These Things I've Learned

Hello! Exciting news! 

This "P" day stands for Packing! Ah! The day has come and I'll be going home :) I've done a lot of pondering and Inspired by a poem President Boyd K. Packer wrote of his life, his physical and spiritual growth, from a talk given April 2013 General Conference titled "These Things I Know". I've done my own little writing and came up with...

My Mission: These Things I've learned

These are the things I've learned, experienced, and gained a testimony of being a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: 

LOVE! How to better express and give love for those I care about. I've also learned patience, a Christlike attribute which helps me to become more like CHRIST. I've learned to LAUGH! I've learned how to BE MYSELF around strangers and have CONFIDENCE in the person God has made me. I've learned to TRUST God. His plan is better than anything I could ever try to make myself. He knows each person and their situation, he knows how to help and bless everyone who reaches out to him. I've learned MIRACLES still happen. I've also learned how to ACCEPT people, their beliefs, and their agency. I've learned what it means to have a HUMBLE HEART. I'm learning to LET GO, let go of pride, let go of hurt, let go of the world and turn to CHRIST. I've learned so much more about Jesus Christ, who He is to me and why I depend on Him. I know He is the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. I know HE LIVES. I've learned how to read and understand the SCRIPTURES. I've even sorta learned how to TEACH them to someone! I've learned TRUTH from the Book of Mormon and had many PRAYERS answered through it. I've learned that my weaknesses, which I thought I would never be able to overcome, they can be made STRONG through the ATONEMENT of Christ and I've experienced it! I've learned I CAN do hard things! And that I can do them through GOD who STRENGTHENS me everyday. I learned I can make it through the toughest of times and it will be OKAY! I've learned to trust in God's TIMING and everything will work out in the best possible way because there's no other being who LOVES more PERFECTLY than a loving Father in Heaven and his Son. These things I've learned are making me into the person Heavenly Father would have me be and I'm so grateful for it and this incredible experience I've had to dedicate myself as a MISSIONARY to Him! I'm grateful for a loving mission president and his wife and for the many things I've learned from them! I know the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness to the earth today. He loves and leads the church. I'm so grateful for it and my family! I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I LOVE you ALL!! I'll see you soon!

If anyone would like to come :) My homecoming will be this Sunday, December 17th at 11pm in Saratoga Springs, Utah with a lunch at my house after! (email for addresses or look on FB event) I'm excited to see you all!! :)

~Sister Warburton (:

 



DECEMBER✨

It is DECEMBER! Ah!

Yesterday during sacrament meeting, it really stood out to me about what an amazing magical time of the year this is! Hearts really are softened and it's a time when the world (most of) focuses on the birth of our Savior and His life! There is so much more love and goodness! It really has been a joy to share #LightTheWorld! And to be serving as a missionary for the last 18 months! It feels like time has just slipped by and I'm still trying to find where I'm at (: I've loved every bit of it! Thank you for all the love and support!! I LOVE you all!!

~Sister Warburton (:

 



LIGHT THE WORLD

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and all he gives us! We really are so blessed! 

What am I grateful for? See pictures below (:

After today it will officially be the Christmas season! Sister Cornell and I cannot contain our excitement we have for this time of year! The spirit of CHRISTmas is incredible and powerful! This year the church is doing #Light The World: 25 ways. 25 days. It's a way this season to reach out and SERVE! I remember the joy of sharing this last year as a missionary and I'm beyond excited to be sharing it again! I love this season of giving and I know it'll help each person feel the infinite power of the Savior's love! Especially in the crazy world today. I love Christmas and I LOVE the Savior! I'm going to serve him this Christmas to the best of my capabilities by making every bit count! I know He lives and LOVES each of us! He knows us and he's asked us to reach out to our fellow men to serve! When we do this we will feel happier and a greater peace. We can be the light of the world! 

I love you all!! Have an amazing Thanksgiving day!

~Sister Warburton (:

 

 I am incredibly grateful for Jesus Christ. His Love, Atonement, and Gospel on the earth today!

My Family! Their love and support and the knowledge that we are eternal!

I'm so grateful for my life! For who I am and who I'm becoming (:

 I'm grateful for Food! Especially these favorites!

I'm incredibly grateful to be a missionary! To teach and testify of love and truth! #roleplays

Grateful for Christmas lights! The spirit of Christmas is on its way! 

