Aloha!

Wow! So much happened this week! Last Monday feels like it was at least 2 years ago! 

Last Monday we had the coolest/scariest zone activity ever! In Satsop, there are 2 Nuclear towers that were built like 20 years ago or something and then they ran out of money and were never finished. They have about 22 flights of stairs (I'm not entirely sure what a "flight" consists of but there are 22 diagonal lines of stairs) going up the outside and we decided to climb to the top as a zone. Holy cow! It was really scary. Going up wasn't as bad as I thought it would be because you just focus on going up, but going down all you can look at is the 500 feet below you and the rusty stair case that's between you and those 500 feet. 

Also, as a missionary, doing missionary work is a bit scary, but you know, or at least I know, that as long as I'm out sharing the gospel that I'm protected. Talking to people is scary but it's more of a scared of rejection/scared they'll be mad/scared you'll sound stupid. But when you are on a sketchy staircase you know that you are definitely not sharing the gospel so you aren't totally sure if you'll have the Lord's protection or not... haha. But it was really fun anyways. I enjoyed it. 

That night we ran around town like maniacs saying goodbye to everyone for Sister Sasser before she went home. Then we were up WAY past 10:30 to clean the apartment and finish packing. 

The next morning we woke up early with only 4 hours of sleep... to teach seminary. Because, why not? I actually really love the seminary students here. They are so great! Teaching them is a lot of fun. And what better way for Sister Sasser to end her mission than by waking up early to teach about the Old Testament to a bunch of future missionaries? 

After that we ran around like maniacs again to get everything finished that we needed to. Then we headed to Tacoma for transfers. I picked up Sister Rosenvall and then we headed back to Elma. 

We made it back just in time to knock doors in a hurricane. (Just kidding. I don't think Washington has hurricanes... but if it did, this would be one.) We heard thunder and lightning for my second time here in Washington. (It's weird to me that it rains so much here, yet we don't have thunder and lightning.) Also, we were almost blown over because the wind was so crazy. 

As much as I love constantly being soaked to the bone and having wet feet, and wet hair, and wet clothes... I can't wait for the sun to come back and stay. 

On Wednesday, we drove all the way to Shelton for our district meeting. We had another cold, rainy day. 

On Thursday, we planned all day and that's all I remember. 

On Friday, we drove to Tacoma again for Missionary Leadership Council. That was really fun. It's always a pretty uplifting meeting with some good trainings from the AP's and President Blatter. We're really trying to focus on teaching people repentance and having more faith that we can find people to teach. Sometimes we get really caught up in teaching the lessons and forget to REALLY help people to know how to exercise faith and how to repent, and how to use the Atonement in their lives. I make that mistake way too often so I'm glad I was reminded of my purpose and I'm going to be much better. 

On the way back from the Tacoma one of our former investigators called and said "I need to be baptized. How do I do that?" (Earlier in the day I was feeling sorry for myself because I've never had any cool miracles like that happen to me, but a lot of the missionaries seem to have story after story after story where amazing things happen and people get baptized) So, I was pretty ecstatic about that! We went over to her house on Saturday and taught her the Plan of Salvation (the last sisters taught her the Restoration and then she got sick for a few months.) We explained everything that she'd need to do and we explained how it worked and she was still on board! She came to church on Sunday for all three hours, and I know that Satan was trying to stop her because she had a flat tire and her back was really sore, but she made it anyways! She's getting baptized on March 19th!  #miracles 

Another miracle, one of my investigators in Winlock got baptized on Sunday and I got to go to it! Being back in Winlock was so great! I really love that place. A piece of my heart was left there. Don Jerome, Aurora's Dad got baptized. When I went to their house a few months ago, him, Aurora, and Cassidy hadn't been baptized yet. Don and Cassidy both wanted to though, but Aurora didn't. As we taught them it was clear that it would be easy for Aurora to be baptized and she was, only a few weeks later. Cassidy also wouldn't have much trouble, and we were right about that also, a little into the new year she got baptized. Don, however, we weren't really sure if it'd be possible. We were even told that he was a hopeless case from some of the members. But the three original missionaries that taught him over a year ago planned a trip to come back and so everyone did everything they could, especially Don, to get him ready. And so yesterday he finally joined the rest of his family in the fold of Christ! I got to bear my testimony at the baptism and it was a really special experience. :) 

I don't remember anything from my own baptism, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have as a missionary to help other people and have the privilege to witness their baptisms! There is something so special about watching someone else make those changes in their life to follow the Savior. I'm so so so grateful to be here. :) Gosh dang it, I have the best job in the world! 

Anyways... sorry this is a super duper long email. Lot's happened. A few other random things:

-I saw a dead beaver on the road. I've never seen a beaver before...so I was pretty excited. Now I'm hoping to see one that's alive. 

-A guy listened to the whole restoration and told us he'd be willing to get baptized only to tell us at the end, "I only listened to ya'll cause I thought you were cute. Wanna go get some beers with me?" -.- 

-I dropped a bowl this week and cut my finger and it bled a lot. Then when I was picking up the pieces I cut another finger on the other hand. Then I burnt a different finger when I was trying to straighten my skirt (instead of taking the time to iron it.) But I'm fine now. 

-I gave this guy a mormon.org card and he acted as if he was really interested in it... or at least was nice enough to take it. Also, I was being extra nice and friendly like real missionaries are so I thought he'd at least put it in his pocket. But then he said "Mormons?" And I said "Yep!" :) And then he deliberately threw it right into the trashcan. Right in front of me.  And then turned around and got in his car. It was super rude. My mom's red hair came out in me and I was fuming when I got back in the car. I need to learn charity and patience. 

That's my week! It was definitely a good one. :) 

I'm just going to count talking about MLC and the baptism as my spiritual thought....sorry but I"ve spent way too long on this email already... 

Just know that I love you all and I have a testimony of this gospel. I know it's true. I know God lives, and our Savior does too. And I have a testimony that sunshine is the best. 

Love, Sister Warburton

Sunshine that came through my window. :) 

More sunshine.

We found a Victoria Secret umbrella in our apartment. Along with this green one. And the tall elder, Elder Guyman lost his umbrella, so we told him we had one for him.... haha so we gave him all of our umbrellas since we don't use them.

I caught a toad. 

Also, Cassidy and I at Don's baptism. She tackled me when I got there. It was pretty fun. She's soooo sweeet. 

And then the only picture I got with Don, the one that got baptized. One of the other sisters got a picture of all of us... hopefully she'll send it to me.