Hellllooooo!! Happy Monday!!

For some reason I can't remember much of my week and I don't have a lot of motivation to email this week.... 

So, I'm sorry, but I'm going to keep this short... 

Monday was fun. We had a sisters P-Day at the stake center with 10 sisters. That was pretty fun, we played volleyball and ate food and listened to missionary approved music. 

Tuesday was really long. We had a few lessons and checked on a lot of potentials without much success. One nice thing about Tuesday was that we got to go to Olive Garden for dinner and somehow (maybe with faith?) we were able to get there, eat dinner, have a quality discussion with the member we were eating with, finish, pay and leave within the hour so we were on time to knocking. Which almost never happens, ESPECIALLY when we eat at a restaurant. 

Wednesday we had some really awesome lessons with a few investigators and also had our district meeting. Which was about teaching people not lessons. I find missionary work is a lot more fun and fulfilling when I focus on the people that I am teaching and what they need and what I can do to help them. Rather than just trying to teach as many lessons as possible. One person we are teaching is not making it easy for us to teach him the lessons, but we have really good discussions and we are definitely seeing improvement. Right now he is trying to give up alcohol, and that is what we are focusing on for now. We tried to get him to go to church and to want to be baptized, but he won't understand that until he feels confident in the first step. 

Thursday was park day. It was also weekly planning. So we planned and then we walked to all of our appointments. I think we walked about 7 miles total. I ate some blackberries along the way though. Some people were really nice to us while we were knocking doors though. One lady invited us in to eat dinner with her family even though she wasn't interested, and we told her we couldn't stay for dinner, because we had to continue knocking, so she gave us some fresh rainier cherries instead. Then we talked to some people and asked if there was anything we could do for them and they said no, but called out to us and offered us some fresh plums off of their tree. We also were able to teach one of our investigators and had a really good lesson with him. He set August 29th as his goal date for baptism. He still needs to learn and pray about it, but he came to church this Sunday so he is progressing. (If you can pray for him that would be awesome!)

Friday we did SIX straight hours of service. We helped one family organize their upstairs. That was fun. Then we went and helped someone else spread mushroom compost all over their gardens. That smelled REAL nice. haha not really. Also, that evening we had dinner with someone who had invited us to dinner a few weeks before while we were knocking. It was really interesting. They were all "Catholic" but not practicing haha but they weren't interested in learning a message either, they just invited us to dinner. It was really nice of them. 

Nothing tooo exciting happened on Saturday or Sunday, but we did have one investigator come to church which has only happened 2 other times so far on my mission! That was really exciting! :) I think he enjoyed it. 

Well, I'm sorry my emails are not as interesting lately. But hopefully you are still getting a good idea of what missionary work is like and how I'm doing. Transfer calls are this Saturday so I'll  find out if I'm staying another six weeks or going somewhere new next week! 

Spiritual Thought:

Alma 62:41 I actually learned this at BYU but I reread it this week so I'll share it. :) 

"But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of the afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility."

I think this is interesting because it says that many had become hardened because of the war, but others had become softened because of the war. They all went through the same war. That war was definitely not easy for anyone. But SOME were hardened and some were softened.  All of us have come to this earth. All of us have had lives. They aren't the same lives, but they aren't easy lives. So, why is it that some people come out of life hardened and others come out softened? 

I think it has to do with our attitudes and what we do with what we've been given. We can turn to God and take what happens and learn from it and make ourselves better. We can also CHOOSE that no matter what happens we can look for the good and be happy. OR we can decide that life stinks and it will never get better. And CHOOSE to be unhappy. So, it's up to us to become hardened or to become softened from life. and it will definitely be better if we choose to be happy. :) So there's my two cents. 

Have a great week! I love you all! 

Sister Warburton

Pictures!!

This is from the Sisters P-day. It was Sister Bishop's birthday! 

5 Months in Washington!

Hello Everyone! 

I hope you have all had a great week! 

This week was really great for me! We've been working really hard and I think we are beginning to be able to see the fruits of our labors. 

On Monday, we had a zone activity. We went to a waterfall and got some fun pictures together, then we went to the stake center and played chair soccer, and volleyball, and basketball. And the crazy thing is that I actually had fun! I don't think I've ever had fun playing any sports, but I guess it just took me coming on a mission for me to have a fun time playing sports. It's crazy what the mission can do to a person. 

