Still getting used to new responsibilities, but I love this area. It's got so many veins of gold. Last week we got to do some service with an investigator for a member's family. Awesome family, and they bore an incredible testimony about living prophets. It's such a great feeling to serve. It's been harder and harder to get opportunities really. We've been asked to limit how much time we spend on it because sometimes it becomes hard to stop those projects, but these little one time things are the best.

I don't really know what to write. My mind buzzes with things to share, but it all leaks out before monday. One fun thing: There aren't really squirrels in Korea, but there /are/ cats, and recently I've noticed that they're about the same equivalent here. About the same places you'd see a squirrel, you'll see a cat here. Kind of funny... Also, more experiments with baking. Margarine is a wonderful thing. Butter is insanely expensive here, but margarine is managable sometimes.

I think my head might be slowing down. I can't think as fast as I used to. Or it could be just be juggling a lot more things. You can tell by the journals I've been keeping. Lot's of them, and each have been only scratching the surface. Lately I've been wanting to start one for investigators, and answers we've found to help with their concerns. Also included in that one is a Q&A about the Gospel. Common or difficult questions people ask, and some answers. Fun, but no time to keep it up.  I don't why time feels so short. I need to use it better. I love this gospel. I know it's true. It's hard to really describe how much it helps in life. It makes even the hard days meaningful. Few things can do that. Anyway, I've gotta go. Life goes on, and hopefully I'll have some more news a little later. ^^

~Elder Robarts

2013.11.03 email

I hate to say this, but I may only have 11 minutes to type this...

We tried email at a new place. Library, lots of computers, but it would appear there's an hour time limit. And I spent the first half fighting with a computer that kept freezing. Thankfully, I was finally able to get google chrome up and running. That hasn't let me down much.

Anyway, this week was a super cool miracle week! We met an investigator who is really interested in the Gospel. When we meet him, so often there's another friend of his, or someone who just walks by and asks if he can listen to the lesson. (That was awesome... That person became a new investigator. Doing well.)

This time it was a friend he had an appointment with after us. We talked with him, explained how our church is different, our investigator /taught/ about the Book of Mormon, it was awesome. I know he can accept this message. He struggles with personal revelation sometimes, logic always creates doubt for him. But he feels good about us and our message. To be honest, he's been looking to strengthen that faith of his. Any ideas? He's strongly reliant on the Bible. He knows that's true. So we've talked about how he came to know the Bible and helped him see how he can come to know the Book of Mormon the same way. We also shared some of the parts of the Bible that refer to the restoration and the Book of Mormon. He liked those a lot. I think he'll come to understand personal revelation more as we meet. We've talked about it a lot. And he seems to be opening up to it.

Outside of that, two other miracles. One, Halloween party, super big success. Members brought tons of friends, a lot of which sound like we'll get to see again at either English class or those member's homes. Simple activity, but really fun.

Then we did surprise service for a member who helped us with a lesson. Got to meet two volunteers that we might be able to meet again. Super awesome.

This work is true, I love you all to death, but the clock says one minute, so I don't want to take the chance. Love you!

Elder Robarts!