Eye Candy -A Blog by Chelsea Robson

Talking in Church!

2011-12-16T19:34:00.002-07:00

At the end of a successful mission the missionary has the privilege and opportunity to speak in church as a conclusion to their service. It is always a wonderful feeling to get to see all the people they know and love visit on this occasion and show their support.

For the visitors, it is well worth it just to see the missionary's face when they see the people there that love them.

This Sunday it is my turn.

...and I would love to see you there. :)

Sunday December 18, 2011

11:30 AM

Meetinghouse:

2265 S Hawes Rd, MESA, ARIZONA, 85208, UNITED STATES

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support!

-Chelsea

It's the end...

2011-12-12T04:45:00.001-07:00

It's the end of our story... the end...

Well not quite. I still have a little left in me.

I'm going to be speaking in Church this Sunday in good ol' Gilbert Arizona. I'll post the info on Saturday but until then plan on being there!

Hope you all have a great week until then.

right now I'm off to
Beto Carreiro World!

Tchiau!

-Sister Robson

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Yee-haw!!!

2011-12-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

So Remember way back when, when I was telling you all about the wonderful attractions that my area has to offer?

"We've got Betto Correiro World! It's like disneyland with the Howdy Show written all over it. Classy."

Well, Sister Fontes has wanted to go there ever since she was a child. And I have to admit... I want to go just as bad as she does... We drive by it every week when we go to a meeting with other missionaries. The Giant Colorful Castle really catches your eye... And the statue of the cowboy up in the air on his wonder-horse in front just says 'you know you wanna!' Oh! if you only knew! It's the most well known attraction in Penha!

So we did it. We asked for permission. Everyone was saying that President would never let us and other things like that. We got to the point that we even though that he would be mad for even asking like it was a show-down and he would be the winner. But then we just decided to "bite the bullet" and 'hang for the 8 sec ride.' I sent an Email.... (I know a little cowardly but it was all the guts I had) This week I opened my letter to read that "Over the issue of Betto Carreiro World... I talked with Sister Fernandes and we decided that you could go on the condition that she goes with you. -Is that good?"

Is that good?! That's AMAZING! We were almost bouncing off the walls. -If we were in the howdy show we would be shooting our guns and doing a jig. -It was that much of a cool moment. So one of our dreams is going to be fulfilled. Everyone say YAY!

YAY!!!

Hope you all are doing well.
We'll talk soon, ok?

k.

-love Sister Robson

(yeah, I haven't changed all that much....)

Just to make you laugh

2011-11-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

We had to wake up extra early yesturday to be able to help some people get to church. It took a lot longer than we were wanting it to and in the end none of them came. It sad but normal sometimes. We ended up about an hour and a bit late for church. on the way we got a phone call first to know if everything was alright and then to ask if one of us could give the opening talk in Sacrement meeting. Why not? I said and we arived in time to have 10 min. to prepare. -Realy... I had nothing I was hot and sweaty but just in the nick of time inpiration struck and I was able to give a nice almost-good-enough-to-be-planed-in-advance talk. I was so tired after it all and the stress didn't help. We went and had lunch with a family after and then on to work. You know that sleepiness that you get after a good meal? Well we continued on our way and entered into a womans house. She sat us down in room on the couch with a the window and door opened... it had a nice breaze that came through and that was it. We sat down and I barely made it through the prayer. We started reading the scriptures with her and it just got fuzzy.....zzzzzzzzz..... I fought it.... every once in a while I would open my eyes and nod but then I was out again. It got better. My companion sister Fontes (the one who goes home the same day I do) couldn't take it either. But when she feel asleep, her head just started to roll around. Poor sister Santos had noticed and tried her best to keep the attention of the woman so she wouldn't notice. She continued on and ended it all with a prayer..... I woke up and elbowed Sister Fontes. We both stood up, thanked her for her time and said we would be back another day. As we were walking down the road we just couldn't believe that that had happend. We just walked down the dirt road laughing.

yeah. Pretty much the best moment of the day.

Hope you all are doing well. I tried to send a letter last week but it wouldn't go through. Sad day.

Anyway, I'm sure you all survived.

Love you!
Chelsea

On the Road Again

2011-11-14T11:44:00.002-07:00

Hello family and friends!
There were a lot of Miracles this week. We have been teaching a man who knew that everything we taught was good and probably true but he was afraid to accept the invitation to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who held the Restored Priesthood Power of God. He said he didn't want to make a promise that he couldn't keep... but that really wasn't it. We asked a little further and he ended up saying that he didn't want others to look at him differently because he joined the church. I was startled by his honesty. --We told him that no matter what, it was something that he needed to feel was right. We invited him to pray again and ask if he should be baptized. He said he would. His sister and Brother-in-law gave us a ride back home and then the next day his sister said that when they had gotten home he had already prayed and was crying because he knew that it was true. He wanted to follow the Savior's example.

We all have a road to take. The question is are we following our own road or the road that our Father in heaven wants for us?

I'm forever grateful for the decision I made almost 2 years ago to follow the road that my Father in Heaven wanted me to take and serve a mission.
Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support.

-Chelsea

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Sister Robson and the Nordestinas

2011-11-07T12:34:00.001-07:00

So we had another change in our house. We received another sister! Sister Santos had served in this mission (and this area) about a year ago. Actually she entered into the MTC with my other Companion Sister Fontes. But then she got sick and went home. She served a "mini-mission" in her own state in the northeast of Brazil and was companions with my friend from the MTC Sister Johnson! Without knowing any of this the mission president had put us all together. So now we've come full circle and are swapping stories about everything. It was really a cool thing. Little things like this happen all the time and is just a little bit of proof that our Father in Heaven knows where everyone is and loves us all. There was one problem... we only had two beds. they weren't going to buy another bed because it is just going to be 6 weeks that there would be 3 of us here. I was thinking of how we could solve this problem when I noticed that they had a pace to put a hammock inside. "Sweet!" I spent the last week looking for a place to buy one but no one knew! I thought to myself, "this is Brazil! -don't they have a hammock district or something? -where does everyone else get these things?!" Well the south of Brazil isn't really known for that type of stuff... it's know for cowboys and chumarrão (a tea that smells like horse feed) But another stroke of mercy, we walked passed a store today that had a lot of touristy -import things and what do you know?! They had them! I was really happy and I now every night I get to look forward to Hammock time. Awh, I love Brazil!

Testimony.

When I was studying in Spain it was the first time in my life that I was in a place where really no one had ever heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had never heard of The Book of Mormon and had know idea the priesthood authority of God had been restored to the earth. I went through my days thinking "What if I really am the only person these people will ever meet that could tell them about the truthfulness of these things?" It was the first time that I thought to myself "I really do have a job to do." Yesterday I shared my testimony in Church and also this story. I only have a little bit of time left to be a missionary with a name-tag, but I know that the duty to share my testimony is a lifelong job. It is more than just what I am doing right now but is a part of who I am. There is no greater joy than to know that God answers prayers. I know that He answered the prayer of a 14 year old boy named Joseph Smith. I know that God answered my prayers to know that this is true and that He will answer yours too. Just ask.

I love you all and am really excited and at the same time completely dreading coming home.

Thanks for your love and prayers!
-Sister Chelsea Robson

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:32:00.001-07:00

That really doesn't mean all that much here. They don't any real customs that follow this it actually is a memorial day for them on the 1st. --But as my dad always says "facts spoil the story" HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This week was a bit of a bummer. My new companion got bit by a junkyard dog and had to get stitches. We could barely leave the house. but luckily they come out tomorrow. yeah! --Working is hard but house arrest is even worse. We were able to get out to go to English class the other day. (I realize I've talked a lot about my English Class... We do more than just teach English here, but I just have gotten some of the best stories from there.) Everyday we start and end with a prayer. I explain for all the new people that when I was in CA serving I didn't have anyone to talk to and practice with but that really I had prayer. I could talk to at least Someone who could understand me everyday. This was something that helped me a lot. As a blessing the language has come along. I can understand all the basics and due to my years of Spanish in the basement I can pick out some of the rhythms and tones of the language. People know that I am American but at least they say 'hey cool you learned things fast'. and in the English class they are all the more impressed. I Tell them the truth. Study and A LOT of prayers. It was hard to get them going and feeling comfortable enough to pray but right now they are started to volunteer to say the prayer in English. The one that surprised me the most was this 12 year old with a red Afro. Every time that I look at him to give an answer or something he freezes with the 'dear in the head-lights'/I think I'm going to die look on his face. The other day he came in and said "oi teacher, can I say the prayer today?" It's amazing to see things like that. When you come to know that someone is listening it becomes real.

Thanks for your love and support.

Chelsea

Casa de Trunqui

2011-10-24T07:39:00.001-07:00

So Sister Bernardo and I were just going along minding our own business one day and about 10am the apartment manager called out to us from the street. The Mission Office was calling her to get a hold of us.

What? -What would they be doing that? We have a phone...

I checked the phone and there wasn't any service...
I went down and talked to the Elder from the office. Turns out they had been trying to get a hold of us since the day before. I reset my phone and he called back.

There was going to be a transfer.

Sister Bernardo would need to be on a bus at 5pm that night for another area and I would receive another companion. Here's the trick. She will be going home the same day as me. What the?! I talked to President that day and he said that there would be a odd number of sisters in the mission and because we were both going home the same day we would be put together and then receive another in beginning of November.

In the beginning I was worried that this wouldn't turn out well but things are good. Sister Fontes and I aren't aching to go home and slacking off (trunky) at all but because it is the norm when a missionaries hits his or her "expiration date" we joke around saying that President just wanted to put all the people who are going home in the same area so as to only destroy one area instead Two.

Things are going well as far as the work goes. We are teaching some really cool people and hope to find more.

Love you all.
Thanks for the Support
-Chelsea

Mais Sete Semanas de Trunqui.

I hate fake time.

2011-10-17T07:45:00.003-07:00

It's the one thing that I thought Brazil wouldn't fall into the trap of doing. ...Fake time.

Some of the cool things that happened this month was we had a baptism of a mom and Daughter and a wedding that has been in the making for over a year. All in all, a good time. We have one more week before the next transfers. I don't want anything to change but I'm not sure if my companion will move or not (I had better not be transferred... I've already given orders for them throw me a surprise going-away party--You have to tell people exactly what you want sometimes or things just get lost in translation) Until then we are just going with the flow. Everyday I thank for Father in Heaven for this time on a mission. Thanks for all your prayers and kind words. I love you all!

-Chelsea

I don't know what's wrong with these kids today.

2011-10-10T08:04:00.001-07:00

KIDS!

Who ever knows this song get 100 cool points.

So a part of our work is giving a free English class to help find people who want to learn more about the gospel. the only problem is that everyone wants their KIDS to learn. We have a lot of "young adults" that come mostly in the ages of 11 to 14 -It's a good age really but every once in a while you get the really obnoxious ones that want to learn (kind of) but mostly just came because a friend invited them and also want to joke around. Normally they don't get too rowdy but every once in a while the actual adults that are there want to smack them. I, well, I'm human. I start thinking that really - I don't like kids that aren't related to me- but then you get days at church like yesterday. During Sacrament meeting I was waiting on the stand to share my testimony and a young boy of about 10 or 11 years old got up and shared his testimony. He was dressed nice and seemed well behaved. It was short and sweet and said purely that he knew the gospel was true. He sat down and then his father got up. His father began to cry and said that he had been in-active in the church for a few years and really didn't know how much his son remembered, but to hear his son say "Eu sei que a Igreja é verdadeira." touched his heart. He began to weep and as I looked at his little family on the front row and his young son began to well up in tears as well. It was one of those pure moments that make you think about your own life and the blessing of repentance through our Savior Jesus Christ. After I shared my testimony I went and sat down next to the child of one of our friends. He is 7 and very impressionable. He looked at me and said "does everyone have to go up there and talk?" I said no, but someday you may want to. "he looked forward seriously and said "If I went up there I'd get embarrassed." I told him he didn't have to and said that people who go up there want to share their feelings for Jesus and the gospel. He turned and looked at me and said "ok, I'll got up there next week. ...My mom wants to get baptised in this church and when I turn 8 I want to get baptised too. I always want to go to church. I don't want to turn into a thief or a liyer, I want to be on God's path. This is what God wants, huh?..." My heart filled again. "yes" I told him, "you are a good boy."

It's amazing the purity of Children. They see everything so perfectly. I want to be like them someday.

Nothings wrong with these kids, today.

Love you all!

-Chelsea

Tudo Bem

2011-10-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

We had a very good day yesterday watching Conference. In Piçarras we had to travel to watch the telecast via Satellite. Being that I am in the same stake as my last area I got to go back to Balneário Camboriú It was great to be able to see my old friends. They had a room for English (that only the ward mission leader was watching) but I had to stay with the other missionaries so I watched it all in Portuguese. Yay. --Apostles use big words and it's annoying but I got out of it what I needed. ...I'll watch the rest when I get home. --Last week was a little up and down for me personally. I put in a request a while back to stay on the mission a little more time (like nearly everyone at home wanted me to do... geeze. didn't know you didn't like me that much that you wanted me to stay 4,000 miles away) haha but really, I wanted to in the begining. but the by the time it all came around I didn't know any more. It was still in process anyhow but I got the word that Salt Lake wanted me out of here. So, Dec 15, 2011, I will get on a plane and come home. It's still a mix of feelings but I'll go with it. The bad thing was that this week we had the last zone conference of my mission and 2 1/2 months from the actual end I had to give my "I'm going home" Testimony. Not the most fun of my day but that's life.

For today I'm still in Balneário doing some much needed consolation shopping before we head back this afternoon. :)

Love you all!

-Chelsea

Cornered

2011-09-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

We had a little talent show in the branch this weekend. It leaked that I sang a little bit before my mission and so I was corned and made to do a little song and dance. The problem was that as a missionary I have 0 time to practice really anything else but portugues and the scriptures. I also had a little thing in my head that said rule number 1: don't suck. I ruled out anything new. I went back to my old tracks from the Ponderosa thinking hard to sing something that they might know. Wishing that I had a way to get out of it.... Inspirastion Struck.

I'm caught in a trap
I cant get out....

Suspitious Minds. Elvis Presley.

It was great. The only problem was that the cord to the mic was abput 3 feet long and so it felt more like I was on a Leash. But it was really fun and just about everyone started singing along as well. I was impressed that basically everyone knew the words. Everyone loved it. I felt releaved.

The work is going along really well. We talked to someone that said he made a pact with the Devil but didn't believe in God. -Explain that one for me... -He was drunk. Note to everyone. Drinking is stupid.

The world is full of stuff like that. But it's great when we get to teach cool people and share how if we just put forth a little faith, That faith will increase and Throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can come to know our true potential. With Him it's wide open spaces.

Love you all.
Sister Robson

You love me, you really Love me!

2011-09-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

Wow I nver thought that I would get so many emails about my upcoming Birthday... (Key word: Upcoming and not belated. that's pretty awesome. ;))

That's right. I'm going to be 25 on the 25th. It's the golden Birthday. but for me it's the Brazilian Birthday. Wow. I can't believe I'm that old.
Anyways. We had some really good things happen this week. I lived through my 1st transfer in Piçarras. ...Nothing changed ...Let's do it again! We were on talk radio this week in the town of Penha. It was epic. The lady who was doing the inteview was really wierd and asked really domb questions -I'm no frasier but even I would do a better job- but hey, we were Live on the Radio! ...In Portuguese!!!! I think I can do just about anything now. If this computer had worked I would have sent the file but maybe next week will be the week of media. Thanks for all your love a support! Keep the faith.

oh yeah...
I'm listening. :)

-Tô escutando.-

-Chelsea

Oi Amigo.

2011-09-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

Really we are not allowed to have pets while we are on our missions but being something that I always had growing up, it's something that you begin to miss after a while. Luckily Brazil has extras to go around. Just about everyday I will walk by a dog- be it a lady or a tramp- and I lift my hand a littlebit as if to wave and say "oi amigo." --We've come to be friends with a veriety of hounds as they cross the streets or bark at us from behind fences. We've even come to give them names and adopt them as our own ...from a far. It's actually really nice because we don't have to worry about little things like feeding them, bathing them, or even petting them. None the less, they are ours. This is larry. He's pretty much awesome.

Yep. ...I'm wierd like that.

How are you? --My actual Amigos.---

This week was really good. Much better than the last. -Aside from the great flood that happened in other areas surrounding us. Some of the other Elders couldn't even leave their houses for a few days but we didn't really have it that bad. -Yeah it rained a lot but we are pretty high up and all the rain watters just go into the ocean. In some areas it was up the your knees or even the waist. All I can say is sucks to be them. Finally the rains stopped and Saturday was the very first day of Sun Shine! We marked a weeding and ended up having a Baptism on the Beach.

Chique. (Sheeky= means really cool)

Love you all!
Chelsea

Fairy Dust

2011-09-05T13:08:00.001-07:00

This week was one of if not the most physically draining weeks of my time here. But today I was able to sleep a little bit. Yeah Sleep! (-That's where I'm a Viking!)

Here is a lesson that I learned this week. God normally doesn't use any magic fairy dust to take away your problems. -Really I already knew this but for some strange reason everyone we talked to this week seemed to think so. We meet a woman this week that was in her 50's basically breaking every commandment in the book and then blaming everyone else for her problems. We set a time to get back to her but in return she gave the address of her sick mother. Her Mother told us the whole story of her families problems. -It was ugly. One thing after another of all the poor choices that her children made. She, herself, was an honest humble woman who loved her children and acked for them. It was really sad. She said that before all this went way wrong she had lived with some Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. She was meeting with them and happy but when the time came to get Baptised and actually make the necessary changes in her life (there weren't many) she decided against it and moved away. In this moment I couldn't help but imagine where her life would be if she had made that one decision to move forward. Every decision in our lives makes a huge impact on the future. I don't know what is going on in the lives of most of the world out there but I do know that it is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can make true changes in our lives. I could study everyday about the hows and whys of the Atonement and about what it actually means but in reality it isn't until you use it and really make those changes that you can feel it. In Short... the atonement doesn't mean anything unless it means something to you. It isn't fairy dust. It's real. It hurts, but it's worth it.

Please. I don't know who is reading this but don't let this moment pass by. Take this moment and try it. Pray for forgiveness from your heart and learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

www.Mormon.org

Love you all
Chelsea

I got nut-in.

2011-08-29T09:10:00.002-07:00

Seriously... I can't think of a thing that would be in the least bit funny for this week. I'm sorry for all of those that came to this blog hoping for something cool -not even a single fun fact to tell your friends! Disculpe.

This week was really good however. We went to Floripa again. (I think that makes once a month for me.) We had a great confrence but when we got home it was like our heads were gone. Everything went wrong. We just prayed that we would be able to meet our goals for the week. I Love prayer. It makes me happy to know that someone is listening to me. --Sunday is kind of like the score board. Even though it seemed like everything went wronge in my head we hit a record for the branch with visiters. 8! Yahoo! It just goes to prove my point. I don't do anything. I'm just here. Everything is in the timing of the Lord and the only thing you and I have to do is be there.

Well that's about it for this week. I'm sorry that I didn't have much to say but maybe this will help your mood...

(People always smile when they see puppies.)

100 dreams

2011-08-22T07:02:00.001-07:00

Back when I was 16 I made a list of 100 things I wanted to do in my life. One was to wisit all the seven wonders of the world. That included Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro Brasil. It's true that I haven't ever been to Rio but on the of the cities in my area has something that is pretty close. Really I'm beginning to think that all most every city wants one. It's not much... but it's got a great view.

