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. 

On a marquee: "Don't read the Book of Mormon, that's how they get you" - April 14th

Since being on my mission, I have come to LOVE the Book of Mormon and know it is true! In return, there have been many different responses Iv'e also received. Some say we have a bible and need no more, the Book of Mormon is not for me, the Book of Mormon doesn't testify of Christ, Joseph Smith wrote it, and a whole lot more. Some will accept it and clearly know its true but then don't believe the church to be true when in the introduction it says that if the Book of Mormon is true, then so is the prophet Joseph Smith, as well as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Others tell us, I need to read the whole thing before I can know. Do you need to eat a whole apple to know it tastes good? 

Through this all, my testimony of the Book of Mormon stands strong. I know is true, and I know anyone that reads it with an open heart can come to know by the Holy Ghost as well. The Book of Mormon 'proves to the world that the holy prophets are true and that God does call and inspire men to his holy work in this age and generation as well as generations of old.' (D&C 20:11) The Book of Mormon is convincing evidence of the restoration. The Book of Mormon answers questions to the soul. It draws us closer to God than any other book. It is evidence that God loves and speaks to us today! 

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. In this mission we have been challenged to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days. (about 18 pages a day) I have done it a few times now, and it's truly amazing! I know that it is the word of God and that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. This book has changed me and I've seen the change in my investigators when they read and pray about it. How blessed we are to have the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth again today! 

Anyways.... I don't know why I just shared that... but I did.  

FURTHERMORE: This week was awesome! We taught a TON of lessons and found a lot of new people!! There was a baptism of this lady Veronica and her 2 sons. (husband already a member) She has been meeting with missionaries for 4 years. We would go over there and read the Book of Mormon with her; but the elders mainly taught her. 

On Friday night we went store contacting in Walgreen's and a lady walked in bleeding from her nose. We asked if she was okay and she told us she had just had surgery and was there for medicine. We were able to teach her about priesthood blessings and asked her is she would like one. She said she would love it and was so grateful for church people! She hasn't been to church in 16 years and said she is looking for one!

Well I love you all, thanks for your support!! xoxo

 

Dios los ama mucho!

Hermana Warner

P.S. Ya'll should look up this on Easter: 

• “Because of Him” Video. This two-and-a-half minute video can be found, beginning April 13, at Mormon.org/BecauseofHim and shared with the hashtag #BecauseofHim.

• Internet Promotion and YouTube Masthead Takeover. Beginning April 13 and leading into Easter Sunday, pre-roll video and banner advertisements on hundreds of Internet sites will encourage viewers to visit our Easter web page. On Easter Sunday, approximately 109 million people (according to YouTube estimates) will see our YouTube homepage ad.

• Mormon.org/BecauseofHimWeb Page. Beginning on April 13, the “Because of Him” video will be available and the Easter story—including Church teachings and beliefs about Jesus Christ—will be featured.

It's all worth it!!

Hey ya'll;

-This week both my companion and I (one day after the next) got the 24 hour flu.

-We found out that Alysha is moving to Hot Springs, Arkansas. :(

-A lady we found called us the next day and was super anti-ed by people on the internet.

-Walked around the city for 3 hours straight without getting into a single home

-were on bike week

-had tornado warnings and people texting us saying that we were in the path of the tornado and the chances of one happening were 8 out of 10.

However, just as Elder Holland said, IT'S ALL WORTH IT!!

-There are still sister missionaries that live in Hot Springs to continue teaching Alysha and she texted us on Sunday with a quote from conference saying that it was going to be her new favorite!

-As we talked with this lady that was later anti-ed, we felt spirit so strong, and we were able to teach through the spirit! It was so powerful! Testimony builder!

-Just after we had finished sitting down to take a short break; a man drove up to us, and said he wants to talk more about God. He said he met missionaries in El Salvador and wants to know more! Even if we walked for 3 hours, with not much success, I would do it again for that ONE.

