Made it through my first full transfer! And my iPad!

It's been a good week! And I love being a missionary(: I'm starting to
see the reasons why I was sent here and am so grateful to be serving
my mission here in Oregon. God really knows everything. He knows all
of us, he knows what is best to help us, and he loves us! "He
comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all
things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all
things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and
all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever." (D&C
88:41). One of the most popular sayings I've heard since being a
missionary is "there are no coincidences" or "coincinkidinks" there's
always a reason why even if we don't know or understand. Who knows why
we do some of the crazy things we do as missionaries? But there is a
reason(;
For example, all the service we've done this past week, like weeding
and cleaning, and we still teach and... We do so much and we do it not
expecting anything in return and it's great! We really do enjoy doing
service for others, especially those who are going through hard times
- like I've said before some of these people we meet and help have
gone through so much and are just incredible! This one lady we are
helping with her yard has cancer and trying to heal from surgery but
she cannot stay rested, she has to be helping or doing something.
Another lady has several kids with varying degrees of special needs
and her daughter recently got into a horrible car accident and their
house is all sorts of crazy so we've been there a lot to help.
And yeah.. I also got my iPad this week! We had trainings for them
Wednesday and we found out the mission is getting 19 new missionaries
this week. I can say I've officially been here a full transfer (6
weeks). Just a few more to go(; hahah but both me and sister Mickelson
are staying in our area which we're glad(: the ward had a Pioneer Day
BBQ Saturday night which was great! I'm still trying to remember names
and faces of everyone but still meeting new people all the time.
Missionary life is crazy(;
Hope everyone enjoys their last week of July! (Crazy!) and write me
sometime? Send your favorite scripture or quote - I would love to
know(:
~Love Sister Warburton(:

P.S.  Her address is: 3050 2nd Street, Hubbard Oregon, 97032

Sunset from Oregon - They're just as beautiful as Utah(:

Our Broccoli tree!



Katherina's (Kat) Baptism!!!

This past week was a pretty great week and a roller coaster of missionary work! Tuesday-Wednesday we did TONS of service (and hadn't planned it very well;) we would change into service clothes to help organize/clean then change back to skirts/dresses for a lesson then change back into service clothes to do yard work then back to skirts/dresses and yeah.. It was like that for both days(; 

On Thursday I had my first interview with president and sister Tateoka! It went good and I love them! I got to kinda feel the spirit testify to me that president Tateoka is called as a mission president for this mission at this time and to be my mission president for my mission. There is so much love and excitement I feel for them right now! Also, guess what! I'm finally going to get my iPad this week!! It's amazing how much technology helps us in missionary work (we've been using my companions iPad since I've gotten here) but I'm finally going to get my own and can't imagine doing missionary work without it. There is an area book app made just for missionary work that has ALL information on it - our weekly schedule, lessons we've taught, people we're teaching, our weekly and monthly goals, it also keeps track of our progress in our goals, and is seriously great! 

Friday was zone training meeting and gosh! I LOVE being around other missionaries! Testimonies from other missionaries are the greatest! Hahah and I forget I'm a missionary(; we also spent the afternoon doing a few last minute things preparing for Kat's baptism like making the programs and having some printer issues.. It was exhausting but they turned out great(: 

 

Saturday was Kat's baptism! It was also her birthday! She got baptized on her birthday - how awesome is that?! She is seriously the greatest! There were so many trials and stresses that she went through this past week  before her baptism (and are still going through) where you can see Satan trying to have his say but the baptism day came! and the baptism went super well! She asked me to give the baptism talk and even that turned out pretty good! But really she was glowing! After, she and her husband went to the temple, took pictures and sent us a picture and a text about how grateful she is for the gospel and for us. We love her so much! She was confirmed Sunday(: 

 

We are also reminded of the little things that make our day(: the tender mercies, the little prayers answered, and the love Christ has for everyone! It's beautiful to see the change the gospel brings to a person and to see the light of Christ just radiate from them!

I hope you all have a great week full of little happy things and miracles!

Love, 

Sister Warburton(:

 

 

 (Sis Mickelson, Kat!, and me:)

 (selfie)

(Zone Training Meeting - the Keizer Zone a total of - 5 Districts - 16 Companionships - 32 missionaries = one of the biggest zones in the mission)



New Mission President! And Some Evil Creepy Crawlers..

