Taking on Tacoma: Hello!

This week was the longest weeek EVER. I was trying to remember what I did this week and when I realized that Transfers were just this past Tuesday I was amazed.. because that feels like it was 3 weeks ago!

We had a fun P day. We played Clue and spent time at the Stake Center since it was our last P-day as a zone. 2 of the missionaries went home on Tuesday so we said our goodbyes.

Tuesday we got to go to transfer meeting even though we were both staying here in Olympia 1/5. It was a super long meeting because we had 21 missionaries leave and 24 new missionaries come in. So we had 24 welcome skits which were all pretty funny, and then we had 21 final testimonies, along with our typical songs in between and some closing remarks from Sister Blatter and President Blatter. It was a great meeting, I decided that I need to take better advantage of the time I have left because it does go by quickly and I don't want to waste any of the time.

I only get 18 months to completely focus all my energy on serving the Lord and His children. After that I'll have to worry about school, and work, and all the other things that come with reality. So, I'm trying to totally forget about myself and work as hard as I can for the rest of my mission.

The rest of the week nothing too interesting happened. At district meeting on Wednesday we got 2 new people that weren't in our district before. Now we have 3 missionaries from Utah, and 3 not from Utah. We have a little bit of a rivalry. But I'm kind of the odd person out because the two who aren't from Utah (that aren't me) are from New Zealand and Fiji. I'll probably be kicked out next and someone from Samoa will come in my place or something.

Not much else happened this week. We did a lot of door knocking, a lot of visiting families, former investigators, potential investigators, service, etc. Typical missionary work.

It's hard to put into words what being a missionary is. It's hard.

Everyday we work from 6;30 to 10:30 with little breaks to eat. The only sitting we do is at church, when we are teaching, and when we are driving. We walk a lot, we're out in all kinds of weather (lately it's been hot and humid, but we did have one cold, wet day.) People shut the door in our faces, I am constantly realizing how inadequate I am and all of my flaws. I feel like every second of every day I am finding a new thing I am not good at. My feet hurt, I get bug bites, I'm tired, and I'm always stepping outside of my comfort zone.

But it's SO worth it. Because I meet so many people and I realize that I have enough room in my heart to love one more person. Even when I think I can't possibly fit anymore people into my heart, I do.

I feel my Savior by my side every step of the way. And when I take the time to listen I hear Him whisper to me how proud He is of me, for all the effort I put into His work. He tells me how much He loves me and is aware of every struggle I have.

I get to watch people change, and find hope in the message that we share.

I get to see myself change. Every flaw that I find in myself helps me to push past it even more to turn those weaknesses into strengths.

I made sacrifices to be here, but I get SO much more out of my mission than I thought I would. When we give a little, God gives back a lot.

One sister who went home last Tuesday talked about how on her mission she realized, like I talked about, how inadequate she is. Heavenly Father could do this work on His own. He doesn't need missionaries. But He's asked us to help. Even though we are young, and we don't know anything, and we are so imperfect, He's asked us to help. And He accepts and appreciates and loves every tiny offering we give him.

It blows my mind that Heavenly Father accepts me and what I have to offer Him. And I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve.

I love you all and I hope you have a really great week! Know that you are loved!

Love, Sister Warburton

Pictures!!