Short & Sweet

Good morning!

Jonesboro is great! My companion is great! We are finding new investigators, visiting formers, less-actives and still trying to find our way around!! 

Wednesday we had no set appointments from 1-5. It was 104 degrees plus humidity! It was definitely going to be a harder day as a missionary.. BUT we decided to COUNT OUR MANY BLESSINGS. I don't remember how long we did this for, but we were able to go back and forth and it made us really realize how blessed we are!!!

This week I have been focusing a lot on understanding the atonement even deeper. One key phase I loved is that the atonement "removes the effects of sin from repentant sinners." Jesus Christ was the only one capable of performing such an act. He was the only perfect person to ever walk this earth. I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ all will be made right. As I studied this in my morning studies I really focused on the aspect of how the atonement cleanses us and allows us to be freed from that guilt and shame that comes from sinning. Later that day, I felt the power of the atonement in a different way. I got news from the missionaries still serving in Russellville that one of the members had passed away. He was in his 30's and had 3 young kids. I was strengthen through the enabling power of the atonement. Not only does the atonement alleviate the pain, sorrow and shame we feel after we repent, but the Savior also heals our broken hearts, comforts us, dries our tears ,and strengthens us. I can feel Him with me, daily! I love my Savior and I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father's perfect plan!

I love you all. Ya'll are the best!

Hermana Warner

JONESBORO!!

What a week. I said my goodbyes to everyone in Russellville Monday and Tuesday. Surprisingly it wasn't hard to say bye to them. I know I will see them very soon. Wednesday I was transferred to JONESBORO. It is like two times the size as Russellville. About 70,000 people. It's a small adjustment going back to the big city, but so far I love it! 

My companion is HERMANA MITCHELL!! We are opening this area up for Spanish sisters. There was a set of English sisters here but they took them out and put us in. I love Sister Mitchell. She is from St. George, Utah, loves to run and tells me everyday how much she loved working at Hokulia and how she loves Curtis. 

The past few days have been going through the area book, and trying to find people to teach. Friday night we were planning and decided to look through the area book. As we were praying Sister Mitchell thought of the name Susan. After the prayer we opened the area book to a random page and the name was Susan Bishop. We immediately knew we needed to visit her. There was no phone number or address. They last visited her in 2011. Somehow we needed to find her. We tried finding a phone book, or calling the previous missionaries to see if they knew her, but they had never heard of her. We decided to look through the phone and her number was in there. We immediately called her... it was 9:45 at night, and she answered. We set up an appointment the next day. We went there Saturday night.. she lives about 25 miles out of Jonesboro. It was amazing. She lives by herself, and has health problems. She was bit by a brown recluse spider 4 years ago and is still having problems from it. We don't know exactly what will come out of this experience, she does have a baptism date for September, but we do know that God knows each one of his children individually. He loves us all. It was such a neat experience to feel that love he has for her as we sat and talked with her. 

Other than that neat experience, we have been relying on the Lord every single minute and we know this is exactly where we both need to be! 

We went to the ward yesterday. It is in English and then they translate for the few Hispanics that come. I already love it here. It helps that I have a great companion that is obedient and loves to work. We are seeing lots of miracles and are learning and growing! 

I love you all! 

Love,

Hermana Warner

saying bye to the Smiths!!

My baby Sister Peterson and my new companion Sister Mitchell

Sister Sorto  gave me  this dress! She is so nice! 

We'll the time has come. Transfer week

Well the time has come. I got a transfer call this morning and will be leaving Russellville Wednesday morning! I couldn't have had a better week to finish off my stay here! 

Arissandra was baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday! We had a great lesson with her last week right before her baptism. She passed her interview but brought up the doubt that she wanted to be baptized after she got home from Mexico at the end of August because her grandmother is super catholic and she wanted to enjoy her time with her. We were able to go to her house, kneel down, and she gave the sweetest prayer asking if she should still be baptized before she went. We waited for a few minutes after she said the prayer. She then said, she still wanted to be baptized!!! She has no support from her family but she now has the whole church family!! 

We are also teaching 3 boys ages 17, 15, 13. Their mom is a recent convert. They have never been to a church before and last week we went over there and the 15 year old boy prayed for the first time! It was such a sweet moment. The mom just sat there and cried, with tears of happiness. 

Wednesday there was a crazy storm. We were in the rest home and right as we were about to leave, the sky outside was completely black. It looked like it was midnight. We quickly ran to our car and it was pouring rain and windy. We went inside the apartment and waited out the storm. :) It was just a crazy thunderstorm! 