We got to meet our new mission president and his cute wife on Tuesday! President and sister Tateoka are farmers from Idaho and are the sweetest. We sang "called to serve" as they walked into the building and we could just feel the spirit and power they have! After the meeting and taking pictures we had a lesson with Kat! And goodness she's awesome! She's gone through so much and continues to go through so much complications but is determined to do what she can to be happy and someday go to the temple. She's getting baptized this Saturday!! *crossing fingers/praying that everything continues to go as planned and goes smoothly* and just this past two days we got two new investigators! It's been a good week(: except for - spiders. We've gotten so many in our apartment! These spiders are pretty decently sized spiders and we have spider spray but they are mean! There's been a few times we've had moments of terror when trying to get rid of them. (; 

Other fun and exciting events was Saturday was a hazelnut festival in Donald (one of our areas) and we went with a recent convert Heather - we love her so much! She's working on getting her young women medallion and going to the temple! 

Later on Saturday we had a baptism for a child of record who we've also been teaching - Claire! She turned 8 on July 7th (same birthday as an awesome sister of mine;) and we got to fill up the font for her and attend her baptism! 

Hope you all have an amazing week! And remember you are loved! Ps. The scriptures are seriously amazing! I've loved having an hour every morning for personal study and getting deep into the Book of Mormon - they really do have the answers to everything!(:

Love, Sister Warburton (:

 

 With President and Sister Tateoka

Zone with President and Sister Tateoka

 With Claire!

Selfie (;

It's July! And it's hot!

I've had awesome Oregon weather and then this past week it got really
hot. On Monday we had zone Pday! There were about 16 companionships
and each had brought 100-200 water balloons we played games with at a
park in Keizer. It was fun to do something different and play around!
but still be missionaries(; There were even other people at the park
who weren't missionaries but joined in on the games and was interested
to learn more about us after.
Tuesday morning was really rough. Missionary work is hard and there is
no way to possibly accurately describe the feelings and everything
that goes on while being a missionary. The week before we talked
about how to become an awesome missionary who has not only sacrificed
the time and money to be here but is willing to consecrate or
completely give up our hearts and ourselves to the Lord. Sometimes
it's a struggle to completely give up our fears and to have faith.
On Wednesday president Samuelian gave me and sister Mickelson
permission and he told us to take the day to go to Silverfalls and
hike to these gorgeous waterfalls, do our personal study there, and
really listen to the spirit. I was in D&C 6 and Its so great! Verse 23
says "did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What
greater witness can you have then from God?" Then in verse 33 "fear
not to do good". The atmosphere was perfect and it helped to kinda get
out of the "world" and listen to nature and the spirit. I realized
that the feelings of being unqualified or unworthy was really coming
from the adversary (Satan). He's a butt. (Can I say that?;)
The next days were a little crazy trying to figure out exchanges
(switching companions for a full day) with our sister training leaders
but it got figured out and I had exchanges with sister summers in her
area of west Salem Saturday. We had some pretty amazing lessons. It
was a lot like my first day here because I didn't know anyone in her
area but the First Lady we went to see was amazing! She's been through
a lot but knows that God was with her and was helping her. We had a
great discussion about the bible and Book of Mormon and there was a
sister from the ward there too who was seriously great! I loved this
visit so much and I'm sorry I haven't been writing more about the
visits and lessons we've had. They've all been good (haven't had too
many) but people really do love having missionaries over and I love
learning from these people too! There are some amazing stories that
people share with us. Continue to seek God and Christ and you
experience these miracles! "We believe in a God of miracles"
missionary work is worth it! The day before we actually had an
investigator (someone who is interested in the gospel and
church) Kat call us and wanted a lesson that night and to talk about her baptism! She brought her daughter and mom who had tons of questions
and absolutely loved how the gospel has helped Kat. It was great!
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting and I loved hearing the
testimonies of the members here! Later, there was a baptism of a 8yr
old boy of the former bishop of the ward and we took our investigator
Phil (he's dads age, is super shy and has anxiety but is really sweet) to
the baptism. He's had all the lessons, comes to church every week he
can, and is so close to being baptized! There are just a few fears he
needs to overcome and we were hoping that seeing this baptism would
help him.
Each week is different and I'm continually learning and hopefully
improving on teaching and sharing the gospel. It's a struggle at times
because there really is no set way to teach or do anything. We rely
heavily on the spirit and it is really the only way we can teach is by
the spirit.
HAPPY 4th OF JULY!! 

Love Sister Warburton(:                  

4th of July in St Paul

                     Exchanges with Sister McArther and Sister Summers

I got this picture from a member.  Sister Warburton and Sister Mickelson