This week was really good. We had a lot of ups and downs (lessons in the rain and stuff like that) but ended up seeing two of our friends get baptised. My new companion is really cool. Sister Bernardo is 24 and from a small town in the state of São Paulo. She's been out on her mission for a just a few months. She was baptised the same month that I recieved my mission call. I'm always amazed by people like her. The Language is going so so. I don't really realize that I have a problem until she tells me the stuff I missed. but at least I'm happy in my ignorance. Pictures are worth a 1000 words and you have three pictures and my hands are cold.

Love you all!
Chelsea

Play the gratitude game today. Count how many things you are grateful for!

New for the last time?

2011-08-15T14:32:00.001-07:00

EEEK! I can't believe that This is most likely going to be my last area of my mission.

It's wiert to think that way because in reality I just got here to Brazil. It's a stark difference between my last area. While this is a beach town as well, it's got nothing. No real shops or anything. It's a tragedy really. We walk around 10k everyday but Hey we've got Beto Correiro World! It's like disneyland with the Howdy Show written all over it. Classy. Even with all this... I still like it. I'm in Brazil and when at the end of the day I'm happy.My companion is amasing. she has only been a member for a little more than a year. She's wonderful. I learned something yesturday as I gave a talk in Portugues for the first time. They wanted me to introduce myself and tell a little about me. I started talking about my home town of Mesa Arizona (shameless Plug) and then went in to share a little bit of my story. It was one of those talks where you just start talking and hope that it comes out good. It did. and I learned something.

I'm in a small town about 45 min. away from my old area and in the same Stake. The town mostly lives on tourist for 3 months of the year. It's branch that has been a branch for a lot of years. They got the missionaires taken out because they were running low on people. It's kind of like the small step kid to the other wards in the the Stake. That I talked about how I had spent a lot of time waiting... and waiting... and well you all know the story. I lived on the thought that maybe tomorrow I will get it... and so on. Normally when you are in that posission you want to say well, I'll do something when everything goes my way. But If I had done that I would have wasted half my mission and wouldn't be getting letter that talk about how awesome my friends are doing back in California. We can't wait for tomorrow. God has given us today and that is really all we have to work with.

Today's the Day!

Tchau!

New for the last time?

2011-08-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

EEEK! I can't believe that This is most likely going to be my last area of my mission.

It's wiert to think that way because in reality I just got here to Brazil. It's a stark difference between my last area. While this is a beach town as well, it's got nothing. No real shops or anything. It's a tragedy really. We walk around 10k everyday but Hey we've got Beto Correiro World! It's like disneyland with the Howdy Show written all over it. Classy. My companion is amasing. she Even with all this... I still like it. I'm in Brazil and when at the end of the day I'm happy. I learned something yesturday as I gave a talk in Portugues for the first time. They wanted me to introduce myself and tell a little about me. I started talking about my home town of Mesa Arizona (shameless Plug) and then went in to share a little bit of my story. It was one of those talks where you just start talking and hope that it comes out good. It did. and I learned something.

I'm in a small town about 45 min. away from my old area and in the same Stake. The town mostly lives on tourist for 3 months of the year. It's branch that has been a branch for a lot of years. They got the missionaires taken out because they were running low on people. It's kind of like the small step kid to the other wards in the the Stake. That I talked about how I had spent a lot of time waiting... and waiting... and well you all know the story. I lived on the thought that maybe tomorrow I will get it... and so on. Normally when you are in that posission you want to say well, I'll do something when everything goes my way. But If I had done that I would have wasted half my mission and wouldn't be getting letter that talk about how awesome my friends are doing back in California. We can't wait for tomorrow. God has given us today and that is really all we have to work with.

Just for being here.

2011-08-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of things on my mission that haven't gone the way I thought they would. Right now I'm deffinatley not in the place that I thought I would be and I'm not speaking the way that I thought I would speak. There were lots of changes and lots of things that have been just confusing. But then I think to myself, since when was anything in my life ever "normal?" ...Why should it start now?

One night a couple of weeks ago I was walking with my companion to the bus stop. It was about 9pm and we were going home. We were talking about one thing or another and there was a woman sitting at the stop. We started talking about whatever we were talking about with her. She was very nice and turned very interested in what we do a missionaries. My companion turned to her and continued on talking and talking, when another young woman with her young son -about 2 years old- sat down on the other side of me. The first thing I notisted was the rocking boots she was wearing. It wasn't THAT cold out that night but none the less nice boots were on my mind. We talked to here a little bit as well and I could see that see was also interested in what we do. We didn't get to talk to her very much because the bus came at that momnet and in the mist of it all, we got separated. I felt bad that we didn't get her information. A week later I was sitting on the bus when a young woman came over and sat by me. I looked done and what did I see? Those rocking Boots! It was her! I started talking to her and she said that she was really sad that she hadn't given us her information and invited us over to visit her. We rectifided that misdeed and planned a day to visit. A few days later we showed up at her door. She looked out and when she saw us she smiled a big smile.We taught her about the Plan of Salvation and invited her to be baptised in 40 days. (she had to get married first) She was so wonderful. She started talking about how when she saw us that night it was like we had this brilliance about us and she said "and you, I didn't know where you were from and I knew that you weren't from here but still... you looked Brazilian... I don't know how to explain it, but you did." I thanked her and felt kind of good about myself.

A week later we returned but things were a rush. She was moving. There were a lot of things that she needed to change in her life for her safty and that of her son. She was only 21 but seemed much older because of the trials that she had had in her life. She was very lonely and sad. She said that she realized after we had come over that she needed to make changes in her life. She shared her story and we all cried. We gave her a Book of Mormon and got here new address to send to the other missionaries in that state. She hugged each of us and she said never forget me because I will never forget you.

Sometimes we think that for someone to remember you you have to do something great and memorable. How would I do that? Well sometimes I sang. Was that why she would remember me? -Well, the day we were there I was sick and could barley talk much less sing. No, that wasn't why. Did I say something that was so deep and powerful that it left everyone in awe? -yeah... no. I'm glad when people ask me the same questions because I've had practice answering those. -makes me sound a little bit like I belong.

So, why?

She'll litteraly remember me just because I was there. I was there serving a mission and doing what I knew how to do. It was a time in her life when God was trying to help her realize that she needed to change. -What we knew how to do was what she needed. This time really has nothing to do with us the missionaries, or anything that I do, but instead has everything to do with the fact that we are here... doing what we know how to do.

We do our best and He fills in the rest- just because we are here.
It's quite humbling.

I got the call that I will be transfered this week to a little town about 15 min away. --I could've gone anywhere in the whole state to finish my mission. but I'll end up staying in the same stake.

Area: Piçarras (pi-saw-haus)

I will go. I will do.

Tchau!
-Chelsea

Same old

2011-08-01T11:09:00.001-07:00

3 things I've learned from being sick in Brazil.
1. My companion is worse than my mom. if I don't take every percaution she gives me dirty looks
2. Every Brazilian has their own secret family remody for the common cold and want to give you it with any chance they get.
3. Even when you don't feel like getting up and doing what you know you need todo, do it anyway and the lord will help you with the rest.

Time is short.

I might be getting transfered. who knows right now, but I'm going to Floripa with my comp tomarrow for a bunch of trainging meetings.

Love you all
Chelsea

Blah.

2011-07-25T13:49:00.001-07:00

yeah, that's about how I feel right now.

This whole week I fought with a cold that was trying to creep up on me (remember... longest winter of my life) and today it hit---with revenge.

What a way to spend your preparation day.

This week was really good. lots of good things are happening and I feel really blest. thanks for all your love and prayers.

Go out and enjoy the heat for me.

-Chelsea

PS someday you'll get a really good letter from me. :)

Seeing Stars

2011-07-18T11:12:00.001-07:00

Hello Wonderful people!

This week has been really good.

A few funny things. We work in a little bit of a tourist town. (life is good) Normaily there isn't all that much to talk about as far as out side of our own little world that consist of all the people that we are working with but everyonce in a while we get a little something. A few weeks ago we were walking down the main tourist part and My companion say this brasilian soap star. She was really sad that we didn't get to talk to him but it was enough to have something to talk about for a week or so. There is a family in our ward that has kids that work for DisneyBrasil. It's not as big time as Actual Disney but it is cool around here.

Today we went to the store and while walking down the cereal aile (which by the way is seriously lacking here in Brasil) I was looking at the box of oatmeal in front of me when a man walked by and said [hello] Sister F Santos greated him back but I didn't really even hear the exchange. She turns to me and says Sister! That man is on Brasilian TV! I turn and look to see a very tall man with a cart and a really cute little 1 year old boy in the cart playing with the box of what ever they call Fruit Loops. He seemed like the type that would be on something cool. She called out to him and asked if he was from around here. He said no and then a conversation started. He asked where we were from and after I said the US he started to speak english to me. He had lived in Kansas of all places for a year or so and spoke pretty well. He infact had worked on tv for a while but now that he is married and is a dad things have slown down. We talked to him for a little bit. He was really nice. We set a time to visit him and his family tomorrow morning. ---I love Brazil. I have no idea who these people are and it really has nothing to do with what is really important in life but it does add some zest to our day.

now onto something compleatly different....

I was sitting in church yesterday and just thought how wonderfully blessed I was. I've got losts to be grateful for. Everything is coming along little by little. The people here are really great. As grateful as I am, I'm still looking for miracles in my life.

I was reading in the Book of Mormon Ether Chapter 12
16Yea, and even all they who wrought ^amiracles wrought them by ^bfaith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
18And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.

I just wanted to tell you all that I do know that my Saviour lives. I know that nothing is impossible when you have faith in Him. Everyone has struggles but they really are nothing comparied to what He sufford for us. I find strength in Him. I use to think of my life as something I had to havve control over but I learned a long while back that true happiness really comes when we give up control and just do what the spirit tells us to do. Blessing come and Miracles happen when we think of Him first. What he would want is a whole lot better than what we could ever plan.

Love you all
Keep the faith, That's where the true happiness comes from

Chelsea

Missão Florianopolis

2011-07-18T10:36:00.001-07:00

Brasil Florianópolis Mission

Our last day with President and Sister Queiroz.

...And It's Back!

2011-07-11T13:01:00.001-07:00

Yeah For Natalie!

This week has been really good. We meet our new President and his wife this week. President and Sister Fernandes. I'm pretty excited to work with him. The first thing he said when I met him he said "oh Mesa! My mission President is from Mesa! -Wilford Carden" I said -Hey I him! his son was my teacher in Sunday school! -Yeah... we had a moment. It was pretty sweet. Sad to say that I really don't have any other cool stories to share. A lot of walking and a lot of waiting in lines to talk to people about my visa. (Will it ever end?!?!?) Really nothing big I'm not getting deported just yet but it really just wasted a day. It's still cold but not as bad as it was last week. We're teaching 2 surfers right now. if we were in the states I'd have the urge to say "Righteous" every time we would teach them.

That's me this week. Hope you all are happy it's warm!

All my love!
Chelsea

It Never Ends (post from 7-4-11)

2011-07-08T22:32:00.002-07:00

I'm sitting in a little Internet house just around the corner from our house. My hands are cold because I had to take off my gloves in order to type. Today is the first day of sun in about a week but because of all the rain that just means that it's colder. I almost didn't leave the house because I was so comfortable in my sweats. At least my new coat is warm (and stylish... bonus!) There's a young Japanese woman sitting behind the counter talking to young man in a language that I have to stop and think in order to ease drop... It's just computer talk... aka not worth the effort. If they only knew what day it was today! On the other side of the world it's hotter than Haites and they have streamers (always classy) and banners of Red, White and Blue strung across the streets! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE! Oh, I miss the heat. It's turning out to be the longest winter of my life. As much I complain, however, Life's all good when you have another story to tell. :)

I want to tell you about John. Or the Portuguese equivolent João. He started coming back to church about the time that I got here. He still has some problems with smoking and such to over-come but little by little he's getting there. One day he was talking to an old friend named Everson who was a member but hadn't been to church since he was in his teens about 10 years ago. He's married now (legitimately) and between the two of them, Everson and his wife have 4 kids. John told him he should come back to church. Everson decided he would and brought his wife. We first met them that day at church. We went to thier house that week. (side note: on one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.) We talked to them and became fast friends. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation. We knew how much they loved each other and as we talked they got closer and closer.

This week She was baptised and also have to goal to go to the temple one year from now.

I love my family, I love my country, and I love this work.

Until next week, (hope I don't freeze!)

-Chelsea

Quick Replay (post from 6-27-11)

2011-07-08T22:29:00.002-07:00

Guess what every one?!

I'm a year old!

Last week I celebrated my one year mark. Crazy.

I've been thinking a lot about my mission as a whole this last week. For anyone who doesn't remember or wasn't tuned in to all the other episodes of my life, I'll do a quick replay.

(If you were hoping for new stories, I'm sorry. I don't really have any but you can think about it as one of those highlight specials on tv where they just use a bunch of old clips from past seasons. It's entertaining even though you already know the story)

I received my call in Feb of 2010 and entered all my paper work in March. I was supposed to go into the Missionary Training Center on June 2, 2010 but because of this problem that was going on in LA and other embassies to Brazil, I didn't get my visa so they pushed it back two weeks in hopes that it would come in "any day"

I entered the MTC on June 16, 2010 where I spent 2 months with many other awesome people with the same problem. I learned a little bit of Portuguese but really not all that much. Most of it was just left over Spanish with a Brazilian twist.

Despite the many trips to the travel office to get the latest update on that plane that must-have crashed somewhere in the Atlantic with all of our visas and passports -hehe that was a great trick we played on all the newbies... -I always got the same answer... Any day!

But then the day came when I was finally done serving my time on the MTC Compound (everyone shouts hurray!) I got my reassignment for the wonderful world of San Jose California! -oh and hey, My mission President is from my home town of Mesa, Arizona! Bonus!

October. People are asking "aren't you waiting on a Visa?" -"Yes, but I'm glad to be serving no matter where I am." (I say that but the novelty is starting to wear off)

Well I worked really hard there and met some really amazing people. Then Christmas time came... What?! I'm still in the states? What's the deal? I must have really offended someone in Brazil if they still don't want me -oh well, I like it here... I have a car and it's red. Live it up!

January. People keep asking "aren't you waiting on a Visa?" it's starting to really get annoying.

Feb. 2011 Everyday I spent an hour studying my "Mission Language" I was getting really down because wasn't I supposed to actually use this language? Broken Brazilian Portuguese really didn't come in very handy in northern California... maybe if I had studied Hindi or maybe Punjabi.... whatever. I have faith that God hasn't forgotten me. Someday my ship will come in.... or they'll actually find that missing airplane.

March 16, 2011 -Oh look! I'm half-way done with my mission! ---They've been telling me "any day" for a year now. Wait... What the! President says that if my visa ever does come in they'll give me the choice to take it or not... Hmmm.... It's probably because he has 6 new sisters coming in and no one to train them... (he's a lawyer... he likes to keep his options open) But, oh, I'm going to a singles branch... I like it here. I know everyone... I know what to expect from my life... relatively that is...

March 28, 2011 President calls. Should I stay or should I go now?

April 4, 2011- I left it all. all the security of California... and the car. I don't know what I'm doing. I meet my new president. The president I was supposed to start with... He asks me if I speak Portuguese. I'm honest. I say no. I can see it... he's worried. It's too late for me to worry... I'm here. Sister Queiroz asks me how much time I have on on the mission. -Almost 10 months. She cries. I cry. (but only because she started it!) President has pity on me and gives me an American companion. *sigh*

I unpack... and it seemed like time stopped. All I could think was "I'm not waiting anymore... wo." Time speeds up again. This time much faster.

It's mother's day, Hi Mom! -Wow, I finished my first transfer! Time for a new companion. Oh wow, so much Portuguese. My head hurts. But She's great! So I'm starting to feel ok with everything.

Then the dark day. May 23, 2011: The day I received my Email Truncky.
It's the email they send you to tell you you've been here long enough, it's time to start packing your bags. You're about to go home!

"WHAT! I haven't even been here two transfers! I haven't even hit my year mark yet!!! Brasil não gosta de me, não!"

The best part of the story is that it was entirely written in Portuguese. I'm probably the first missionary ever who had to use Google Translator to read my email Truncky. I blow a fuse that must have hit cyber spance because that was the day that my blog stopped working. Sad face. But I yelled at the elder that sent it. So at least I did something productive with that extra energy.

June 16, 2011 Feliz Anaversário! to me. To celebrate My house goes out to lunch with Sister Queiroz at the mall. (Actually, she had no idea it just worked out that way.) and then had Ice cream at home with just us 4 sisters. It was a good night.

Well, that's basically the update for all those who just tuned in. This week we said goodbye to President and Sister Queiros at a mission wide conference. I am really grateful that I was able to have any amount of time with them. My third President and his wife are coming in this week. I've had a pretty good track record so far so I'm excited to meet them. Sister F. Santos and I survived transfers. Actually our whole house survived transfers. (Woohoo!)

Well that's basically it. Now that everyone is caught up stay tuned for next weeks episode.

Sister Chelsea Robson

Popcorn (post from 6-20-11)

2011-07-08T22:26:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

My story today stared just 5 weeks ago. This were really rushed and crazy because of transfers. Sisters Pryzbyla and Sousa were leaving and so we were everywere. We came home in a rush but before we walked into the house I saw two young girls on the side of the road selling something. They lived next door and were sitting in beach chairs trying to sell little cups of popcorn. Everyone else was walking in but I decided to stay back a little and talk to them. It's normally not something I do I like to talk to parents before I talk to the kids but in this case I felt like "eh.." I talked to them for a moment and told them about English class. For a moment I was the cool American. I looked up to the second story to see their mom watching them with a pleasant smile. I told her about how we were missionaries and the work that we do. I asked if we could come by someday and share a little. She smiled pleasantly to me and said no, that they already had their own religion. That was fine with me and I just invited them to English class. The two little girls were really excited. I didn't have any money on me but said that I could give them some American money. They were super excited about that. We made our transaction and I thought that would be the last of it. The next English class we were running a little bit late and when we walked up to the church there was a small group waiting there. It was the little girl with her same cousin a little brother and her aunt. They were all smiles. They liked it and the other sisters got the mom's address. The next night we had the same little girls coming by just to say hi. Really it was the whole family. walking by but the little girls wanted to see us. Sister F Santos and I were the only ones in the house so we started talking to them and sister F Santos started teaching them all a little game. it was a hit. Our neighbors were likeing us. They came to church. It was a miracle. Not only that but they were leagally married! Wowzers! The mom started asking questions and really we didn't even teach them a real leason just talked about our beliefs. She continued and said that this last month was the first time in her life that she had ever really prayed from her heart. She recieved an answer and that same week was when I got my craving for popcorn. The first time we went to thier house we taught them about the Plan of Salvation and then right then and there invited them to start preparing to go with their family to the temple. They accepted. This week we had the amazing chance to watch this family get baptised. One year from now Sister F santos and I will be returing to watch them be sealed together as a family in the temple.

If I could put a theme to the things that I am learning here on my mission it would be the importance of family and the fact that this life is just a spot in the great plan that God has for us. I'm so greatful for the knowledge and the peace it brings. Today really is just today so we should't sweat the small stuff but at the same time, one choice can change eternity. It reminds me of those commercials..

Popcorn: .50 cents
Mission: (a little more)
Having a small part in someone else's eternity...
Priceless.

