Week 83: Blanca's baptism

Blanca's baptism was on Saturday!

So this last Saturday Blanca got Baptized!!! I haven’t really said much about her progress, but I have been working with her since I got here in the Santa Fe, and it finally happened. A lot of her initial conversations were a Spongebob type response of "I don’t really feel like it", and then 3 weeks ago she started saying things like "before you go Elder I need to be baptized" and it happened. It was a great experience for her and her family, they all came for the confirmation, she was really happy. 

The rest of the week was really normal. We were doing a lot of baptism prep like asking people if they could give messages or prayers. Elder Contreras and I have been working really hard with this family that our options for next month weren’t very many. But the Lord works in mysterious ways as on Friday in an interchange with Elder Alvarez  who is a missionary assigned to the area of Quezada, we found some young adults who look pretty interested. So that’s cool.

On Sunday a sister brought her grandchildren who have never been baptized. When I introduced myself the younger of the two said "Hermano Elder quiero saber cuando yo puedo ser bautizado tambien".  I was awestruck and once you put it into google translate I think most of you will be too! (Brother Elder I want to know when I can be baptized too) I had to thank the Lord for probably the millionth time for His divine help. 

The Lord always helps when I have done my part and there is nothing else that I can do. I know a lot of times we want things NOW, but we forget that "faith without works is dead". Our Heavenly Father waits until we have shown how much we want something. I love this example and think that those who have children probably see this in action everyday. Your child arrives and wants something, you as a parent probably begin thinking why they would need it and then comes the part where you ask "how much do they want it?" There isn’t a single person in this world who won't put in a sacrifice for something that is worth it or is what they really want. So with your child, as our Father in Heaven does with us, He thinks on this same question, "how much do you want it?" With the child the response is always, "A lot!". We do the same thing with our Heavenly Father, daily even. But He wants to know how much we want it and He has asked that we show him. When we need a new car, or the rent is up and life’s pressures are high we normally ask. God wants to bless us, and it is after we have put in as much work, and time, “our part” that the miracle happens. The Lord makes all the difference.

I love my Savior and my Father who sent him and I know he loves each of us! 

me with Blanca and her mom, Hermana Zonaída.

Elder Contreras before the baptism talking to the kids. He was probably talking to them on reverence.  We had the primary do most of the assignments to help so that Blanca feels loved.

Blanca was being a typical Honduran for the pictures.  Hondurans act really serious and don't really smile for pictures.  I was teasing her about it and we were laughing.

This is David Andino Gonzalez. (doesn't like pictures)
He has been a really cool friend out here.  He is leaving to serve his mission in Pachuca Mexico pretty soon.

Week 82: more riots and the Zonaida family

Teaching Blanca.  She is 9 years old and excited to get baptized next Saturday.  We were at their home to do a pre baptismal interview to see if she is ready to be baptized.

This week was better than last. We did have one problem though, there are paros or riots again. These ones so far are perfectly peaceful.  All they are doing is blocking off roads and they just sit there. It is nothing like the "fuera JOH". 

This week on Wednesday we had the oportunity to do interchanges with the assistants, Elder Valdetano is recovering from a surgery (he had appendicitis and should be back to working as hard as he does in 4 weeks) so I stayed with him in the mission office where he is working, while Elder Contreras and Elder Ozoria went to work in the assistants area. It was kind of fun to be in the office and mess around a little bit with the Elder's there. 

It was the next day that the paros started. The streets were blocked and it was super hard to get back to our area. We ended up getting a ride back to Santa Fe from the mission secretaries. 

On Friday we went to do an interview in the Quezada, there were not any buses because of the paros, so we had to take a taxi. The guy charged us 200 limps- which is insane! It was the lowest he could go. We about passed out at his first offer, it normally costs us 70 limps for the distance but because of all the blocked streets and stopping that was the cost to make his living. Anyway, we got to the Quezada and conducted the interview. By Saturday everything went back to normal, there weren't any paros so we could get around like normal. 

I guess they are taking weekends off because today, Monday, they are at it again!  They are protesting this time for the cost of gas and taxes, so the buses and the taxi's are angry I think. 

Yesterday (Sunday) everything was normal as well we went and taught Blanca. She is really excited to get baptized this next Saturday! It should go well. I'll take more fotos but really this week was kind of shut down because of the interchange and being trapped for a little bit. 

But hey- one thing I did take out of this week is sharing our testimony with everybody, and I mean everybody. I had the oportunity today to share my testimony to someone sending negative emails about the mormon church. I took the time to share with him what I knew to be true, and I hope it helps him. I know how much that one testimony can do. I know when we share what we know to be true the Lord hears it and is grateful that He has disciples He can count on and who follow Him. My invitation to all is to go and to share your testimony if you can today, and find the blessings the Lord has in store.

Love, Elder Roberts

Blanca got a hold of my camera. This is me with Maria. Maria is 14.
Blanca likes to mess around. She loves to play soccer in the street and run around with her siblings

Maria is active now. We have been trying to reactivate the whole family.  Hermana Zonaida and most of the family are trying to come back to church.  Paola and Blanca are the two that go more than most and they aren't members yet. 

Here is Elder Contreras and the backsides of Hermana Zonaida and her son Kaleth(10). The Zonaida family is really fun to be around.  They are kind of crazy, but when things get to the gospel everything quiets down and they are eager listeners. 

Week 81: Stomach issues and the baptism of Isaac and Gabriella

Baptism of Gabriella and Isaac! Gabriella is 8 and Isaac is 12, they are cousins. 

