Back to the Mainland, I'm in Santa Cruz

Hari ng Tondo. 

I'm back in the mainland! I'm here in Santa Cruz!! Our apartment is actually in Tondo, but we are in the Santa Cruz Ward. It's a change of scenery for sure... I don't think I'm in Kanas anymore. That's funny you should ask about Elder Reber, he's doing awesome.  That's cool you saw his Dad at the gym and caught up.  He's a great missionary.  Yeah I love it here sooo much. It's really poor, but yeah that's an understatement hahaha. You can't describe what it's like here.... It's weird to think that this could possibly be my last area.  These next bunch of pics are from my last few days saying good bye to the people in Palawan.

Sorry the skype was so loud. Yes, that senior couple is the best, but it's true, Senior couple do SO much to help. It's crazy how many people they get sealed in the temple and on missions, they are just extra helping hands for the missionaries, Pres or the ward or wherever they are assigned. 

It's been a great week here! I'm companions with Elder Fiesta, he is from La Union Philippines and with Elder Fiesta how can it not be fun.  He really is a party.  It's funny because I actually picked him up from the MTC now I'm companions with him... He's a great Elder and we are excited to light our area on fire! We have thousands and thousands of people that live in our area... Thousands... We actually have the LRT train in our area so we use that to get around. It's nicknamed the concrete jungle here. It's a jungle but not the same kind as in Palawan...

The work is doing great here! It was hard for me to leave before Charyl and Benji's baptism but Elder Cooper said he will send pics. Elder Fiesta and I are the Zone Leaders here for the Manila West Zone, We also have the only young single adult ward here in our zone. 

We were able to teach Tony and Mila this week. They are in their 70s and love learning about all the visitations from angels that Joseph Smith experienced. They really love the restored gospel! They have to use their glasses AND a magnifying glass just to read the Book of Mormon haha. But they love that. They came to church yesterday as well!! They are just the type of people we are looking for. They are brother and sister. I spoke in church yesterday on baptism, since it was the beginning of a new year, I talked about how baptism is starting a new life.

Jc also came to church yesterday. He is a cool little guy we have been teaching. He is just like Trevor.... He is really funny and loves to draw and mess around with us when we come over. He's always so excited to tell us what he learned from the Book of Mormon. 

This is an incredible area with lots and lots of work to do. We are just scratching the surface here of all the potential. 

This picture is in the house of some recent converts, this is the size of their whole house, I barely fit sitting. There are 7 kids! The dad is not yet a member and we are working with him... He is not in the picture though...  I love my new comp. Elder Fiesta!

The Harvest is great, and labors are few, but if we're united, we all things can do

  Well I love you all and thanks for sending your love!  

Love,

Elder Roberts 

Great Skype!

This is the Dad of the branch president in Coron

Well it looks as though I am being transferred.  Next time you hear from me I'll be back in Manila somewhere.  Here are some pics of the service project on the mango farm.

So our favorite family cooked all this food for us on Christmas!  We are so lucky! This meal 

was before our Skype home.

These next few pics are of the Santa Monica Christmas party.  We had a great turnout.

I love being so tall here.  The Filipinos are short in height but not in spirit.

It's been a great week! We had our branch Christmas party this week and it was a great turnout!! We had some investigators come and some less actives that haven't been to church in forever, we stopped by their house a ton and then they actually came. With the Mendoza family we had been texting them to come. We finally called and said we are coming over to your place and we will go together, they kept laughing and kept saying don't come here we will just go on our own. So we went over anyways (we knew they would love that). They just kept laughing and said fine fine we will really come. And they did!! She sent us a text later that night, and she said, "Elders thank you so much! I've been lost from the church for so long and I want to come back now..."

That felt so good to hear that from them.

We have also been teaching a pastor. We met him tracking and have been back to his house a few times now. We went into his house, and we were really surprised to find out it was his chapel as well. It was totally his chapel for his congregation. He wanted us to teach him and his family there. We sure did. He's a humble man and hopefully he seriously reads the Book of Mormon. We promised him if he did. He would know it was true. We told him that we knew it was true. 

I love the Book of Mormon. It's so powerful. When we meet these people who love Christ so much we get so excited, because the Book of Mormon is another testament of Him, and we know they will love it. 

We had a great Christmas. The members took great care of us and we were able to spread lots of Christmas cheer. Lots of people were more open to us because of the Christmas season. 

I'm so grateful Christ was born. 

Love,

Elder Roberts 

Merry Christmas

This week has been a great week. Elder Cooper and I have really been trying to work with lots of active members. In the past I have felt I wasn't using my time wisely if I was over at their houses. But we have been getting close with them and got some referrals in the works! We are trying to use all of our sources for finding new investigators. We are trying a little bit of everything! We got some cool referrals from a less active lady. You would think that because they don't come to church that they don't really care, but they do. They still love the church and the Lord it's just a hard time for them. But we are gathering a team of us to find scattered Israel here in Santa Monica, we call them the Santa Monica Saints. The work is doing really well! Benji (the investigator who had the dream) has been coming to church and now has brought his other sister that we have been teaching! They are both really into the classes at church and just love it! 

I LOVE this area. I hope I don't leave on the 28th.......  transfers coming up on the 28th

We had a great experience this week with an old man who is less active that moved into our area from a different branch. He hasn't been to church in forever. We went over to his home and we taught him a little Christmas message. He seemed to be crying a little and said he would come to church but wouldn't promise (they all love to say that here). We told him we would come and pick him up and we would just go to church together. Sabay-sabay tayo. He really loved that idea and was grateful. We went to go get him and we went to church together, he was a little nervous because he is from a different branch and was afraid that he didn't know anybody. The members were just awesome!! All the old men came and talked to him and put their arm around him literally (they love that here) and took him to Sacrament. His name is Eddie, but they call him tatay Eddie, which just means like father Eddie. He loved church and is doing great. Its really hard to describe the feeling of being a missionary and the joy you feel even when other people keep the commandments and feel the joy from that. It's been a great week and I love the Lord Jesus Christ and being on my mission. 

After I got done with a long day of work, and the other Elder in my apartment had erected an tower of plan of salvation pamphlets.... Turns out there a spider inside of it.... Hahaha  

Still dancing Mom.  I choreographed this one.  The elder on the right struggles with rights and lefts

This family is the best They are new in the church and LOVE taking good care of the Elders 

Here are some pics of the cool reptiles and animals we see.

Love, 

Elder Roberts 

#LightTheWorld

Hello everyone!  Sorry time has been so short with emailing but things here are really busy.  Here is a service project we did this past week.  We were sweating before we started :) This was for the #lighttheworld project that the church is working on. We were able to find a service project to do for a nice part member family in the branch. 

I don't know the answer to the question you're having right now

We also had a great P-day at Bakers Hill

Really beautiful there, lots great baked foods and a cool view and a fun garden

My Comp soaking it all in

And more service. . . 

 This was after a recent training in Puerto. This is with the sister training leaders and another
companionship.

I'm hoping to write more soon, sorry it's just mostly pics because of time.  I'll send the Christmas play video of me as Caesar when we get it.  I love you all, thank you for your prayers, love and support

Elder Roberts