Te Amo
Sister Chelsea Robson

Ahh, we meet again (post from 6-13-11)

2011-07-08T22:18:00.003-07:00

To the wonderful critters back on the farm,

Well this week was pretty sweet. I think I average about 10 miles of walking a day here... in heels no less. By the end I really was dead to the world but we saw some pretty amazing miracles. Our neighbors (legally married) accepted baptism and Sister Santos and I are planning on being here a year from now for the sealing. It'll be awesome. Also another family walked into church (also legally married!!) last week the husband is already a member and is trying to come back to church and the wife was very happy to be there. This week they brought their kids too and it was just so sweet. The wife will be getting baptised soon. (they also happen to live on one of the most beautiful beaches in the area--I know I'm so put-upon)

We are working on a whole bunch of weddings that will be happening as soon as possible but that really means about a month from now. About everyday we meet someone that we can add to that pile.

We've being working a lot more with the ward than any of the previous missionaries and so that is helping too. Language still stinks but hey, just go with it.

Love you all!
until next time...

You've got a friend in me!

-Chelsea

Wa Wa Wa-Happended?

2011-06-06T07:35:00.001-07:00

Hello to all
I'm still alive but there has been some technical difficulties with my blog. In the mean time...

Things are going great here in Brazil. Like I said before I got a new companion. She's awesome. As I also said before she is from Fortaleza. I'm learned that just like the south of the US there are 2 types of people. I would compare her the the Southern Bell. You know... the conservative type. We get along great. :)

We've been having a lot of miracles happen around us. The other sisters in our house are doing great as well and we have big goals for this transfer.

Morgan sent me some questions that I'm sure some of you are wondering as well.

What have you learned recently in your studies? What's something about the Gospel that has touched you recently? Or a topic that you never really paid much attention to? How are you applying what you're learning?

Before I left California President Jackson issued an invitation to re-read the Book of Mormon all the way through and mark all the scriptures that have something to do with The Atonement in red and then I was also wanting to mark all the scriptures that have something to do with the Plan of Salvation in Blue. I wont be finished with it by the date that they were going to finish but it's something that I will finish and want to continue with in the Bible when I get home. Those two subjects are everywhere in the scriptures. The plan our Father in Heaven has for us and the key that makes it all possible. Gaining a vision of "the whole story" helps in every aspect of life. nothing is too hard when you understand and see the whole picture.

What are some of the differences from missionary work in Brazil versus CA? What are the challenges you are facing? What struggles have you overcome or are overcoming? Details.
Here EVERYONE believes in Christ. There is no other belief. In California it wasn't the case. That was a total change for me. Even out of all the missions in Brasil, Florianópolis does things totally different as well. It's a different people here in the south. (Like I said going to the south of brasil is like going to texas. Their just different. ;)) Because of that, they do thing a lot differently. It really is like two different missions. Learning what touches people and how to do it in Portuguese is really all that I have to do. (yeah... really not that big of a deal.) The language is getting better. I can understand my companion so that is a step in the right direction. :)

All and all things are going well. Glad everyone is doing good. Thanks for the love and suport.

-Sister [H]obson

what's up?

2011-05-31T17:43:00.000-07:00

where is your blog?

Ride on the Magic School Bus

2011-05-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

--I used to love that cartoon when I was going up.

This has been a great week. My new Companion is Sister F Santos. She is great. The other new missionary in the house is Sister T Santos. The whole day that we were waiting for them to come sister Calder and I were singing "oh when the saints come marching in..."

Sister F Santos and I have started working over in a city called Itapema. It's about 45 mins away by bus ride. It's a beautiful city. It's very tranquil and low key compared to Balneário Camboriú. --But that's not the reason we love going there. You see it's the bus that is magic. Every time we get on the bus to or from we always meet someone we can work with. Our first day we got on the bus a woman sat next to me and I started talking to her in my limited Portuguese. She seemed really down and started talking about a problem that she was having with her identification card. I of course had no idea what she was talking about but then she said "I know your church. I've been there before" I asked if she was a member and she answered "not yet." She told me about some of the problems in her life and and that she lived in Itapema but came to Balneário everyday for work. She had only been living there for a few months. I asked if we could come over and she accepted. We got off the bus and just walked strait over to her house. We talked to her for a little bit and then her neighbor and two kids came over as well. We left a blessing with them and set a time to come back in a few days. When we returned the woman had a completely different attitude and stared talking about how she has seen the blessing in her life already. The neighbor also said that her kids always fight but since we came over they hadn't fought at all. It was really nice. We taught about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and they all accepted it and wanted to be baptized. The neighbor was there with her boyfriend and when we told them that they needed to get married he got all excited and mushy saying how he wanted to but that she hadn't accepted yet. We told them to pray about it and we will wait for them to come to church next week. Things like that happen every time we get on that bus. SOMEONE always talks to us. If I had it my way I'd just become like those hobos "riding the rails" all day long. It gets expensive so we don't do that but it would be cool.

The language is coming here and there and I have faith that it will improve even more so in case you are worrying you can stop. It mostly comes and goes for comedic timing. --you know, to keep my pride in check. Stay Humble, people... it's just easier that way.

Love you all! Stay safe!

-Chelsea

Eu Sou Clássica.

2011-05-16T10:01:00.001-07:00

In one of my very first weeks here we had an appointment with a whole bunch of people from Fortaleza. Just a note: people from there are crazy.

I had only a vague idea what was going on (the new norm.) They wanted to feed us dinner afterwords. they were all joking around and throwing out crazy comments that only make sense in the nordeste (North east of Brazil) I just sat there trying to look like I felt. Mom always taught me to sit up straight and keep a pleasant look on your face no matter what. (Thanks mom) So there I was sitting around the table and with 3 other missionaries and 3-5 people from Fortaleza. (I'm not even going to group them in with the rest of Brazil, they are their own country... kind of like Alabama or Kentucky) One of them passes me the soda and fills my glass expecting me to eat all that is on my plate and down this in a moment. I say thank you and drink what I can. I'm not used to soda at this point, I always drank water or juice in the states. my stomach starts to rumble a little bit but I stay calm... the jokester starts talking about how each of us are so different. You have Sister Sousa who's right at home because she herself is from Fortaleza also and then Sister Calder the other American newbie is trying to ask all types of questions about what does this or that mean, then Sister Przybyla who is kind of blending in with the crowd as well laughing at the jokes but then he got to me and paused... But then we have Sister Robson who is Elegante and Classica... Before he could get the next word out the rumbling in my stomach stopped and up came the most un-lady-like burp I have ever done. Luckily I still had my since of composure (and humor) and as though it never happened and without missing a beat I simply said Obrigada. (thank you)

Yes... I now and forever have a nickname.

It's been really fun to get to know them all. One I've already talked about. Cicero! (sisero) He got baptized about two weeks ago and it was amazing! We got all ready for the service but we got a phone call from our Ward mission leader saying that there wasn't any water in the chapel so... to the beach it is! it was wonderful. Every time someone makes that decision it really is a miracle in their own lives. To think that out of all the people in that city, he was the cleanest. it's pretty awesome.

This week we are opening up a new area about an hour away as well as working here in Balneário Camboriú and I'm getting a new companion... Guess where she's from?!

Fortaleeeeza.

Sempre Classica.
(always Classy)

PLAY!

2011-05-09T13:48:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Seeing as how yesterday was mother's day we get to call home to our families last night. It was really great to be able to talk to the whole crew. I promised to show some pictures today but because we are at a random Internet place the jack won't except my card reader... So better luck next week.

We just got the news that I'll be getting a new companion next week. I'm pretty sad about that just because Sister Przybyla and I get along so well. Here's a funny thing: When we first got here to pass the time as we walked she would have me sing for her. just some of the random songs that I could remember from way back when, but she used me as her own personal radio. we would be walking around and she would randomly tag my shoulder and say "PLAY!" It became a pattern that most of the other sisters would follow. some of the most common requests are Hey soul sister -train and Taylor Swift's Love Story... (I'm a little behind I'm sure but they don't know her here so that's all I got.) It became standard that I would open and close just about every message or lesson with a song as well. I didn't really mind. unlike actually speaking, singing is something I could do. Well we make friends all around and there was a couple in the ward that was getting married and asked me to sing at the wedding. I wasn't about to try and learn a song in Portuguese to sing at it, it's been far to long to do that (Rule one of performing: Don't risk sucking!) so they said I could sing it in English. The problem there again is that I don't have or remember anything to sing again. I looked at what I had on my ipod I was thinking I could plug in and play with me and I had one song in mind but then when we got there and actually saw the set up and then they told me what they wanted me to do. "Sing in the middle of this outdoor pavilion while she gets out of the car and then stop when she gets to this other random spot with just a mic." I'm not sure what I was expecting but that wasn't it. What I had planned no longer worked for the situation so what do i do? -Stick with the standards. Love Story it is!

If you were to ask me, I felt like it wasn't one of the highlights of the year but my fears of sucking where diminished by these few truths:

1.it's in English so only two people other than my companions would understand and

2.It's what's been playing in my head for the past 5 weeks so it was easily malleable to keep within the points of the Brazilian waving her hand to start and then stop.

It was a fun experience to go to a wedding here of someone who is already baptized. ;)

Hope all is going well with everyone that I didn't get to talk to last night! Love you all!

-Chelsea

Pictures from Brazil

2011-05-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

My special Power:

When I was in California I was having dinner with a family where they talked about how one missionary from forever ago was long and lanky and more than slightly awkward. The wife said that he started to start a new conversation but didn't know where to start so he raised his hands and started pressing his fingers together, kind of like Mr Burns from the simpsons, and ask "So... if you could have any super power, what would it be... and Why?" --you can picture it can1t you...

Well we had a good laugh and then actually did ask the question. I decided that the coolest power would be to be able to walk up to someone and talk to them in their own language no matter what it was. -being in California where we walked into and talked to someone from a different place everyday and maybe 25% of whom were Americans, this was a cool thought. Well now I'm in Brazil and my desire hasn't changed. But a cool story happened yesterday. We were at a member's home for lunch and they had a brother who was deaf. Sister Przybyla lived in that same area of California as I said and there is a lot of deaf there. She spent her high school language credits on American Sign but it had been years since she had used it. Well she started trying to talk to him and his other deaf friend out of a Brazilian sign book. She had them teach her a few things and she was able to remember a lot of it and talk the them. They had been in the other room and hadn't come out before she had tried. The brother left normal school when he was young because he was embarrassed that he couldn't hear or talk. then he went to another special school but because it wasn't very good or something and had left school after the 4th year. He couldn't read. Really he only spoke sign from this region of Brazil. So really he only had a small group of people that he could even talk to. They had never been taught about missionaries and our work and we were able to set up a time to teach them more. They brought out their computer and Google Translator. I spoke to them through the translator and the friend was able to read it and tell it to the brother as well. The brother was really excited and started saying "wow, we can all talk now!" It was really cool. We had English, Portuguese, and Portuguese sign all in one room. I love technology. I know that that is one of the biggest reasons that during this time we have so much to help us spread the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. :)

Love to you all!

Chelsea

I belong

2011-04-25T10:13:00.008-07:00

I have often dreamed
Of a far-off place
Where a hero's welcome
Will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while

I would do most anything
to be where I belong...

It was our first week in this area and really is was our second day working on our own. We had nothing. We didn't have anytype list to go from the resorce book hadn't been kept up for that last few months and we were tired and didn't know what to do. Sister Przybyla was a bit discouraged and we just sat on a stomp for a moment. I was still new enough that it didn't get me down. I just said "well maybe that is just God's way of making us do something different so we can find someone that wouldn't otherwise be found..."
"yeah, maybe." She said. We got up and just pressed on. it was 5pm and we had been going all day. I did not (and still don't) understand what anyone had been saying to us but at the moment I wasn't really listening either. We had gone to a member's home earlier and had asked if they had any references. They gave a normal responce. "oh, no. No one likes it when we talk about our church, no one wants to know about it, we don't know anyone that would listen..."

"Well, do you know anyone who is not active that lives around here?" "...Oh! yes!" They didn't remember the house number so they offered to drive us over and show us. --Oh Wonderful!!!--

They showed us a few homes and we went to talk to the people. The first was suprisingly rude for a brazilian and the second wasn't home at first. We talked to a friendly but slightly excentric woman who lived below. She wasn't interested. then an older japonese man came out from the upstairs appartment and he seemed pretty closed as well but said that we could come back after 6. We left and as we left we talked to the son of the lady he was 27 and looked kind of interested so we invited him to come to English class and made a mentle note.

We came back and met the family. They all had been baptised about 16 years ago and the parents stopped going to church about 2 years ago. The son was 28 and very friendly. He was a returned missionary but hadn't been active for the past 5 years. He had just 3 weeks before started to come back to church. We stayed and got to know them better.

As missionaries, we are authorized representatives of Jesus Christ and through the virtue of our calling, each one of us has the oppurtunity to leave a blessing on homes. We know that the power of prayer is real. We asked them, "If Jesus Christ were here, What would you ask him to bless you with." It was interesting because they whole day I didn't know what anybody was saying but for a moment everything made sense. The son, Clayton, totally opened up and told us about his life. His challenges and how he felt very lost in his life. We prayed and left a blessing with them. After, I looked them in the eyes and in the most simple portugues, I said that God wanted them all to come back to Church. The father that had been very quiet the whole time just smiled as if to say, "I knew that was going to happen." They gave us a ride home and we set a time to come back.

The next time we came back and taught a short lesson. The son decided to come to the lesson with us. We walked up to Sissoro's home and everybody cheered, "HEEEYYYY" (Brazil always acts as though there is a party going on) We taught Sissoro about the restoration of the Priesthood and after Clayton gave a powerful testimony about how he had been away from the church for a while and now had returned. He said that he knew that the Priesthood of God had been restored to the Earth and that we would never leave again. He belonged here.

The next time we saw him we also saw the man who lived below him. We invited them both to go to institute or Religion class at the church that night and after we were able to teach his friend, Paublo. Paublo felt at home and now has the desire to be baptized. The next day was church and we saw Sissoro come walking up to the church carrying his bike. He said it had broken on the way, but he was there and we were thrilled. After church Sissoro also said "I know were I need to be. I'm staying here. This church has the word of God"

In the end, we know that even though we may not have any idea why we are doing what we are doing, if we are following God's path for us, we will be right were we belong"

Rand Mcnally

2011-04-18T13:00:00.002-07:00

It's pretty crazy how different my life is here compared to where I came from. Everything is backwards. Even the Toilets!

I almost feel like I am in Rand Mcnally....It's where they wear hats on their feet and Hamburgers eat people!

Teaching has been a little bit slow right now because we just got here but even so it is pretty good. Here in the south there is a lot of money so people aren't as open as missions in the north so we have to work hard. (the only real similarity to California) We walk to the end of the world and back in a day and for the first week or so we didn't have a real map (you would think they'd be everywhere considering the simulates to Rand Mcnally)
In a nut shell my first two weeks in Brazil:
The cockroaches are the lenth of my thumb.
My feet have blisters on all sides
I'm starting to get achne (something I've never had problems with)
I have a rash starting to run up my leg
I get bitten by everything that can bite
I still don't understand what is going on around me....
and yet... I've never been so happy to be anywhere in my life.

My life as always been a dycotmy... glad to see I am at least consistant.

Love to you all.
Keep smiling. It can only go up from here.

;)
-Chelsea

PS. That big green thing we were holding in our hands before are avacados. ---I know... DAAAANG!

Até o pó (continued)

2011-04-18T12:21:00.001-07:00

Ben Vindo ao Brazil!

I guess I should start with my last few days in California. They were pretty much amazing. I don´t think that I could have planned it anybetter. I we had General Confrence with all the singles in the Branch and then we also had Fundamentals training for all the new elders and leaders with all the sisters. Everyone arived early and made sure that the cars were cleaned and that we were in our seats at least 5 min. before the apointed time. Training was amazing (in a language that I understood) and I got a lot out of it. I was basically able to see everyone before I left. I was feeling a little bit of a loss. I had some amazing companions and was loving my area---just as I have said before. I had come to know almost everyone there over the last few months. Life in California was such a great place to learn and grow and come to know some amazing people. I really wasn´t wanting to leave. I will remember my last few moments as my mission President, President Jackson and his wife as well as my companions dropped me off at airport security. It was amazing to realize that at the end of my mission I will have had three Presidents and of all of them I will have spent the most time with the them.

I got on the plane and started my trip. In São paulo I got to see one of the elders that was in my district at the MTC all those many months ago. Elder Francis and I were the oldest Visa Waiters of them all. The plane was full of them. We swapted stories for a moment and then went to our seprate planes. When it was all over the 5 other Elders that were going to my mission and I were waiting in the airport wating to meet our own President. They were an hour late because São Paulo gave them the wronge info. I took that as the offical start of my time in Brazil. They Finally came and Sister Queirios came up and gave me a hug. She´s awsome. She asked all the Elders how long they had been waiting for their visas and then got me me When I told her she just looked at me and her whole coutainence just dropped as you could see how sorry she felt for me... her eyes started to well up in tears and then she just said "why didn't they just let you stay?" Up until that moment of my trip I had been fine but I was tired and hungry and therefor emotional. it tipped me over. I just started to cry. I knew that it was stupid of me to be doing so but she started it. I got a hold of myself after a while but just opted to not talk the rest of the day. --It was safer that way. --From then on I just went where they wanted me to go. First to the Police station to get prints and then to the mission office. I wrote home faking as much of a good disposition as I could ...(I was still amazingly tired and we really had't eaten yet. I knew that was the major problem) But then we went in to meet all the new brazilian missionaries. We had Chocolate pizza até o pó and then walked to the hotel where I just died in my bed.

The next day I was considerably happier. (Warning: no food and no sleep... don't talk to me) It was crazy to have had an actual welcome into the mission just like every other missionary. I hadn't had one of those yet. Then we had a transfer meeting compleate with farewell speaches from the missionaries who where going home. I used that as my own farewell to California. It was very theriputic. I was able to close that chapter and feel ready for my next mission.

My new companion's name is Sister Przybyla. We hit it off right away. Aside from being amazing herself, she grew up in the California San Jose Mission. It's awesome. We are opening up a new area in a city called Balneário Camborió (look it up. it's pretty amazing) We are also living with 2 other brazilian sisters. The ward is so out going and happy. The Ward Mission leader is very cool. My companaion and I will be teaching a lot of English classes out here and thankfully I remember just enough Portuguese to get by.

Everyone makes fun of me because I needed to buy new shoes today. We've been walking até o pó and they laugh beacuse I had to worry about things like a car for the last 9 months. Really they are just incredibly jealous. haha.

I feel like everyday I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am actually here... and not about to leave "anyday." It's the wierdest feeling I've ever had... but it's one I can get used to.

Love you all!
-Sister [H]obson

Sister Robson
Brazil Florianopolis Mission
R. Feliciano Nunes Pires, 42
Centro
88015-220 Florianópolis - SC

Até o pó :to the dust. ~Slang for "to the very extream"

Até O Pó

2011-04-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Ben Vindo ao Brazil!

I guess I should start with my last few days in California. They were pretty much amazing. I don´t think that I could have planned it anybetter. I we had General Confrence with all the singles in the Branch and then we also had Fundamentals training for all the new elders and leaders with all the sisters. Everyone arived early and made sure that the cars were cleaned and that we were in our seats at least 5 min. before the apointed time. Training was amazing (in a language that I understood) and I got a lot out of it. I was basically able to see everyone before I left. I was feeling a little bit of a loss. I had some amazing companions and was loving my area---just as I have said before. I had come to know almost everyone there over the last few months. Life in California was such a great place to learn and grow and come to know some amazing people. I really wasn´t wanting to leave. I will remember my last few moments as my mission President, President Jackson and his wife as well as my companions dropped me off at airport security. It was amazing to realize that at the end of my mission I will have had three Presidents and of all of them I will have spent the most time with the them.