Saturday after the baptism we had a branch activity. We acted out the trek to Utah. We walked around to about 13 different stations that all represented a different place along the trek. My companion and I acted out Brigham Young proclaiming, "This is the right place".  After the activity we had hot dogs, played volleyball and danced! Sister Goudie also played the piano a little bit and some of the members sang songs. They then told me to come over and pull up a chair. They sang "God be with you till we meet again." Priceless. They had no idea I was going to get transferred. OH and I can't forget the moment when we were told that we couldn't wear make-up or do our hair for the trek activity and one elder goes, "Well that won't be much different."  Then we went to dinner at the Eastman's. Brother Eastman had a feeling I would be getting transferred and he has been promising me for a while that he would make us ribs- so he did it on Saturday! They were the best ribs I've ever had. They fell right off the bone. He smoked them in his smoker and it took 7 hours!! 

Sunday everyone was telling me they had feelings I was leaving. Literally some didn't even know transfers was this week. Someone told me, "You just feel like our daughter, you're part of our family." Then Sister Goudie and Samantha Smith sang a duet in the English sacrament!! They wanted to do it before I left! AHH.... With all of these people telling me they felt I was leaving-it made the transfer call this morning so much easier. I will cherish all the moments I have had here in Russellville! I have had the best 8 months of my life!

Well, that's about it, GOOD LUCK to RYAN leaving Wednesday for his mission!!

Have a blessed week!

Hermana Warner

Hit my 8 month mark!

First off, yesterday I hit my 8 month mark here in Russellville. I think my church records have been permanently moved to this ward.... (I hope saying this doesn't curse me because next week is transfers. Noooo...)

It has been a fantastic week. The weather has been absolutely perfect, which made working that much greater! 

Last Monday we had a lesson with Arissandra. We didn't have a car and we needed a ride so we asked an English member to come with us. (long story short, because she is single and doesn't do FHE in the summer) Obviously, she doesn't speak Spanish but that didn't matter. We were able to translate a few things for her, as she felt impressed to say them.She was able to share such a personal experience that brought the spirit to the lesson. I was again reminded that even though we may not be able to speak the language very well, or at all, the spirit is a universal language and can speak to all. 

We also had another lesson with this young 17 year old that wants to be a pastor/preacher. The previous times we have met, have been quiet, um... the lessons. Crazy. This time he wanted to meet with us again, we were advised to take the elders so he couldn't intimidate us. We decided to take a member who is pretty knowledgeable in the gospel. It was perfect. Not because she could sit there and prove him wrong, that is not Christ-like (which she told him that), but she was able to control the situation and we were able to teach by the spirit! There were still things we didn't agree on, but having that member there to keep things 'calm' was so needed! I'm so grateful for members! More importantly, I'm so grateful for the spirit, and the pure testimony I can share everyday that touches peoples hearts more than anything else! He will find this truth, it might just take time!  

This week my companion and I were working a lot on teaching by the spirit, recognizing the spirit, and obeying the promptings of the spirit. This is the Lord's work we do, and we must do it in His way. Focusing on this has made such a difference. It has helped us to have more powerful lessons, even if they are just for 2 minutes outside in parking lots. It has helped us be in the right place at the right time, and we are seeing the work move forward. I LOVE being a missionary. I know I probably say this every single week. It is so true. 

Other moments from the week:

-We went and visited this member in a rest home and she started telling us she has given up and she wants to die. She told us who she has chosen to do her funeral stuff. So sad. I hate to see people in so much pain and for them to have no hope. 

-Played soccer and basketball with the Spanish branch. SO FUN. It just so happens that almost every week my companion and I are late, because we were at other lessons, and we are always the first  to leave, because we turn into pumpkins after a certain hour... but... every time as soon as I walk in, the members yell for me to be on their team. Then they yell non-stop the rest of the time.. "Warner, Warner, Warner" for me to pass the ball, for them to give it to me, for me to defend, to shoot, or simply because they think it's entertaining. It's gets very competitive sometimes! 

-We went to some very good restaurants with members this week. We got fed more this week, than any week before, including when we got fed 3 times for Thanksgiving. Listen up... We went to Colton's BBQ (It's like Texas Rode House), Dixie's Cafe, Pizza Hut (who knew they had sit-down), and Las Palmas. PLUS.. amazing homemade food by the members. I had Chocolate gravy which is a southern specialty. They put them on their biscuits. So good. Plus, tamales, and papusas. AH! The members show us their love by feeding us. We had 9 people want to feed us dinner in the past 2 days. We were able to make it to 6 of them. Yes. I have had 6 dinners in the past 2 days. 

-Funny moment: You know you are missionary when you ask, "Ma'am, Can I have another referral?" instead of "Ma'am can I have another refill?" (for a drink) Yep, just a little awkward.  

well, I think that's about it! I love you all. I have the greatest family and friends in the world!! 

Hermana Warner

That sign: we didn't read it until we knocked on their door. ooops. They weren't there though so we got a picture of it! 

One year mark!!

In 2 days I will reach my one year mark. I can't believe how fast time has gone by. In just 6 short months I will be coming home and this dream that I am in will all be over. 

