Taking on Tacoma

YOU GUYS, I AM A MISSIONARY. WITH A NAME TAG AND EVERYTHING!
 

Is that not the weirdest thing ever? I honestly can't believe it. On my first day here I looked in the mirror and saw me, but I was wearing missionary clothes, the kind that make my legs look nice and short and stumpy, and I had a missionary tag on and I was just like, "Whoa, I look different. This is weird." 

They really don't give you a lot of time to think about what you're doing here. They keep you going and going and going and the first time you get a chance to think about what you're doing you start crying but then you don't get a chance to recover before you have to do something else and then you just end up embarrassing yourself. (You don't do that?) 

Anyways, let's see. My companions name is Sister Naupoto. She's Tongan, was born in Hawaii, but has lived in Salt Lake for 17 years. She's 22. She goes to LDS business college. She has a younger sister in Guatemala on a mission. Her dad died last year. It took me this whole week to get all that information out of her because she doesn't really talk. She's very shy, very quiet, and has some anxiety. It was hard for me at first. I teach most of our lessons by myself, and don't have someone to talk to all the time, but I've realized that I've been blessed to have her as my companion, because I'm shy, and anxious, and quiet, and I don't like teaching also. But it requires me to step up and make my voice heard for the both of us. I've learned a lot, I've been forced to do hard things. We have 3 "investigators" now and I do all of the teaching.

The first few days I was lonely and sad about it, but now I see that this is exactly what God wants for me, and He knows me better than I know myself, so I'm just going to trust Him. 

Also, on Sunday we watched a talk by Elder Bednar called Character of Christ, and by the end of it I was crying (don't judge me, I'm a cry baby and if you are close to me you know that.) and I felt so so selfish for the way I had been thinking. The only way to be happy is to forget yourself I've heard that a bajillion times since getting here because when you forget yourself and go to work and turn outward instead of inward, you don't even have a chance to be sad. 

My District is really fun we have Elder Dunne, Elder Sanches, Elder Hoffman, and Elder Vaoga. They are going to Cleveland Ohio. All of them but one are FRESH out of high school. Which makes for some REALLY focused and deep study time. Not. They are fun, but sometimes they are kind of obnoxious haha but I love them. Then we have Sister Stastsny and Sister Finch. They are my age one goes to BYUi and the other to UVU. We have fun talking about college and the things we have learned since leaving home.

My teachers are Brother Kezele and Sister Ellsworth. Brother Kezele is a fantastic teacher and I love that he sometimes throws out his lesson plan when he sees that we need something else. The other day he took us outside to study which was one of the nicest things he could have done because I hate sitting in a classroom all day every day. Can't stand it. Especially with the beautiful weather we've been having. He looks really familiar but I can't tell if I saw him on campus before coming here or if his face looks like Levi's (my cousin.) It could easily be both, but I've seen so many faces in the past year that my brain is starting to break from trying to recognize them. 

Sister Ellsworth is teeny tiny and the cutest teacher ever. I love her. She is so sweet and is really great at bringing the spirit into the room. 

The food is decent. I eat a lot, because there's a lot to eat. But I don't think I could say I love it. 

I run a mile every time I have gym, which is pretty impressive, right? (If you don't think so, don't say so.)

I go to bed by 10:30 which is a miracle. But while I don't like going to bed early, I also don't like breaking rules. 

AGH I'm runnning out of time. 

Okay, speed typing: 

I gave a talk on Sunday on the Atonement. I've been called to be the music specialist ( surprise surprise, me and my companion are the only ones not called to leader ship positions in our district. So, once again I STILL don't get to go to important meetings. GRR) 

Today I'm going to the temple and then choir practice, and we have a devotional tonight that we think is going to be someone important. I'm hoping for Elder Holland, but who knows. If it is, I'll get to sing in the choir for him, which will be awesome. I'll let you know on my next p day when ever it is. I have no idea when it will be though because next tuesday I'll be in Washington. 

I love you all and miss you and wish you well on school, work, families, love lives, and everything else. Be safe, Remember who you are and what you stand for, read your scriptures, share the gospel, hasten the work, and don't forget to pray.

Some good scriptures that I've found have been Alma 26:27 and that's all I have time to share with you... so one good scripture to read is that one. But it might only bee good for me because I'm a missionary now and I need to stop feeling sorry for myself. 

Umm...Send me dear elder letters in the next week. If you send them before noon I'll get them that night. and I loveeeeee mail. 

I love you! 

Sister Kinsey Warburton

Dang, I was gonna send pictures, but I can't figure out how to. I'm sorry. Just picture all the typical missionary pictures. Goofing off in the classroom, district infront of the temple, photo bombs, me with my companion, a picture of my name tag, etc. Use your imaginations! :)   

Surprise!!  She figured it out and sent them to me.

Bye! Till next time!

Alma 26:27 - "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."