October in Peru

Weekly letter with no time: (10/7/2014)

Sorry everyone, no time this week. All I have time for is to say that I am in the same area, my companion didnt change, and I have really drawn closer to the spirit through my trials. The Lord is with me every minute helping me to take the next step that i feel I cant take. I can feel all of your prayers and am so grateful for everyone! 

Elder Roberts

God's Hand: (10/13/2014)

Hey everyone, Elder Roberts again. I am so grateful for what all of you mean to me! This past week we had the opportunity to listen to conference, and I really hope that all of you understand the power of the Words of a Prophet. Every talk had a part of it given to us about heeding the words of the prophet. I know that there is a reason for this. There is something going to happen. I dont know if it is a grand announcment or a world catastrophy or what, but something is coming. Before this time it was always warning us to prepare. It has now shifted, that now is the time to act. We dont have any more time to sit and prepare for things to come, because now is the time to act. 

There were truly some amazing talks this conference, and I hope that all of you will turn to these words often. I know that before the mission conference was a sunday where I could catch up on some sleep. Now I truly understand it is God specifically giving me His direction, for the specfic trials that I have in my life. 

This week we had a trial with one of the famlies that we were going to baptize. I dont want to share the details because I dont feel that I should, but all I can say is that I have never seen the filth of the world like I have now in my life. But at the same time, seeing this has opened my spiritual eyes of ignorance to the true all knowing Power of God. God knows what each one of us need and what each one of us desires. He will help us if we only kneel down have have a desire. 

Sorry if my emails are long and dont catch your interest, but I truly feel that there is someone that I can touch with the message that I feel through the spirit. 

I want to give my testimony at this time. I know that Joesph Smith is the Prophet of the Restauration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that through him, I know that the Book of Mormon is a true work of God. I know that there are prophets, seers, and revalators here on the Earth today. As we listen to there words, we can apply what they say directly to our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Joesph Smith es el Propheta de la Restauración de la Iglesia de Jesucristo en la tierra. Yo se que el es un ejemplo perfecto de los atributos de Cristo. 

Love you all, 

Elder Roberts

Overcoming Death: (10/20/2014)

First, Happy Birthday to Adlynn and Lex! One year older and wiser huh? I am just sad I wont be there to celebrate. You all know that I love to party! haha

But anyways, this week was fantastic! I was a sick as a dog and have been for 6 days! It is all good though, after 3 we are allowed to call in and get medication, so I called on the 5th and got some good drugs that I am pretty sure that we arent allowed to take in the US. But I feel a lot better now. I am pretty sure I had a stomach infection of some sort.  Lets just hope that the temple sells garments in my size, cause Im pretty sure I need some more now. hahahaha But through the sickness, it really humbled me and helped me realize how blessed I am, with my heath, my family, and all of the things that I have. 

Know that I am praying for Grandpa Graff and that I felt sick when I heard what happened with him getting bucked off the horse. I know that he is one of the best and toughest men I have ever met, so if anyone can overcome the challenge, it is him. 

Our ward mission leader here kinda reminds me of Grandpa. He is a 65 year old man that still works like he is 30. I can barly understand his spanish, because he kinda just mumbles, but we are actually really close. He comes out with us every day to visit people. Every time that we walk by a house and hear music he will break it down and bust out some moves with me. hahahahah it is literally the best thing ever! There is always US music playing in english, so the people dont understand any of it. 

Well, to finish up, I learned a lesson of humility this week. Remember what you have at all times and be grateful for the little things, like someone that will dance with you when your having a tough time walking. Enjoy when little kids make a mistake and just enjoying having the love and unity of your family. Thank you all for always being there for me!

Love,

Elder Roberts

Following are pictures from Elder Tyler Kraupp's email this week.  

More of my first Area in Peru

9/22/2014

This week was probably one of the toughest weeks of my life. It came from nowhere when I least expected it. I thought that I had made it through the tough times of missing home and family, but it really all hit me at once. Luckily, I have the Savior on my side to help me push through. 

We had a conference with the mission president this week, and while at that conference, the mission president gave his testimony. He stopped and said that he was going to give it in english. As he gave his testimony of the Savior, I couldnt help but feel his testimony strike me right in the heart. It was so deep with the spirit in a way that I cant descibe. He also bore testimony of the blessings that my loved ones are recieving for my service. It truly strengthen me and raised me up. 

