July 24, 2013 "The House, the Water and the Sun"

July 24, 2013

 

Dear Family,

 

My first week here in Licey has been less than ideal, and quite comical if you ask me. when I first got here a week ago I thought that I was in a really nice house but looks can be deceiving...

my second day here it rained really hard and despite the fact that I closed my window next to my bed water still got in due to the gomer pile that did a shoddy job sealing the window. it got my blanket wet and sleeping that night wasn´t as comfortable.

That same day our water pipes to the house got cut due to the construction on the street right in front of the house. We´ve not had water in the house for a week. We have had to travel to other missionaries houses to shower and wash clothes and have even gone to the mission home to shower...on saturday we learned that it´s jsut our side of the street that doesn´t have water and thanks to good dominican neighbors that know what it´s like not to have water that live across the street we were able to fill up every water jug, 5 gallon bucket, and garbage can in the house. generally speaking here in the D.R. there is at least one day in which the people don´t have water or at least a few hours in a day and just as all our water ran out our friendly neighbors took their turn on the don´t have water shift...we had to walk quarter to half a mile to find someone with water and fill up all our jugs again. I almost killed myself trying to carry 2-5 gallon buckets at the same time. the construction guys say that they´ll start puttin in the water pipes today or tomorrow so hopefully we´re seeing th light at the end of the tunnel. I don´t write all these things to complain rather to help you all share these hiloariously ridiculous experiences with me.

I had forgotten how much hotter it is here in Santiago...The sun is very hot and I´m more sunburned.....

On Sunday I got a call from Elder De La Cruz and he told me that one of the investigators that we taught together in Conani is getting baptized on Saturday! He had to have an intgerview with Pres. Douglas because he was involved in a big gun fight 10 years ago and someone was killed. he had a gun and he fired a few shots and it all happened so fast that he is unsure if he killed the guy. there wqas another guy that was convicted for the murder and that whole thing has been resolved for a long time. nevertheless he still felt uneasy about it and it´s necessary for anyone that has killed a person to talk with mission president before being baptized. The good news is that he didn´t kill anyone and he´s getting baptized. in the interview the investigator asked Pres. Douglas for a favor: that I can go to his baptism! President said yes and I called our investigator after talking to Elder De La Cruz and he asked me to baptize him. it´s a very humbling thing when asked to baptize someone. It´s very special. In my mission I´ve only ever personally baptized one person and it was enmanuel in San Francisco. My comp and I will be making a trip to La Vega on saturday.

This is a good area. It is huge and we walk a ton but it´s good.

Despite all the difficulties and challenges I am happy and we are working.

Elder Robinson the second is in the MTC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need his email.

Elder Robinson

July 17, 2013 'On the Road Again'

July 17, 2013

Dear Family,

So on thursday President Douglas called: Elder Robinson I know you wanted to stay with Elder De La Cruz one more transfer but I have need for you somewhere else.¨ He then told Elder De La Cruz that he will be training this transfer. He´s a little nervous to train but I know he will be great.

I am now in my new area Licey A in Santiago. I´m back to the city baby! My new comp is Elder Alvarado from El Salvador and he´s 23 years old. He´s a pretty cool guy and I think we´ll get along just fine. He has just 3 months in the mission which means I´m his step-dad (second comp in the mission field) for the second time. from what he tells me the area is big and we´ll walk a lot and we have several baptisms coming up! It is a ward not a branch which will be a good change I´m sure.

I didn´t want to leave Conani mostly because of my amazing comp, seriously Elder De La Cruz is my best comp, and for the investigators. One has a baptismal date for the 27 and didn´t smoke a single cigarrette yesterday! The couple we have been working with are strong in the church and are working toward marriage and baptism. We held a branch council and all agreed to chip in to give them the 2000 pesos they need to get their little business up and running which will facilitate getting back on their feet and getting married. I have no doubt that they will get baptized but I really wanted to see them enter the bonds of marriage and the waters of baptism... I feel that I worked hard in Conani and am able to say that I am leaving the area better than when I found it.

Transfers always helps me realize I have way too much junk. I´m gonna get rid of a ton!

Happy and sweaty

Elder Robinson

July 10, 2013 "The Triumphant (and soaked) return to San Fransisco'

July 10, 2013

Dear Family,

I am currently in San Francisco with Elder Johnson. He goes home next thursday so today was our last chance to come. the hurricane would have stopped us but it was the last possible chance to see Elder Johnson and visit San Fran before he heads home. We were able to visit a couple converts (anny leydy and the luna family) and it has been good. We are wet and cold and I may or may not get sick due to all the rain I´ve absorbed today. There´s lots of rain and lots of lightning and thunder and we are currently waiting for the bus to fill up so we can go to La Vega......