I got on the plane and started my trip. In São paulo I got to see one of the elders that was in my district at the MTC all those many months ago. Elder Francis and I were the oldest Visa Waiters of them all. The plane was full of them. We swapted stories for a moment and then went to our seprate planes. When it was all over the 5 other Elders that were going to my mission and I were waiting in the airport wating to meet our own President. They were an hour late because São Paulo gave them the wronge info. I took that as the offical start of my time in Brazil. They Finally came and Sister Queirios came up and gave me a hug. She´s awsome. She asked all the Elders how long they had been waiting for their visas and then got me me When I told her she just looked at me and her whole coutainence just dropped as you could see how sorry she felt for me... her eyes started to well up in tears and then she just said "why didn't they just let you stay?" Up until that moment of my trip I had been fine but I was tired and hungry and therefor emotional. it tipped me over. I just started to cry. I knew that it was stupid of me to be doing so but she started it. I got a hold of myself after a while but just opted to not talk the rest of the day. --It was safer that way. --From then on I just went where they wanted me to go. First to the Police station to get prints and then to the mission office. I wrote home faking as much of a good disposition as I could ...(I was still amazingly tired and we really had't eaten yet. I knew that was the major problem) But then we went in to meet all the new brazilian missionaries. We had Chocolate pizza até o pó and then walked to the hotel where I just died in my bed.

The next day I was considerable happier. (Warning: no food and no sleep... don't talk to me) It was crazy to have had an actual welcome into the mission just like every other missionary. I hadn't had one of those yet. Then we had a transfer meeting compleate with farewell speaches from the missionaries who where going home. I used that as my own farewell to California. It was very theriputic. I was able to close that chapter and feel ready for my next mission.

My new companion's name is Sister Przbyla. We hit it off right away. Aside from being amazing herself, she grew up in the California San Jose Mission. It's awesome. We are opening up a new area in a city called Balneário Camborió (look it up. it's pretty amazing) We are also living with 2 other brazilian sisters. The ward is so out going and happy. The Ward Mission leader is very cool. My companaion and I will be teaching a lot of English classes out here and thankfully I remember just enough Portuguese to get by.

I feel like everyday I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am actually here... and n

Sister Robson
Brazil Florianopolis Mission
R. Feliciano Nunes Pires, 42
Centro
88015-220 Florianópolis - SC

Florianópolis

2011-04-05T14:18:00.001-07:00

Guess What?!

I made it!

After 9 1/2 months of service and then 24 hours of flying and waiting in airports, I am finally in Brazil!

I only have a chance to say just that at the moment but I will do my best to write an actual report of the trip. At the moment I am doing a lot of smiling and nodding. I remember words here and there and for now I guess I´ll get by. Tonight all the Americans that are here with me will be having chocolate Brazilian pizza -something I am very excited about- and then I´m going to bed. I´ll meet my companion tomorrow and just smile and nod a bit more and it´ll all work out.

*BREATH SISTER*

Well, until I have more time to think of something funny to say and the next Email day, I will be thinking fondly of the days I had the ability to understand.

Love to you all!

-Sister Robson

Also, Just wanted to give a shout out to Dawn Lenzi and Lisa Wade for the wonderful actual letters that were here waiting for me. :)

1000 cool points to you two.

My final Decision...

2011-04-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

4/1/11

Hello Everybody,

Well here is the update. I know that you all have been waiting and wondering and asking and emailing wanting to know what is the update with my visa. Well, the brethren have decided and I received the option the other day to stay here in the wonderful California San Jose Mission or continue waiting.

Up until about a week ago I would've been fine with just waiting. But then I came here to the Washington Square Branch. I couldn't believe how much I loved it here. I really felt like I belonged. --There really isn't a feeling that can describe it.

I realized that really I just needed to learn how to speak Portuguese and that that was the real reason that I was given the call to Brazil. It all made sense. This was were I needed to be right at this moment. I know that I can learn Portuguese at the right time. --I mean Spain was awesome and so I'm sure that when I finally get there I can take classes and be able to learn even faster! I feel really good about my decision. Thank you for all your continued support through this time. I love you all.

-Chelsea

ps. Happy day of the fooled. My Visa came this week and I leave on a 24 hour plane trip Monday.

ok.... now everybody think of that beloved soccer announcer.... Raise your hands up in the air and say it with me:

BRAZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLL!!!!!!!

Transfered!

2011-03-25T14:55:00.001-07:00

Hello Everybody!

Well I just got transferred! Crazy. I am now serving with two other amazing sister missionaries, Sisters Porter and McIntosh, here in a single's branch at San Jose State University! It's pretty awesome. So the main thing I've been working on is getting to know everyone and learn the ends and outs of the branch. My Email day has changed so now Friday is the day that you will be getting updates. I'll get some pictures out to you soon and will probably write a better letter next week. There has been a lot of things going on and I wouldn't even know where to begin to tell you them all so I'll wait until I am out of the storm. Just know that all is great! and we're doing all we can. If you have any refurrals out here send'em my way!

Love you all!

-Sister Robson

Bread of Life

2011-03-14T11:02:00.001-07:00

Hi family, friends, and the *random internet stalker!

This week marks a momentous occasion in the life of a sister missionary. I am officially at my halfway mark! I can't believe it's been 9 months already.... We didn't know how to celebrate it in a classy, dignified way (without braking California fire codes) So we got baking. (Aren't biblical puns awesome?!)

I figured this week that a picture is worth a thousand words and I have given you 2 pictures! That's pretty awesome of me isn't it?
Well I got to go because I ate up most of my time actually replying to emails day-of.

Have a great week. Today we are going on a little adventure so I'll give you more fun stuff next week. :)

Love you!
-Chelsea

*Internet stalking is not at bad as actual stalking but it's kind of creepy.

"Only God can fill your God-Shaped Void"

2011-03-07T12:16:00.001-07:00

-Clever, right?

...That neighborhood church sure knows what's going on. My very favorite was last month's: "The second dash on your tombstone lasts forever"

-That one's still got me thinking...

Hellllooooo Everybody!

(everybody: "Hello Sister Robson!)

Well this week we were looking for miracles.
And guess what?! We had some miracles happen!

Julie got Baptized this week into the single's ward. It was amazing! I love working with the singles' wards. --I think mostly because I'm so good at being single myself... 24 and on a mission-- yep. I've got this thing down!~ but seriously, I love working with the singles because they are so inclusive and supportive! It was amazing to see how even though she had only been to that ward like two times nearly half the ward showed up! It's the easiest thing to plug people into. It takes me bake to the good ol' University and Indigo Bay wards! They are amazing at being friends too. (Shout out to ya'll!)

I love living my life expecting Miracles! God is so wonderful. Everyday I just thank my Father in Heaven for putting so many amazing people into my life. I know that My God is a God of Miracles and when we look to Him and trust that the miracles will come, we can better recognize them when they DO! Right now in Personal study I am reading 3 Nephi. It is recognized as the start of the crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon- where Jesus Christ, himself, Visits the people here in the Americas. The people knew of many miracles that were coming but they willfully doubted the prophets even though they at one time knew that they were true. It's when that doubt creeps into our lives that we can no longer see what marvelous things are happening around us.

Faith is a principle of Power. Hope is an abiding trust that things will work out for our good. Christ is the catalyst that makes it all possible.

If you don't believe me... read the scriptures and pray. The Holy Ghost will show unto you all things that are true.

Keep smiling!
-Chelsea

I left my heart in Fremont...

2011-02-28T12:09:00.001-07:00

Didn't hear from anyone this week... Hope the world is still turning.

This week was a lot of fun. We got to go on exchanges with the Fremont Sisters! Both Sister Black and I served there and we both don't understand why we loved it so much but we did and still do. I got to go with Sister Murakami from Japan. It was ever so much fun to see a few of the people again. It was also nice to get to go back to a few people I had taught before but had drifted away. As we were driving around I saw all the hills -flush and green... nothing like how they looked over the summer- I just felt like I wanted to run through them singing- Julie Andrews style. It was great.

This week Julie is getting baptized! I'm so excited! It's going to be great to see her in white. Last week I had gotten sick for a few days and because they were quite rainy we turned to updating our teaching tools. I wanted to make a poster of all the things that we as missionaries teach. We've had a few friends that are having a hard time committing just because they think that they have to know every little thing and have read the Book of Mormon 12 times before they can be baptized. -Not true. So we tried to simplify things. It was a great project for myself because I was able to focus on the scriptures a lot and actually make it all visual for myself. Being happy about what I created I showed it to "Grandma" she was blown away and talked about it for a whole nother week. -I felt like I was 6 again, showing off my stick figures and circles. :)

I'll post more about it later but I really did gain a deeper testimony of our Father's plan for us and the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If nothing else it helped me and ....grandma says I'm cool.

I love you, my friends!
and family... Hope you're not dead.
-Chelsea

...And, We're Back!

2011-02-22T16:38:00.003-07:00

Hello everyone! So I see that one of my letters got lost in cyberspace. Too bad really. No worries I got it back for you all. :)

Not too much news this week so pictures are always good! Have a great day!

-Chelsea

(also check out the post from Feb 7th)

Pictures! #1

2011-02-22T16:28:00.002-07:00

Thanks Crazy Chinese man for taking these pictures!

Pictures! #2

2011-02-22T16:27:00.003-07:00

Only on cold days...

Pictures! #3

2011-02-22T16:22:00.002-07:00

Life is a game of Chess...

...Man I wish I knew how to play.

Be Happy! It's Arizona's Birthday!

2011-02-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

(little shout out to my Sweet Shop Girls on that one. ;) )

Hello wonderful people!

I'm going to start out this letter by saying I love Asians. :) Sister Black wanted to check out the Winchester Mystery House today and -that being the only thing around that could count as a real tourist attraction I was fine with that. We went with a member and took the self guided tour around the gardens. It was great. We were taking some pictures of the three of us on this rainy and overcast day when this cute Chinese couple came up to us. He, characteristically had a giant camera around his neck and offered (with hand motions) to take our pictures for us. He took one look at the setting and knew that we needed a better one so he waved us over to another spot with a better view and took our pictures. Then, decided that there was yet a better photo to be taken, walked us over to the other side of the house with the fountain and placed us before jumping over the bushes and situating himself down below to get us at just the right angle. The Member had her baby boy with her and he then took a picture of himself with the 8 month old blond haired blue eyed little boy. I felt like I was in China again. The memory of trying to get a picture in front of the Great Wall and then watching the line form with Chinese trying to get a picture with the American at the Great Wall... It's definitely a memory.

Happy Arizona's Birthday Everyone!

It's probably the best holiday out there. I guess for all you out there that didn't know that today was in fact Arizona State-hood day, Sister Black and I did make our own valentines to give out as well. My favorite was of course the one with the invitation:

Share God's Love! Share the Gospel!

It's something that we all can do no matter where we are in life (or in the World). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is just the message that God Knows you and He knows were you are and he has a plan for you. It's kind of nice to know that he's there to keep you going and lead you where you need to be.

We taught one of my favorite people this week. JULIE! The sisters met her the week before I came into town and this week we talked about how God Loves us all so much that He has given everyone one that has EVER lived on the earth the chance to hear the Gospel. The Bible talks about it but these trues were lost when all the apostles were killed.

1 Corinthians 15:29

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

We taught her about the fact that we are able to help in the work that helps them all to progress. -That's how much God Loves us!

She looked at us and and said "Wow! Now I want to be baptized just so I can help them!"

It's so amazing to know that God has all the bases covered. No matter who you are or where or even when you lived He provided you a way to return to live with him again!

God loves you!
-Chelsea

Which came first? -The chicken or the Egg?

2011-02-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

It's a bright sunshiny day!

What to say? I got a new companion and we found 5 new friends who want to know more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. What more can I say? I love making new friends!

My new Companion's name is Sister Black. She is from St. George Utah and she's awesome. We've been able to gel really well and are excited about our time together.

Al (short for Alfonso) was in our records and had a brother-in-law who was a member of the church. He'd come and brought his family about a year ago but it was the wrong time for his family. He ended up going through a divorce and is now a single father of 3 girls under the age of 7. He said that one day he was contemplating all the things that were happening in his life and asked God to send him someone who could help him with his problems. He said that the phone rang. ...this ring was somehow different than normal... and sister Tiaua asked if we could come by and share a message. We set up an appointment but he ended up having to change it. This was Sister Black and my first appointment together. After being companions for about 4 hours we went over to his house and shared our message. We were blessed and the Holy Ghost helped us to share our message in perfect unity. He wanted to be baptized and we were able to set a date. We had both been unsure about these transfers -the first little bit is always a transition- but we felt very blessed to be together right then.

Saturday night was fun. We had received a referral about a lad in our area for a Book of Mormon. We looked for him forever the week before but the address was wrong. We called the house and his mom answered the phone. -She wasn't happy to hear from us but said she would pass on the message if he really was interested. As we thought, we didn't receive any call. But then the member who had referred him called the Mission office and submitted the referall again over www.mormon.org -So we went back. The first time he wasn't home but a man answered instead -I'm sure thinking we were representatives from his own church- he told us when he would be home. So we retured and as we were walking up the stairs to the apartment a lad of maybe 20 walked out. We asked and it was him! He was such a wonderful fellow and we gave him the book and told him of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said he was leaving his families religion and reading up and trying to find the truth. He said he felt like God was reaching out to him by sending us there. He was going to be a new father and wanted to change his life. We said we could help. He was such a humble man and we knew that he was ready to start on a new path. :)

Directly after we drove to the other end of the area for a rescheduled appointment. He had been investigating the church about a year ago but we didn't know what happened. When he let us in there were a lot of people around and he stopped all the commotion and had everyone come in to listen. He went into the other room and came out with even more people. There were 3 families living in this home and about 8 people ended up all sitting around listening. Sister Black and I taught the message of the Restoration and about how Jesus Christ reestablished His church on the earth once again through a living prophet. Many of them were nodding and interested and said that they would be baptized if they did know that this was true. We shared our testimonies that we knew that God wanted them to read the Book of Mormon for themselves and ask, in the name of Jesus Christ, if it was true! -Because that is how we gained our knowledge.

I love being able to share this message with all that come in my path. When it makes you so happy, why wouldn't you?!

----

funny side story: the next day we went back to there house to give them a few more copies of the Book of Mormon and we saw a few trees with egg shells over the stems.... I tured to Sister Black and said "Oh look an egg tree... So that's where the Chicken's get them!"

Love to all!
Enjoy the pictures!

We love you and we love referrals.
:)

Understanding

2011-01-31T13:34:00.001-07:00

Welp today starts a new transfer. Sister Tiaua will be moving and I am receiving a new companion. I don't know who it is just yet but will find out tomorrow at transfers.

Today I'm going to talk about some of my personal study. While you are serving a mission you have the responsibility and privilege of studying for an hour on your own. I'm in the book of Alma right now just starting into the war chapters. I don't know why I've always been drawn to these chapters. I think most of it is due to my "yeah! Fight for your Freedom!" type attitude or maybe I'm just trying to get advice on how to fight my own battles.

But there's also Captain Moroni. Man I want to be like him. One thing Mormon writes about him is that he was a man of Perfect Understanding. I got to thinking "What does it mean to have a Perfect Understanding and How can I get it?" For two days I thought about it. I don't know if I've really come to any perfect conclusion but I thought about my life. When I was growing up I learned my lessons in 5 ways.

1. listening to those who did understand
2. reading the scriptures and the best books around
3. Watching others and thinking about the cause and effects of choices
4. my own correct or poor choices
5. Prayer.

1. Listening to those who did understand
I grew up with teachers all around me. Not always the ones with the certificate but teachers none-the-less. I have my parents, relatives, church leaders, and friends. We also always listened to talks of eminent men at home. After awhile I got to the point where I could tell when people were talking out of experience or just talking.

2. Reading the scriptures and the best books around
I feel really blessed that I was encouraged to read. I had a really difficult time with it growing up. Wanting me to have all the opportunities in life, I was even taken, by my parents, to different specialist who would try and help me. It was always an up hill battle. I hated reading. It was just hard. I still think my brain doesn't work all that well because I couldn't live without spell check. But I knew that reading my scriptures was something that I couldn't get out of. So, on my own, I read. Slowly and with purpose. If I was going to do this I had to get something out of it.

I know that reading the Book of Mormon taught me to read. I loved reading it. I loved knowing what was going on. I loved thinking about it. To this day I drink it up. I knew I was getting better so I read other books that helped me in my life. Books that helped shape my reality and see things differently. They taught me to understand.

3. Watching others and thinking about the cause and effects of choices
I had a lot of examples to watch... I went to public school. As I watched other people I thought about everything they said or did. I would ask myself "Why?" The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and after being baptized you can receive "The Gift of the Holy Ghost" or the opportunity to have him with you always. I know that it was the Holy Ghost that taught me all these lessons. Every time I would ask "why?" If I kept asking and searching eventually I would understand if not fully, in part, everything that I needed or even wanted to know.

4. My own correct or poor choices
aka the school of hard knocks. I've made my fair share and am still making them but I know that I can repent and change so that I don't have to keep learning the same lesson.

5. Prayer.
I still don't understand most of what is going on around me. I have learned that I don't have to. God really is the only One with a perfect understanding. If I pray always and just do what I do know He'll tell me by the power of the Holy Ghost what I need to know.

I'm not sure why I chose to tell you all this today but that is what was on my mind. I want my family to know that I do have a testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that God wants to tell us all these things. I'm grateful for all the teachers in my life.

Thank you.
-Sister Robson

Musical Mystery Tour is dying to take you away

2011-01-24T17:02:00.001-07:00

Boilin' Cabbage

It all started last week. We do service for one of the members here and she has been cleaning out her house since her grandmother's death. it was our job to take a basket and a couple of sacks to the Deseret Industries (kind of like Good Will) donation truck. All of this stuff was in our back seat. We had Email on a day that was not our normal preparation day and were running a little bit late to our appointment so there was a little bit of a crunch. So I through my purse in the back of the car with my bag. We had to pick up someone to go with us and there was no room in her car so she opted to jump in the back of ours. She got in and moved everything over on top of all the rest of the D.I. stuff. We got in and left. We had a few appointments that day and I just never got around to putting my purse back in my bag. The last stop was at the church to practice for the upcoming 'Out-going Fireside'. Because we were at the church we just swung on by the truck and set everything down inside. I didn't think about it for another day when I realized I didn't have my purse anymore. We called everyone but one one had it. Then it hit me. "The DI Truck!" oh no! When we finally returned there were a few bags and rearranged and the basket no longer where we had placed it. It was one of those long storage trucks and had been about halfway full. So we spent about 3 hours going through everything that was in there. It's probably the closest thing I've ever done to dumpster diving. I was without EVERYTHING. My money, my ID, my CAMERA! I also had a bunch of memory cards in there. It was horrible. I'll be getting replacement stuff, but needless to say... it was not a good day. But what was the use crying over it? The whole time I was just praying that if someone did take it and didn't plan on returning it that they would wake up with boils the next day. So if you hear of anyone complaining of a horrible incurable case of Boils -just tell them to give it back and it'll all go away. :)

I sang and... 'I did it my way!'

