The Mission Rolls On

June 6, 2016

Hello back at home! Another great week here in Visalia California! I have been loving it the past little while. I will tell you a couple of different things that have gone on here the past week.

This last week, I was on an exchange in a different part of the mission. The area that I was visiting is the most financially successful part of the entire mission. As we began to talk to some people in the street, one of the people we talked to said something really interesting. She said, "Stop working so hard, Christ has already done it all for you. You don't have to try so hard!" This is a pretty mainstream Christian belief in the world lately. As we were talking, the thought of grace with works came to my mind. I have come to realize that now days, society doesn't really want to have to work. We have become a pretty lazy people overall. Many of the American ethics have been lost over time with the hand of Satan. This conversation helped remind me of the importance of my continued effort through faith, repentance, and the renewing of my covenants each Sunday in order to receive the grace of God and be forgiven of my sins and become sanctified. 

This last week we have also continued working with the Rodriguez family, a recent convert family of 7. They have been truly prepared for the gospel in a way that I have never seen before in my mission. I learned a great lesson of humility from Brother Rodriguez this last week. At the end of the lesson, I went and talked to him for a minute about a tongue ring that he had. As I spoke to him, he looked me in the eyes and said that he had felt that he needed to take it out and was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of him. He then said, "That time of my life has passed, I have changed since then."  What a great example of a willingness to do whatever our Father in Heaven asks. I know that it was definitely a great example for me to see the changing power of the atonement. 

I love you all and hope that you are able to recognize all of the little miracles that are going on in your lives. As we pay attention to God's hand, it will surprise us how often it is there guiding and direction our every step. Have a great week!

Elder Roberts

Here is a picture with some members at dinner and some buñuelos, deep fried tortillas with cinnamon and sugar