All growing up I remember singing, "I hope they call me on a mission" Every time I hear that song sung now by little children I get emotional. I am living that dream. 

The last year has been the greatest life changing experience of my life. I have learned and experienced so many things I hope to never forget.

I have learned to have hope. I have learned to put my trust in the lord. Even though I may not know what lies ahead of me, what my future holds, I can hold fast to my Heavenly Father who knows all. 

I have learned the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. It doesn't matter if we like to cook, if we are good at sports, if we have the nicest, newest car, or if we got a 34 on the ACT. The Lord loves each one of us the same. We are all equally important to him. Therefore, I am not better than you, and you are not better thanmeI. The car we drive, or how good we are at sports doesn't give us lasting happiness. What if your car gets totaled or if you are put into a boot because you hurt you let playing tennis? Are you of no worth? Can you still have confidence? Of course. As we understand our relationship with our Father in Heaven; that we are all his children and that we are each important in the eyes of God- then our view of life changes. I know it does. It's changed mine.

I have learned the importance of daily scripture study, how to receive personal revelation, the power of prayers, and so many other things. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission!!

 

 Life really is this good. 

Hermana Warner

pictures:

matching shoes

when it rains... it pours. Everyone keeps telling us it has never been this mild(weather wise) in Arkansas. It apparently has never rained this much in the middle of July either! I am enjoying it as much as I can, because the heat, plus humidity is killer. We have been pretty lucky!!

Melinda was baptized!!

 

  

Melinda was baptized last week! AH!! We went over there on Monday night and she said, "Did I tell you why I decided to be baptized?" Ah.. nope... "While  I was in the hospital I had a dream and Christ came to me and said, Follow your people. Be baptized." She said it wasn't urgent, like "im not going to die or anything" but he told me to do it as soon as posible. She had been praying about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon for a while and she finally recieved her answer. The spirit was so strong as she told us that. I have never seen her so happy. She is on cloud 9. All of her worries just seem to be so small. She is so incredibly happy and thanks me all the time for never giving up on her. Beleive me. There were times I wanted to. There were times I thought I was wasting my time, but there was always something deep down inside of me that felt bad for her. A 64 year old lady that has absolutely NO FAMILY, has no contact with her 4 kids, has had abusive relationships, has fibromyalgia, COPD, and smokes while on oxygen. I couldn't handle having her be alone. I would have sister training leaders come and we would have an appointment with her so we would go and we would leave with them saying, Don't go back. She is not ready. She doesn't understand prophets. The elect will listen more than they talk. BlaBlaBla. I eventually learned to not take leaders there after that happened 2 times. (once with me and once with sister durfee)  I learned that the Lord knew I wouldn't give up on her and I have no doubt why I have been here this long. It was for her. As soon as she was confirmed, I kinda felt a feeling of ... You have done your job here.  I also learned to have patience and rely on the lord's timing of things. I can't force anyone to be baptized. They have to have the desire for themselves, and once they have that, the Lord's timing is perfect. Yeah, melinda was not ready 6 months ago, but the lord knows us all individually and knew she needed some company. In fact, we were the only ones that visited her in the hospital. We were the ones that gave her food while she overdosed one day. We were the ones that NEVER, EVER GAVE UP. It wasn't me though. I wasn't my companion. It was the Lord allowing us to be instruments in his hands!   She does have an aid that comes and takes care of her for 3 hours in the morning. The morning of her baptism, Melinda was getting ready for her interview and her aid goes, "Why are you getting baptized? Just be catholic." Melinda said, "I tried that and obviously it didn't work." She didn't let her aid stop her one bit. The next morning after she was baptized her aid was kind of mad that she was baptized... (is what melinda said) and so Meinda let her leave early. Other than that, everyone has been so supportive of her (ward members and people she tells!!) She completely feels like she has an extended family. That's what this gospel is all about! I love it!     My other recent convert Diana came to church last week and we went out and talked during sacrament meeting becuase she has been having suicidal thoughts. I talked with the branch president to see if we could maybe get people over there daily visiting her becuase she is on house arrest, (she runs away from her parents) and is just in her house all day every day without a phone. (they took that away. AND... presidente said "she only listens to you, so I don't know what we can do." AH!!! What are they going to do when I leave? Well, Tuesday morning she was taken by ambulance to the little rock primary hospital becuase she tried killing herself. She drank bleach and took extra pills. She is out of the hospital now and is in a clinic for 1 to 2 weeks and then will go to a long term clinic!! Her dad said he will put me and Sister goudie on the list so we can go and visit her. Poor girl.   Other news, you know you have been in an area long when 2 different people get up to bear their testimonies and they say they are moving and I'm sitting in the back holding back tears and thinking to myself, "They are leaving me." I feel like I am apart of this ward!! (and branch!!)   Other than that.. things are great!! the 4th of July was awesome! The fireworks were nothing compared to stadium of fire.. I didn't realize how much music adds to fireworks. However, they were still good.   The work is still great. We go on exchanges tomorrow. We are both staying in our area, and so both of the sister training leaders are coming to our area.   xoxo Ash

Where to start...

