I'm going to be a dad again! Well...a step dad. Transfers came and I am leaving Ralma. For the first real time in my mission I am going to a "campo" which is basically what we would call "out in the boonies." I am headed to the zone Almirante Campo to the area Sabana Grande de Boya. I am going to stay as a zone leader out there but I am also going to finish the training of an Elder named Elder Bigler. I talked a little bit with the other zone leader who is out there right now and he said the area is awesome and there are a lot of horses, pigs and cows. He says the hardest part is getting people to come to church just because it is so far away. He also told me that I am going to see the weirdest and craziest things on my mission out there. I AM PUMPED!!
I have been focusing a lot on the importance of the Spirit lately. I haven't forgotten what President told me in our first interview, that we had over 2000 converts in our mission last year and not one single ward has been created. And what Elder Andersen said when he came to our mission, that sometimes we can lead people to baptism too quickly before they fully understand what it is or have a testimony. It is actually a big controversy in our mission. A lot of people argue about when is the right time to baptize someone. Because there are people here who are willing to be baptized as soon as they possibly can. There was a girl in Valiente named Chandra, not sure if yall remember her. She got baptized in two weeks because her desire was so strong.
I don't have a set opinion on when the right time is but I do have a set opinion on what needs to happen first. And this isn't coming from me but it is coming from an Apostle. Before baptism one needs to feel the spirit through true repentance, and one needs to feel a spiritual confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true. Both of those things require the Spirit. So that is what I have been focusing on and I definitely have seen some interesting changed in my life. When I first got here I felt like I could just convince people that this is true and really try and do it my way which to quote Jacob in his sermon in 2 Nefi 9, "Mi sabiduría es locura, y de nada me sirve." This work is not mine, or any missionary's, this work is the Lord's and the only way to have success is by doing it His way.
And I have seen a change, even if the people still are being a little difficult, I have seen a change in me which is really the goal here. As I have said before, President is focusing a lot on consecration. I have a LONG way to go before I can say that I am fully consecrated, but as I have been trying, and taking the steps to get there. I have been seeing changes in my personal desires. I have been trying to seek the Lord's will more than mine and really try and do what he would have me do. And let me tell you, it is a way better way to do missionary work.
On Saturday Elder Cook is going to come to Santiago and visit the missionaries and we are going to watch it by broadcast so I am PUMPED to see what he has to say! More on that next week!
There aren't any super awesome stories from this past week. It is going to be interesting because I will probably be out in the campo for Christmas and the Christmas call but I am so excited to get to work out there.
I love yall! Have an amazing week!
Love,
Elder Robertson