-We got to ride our bikes in pouring rain through town 2 different days! SO ADVENTUROUS...plus the looks you get from people who think you are crazy riding bikes are classic.

-There was no tornado that came through. There was tons of lightning, thunder and rain but no tornado. Good news: there has never been a tornado here in Russellville! We have our 72 hour kits ready to go too!

I love the quote by President Monson:

"We can choose to have a POSITIVE attitude. We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. In other words, we can choose to be happy and positive, regardless of what comes our way."

Day by day life will continue to go on; so we might as well enjoy it! 

There is always something to be grateful for!

LOVE you ALL!! 

Hermana Warner

Another week came and went (March 31st)

HOLA MI FAMILIA!!

I had a dream in Spanish last night that I was talking to my first companion in Spanish and we were fluent.... if only that were true......

This week we met with a lot of less-actives and shared messages with them, trying to inspire them to come back to church. We also went and visited one in the hospital. She was in an isolation room and so we had to put on a gown, gloves, mask and reverse airway mask in order to see her. She is doing well, and hopefully will be leaving the hospital shortly. 

Met with another investigator this week and we shared a talk given by President Uchtdorf in the past conference... we totally shared the wrong one, but it was absolutely perfect. So not planned, but I have no doubt that is what we were suppose to share with her! 

You know an investigator is golden when she goes online and is researching all about the Mormon church, has started following blogs of Mormon moms, and who gives us updates from the Deseret News. This is Alysha for ya! She also came to the Women's broadcast this past weekend with us. Which was simply amazing!!

We met a amateur skateboarder who is attempting to go pro. He says he is coming to FHE tonight so that will be cool!

This week I was reflecting a lot on my mission and how grateful I am for this opportunity. I have no doubts that this is God's plan for me. I remember about this time last year, crying myself to sleep for at least a week straight after I had recieved multiple promptings to serve a mission. I am ever so grateful I listened. I know that God has a plan for each of us, and that if we turn to him, he will help us in that path. This gospel is everything to me. I'm so humbled to be able to share it with others. Im so grateful for all of ya'll and your wonderful examples you are to me! I will never be able to fully expess my love and gratitude for such wonderful family and friends. I love you all! 

Keep smiling and enjoy General Conference!! :)

-Hermana Warner

neverendinghappiness (March 24th)

Hola Familia,

This week was one I will never forget.... 

On Tuesday we had a relief society activity for the birthday of Relief Society. There was so much that went into this activity and it turned out amazing. It was a "Mad-Hatters" party. We all wore hats and had a dinner! Then we also tied 2 quilts for the service project. As we were ting them they then surprised us and told us that the quilts were going to my companion and I. AHHHHH!!! So nice! Pictures to come... they are so cute! 

We visited with Alysha again this week! She came to the Relief Society activity last Tuesday too. She told us that she has been going online and looking up everyone's favorite Book of Mormon verses and then reading those and highlighting the ones she liked. She came to all 3 hours of church as well! She is so ready!! 

Saturday was simply amazing!!! x10000. DIANA, CARMEN, and OSCAR VENTURA were all BAPTIZED Saturday! There were obviously some crazy events that took place before the baptism but, everything worked out... (The Lord always will perform miracles!) Sister Peterson was able to come up for the baptism as well! So fun to see her again, and it was so good for Diana! 

After the baptism we all had dinner and then we had noche de deportes! Sister Peterson stayed for that too! It was SO fun! 

Sunday, right before Sacrament Meeting Presidente Hernandez came up to me and told me that I would not be speaking anymore because we would be having the Ventura Family getting confirmed and we would run out of time... oh drats (drats that I wouldn't be speaking, not that they were getting confirmed) :) It was a really good thing though because,we had to leave part-way through anyways to start setting-up for the BAPTISM of Maria Fernanada! She is 11 and has been coming to church for a while. She was baptized in Texas when she was 8 but never received the Holy Ghost. (This happened to her dad too, so the Elders baptized her dad like 2 months ago) Therefore, we re-baptized her and she received the Holy Ghost yesterday!  YAYYYYY!!! 