Where to start.... this week was crazy. There are things that I never want to happen again, and yet there are other things that happened that are a missionaries dream!!!

First the things I never want to experience again. We had 2 lessons this week where we taught for maybe 5 minutes and then the whole rest of the hour we were bombarded with questions and them telling us what we believe. It was nuts... Okay so the first lesson we sat down and he told us he had a few questions.... um 5 pages worth... like, "Have you fully repented of your sins?" "How come Brigham Young's doctrine of Adam is deemed no longer doctrine? Doesn't that mean Brigham Young was a false prophet?" "Are the answers you have shared today what your church believes or more just your personal standards?" OK I HOPE THIS IS MAKING SENSE... This is very hard for me to relive this. It was miserable. "Now before you go I want to share 2 more scriptures with you. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 & 13-14. (he read them out of his bible and it was even more bold than the King James Version) Then he goes, "I love these people and I can't stand for them to not be saved. I want you to know I will stand before God with clean blood that I told you what was true." AHHHHH.... I simply just testified back to what we knew to be true and asked if we could have a closing prayer. We said we can still be friends. We can just agree to disagree. Good luck with everything... yadda yadda yadda. The next days lesson wasn't as bad. We met this lady in Goodwill, but when we went to meet with her she had to leave so we talked to her cousin and her cousins-wife. This family goes to the Luz del Mundo church. They believe very similar to what we believe with a few exceptions- one being they baptized in the name of Jesus Christ only. We baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He tried to explain to us why we are wrong, and how Matt 28:19 is a mystery to all, and how come none of the apostles baptized others by all 3.... yadda yadda  yadda... skip forward to his next argument 10 minutes later and he was telling us we really need to research and investigate our church and how can we say the Book of Mormon supports the bible if the Book of Mormon says we need to be baptized in the name of all 3. He did agree however to read from the Book of Mormon but if he read anything that was contradictory to the Bible he would be calling us and be expecting an answer. We agreed!! 

We were tested lots this week. I re-read the talk given by Elder Holland last conference- "the cost and blessings of discipleship" to help me remember that ITS ALL WORTH IT. Even though some may tell us we are not Christian, that we are a cult, that there was no Egyptian language so Joseph Smith made up the Book of Mormon, that Adam and Eve were not the first people on earth and we needed to do more research on that,  ITS ALL WORTH IT!  As we all know... after the trails and tribulations... and after the many hours of hard work and faith, then come the miracles, and triumphs!!

Thursday night we decided to go to the hospital because Melinda was not answering her door or our phone calls and we were worried for her. She was checked into the ICU. When we got up there it was about 8:40 pm. Melinda was not in a clear state. She was not there and the doctors told us she had been like that for 2 days now.  She was hallucinating non-stop. The doctors said they had no idea what was going on and that they gave her enough medicine to knock a big-man out and she was still like that. They told us to go in and try talking to her. We went in and started talking with her. She calmed down a little and was answering me, but they were not all the way there answers. As we were leaving the doctors started asking me more questions. It was so hard for me to see Melinda in that kind of a state, however I knew she was being taken care of! They told us to come back tomorrow. Friday we went back around 1 and she was out of the ICU. She was totally coherent and was happy to see us. She had no idea that we came the day before. (Still does't know) She told us that she talked to the doctor the day before and asked if she could be baptized. He said there was no problem in that and so she said she wanted to be baptized. (I can't picture the state she was in on Thursday to ask the doctor if that was okay, but hey, I'm perfectly okay with it!) She said she has been procrastinating and wants to be closer to God. She had forgotten her glasses at her house (she was taken by ambulance to the hospital) and she couldn't read but wanted another Book of Mormon. We gave it to her and set a date for her to be baptized on July 5.The next day we went in there and there was a Hispanic couple in the room. As soon as we walked in Melinda goes, "I told you they would come" She then said, "Iv'e been testifying of this!" She held up her Book of Mormon that we gave her yesterday!! It gets even better!! This couple were former investigators to the Spanish Elders!! The Spanish elders hadn't seen this family in 2 months. The ladies husband was driving in Dardenelle (a connecting city) and the Elders were walking down the street as they see his car drive by. The Elders yelled heyyyyy. He stopped and said that his wife was in the hospital. The elders said they could go and give her a blessing... no less than 30 minutes later after talking to him in Dardenelle the Elders showed up in the hospital room. They came in just 10 minutes after us. NOT A COINCIDENCE. Long story short.... Melinda went through a complete change and is SO excited to be baptized. This couple said they want to come to her baptism on Saturday.(If the wife is out of the hospital) Melinda went home yesterday afternoon! 