And I'm so grateful for YOU! Thank you for who you are! I Love you all!!

 



Once Upon A Week

Hahah. To tell the truth, it's been a rough week! But hey sometimes they happen :) it makes you stronger and it really helps to see the things that matter most and the tender mercies of the Lord! Our little miracles were found in scriptures, "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." (Mosiah 16:9) also in a text, "Hello sisters, thank you for the story I enjoyed it thanks for sharing have a great evening cheers". Other little joys were the amount of puddles we got to splash through, a beautiful sunrise while running, Sister Cornell's cute quirks, Christmas music when we go in for the night, good news from family, and all the love and support we receive! God really is in the little details of our lives. He knows who we are and exactly what we need in each moment! He is a loving Heavenly Father and we are His children. 

This morning I read a talk from Dieter F. Uchtdorf called "Your Happliy Ever After", it's inspiring and enchanting! He talks about our lives being our own fairytales starting with our 'once upon a time' leading to a 'happily ever after' but in between there are the good and bad like opposition and adversity. Think about every story you've heard or read, there is always a great test of faith or courage before miracles and a happy ending can happen. "In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

My strength and testimony has increased so much from the little trials I go through and even though the thought of future hardships terrify me, I know with faith in Christ everything will work out and I'll grow to become stronger, wiser, and happier!

Thank you for the prayers and love! 

I LOVE you!

Ps. I won't be emailing until Thanksgiving next week! (The holidays are so close!)

~Sister Warburton (:

 

PUDDLES

 We made cookies and decided to experiment... PANOOKIE

BABY COW

 

Bonus pictures she sent me:

 

And I got one sent to me from a member:

 

 



November Colors

Aww wow what a week! The chilliness is definitely coming and with the change in time it gets a lot darker a lot earlier! But we're surviving (: 

"How far is Heaven?​

​​​​​It’s not very far.​

​​​​​When you live close to God,​

​​​​​It’s right where you are." 

(President Thomas S Monson)

Sister Cornell made it to Dayton and she's seriously the SWEETEST! She's from American Fork, Ut. Has the best jokes and already we have a ton of fun! We've also seen some pretty awesome miracles! 

Not a super long email but I want to add my testimony of Joseph Smith and the restored gospel to the many testimonies out there. I've received a personal witness of the truth of his words and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It really brings me happiness! There is no other way to find true happiness but through the gospel of Jesus Christ and by studying the words of the prophets. One of my favorite things Joseph Smith says after the first vision is, "For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it". He went through a lot during his lifetime and his courage helps me as I'm out in the chilly weather trying to share what I know to be true! I'm so grateful for my mission and the incredible experience it's been! 

As I've been typing my testimony, I've felt overcome with an incredible love for this experience, for the people I've met, for the many testimonies I've seen and heard, and for the love of the Savior. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. I know He lives and continues to lead and guide us! 

I'm so grateful for the love and support each week! Thank you so much! 

I love you!!

~Sister Warburton (:

 

Smile! Why? Because you're alive!

 It's November!!

 Life is good!

"Team work makes the dream work!" #DreamTeam 



Come What May and Love It!

I am the absolute worst about predicting for transfers! So here's what's happening for my LAST TRANSFER: I'm staying in Dayton and getting Sister Cornell! Sister Runs Through is going to Bend! This was so shocking! But she will do amazing work over in the land of Bend, Oregon! I'm grateful for and humbled by the opportunity I've had to be her first companion and introduce her to the exciting life of being a missionary! 

This past week was such a fun exciting week! We got to use Facebook! And I kinda freaked the whole time (still am)! I'm able to get on but to use it strictly for missionary work here in Dayton. It's been busy! We met some really cool people and set up lessons for this week! I'm excited for the work here and to be able to finish my mission here! I LOVE this place and I love the people here! I LOVE Oregon and I'm so grateful God sent me here to serve! I was reading this talk from general conference October 2008, "Come What May, and Love It" it was so good! "every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result." There are so many inspirational things from this talk including a part that talks about learning to laugh! A ton of the best memories come from something crazy, awkward, or silly happening that could go either negative or positive but what makes it such a good memory are the laughs! We had a few of those this last week (; It's because of the gospel that I feel I can feel happy! A positive attitude and the eternal perspective of God's plan for us helps carry us through those difficult times. I'm grateful for this knowledge of the plan of salvation and Christ's Atonement. It's because of Him I find peace through trials. I'm able to grow and become stronger because of Him. I know that He lives and because He does we have happiness and hope! 