We also went on a walk with Diana yesterday to talk about her baptism and have a lesson with her, when we passed this guy that just randomly asked us, "Do you speak Spanish??" He was looking at my companion. She said "No," but pointed to Diana and I. We ended up talking to him for about an hour about the church and he is so ready! He has been searching for what church is true, met with Jehovah Witnesses yesterday, and the day before that a different church, and the day before that... a different one... (NO JOKE) We gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he will read it! He is going out of town for 2 weeks to Texas for work, but I'm super excited for when he returns! 

Transfers is this week and my companion and I are both STAYING!!! Half my district is leaving...;( but I get to stay here for at least another 6 weeks!! 

Hope ya'll have a fantastic week,

Love you all, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CURTIS, KYLE and UNCLE CURT tomorrow!! 

Hermana Warner

Diana

Maria

my quilt!! 

Greetings from the wonderful Russellville!

We received a referral this week for a older couple that has a grandson on a mission. We were able to contact and teach them. They are the cutest couple and so proud of this grandson on a mission. They have met with missionaries before in Nevada but lost contact with them when they came out here!  

We are now teaching a 10 year old girl. Her mom is a member and only has her ever other weekend. However, her dad is okay with her getting baptized!! She is the cutest little girl! 

We had a ward potluck on Friday with the Spanish and English wards. We had lots of investigators come and it was awesome for them to meet tons of the members and just feel the spirit and get familiar with the church! 

We are still teaching Alisha. She is still soaking everything up and reading from the Book of Mormon. We taught her the plan of salvation on Saturday with a member, and it was perfect. She loved the idea of having families sealed for time and all eternity! 

Melinda unfortunately was very sick yesterday morning and was unable to come to church. Right after church the elders went over and gave her a priesthood blessing. Immediately after, she started to feel better, and within minutes she was perfectly fine. It was a great testimony builder that the power of the priesthood is real. It is the power of God! 

Diana and her parents are still planning on  getting baptized this weekend!!!! I'm so excited for them! More importantly, they are so excited. Diana is telling all her friends at school. Many members in the ward have come up to us and said they have seen the change in her since the beginning of the school year! This gospel really does change lives!!

We had specialized training this week down in Little Rock. The meeting was focused on prayer. I loved it. I love that prayer really is so powerful. I can remember from a very young age receiving answers to prayer, no matter how small. It was such a good reminder to pray always, and let the Lord know of our desires, but then ultimately it is up to the Lord and His will what will happen! 

The Lord lives. He suffered for each one of us, so we don't have to walk this road alone.

Felicidades a RYAN!!!! on his mission call! Chile, Orsono Mission! And going to the MEXICO MTC!! 

Lastly, in case any of you wanted to know... funny story.... we were about to go knock on this door the other night about 7:30, so it was kinda dark, but not really... and we walk around the garage and we see these 2 people making out on the front door step. AH! Indeed, we both just turned around and didn't disturb. haha The Life of A Missionary. 

Love you all! 

Hermana Warner

photos:

My companion, taking the trash out for our investigator! 

Apparently people don't like pickles and they assumed I could eat 500 and so they all gave me theirs.  

and... a elder really can't take pictures... he cut out my companion... but Happy St. Patrick's Day!

MIRACLE CITY! (Last weeks email!)

Where do I start? 

Melinda: We had a lesson with her on Tuesday and asked her to pray about being baptized on the 22 of March. She said she would ask her doctor the next day at one of her appointments if she would be able to do that. Then we contacted her briefly on Saturday to make sure she was coming to church. She then told us she was going back to the Journey church but would come to ours as well. 