I am so grateful to be serving a mission!! Yes, some moments it gets so tiring to prove what I believe, but every time I do, I am reassured how true the gospel is. I would rather have a few unanswered questions.. than live without the priesthood, doctrinal truths, or the sealing power that families can be together forever. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Have a great week ya'll. Don't celebrate my favorite holiday too much without me!! 

con amor,

Hermana Warner

had a sleepover downstairs last night!!

this couple... is hilarious. I asked for a picture and she asked me.. your not going to give it to the cops are you? 

What a week!!

Monday and Tuesday Sister Durfee said a lot of good byes and then was transferred Wednesday to a town close to Little Rock. She is back English speaking, and is doing great! I had to wait all day Wednesday to get my companion coming from Memphis. While waiting Hermana Dube was also waiting and so we decided to go and work in her area. (She is serving in Little Rock) It was so great!! We were able to teach a lot of people in SPANISH!! I then got my companion HERMANA GOUDIE!! She is from Murray, Utah. We get along great! She can speak great spanish and we are loving it here! AH! I feel like I am back in the CCM learning spanish all over again. Hermana Goudie is teaching me so much! I am experiencing the gift of tongues everyday! We have found so many new spanish speaking investigators. I think in the last 4 days our teaching pool has gone from like 95% of english speaking people to 85% spanish speaking people!! It is great. I am really hoping I can continue to practice and learn as much as I can from her. The work is going great. We just got back from a lesson with a member and her boyfriend. He wants to be a preacher for his church, but wants to search other religions to make sure he is correct. He is super smart. He is going to be a senior too. He asked us some super good questions and we were asked to prove our answers in the bible. Yes, this happens a lot, but for some reason this one was more intense, but that just made us rely on the spirit even more. It was incredible. What was even better was just testifying of what I know to be true. I know without a doubt that this gospel is Christ's restored gospel here on the earth. I know this because I have searched for myself. I have received my own personal witness. It is not my parents, or grandparents, or my friends testimony I share with others... It is MINE! I have prayed to know, just like Joseph Smith did. However, I don't expect anyone to just simply rely on my testimony, or what I say. God is the source of all truth. I know if we ask him, with a sincere heart, with real intent, he will let us know!! This is exactly what we told this guy to do! This is what we tell everyone to do. Yeah, maybe we are not able to answer or back up every answer we give in the bible, but we are able to testify of pure truth. The spirit is always the strongest when we simply testify. The spirit was so strong today. We were able to teach him how he could receive his answer that this church is true. That's what matters. We don't need to know every detail, or have all the answers. I sure don't. But as we open our hearts, and have that desire to know, then ask God, he will answer us! He will answer any question we have, and then he expects us to have the faith to accept and act according to the answers we receive!  

Being a missionary is teaching me so many life long lessons! I will forever be grateful for this opportunity! 

I love you all! I have the greatest friends, and family in the world!! Keep sharing the gospel!! You can do it!!

con amor,

Hermana Warner

pictures:

Hermana Goudie, me, Hermana Dube, and Hermana Johnson (This was the first time I saw Hermana Johnson since I left Memphis in November. It was so good to see her!) 

Sister Dube and I getting free snow cones from a member that works there!

Sydnee made this for dessert last night. It was so good!! Plus, I can't wait for the 4th of July!! 

My companion and I matching our first Sunday together! (we didn't plan this)

Family email

Last night I kinda started to cry in bed as I was thinking about transfers this morning and the fact that I have been here since November and it's now June so I was probably going to get a call to be transferred. I was so sad and was just reflecting on how much I love it here, how I have changed, and how I will always remember Russellville. Well transfer calls came this morning and they told my companion that she is being transferred and I am staying. WHAT?!?!?! So, there you have it, I'm staying in Russellville for another 6 weeks!

This last week we have done so many things, but yet in very little time, since all day Wednesday I spent in my bed sleeping or watching church videos because I was sick. I still have a pretty bad cough, but I have regained my energy and don't have a headache anymore. So all is well!!

Tuesday we started bike week and it was super sunny outside and then within minutes a dark cloud came over us and poured on us for about 10 minutes and then was super sunny again. We were able to dry off mostly before we got to our appointment. (This elderly lady who just had 2 heart attacks and 1 stokes within the last 2 months.) However, this lady kept turning down her A/C. At one point she turned it all the way down to 64. She gave us an ice cream bar as we walked in, and then when we left she let us take another one for the road. We were sitting in there shivering. Yeah, that's probably what got me sick... but what can you do right?    

Thursday we had our last zone conference with our mission president and his wife. It was so good! Things I will always remember from them will be to look at the positive and love to repent! I also earned my hold to the rod award! YEA!! (picture to come) This includes doing every activity (personal and companion activities at the end of each chapter as well) and memorizing 42 scriptures. 1 for each of the 42 points we teach as missionaries! YEAH!! After the conference we came back up to Russellville and had dinner at a members home. They have a pool in their back yard that had frogs in them. I wanted to catch one, so i scaled along the side of the pool and finally caught one. It's a good thing I didn't slip. The water did not look very sanitary. 

