September 2, 2013 ~ September Already?

Holy cow time just goes faster and faster.  I feel like we just started this transfer and there are already only 2 weeks left!  But some cool stuff happened this week.  We had a really good zone conference on Tuesday!  Loved it.  Learned a lot of good teaching skills.  There was a really strong spirit there, especially as we all read outloud verse by verse 2 Nephi 31.  So cool.  I really enjoyed it.

Also this week we got to meet with our investigator Tatyana who is the most energetic and athletic babyshka I've ever met.  She's hilarious.  We also were able to get a member to come with us to that lesson (about the law of Chastity) which was a huge help!  It makes such a difference to have a member there on the lesson with you who can help 1. with the language issues and most importantly 2. to be a support to the investigator and be an example of how living the Gospel helps them in the their lives.  Sometimes I think it means more coming from just a normal member than a missionary who spents everyday all day talking about and studying the Gospel.  Anyways, it was just awesome! 

St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum

At the Hermitage this week there was a ginormous group of German students that all came in.  That was cool.  They were leaving at the same time we were so I walked with them and talked with them for a little but to find out what they were doing here.  Also I talked to the couple from Italy.  They kept coming back to me to ask me random questions.  They were so funny.  And the most exciting part.  We were walking on Nevsky prospekt on the way to the hermitage when I saw this guy standing with his wife looking rather confused at a map.  And he was wearing a hat from some city in Michigan so I walked up to them and asked if they were from MI and they were indeed.  I helped them find what they wanted and talked to them for a couple minutes.  It was kinda fun.  Also, guess what city their from... Jackson! hahah Such a small world.  They would have been in our Stake my whole life if they were members!  Crazy.  That was fun.  It made me happy. 

At church yesterday we had a fun experience.  The second counselor in the bishopric is totally into missionary work (which I love) so before church he took all the missionaries and stood our on the street with us infront of the building and just invited everyone that walked by to come it.  It was so awesome!  I talked to this one kid and then this babyshka came out and talked to him for a while then another guy came out and talked to him (it was a little more like almost arguing).  Side note - something about Russia.  Every disagreement automatically escalates into a huge arguement.  There is no calm disagreement.  Everything is like immediately an arguement.  About everyother time I get on the bus there are 2 old ladies arguing (usually the conductor and some other lady)  But they also calm down really fast afterwards and move on.  Anyways, the kid left and then as sacrament was beginning, came back with another kid and walked into the church.  The missionaries and another guy always astand kind of in the entry way of the church to greet anyone that might walk in during sacrament meeting from off the street (they keep the door open the whole time) and so this kid starts being really loud and like 3 or 4 other guys from the ward come out and talk to them and they were arguing pretty loud so they took it out side.  Anyways.  It was wild, there was almost a fight at church yesterday (well that may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but still).  I love Russia.  But really though.  The members here are some of the most faithful I have ever met.  And nothing anyone says gets to them (people say alot of stuff about us around here) but the members are just as strong as ever.  I love them so much!  They are the BEST!

I guess thats just what I would end on.  The members will always be an example to me for ever!  They are so deeply rooted to the Gospel that no matter what anyone says, it doesn't shake them.  I hope I can stay like that for ever, and this is the perfect training grounds for it.  I know I've already said that these members are pioneers in this country and they really are.  Such amazing examples of being not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. I love them!  And I absolutely love all those people here who are not yet members, but will be!  They are the elect from the house of israel!  I love being a missionary and being able to find them!

Love you all!

Elder Robison