Merry Christmas

Good afternoon!

Of course I still get to email! Libraries were closed yesterday being the day after Christmas. It was great to speak to everyone and see how everything is going. I’m glad all of Christmas went well.

Again thank you for the snacks and goodies. The pretzel chips are AMAZING! I really like them (you do not need to send more though - we have enough snacks now to last me the rest of my mission!!!). Lots of candy and sweets..... I’ll be on a sugar high for a week! Ha-ha actually I won't eat it all that soon. It’ll be here and there as winter goes on without snow!!! It’s raining today and the temps will probably drop more and more so we'll see when the snow comes.... it's truly amazing that there is no snow right now.

As far as pictures go I’ll have to send them next week. I left the cord to connect my camera to the computer at home and we unexpectedly drove the elders in my district to a library close to them.

I feel my testimony has grown tons these past few weeks. I’ve come to know more strongly that He loves us always and that He is always listening to our prayers. It is in His time He answers us and blesses us. Sometimes we go through trials and sorrow that we feel incapable of overcoming. I have a quote that says "sometimes He calms the storm for us and sometimes He calms us while we are in the storm". I don't remember who said that but it is true! We will be given the strength we need to do what the Lord wants us to do. Sometimes as we face the challenges we are calmed so we learn trust and patience in Him in all things. It is also the way He allows us to feel His love for us. I know the church is true! I know "there is no other way under heaven or name given whereby we may be saved"! It is only through the eternal and everlasting great and wondrous love of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, our Father in heaven and the leaders of the church who are inspired for our welfare and benefit. They have that privilege of being able to receive revelation for each and every one of us as to matters of the church and even in personal life where they can help us have peace and hope and comfort and love in all things. I know it's true. I know it is.

So I’ll send pictures next week. I love you all and keep you in my prayers. Never lose hope or faith. Wake up every morning knowing that you will be blessed, even if it is the smallest, slightest thing in whatever way it comes, you will be blessed. Have a great week! Thank you for everything. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon. Until then I’ll stay focused and work my hardest. Thank you for everything!

Love Craig

Feliz Navidad

feliz navidad a todos!

Ya I can't believe it either!! Christmas is in just 6 days and I get to call home!! Then my birthday will be at the end of this transfer then I’m going home! ha-ha it's so crazy to think about it right now knowing that in 3 months or less I’ll be seeing and hugging you all again! I’m super excited!

So I’m glad all is well back home. MASON IS IN THE ORCHESTRA FOR SCHOOL???? When did that happen??? What instrument is he playing?? I guess all that and more will be answered on Sunday.... ha-ha I’m sooo excited! I’m glad everyone is staying busy.

Yes it is finally becoming winter here! Morning temps are in the 20s and as the day goes on it is in the mid-40s sometime 50s. I absolutely love it! I’m going to miss it all when I go home but I won't miss the snow, which we haven't had any yet since Halloween time.... ha-ha oh Emily, Emily, will you stop teasing the poor boys out there?!?!?!?!? I’m only kidding. I don't want you hitched before I get home. I’d be very very sad. Haven’t I already missed enough weddings!!?? Ha-ha

Thank you for sending presents! I’ve not received anything yet. I was in the office on Friday and I didn't have anything then so it should all be here within the next 2-3 days. I’ll pick it all up at the mission conference also! And as far as transfers go, I wasn't transferred! Nor was my companion! So we're both a little surprised but we also are excited. This is one of the best areas for normal missionaries to be in during Christmas! We’ve already been invited over for meals Christmas Eve and Christmas day so we are very excited for that.

As far as anything else we're not having any baptisms which is fine. The mission is reaching for a goal of 400 by the end of the month which is possible. I think we need 8-10, maybe 2 or 3 less.... I’m glad there will be a baptism in our ward.... hopefully support will be given as they have the baptism Christmas day! I miss our ward/stake and you all sooo much! I’m excited to go home but sad I’ll be leaving the wonderful people here! (No I’m not trunky, just very very excited).

So for calling home, I can call around 5pm your time while everyone is at moms and speak with everyone as the night progresses. it won't be too late here, just have to figure it out around appointments etc. I’ll call mom and dad Saturday night to clarify times etc. I may or may not call you too.... don't be surprised if you do get a call though.

