April 6, 2009 Bakersfield, CA

Hello from sunny, sunny, warm, sunny, and warm bakersfield! i am doing pretty good right now! the past few days haven't been too bad, it's been like 80's with a nice wind but i know that will stop soon and the heat will rise. it got up to 88+ today, so summer is approaching like it's eager to just burn me up. Elder romeril (my "greenie") is doing so well! i'm so impressed with how's he's adjusted to the mission life and culture! where he's at right now is so much farther than where i was at when i first came out! he's a great guy! I love him! We really have been getting along really well and we've been blessed to be able to teach together in unity and that's something that is really important because the scriptures say that, "by the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established...". We're getting a little more used to the area but we still barely know any members. I honestly know LESS THAN 10 families but we've been trying to get to know them. OUr first day at church last week wasn't the most receptive though...Honestly only like 3 families came up and introduced themselves, and they can't and don't have the excuse that they didn't know we are new because i said the opening prayer in Sacrament and romeril said the closing and we both got up and bore our testimonies, but i don't mean to talk bad about the ward because obviously i dont know them yet (i guess i'm just used to Ojai where it's like my second family/ward). The elders we are living with are pretty good guys! they are spanish elders and one is being trained-his name is elder king and he's from gilbert, AZ. he's sorta...ok, he's really quiet and doesn't really talk but oh well, i used to be like that (now you can't get me to shut up!! haha) his trainer is elder minnick and we've really bonded and i've loved him! He's so funny!!! and of course my first foreign comp. romeril is a rockin guy! on sat. night i believe we all learned the canadian national anthem! ha it's not too bad of a song...so we've just really bonded as an apartment! The work is pretty slow but we've been trying to talk to as many people as we see and so we'll hopefully see the fruits of our labor soon. Conference was amazing! i loved it! i admit, i was a little sleepy during two sessions so for part of it i fell asleep but the rest i was awake and just loving it! MAn, can you say that the apostles are the BOMB!!! they gave such amazing talks! Hollands was sweet! Uchtdorf's just blew me away! Perry's knocked my socks off! and of course you really can't beat the talks by our beloved prophet! SO i can't wait till it comes out in the ensign! so i've gotta go, we have had a busy p-day so far and still need to do a lot more so much love from southern bakersfield!
elder robison