LAST EMAIL!!!

For any that do not already know: Craig will be returning on March 14th at 9:20 am to Sky Harbor Airport, flying Southwest Airlines. Anyone that would like is invited to be there to welcome him home. And he will be speaking the following Sunday, March 18th in our ward sacrament meeting at 9:00am (Church building on Brown Rd. East of Power Rd.)

Good afternoon!

WOW! THIS IS SOO CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

Well, I can't believe it either; my time is up and we'll see each other in 2 days..... This will be short considering we'll have tons of time to visit and hangout etc. that I do not want to ruin the experience of sharing stories in person!!

Haha wow, so the time has flown by! I can't begin to describe what's gone on in a period of 2 very, very, short years! If I think hard enough, it does feel like just yesterday things were being packed and hidden for a while.

That Wednesday plan sounds fantastic! Would I be able to wear a cub’s jersey?

Thank you for the update on Sacrament Meeting! That helps to know what the other topics are so I can have a better feel for what I should say....

Thank you for your love and support! It’s truly been a unifying and trying experience for all of us in one way or another. I’m grateful for those challenges though and know we are only made stronger through the power of the Atonement! I KNOW IT'S ALL TRUE! IT REALLY IS!!!

Thank you for everything! We will visit in 2 days back in phoenix!

Love elder Craig Roberts

8 more days

Good morning!!

yes, ready or not it's closer and closer every day which turns to
weeks then it's the end and you're home again.... it's a strange
feeling yet a excited one and something I’m not sure how to describe
other than, again, a bitter-sweet experience.... I’m grateful for the
time I’ve had to serve and the way my testimony has been strengthened
being away from home etc. I’m going to miss New Jersey immensely!

That’s not good that the flu is going around.... you're all always in
my prayers! I hope you feel and get better or are better today! I
think there was something going around at the beginning of this
transfer but we're all doing well now.

I hope today goes/went well for the game etc.! Will they be doing
another lunch and have your family throw out the 1st pitch again on
the 14th?? I know everyone will be healthy before I go home.

I’m really excited to go to the temple again in mesa! I’ll be going
frequently as I pray and fast and figure out what I need to do to get
going.... we'll be talking about all that anyway when I get back. I’ll
miss the Manhattan temple but I’m grateful I’ve been able to go there
and do work for the dead.... I need to do the best I can to make sure
I can go at least once a week (of course more often than that as soon
as I get back) and continue to learn and grow in the gospel.

Well I hope this email finds you before you go to the game! I love the
church. I know the gospel is true. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else
or doing anything else than this right now! Thank you for your love
and support in all things!

So this past week has been pretty productive. We’ve seen the mercy of
the Lord in our work this week and brothers and sisters have
progressed a ton since I first came in. we had 4 investigators to
church which is AMAZING! And all of them will be baptized soon! They
are all working to resolve any conflicts and make sure they are 100%
worthy to be baptized! I’m excited and grateful for them and their
testimonies!

I’m going crazy right now thinking about this week and the craziness
we will have..... I go to the temple on Wednesday. Thursday we clean
our apartment and we weekly plan for the next week. I have to go to
the mission home or office one day for my final interview (they may
save it for the last night seeing as how my pres. isn't here yet and
he really wants to do the interviews etc..) and we have some other
things occurring that will take lots of driving time too..... It’s
going to be a crazy packed week! And we already have like 10 or 12
lessons planned for the week...... it'll be a good last week in the
mission.

So when I go home remember I’ll need to be released so pres. whimpey
needs to know and we need to have a time set etc.... I don't know if
that's taken care already or not but it's something I thought of. Also
do you have all the info of what gate I’m flying into etc.??

Anyway I love you all. Thank you for everything!! Have a great week!
Enjoy the last week of school etc.! I hope you all feel better and get
better! I’ll keep you in my prayers!

Love elder Craig Roberts

16 more days!

Good afternoon!

So sorry it's late; today, all of the missionaries going home (10 of us) went to Ellis Island and the statue of liberty for most of the day! It was really fun and yes I made sure to take tons of pictures (everyone will see them when I get home)!! And as for last week, I guess it would've been useful to let you know we email in the family history center in our chapel so holidays don't affect us.... sorry about that.