Friday, ha, ok. We got a call in the morning from a member saying she had frozen chicken for us, and said she would bring it over a little later. Well not too long after she called us she came to our apartment and we opened the door to see the BIGGEST bag of frozen chicken I have ever seen. She was struggling to hold it, it was that heavy. AH. So we luckily fit it all in our freezer and then she invited us to go to lunch with her. We did. Ah. miracle right here. I was so nervous to go. I was still sick and didn't want to cough the entire time we were at a restaurant. I just prayed a few times before we went and while we were there, and those prayers were answered!! I survived without her even knowing I was sick!! Such a miracle. (maybe she did notice, because my voice did not sound normal... but didn't say anything.) We ended up giving tons of the chicken to the English and Spanish Elders because there is no way we could finish all that chicken, ever. So nice of her though! We have lots of chicken plants around this area and her daughter works at one, that's how she got it. So in another words we got all the reject chicken that didn't pass and cannot be sold, so workers take it home... I'm kidding. They have to take some of it sometimes just to check it and even if it is good, they can't put it back in. That is what we got!! NO WORRIES. 

Well everything else is going good. We are still teaching Jere. She was suppose to get baptized this last weekend, but wasn't ready. We are hoping in the next few weeks she will be!! 

Lastly, Happy FATHERS DAY yesterday  to the greatest dad in the world! MY DAD. I will forever be grateful to YOU! 

I love you all. Remember who you are!! 

Hermana Warner

Pictures!!

All the chicken! I had to get a picture. So after we got home from lunch we packed up all the chicken again and took a picture. Then we put it all back in the fridge. So worth it! 

Mom, I used those happy fruits and veggies for a lesson this past week! The kids absolutely loved them!! So, thanks!! 

Sister Peterson and I at Zone Conference with our Hold to the Rods!

FAMILY EMAIL!!!

What a rainy week it has been. It has rained pretty much all week, but that hasn't stopped the work from progressing or from us doing adventurous things, like making no bake cookies, dancing in the rain to music, watching church videos going to bed, watching crazy lightning storms, being answers to people's prayers, telling yourself your not going to eat ice cream and then 4 nights in a row for dessert at our dinner appointments we are given ice cream, and all that good, bad, emotional stuff that missionaries go through every single day! Gotta love it!!

 

This mission is doing something really cool for the last 9 weeks of our mission presidents service here. Each week (we started at the end of April) we work on 1 attribute and then we can report to our president what we learned that week, or how we have improved in that specific attribute. This is all found in Preach my Gospel chapter 6.

So, this week I worked on Humility. Yeah, just like with anything else.. as soon as you start praying to have more... you definitely get tested. However it was good.. besides the fact that the first sentence I said in a role play where my zone leader was watching, i was stopped and then critiqued for 5 minutes... (the entire time he was talking I was thinking...I'm working on Humility, I'm working on Humility.)  Anyhow, it definitely was good for me!

love ya all,

Hermana Warner

pictures: 

most of the women in the Spanish branch after choir practice!! Yeah, I'm like a head taller than all of them. No big deal! 

dancing in the rain!!!

eating cake after playing basketball... and yes... I did play in a skirt. We didn't have time to go home and grab our exercise clothes

'choose the bread of life, or you are toast'

I love the south! I will forever have southern pride!!

Mission life is the best! Yesterday was fast Sunday and it was amazing!! The spirit was so strong during all the testimony meetings. Most of the testimonies were about the power of the priesthood and the sealing power we have here on earth! I'm so grateful for a dad who always was worthy to give me blessings in the middle of the night while I was sick, or to give us all blessings before the start of school. I am also so grateful for the sealing power so I can live with my family forever. The words "for time and all eternity" are ETERNAL!! It doesn't have to be to death do we part! 

I'm so grateful for my parents who made that choice to be married for ETERNITY!! In fact they did it exactly 24 years ago today!!!!! I would not be here today, if it were not for them! They are the best examples to me!! 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY PARENTS AND TO MY GRANDPARENTS!! (24 years and 59 years)

 

Love you all,

Hermana Warner

once again...an email from ME!

Dearest Familia!!

What a wonderful week it was.... we just got back from a place called Petit Jean where we hiked to a waterfall!! It brought back great memories from home when we would go hiking!!

Some of the highlights for the week,

I had my last interview with President Peterson.(sad day) He is so inspiring and I'll miss him and his wife. 

We received a referencia from a member in the ward this past week and then contacted it. It is this lady with 3 kids. Her kids attend a catholic school here in Russellville and the 10 year old has been begging his mom to be baptized but she has just felt it wasn't right. Well, we invited them to be baptized during the first lesson and they said yes! The mom and 10 year old son!! The sons face was so cute!! He is so excited! This family has gone through a lot and I know the gospel is going to help them. 