Last time at the Out-going Fireside Sister Tiaua and I had regret that we hadn't signed up to sing. So this time we made sure we were on the list. She played the Piano and I sang one of my favorite songs "You'll never walk alone" from Carousel. We took a more mellow road with it instead of the Window crashing- blow-you-out-of-your-seat route. It went really well. You can always tell the music buffs that talk to me after. There was a man that came up to me and was giving me a play-by-play "The moment you started I thought: Oh boy, she's got the pipes to blow this out... here it comes...-But then you DIDN'T! You held back and let the spirit take it! Well done!"
"...oh shucks, Mister. Thank you." :) -Those always make me feel good. Sincere praise never goes to my head but it always touches my heart.

Roll up for the Mystery Tour!

When I was in my senior year of High School I had a teacher of American History: Mr. Ashley. Man, I loved him. He'd had nearly all my brother's and sisters at one point in time and had a photographic memory. At least he did for students because he remembered them all. Every year he taught the same thing. Every chapter in the book he had the same stories topped off with the same jokes to tell. It was almost like having a tour guide through history. He had fun putting little clues in every test he gave. They were always matching a letter with it's definition to the correct number and it's key word. One day were were learning about the Winchester Riffle. The Woman had basically all the shares and money to the winchester fortune was superstitious and crazy thought that all the spirits what were killed by the riffle were after her and built this house so as to confuse them. She was told that she would have to keep building on to her house and never finish it so that they would stay away. So she did. She didn't know what else to do in some places so she just started to build staircase to no where and doors that don't open up to anything but a wall and windows in the floor. She turned an 8 room ranch house into a 116 room mansion. I remember that on the test number 13 was 'W' because Sarah Winchester's favorite number was 13. :) The bishop's wife was talking about a few tourist sites in the area and mentioned it and this whole thing came back to my mind! She offered to take us to see it. So we got to go today! It was really fun. It was a little different then what I had pictured in my mind but it was pretty incredible. It was one of those things that was on my list of "someday" experiences and I was totally thrilled to get to see it today. :) *Jenny, you can tell your mom she is awesome.* -When walking by the gun rack I thought of Randy. :)

Welp, I guess that's enough for today. Hope all is well with you!
-Remember, I'm just a stamp away!
-Chelsea

Mr. Ashley, if you're reading this... I believe the Mumu was red. :)

Gaggle of Missionaries?

2011-01-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ok we're not as numerous as Geese but I'm not sure how you would call a big group of missionaries... Half of them are Spanish so maybe it's like Pinatas... Would you say I have a Plethora of Pinatas?

Hello!

So this week was really good. I got to go on an Exchange to the area of Morgan Hill. Really Nice area. That's be a cool place to serve. The other option that President wanted to send me was Monterrey... The Paradise of the mission. They had already been on exchanges this transfer so we he had me go on a goose chase (maybe that's why my mind is going fowl today) All of them are pretty far from where I am but I wasn't going to complain. I was with Sister Chan from Hong Kong. I told her of the time that I got a picture of myself giving the Giant Buddha a Hi Five. She got a big kick out of that. :)

Because of the Holiday yesterday we didn't really have much to do due to the fact that the Library was closed so we just stayed home and basically slept the whole day. It was beautiful. (Yay! Sleep! -that's where I'm a Viking!)

Something we found out last week was that Sister Tiaua and I are both huge Elvis Fans. We were at the Library and I found a set of CDs of his greatest Spirituals. Gottah love the king.

uh huh.

So I got some word from my Mission President that there has been a huge problem in the LA Brazilian Embassy. They haven't received much of anything from them. Because I'm from AZ that is were my application is. Apparently, "The Brethren" will be meeting soon to decided what to do with me and the rest that are still waiting. If anyone knows anyone who knows anyone down there tell them to put in a good word for me. :)

-Tell them I'm a good girl who plays well with others and will only make the country a better place. :)

Other than that there isn't much else to report this week. Next week should be good though so don't fret. Until then be good and stop it. :)

Hugs!
Sister Robson

Blame it on the Fault.

2011-01-10T12:31:00.001-07:00

Has anybody ever seen the TV show Animaniacs? I had this Cd of them long back and there was a song called "A Quake" Apparently we had one this week. We were in the car at that moment and therefor could not feel it. Hearing that song always made it those things sound so exciting... That's my warped childhood showing I guess. We had some plumbing problems in our shower this week. All the water had to be turned off because of it and we were left without a place to shower. Our Grandma was beside herself with worry saying it was one of the worst moments of her life... (personally, I thought that was pretty good) It took me back to the old days when a wind storm would come and knocked down the trees and we'd be out of power or when the horse kicked over the main water line and we had another lake in our back yard. ...good times.
One of the members said we could use her shower but then forgot and so we were driving around looking for a place to go... we tried the church thinking that they might have something but all they had was a really big bath tub... don't think that'd be appropriate. Sister Tiaua called one of the women we visit with and she laughed at us but let us barge in. -Closest I've felt to a bum in a long time. It was definitely an adventure.

Today's got some good things going on. I'm crossing off one of my New Years Resolutions and getting a hair cut. I haven't had a proper hair cut in about 7 months! You've probably notice the new way I've been doing my hair in the waves/curls... that's because I'm impetuous and had a pair of scissors... *shutter*

Well hope you all like the pictures!

December 2010 Brought many fun times and a couple of temple trips. One with an investigator and as I said before, one of our friends were able to be sealed in the Oakland Temple and the sisters that helped teach them all got to be there. It was so wonderful being able to share in this wonderful day!

New Years Eve we had dinner with some friends at a great sushi place. It's been great to start out the New Year so well!

Love you All!
Chelsea

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-03T13:50:00.001-07:00

Random story:
I was running this morning and was noticing all the old christmas trees that people have left on the street and thought to myself, wouldn't it be funny if there was a foreigner who came here and had never heard of Christmas what kind of story could I get away with telling them that they would believe? I thought well maybe I could say that as a new years tradition people around here cut down one of their trees and put it out front as a symble of "out with the old" or something like that... think about it... it wouldn't be so hard to pass off. (Sad to say but this is of course, how my mind works at 5 o'clock in the morning...) But then it hit me. How sad is it that there are some people who really never have heard all that much about Jesus and all that he did for us but see the culture around them set up a tree as decoration and think "Oh I might as well do it too... looks nice."(It's Silicone Valley... it happens a lot) Something that really means so much now has no more meaning than that of my crazy morning story.

I'm trying to think of how He-Man would sum up the moral of this story...
Things can change that fast if you don't share your testimony along with being an example.

Well Hello family, friends, casual acquaintances, and random internet junkies!

How's 2011 treating you? We're doing fan-tab-ulous over here. Well it's that time again... New Years! This week I've been doing just what I'm sure you all have been doing... Making Goals! One of out friends gave Sister Tiaua and I each a new calender and I took a moment to figure out exactly where I'll be through out this next year and according to San Jose's Transfer schedule It looks Like I'll be coming home exactly one year from today! Isn't that exciting! I'll beable to have an entire calender year serving a mission! I thought that was pretty sweet. That doesn't happen all the time for Sisters. It's really a different game to make goal as a missionary. I know that my daily routine isn't going to change no matter where I am located so most of it was just little changes in the How I do things. It's nice to start new none-the-less. We are still working with some amazing people and going to be finding many more as the days progress so that's a fun thing for me. Every day's a new day so we smile all the day long. Today I had a really good personal study in Alma chapter 15. I was thinking about the prophet as a real person -which he is- and putting myself in his shoes. It's pretty great to be able to "think" like a prophet. Try it. Tell me what's going on in your mind. :)

Love you all!
Sister Robson

I'm drawing a blank.

2010-12-27T14:39:00.001-07:00

Hello to all!

So I'm sitting here at the computer thinking to myself -What in the world am I going to write?- It was good to talk to the WHOLE herd on Christmas. Gotta' love modern technology. The only problem is... now I've got nothing.

So I'll talk to the rest of you!

Christmas in the mission field is a totally different expeirence. It's a normal day except that you get two hours for dinner and 40 minutes for a phone call home. The rest of the time you are just out visiting people and hoping they let you in. Going into the whole thing all the missionaries were scratching our heads trring to figure out what else we could do. At our last meeting our district leader stopped and look at everyone and said "So, this is all our first year out.... I've always heard that Christmases on your missions are suppose to be the best... did I miss a memo? What are you all going to do?" We all just started laughing because we were all thinking the same thing.

I have decided that -as my sister-in-law, Cami, once said- Members who spoil missionaries on Christmas deserve bonus points in heaven. We were able to have dinner with one family on Christmas Eve and we came away with stockings and pj's and all sorts of treats. It was weird because we don't expect anything from any one so we were just sitting there super excited about the stocking full of toothbrushes and toothpaste and nail clippers, hair clips, and a whole stash of essentials! It was amazing. The father-in-law was there and gave us really weird looks because we were SOOOOO excited and screaming and clapping our hands like crazy 5 year olds. (We're very good receivers) Sister Tiaua was mostly focused on the fact that her stocking was GREEN! (*Waves Hi to Mandi Ryan!*) and then I was overjoyed because the PJ shirt had buttons that sparkled! After dinner we all went out Caroling in her neighborhood and giving out pass-along cards. It was great!

On Christmas I talked to the herd and then we made our way out in to the rain. We visited some of our friends and then we had dinner with another family and they -knowing that one of my favorite traditions was to have shrimp had it there for us. I smiled and thought good thoughts about Sweet Sue. :) We went home and opened presents with "Grandma" and then a ham dinner with her and her daughter and then we got to go out with all the missionaries in our district to different people that we all are teaching and sing carols. One of our friends is 70 and lives all alone because her son grew up and moved to China. We stopped by her house as a surprise and sang, along with some Christmas tunes, her favorite song "A Child's Prayer." She just stood there with a big smile and started crying. She was just so happy.

All and all a good day and I think it'll stay up on the top of favorite Christmases.

Hope all is going well for the rest of yous.
Keep the spirit alive!
-Love Chelsea

The Poker of Choice

2010-12-20T13:54:00.002-07:00

This week was one of those roller-coaster weeks.

Last Sunday was the Out going fireside. We were able to go with our friend Pat. Those are always enjoyable. I was so happy because there were a bunch of Spanish Missionaries going home and giving their testimonies. I understood everyone of those gringos! It was great. After there is a little bit of mingling in the gym and so Sister Tiaua and I got to see a lot of friends. Every person I talked to would start out the conversation with "I can't believe you're still here!" - Yep I'm still here. Last week I past my Six Month Mark. ("Yay Dad" -All I need is a flag)

One funny thing was we were doing another zone service project for a park in our area a few days later. President and Sister Jackson were going to be there and most of it was just going to be a bunch of manual labor. Mulching. Yippy Skippy. :) There was a moment where I was really annoyed with one of the other Elders. I turned to Sister Tiaua and said... I really hope they let me use a shovel. (...It's The Digger of Choice) *yeah I know, not the most Christ-like thing to say but hey, give me a break... I'm a missionary not a saint. *

The moment passed but I got my wish and was sent to scooping up and spread around large piles of wood chips. I enjoyed the manual labor and Daddy would've been mighty proud of my shoveling skills. Then someone pulled out the pitch forks and when I used that it was a lot easier. -I almost felt like I was cheating. When I looked at it all I could think about was when Randy and I were in Spain and he bought his Trident. (It's the Poker of Choice)

We did this for about 2 hours and I was beginning to gain some really legit blisters. All in a days work. I got to talk to President a little bit about what he's heard from Mission Travel. Still no word but he'll keep on them. -I think he feels the need to tell me that because he thinks I'm over in a corner going crazy.

We had an exchange this week and Sister Rajan came down. This was her first Area and so she was really excited to see everyone. That morning President called me again. I sent a letter to him that in this next transfer, if he thinks that I'm going to be here a while and he needs someone, I could change over to Spanish. I missed speaking a different language... even if it was broken. It is a little bit sad to spend an hour everyday trying to learn a language that you never get to practice. I've reconciled myself to spending my whole time here. After all, I'm going into my 7th month. There does come a time when they say "You might as well just stay put." -He said that he had herd from travel and that the last Brazilian Bound Elder received his visa. ( oh.. you mean the one that stopped doing his language study and didn't want to go? -Yeah that one. -Awesome.)

He said that he would change me over if he thought that I would be here a while but that if he did move me and then I left mid transfer then that would create bigger problems. He said he had a hunch that I would be getting mine soon so I would stay here. I was a little disappointed but I was OK with that.

It was personal study time and so I started with my normal routine. 30 min in the Book of Mormon and then a chapter in O Livro De Mormon and then Jesus the Christ if I have time. I had started over in O Livro because the first time I was reading through it I didn't feel like I was understanding enough. I was in 1 Nefi 4 -or Page 10 approximately. I was reading and the craziest thing happened to me. I understood it. Every Word. -Not just the words but the story and all. Sure, I've heard that part of the Book of Mormon a thousand times so I knew what was happening but still, I hadn't been memorizing all those words in Portuguese. I was so grateful. I was reading and I just started to cry. Not because the story was that of something that would normally bring tears to my eyes but I cried because I knew that the Book of Mormon was true. I knew that God remembered me. I knew that no matter how long I was going to be here it wouldn't matter that I hadn't been speaking and hearing the language the whole time. God would show me the miracle.

Normally, I try to keep these fun and so you all wont tire of reading my random stories. Sometimes it works out better than others. I really just try to be myself. I know that a lot of the time the things that I write home are weird or of minimal worth, if any, but I want to tell you what keeps me going: I know that the Book of Mormon is true no matter what language you are reading. I know that God has a plan for each one of us and when we just keep going without complaining, He'll show us his Miracles.
There isn't much else I have for this week.

Merry Christmas. :)

Happy Birthday Morgana!

2010-12-20T00:01:00.005-07:00

Morgan! Happy Birthday!

It's been too long and it's going to be even longer... It's sad but think about it this way: I'll be there for your next birthday! In the mean time, Just search for your name on here and know how much I love you! PS, We are SOOO working out when I get back!

<3 Sister Xelsé

Under-qualified

2010-12-13T14:52:00.001-07:00

This week we did a full day of service at a Creche exhibit in one of the adjoining areas.We were going to help the night before with passing out free hot Chocolate but that got rained out. We got to have a tour earlier and it really was amazing. The church really goes way out to make it a big deal and over 10,000 people visited it this year! Well, we got the fun job of tearing it all down. We Started at 8 am and spent most of our time taking them off the walls and then folding them and then staking them. Most of the Elders spent their time taking down trees and lights and sorting all of that fun stuff but when all that was done they started to join us. Our job was to help take down all the fabrics and then organize them and put them away in the 40 crates that were all pre-labeled by someone who was thinking too much. It was obnoxious really, It made you feel super under-qualified but we went along with it. We had about 5 8 foot tables staked to the top with Black silks, Black linens, and then black jersey, we also had satins and plaids and burlap and laces, shefons and denims and many others in every color of the rainbow! Sounds exciting doesn't it! I think my favorite box had to be the "Blues and Funky Blues" box. One of the Elders walks over and is just standing there not knowing what to do next and a nice old lady sees him and starts to explain what he should do. "Well, here we have to separate and stack all the fabrics into their assigned boxes... for example, this box says 'Sages and Sands'..." The Elder looked at her with a slight bit of horror in his eyes and backed away. We all just busted up laughing.

Well tis the season for Christmas songs and unfortunately for everyone someone found out that we sing and they've decided that they want us to sing at every activity anyone can come up with. Normally I would be fine with that except that in every activity they want it "Church Approved" -meaning out of the Hymn book. Now there are only 10 or so songs that we could chose from. Believe me... the moment is fast approaching that I'll be wishing for the Last Noel. So I've made it my business to rewrite some of them and add some of my own twists and turns. :) I'll experiment and get back to you.

Well, right now we are teaching some pretty awesome people. One of my favorites is Bob. He's 99 and quick as a whip. He is also a Mason. I always want to ask him if he had to go through any trial or anything to be apart of it... 'Cross a burning dessert' or something crazy like that. He does have a special ring which makes it all the more interesting. Anyways enough with my musings. He's awesome.

Well Hope all is going fanatically in your neck of the woods.

Remember:
Don't Worry...
Be Happy. :)

Chelsea

Smile... It's Monday!

2010-12-06T13:22:00.001-07:00

Hello!

Well this week has been great. Lots of lessons and lots of fun.

Today we are going to be setting up the Christmas Tree at Grandma's. Sorry mom and dad that I wont be able to set yours up but I'm sure you'll manage.... just make sure to set everything back exactly as you found it in the boxes neatly tied and wrapped with care. -Thanks.

...
...
Seriously.
...
...

Well, This week seemed to be a slow week for you all.... that's good for me because that means I recieved lots of letter to go through later when I get home. :) I also received many wonderful packages from my amazing family. Including Gloves, Scarfs, and and extra pair of long running pants... -Thanks for caring. haha if I'm cold now It's my own fault. Randy and Cami thank you so much for the CD's I was so excited. I'm a huge fan of listening to talks while in the car (It's how I was raised) and it just made my day. I'm kind of weird like that and would rather listen to talks than the same 5 cd's of EFY music over and over and over.... (*Bobby shutters*) hahah in truth it's not quite that bad but... It's still a nice change. :)

We listened to one that talked about the meaning of the Atonement. It got me. I had heard it before but a repeat was just what I needed. The birth of Christ would've meant nothing if it hadn't been for the atonement. And we would be lost and without a chance to ever improve if it were not for our Savior Jesus Christ. I really am nothing without Him. The message that we as Missionaries share is that He Lives and that He speaks to prophets today that lead and guide us. His Priesthood is on the earth once again and we are heralding in the Second Christmas where He will return and there will me 1000 years of peace on earth and good will toward men! It's such a freeing thought!

I can be better! I CAN progress and I CAN live with my family forever!

Yesterday was Fast and testimony meeting in church. That's always one of my favorite days. That is the day where once a month we are able to share what we know to be true with everyone. One of our friends got up and told a story about a little child who was walking around the mall and, seeing the line for Santa, asked her mom "Where's the line for Jesus?" She said that she was thinking about that question when she was listening to the testimonies being shared one after another from the people in the congregation about our Savior Jesus Christ. It made me think...

I don't know everything. I'm not able to answer all the questions that came my way. I'm probably the last person that you should trust on a lot of things... but I have been called by a Prophet of God to share what I know.

I know that this message is true.

The line starts here.
------------------------------

I love you all dearly and really need nothing more than what I have. Keep the letter coming!

-Chelsea

Pictures!

2010-12-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures from Thanksgiving! Hope you enjoy!

Thanksgiving Pictures!

2010-12-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Dinner with the Lamocas

Giving Thanks!

2010-12-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Some Thanksgiving Memories. :)
-Courtesy of Mikko Lamoca

Sister Tiaua and I saying hello to Manhattan

My 8th Birthday

2010-12-02T00:01:00.004-07:00

I remember my 8th birthday so well. I was getting ready to be baptized and I remember saying to my parents one time that it would be so cool if Natalie could be there. She was up at BYU and I was in the habit of bugging her every once in a while by dialing *9. Because my birthday is during the school year, however, I didn't really expect it to happen. I specifically remember Randy repeating my hope a day or two before. -This could've made me mad at him for throwing salt on the wound... but he had this since of hope in his voice -like parents do when they talk about Santa Claus coming down the chimney- It kept me dreaming. Still, even at 7 going on 8 I was realistic enough to not expect it.