I love you all! Thank you for the love and support! Getting on Facebook, I got to see a brief glimpse of that support and love! I had no idea anyone read my emails/blog posts! Thank you! Happy Halloween tomorrow!!

~Sister Warburton(:

"Come What May and Love It"

 Ended up joining a birthday party! 

 Facebook! It's been a while..

 Look who surprised me!! One Year after his baptism - it was so cool to see you Phil!

Sweet Wheels! 

 



Stay Dry

We are getting poured on with rain and blessings! There were a few days of it just pouring! We got soaked! (with water) but we also got a bunch of blessings showered on us! Overall it was a fun week! But gotta watch out for those puddles.. once you're wet getting dry isn't an option for a long while! Lesson learned!

One of my most favorite things of my mission is teaching kids! We teach a ton of children and teenagers here! They continually amaze me with how much love they have for Christ and how simple life is for them. We had the primary program yesterday (best Sunday of the year!) and it's incredible the amount of spirit that was there as they sang and shared their testimonies! I love those little ones so much! We will be walking around and a lot of those we run into are the youth and children here! 

I LOVE the focus of families in the church! No family is perfect. On a mission you hear and see different trials families go through but I've also seen an increase of love and strength that comes in those families. I'm so grateful for my family! I can't begin to describe to you my love I have for those I've left behind to serve a mission but because of this time away I've felt our relationships grow stronger! I love my family so much! Both related to me and family I've gained throughout life (: Thank you for the continual love and support! Thank you for who you are and the light you share! And if anything, remember that you do matter! You are here for a purpose. Heavenly Father has a plan for you, He loves you! And I LOVE YOU!

~Sister Warburton (:

#prepared 

 Sopping wet!

Pancake dinner with our sisters!



Smarts Tech

The rain has started coming! The leaves are falling down, the weather is getting cooler, and it's the middle of October! Happy Fall everyone!

This past week we had zone conference and received trainings on using technology in our missionary work! Our mission got smart phones and will get to use Facebook! It's sooo cool! The opportunity we have to use technology to increase the work of sharing the gospel is incredible! Not only during this time but when we go home from our missions and for everyone!! Ah! 

This past week we've had the theme of agency: our ability to choose. I'm so grateful for it and how it's all part of the plan of salvation! The other theme was Christ's Atonement. I got a deeper sense into why we needed it and because of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made we have HOPE! While reading and teaching about it I got this whole new perspective and appreciation for the whole plan - agency, the fall, our lives, and what's in store for us! The gospel and its teachings really do cover it all! It makes sense! 

Well! I hope all is well with you all! I love you! Have an amazing week!!

~Sister Warburton (:

 

Rain!

Sisters at Zone Conference!

 Lunch at the Block House!

Pday fun! We're a crazy bunch (;

 



Missionary Melody

This past week was filled with a ton of ups and downs. But what can you do but enjoy it all? (: we are doing a TON of walking since we basically don't have a car but it's also given us lots of opportunities to explore and talk with people a long the way! Here's one of the many reasons I'm so grateful to be serving in Oregon: people are so KIND! Even when they're not interested in hearing our message they are still sweet! Plus! Atleast over 50% of people wave back to us as they drive by and they see us wave to them (:

Throughout the days/weeks there are events and experiences that are high and low that are like musical notes. They come together to create a sequence of notes and become a melody. For me, that melody even with those lows create an overall happiness when I look back at the days and weeks. I'm so grateful to be serving a mission! There's this amazing quote from President Uchtdorf from a few years ago, "Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey... Do we listen to beautiful music waiting for the final note to fade before we allow ourselves to truly enjoy it? No. We listen and connect to the variations of melody, rhythm, and harmony throughout the composition." (October 2012 "Of Regrets and Resolutions"). I love the message of enjoying the moment and enjoying the journey! This will be something I work on these next few months and I would LOVE it if I had some support in this (: Take time to reflect and find happiness in the beauty of life God has created. Thank God for your experiences and memories! I truly am so grateful for the life God has given me and for those who are part of it! I'm grateful for those hard days so I can more fully appreciate the good! I'm so grateful for my Savior and his infinite LOVE. 