Yes the time is flying by. Of course it's been hard not to think about it every day and other things related to it but I’ve been doing my best to stay focused and continue working hard. Next week we go to the temple on Wednesday then times up because from that day on we have things to do every day that will just eat the time away.... its crazy!!

Everyone should plan out what they want to do. I’m ok with doing whatever and as far as tiredness goes, it'll only make for a better night sleep.... maybe, I hope?? It’ll be wired being back and seeing everyone. I really, right now, just feel like a normal person and that nothing huge is going to happen.... I don't know if that's good or bad. Maybe it's just me and I’ll adjust quickly. I have no idea. It’s a wired feeling.

As far as pres. Jepson goes, the surgery went well! There were no complications and he's recovering well. His back has improved as well so he is being blessed greatly! We still don't know for sure if he'll make it back before the end of the transfer but either way we'll be able to talk to him somehow. They’ve been thinking about Skype etc.. So we'll see what happens..... All is well with him. A senior couple has been asked to take charge for the most part. Everyone loves the senior couple and they're great.

As for the branch etc. the areas are pretty similar.... most of the members have recognized me and some of them have moved into this area so it's been fun to visit with them etc. I haven't been able to go on an exchange yet with the elders in the area I served in last time so hopefully that will be possible soon.... it's fun and I love the area! The members in this side are awesome!

That’s so crazy that they've moved in with Grandma Lloyd! I guess it's a good thing. And of course Stacie had her bridal shower! I can't believe she's getting married so soon! I’ll more than happy to help get everything cleaned and set up for the reception etc. I’ll have nothing better to do....

Sounds like fun for president's day! I’m excited to be back and be able to play with the kids and see everyone.... its hard not to think about it.... anyway the weather has been absolutely crazy too! We had a few minutes of snow one day during the week. It wasn't anything bad or crazy. It has been a very mild winter.... today was pretty good. Very clear and bright. Perfect day for pictures! It’s still been a little cold but the temps are warming up.

No way! Brain and Hannah moving to Idaho..... Well 4 years gone and a few months to see him and that's all... oh well! That’s cool and something they'll enjoy!

So the time is almost at an end, actually, I have been out for 2 years officially since the 24th and I should have been going home this Wednesday however transfers were off a bit..... I’m happy though and excited for the next several days. More blessings and time to grow. We are here to be broken down and built back up, with a stronger foundation and testimony and knowledge of all things, well at least the gospel, which is the most important of all things! So "come what may and love it!" I love you all and am grateful for your love and support in all things! I keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for everything! Have a great week! Stay safe!

Love elder Craig Roberts

No letter??

Some may be wondering why you didn't see a letter from Elder Roberts this past week. Its because he did not write one, perhaps he was not able to get to the library due to this interesting phenomenon in New Jersey last week....who knew salamanders could close a road?

Prayers for our Mission President

(A picture I found online of the apartments that Craig is in)

Happy Valentine’s Day (I almost forgot it was so soon)!!

So my comp has been in NJ for about 7 and half months (5 transfers). His name is elder Williams from Valencia California. I’m grateful to be with him and know that I will be able to help him with all that he does, as he will help me improve and become better.

I’m pretty much over anything I might've had. More or less just congestion is what remains but that's almost always been something I’ve dealt with. I hope everyone is doing better now too. I’ll keep everyone in my prayers. And with tanner I’ll continue to pray for him, and well, I’ll be there the next time everything happens again. I’d want to make sure it's all out too!

Oh boy, Alex boye. He’s awesome. I’m glad you all were able to enjoy that! Sounds like it would have been a blast!

Well as far as my mission pres. goes..... it's more sad but good news at the same time...... his back is improving little by little so that is a plus. the sad news for us is he and his wife are flying home today and will not be back for at least 2 weeks.... the whole mission is devastated but more I feel are the about 10 of us missionaries going home soon. The reason being is pres. Jepson is having surgery to remove a kidney with cancerous tissue on it that was found during a MRI of his back. The doctor has said it will be closer to 5-6 weeks before he is able to return..... That will cut into the things that we as "departing missionaries" take part in at the end of our missions and he is as much devastated as we are, if not more..... We are all praying for him and we will have a mission wide fast sometime this week..... I think he is going in for surgery on Thursday in salt lake. It’s just so sad for us to see he and his wife go home and not but in our presence for a few weeks.

so the positive of everything is that if his back wasn't in pain, he would have never know that he has a kidney with cancer on it and what's good about that is that the cancer is in it's very early stages of growth so he will recover from that very very quickly and well. And his back pain will go away sooner than later.