The hurricane is here and everything is very wet. Nothing too bad from what I´ve seen but lots of rain and some flooded streets. I think of many people I know that live in poor circumstances and know that they probably won´t have a warm and dry place to sleep tonight.....

As far as the car wash for our investigators' wedding is concerned it´s a no go. We suggested the idea and he is a strong and independent man that doesn´t want help. the also say they arent´ready to get married because they want to get back on their feet enough to move out of his mom´s house and get some money together to be able to be independent. So we´re at a stand still with them....

My birthday was great. I invited Elders Fabian and Mercedez to come and celebrate with me and my comp. I got the package and baked the cake and we had a good time together singing and goofing around. thanks a lot for the package it had a lot of great stuff. I´ll probably be able to use all the party gear again because Elder Mercedez´s birthday is coming up.

Transfers are next week and I told Pres. Douglas that I want to stay in Conani with Elder De la Cruz.

the work goes on and we are constantly trying to help the members get animated about mission work and try to maintain the sheep that are already here.

Elder Johnson is going to try and make a trip to PG before Taft leaves so he can meet the family. he seriously is my best friend from the mission.

Elder Robinson

Email letter dated July 3, 2013 " July!? What the Heck?!

July 3, 2013

Dear Family,

It's already July?! Man, I feel like june just barely started yesterday. Time really is flying.

I would like to apologize for not sending pictures for so long...I did try a few times but as you probably know Gmail changed a few things about the website and I just barely figured out how to upload pictures effectively. I know I'm slow....

I realized that by the time I get back and am geting ready to go to college it will have been 4 years since I was in school and that really freaks me out because I'm scared that I've forgotten everything I learned.....I've "helped" a couple people with homework and I know I'm in trouble when I see math that know I learned but don't understand any of it....I'll need to do some serious reviewing.

HAPPY 4 OF JULY TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have planned to do the Car Wash on saturday the 13 of July to raise funds so our investigators can get married!!!!! I'm a little nervous that they just want to get married to be baptized and that they don't truly think/wish their marriage to last forever. It's something we gotta check up on.

Our other investigator is doing really well at leaving behind cigarettes. He used to smoke like 20 a day but now he is smoking 2-5 a day which is a big improvement. The goal is 0.

our branch mission leader is entering the Santiago, Dominican Republic mission today so we will be without a branch mission leader so we are going to have to help some of the members get active and excited to be a branch mission leader.

Life is chugging along at an amazing pace and I am happy. A little tired and stressed but that's good because if I wasn't it would mean that I'm not working and that I don't care about these members and this branch.

I really hope that Pres. Douglas lets me and Elder De La Cruz stay together for another transfer. transfers aren't until July 17 but we work so well together and get along so well I don't want to get split up.

Elder Robinson

Email letter dated June 26, 2013 'Stayed in La Vega'

June 26, 2013

Dear Family,

Well friends the great return of Elders Robinson and J to San Francisco was canceled due to diarrhea and vomit. on Elder J's part. We got up at 6 this morning so we could catch the first bus to Santiago but while we were getting ready to go Elder J called me an told me that he has diarrhea and is throwing up.......so we went and played baseball instead.

I pride myself in being able to hit the ball. I can't catch or throw worth a darn but I can at least bat and get on base.

We are trying to help some investigators get married and we are thinking about doing a car wash to raise funds. We could just give them the money to get married but we don't want them to think that they can turn to the church to get money. They need to do everything possible to do their part and then we can step in and help if it is needed. I think that if they can put enough money to buy soap and sponges and towels and come and help wash cars and motorcycles then it would be a valiant and worthy effort. We still need to run the idea by the branch President to get authorization. I think it's a great idea. We'll see how it works out.

We have another investigator and I'm not sure if I've talked about him....he's very humble and he wants to change hsi life. He smokes and that was one of the first things he told us when we met him: "i want to quit smoking" we hadn't even taught him yet and he could maybe sense that the gospel is what will help him with that. He has kind of a strange goal to live to be 120 and quiting smoking will definitely help him with that. haha. He has a baptismal date for the 20 of July and we are really working hard to help him get there.

Another investigator is stuck in a tough spot. He knows what he should do but he's not sure if he wants to do it. He's young and has a lot of decisions to make and is fighting to know what to do. We are trying to help him but sometimes it seems he doesn't want to help himself...

we were able to see the worldwide broadcast on sunday and it was incredible!!!! so inspiring!

I'll be honest and say that I felt a little discouraged as we watched the videos of huge success taking place in the world with the members and missionaries working together because it just doesn't happen like that here. but I realize that it is that attitude and discouragement that will prohibit things to change to be like those successful branches and wards. so I'm trying to focus on the inspiration I felt during the devotional. and praying to know how we can help this branch become a successful strong branch.

Elder Robinson