I'm grateful for your love and support! I love you all!! 

~Sister Warburton (:

 

Don't forget to find joy in the journey

Picnic dinner!

Lacey! 

Beautiful Dayton Oregon!

 



After The Many Testimonies

HELLO!

General conference was amazing! While watching, I was reflecting about the past year. My testimony has grown so much and hearing the living apostles bear their witnesses and testimonies of Jesus Christ and the gospel strengthens mine even more! I'm grateful for those I've been able to watch general conference with throughout my mission and those memories created! I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life! 

This is my testimony, in harmony with the Prophet Joseph Smith's testimony of Jesus Christ: that He lives! 

"22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father--

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D&C 76:22-24)

I can't say I've seen him or heard him but I've received a witness in my heart of the truthfulness of His life and gospel. The Savior really loves us and did what he did for each one of us! 

I hope you all were able to connect with something said in conference (: apply those teachings and I promise you will see light and goodness come from it! 

I love you all! 

~Sister Warburton (:

 

Happy, cozy, and ready!

 GenConf with Sister Passey!

Sister Runs Through made this yummy breakfast!



On Feet 👣

I'm an official trainer! Training Sister Runs Through, she is from St George, Utah! (Her name is Native American from a tribe, Assiniboine from Montana) And she came out so prepared to serve! She was ready to get to work and is absolutely excited to be here! 

We found out last Monday evening, president called us and asked if we would share a car between us and the YSA sisters so guess who's basically on foot! We are! It's a lot of stress but tender mercy to have such a big change happen. Walking has actually helped a ton with calming me, it's tiring but the fresh air is rejuvenating plus we've met some cool people! It's been fun showing Sister Runs Through around and sharing the missionary life with someone who's so excited to be here!

Women's conference was awesome! I loved the theme of LOVE. Can you believe general conference is this weekend?! So grateful for the words of the prophets and apostles to inspire and lift us! Watch it! 

I LOVE you all! Have an incredible week! 

~Sister Warburton (:

 

 View from a bridge - its becoming fall!

 Excited for the rain! Bring it on!

FIRST DAY PIC (with Sister Runs Through)



Training!!

We got transfer calls and we're both staying!! BUT Sister Lamb and I are getting new companions! Sister Lamb and her companion will cover the YSA. I'll stay in the Dayton 1st Ward and I'll be TRAINING a new missionary! Ah! 

It's felt so weird with what's happening for transfers but it's been a fun 6 weeks! I'm so grateful I've gotten to serve with Sister Lamb and all the fun adventures we've had! She'll do amazing in YSA!

On Wednesday we had an all sisters meeting in the mission home! All the sisters in the mission in one place, it was so much fun and so good! President and sister Tateoka gave trainings then bore their powerful testimonies of the gospel in their lives. It was a highlight in my week and I've felt so much happier since!

Another HUGE highlight for the week was Rachael, the girl I wrote about last week who wants to be baptized but lots of stuff went down with her family.. she gave a talk in sacrament meeting! She told her story and based her talk on having faith through trials. It was perfect! She shared her amazing testimony about Heavenly Father being there for her in trials and knowing he has a plan for her. Everyone's hearts melted! 

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel and my testimony. I'm incredibly grateful for the people I serve! Each week we visit and try to see as many people as we can to bring light into their homes. There's really something that comes with being a missionary and having a special light with us that others recognize and want. I love seeing it be part of their lives too! This mission has changed my life and I'm forever grateful for the support and love I receive from above and here on Earth! Thank you!

Happy Fall! I love you guys! 

~Sister Warburton (:

Christ: "Feed my sheep" (John 21:16)

Pretty close...

 It was a long day and dinner didn't happen so we ended up at Shari's having breakfast at 8!

 Mark had a great time with these kids (;

 Past companions! Sister Hart and Sister Call! I love these two so much!

More companions! Sisters Phelon, Poulter, and Lamb! I'm so blessed to have AMAZING companions!

 



Holy Smokes

Hey! How is everyone? 