I don't know what effects this may have on my returning home in the sense of pres. Jepson giving the final/exit interview and a blessing etc..... he will do it somehow in some way from what he has said. I’m not sure what the rules are for any of that, if any but I know he wants to do those 2 things more than anything as much as I want them too. It’s just going to be a different feeling from here on out. I know everything will be well and that the prayers and mission wide fast will be heard and accepted. Pres. and sis Jepson know the same. It was a crazy few days once we had that knowledge.

Amidst the news, elder Jay E. Jensen of the presidency of the 70 was visiting us as well as elder Olsen the area 70 when pres. Jepson told us the news. It was great to be in his presence once again in my mission and learn from him. I felt the spirit and I know that what he taught is true. I felt like it applies for a life time not just as a missionary. He taught ways to study the scriptures and to recognize the non-verbal expressions of investigators when they are experiencing a change of heart and learning from the spirit.

I used that in a lesson we had last night. I won't share the story now but you will hear it in person at some point. I promise you that. It was a blessing and a privilege for me for the things that have happened the past few days.

I know God lives. Christ is His Son. And the Holy Ghost is the one who testifies of the truthfulness of these things as we are told in Moroni 10:5 "and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." I too know they are true!

Well that'll be fun for you to go to a few games. As far as flying home and sleeping etc. I’ll be tired the entire day regardless of what happens. Jet lag plus time zone changes and daylight savings time will just throw me off on everything. It’ll be a fun time! (Also would day light savings time be included in my travel time?) Does the family know my arrival time as of right now?? And please invite members from the Cooley’s ward (like really good family friends, the west family, the aposhians etc.) too. My brothers and sisters will know who I’m talking about.

My new address is: 73 cedar ave #58 Long Branch, NJ 07740.

I love this gospel! I know it's true. feeling the spirit as one (or yourself) testify of it truly brings the most joy one can every experience in life, except for maybe being with children and family members and feeling of their love and joy too! Either way they are both the best feelings one can ever experience. Then to see the change on one's face as they begin to understand the gospel more and hear their testimony about it is a testimony builder itself. I know it's all true. I’ll never deny it, ever!

Thank you for everything. I love you all! Have a great week! Stay safe and have fun! I love you all.

Love elder Craig Roberts

Could not be happier

Good morning!!
 
I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!! So I’ve been transferred to the area where I
first spent 6 months of my mission, well the same branch!!!! In stead
of going back to red bank, I’m in Long Branch!!! Hahahha I’m so
excited! I absolutely love it! I’m back to the branch where I first
started. I was jumping up and down with joy when I heard that's where
I was going!! Aahhhh I’m so happy! I couldn't have asked for anything
better!
 
As for the super bowl, of course we can't (couldn't) watch any of it so
I didn't know what the score was until this morning. We didn't see any
crazy parties or celebrations however I know millions of people were
partying late last night! I’m sure it was absolutely nuts as the night
went on. GO GIANTS! Haha
 
I’m glad all is well with tanner! I’ll keep him in my prayers and
again, all of you too. I’m excited to see everyone again!
 
Sounds like it was a busy week for everyone. Everyone is doing well
after the trips etc??
 
The time is going to fly; especially being in the same branch I
started and served in for 6 months! My new companion is awesome and
I’m grateful to be with him! We will be working very hard and doing
our very best this transfer. Many things have become blessings for me
and this is one of them! We started the transfer off in an unusual
way; my comp got sick and still has not fully recovered and I think
I’m starting to get something..... I’ve been sneezing a lot and a
runny nose etc. if anything I imagine just a cold.... I’m taking care
of myself and hopefully it'll be gone by the end of this week. I’m
excited to be where I am and doing what I’m doing. I’m going to miss
it dearly yet I know it doesn't end here, yet it is the beginning.
 
I love and thank you all for everything! I’m so grateful for your
examples and love and support and prayers and hospitality and
everything else you do for me and have done for me! I know the church
is true and I know we learn through trials and challenges. There is no
other way!!! "Come what may and love it"! all I ask is for your
continued love and prayers and that you will also pray for President
Jepson; he had something happen with his back and has to have doctors
look at it etc. he is currently using crutches to help him walk and
get around.... also please pray for Sister Jepson as she endures this
challenge with her beloved husband. I thank you for that! Other than
that thank you for everything! I hope you have a great week and that
all goes well!