Diana: We met with her on Tuesday and she told us that she started praying and has been receiving answers to her prayers!! (Diana is 15 years old, who wasn't sure she believed in God 1 month ago) 

Wednesday I went on exchanges with the sister training leaders, so I went down to Conway with Sister Sturdevant. She is from Utah and played basketball at SLCC for 1 year! We found this one lady, Barbra. We gave her a Book of Mormon and talked with her about it. We then said, "If the Book of Mormon were true, what would that mean for you and your family?" She responded, "Well then, I'm in the wrong church, and I don't want that."

While we were also on exchanges my companion met this one lady and gave her a Book of Mormon. We went back on Friday (2 days later) and she was on page 141 of the book. SAY WHAT?? I almost fell on my face with excitement, and shock at the same time. She loves it and we were able to teach her and her husband! 

We talked with Dalton again this week. As we were walking up to his home he was texting out his kitchen window (he doesn't get service inside) and as soon as he saw us he threw his phone down and walked to come open the door. Sister Durfee and I looked at each other and not going to lie... A little worried. He gets to the door leads up against the door and just stares at us.  When we asked him how he was he said, "not good, you can't fix it and either can Jesus." Well...I just start talking with him and start sharing the first lesson...I didn't know what else to do... He then started commenting on things I was saying, and I was pleasantly surprised. He had gone onto Mormon.org and researched on there!!! Then he goes, "Alright, I have a question: (right then I'm thinking ok.... whats he going to say) How can you be so positive?" PERFECTO! We were able to share with him scriptures out of the Book of Mormon and shared our testimonies that this gospel will bring that happiness. Then he went on to ask different questions like, "Does prayer even matter?" He is awesome. At the end of our conversation at his doorstep he said, "My day just got better because of you." MY DAILY GOAL!! YAY!! He took a Book of Mormon and we gave him specific chapters to read!! We are going back this week! 

One of our investigators called us on Thursday asking for me and then went on to explain that she had a mild heart attack and just wanted to let me know and knew that I would pray for her. How cute!!

Saturday Sonia was baptized in the afternoon. She was an investigator for the elders. Elder Hernandez and I sang a duet...for it... my singing skills are definitely being put to use every week in this branch! 

Ashley was baptized that night!! She is the cutest little girl and we were able to teach her the lessons! 

SUNDAY, was miraculous all day long!! First Pahoua came to CHURCH!!!! She has been taught all the lessons. Her husband and cousins are all members and has just never come to church!! She finally did!!! Miracle #1! Miracle #2 MELINDA came to church. She didn't end up going to the Journey church. (shh.... YES!!) We were sitting in the sacrament meeting with pahoua and the spanish elders run over to the door and freak out saying Melinda is here. Melinda is here. (The elders in this area are so great and they are the ones that found Melinda!) They ended up going and getting her and then she came to Sunday school..... she loved it.. said it was her soul food and felt SO GOOD. Well Diana came with us to that class as well! Melinda and Diana bonded so fast! 

That night we took Diana to visit Melinda with us...after talking for a while Diana finally goes to Melinda... "So what do you think about baptism?" Sister Durfee and I just look at each other and sit there and Melinda and Diana bore testimonies to each other about why they both want to be baptized and that they want this light that we have. My companion and I just sat on the couch in silence witnessing this. It was nuts!!!! We then had Diana pray to know if being baptized on March 22 was right.... after the prayer Diana sat there and thought about it.. the spirit was SO strong... Melinda doesn't like silence and immediately started talking. She then said, "I feel at peace" They both accepted to be baptized on March 22and want to be baptized together. WAHOO! Melinda needs to come to church next Sunday again, but today we are going dress shopping with her for P-day so she can get a new dress for her baptism. AHHHH!!!!! 

side note: Diana's parents have been wanting to be baptized but wanted to wait for Diana. (The elders have mainly been teaching them.) So they are going to try and set a date with them this next Saturday when we go over there for dinner!! AH!! 

This work is great! I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Warner

pictures: 

birthday party at a members home for 2 missionaries and the 2 members! (mom and son)

Us with Melinda!

Baptism of Ashley!