Because of the size of some congregations now a days, they have a set day for all the children's baptisms in a specific region and they are always on a Saturday. However, my birthday was on Sunday that year and, unlike how things are done today, I was able to have my baptism that day. So on Friday, I remember my dad coming up with some really weird reason for me to go with him and my mom to the airport "just to watch the planes land and take off" because, apparently, he used to do it all the time as a kid just for fun. -Even at 7 going on 8, I thought that that was a pretty lame way to pass the time, but I just chalked it up to one of the many weird things people did when they didn't have TV. I went along to humor him. haha.

I ended up jumping in the back of the station wagon that we had at the time. I was just planning on laying there until the activity was over. We pulled to a stop at good 'ol Sky Harbor International. All of a sudden, I see Natalie tap on the window of the car -complete with big hair, big smile, and big sunglasses. (gotta love the 90's)- I was completely surprised. I don't remember much about the weekend other than the baptism itself but I do remember that moment. -This was also a time I spent kicking myself for not putting things together and seeing the signs... but I digress.- I was supremely happy. I got my wish of being able to share such a happy moment with my big sister.

When I decided to go on a mission I didn't tell any of my siblings or their families. -I wanted a good video- But because Natalie wasn't going to be there I told her things as they happened. She text me at 10am on the first possible day I could get my call saying "Hopefully today is the day!" A friend of mine hadn't gotten her's yet and she sent her's in a week before me so I was sure it was going to be another week. At 1:20pm, I drove home from school and up to the mailbox just in case and was stunned to see it there under a bundle of normal mail. My plan wasn't to open it until I told everyone, 3 days later, but I HAD to tell someone! So, I sat in my car and I called my big sister. We were both freaking out, laughing, and even crying. I was, again, supremely happy to have her right there to share it with me.

Love and Miss you Nat,

Happy Birthday!

"Hey, Pop 'n' Fresh... You're suppose to Giggle."

2010-11-29T13:01:00.001-07:00

Still Rainy and Cold.

I can't believe it... I thought that in California the sun was suppose to always shine! -That's what the beach Boys always made it sound like... I can't believe that KOOL 94.5 Lied to me! ...They lied to me through song... I Hate When people do that!

Believe me I know how cold it is here. Aside from normal missionary work, knocking on doors and walking around talking to people on the streets, Sister Tiaua and I have gotten super ambitious and have been getting up at 5 am to run 5 miles. As we walk outside all the cars and side walks have a thick layer of frost (that seems to be growing) over them. In order to stay alive I basically put on everything I own. I have my dark running pants under my dark sweat pants. Then on top I wear a tee-shirt a black fuzzy sweatshirt and then my black puffy jacket and a scarf. It's still pitch dark and so I didn't think that it was wise to have a light visible color saying "LOOK at ME!" -Well that and a cop drove by one time and gave me a stern and overly suspicious look as he drove by. So now I also wear a Light blue wind-braker to top it all off so that no one misses me... I'm not sure how they could... I look like the stay puffed marshmallow man. Visions of sugar plumbs (and The Christmas Story) dance though my head.

That vision comes to a quick stop as the weekend paperboy drives by and sends a brick of coupons at the house in front of me... nearly pelting me in the gut.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Well Thanksgiving was everything a missionary would need. We had 3 Feasts in two days... and continue to eat left-overs...

But my favorite part was on Saturday I got to go back to good ol' Fremont and see Dee get baptized! It was such a great day and I felt so blessed to be able to go! I loved to be able to see most of my favorite people and share in the occasion. -Before I forget... Happy Birthday to Aaron Aguilar tomorrow! You rock!

We had an amazing teaching experience on Friday as well. One of the member's nieces was doing a paper on a religion other than her own and wanted to interview us. We shared about prayer and how it is central to our daily actions and practices and also about the Prophet Joseph Smith. When I shared the first vision with her she said "WOW." I asked her what her thoughts and feelings were when I said his own account and she said that she just couldn't explain, but that she could imagine the fact of being in his position and seeing that. She said that her whole body just felt something... I told her that that was the Holy Ghost Testifying that these thing were true. She looked at me and just started nodding her head and said "Yeah... it is."

I Love sharing my testimony about him.... I know that it is either 100% True that he DID see God and Jesus Christ or it is 100% false and he was a con that bamboozled 13 and a half million people. How can we know? Prayer. The Book of Mormon says that you should ask God if these things are NOT true. If you are sincere and willing to act... He won't let you go wrong.

He'll knock you in the head if he needs to. -Believe me.

Well friends, I had best be going but I wanted to say that we will be doing Christmas cards next week and so I will need a bunch of addresses. Leave them in the Comment field if you would like a smiling picture of me on your fridge this year. :)

Love Ya!

Oh and By the way... My mission President sent me a message that Mission Travel doesn't' expect my visa in until after Christmas. So California it is for me until further notice. ...Don't be shy. :)

-To Mom, Dad, Bobby, Grandma and anyone else who is worrying about Brazil... St Mark 5:36

Rusty... one year older and wiser, too.

2010-11-24T00:01:00.005-07:00

Happy Birthday to you!

Every time I look at this picture, I think of Immigrants coming out of Ellis Island and greeted by the New York Fairy! "I'm the New York Fairy! Welcome to New York!"

Rusty is the philosopher of the family. -The deep thinker. One of my favorite memories is when he and Helen were living at Grandma and Grandpa's and we sat and just had a great conversation about integrity. We talked about how it doesn't only mean to tell the truth but, more so, it means to be firm and consistent all the way through. Immovable. Integrity meant being whole. It meant being the same person in every circumstance. -I was a good kid and always tried to stay away form wrong doing, so I never really felt that was a problem for me. (Just another evidence of my own pride, I know.) However, in that conversation a lot of things changed and I was able to apply it to myself. To me, it now meant, not being afraid of being myself. Even when I otherwise might be. I was limiting myself because I was kind of afraid of showing people the real me. I was bending, trying to fit into the box I thought they wanted me to be in.

When you have true integrity, you have true confidence. With true Confidence, you can be yourself all the time.

This was during a time in my life where I was filling in cracks of my foundation. I was rethinking my very core. That conversation helped me a lot. It got me more on the ball and further along to know of who God wanted me to be.

Thank you Rusty, the wise. ;)

Love you! -Happy Birthday
Chelsea Robson

PS- As noted by the caption on the picture, he's also pretty dang funny. ;)

Tut Tut, Looks like Rain

2010-11-22T12:51:00.001-07:00

Hello!

Wow, you look great... Have you been working out?! Just thought I'd say something...

Well It's been a soggy weekend. And that's a good and a bad thing. Bad because -Well, you know me and the cold, wet, winters have never gotten along- but good because we had another Baptism!!!

Sister Tiaua and I are doing great. Normally, It's always a little bit slow in the beginning when you are used to someone and now have to get to know someone else but we have fun! Last week after Ken's Baptism the parking lot was empty and we had Christmas songs playing and enjoying the evening. We had to drop some things off at the Deseret Industries Donation Truck and had some pent up energy so we just started to have our own little dancing session as we were putting things away. It felt really good. It reminded me of an inside joke between Randy and I, tehe... "You think you're better than me?!" :) Miss you Randy!

Well it's the week of Thanksgiving and there is so much to be grateful for! Ken is now sitting in church all proud of himself with an unconscious smile that makes our day and then on Saturday amid the rain Laura was baptised! Her family came as well and we were afraid because they got there a half hour beforehand and at first we were the only ones there just twiddling our thumbs, So I grabbed them all and gave them a tour of the Chapel. It was great to be able to share a little about what Laura was doing and how much it was going to bless her life and to share my testimony of the truthfulness of this work! I shared a little bit about what we do on Sundays and that the next day she would receive "The gift of the Holy Ghost" -a constant companion and comforter. They were such wonderful people. When we were done we walked out and into the other room to see that the place was packed! It was a great day! Laura is so Cheerful and lovely that you can't help but love her. After she was baptized she came up out of the water and then with such exuberance she turned around immediately and hugged her friend that had baptized her. It was awesome!

Because it is thanks giving I have been thinking a little bit about old traditions... BTW... is anyone going to rebel this year and go up to South mountain? Tell me how it goes. That was always one of my favorite things all year and I count it as a blessing to have had that opportunity to know so many of my wonderful Second and third Cousins. (MAjor HINT and MAjor Nudge to all my family) :)

We are living with a member here in Sunnyveil. Grandma. She is 87 years young (I know grandma Marge... just a spring chicken!) I really enjoy it. It's so much better than an apartment. She had Elders before and always talked about how "They took my Elders away from me and gave me the sisters" But we have changed her mind to actually like us and she knows it. We hug and kiss her good-bye and at first she just went along with it but now it's like a little family. It's nice to know that someone is waiting up for you. (Love you mommy for always doing that.) She's also got a great sense of humor. ( Just Like another grandma I know and love dearly) She called Sister Tiaua a "Sour Puss" and a "Sissy" the other day when we were complaining about the cold. One day when I was preparing one of my favorite stews I was pealing potatoes with a normal knife because I couldn't find the peeler. She took one look at what I was doing and came over and said "Well THAT'S a dumb way to peal potatoes... give it here" I just laughed and thought... I'm home!

Well I love you lots and count myself very lucky that someone loves me enough to read this. Smile! It's going to be a great day!

Count your many blessings!

Love,
Me

And one more time... you really do look great. ;)

Welcome to Sunnyside!! -I mean Sunnyvale!

2010-11-15T13:10:00.003-07:00

Morgan Sent me a little update on Toy Story 3 Last week and it made me think of all the funny quotes I remembered from the commercials, All I can think of is the strawberry scented bear opening the doors and playing tour guide ...Good times.

Welp, Here I am in a new area! My new Companion's name is Sister Tiaua and as I said before she is from American Samoa! It's so much fun to be with people of different cultures. Sister Rajan is doing great with her new companion as well! -Sister Marakami Straight in from Tokyo Japan! She is SOOOO cute! When I talked to her, I just wanted to fold her up and put her in my pocket to always be with me, so I know the good people of Fremont will be well taken care of and too distracted to every miss me.:) -I know I would be...

This week was great! We had a baptism of a man named Ken. He's about 30 and has been working with the missionaries for the last 6 months. He had been taught by Sister Rajan and Sister Balling and Sister Tiaua and now myself. So we had all of them and their new companions here for the occasion. There were a lot of sister missionaries there. Ken said that he thought he only had one sister but we got a "Family Photo" and so now he can see he has many more. -I love that about the church... It's all about family. :)

Laura is getting baptised this week. She is from Peru and is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. She is about 45 and has really been guided in her life to the church. She's only been working with the missionaries for a few weeks. When we were in church yesterday she said that she was scared in the beginning because she was the only one in her family who will be a member, but that now she isn't anymore. She is ready to be baptised and doesn't care what anyone thinks. The class was full of new members and they all shared a bit of their stories and how they too were the firsts to join and some still the only one to join but that the joy they feel out weighs every fear. -It was a very moving class.

We had dinner with Mesfin this week with a member family. Mesfin is from Africa and was put in jail in his own country for wanting religious freedom. He was finally able to come to the US and was contacted by the missionaries on the street 6 months ago. He finally called back and is going to be baptised on the 4th of December. I hadn't ever met him before and that was my first night here that I met him. He introduced himself in a moment of introductions from many people and so I was just trying to meet everyone. I didn't realize he was an investigator to even take special effort to remember who he was. Later after we had been talking at the table for a moment he looks at me and asks "What's my name?" I looked at him and said without even thinking about it "Mesfin" He looked at me incredulously and said "Amazing. Everyone I meet here has a difficult time remembering my name because they don't have anything like it here... But not you girls..." I thought for a moment and just said that it was a gift from the spirit... And it's true. Before I came on a mission I had the most difficult time remembering people's names but now I can remember people I only met one time on the street or on one of the hundred doors I knock on every week. He just looked at me with pure wonder and just said "Amazing." In the Book of Mormon is says that "By small and simple things are great things brought to passed" ...It's just one of those things.

The Book of Mormon is True....

you should start reading it...

Love you all!

-Sister Robson

Elizabeth~Happy Birthday!

2010-11-10T00:01:00.013-07:00

Elizabeth, there is way too much to tell you in this post. You'll be getting a nice personal letter for the rest but for the purposes of letting everyone know how loved you are I will say this:

You've seen me in good times and in, well... crazy times. You've always been there. I am so grateful to count you as my friend.

What would the Florianopólis mission be like with out you?!

Regardless, I love you.

Happy Birthday!

-Chelsea

P.S. You are all that and a bag of chips. ;)

Randy, it's your Birthday! ~Happy birthday Randy!

2010-11-10T00:01:00.012-07:00

Hint: The Title is to be sung in the key of Springfield

Some of my favorite memories of my life I got to share with my older brother, Randy. Growing up we have always involved each other in random projects. (See the VHS "The Chelsea and Randy Show" for examples) We had so much fun together all the time. So, when I got all big, who else would I ask to join in on the crazy things I wanted to do?! We had such a great time traveling to NY one year and Europe the next. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything!

~So to my favorite "Galletador"~

¡Feliz Compleaños!
Feliz aniversário!
Happy Birthday!

Family Vacations

New York, New York!

Top of the Empire State Building

Hot dogs at the MET

Rockefeller Center

Segovia, Spain

Madrid, Spain

One big Spanish Family

Europe

The Sound of Music Tour in Austria!

Italian Adventures

England

Best Friends

It's Time to move!

2010-11-08T15:34:00.001-07:00

Time's UP!

... Here at the library there is a little timer up in the left hand corner that is pergressively getting closer to zero. Everytime I log in my heart starts to beat faster and my senses are both hightend and frazzled. BLAH. It's a horible feeling to watch it count down until the enevitable moment when... Times up! and everything goes black.

I Kind of feel like that here in California. Last week I had the feeling that it was going to be my last week in Fremont. Well I was right. ...Except I was also wrong. My president called the Travel Office to talk to my good friend Liz, and found out that because I just submitted the last part of the Visa application they don't expect to receive the Visa for about another 4-6 weeks! -Isn't that crazy?! Well he called me back and said that since I'll probably be here for a while still, he wanted to let me see a little bit more of the mission. So I'm being Transferred! I'll be going to Santa Clara/Sunny veil area. My new companion's name will be Sister Tiaua -From Samoa! I'm excited to have a bit of a change but it is a sad thing to be leaving Good ol' Central Park. Sister Rajan will be receiving a new Sister straight from the MTC and will be training her.

Today we had a fun experience of going to the transfer meeting for all the Elders down at the mission Office.I asked for special permission even though our transfers wont be until Wednesday. I loved it. I wanted to because I feel like I've been here long enough to have been actually called here but it wouldn't be complete without at least one of those under my belt. A bunch of the Elders look at me and laugh and ask "Are you REALLY still here?!" "Have they changed your call yet?" I laugh along with them because it is kind of bizzar. I got a letter from my dad that said "Wow, you're almost a full forth done with your mission and in a way it hasn't even started yet." (or something like that) He's kind of right. But I've learned many times before that I'm not in charge of anything so I just go with it... (Julie Butler and I would always say that 'China is for the Flexible' -Well, So are missions So we just keep going)

This week was really good. I started out feeling sad and lonely and kind of lost. I didn't feel like I had really connected with anyone while I was here or that anyone would probably even remember me when I left. It was another one of those times when I was trying to figure out who the "Missionary Me" was. Was I supost to be a totally different person? Was I supost to act in a totally different way? I really didn't want to have to give up the little things that I felt made me me in order to be what I see as the Cardboard Cutout Missionary. All these things were on my mind and wieghing me down a lot. We went out to dinner with some members in the ward. -Young Couple, they have a little girl, he's in the Army and looks pretty intimidating at first glance. It was a quiet Dinner at first but then the conversation turned to Disney... :) -To my utter surprize and elation he was about as big of a fan as I was! (That NEVER happens!) We ended up talking about the wait list for club 33 and the different movies that are in the vault right now and our love for the Shurman Brothers! -go ahead, call me what you will but I was SOOO happy by the end. -and Funny enough, it made me even more excited to go out and share the message of the restored Gospel. -It's funny how God works like that. That aptment had been moved around a few times and finally worked out. On the right day.

I heard a great talk today that really made me laugh. It was about not being, as my dad would say sometimes, a Fence sitter. It's really funny when we are walking down the road and talking to people and they say that they are not religious or that they try to be open minded to all things -When in fact they have no interest at all and are only hearing Charlie Browns Teacher- the quote was "I never had to put religion out of my mind. I was so open-minded that it fell out." It was a great talk about how No one can be saved in ignorance, indecision, or indifference. I liked it.

Well, Once again Hope everyone is doing well!

Love

Sister Robson

Pictures from Chelsea

2010-11-07T21:52:00.004-07:00

Here are a few pics that Chelsea sent...

Here is Chelsea with her companion, Sister Rajan, who is from India

Chelsea's birthday in their little apartment

At the Temple (Oakland I think!)

Cute kids that were just baptized

Sister Johnson, who was also reassigned to San Jose and just got her visa to Brazil! Let's hope Chelsea is next!

A few pics of her last days at the Mission Training Center...

Here is Chelsea with her MTC companion, Sister Gee. They had such a great time together!

Here are the other missionaries headed to Brazil

First San Jose, then Hopefully Brazil...soon!!!

Don Beto

2010-11-04T00:01:00.003-07:00

I have so many memories of me and Uncle Bobby. One liners galore, imaginary worlds, reading stories, Roller-bladding, theatre, and hours upon hours upon hours of singing in the basement. (why so many hours? that's what happens when you don't get it right.) I'm afraid to know what my life would be without him. I'm not going to think about it... Moving on. It's amazing but Bobby has always been aware of the little things. Believe me, he throws in big time -amazing- things, but when it comes down to it, with everyone he meets he builds a strong foundation on the little things. Just being there... just being. I can't even begin to thank him for that. He is who he is and is loved by all. Thank you. I love you. Thank you.

Expired

2010-11-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Visa Info: My last bunch of paper work expired so I had to go into the office and do an online portion. I take this as good news. This means that we have 30 days until I have to do it again! My guess is that I will leave on or about the 8th of November but since when have I ever been right about this type of thing?

So Life in California is pretty cool. --Literally. But no one else seems to thing so. I go around in my big puffy jacket and others ask If I'm going to Alaska. Gotta love the heat. :)

So we got to teach one of my favorite people this week. Dee is the friend of Roe who is the Mother of Arron and Arianna who go baptised in August. She is Native American and also from Arizona. We all swap stories of the bitter cold temperatures here and our sneers to those who rain from places like Utah and say "What are you talking about?! this isn't cold!" and then they ask how we are able to handle the heat... All I know is that I have never had to Shovel Heat. and then in my mind stick out my tongue and think "So There!" But anyway... Wow I can get on to tangents! ~ So We got to teach Dee and she is so great. She had been present at almost all the lessons that we had had with the kids but never wanted to participate. That was fine but then she finally said that we could share are message with her alone! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation or the Plan of Happiness. It's our Heavenly Father's Plan for us. That We are His children and that we can return to live with him again with our families. My favorite part was when I told here that She was a daughter of God and He loves here. Her eyes just opened up and you could literally see the spirit touch her heart. We asked if she knew that what we had said was true and she said that she did. She also said that she would be baptised. :) She wants to have that feeling all the time.

Teaching the Plan of Happiness is one of my favorites. It's the knowledge that we have a path. That we can become better and have peace.

It's a Big part of why I do what I do.

-Love to all!

-Chelsea

Happy Birthday To Rustin!

2010-10-29T00:01:00.004-07:00

Rustin!

I can not believe that you are another year older! You are such a big boy now!