We met with the bishop the next day to talk about goals. As we were there, I told the bishop that we are here to serve him in the objective of missionary work. As we began to talk about the ward in more specifics, I had the thought given to me that ´this is why you are here´ I know that I was called where I am for a specific reason. I know that The Lord knows me, who I am, who I will be, and who I am becoming. 

Know that the Lord know all of these things for all of you too. He knows all things about you through the infinite atonement that he took apone himself. We must come to him with a broken heart, a heart that is prepared to Change for the Savior. 

The Atonement is always looked apone as a thing that we use when we make mistakes. But it is so much more then that. Understand that the Atonement is grace, it is how we change, it is how Christ understands us. I challenge you to study about the atonement and try to comprehend how grand of a miricle it truly is. 

Elder Roberts

I had the chance to go on another exchange this week and go in a triplet. One of the kids is super nerdy and the other is from Columbia and I can barely understand a word he says, but they are two of my favorite guys in the mission. I am sending a sick picure of them. 

Also we had the opportunity to clean the beach here in Lima with a bunch of different stakes. Got a picture of that too.  

Transfer Time: 9/29/2014

Well, this was a pretty good week after a tough one last week. I feel like once I got through the tough time everything has been going really well. This week has been a big week of change, not only in me, but in my ward as well. We have been really working to try and get our ward into the missionary effort, and they are what we like to call, sunday saints. They are perfect members that will do anything on sunday, but the rest of the week is off limits. 

We are changing them little by little, and in time i know that they will have the change that the atonement can bring about. I am so grateful for the ability to simply go on my knees and have a desire to change and all things can be brought about. Is it not so simple? All we have to do is kneel down, ask with a sincere heart, and work and God will bless us with all things that we ask for!

I am sooooo excited for General Conference coming up, but that also means transfers are closer. They are this coming sunday and I have a feeling that me or my companion is going to change areas. He is feeling the same thing. I have been really blessed with a good companion right now, but I know I am going to get that paitence companion pretty soon. 

This week we got to visit the second largest semitary in the world. It is crazy, the graves are above the ground and it is pretty wierd. We hiked up on a mountain in the semitary and played some baseball on top of it, which was pretty sick. We found a wine bottle for the bat and some kid brought a tennis ball. It was way cool. 

I also got to visit the temple this week. I didnt get to go inside because of some mix up but it was still great to get to listen to the spirit around the building. I cant wait for the day I get to enter that holy house with my future family. 

Dont have any more time, but I havent been getting all of the emails that people send me latly, so if you think that you sent me an email, know that I always reply,. So If i dont reply, i didnt recieve it. 

Love you all!

Elder Roberts

Elder Roberts in Peru (Peruvian Jaden)

 Sister Douglas and I thank you for trusting Elder Roberts in our keeping.  We are grateful that he is serving in the greatest mission in the world.  We know that missionaries are assigned by revelation and that your son is where the Lord wants him to be at this time of his life.  In 3 John 1:4 it reads "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  We can attest that your son's service will bring you great joy and will bless the lives of thousands.  We love your son and will do our very best to care for him.  

Sincerely

President and Sister Douglas

First Day in the field: 8/27/2014

Elder Roberts calling out from Peru! It is incredible to be here finally after the long anticipated wait! I love it here and am going to try and talk about it as much as I can! 

It is a whole new world down here, and i dont even know how to describe it. THe lifestyle is completly different then anything that you could imagine in the US. There are wild dogs everywhere! It is crazy how they are just all over the place. Luckily havent got attacked yet! hahaha

Well, it is only my second day in the area, so I will tell you about getting to my area first. We arrived in Peru around 11 pm. We then went to the temple, which was another hour. It was super packed riding, but that was with only missionaries. We got to sleep at hotel that is right next to the temple. We were there and got to sleep until three in the morning, then we drove somewhere until 7. We got to the stake center and met the mission president and his wife. They are an amazng couple and it is awesome to be with them 

We had a lesson for the next 8 hours covering everthything that we should remember. It was crazy to try and memorize that much information. Throughout that time, the mission president was doing interviews with each one of the new elders. When I got to talk with him, it was good, and I feel like he truly was inspired where to put me. 