That’s cool sister Behrman’s friend's daughter is in NY..... Was she in the 11am session?? It was literally almost all missionaries in the session. It’s possible too that it was a later session that missionaries attended from both missions....

I know the church is true. I love you all. Thank you for everything. Have a great week! Merry Christmas! I’m looking forward to speaking to all of you on Sunday!

Love elder Craig Roberts

Getting colder

Good morning!!!

So it is definitely feeling like Christmas now!!! Well here, actually, lights and decorations were out just a day or 2 after thanksgiving so it's been feeling a lot like Christmas for a while! And the weather is finally starting to get colder. Today shouldn't be higher than the 40's. This morning when we went to do our laundry, it was in the 20s. I love it ssssoooooo much!! I’m going to miss it.

So it sounds like a busy week and like weeks ahead are going to be even more busy. You’re always in my prayers. And thanks for the reminders!

Ha-ha ya Emily... she's having fun messing with guys' hearts. I’m glad she’s being proactive about it though. And I heard joey got engaged but I haven't seen any pictures..... It’s crazy he's comprometidose tan pronto.

So with the package.... yes transfers are on the 20th and it is highly likely that I’ll be transferred. I’ve been here in this area a while so we'll see what happens. I’d say your best bet would be to send the package to the mission office and I’m guaranteed to get it before Christmas because we have an all mission conference on the 23rd of December. All mail will be given out then as well as just a few days earlier at transfer conference. I’m guaranteed either way to get it. Thank you!!! I can't think of any food or snacks.... whatever works. I guess homemade snack/food is always better than store bought if that helps.

I love you all. Thank you for everything. It’s been the best having you to support me in everything and anything. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

So this past week we were privileged to attend the Manhattan temple in NY. We spend a few hours there on Wednesday and to our enjoyment, we got to be with the group of missionaries going home which means our mission president and his wife were there too!! It was pretty cool. We had a lot of fun. We walked through time square to get to the bus station and saw why they call it time square! It’s so crazy how or even why buildings are built the way they are. It’s insane! And on Friday we had our Christmas brunch "jingle with the Jepson’s" at the mission home. We played the white elephant game with ties. Their children sent ties out for all the elders and I think scarfs for all the sisters. It was really fun. And we got to help out with some more yard work on Saturday. Tons upon tons of leaves blown onto a tarp and dumped off onto the street. It was a blast!!

So that was the week. Sorry I don't have any interesting stories. Members are working to bring friends etc. into the gospel and we're working to meet with them to help them progress. So that's all for now. I love you and thank you for everything you do. I know I have 3 months and what’s crazy is as I thought about that it feels like Christmas is literally next week..... Time just flies by on the mission. I know the principle of the Atonement and repentance is true. There is no greater gift than that of Christ's sacrifice for us and making it possible for us to repent and receive the spirit in more abundance every day. I love you all. Thank you for everything and have a great week!

Love elder Craig Roberts

Its December

Good afternoon!

Well Christmas is approaching.... and shortly thereafter I go home. I’m excited.

Anyway it sounds like the weather in AZ is switching with NJ weather..... I’m still wearing short sleeve shirts and it's December. Last year this time I think I was in long sleeve shirts with a jacket/coat or 2 on my back..... right now it's in the 50s and sunny although this morning we woke up to lots of fog (it wasn't cold then either....) it's making me wonder if we're going to have a really bad winter or a really late winter.... we'll find out as time goes on. Glad to hear the ward Christmas party went well. I can scarcely remember it.... Scott and I were writing letters back and forth but he hasn't responded to my last letter which was months ago so I’m glad he's doing well and staying busy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNER AND GEMMA!!!! I can't believe it's already your birthdays!!! Have a good time with everyone!

So with calling home. We have transfers the 20th of December..... It’s a 50/50 chance I’m being transferred. I’ll probably end up calling home the Saturday night to clarify everything and as always figure out what time is where b/c I can't remember with the change every year. And it'll depend on my companion and when he'll be calling home so it'll be fun.

So with those naef puzzles.... they're from Switzerland..... If they're that expensive don't buy one or any of them. It’s too much for something we could make ourselves.

I bought some wrapping paper to wrap the books as Christmas gifts for the members.... it'll be fun even I get transferred. The members will just have to rip off the paper the last time I visit them.