Here are just a few things that I love about Rustin Robert Robson

10. I love his smile. It's so sweet and yet so crafty all at the same time.

9. I love his sense of adventure

8. I love that he is such a good big brother

7. I love that he writes me letters

6. I love his focus

5. I love that he is so smart (He get's that from my side) ;)

4. I love that he let's me tickle him

3. I love watching him play on the zip line

2. I love watching movies with him

1. I love that he loves me. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! -Eat some cake for me down here in Brazil!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

So It is fall and I was musing about what that used to mean to me back in the day...

I go back to an old Journal entry in my mind and remember when 'back home on the ranch' we used to do a Haunted Hayride. It was really an awesome tradition that I always enjoyed. We would get dressed up in costumes and terrorize people as they went through with Characters called the Swamp Thing -a couple of swamp creatures that came out of no where and "stole" a kid from off the back of the wagon as a ransom for entering "The land of the Dead." Bony was a skeleton's head that would talk and narrate the whole thing as you went along -It was a tape of my dad talking that was sped up just enough to add an extra effect. We, the kids, were always involved and always worked really hard every night RUNNING from one place to another being the different characters. In my journal I wrote about a time when I was RUNNING around with my dad Setting it all up. I think that direct quote was "Like a chicken with his head cute off" -Good Times. He always had these in depth visions of how it would be and every year we were always working on the trail for a full week before and up until the very last minuet. I have so many great memories of Halloween that I will have to share at a later date but This week this came to my mind when I was working on pulling off this Multi-cultural Musical Event. Except this time I was running around with Sister Rajan. We likewise had an in-depth vision of how it was going to go and once again we had been running until the last min. It really well in the end and everyone left happy so I guess I am my father's daughter... Love to all! have a great Halloween and be safe!

-Me

The song in my head.

2010-10-18T14:05:00.001-07:00

Hello World!

Well this week has been a great success. (Two thumbs Way way up!) We were able to teach many amazing people. As I've said before Fremont is very Multi Cultural. Levinia and her family are from Fiji and they just came here a few months ago. They are very humble and inherently spiritual people. They grew up Methodist and we have really come to love them. They make great food as well! Perla is from Guadalajara and Grew up Catholic. She's 25 and has always felt open to learning more about religion and asks great questions on Baptism and is really searching to know if the Book of Mormon is true. I love lessons with her. She has a very comforting demeanor. Sabrina is a Muslim from Algeria. She speaks 4 languages and is also very spiritual. Sunny and Jamie are from Srilanka and Vietnam, respectively. According to Jamie Sunny has been in the US a long time and is very "White-washed" I loved that lesson... We asked him if he would read the Book of Mormon and he Looked at us and then at the Quadruple combination (4 Books of scripture including the bible in one binding) that Sister Rajan was holding with a very intimidated look and said "I can't promise that... that's not the Book of Mormon... That's the BRICK of Mormon!"

We also met with Ben from the good old -US of A that I talked about a few weeks ago.

I love seeing how the Gospel resonates with all types of people from all different backgrounds... As Rev. Lovejoy said it "Whether they be Christian, Jew, or ...Miscellaneous...

Apu: Hindu! -there are 7 hundred Million of us!

Rev.: Well that's Super."

They are hoping to have an Indian branch here in the next 3 years and so we work with Indians all over the Zone. We get to meet so many wonderful people. Right now we spend a lot of time with our friend who's name no one can pronounce so we just call him Uncle. He is in his 70's and is such a nice man. As well as with Nitten and Rungoli, a young couple in whom I hove. It's pretty awesome.

...and that is all this week.

We are working really hard to get the Musical Event set up on top of all that. It's been pretty cool. ....Now I just have to find a Portuguese translation of "It's a small world after all." and We'll be all set!

Love you all.

Go out and make a new friend this week! It makes everyone happier!

-Chelsea

Let there be Music!

2010-10-11T14:39:00.001-07:00

Hello Beautiful People!

I can say that because, if you are reading this, then it's a given that you look that much better!

How are we? :)

Well things are going really well out here. We've got some really fun things going on. At the end of the last transfer our District Leader mentioned having a Stake Musical Fireside. I -of course- was totally happy about that and asked to be included on the preparations. Well they made a call to the Stake president (the area leader for the church) and was trying to come up with basic info. We didn't know if anything was set in stone and then my district leader was transferred. We didn't know what to expect so we just shelved it in our minds until last week when our Zone Leader called and wanted more information on the whole thing. ...Um, ok I guess the torch was passed. So, now Sister Rajan and I have been coming up with an outline. It's been quite easy actually. We put out a message through the zone and all the missionaries that could/wanted to perform are now going to. This is a very unique area because of it's diversity so all the different languages will be represented by the missionaries. Sister Rajan is translating a song into Hindi and the Spanish, ASL, and Chinese will all have their own song as well. I'm going to be lame and sing "I Stand All Amazed" in just plain old English but will represent the Portuguese at the finale. We are planning on having a lot of video from apostles and the prophet in between. I'm excited. :) For a preveiw of some of the videos just check out some of the "Mormon Messages" on YouTube. (I love when most of the work is already done for you... ;) ) The whole event will be based around the Savior Jesus Christ.

In other news Sister Johnson and another Brazilian bound got their Visas and are on their way to Brazil as I type. This would create a since of uncertainty as to question whether I will even be here for this event but I'm pretty confident I will. -But hey, I've been wrong before so who knows. As it is, here I am and I will plan accordingly.

Love to all!

Chelsea

Beef... It's what's for dinner

2010-10-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

Well it hasn't been too long since you've heard from me. That's because last week was General Confrence and our preparation date was moved to Wednesday because we got to go up to the Temple in Oakland -A beautiful expeirence- and everything got all messed up. But we're back on track!

If you missed the world-wide broadcast it was wonderful and I would REALLLY recomend you looking it up at www.lds.org or at www.byu.tv

We got to go to the church building to watch all the sessions. Our building was the only one showing it so we ended up having all the missionaries in the zone there as well. ...19 all together. It looked like a convention for the MIB... until you got to the sisters. Sister Rajan wore purple and I wore brown just to be difficult.

It was nice again to get to hear from a bunch of you over my birthday! Natalie forwarded me all the Facebook comments. It's nice to see so many friendly faces wishing me well. Lisa Shideler, Lisa Marie Wade, Whitney Prince, Monica Siegel, Blair Allison, and all others... I would LOVE to recieve a letter. yes that is right... I'm calling you out. :)

Feeling good this week. We got to go to Costco today. A member took us and I was rememinded how much I love costco. Who ever invented "Free Samples" will probably be my friend in Heaven. My only problem is that most of the things they give out are things that I've just learned that I shouldn't eat. The same member looked online for food choices based on blood types and while most blood types aren't all that picky apparently I am. For Blood Type Bs the things to stay away from are corn, wheat, buckwheat, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds. oh.. and Chicken. -This will deffinately be interesting we eat dinner at a lot of the members homes and that's about half of what they feed us out here. :p Sad day. I always prided myself on the fact that I wasn't a very picky eater. Oh well. Here's to good health!

-Love you!

Happy Birthday Saylor!

2010-10-03T00:01:00.003-07:00

Dear Saylor,

You are 4 years old! What a big girl! You are beautiful and a sweetheart. :) I love your big hugs. They have always made me smile. Have all of your brothers give you a BIG hug for me! Take a picture and smile big for me and remember that I love you!

Love
Aunt Chelsea

Uncle Jared

2010-09-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

To the best uncle-doctor around!
This is me wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

Love, Chelsea

Me and the girls

2010-09-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's party Time!

Let's Celebrate!

Lovely Gigi!

2010-09-26T00:01:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Gigi!

I'm so glad that I get to celebrate my Birthday next to you! I love playing with you! You're such a sweet little girl and are so polite. I love your curls and you big beautiful smile!

Love you!
Aunt Chelsea

No Capes!

2010-09-20T13:49:00.001-07:00

I just got done washing our car this morning and then proceeded to vacuum. I came to a sharp remembrance of the movie "The Incredibles" when my scarf got sucked in and nearly chocked me to death.

Hello Family and Friends!

I hope that my life here is entertaining enough for you all. I only tell you these moments because they happen too frequently to ignore them.

This week had been very good we got to teach a lot of our favorite people and new ones as well. I can't believe that I am almost done with a full transfer out here in CA. It's been 5 Weeks since I got here. -That is crazy. They do a really cool thing out here when a missionary is about to go home. They have a mission wide outgoing fireside where missionaries perform songs and the the ones going home tell their testimonies. On the way there we were with one of the members and she is from Taiwan and started teaching us some Chinese. It made me so happy. I love China. My companion, Sister Rajan, and I got to sing "Where Can I Turn for Peace" out of the book that Bobby sent me way back when. -I've been able to put it to good use so thank you Producer Bob. ;) It was really fun.

-One thing that really made me happy was that two weeks ago my favorite Sister Johnson was reassigned here as well! Every time we see each other at a mission wide something or other everyone thinks that we are the weirdest ever because we both about jump out of our skins and start running to each other and hug for like five minuets. We did this last night and I guess there were a few people that we almost ran over. (Out of my way Porcupine!) We talk about Brazil and how we are both still looking to teach more in Portugese and how amazing it is when we get to find anyone who can understand what we say. I don't think about it much during my normal day. It is always in the back of my mind but during the night I was so grateful that I had been given a chance to serve here. I am looking forward to going to Brazil eventually but I'm enjoying it here as well.

Hope life is going well!

-Chelsea

Tender Hearted

2010-09-13T14:12:00.001-07:00

I woke up about 2 days ago with extra vim and vigor than I normally do so I decided that I would actually use my exercise band. I love those things and was thinking fondly of my P90X days and got excited. the band has this piece of fabric that looks like a rope on a door stop that you use to hang is conveniently from the top of the door. I set it all up and started going at it. I was doing frontward rows and feeling good. Problem... I didn't deadbolt the door after I started so on one of my pulls the door opened and the door stop snapped forward and hit me square in the chest. This is the first day I've been able to wear a necklace. I'm hoping to be more blessed because of my "Tenderness of Heart"

We have a lot of really cool people we are teaching right now, here in the central park area. Tomorrow is our first lesson with Jim and Ben. They are neighbors. Ben is single and Jim is married to Tabatha. They are colorful chaps. We met them while tracting well actually we were just walking and Ben popped out of no where. He started asking me what I was doing -Expecting me to start into some sales skeem or something. I started a small conversation with him and explained that I was a missionary. "oh ok are you passing thing out? I'll take one..." Sure thing. He started saying that he had been to another ward with a friend of his but that he didn't feel like he heard anything that we was looking for. I asked what he was looking for. "Oh, I guess something more spiritual and not so structured... Maybe I shouldn't be going for an actual church than..." I told him that the thing that makes us different is the book of Mormon, he said that he had one and so I said he should probably read it. That- if nothing else he would learn what it says. He thought about it and then, saying he wasn't interested, referred us to Jim.

Jim is a mechanic who's father was a christian preacher. He says that he doesn't like hypocrisy so he doesn't follow the people "in the Church." We talked to Jim and he asked if Mormons were aloud to have 27 wives. Well he actually said "If I become a Mormon can I have 27 wives?" Feeling like I could get away with it, I looked him straight in the eye and said "I don't think you could handle 27 wives..." He got a kick out of that and we are now good friends. We met them again while we were walking down to a dinner appointment with a member family and the Princess of Tonga... (though we didn't know that at the time) They were surprised to see us thinking that the missionaries only come by ever 6 months. Ben mention that he had been reading the Book of Mormon and Jim asked for a copy saying that he would read it on his fishing trip this weekend. -Mostly because he was feeling like he should keep up with his friend. -Hey, What ever gets you reading. :)

Hope all is well this week! Love you all!

"Shootin' the Breeze"

2010-09-09T13:29:00.005-07:00

Sister Rajan and I were winding down. It was 8:15 in the evening and we were on our last string of houses. We had been knocking on doors for awhile and not sure how much longer we could keep going before we were totally out of light. We walked along the path and up to a very fluffy cat just sitting on the fence, waiting to be pet. I scratched his head and then glanced up the walk. The light was on and the front door was open. Sister Rajan and I looked at each other, mentally saying that this was the last one tonight. We walked up to the door, stepping over garden tools, and knocked on the screen door. A nice looking lady came to the door and we started in our our normal introduction. We told her we were missionaries and that we had a message to share. She replied back in a very pretty Irish accent saying, "Oh wow, you're out kind of late...It's getting dark. My that's hard to try to convert people in this heat. It was over 100 today. Would you like something to drink?" Sister Rajan replied yes. It had been warm the last few days but it was nothing compared to what I was used to in Arizona, but these Northern California people had different expectations of summer it seemed. The woman walked away and into the kitchen. I thought I heard her say "Come in girls", but I couldn't be sure and instead of risking it we stayed out on the porch.

She brought us some glasses and just started talking to us like friends. She was in her early 30's, tall and thin, and very relaxed. She leaned back on a couch behind her.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

"Oh Sisters, I'm from Dublin and I'm Catholic" (when she said it you could almost see her count the generations in her head) "So yeah, I'm just shootin' the breeze with you here."

"Oh really? That's really cool. Well, I'm from Arizona and she's from India." Our friend blinked.

"Well I'll be...you've come all the way out here haven't you..." We smiled and nodded our heads. "Well, your parents must be kind of worried about you, so far away and all."

I laughed slightly but Sister Rajan said, thinking of her family, "No, my family doesn't take much notice."

"Oh well, I know about your church and how you have to do a mission and all so at least you've come someplace nice."

"No, actually, we don't have to do this at all," Sister Rajan said. "Boys are not forced, though they are kind of expected to serve, but girls have no pressure."

"Well that's cool. It's nice to see that you've found something that speaks to you."

I took another sip of water and felt my heart pull. I wanted Sister Rajan to tell her story, though I was sure she would never volunteer. So I did what any good companion would do. "Yeah," I said, "You should hear her story, it's amazing!" Then I took another sip and drank very slowly.

Sister Rajan paused and I'm sure her stomach just turned but she gave in. "Well," she began slowly, "I was born and raised in India as a Hindu but I ended up going to a Catholic school. It was expensive so after graduating from High School, I did not go to school for a year. I was a good student and did really well so the nuns didn't want me to leave. They decided to sponsor my fees.

"Well that's nice," our friend said. "I'm sure knowing how expensive that would be."

"Yes, but my father suspected that I had converted and was threatening to throw me out. We belonged to the highest caste in the Hindu religion. So that was unacceptable. He wouldn't believe me and asked me to leave my home, so I left. In India to leave your home without being married is considered a scandal, so when my school found out, they cancelled my sponsorship." Our friend and I both listened as she continued. "Hindus believe that 'All paths lead to God' , so God is really whatever you want Him to be. Well, I kind of adopted Him as my Father. I knew that I hadn't done anything wrong, so I knew God would protect me. I was still only 19 and totally on my own. I started working to pay my bills and was living in a hostel. Then my uncle agreed to help me pay my school fees. He was the leader of a Hindu organization that he wanted me to join. I wanted to learn and explore more. I've read the Bible, parts of the Karan, and really looked into almost every other major belief. I felt good about this 'Jesus', but I wasn't close to being baptized into anything. This was all just 3 years ago." She paused.

"Wow, so how did you find this church?"

"Well, while I was living in the hostel, I made a friend that was a Christian. She saw the missionaries walking around and asked them what they were doing. They said they were teaching about Jesus Christ and asked if she wanted to learn more. She said no. They asked if she knew anyone who did, and, without asking me or anything, she gave them my name and number."

"No! That's crazy!" Our friend said incredulously.

"Yes." Sister Rajan said with a smile. "They called me and I was confused but, thinking my friend wanted me to join her for moral support, I agreed to listen after my finals were over. My friend ended up declining entirely, but I decided I might as well listen. It really is amazing how they found me because in India missionaries are only allowed to teach Christians and are not allowed to knock doors. So, had I not left my home, I never would have found it."

"Well that really is amazing. What made the difference for you between this church and all the rest?" The whole time our friend had been watching my companion with anticipation. I was watching them both. Sister Rajan looked at her and said, "It was the Book of Mormon. The Karan, the Gita, and others, they were all interesting reads but there was something about this Jesus Christ that I could feel was true--the same way I'm sure you can feel the Bible is true." Our friend nodded in agreement. My companion paused and then continued, "When I read the Book of Mormon I felt like I found more proof. I prayed and...I just knew that it was true."

Our friend nodded her head but replied sincerely, "That's wonderful that you found something that speaks to you. Not everyone finds that."

Sister Rajan looked into her eyes and said, "Not everyone asks with a sincere heart and an intent to act..." Our friend lowered her eyes and you could see her thinking. Her eyebrows raised in real agreement and said, "You're right, they don't."

As I watched her, I remembered her comment earlier about her heritage. She turned back to us with a polite smile as I added, "I know that what she said is true. I have received that same witness in my life and that is why I am here as well."

"I'd like to invite you to read the Book of Mormon and ask for yourself," Sister Rajan added. Our friend was polite, and she said she would look into it as we handed her a Book of Mormon.

It was 8:45 PM by this time and completely dark. We needed to be getting home. We thanked her for her complete generosity and gave her back the glasses. She thanked us for our time and stories then kindly told us to be safe. We smiled and returned down the walkway, stepping over the garden tools and petting the cat that hadn't moved from his perch.

I hope to see our friend again. You never really know in this line of work. There are so many factors that play in, but we can hope and we can do everything in our power to share what we know to be true...

I think He's been laughing at me.

2010-09-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Well this week has been great! Aside from the normal ins and outs of mission life teaching and finding -which was quite good on it's own- Today I've been thinking a lot on God's Humor. -He's pretty funny when you think about it but I also think that sometimes he looks down on me and just shakes His head and laughs.

1. Sister Rajan likes it cold at night. -I'm not so much a fan. Especially since I don't have a proper blanket. In my packet of what to bring only said to bring a pillow cover, flat sheet, and a fitted sheet. So I did, and packed the rest of my bags to the brim accordingly. Well here in San Jose they had a different list which included a pillow and normal blanket. I lost my travel pillow in the SLC Airport and so I got here and was without the necessities of a good nights sleep. I had to improvise. So I piled up my cloths and used that as a pillow. I then put on all the winter cloths that I had (Thank goodness for those MTC Sweatpants!) My feet were still cold at night so I would put my feet in the arms of my winter coat and then add the flatt sheet on top.

It was a long weekend.

We finally got a pillow at the store but I didn't want to buy a blanket just to have to leave it behind when I go. So That is basically how I've been sleeping the last 3 weeks. (Now you're laughing at me...)

I was ok with it but there were thoughts of trying to find a new blanket from the office or something but just never got around to it. Well, last night it wasn't cold in the apartment so I decided to not got through all those extremes. Well around 4 this morning I woke up Freezing because Sister Rajan had changed the thermostat before she went to bed. I had to get up and go though that whole thing again. *sigh* I was really wishing I had a blanket.

Well here's where God tells me He loves me:

Last week we met a Brazilian family while we were tracting! -Apparently only 2 in the whole area- We talked to the husband at the door and he said that they weren't interested. He spoke perfect English but had a slight accent. -I wasn't paying much attention to it but Sister Rajan asked where they were from and when he said Brazil I about exploded inside. :) I told him my sob story (I might have over dramatised it a bit for the sell- but what ever works-haha) and asked if I could come back and teach them the lessons -if only for practice- and he said sure and to come back and I could talk to his wife. We did and she and I became fast friends. We got a return appointment and I taught her the first lesson this morning. :D It was great! Then she takes us back into her office and asks if we knew anyone who wanted some old stuff that she was getting rid of because they didn't have any more space. She pulls out this big bag full of blankets and all! -Complete with a quilt that she got from her grandma in Brasil! It was at this point that the vision of God came into my head. :)

So all and all, a good day.