After 8 hours of information, we were finally assigned companions and areas. It was probably about 3 when this finally happened. We all sat and waited as they called our names off one by one. I would have to say it was ´probably one of the most nerve racking moments of my life. My heart was racing the entire time. I am in the Tablada De Lurin, villa maria and my companion is Elder Laredo.  Elder Laredos mom has a facebook page, it is in espanol, but you should look it up. Tengo un hijo en la mision sud. He is an amazing! He speaks a little bit of English, but not near as much as I would want him too! hahahaha, but he is amazing. He is very relaxed but is still super obidient. Elder Kraupp and I actually are in the same area and district! How crazy is that! We had district meeting today and it was funny that we ended up in the same zone. 

Anyways, after we left, we took a taxi for awhile and ended up in our area. I have no clue how long of drive it was. My companion taught the driver the whole way and I bore my testimony of a couple of things and we gave him a phamplet with our names and numbers. It was awesome getting to work right out of the gate. Our area has dogs everywhere. Our apartment is pretty nice compared to the area. We even have some hot water in the shower! We went and taught and visted that night then headed home. Talk about getting thrown into the fire. I am pretty much a testimony bearer while my companion does a lot of the teaching. We are slowly getting to figure out what each other is trying to say between my hammered spanish and his small english. 

I really cannot stress how much I appriciate inspiration, for i know that this is where i am supposed to be and that I am supposed to be with my companion. I am truly blessed to have God know exactly what I need. Know that I love it here and that there is no need to worry, for God is truly blessing me. Love all of you and am so grateful for all that you do for me! 

Elder Roberts

Best and Hardest Week: 9/1/14

Well, I am typing on a computer and have no clue how much time I have, so I am going to try and put the important things first. I already got to baptize someone. We baptized a husband and his wife. They are such great people and I am so happy I got to baptize the wife. The brother just had knee surgery, but he still wanted to be baptized. What amazing faith. I know that God will bless them for there willingness to follow him.

This has probably been one of the craziest expierences of my life. I had one low point during the week where I felt super tired and couldnt understand the language and it was super hard for me to keep my cool. Luckily I did, and I have truly felt the spirit in me all of the time. I have had some amazing expierences, a lot of them with investigators and the spirit. I feel so strongly the influence of it in my life. I challenge all of you to read through the doctirine of christ in 3 Nephi 11 and truly study it. Make sure to also study the Atonement, because it is truly incredible to learn more about the sacrifice that Christ had for us. 

The dogs arent that bad once you get use to them. Sometimes they will chase you and bark and try and bite, but its all good. I havent got bit yet, so I am all good. I have tried the whole picking up a rock thing, but I think that these dogs dont really care! It is crazy to watch them all fight. 

The buses here are crazy! They dont really stop when you get on, so you have to make sure and hurry, otherwise they will drive off. The taxis here are these little three wheel things that are sweet! I want one so bad! We dont get to take them that often though. 

Bread here is 1 sol for 8 pieces, which is like 40 cents in the US, but then other things are super expensive. It is strange how it changes. Every meal here consists of chicken, rice, maybe a potato, and an amazing juice. Luckily I havent had any problems with my stomach so far. I think the daily vitamins are helping. 

The houses here are set up like concrete blocks with tin on the top. The floors are concrete slabs and they usually use curtains if they want to make another room. It sounds bad, yet being here it just seems normal. I love every single minute of it. It truly has become my life. 

The language is coming along really well. I have leared a ton in just a short amount of time. I can usually understand if someone speaks slow, or at least get the general concept. I need to continue to work to get it though, yet the lord continues to bless me. We walk pretty much everywhere, which makes me happy I brought so many shoes.

I dont know when I will recieve that package. did you send it to the mexico MTC or peru? my comp. said it takes about 3 weeks for a package. I am sure i will get it at some point. 

Know that I am doing great and that everyone in the US is truly blessed and doesnt understand how much they have. Remember how blessed you are and ask yourself why God has blessed you with such an opportunity. Love you all!

Elder Roberts 

My companion took some pictures of the baptism, so I am going to put them on the bottom.

The other picture is of me and my companion in our house. It is really nice for here. I am going to try and get a charging cord at the store today for my camera, so fingers crossed!