On Tuesday, we went and visited someone at the hospital. They weren't from our ward, but their grandson had called us and asked us to find someone to give this man a blessing. (The hospital is in our area) so we decided to go visit to see if there was anything we could do to help the family. We sat and talked to the wife of the man who was ill, and hopefully we were able to lift her spirits a little bit. She shared her conversion story with us and her husbands so that was pretty cool. He decided 2 weeks before he got baptized to give up smoking and drinking and he hasn't touched either one since. That was like 40 years ago. Through Jesus Christ anything is possible! 

That night we taught a lesson to a guy named Tom and one thing that he said that was good for me to hear was "I'm not sure if I believe this stuff about Joseph Smith and the Priesthood yet, but I can tell that you two do believe it and that gives me the motivation to look into this." He could tell that I wasn't just teaching as a robot, but that the things I was saying truly are important to me and I'm not just saying it to say it. 

On Wednesday, we decided to check on a former investigator who didn't have a reason for why he was dropped in his teaching record. It was a bit of a drive, but we felt impressed to go visit him. So, we did and he said that he had been on date for June 20th, but dropped the missionaries because every time he prayed and every time he read his scriptures he couldn't feel anything. He feels good though when he talks to missionaries and when he goes to church. So he can feel the spirit around other people, but on his own he couldn't. When we showed up to talk to him though we were just trying to get to know him, but he needed us right when we showed up and we're going to start teaching him. We're going to go slowly so he can figure out how to feel the spirit on his own. But as long as he has a desire to feel that and to recognize the Spirit, he will be able to progress. 

We also had a fun experience with a tree house in the woods, but I'll tell that story when I get home. :) 

Thursday we had Zone Conference, which was really fun, we learned a lot about how to be better missionaries, how to plan better, and how to receive revelation for our areas. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how we can use it to help other people come unto Christ. 

OH! Also, Thursday night we got a referral from Salt Lake for a man named John. Most of our referrals are just people who want a free bible, but we went and visited this guy and he wants to get baptized! So cool! He went to temple square and talked to the missionaries there and then put his name and address so we could come teach him! He said "I've tried a lot of other churches, but this one just feels right." Amazing. I was starting to lose hope that anyone would ever actually feel the truthfulness of our message, but this guy does! Meeting him was a tender mercy. 

On Friday I went on an exchange with Sister Harris! My trainer! That was so much fun. I've missed her. We just talked and laughed and did missionary work together for a whole day and I don't think I've felt as relaxed for 2 transfers. We taught some really great lessons and got one girl who is so solid on date for a Saturday in August. 

The rest of the weekend was good, but nothing too exciting happened. 

One thing I studied this morning that I thought was pretty cool, was in Alma 60:20-23 (go read it!). Moroni is asking Pahoran these questions that are meant to make him feel guilty so that he will repent. But I applied them to me, now. And I think it's important for us to recognize that right now we are in a war with Satan and there are thousands spiritually "falling by the sword" at the hands of Satan and sometimes we just sit idly by watching all the destruction, while we are at peace because we have the gospel and we are just fine. But if we don't do what we can to help others come unto Christ, then we won't be held guiltless at the last day, their destruction will fall on our hands if we don't do our part. 

So don't be idle! Go! Fight on God's side of the line! Go help those people who need what you have that they don't! 

I love you all! I hope you are all having a great summer! 

Love, Sister Warburton

Pictures!!

My district!

My zone!

This girl isn't my companion but she's in my zone.  These are my zone leaders and this was our zone activity.

Hello!

Well, I am super low on time today. So, I'm sorry but this will probably be one of the lamest emails everyone gets from me... sorrry!

Monday: I went to a goodwill outlet and got 2 dresses, 2 shirts, 2 scarves and one purse for 6 dollars! My companion got a pair of new Toms for like 1 dollar! (This has nothing to do with missionary work but it was just so exciting!) I got allergies while being in there and had to wash my hands and all of the clothes after digging around for those finds but it was pretty cool. 

Tuesday: We got to do service on a bunny farm! They have hundreds of rabbits! So we helped stack wood and then feed the rabbits, and hold cute little babies whose eyes are still closed. 

