Welcome Home!

September 28th, 2016

Jill and boys met me at the Salt Lake Airport and we got to spend an hour together...

 

 

The Family anxiously awaiting at the St George Airport...

Mom gets first hug followed by everyone else!

John dad

Chris dad

Grandma Roberts

Grandma & Grandma Graff

Jeff and girls

Jenny, Cameron and girls!

Jake Johnson (the other big, but shorter brother)

Proud parents

Cousin Gav!

Luggage helpers!

After we left the airport we went directly to the church where Elder Roberts shared a message about the restoration of the gospel along with his testimony! He was then officially released by President Call (1st Counselor in St George North Stake). 

Following the release, we all gathered at the Mabin to visit and enjoy cake and ice cream together. Bishop Roberts also dropped by to welcome him home along with other family and neighbors!

Mission Accomplished! Well done thou good and faithful servant! Welcome Home!

Fresno Mission Blog Post

Departing Missionaries

September 27th, 2016

Three Wonderful missionaries are departing this transfer, we are so appreciative of their valiant service!  We had the opportunity to go to the temple with them, enjoy a session and listen to an inspirational message from President Crane and his wife.

Elder Oliphant, Elder Petersen, President & Sister Clark, Elder Roberts

     

The night before these great Elders go home, we have them to dinner at our home and then have wonderful testimony meeting and our very last "Words of Wisdom" for these fine Elders. 

A Great Conclusion

September 27th, 2016

It has been an incredible conclusion to my mission this past week. Last night was the last time that I will have to teach as a missionary here in California. It is bittersweet getting to teach my investigators and recent converts for the last time. I will always remember them and what a blessing it is for me to know them. I have also got to say thank you to all of the wonderful members that have helped me so much here in California. I have really enjoyed learning from their lives and the examples that they set. I hope that the pictures can help you to get a feel for yourselves. 

Thank you all so much for all of your love and support that you have given me throughout my mission. I have enjoyed reading and responding to all of the letters and emails that I have received during my mission. Thank you supporting me and helping me. I love you all and can't wait to see you all tomorrow evening!

Elder Roberts

The Reyna family. Maria, Maggie, and Jose (who isn't in the picture) were baptized in June when I was here with Elder Olsen. Gerardo, the teenager, was baptized this last august on the 21st. I got to give him the Aaronic priesthood this last Sunday. Maria's husband just had a major health problem, but seems to be improving greatly. He says that he wants to go to church once he gets better. Maria also bore her testimony this last Sunday in sacrament meeting.

Armando, on my left, is the recent convert who was baptized on September 17. He received the priesthood this last Sunday.

Raquel, a recent convert that I had when I was doing English work in my last area. She moved to my area here in Visalia, so I got to go and say goodbye.

Hola!

September 19th, 2016

Hey everyone! Today has been really crazy, so I am going to keep it short! Armando's baptism was this last week. He was one of the most prepared investigators that I have ever taught. After I baptized him, we hugged me and told me how grateful he was that I had been there to help him find the truth. He said I was an angel in his eyes. That is what the mission is all about. I haven't found any greater joy in my life then helping someone else to find and follow God. 

I am trying to sprint to the finish line in this time that I have left here in the mission. Sorry if my replies were short this week, but know that I love you all and that I will see you soon!

Elder Roberts

September 12th, 2016

It was a great week this last week here in the mission field! Today I am just getting back from a trip to the Sequoia National Park, so I will have to keep it quick. I will put a couple of pictures down below. 

This last week I continued to see miracle after miracle. One of them was a less active calling us and telling us that her husband now wanted to listen to the missionary lessons after years of having no interest. He is a heavy drinker and smoker. This last Sunday, he showed up to church without his wife, this being his first time ever coming. He then told us that he didn't drink or smoke last night because he wanted to make sure and come to church the next day. That is a big step in the life of someone who has had those habits since they were a teenager. 

It is cool to see how the gospel changes people. I still cannot believe sometimes how quickly somebody's life can change for the better so quickly if they will only apply the atonement and live the gospel. 

I am enjoying every moment that I have and can't wait for another eventful week! So many great things are happening at this time in my mission. I hope that I can make the most of each experience I have! Have a great week!

Elder Roberts 

The following are from the mission blog:

A Memorable Week!

Sept. 5th, 2016

This week was a memorable week! There were some great stories made! I will try and share a couple with you! 

We had the assignment to go to the vineyard this last week. Here in the California Fresno Mission, the church owns a vineyard that they use to make raisins for those in need. The entire vineyard is run by wards throughout the valley. We got to go and help out doing this service. This time we were cutting the grapes, which is the most exciting part I would say. We left at 5am in the morning and worked until about 12. In that time, we finished our 2 and a half rows. It was a great project and we sure did have a lot of fun! Armando, our investigator also came and had a great time! 

Another great memory that we had this week was with an investigator named Pedro. We met him on the street and set up a time when we could come back and visit with him.  He has to be about 60 to 70 years old. He gave us a call the next day and told us to meet him at a park that wasn't too far away. As we got there. We saw him riding his bike that looked very similar to the one I had when I was in middle school. It was incredible to me to see him riding that bike. He is a very humble man that you can tell has gone through some hard times. He has had very little education and struggles to carry on a clear conversation. In that time that I spent with him, it really helped me to realize how different each of our circumstances can be. 

Following this appointment, I was listening to a talk by Boyd K. Packer that talked about how each of our situations here in this life are so unique and individualized. If we didn't understand that we are given our specific circumstances, trials, and difficulties to help us become who we need to and to help us return to Heavenly Father, then we might think that this world is very unfair. We might think that there is a great inequality. What I have come to see is that God has a plan that will give each one of us the equal opportunity to return to Him. No matter what our circumstances, we will have that chance. Thanks to the knowledge of the gospel that we have, we have the answers to those difficult questions. I love this gospel and the happiness that it brings. I love being a missionary!

I hope you all have a great week at home! 

Elder Roberts

Here is a picture at the vineyards and a picture with Pedro.

Hello From Fresno!

August 29th, 2016

Hello back at home! It was a great week his week full of lots of adventures and blessings! No baptism this week, but there should be at least one coming up pretty soon! Armando has been continuing to progress and going in the right direction. We also have another family that has a ton of potential that we are very excited about! The work has been going very well and I have been loving every second of it! I couldn't ask for a better ward and investigators!

Something cool that has been happening the past couple weeks is that we have been teaching my companions uncle and aunt! My companion is actually from San Jose California, so it is only a couple hours away from here. They have a Jehovah Witness background which makes things interesting. They have been taking the lessons with us for about a week or two now. It has been such a cool experience to see my companion getting to teach his own family. It makes it even more special what we are doing. Not only are we bringing others to Christ, but we are bringing his family closer to him!

Gerardo has been doing really well. He is so full of the spirit. It is so cool to see the change that happens when someone is recently baptized and receives the holy ghost. 

It is a great time to be a missionary right now! Every moment is precious! I hope you all have a great week back at home! 

Elder Roberts

Here are some pictures getting to see some of my good missionary friends after a meeting. I have made some incredible friends here in the mission!

Below are pictures of August's Mission Leadership Conference from the mission blog: