Letter August 2014

Family hey how are you all doing. I hope your all doing alright. It's harvest time now so thats always fun. I sure miss that time back home. From the emails and letters it sounds like it will be a rough crop for people everywhere there so thats no good. We all know that things will work out and there is a plan for everything that happens. Even if it sets us back a little. It will give all the farmers something to talk about all winter long. As for me I am doing really good. Just coming to the close of another transfer soon. Busy as ever. The time is really flying by now. I am still training and its good. Elder Brown is starting to enjoy the mission. Reminds me of when I was new and didn't really want to be here then that all goes away and then you start to enjoy it. Then before you know it is over and your getting ready to go home. I am in the city of Marikina. The shoe capital but its an alright city. Cleaner than most cities here but still not clean. Our ward isn't the strongest but they try. We had 10 investigators at church last week and a few less actives showed up as well. We are hoping to have two baptisms on August 30th and then about 3 in September. Thats what we want. Everything seems to be on track so I think we can get them so things are going good. We have a really fun zone. I like a lot of the Elders here right now. It is weird that I am the oldest out of all of them but 1 other Elder. They are all good guys though so we have a lot of fun. We go play basketball every p-day. Yeah that is what I have been up to for the last little while. Sorry for the lack of letters lately. Just busy and there isn't a way for me to send them to you only every once in a while but I will try and keep you all up to date on how stuff is going. Thanks for all that you are doing and remember that all things come to pass even the trials. It's the pattern in the Book of Mormon. Thanks!! Love you all Love Elder Robison

Pictures

My trainee Elder Brown

My Kabahay

Gianne Mallillan at her baptism

Everyone that attended the baptism

Elder Anderson, Elder Brown and I

Brown riding the boat

Pizza after district meeting with E Vandyke, E Brown, E Soifua

Elder Watts

Elder Hall and I at zone conference

Elder Kaitani

Elder Harris, he's going home soon

Sister Revillo and me selfie

Waver I signed to eat this big burger

In the mountains

Pictures from Mindoro

Last baptism in Mindoro

The two kids and their family that were baptized

The boys in the mission home at last MLC

Eating some food with some Elders

Elder Van Dyke on the plane ride back but it got cancelled

Me and tips

Eating our mexican food

Planting their rice

Hitched a ride with some guy

Saying goodbye to Apolo and Jr.

The waves after the storm

Leaving Mindoro

Email 8/17/14

Hey everyone how are you all doing. I will just write a short little letter to you all and let you know how I have been doing. We have been trying to stay busy with the work, but this week seemed like everywhere we went no one was home or they were sick or busy. It was all good though thats part of the great work that we are apart of. I am still here in Marikina and we had a great miracle happen this week with these two guys we  got to contact. We were out looking for a refferal, but the address was wrong so we were lost and then a member that works for the church pulled over and asked us if we had contacted these people. We said no we dont  know who they are. They kinda got lost in the white wash. There was no record of them and so he said that they visited them once and that was it. He said can I take you to show you their house and we said yeah. Turns out two guys very interested and they both have families. So we were very luck to meet them and we will start teaching them now and hopefully it will go well for us. So that was the best part to our week nothing to crazy but it was good. Thank you all for everything I love you guys.
Love Elder Robison

email received from the Barlows in Kadens mission

Dear Parents of Elder Robison, 

We wanted to write to Elder Robison's family and let you know we are missing him in Mindoro.  We sent him on the plane Friday to Manila, where he will serve in his new area.  We have been in Mindoro, San Jose, for 3 weeks, but grew to love and appreciate his Leadership.  As a Zone leader he was dedicated and always worked hard. We were very impressed with his willingness to serve the Lord.  The other missionaries loved being around him, and learned so much from him.  Now he will be a Training Elder, which will help many other missionaries in his new area.

You can be proud that your son has a strong testimony, and good heart, and serves well.  Like our Mission President says, "  We want the missionaries not to go on a mission, BUT BE MISSIONARIES for the Church"  He has done that well.  

Now that we as a Senior couple have been transferred to Mindoro, we probably will not see him again before he goes home, but we can tell you he will Serve With Honor as he completes his Mission here in the Philippines!

President Barlow is from Jerome Idaho, and knows that great missionaries come from Idaho!  Maybe someday we can see him again, as we do have family in Idaho, and we now live in Ogden Utah. We wanted his family to know how much good he has done as he has served in Mindoro. You can be proud that he has been a great Missionary here in the Philippines.