Family & Relationships: 9/8/14

Today I was looking at the photos that I have that my sister Jill made for me. As I was sitting there looking, I began to think. I suddenly felt the spirit burn in me, and the confirmation of why I was here. I am here to help people, to serve others, and to make my family proud. Those are all important things, but as I sat looking at the picture and realized what the true purpose of me being here is. I have been so blessed with a family that loves me and that I love unconditionally. It is very rare to have a family as close and strong as mine is. With cousins, brothers, sisters, grandparents, it is incredible how close we all are. I know that I am here to make that last for eternity and to help others find the joy that a family brings. 

I am continued to be humbled as I see what these people have. It is virually nothing, one jacket, a pair of shoes, the same pants, and maybe a hat. On saturday and sunday the members feed us, and as I eat I pray everytime that this family may be blessed with 10 times as much as they gave unto us. My mission is the poorest in Peru, so I really get to see some crazy things. 

I have had some much time to continue to think about the people here and how we can help bring families together. One of the hardest things in Peru is that they dont get married. It is a constant struggle to try and get couples to be married, even after being together for over 30 years. 

I dont want you to think that I am homesick, because honestly, Im not. Every time that i look at the photos of my family and close friends I can only think about what I am bringing unto these people. I know that God will bless these families and that it is my resposablity to help Him in that work. 

The culture here is very different. One thing is that every meal is rice, patatoes, and chicken. Always. It is really good though, so I cant complain. I got an all american classic of lasaugna, pudding, and sprite. It was literally the best. 

We get to do service one a week, and every time the service is moving rocks, moving dirt, or building something. I absolutly love it. I am usually on a wheel barrel because I am huge compared to everyone else. They seem to think that I am superhuman in my ablities to work, so they always make me do a job for two people. It is really probably because I am a greengo, but it is all good because I am happy to get to serve.

My companion doesnt keep the house as clean as i would like, so i did some cleaning and i found a new jacket. it is a medium, but I am totally gonna rep it. I had to go 4 days without laundry because the laundry guy lost it. I looked super nebie wearing just a white shirt. During the winter here, everyone uses sweaters, so I am super happy I brought those two with me. I am going to try and buy some gloves today because my hands are always super cold. 

The rain is different here, it is really a mist. It just gets really think and then you have water everywhere. It is really weird. I cant quite describe it. It almost feels sort of nice though. It is pretty much a non stop thing here. 

I hope that you enjoy my letters. My challenge for all of you is to really think about how blessed you are and make sure that your family and those relationships are your first priority. 

I got a picture inside one of the houses. This is probably the biggest one I have been in while in peru. It is probably as big as most peoples kitchen. 

9/15/14

All right, I gotta start out with this. So I was at this members house out front. They were selling food because he needs to pay for rehab for his foot. I was sitting there eating when a huge band started to play. All of the sudden, a bunch of guys come out of a house dancing with a casket and a bunch of people are dancing and clapping. They were throwing the casket all around and I couldnt belive it. But it is a culture thing here, so I guess its cool. hahaha

This week I got to go with the Zone leader Elder Colton for a day and stay the night. He has a pretty nice area for peru. The people there are about the average class. I really got to learn a lot about how different each missionary is. I really learned a ton about how we can be direct in calling others unto Christ. It is difficult, but when we are direct the spirit confirms the words that we are saying. I think that President Holland is a perfect example of this. 

This monday night we got to go to family night with a family and also an investigator of a member. It was super fun! We played the cup stacking game and it was a absolte blast! Being with all of those people having fun doing simple games is exactly how the lord works. I can honestly say speniding time with that family gave me more joy then all of my times going to some party or bonfire. It is amazing to see the light of christ in these people. 

We have gotten a ton of new investigators this week, which has been our goal for quite awhile. One problem that our area has is that the people dont trust the bishop because he tells the ward about the private interviews he has. Also our ward council doesnt really want to work. We asked the bishop for time and I stood and gave a couple of expieriences and explained that without the ward, the missionaies are nothing. It truly is the memberts that make missionary work possible. I have a personal testimony of this. 

In the Scriptures in spanish, there is a guide of topics in the back. In the guide, I looked up the difinition of sacrifice. It said sacrifice is when you give everything that you have to Jesus Christ. I challenge you all to work on sacrificing more for Jesus, Our Savior.