This week has been fun. we confirmed summer sky (last week she was baptized) and had our ward mission leader's family come to church (they're not members) as well as summer sky's older sister and a sister in the ward brought a 17 yr. old girl to church too...... the youth group is growing like crazy and several new members have moved into the ward and lots of new babies on the way (or already born) so things are starting to progress more and more. Last night we also watched the 1st presidency Christmas devotional at our bishop’s house. It was really cool. And actually probably my first time ever watching it. We enjoyed all of it. We done some more yard work with a member and will finish it up this Saturday. It’s lots of fun and I miss doing work like that.

I know I’m here for a reason. I think I’ve finally figured out and UNDERSTOOD those reasons and I’m more and more grateful every day for Heavenly Father's love and mercy for us as we strive to become like His Son, Jesus Christ. I’m grateful for the Atonement and for the power of Priesthood. I know it's real. It’s as simple as that. No better way to express it. I love you all and I’m grateful for your love, prayers, and support. Please keep it coming as we pray and fast to hit a goal of 400 baptisms for the year! We know it's possible because "miracles have not ceased" and the Lord has many of His children ready and prepared to make those sacred covenants. I love you and thank you for everything! Have a great week! Stay warm (or cool) and stay out of trouble! Thanks for everything.

Love Elder Craig Roberts

Thanksgiving Chicken Curry

Good morning!

Well I’m glad thanksgiving went well! As for us out here.... we saw an Asian couple (it was our only appointment for thanksgiving) and we didn't get turkey or anything else! Ha-ha instead we had chicken curry (not too spicy) with rice and croissants and a slice of cheesecake for dessert! What a wonderful dinner! Of course we were bummed of not having turkey but that’s life. Don’t send us anything though! Our members will take care of us and we'll get some. I love this ward!

Happy belated birthday! I thought about it during the week to be honest, just forgot to say something last week. I’m glad everything went well for that and Christmas decorating! Ha-ha and that's good you didn't go out on black Friday. It really isn't that different from shopping online or like you said saving $5 on something you don't need.

Wow.... so many marriages!!! well Emily knows she can’t get married before I get home but I told her she can the day after I get back if she decides.... ha-ha it is very soon though.

With the pictures.... I’ll look at it. It could be because I have the highest megapixel setting on plus needing to zoom in to get a closer shot. I got all the books, poster, and ensign/pictures/funeral program! Thank you so much for those! I love them and I’ll be sending something home today, just a letter. It has tithing in it and is addressed to mason....

I just got that letter too about being called to dl... cool to know you got one too. It will help me grow tons and learn a better way of teaching and involving others. I grateful for the calling. We had the opportunity to give more blessings this week to a family who is sick/injured. They’re members and the husband messed up his knee in the "turkey bowl" he played in and his wife is sick and one of their sons too. We went over and gave them brownies then he asked us to give the 3 of them blessings. His wife is native Spanish so he told me to give her the blessing then told his son to choose one of us to give him the blessing. It was cool to know they trust us with that sacred responsibility! It was a good time and they were joyful when we left.

We played as missionaries a few good games of football on Thursday too! It was fun because it rained the day before and had been raining for a few days so the field was muddy and we had a puddle of water we played around too. We all got mud on us at some point.

As far as Christmas and calling home goes it'll probably be in the afternoon sometime. I’m not sure what time we’ll start and end church that Sunday b/c it's not a normal service so as it gets closer I’ll let you know.

So something I thought of that could be a gift for me (or anyone really) is a mosaic like puzzle thing called "NAEF".... I think that’s the correct spelling. It’s a Swedish board thing (not really a game) that has many multicolored cubes. It’s more a brain relaxer or whatever that you can mix the cubes and colors and make whatever designs/patterns you'd like. I know you can find it on the internet but I’m not sure where. I’ve only seen it once and I loved it. It’d been really fun for the kids or anyone who wants to be creative without the mess of crayons or markers etc. and you don’t need paper! (It sounds like I’m trying to sell you something...).

Anyway I love you all! Thank you for everything! I know the church is true and I know it is the way to peace and love and happiness in this life. Have a great week! Thank you for all you do.

Love elder Craig Roberts

Oh and by the way, I’ve forgotten to tell you this all this time but yesterday we had a baptism! Her name is summer sky and is 14 years old. Her grandmother is the only member in her family. It was a really good time. I’ll send a picture. Have a great week!