Best Wishes to his family,

President Brent Barlow and Sister Barlow

Letter June 9-15, 2014

Family how you all doing.  Summer should be moving right along so thats good.  Its definitely the rainy season for us.  It has rained everyday for a week here.  No flooding but just a constant rain.  Its a little wet but it does help keep us cool.  I am glad I am still here in Mindoro.  It doesn't flood as much here and it is nice and clean at least compared to Manila.  Even with all the rain we are really trying to work hard on the ranch and the area.  This branch has truly been a miracle for us.  When I first got here the Sacrament hall was pretty empty.  About 130-140 members would go .  We are now at 180-190 each week.  This has all happened in just the three months that I have been here.  We are getting ready to open the overflow now.  This last week they actually ran out of sacrament.  We have just really focused on getting the branch strong.  They used to just show up on Sunday and do what they had to.  Now they are doing everything.  Meetings are happening, trainings and temple prep is starting.  Its been great but hard at the same time.  One of the hardest tasks on my mission but truly rewarding to see the success that has happened here on the island.  As a zone we are expecting about 18 baptisms for the month of June.  The Lord is truly helping su as missionaries.  We had a good busy week this last week.  Sorry the letters have been slow.  Just not a lot of time to get it done.  Monday was p-day which is always busy for us.  Not sure why but its always that way.  Tuesday a good day of work lots of appointments.  Wednesday as well lots of people letting us in.  Trying really hard to get some baptisms in our area.  Thursday another good day for Friday and Saturday we are filled with meetings and baptisms.  Not much teaching.   I think I kind of have the taste of what a bishop does.  Lots of meetings at the church withing the weekend.  We have a bout 5 different meetings plus other things.  Sunday was a good day.  We had two less active families we have been working with come to church.  They hadn't come since I have been here so it was really good to see them there.  Hopefully something has changed and they can come every week..  After church more meetings.  Then we went and worked.  Later that night we ate dinner at the Heywoods house.  So that was my week sorry its kind of short but I have been very short on time.  I will try and write a better one next week.  Well all of you enjoy your summer back home.  Thanks for everything you all do.  Love you all.  Love Elder Robison

May 26-June 1, 2014

Family hey how is everyone doing back at home.  Its summer and everything is turning green.  Starting to really warm up and be nice back at home.  We are getting into the raining season but its not really raining yet just lightning storms every night so its really cool.  The sky is always flashing.  I should be out here for at least one more transfer.  It could be two but I am not sure.  I am getting down to my last 4 transfers.  After this one just 6 months to go then its all done and over.  Its crazy I am kind of nervous to go home.  Not sure what to do with my life so much has changed there.  Everyone that I used to know is off doing their own things and what not.  Just the other day we got instructed by the area presidency that we need to get married as fast as we can when we get back, then school.  There is so much I have to figure out when I get back.  it will be a big adjustment that's for sure.  Right now I just have to keep my focus here and it will all work out.  This last week was another busy one.  Monday you already know we didn't get to email because the power went out.  We just had our zone activity and what not.  The activity was a sports fest/games.  It was fun and nice to get to run around and what not.  Tuesday regular day of work.  It was my birthday but that doesn't change anything here other than Elder Holden bought me lunch.  We had a good day.  We taught soe good lessons and then that night went and cleaned the chapel for our zone conference on Thursday.  Wednesday we had splits with the AP's.   It was my first time.  It was good.  Elder Osoras was really excited to be out working.  They don't get to do much missionary work.  Thursday was zone conference all day long and it was good.  They fed us a good lunch and had some good workshops.  Friday was a day of meetings and then a branch FHE.  I got put on water duty at the church the pumps are all messed up so we had to try and fix them for the baptisms on Saturday.  We got water but there is still problems.  Saturday was also busy.  We cleaned the church all morning then had a far teaching appointment then had to be back for a baptism.  The baptism was good 4 people got baptized.  After that another meeting Sunday was a good day at church.  We had 6 investigators come and a few less active families.  Finally people are going to church.  We need to keep it going though. Then we went to work after.  More like goodbyes for Elder Holden he things he is transferring. That was my week.  It was a busy one.  As far as I know I am not transferring this time to thats good.  I hope you are all enjoying your summer back home.  And the farming of course.  Keep me up to date.  I think all those new babies are good and doing well.  Hopefully.  But good luck have a good week.  Love you all.  Love Elder Robison