Well this week went by pretty quick not going to lie. But it was a hard one, first of all on Tuesday my companion got sick with a wicked stomach infection, so we weren´t able to really work until Thursday and even then he was still hurting so we worked slow, but we worked. Then on Friday I got sick and it was just a flu virus going around so I´m okay, not great but, I´m feeling better. 

On Saturday we had Isaac´s baptism and it went well. He was baptized with his cousin Gabriella who is 8 years old. We have been working on activating her family and they´ve been doing good, other than that not a whole lot happened. 

While my companion was sick we did some divisions with the missionaries in Mercedes. I left with them to fill some of their visits and they helped us go to ours. It was a big help for Blanca´s and Paola´s progress. This week was a good  one, I just don´t have much to write about because we were sick most of the week. 

I hope you  all have a good week and enjoy the new champions of the World Cup! I heard all about Croatia´s loss and Frances win on Sunday, it was all the talk in church. I know you are happy dad! 

Love you guys!

Allan (guy in white), Isaac's dad is Karen's (lady in black) cousin.

It was fun teaching Isaac the lessons.  He is kind of funny because he was just so open to everything we were teaching.  We taught of the word of wisdom and told him no coffee and the entire house is now not drinking coffee. His mom and dad didn't drink coffee but the rest of the family did and he got them all to stop.

Week 80: President Mejia and family

Elder Contreras and I with our new mission president and his family.  They will be a family of 4 in October when the new baby comes. The little boy Sebastian is 6 years old and pretty crazy. He is too funny. I think I got on his good side because he likes to copy me. So I started playing around with him and I think Hermana Mejia liked that.

So this week was a good one, the Lord is raining down some blessings and I’m happy to get them. First off he sent us a new mission president who wants to change things up out here in Honduras Comayaguela, not that is bad, but the new president wants to make it even better... and I'm all for it! We now have quite a few more recommendations about how to work and I think they will bring a lot of success, and they have just in the first bit of trying it out. Second the new president and his family are amazing! They give off the same love that President Ferman and Hermana Ferman have for each of us. 

Their boy Sebastian is a little chaotic but he likes to have fun, and the Hermana Mejia is pregnant and will have their new baby girl around October. They are very excited.

With the area I said there are some blessings that have come down. This month all of the baptismal dates we had have dropped because our investigators aren’t too sure if they are ready to take this step. It’s perfectly fine, but stressing for a missionary. On Sunday we were blessed when a less active family came to church and want to baptize their son who is 12 years old. It was a pure blessing that Elder Contreras and I weren’t expecting. 

We are still working with Paola. She is having some trouble getting everything cleared up to be baptized. She lives with her boyfriend and she is looking for solutions. This Sunday she came to church and she asked me about tithing and then paid tithing... that same day. It tugged my heart strings a little as I saw how much she desired the gospel and its blessings in her life. I hope everything can get cleared up and she can receive the fullness of the blessing the Lord has in store for her. 

This letter is a little bit shorter so I hope my photos explain a little about my week. I hope you all have an great time this week and know that I love you guys! I can’t wait to get back and see all of you, but the Lord´s time for me is now!

July 4th was a success! My mom says I am brave because I went out like this (I didn't go out with the headband on, but the tie yes). The people loved it, nobody said anything bad so I take it as a success.

16x20 Wood Carving of the First Vision.  Carved for me by Hermano Lopez.  His full time job is wood carving, he sells his stuff to tourists in Copan and Roatan. It took him about 5 weeks, he does carvings for a lot of missionaries, but I'm the first to ask him to do the First Vision.

Last Monday in the Cyber.  It is so hot and muggy while we email, kind of does it's toll on the best of us because of the heat from the machines and there is no AC. "You're Killin Me Smalls"

Week 79: Taco's again at the Cardoza's and my new comp

My new companion: Elder Moises Dario Contreras Soto, he is from La Cuidad de Mexico

It has been a fantastic week! Elder Contreras and I get along really well. It`s pretty crazy as he`s just getting out of the office so he doesn`t really know how to do missionary work. He has been in the office for the past six months, he`s hitting his year mark on Wednesday. We`ve already made tacos together. All of my Mexican companions always like to make tacos, and I don`t mind. I was responsible for the guacamole and it turned out good, I`m not going to lie, I think I learned from the best. 

Elder Contreras and I have been working hard to help investigators progress and schedule baptismal dates here in the area. I think this week we are going to get results. 

President Ferman is officially released and visiting his family that live in the states. President Mejia, the new mission president arrived on Saturday and we as leaders have our first meeting scheduled with him this Wednesday. I`m looking forward to meeting him.

Paola and our other investigators are still progressing and are still interested. So right now I am hoping we can find people for the future months as we have quite a few that are probably going to be baptized this month. 

Anyway, I love you guys and I hope the best for your week, remember the love that it takes to be a leader in this church as we all follow the Savior. Your leaders that are called all love and care for you and are always there to help!

Love, Elder Roberts

We made Taco's at the Cardoza's.  They love it when we made them with them with Elder Vazquez, so they invited us again. I made the guacamole.  I learn how from my Mexican companions. So far I have had 6 mission companions from Mexico.  Elder Valdetano was the first to teach me and so far the best at it.

The missionaries in Comoyagua singing "God Be with You Till We Meet Again" in goodbye to President Ferman.

the mission secretaries put this video together for President Ferman

(your favorite missionary is at 3:40-4:00👍🏼)