We also had one of the Conway investigators move up from there who is super solid!! she had a baptism date with them for this last weekend, but moved, so we are now teaching her and hope to prepare her for baptism in the near future! 

We are also starting to teach the Koster Family. I don't know if i ever told ya'll about them. Their mom is a member. The 3 boy have not be baptized. (19,15 and 11) They already consider themselves members, but just haven't  been baptized! We are super excited to be teaching them!!

Other than that 'mission work' news I did run 2 miles STRAIGHT this past week, one morning. I had to slow down the last lap because I about threw-up... back to the good ole days of throwing-up.. except it was much slower... so I have no excuse. It was the longest I have run consecutively for 10 months now...(my whole mission) I was pretty proud of myself! Did it under 16 minutes. ;) 

I found out Sunday that my neighbor across the street passed away. He was in a car accident and never recovered. I talked with his sisters who came to clean his apartment. He was a nice man who I talked with almost every day. I miss him. Also found out this other man was hit by a car while riding his bike and passed away. He had cerebral palsy and worked at the little ceasers right across from my apartments where he would hold up one of those signs. I saw him all the time too. Super sad, but so grateful for the plan of salvation and I know they are in a better place!! 

This week we got to go with the relief society president and visit her friend who trains people and their horses for racing. Too bad we couldn't ride them!  

I think that's about it! I'm doing great!! 

I love you all,

From my home, RUSSELLVILLE,

Hermana Warner

Last week my companion and I went down to Danville!!

Great times

Family!!

Friday Elder Merideth and Elder Kopischke of the 70 came to our mission and talked with us. They had us ask questions and then they responded. One Elder asked "what is your advice to new missionaries?"  He said that everything we experience in the mission field will prepare us for life. (for example: living with a companion, living within a budget, learning to love and serve others) This is completely true. I have learned so many things about myself that I can work on, and that I can improve on to be a better person. I love the scripture Ether 12:27. As we draw closer to the Savior, we will be exposed to our weaknesses. This will only help us improve!! His next advice was to keep a "Book of Evidence" and every night right down How I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life. This will help me always remember that the Lord is actively involved in my life. 

Walking into the Chapel we saw 3 difference less-active families we have been working with in church! With love and patience things happen!

Seeing our food calender fill up so quickly and then realizing that we have member/less active members feeding us dinner for the next 17 days straight is great.

Oh am I so grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord. I know that God lives and that He loves us! As we leave everything in the hands of the Lord, and trust in him, we will see the tiny miracles that occur multiple times a day! 

I love you all, ya'll are such a blessing in my life! I couldn't do this without yall. 

Hermana Warner  

Family email!

FAMILY!!!

There really isn't much to tell ya'll because I told you everything yesterday!!! Talking with ya'll was amazing!!! It's crazy that the next time we talk I will have less than 3 weeks left on my mission. 

I am happier than I have ever been and I am so grateful to be studying more about the Savior, and then helping others enjoy the blessings of this gospel as well. 

Extra bonuses: my amazing companion Sister Durfee, the Spanish and English members, the food, and the people we get to serve!!  LIFE REALLY IS THIS GOOD!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!   

Hermana Warner

ps. This is a picture of me in a restaurant bathroom during the unexpected tornado warnings Thursday night. I had my Book of Mormon and phone in my hands so I was set for anything! But really, I pulled out the Book of Mormon to try and read it to keep me calm. :) Fortunately only heavy rain and wind hit town, and a tornado didn't touch down till about 5 miles north of us... (only an F1, that knocked a trailer on its side and a few trees) WE ARE SAFE!! 

Time to celebrate!!

First off... transfer calls came this morning... and we are both staying here in Russellville.