Thank you for everything!

Last Transfer

Good morning!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! It’s so crazy I’m 21 now and I’m into the last 6 weeks of my mission.... the best part about it is.......

I'M BEING TRASNFERRED!!!! Ha-ha yes I’m very excited! I’m almost positive I’m going back to a complete Spanish area/ward/branch and will be 100% engulfed in Spanish once again!! I’m very very excited. I’m sad I’m leaving this area because I’ve been here for 6 months but it is time for me to go and I’m excited for it!

As far as tanner goes, I’ll keep him in my prayers (of course along with everyone else). I hope all goes well! And I hope I’m shocked at how much they've changed! I want things to have changed because I don't want to go home to what it was 2 years ago.... ha-ha obviously the house won't have changed much or larger scale items as the house etc. but the kids and just everyone I hope some changes have occurred! And I hope I’ve changed too..... I still feel like an 18 year old kid on a super strict schedule and learning to love it.... I just feel weird.....

So yes I will have a new companion too with this new transfer. Forgive me for my negativity in the past few emails... I guess it was bothering me enough I needed to vent a little. My mission pres. was informed of everything though too so he knew what was going on etc. also many other events will be taking place to only help my thoughts change from missionary work to going home. when the missionaries are on their last 6 weeks they go to Ellis island and see that statue of liberty etc. and they also go to the temple one last time and we have 2 general authorities within 2 weeks (one is an area 70, elder Lansing?? and the other is elder Jensen from the 1st pres. of the 70) so that will be fun! And in March (after I’ve gone home) another general authority will be here to speak to the mission and do a mission tour.... I don't remember who that one is....

Is brother Adair the 1st counselor now?? Or is brother Meacham still there?? Ha-ha as for the weather I’m going to be sweating like I’ve never sweated before!! The snow here is gone and I’m not sure if we'll receive much more but I’ve been told Jan and Feb are the 2 months when the snow really comes so we'll see what happens! In March it'll most likely be in the 40s or 50s maybe 60s but with the temps we have now I’m not sure what march will bring. Last year it snowed one day in March.... NJ weather is absolutely crazy! I love it though.

Yay!!! 5 guys are in mesa! That’s awesome! I’ll be excited to go there and be able to compare in n out and 5 guys and now this giant hamburgers place you're talking about.... I’ve never been there so it'll be fun to try.

Happy birthday Amy! And everyone else who has a birthday in January and February! Thank you for your love and support and birthday wishes!!! Thank you for the package!!!! It was wonderful! The cake was delicious and very moist! We went to a members home last night and made and baked the cake and played skip bo with them! It was sooo much fun! I forgot to take my camera in (I honestly almost forgot it was my birthday even when I tried thinking about it. it didn't feel like anything special which was good!) but the parents have an 11 year old daughter who took a video(s) and pictures and put them on Facebook..... You can see it all when I’m home. They had fun and were grateful I chose to celebrate my birthday with them. It was a great time.

With transfers I’ve also been released as a district leader. I enjoyed the opportunity to serve and be served. I learned a lot from the 3 months of being in charge etc. it was great! I know what my potential is and so does Satan. He knows all of your potential. He knows that if he does not work on us 24/7 that we will reach that potential quicker than we could blink our eyes!! as a set apart missionary we are focused on even more because we are the ones bringing others unto Christ and that's not good for Satan.... as I’ve looked back at my companions and the past months I’ve been able to realize a little that even with Satan working against us I’ve reached more than I thought I ever could have had I not had those experiences. The Lord allows these things to happen because, like He said to Joseph Smith, "all these things will be for your good". We cannot lose the hope that God knows what He is doing and what is best for us! That is how we strengthen testimonies is by exercising hope and faith through the hard times, not the easy times. If it was easy there'd be no point to anything. I’ve realized that more and more while serving the Lord and it being one of the most difficult times of my life however the most rewarding too. I don't care what comes or goes or passes by in life as long as I know that I am righteous and that my Father in heaven is pleased with who I’ve become! Nothing will ever keep me from working through hardships as if they were the best things in the world!

I love you all! I know the gospel is true. Thank you for everything! Have a great week!

Love elder Craig Roberts