We are doing pretty good (: we are surviving the smoke from the fires here (at one point it was sprinkling ash!) and feeling pretty blessed cause it could be worse. We hear bits and pieces about the hurricanes going on and it's crazy all these things going on in the world! As I was reading the Book of Mormon the past week, I read about similar depressing things that were happening back in the time of Moroni and it's depressing! My heart aches for what Moroni had to go through and for those going through tragic life events today. Towards the end of a letter Mormon wrote to his son Moroni after describing these horrible things, he says "My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." (Moroni 9:25). We don't need to be depressed about what's going on in the world but turn to the light of Christ! I know He lives and as long as He does there will always be hope!

This past week I got to meet Rachael! She's this incredible 17 yr old who, before I came, was taking the lessons and wanted to be baptized. She asked her mom and the very next day her mom bought her a ticket to another state because she was completely against the idea of it. It's just crazy everything that went down and for the past month we've only been able to stay in contact with her through email. Her faith is strong and it's cool to hear how she's been able to apply the teachings of Christ's atonement to her trials. Her mom finally let her come home last week and we're still trying to figure out what will happen. Rachael will turn 18 next month and technically won't need her mom's permission to be baptized.. We still hope her mom will soften her heart!

Remember a few weeks ago when we went to see a return missionary, James and we weren't sure exactly how we were going to be received in the house (we were told not to go there but we did) and when we went it ended up being pretty awesome! Well.. It's been so good since then! Kathy is the mom and Doug is the boyfriend. We love them so much! We are actually working on teaching Kathy and hoping Doug will continue to soften his heart! It's so funny - whenever we go over Kathy expresses how much she loves the missionaries, how much she loves us, and how much she wishes to help and spoils us with whatever she can! From what we've heard, Doug isn't a fan of organized religion but he likes us! Even Kathy told us he seems pretty receptive to us! Also, I have to add this cool story: James' dad, Tommy is a convert in our Dayton ward, he loves to share his conversion and he loves the gospel and the missionaries! They came and knocked on his door sometime almost two years ago after getting a message from his son, who during his mission kept getting promptings to send his dad's information to the missionaries here. It was perfect timing for Tommy and eventually he was baptized and what's cool is he got to go up to his son's mission in Seattle so James could baptize him!

I wish I could write out all the incredible stories and spiritual experiences we have in a week! But I can testify that everything is in the Lord's hand. Things happen for a reason and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to learn and grow on a mission (: I'm so grateful for the love and support I receive. I love and miss you all! Stay safe!

~Sister Warburton (:

 

Matching bears!

 I'm serious when we say we're spoiled with food (most of it is from Kathy)

If you look at the windows it was raining!! We were so excited about the rain! 



September!..?!

How is it September?! How does time go by like this?

This past week was filled with the spirit! It was incredible (: We had a lesson with Bri - super cool YSA investigator who went to Iceland over the summer with a friend and went to church there, recognized the spirit, and is now taking lessons from us! She's so sweet and we had a lesson on faith from Alma 32 outside of this ice cream place in McMinnville. After the lesson, a lady came up and told us she had been listening in on part of the conversation and that it had made her day! (We were talking about patience and faith) it's really cool to be a missionary and know that this is what I do - we share the gospel, talk about uplifting spiritual things, and help others grow their faith in Christ. 

There are so many depressing things in the world! For example, Saturday night we were talking with a rough crowd of people - it was very depressing their view of life. Sister Lamb and I tried our best to bring some light into their lives and tell them there is a source of hope, there is a God who cares and there is a reason they are alive. They couldn't see the good we were trying to explain and it was hard to leave and not see any changes after trying to share truth with them. Sunday was fast and testimony meeting and it really helped to uplift! The message of the gospel is of light and hope! The Holy Ghost testifies of the truth found here and the doctrines of the church. Also, the spirit really does guide and teach (: we were asked right before sacrament meeting to teach Sunday school class for YSA. Hah. We were reading the lesson as we were teaching cause there was no time to prepare! I was kinda really not ready to do this, to lead a discussion to a pretty good size class filled with people more experienced than me.. but it was amazing! The lesson was really guided and we had a ton of help! I'm so grateful to be serving where I am (: 

I love you all! Hope you have an incredible week! Stay safe!

~Sister Warburton (:

 Meet Mark! (The frog) He started in the MTC over a year ago and has been all over from Idaho, Washington, and Oregon! Passed from one missionary to another and now he's made it to Dayton Oregon! Let's hope he likes it here (:

Zone conference! Love these sisters!