We OYM'd these 2 people at a bus stop ("Open Your Mouth") and bore our testimony of the Book of Mormon. The girl just sat quietly and listened and said she wasn't super religious, but the guy kept asking questions and seemed really interested. At the end when their bus came we offered a pamphlet to the girl and a Book to the boy, but the guy completely declined, shook our hands, and got on the bus, while the girl looked at us and said "hey, can I have that book? I might read it." So that was kind of funny, we both really thought the boy would be interested in learning more, but in the end, the girl's heart was touched. I know that she was able to feel the spirit as we talked about this book that is so important to us. 

Wednesday: We had a Zone meeting about Charity and how important it is to have charity in this work. Something I love that they quoted from President Blatter was: "The Fruit of love is action. What do we do to show our love?" And also "Why am I doing this? What is my motive?" 

Sometimes I get into the swing of things and just do what I've been asked, but I wrote these down so I could remember that I want LOVE to be my motive in everything I do. Love for my Heavenly Father. Love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. Love for my companion, and love for those I see, meet, talk to, and teach. So, right now I'm working on making love my motive. 

Thursday: We did weekly planning.

Friday: We helped put paint a house. I even got up on a wobbly ladder to paint some of the higher parts of the house. All of our lessons fell through on Friday, which was kind of a bummer, but God knows what He is doing, so I'm sure there was a reason we weren't supposed to meet with any of those people that day... Oh! And the sun went away. Which made Sister Evans and I pretty happy. But after a few days of rain, I'll be ready for the sun again. 

Saturday: We met a few people who are really solid potential investigators. Tom, who is striving to build his relationship with God. Dontes who has been to our church before and wants to learn more. And we got a few referrals for the YSA branch, which is pretty exciting. 

Sunday: We spent more than 12 hours in church buildings. We had ward council at 7:45 and stayed at church for all three hours and then had branch council at 11:30. Then we taught a lesson AT the church, ate a very rushed lunch just in time for the 2nd sacrament meeting for the ysa branch, and then went to all three hours of that and then drove to the stake center where we had a really fun musical fireside with the missionaries and recent converts and members of the wards and anyone else who decided to come. 

Phew! I tried to type all that as fast as possible! 

For my spiritual thought go read Alma 51: 5-7

5 And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called king-men, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land.

 6 And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge over the land took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division among them, for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government.

 7 And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom.

I read this earlier this week and I loved it. To apply it to my life I made it as though Teancum is us. And sometimes Satan (Lamanites) try to take over our cities and what we have. He comes in and messes things up. And it can be tempting to just go fight him right away to win back what we lost but Teancum decided to stay where he was at. And build up what he had, and patiently wait for help to come. 

Sometimes Satan moves in and breaks down our walls, and it can be scary, and it can be tough. But we need to remember that we will never be left with nothing. Ever. God loves us. And if we put our trust in Him and our faith in Him we can stay where we are at, build up the faith we still have, trust God, and wait patiently for more help to arrive. And as we do that we will have what we need to go against Satan and take back our cities, to take back our lives. And to conquer any power he had. 

I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. So read it, and study it, and expect the blessings to flow!

I love you all! 

Have a great week! 

Love, Sister Warburton

Pictures!!

The capital!

A mixture of people that I know! At the Musical Fireside.

Happy Fourth of July!

Hello everyone! I hope life is treating you all well! 

We had a good week this week! It's been pretty hot, it got up to 99 on Thursday. That's not normal for here apparently. I've had a ton of people say "It's not normally this hot!" "Normally it rains until the 5th of July, then we get summer until September!" "We're having a serious drought!" "I just can't handle this heat!" 

It makes sense though because people here aren't used to heat, they don't expect it, so no one has A/C because normally it doesn't get hot enough to need it. But this summer is pretty hot. It doesn't normally get this hot until August. I keep apologizing for bringing the sun here with me. But, I'm not that sorry because I love the sun, and I'm working on a pretty fun foot tan. Hopefully it will show up before it starts raining again. 

On Wednesday we went to visit a part member family, and when we walked in the fence, 3 tiny dogs ran over to us and were barking at us. I started to talk to the mom, when out of nowhere I felt something clamp onto my ankle! The smallest dog bit my ankle! I got my first dog bite and it left a bruise and a few little teeth marks. But no blood. Haha!

That night we went to visit another family that all got baptized a little while ago but we feel like they are avoiding us. Two of the kids were outside though so we were thinking that this was our chance to get into the home. So we talked to the boys and found out their bunny had escaped. So we told them we would help catch it. So, for 15 minutes we chased this bunny around the neighborhood, through peoples yards, looking under their cars, and when the bunny was exhausted it laid down and I finally caught it. Poor thing. Anyways we carried it back home and got inside, but the parents were asleep so we left them a note and then left. 

