Taking on Tacoma: Belfair

Dear Everyone,

This is my last, for sure week, in Belfair. On Saturday I will find out if I get to stay in this beautiful, full of character, wonderful land of Belfair. Or if I will be kicked out to a new place. If that happens, I'll be sad, so I would really appreciate any prayers that I get to stay here. :)

Also, this is my last week of "training" Thank goodness. I think missionaries forget that even though we are new to the mission field, we aren't really new to spiritual things or life in general. I am slightly tired of seeing sister missionaries and them saying "OHHH, Sister Warburton, how are you doing? Are you adjusting well? (after 3 months) Are you homesick?" No. I've been away from home for almost 2 years now thank you very much. And also, Just because I've only been here 3 months doesn't mean I never had a testimony before. If it didn't start until I got here then I wouldn't BE here.

Anyways. Sorry for that. That's my sass coming out.

I'm just glad to be moving along to where people will hopefully stop calling me a greenie and a baby.

This week was good. The weather has been beautiful. The sun has been out and we've been able to do a lot of service for people in their gardens.

On Tuesday we went to quilting again. They had us do this pattern thing that I can't explain in words, and it was fun to sew. Sister Harris and I are hoping to both stay here another transfer and to be able to, together, make a whole quilt for charity! Wouldn't that be cool?

Also, on Tuesday while we were knocking doors, I found 49 cents. The selfish in me was really hoping to find one more penny so it could be an even 50 cents. (By the way, have I mentioned that finding coins is, in my belief, God's tender mercy to me?) Anyways, so I was hoping to find one more penny, but we finished knocking and we were nearing the end of the night, and I was about to lose hope, but then after visiting the very last person for the day, we were walking to our car and I looked down and there was a penny at my feet. I thought that was pretty amazing. God knows me and loves me. :)

Something funny about Belfair. Taco Bell just opened up and it's the talk of the town. We now have Subway, McDonalds, Dairy Queen, AND Taco Bell. Haha. Most of the people here have never tried Chick Fil A. Isn't that amazing? I think that will be one of my first stops when I get home.

Most of our investigators were still sick this week or busy or something, but we were able to meet a lot of cool people and to teach a few little lessons.

One lady, Laura, I think I may have mentioned her last week? She's really nice and we had a good lesson with her. I feel bad though because I warned her that now that we've talked to her, Satan will try to keep her from progressing. He would make it hard for her to make it to church and to do other things. And he definitely did. Her son was sick and had to go to the hospital because he had an allergic reaction to the medicine. Then her daughter broke her finger in two places and had to go to the hospital also. Then she got sick and it's just been one thing after another. And she didn't make it to church. But that's okay. She's so sweet and willing to learn and I love answering her questions.

For my spiritual thought I'm just going to share a little bit from a talk I've been studying this week. It's called "For When I Am Weak. Then Am I Strong" by Gerald Causse. It's all about turning our weaknesses into strengths. Which is something that I definitely need to continue to work on.

It gives 4 principles:

1. Build on your strengths. Every one of us has been given an inheritance of gifts from God. We each have talents and abilities and we need to recognize that we have them and build on them. We have them for a reason and it's ridiculous to not use them.

2. Recognize your personal limitations. "God helps people like you and me, those who recognize their limits and the weakness of their condition and seek His help and guidance. Failing to recognize our limitations will block our progression. On the other hand, accepting them humbly lays the foundation for eternal progression."

3.Rely on the Lord. "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26: 12

4. Qualify yourselves to receive the grace of the Savior. "Grace is Spiritual knowledge and power that changes how someone sees himself, increases his capacities, and magnifies his ability to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord." (Neil L. Anderson) "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12:27

Anyways, It's way better if you read the whole thing, but these are my favorite parts. I love the idea of turning our weaknesses into strengths. Through God, we can do that. It's a real thing. It's not just a fairytale that people pretend to do. I really have seen the changes in myself as I've turned to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and used that Grace to become someone better than I was before. If you could see the way I thought and the way I felt 5 years ago and could see the inside of my mind now. You would be amazed at the changes that God has made in me.

I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I love being here and helping others. Now is the time to prepare ourselves to meet God. Not later, not yesterday, but now. And wouldn't you rather meet God as the VERY BEST YOU that you can be?

I love you all! <3

Sister Warburton