This week went by super, super fast, but the highlight was that we got to go down to Vilonia and help clean up the damage from the tornado that hit last Sunday. We first stopped at the Conway church building and there we got our HELPING HANDS T-shirts!!! We also had a short instruction meeting. We were assigned an area to go help clean-up/sort the damaged things. AH... this has been my dream since I was young! It was so surreal. It was so crazy that as we were pulling up some homes were perfectly fine, others had a little damage, (maybe a few lost shingles, broken window, or tree) and then others were completely gone. The first area we went to we mainly picked up wood and stacked them in a pile to burn. We also got in a long straight line in this huge cow pasture and picked up all the little small debris. (That way cows won't eat it and die) Then after lunch we went to a different area, maybe .4 miles away.. Here is where there wasn't much organization so a lot of us were standing around. There was a huge hole dug for all the biodegradable stuff that could be buried and then already sorted piles of everything else.. there was a large tractor that kept bringing these old, destroyed cars over into ta section more convenient for trucks to put on their trailer and hall them away. This area we later found out that we were cleaning up what used to be a junk yard. The last area we went to...again within 300 yards...is where we picked up everything from a completely destroyed home. There was absolutely nothing left. Apparently the family only wanted to save pictures and bibles. I found about 20 pictures stuck into the ground and I took them to the pile of saving. A little while later a lady came up to us and said the section we were cleaning up in was most of her stuff from her shed nearby. That's when someone realized those pictures I found could be hers. So we went back and go them and took them to her. Her face was priceless. A sense of relief. Her husband started looking through them and saying... "that's my dad, (next picture) that's my sister." Ah......it was so neat! We talked with her for a little bit and she said this is the 3rd time she has been hit in 8 years. The first time she lost like 50 trees, the 2nd time, part of her house was destroyed so they build a storm shelter after, and also got a big pod(like a storing shed) for all the retrievable items to put in... (this was 3 years ago) Well... on Sunday she said she was watching the news and the storm didn't look like it was coming toward them, however, on someones phone it did, so they took pre-cautions and went around telling their neighbors and most of them listened, and they all got into their storm shelter. There was one man that said, not to worry and didn't go. Well after the tornado came through they got out, and looked around and that house where that man was, was completely destroyed. They ended up finding his body a little ways away. The things these people have gone through, and the pain they are experiencing are indescribable. She told us she was moving to Conway. This whole experience I will never forget. The last part of cleaning up we were cleaning up the kitchen debris of someones home. I could go on and on about everything I saw and did, but most importantly I learned that materialistic things don't matter. It's our faith in Jesus Christ and our families! There were so many people out here volunteering. There were dark blue, light blue, red, orange, and our yellow shirts all representing different organizations or church groups. There were people coming around bringing us food and water. There was one man in my ward that was stationed down there that was cooking enough  hamburger and hot dogs to feed 3,000 people. There were SOO many people like that. Everyone's faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is what is helping people through this. I loved when that family only wanted to save pictures and their bibles. The south is truly amazing! So fitting is Helaman 5:12! It's Christ, without a doubt that is helping us all through this time. If a tornado were to touch down, why not the south-where the communities will unite together, thank Heavenly Father for their lives and then help those in need. This place is so loving and charitable! That's something I can definitely work on! I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the enabling power of the Atonement. I'm so grateful for the the hope and happiness it brings me daily!! I'm also so grateful for my family!! I CAN"T WAIT to talk to ya'll on Sunday!!!!   

ALSO, yesterday was fast and testimony meeting. I was sitting next to Diana (recent convert) and I did the whole, 'if you go I will go.' She immediately said "yes,  I have something to share." It was the most powerful testimony that our Heavenly Father lives. I was sitting up on the stand, just looking out at everyone's eyes crying. Her mom came up to me afterwards crying and gave me a hug and then said, "You are God's miracle, thank you so much!" 

What a wonderful weekend!

Love you all!! Thanks for everything! I'm so grateful for all of ya'll! 

Hermana Warner

Oh there is sunshine in my soul!

Hey ya'll (seeing that I am writing to people that speak english 'hey ya'll' is much more fitting than hola)  

Lets see, as a missionary there is so much that happens each week and I never know what to tell ya'll. lets see...

Anna... we found her by contacting a referral.. she is a young mother who is expecting another one. We set a baptism date with her this last week, but have since been unable to get a hold of her. 

Jose!! This guy. He came to like the last 30 minutes of church yesterday!! he has work so he just rushed over after!!! He is super interested in the gospel..... and ahh..... ahh... me. yeah... so unfortunately... well actually fortunately we have great elders that are now teaching him!! 

Ah. Ok. this experience was frustrating. We knocked on this door and this lady answered it and didn't speak English very well. She was from Thailand. So since she didn't speak English very well, i started speaking Spanish... she obviously still didn't understand that. So my companion went back to English, still the lady couldn't understand, so I tried speaking Spanish again...yeah, we ended up just giving her a mormon.orgcard. 

We helped this lady in the rest home with her garden outside. She is not allowed to go out there unless she has a worker with her. So we were able to help her and she was so grateful! 

We were told, "I'm falling in love with the Mormon church"

Easter was wonderful! We were able to teach the young women lesson, which was amazing! We focused on 5 different words that describe what the Savior gives us and then used the Book of Mormon for examples. We chose: light, hope, succor, grace, and love!! After church we went to a members home and had a yummy dinner! We were told there that you don't stop eating until your fat. (not full) To say the least, we ate a TON... They also asked us, if we have to put rocks in our pockets to keep us from flying away because we are so skinny. haha. too funny.

Well, that's my week. It was wonderful! Tomorrow we go down to Little Rock for training with the mission president!! It will be great!!  

Love,

Sister Warner

Pictures:

Less-Active Family in the ward! They are hilarious! 

Good BBQ place!!

We went to a "party in a park" event that the ward participated in by having a family history booth. There were many different activities for people to do.