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

May 19-25, 2014

Family hey how are you all doing.  I hope your all doing really good and enjoying your summer time.  Maybe you will get some us out of the cabin this year.  Things sure move fast its hard to believe its summer time again back home and we're starting another rainy season.  I feel like we just got done with the last one but its all good.  It should cool off a little bit but I haven't felt that yet.  Right now I am just enjoying the time I get to serve out on the island.  I am pretty lucky to be here.  Only a few people serve out here.  I have wanted to come out here ever since I got here.  It sure is a busy place for us to be thought we have lots of stuff to be to like meetings and trainings to give.  Its pretty nonstop for us.  Actually this week we only worked like 3 days in our area.  Monday was p-day just normal email and then hung out at the house and get it clean for the week.  Tuesday had a regular day of work with some good appointments.  Later that night we had to pack to go to Manila.  Wednesday morning went and caught our flight to Manila dn headed straight to the temple.  It was booked up until 1 p.m. but we waited and went.  Really good to go back again and go through a session.  Well needed I think.  We should all make it a priority to go to the temple once a month.  I hadn't been in awhile and missed it.  After that we went to the mall and ate at an all you can eat place, really good but I ate to much.  Next day we had MLC all day which is good.  I like to see the other missionaries and talk with them.  Good meeting and they fed us lunch too.  We didn't get gone until like 7 p.m. and then had to go to the office and figure out the mail so we could fly back in the morning.  next morning we needed to be up by 3 am.m to catch the plane but 3 late nights and early morning nobody woke up until 5.  The flight left at 6.  We got there at 5:15 but they wouldn't let us board the plane.  We missed it.  That day we did office work and then went and worked with some Elders in their area.  Saturday afternoon we flew back to Mindoro and went straight to work and got some good lessons in.  Sunday church we have this one lady we have been working on and she has come back to church 4 weeks in a row.  Her name is Sis Oriada.  She got made the primary president just after 4 weeks of coming back to church.  The rest of the day was just meetings.  That night we had dinner with President and Sister Heywood, the couples so that was my week.  Another one is gone so that was it.  I hope your all doing well and having a good time back home.  Congrats to Kandice on another kid.  Well have a good week.  Thanks for everything love you all.  Love Elder Robison

May 12-18, 2014

Family hey how is everyone doing back at home. It is officially summer time for you guys there. Ha that's crazy that its already summer. We are technically in the rainy season but it won't get bad for a while. Its been really hot and humid lately so I could use a good rain storm to cool everything off here. I am glad to be out here right now rather then the city. it is so dirty and really hot in the city. Here there is a breeze most of the time so that helps cool me off. I hope that your summer is going good. We had a pretty good week and taught some good lessons. Monday was P-day and we got to call home for Mothers Day. It was nice to see you guys the thing didn't work great but for what did work it was good. After that had some lunch then went and hung out at the house. We had a few other Elders at our house so it was a mess. We did a lot of cleaning. Tuesday we had a good day working with the Heywoods, the couple missionaries. We taught some good lessons to the less actives to get them to realize the importance of church. We then went to Sister Oirada the new Primary President to give her some instruction. She is new at it and was less active a month ago. She is so excited to have the calling. Wednesday had a good lesson with Anika. She is a referral and she listens really good and asks good questions. I think she will be baptized in the future. Thursday I was on splits with Elder Tipene. Had a good day planned and then no one was home. We ended up doing a lot of finding its alright because he loves to find. He says it is his favorite thing. We had some people tell us to come back so we will see how that goes for us. Friday is weekly planning and then meetings normal. I actually don't mind meetings. I like them. That night we got to teach Anika about the Book of Mormon. She was so excited to get it. She accepted to be baptized but she leaves to a different island for a few weeks so it will be a little while. Saturday had a very slow day. Apolo worked with us so I pushed him all over but no one was home. We taught one lesson but it was to a rich lady who normally says she is busy. She tried but I just said we would love to share a 5 minute lesson with you. She let us in and we bore testimony on The Book of Mormon. She was happy to listen. We then had a meeting at the church. During the meeting Elder Tipene and I fixed records in the system. They are really bad here lots of mistakes. We are trying to fix it so its clean and orderly. That took about two hours to do like 20 names. Sunday we had church and we are filling the chapel with less actives and investigators. I love being a part of the progress. We are up to about 150 people each week. When I got here it was like 120 people so things are happening. After church lots of people wanted to work so we went on splits. I had the older people we made some good visits to people. It was a good week. I pray that it continues to progress here. I hope your all doing good back home. Enjoy your summer time before you know it it will be harvest time. Tell everyone hi and to take care. Thanks I love you all. Love Elder Robison

Pictures

Youth doing service

San Jose missionaries