Hope all is well on the home front!

-Siser Robson

PS -God Loves you too. :)

The week that lasted 10 years

2010-08-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hello to ALL!

Well this has been a great week. It's funny because it really does feel like I've been here forever. Sister Rajan and I always talk about how it never seems like we have only been together for so short of time. When I hit my one week mark we just stared at each other in disbelief. Life is great here. We get up early and we knock doors for about and hour or so a day we also talk to everyone we meet. We try and teach a lesson at least 2 times a day. We found a new investigator this week and we had 2 baptisms this week! Aaron and Arianna are 11 and 9 and were so happy. Pictures will come eventually. I'm really excited about this area. Sister Rajan and I talk every morning about how we know that it is just on the verge of an explosion. It's really cool to teach here. It's the melting pot. It's cool to have so much diversity. I'm still looking for Portuguese but none yet. I Study that everyday for an hour but there's only so much you can do on your own. I'm trying to get the word out through the other missionaries in our area that -just on the off chance they run into someone who speaks it to call us up. In the mean time I'm going to have Sister Rajan teach me how to do a contact in Hindi. -and possibly Manderine from the Elders. :) Dad asked for some of those new fangled moving pictures to show so when we get it down I'll send it. :) No visa news yet. I'm thinking I'll probably be here for about a month. -Or at least I hope I am. I'd like to finish up this transfer here.

As far as things go at home Natalie set it up so that I get all the comments you post on these. (Thing is so does everyone else so keep it clean. ;) ) It was great to hear from Nicki and Stephanie... though I'm not sure which Stephanie it is but to answer your question I don't know the name. I'm in Fremont right now. I'm so proud of Marisa! And... Daniel Ray needs to write me ASAP. Random but some other people I was thing about this week were James Ray and Bronson. Shout out to them as well as all the others that I love!

Loves!

Chelsea

Birthdays!

2010-08-27T00:01:00.003-07:00

Jaxson!

I'm not sure if you know this but I love you! -Well I HOPE you know that! You're such a fun person and a great friend. There's nothing that you can't do! You have a great personality and are very loyal. It's fun to watch you play with your little brother and sister. You are a wonderful big brother!

Love you!
Chelsea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aunt Kathy!
I'm so grateful for your influence in the family. You've always been such a pillar of strength to us all. You do so much for everyone. You are also a pleasure to talk to. -One of my favorites in fact- Hope this is a good day for you!

Love you,
Chelsea

I'm goin' back to Cali...

2010-08-23T14:08:00.001-07:00

I found myself singing that song quite abit last week. :)

HELLO!!!!! ALLL!!!!!

What a great week it's been. I'm here in San Jose (And, no, I don't really know the way...) I got here on Thursday moring. One funny thing was that I ran into President Cregg of the Tempe Mission (well he was over that until 6 weeks ago when he was released but that was fun to get to talk to him for a bit.) On the way off he said... "Here's hoping someone's here to pic you up!" -I was hoping the same thing. They told me no more than 24 hours beforehand that I was leaving. I was the only one going there and all I got was a plane ticket. Luckily I was able to look up the picture of the President at the MTC the night before. I was picking up my luggage when I saw President and Sister Jackson running in the doors looking for me. It was a happy time. I spent most of my first day filling out forms in the office so I could be a driver. (That's right all! I got myslef some wheels! Red Carola I feel pretty cool.) My new Compainion is Sister Rajan (it's like Raja, the tiger from Aladin but with an "N") :) She's straigh from India and has only been a member for about 3 years. Her example is just amazing. We went out to lunch with them and then came back and did a bit of trainging in his office. It was great. (We spent a lot of time there getting adjustied to some new training that they just rolled out.) I'm really excited to have them as my Mission Presidents.My family should be recieving a letter with pictures soon... you should expect a post on that eventually. They are from Mesa as well and had been to the ranch before. -It'll be fun to get together with them after the mission. It was wierd but a few hours later I started developing a bit of a head cold and though it didn't hinder the word really, I find it incredible annoying because I am compleatly without a voice. It's actually pretty pethetic but who knows maybe the fact that people have to listen really well to hear me will work out to be a good object lesson or something... "Listen to the proptings of the Holy Ghost!"

The very next day we had a mission wide confreance with 6 members of the 70 there. It was pretty epic. It's been really fun here and even though I've only been here abut 4 full days, I feel like I've always been here. -Sister Rajan feels the same. It's a great little area around here. We talk to people from everywhere: India, China, Mexico, and the random American in the pile. We have a baptism this weekend and are really excited. Aaron and Ariana, 11 and 9 -repectfully, are getting baptised on Satuday. We are trying to get all the primary involed. They are from Arizona as well so It's almost like I haven't left. :)

Well Love to all and hope all goes well back on the farm. See you next Monday!

Cami-lou, I see you!

2010-08-22T00:01:00.001-07:00

Cami!

I can't believe it has been over year already since our work-out buddy days. Those were some good times! Cami, it's such a joy to get to know you better and better. I'm so grateful Randy found you and that you're apart of our growing family! We've laughed together and cried together. When Life goes up and down we always know that family is there for us. I always loved being able to hang out with you. You're beautiful inside and out and you two make great kids. I can't wait to see where the future goes from here!

Love you!
Chelsea

She's been reassigned!!! (Temporarily)

2010-08-19T07:13:00.003-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen: After 9 1/2 weeks in the MTC, she has finally "left the building". Until Chelsea gets her visa, she will be serving the in the California, San Jose mission. She got the news last night and left at 5 AM this morning! Talked to her from the airport and she is excited for the adventure! Her Portuguese sounds great, but not sure what she'll speak in California. Maybe Spanish or just English. Hopefully her visa will come soon, but until then, she's a California Girl :) We'll keep you posted. As soon as I get her contact info, I'll let you know so you can write her.

Natalie

Happy Friday The 13th!

2010-08-13T14:01:00.001-07:00

Hello!!!!!

So one thing that I want to point out is what a difference a week makes! Last week was super stressful but today I'm completely the opposite.

It's been a good day.

On the way back from the Temple today, Sister Johnson and I stopped off to do so shopping in the MTC Bookstore. -Normally there isn't much in there that I would need or want BUT for the last 2 months they did have a pair of nice sweat pants that I have wanted. It really was the only thing that I wanted as a souvenir from my time here in Provo and I've been asking for them EVERYother day. No one ever knows anything about them. But today They had them! IN MY SIZE! I was super happy. then we went to lunch and I got a good salad but then on the far side I went over and found Salmon! It gave me good feelings of Daddy so I got that. I was fat and happy. :) On the way out we stopped my the travel office... Hint they have otter pops there. :) and I talked to the Brazilian Girl who works there -just checking to see if she was looking for me. (I ask about every other day) She wasn't but then we noticed on the far wall with all the clocks from around the world and saw that the Saul Paul Clock wasn't working... We shared that we were sure that that was the reason the Visas hadn't come. They said they would get on that. We started talking to the head lady there and she shared that this was probably the worst it has ever been as far as Visas go in her 19 years. -that made us feel better. but then she said that next week she is going to put all our names in for reassignments. she said that she would have done it this week but that she already had to do about a 100 from Mexico and that her boss asked to wait on us poor 13 brazi8l bound missionaries. She DID share that she could've just sent me because I am the only sister going in for reassignment and there is a Mission President out there somewhere that needed a sister Desperately. She didn't because she knew that if she had sent me out and no one else the Elders would flip. (It's true) -Anyway, she didn't know where it was -it could be anywhere! So if I don't get my visa this week I will be going there the next. Where Do you think it is? Send me a Dear Elder with your guess. Fast, because you wont be able to after I leave.

Another reason this week was good was that even though we got off on a slippery slop last week, Solo Sister status is working out much better this week. A teacher challenged us to teach 20 lessons in a week. the record in our district is 15. We have been working hard and teaching about 2 to 3 lesson a day. It's been great. I had a lot of really good moments with them. When you are working hard doing the thing that you love, the time just flies. I love being able to teach right out of the Book of Mormon. It's so amazing how much power comes out of that one book. -Even in Portuguese. Every time I open it, I can just feel the truth when I Read. I love being able to promise people that if they do read with an open mind and pray about it with a real intent to do something with the answer you get, You WILL get an answer. - Can you even read that and not feel something?! I can't.

I love you all and I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of where I am going!

Oh and go to www.Mormon.org you can go to the "Our People" part and search for me. It's pretty cool.

-Chelsea

ps. Pictures to come and... Mark? Are you still alive?

Hey Solo Sistah!

2010-08-06T12:57:00.001-07:00

So the day has finally come... "I'm all alone, there's no one here beside me... " Sister G left me. Wednesday was her original departure date. We were running all around trying to get her off. She left and I was all alone. Really I was ok with it all and I knew and felt that I would be ok. She was gone for about 12 hours and then she showed up again. There was a rain storm that day and so her plane couldn't leave so she came back. When I saw her again she was telling me the whole story and I wasn't even listening I just wanted to Hug her. Being with her for 6 weeks and then having to be with Elders was a hard day and I didn't even realize it until I saw her again. We embraced and had a really nice night just going through pictures of these last few weeks. I am Really going to miss her.

We had made a lot of friends with some of the senior Missionaries (and even some of the MTC Presidency. We had a joke going on that if she ever got sent home it would be for hugging a grandpa) and so we set up a time to meet at the guiant map and she would play and I Would sing for our "Farewell Concert" It was a lot of fun I have some pictures that I'll be sending home eventually... The next morning she left for real and I haven't seen her since. I am now partnered up with two Elders. Elders Grassie and Henry, from Las Vegas and Idaho, repectfully. They are really nice and try to be considerate... but I'm going to lie. It's a difficult exchange. Sister G and I got along really well and worked really hard. We tried to always be busy. We had a little Pow wow last night me and the Elders trying to figure out scedules and work of problems that there have been in the companionship and then end with a nice happy "aren't we glad to be together" moment. (It was a struggle...) Apparently Elder Henry put me with in his companionship because he wanted to work a little harder and thought that I would be able to set the pace. (awe that's nice... but then he said I talk too much. Yep, We're making friends aren't we!) If you know the personality scale he is a very high D that rarely talks. While the other is a C that loves people. Totally opposite and now I'm suposed to calm down the waters. So... yeah. This should be interesting. I am really wanting to work hard so that will hopefully come to past but I'm looking forward to getting to where ever I am going to go. But until then Here I am. YAY! :)

In Other news Luckily I have an amazing set of roommates. Sister Grecko was a piano major and will be playing with me come sunday during Relief Sociaty. With all the craziness of the visas there are no 3 Solo sisters in our area and so I get to hang out with them on Prep Days and at night in the residance Halls. Sis Johnson is my Companion today. We are happy about that. :)

Well To all my fantastic family, hope all is well and that the beach was fun. To All my friends, I'm really glad that I have you in my life. Even though It's going to be a while until I see you again, It's nice to remeber how you make me feel. Love you!

Chelsea

Happy Birthday Ben!

2010-08-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ben!

So, I decided that I'm going to tell you something that I don't think that I've ever told you. Nat's probably not going to be happy I'm bringing it up but she'll forgive. Back in the day when she was with the other guy I was about Ethan's age. Now I grew up in a world full of movies and overly-dramatized stories; I think that is why my imagination went a little wild. So I remember meeting "what's-his-face" and getting a weird feeling. I was always a little uncomfortable around him. I remember thinking "I don't like him. I need to sabotage this whole thing. (Home Alone Style Perhaps? hmmm...I'm not sure.)" -Now, I never actually did anything because I knew this wasn't the movies and my mom would've actually killed me. So, when I got the news that they were no longer together, I was happy.

A while later I remember hearing that a new guy was coming to visit. I remember meeting you and liking you. You were fun. You were just like one of the brothers. I remember my friend Mikey and I playing a game or something with you during an afternoon. I'm not sure if that was the time that we all went to the snow, but maybe it was. All I really remember is later playing with Mikey and us both expressing our approval of you. I told him "I like Ben, I hope they get married. With the other guy, I felt like I had to find a way to stop it, but I didn't feel like that with him... It must be right."

She never did ask me what I thought, a common folly amongst older siblings around that time. I'm glad, however, that Natalie was able to make the right decision, despite not asking for my 12 year old opinion. ;)

Love you Ben!
You rock.

-Love you Nat. haha

Grandpa Russ

2010-07-31T00:05:00.001-07:00

-Or just 'Grandpa' to me-

I love my grandpa. He is one of the nicest men I've ever met. He's also one of the funniest. He likes to get a rise out of people when they are least expecting it. Every time I would go over to his house I would always get a laugh. One day he said that he was going to call mission headquarters and tell them that what we really needed in the Mission was a bit of press. So instead of walking everywhere or driving cars around we needed to have an old fashioned motorcycle with side cars. (Of course we would have the gloves, goggles, and driving scarves to go with it.) On the front would say "Make Room for the Mormons" and on the back "Follow me to the Pearly Gates" haha I was laughing all the way home.

My grandparents are some of the most admirable people in the world. Married for 60+ years, part of the Greatest Generation, and the builders a strong legacy of faith.

Russell & Marjorie Madsen

Santiago Chile Temple Presidency

May 1990

I've always known that I stand on the shoulders of spiritual giants.
Love you Grandpa and Grandma.

What's the Plan Stan?

2010-07-30T17:17:00.001-07:00

That seems to be the question of the day.
Visas.

What is Sister [H]obson going to do? -Well I'll tell you what's going on. Last week 54 Visa's came in! ...And not one of them had my name on it! Yahoo! A lot of them were from previous missionaries who were on reassignment. It had been about a month since anyone got their visas so a lot of people got re-assigned to various locals across these great United States. Some to NY (Waves Hi to Julie!) some to Nashville (Waves hi to the Prentice family, the Nashville Crew, and Chuck Wicks) and some Elders even got changed to Spanish Speaking -McCallen Texas! (A big Welcome home and Hello to Morgan!!!) There was also places like Boston, Florida, NJ, and other random places. Sis G and I had this great plan that we were going to go to one of the for-mentioned places together. Here at the MTC we live in a bubble and don't have any idea of what is going on on the outside world. Someone started a rumor that 200 visa were coming in on the 4. We found out that was a total lie. So some of the Elders in my district started a rumor in response that those 200 visa were on a tragic plane crash and all of our visas now had to be reissued. We had that one going around for a few days. It was great. Sis G and I made friends with some of the Senior couples (they've been kind of like our "Rum Runners" bringing us things like Guadana' and new fancy verb cards from the Sao Paulo MTC) and they said they would help with it all. (Be a friend and you'll make friends) -Yeah that's how we get our kicks around here. Sis G and I tried out again for a Special Musical number but it's doubtful that it's going to work out... we'll see I guess. Our main problem is that today whilst were were starting our letter writing we heard a bit of a ruckus outside and went to investigate. Something that sounded like that, only means one things... Visas!

Three Brazilian Sisters got their Visas! Apparently they were part of the original 54 that were just being sent over....
One girl who got here yesterday got hers, another that got here 3 weeks ago got her's and guess what?!
That's right!
Sister G!

I am really happy for her but we both don't know what to do about it all.

There is still a chance that I could get mine soon but I'm ok and excited for with whatever the Lord has in store for me.
Starting next Wednesday I'm going to be singing "HEY, Solo Sistah!" and my hope is that I'll be hanging out with the beat boxing Elders in my district... (all were need are two turn tables and a microphone.... That's where it's at.)

Hope all is well with you all!

Family- Have fun Staying in a castle! Send Pictures! I hope it's not a real sand castle... that sounds kind of gritty.
Natalie! Thank you Thank you Thank you for the Package! It was full of the stuff that dreams are made of.

For anyone who sent me a letter today I'll be able to write you next week. It's been kind of crazy today. Know that I Love you and Dear Elder is still one of my best friends.
Beijos!

-Sis Robson

Does God Love Me?

2010-07-25T21:40:00.004-07:00

Have you ever asked that question? I'll be honest and tell you I have. I've felt the emptiness, the tear through my heart, the loneliness. It's real and it's painful.

I've also felt the peace, the joy, and the strength that comes when that question is answered. It is also real...and it is amazing.

As a missionary the very first thing we teach is of God's love for His children. His love for--not just the world as a collective whole--but His love for the individual...for me and for you.

He is our Father in Heaven. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live and to die for us. He hears and answers our prayers. To me it's truly an amazing thing. One way that I feel His love is through the love of my family and friends...I bet you didn't know that...I feel His love through YOU. That's why I chose to sing this song and that's why I bootlegged a copy for you to see :) ha ha. But I also wanted for you to feel that joy, peace, and strength as well.

This is my message to you, so you never have to ask again:

Yes, He Loves YOU!

Momma Mia!

2010-07-24T00:01:00.002-07:00

Today's My Momma's Birthday!

One of my favorite things to do with Momma is to go to concerts. We've gone to some really cool ones.

Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban

Taylor Swift

Country Thunder

Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw

I love my momma more than I can write in an entire book let alone a single letter. We've talked, we've laughed, we've cried, ...we've lived.

I love just being with her. She isn't just my mom, she's my best friend.

I know that the only reason I am anywhere close to the person I am today is because she believed in me and in many cases, made it happen.

Thank you Mommy.

Eye Candy -A Blog by Chelsea Robson

Talking in Church!

It's the end...

Yee-haw!!!

Just to make you laugh

On the Road Again

Sister Robson and the Nordestinas

Happy Halloween!

Casa de Trunqui

I hate fake time.

I don't know what's wrong with these kids today.

Tudo Bem

Cornered

You love me, you really Love me!

Oi Amigo.

Fairy Dust

I got nut-in.

100 dreams

New for the last time?

New for the last time?

Just for being here.

Same old

Blah.

Seeing Stars

Missão Florianopolis

...And It's Back!

It Never Ends (post from 7-4-11)

Quick Replay (post from 6-27-11)

Popcorn (post from 6-20-11)

Ahh, we meet again (post from 6-13-11)

Wa Wa Wa-Happended?

what's up?

Ride on the Magic School Bus

Eu Sou Clássica.

PLAY!

Pictures from Brazil

I belong

Rand Mcnally

Até o pó (continued)

Até O Pó

Florianópolis

My final Decision...

Transfered!

Bread of Life

"Only God can fill your God-Shaped Void"

I left my heart in Fremont...

...And, We're Back!

Pictures! #1

Pictures! #2

Pictures! #3

Be Happy! It's Arizona's Birthday!

1 Corinthians 15:29

Which came first? -The chicken or the Egg?

Understanding

Musical Mystery Tour is dying to take you away

Gaggle of Missionaries?

Blame it on the Fault.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm drawing a blank.

The Poker of Choice

Happy Birthday Morgana!

Under-qualified

Smile... It's Monday!

Pictures!

Thanksgiving Pictures!

Giving Thanks!

My 8th Birthday

"Hey, Pop 'n' Fresh... You're suppose to Giggle."

Rusty... one year older and wiser, too.

Tut Tut, Looks like Rain

Welcome to Sunnyside!! -I mean Sunnyvale!

Elizabeth~Happy Birthday!

Randy, it's your Birthday! ~Happy birthday Randy!

It's Time to move!

Pictures from Chelsea

Don Beto

Expired

Happy Birthday To Rustin!

Happy Halloween!

The song in my head.