On Thursday we had weekly planning and I made it my goal to bear my testimony more when I'm knocking on doors. Because when we say "Hi, we're missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Would you be interested in learning more about Jesus Christ?" It's pretty much inviting them to say no so we can get to the next door as fast as possible. SO, I made it my goal to put more effort into the conversations I start with people when I knock on their door. I really want to bear my testimony more so they can feel the spirit right away. It's hard though, but if I practice I'll be better. So, I started during knocking Thursday night to work on my goal. 

We knocked on this guys house and started talking about the Book of Mormon and he said "If you read the Bible the Book of Mormon isn't anything like it. It doesn't teach the same things at all." And so I started to bear my testimony about how I've felt the Spirit testify to me through the Book of Mormon and that I've grown closer to Jesus Christ through reading the Book of Mormon than anything else. But I was only able to say about 3 words before he cut me off and said "I don't want to hear your testimony." Then he said a few more anti things and shut the door.
:(  Some people are rude, but I guess there isn't a testimony without the test. Also, he was a good person to practice my new goal on. 

Friday we had the chance to help out a family in the ward with some yard work. They were clearing some blackberry bushes out of a part of their yard, so we helped with that for 2 hours. It was exhausting work, but it was worth it. By the end it was so satisfying to see what we had accomplished, and afterwards we ate some watermelon and then the mom of this family shared some experiences from her mission that were exactly what I needed to hear that day. Service always brings blessings. Sometimes in ways you don't expect. 

Saturday was fun. We went to a ward 4th of July Breakfast and we got to know a bit of the ward better. Then we knocked doors in the very hottest time of the day. But we found a few people who might be willing to let us teach them this coming week! :) 

We got permission to have a zone fourth of July party in the evening since we weren't allowed to knock on doors after 5. So we had a barbeque and played minute to win it games. They were pretty fun. We accidentally ended up with a ton of exploded water bottles. (turns out they pop and spray water if they hit the ground) So about half of our time was spent mopping up water. Another activity was to get a powdered donut from your forehead into your mouth. 4 people from one team and 4 people from my team were able to do it in one minute, so they had to have a tie breaker. Since I couldn't do it and another sister from the other team couldn't, they made us go against each other until one of us got the donut in our mouth... So, I spend about 5 minutes with a donut on my face trying soooo hard to get it in my mouth. I got powdered sugar in my hair and my eyeballs and my nose and my mouth and my shirt, but... I DID IT! And my team won! haha. It was a blast. 

Then we went home and listened to fireworks from inside the safety of our apartment. :)

Sunday was a whole lot of church. We were at the chapel for 8 hours, but it was good. Lots of spiritual upliftment! 

This week I've been thinking a lot about America and why we celebrate the 4th of July (I have a companion who rolls her eyes at the pride we have for our country, those darn New Zealanders just don't understand. ;) ) Anyways, I was thinking about it this week, and I love America because it truly is a promised land. It's talked about in the Book of Mormon and it is still in these days a promised land. It is a place where we have the freedom to worship God however we want, and if it weren't for this country and our freedom of religion, then the gospel wouldn't have been able to be restored by Joseph Smith. We are SO blessed to be here in America. Other countries now have freedom as well, but I know that America was blessed to be the place, the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be restored and I am so grateful for that freedom I have. I'm grateful for soldiers who fight for my freedom, I'm grateful for the founding fathers of this country, and all the rest that worked so hard for our freedom, and I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ who sacrificed His life, so that the Plan of Salvation would work towards our ultimate freedom from sin, death, pain, and tribulation. 

I love you all, and I hope you will all spend some time thinking about what the 4th of July means to you. Not just about the fireworks you got to see, but the deeper blessings that we celebrate on that day. 

Have a great week! 

Love, Sister Warburton

Pictures!!

The sisters I was with at Zion's Camp.

​My dog bite. Haha!

My cute zone! My eyebrow is white because of the powdered sugar. 

And our zone again.

Elder Nelson is my district leader, I don't know if I remembered to say that. Also, it's right after I won the powdered donut challenge.  I look really nice. 

I look like I'm in a jungle, but it's actually just someones yard!

My nickname "Quince" is a street name. I thought that was pretty cool. :)

Me and another cat.