Happy Spring 🐾

Oregon is BEAUTIFUL during the spring! There are blossoms everywhere! I love it here so much! (: This past week was good! It seems like with the sunny days it brings out all the super nice awesome people! Example: There's this guy who was walking his dog, we stopped and talked with him for a good while. It was cool to tell him about Joseph Smith and also converse about how good God is - he had to pause for a second and was just "wow" could tell he was feeling the spirit in that moment! 

We also had zone conference! Mostly on lesson planning - maybe it'll really help me become a better teacher (: I still have a lot of weaknesses but it's not a bad thing. I have faith God will help me and make me better than I am right now. We also talked about success - the love I receive and give to others is the real success of a mission!

Other cool stories: there's a family we're teaching with the cutest but crazy kids (; the oldest who's 8 has been reading a Book of Mormon stories we gave her and surprised us by reciting the whole first chapter on "how we got the Book of Mormon" it was AWESOME! She had memorized it! She's also keeping a list of words she doesn't understand to ask us (:

It's amazing the LOVE I feel for these families! There's another couple we visit and they are so funny! And cute! He's less active and she's not a member but it's cool to teach them each time based on questions that pop up. Last night we showed them pictures of temples! (It came up after she asked about cow statues in our churches? Not sure where that's found but we explained about oxen in the temple and the 12 tribes of Israel and then about temple work!) I love those two so much!

Also guess what! General conference is coming up!! Email me and tell me your thoughts and some of your favorite talks! It's cool that for each person there's something that sticks out and really touches you. You never really know what could be said that will make a difference in your life!

I hope you have an amazing week!! I love you and thank you for the prayers and support! It truly makes a difference (:

~Sister Warburton(:

Spring!

 Puppy!

 Pday: Bowling with the Pros

"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are ​​​called​ to the work" (D&C 4:3)

Sweet Home Sunset

 

 



SERVE

This seems to be the theme from the last couple of weeks! And it's the BEST! The basic lesson learned from the life of Christ is to love and serve one another. I read a story in a talk by James E Faust about how a group of religion instructors were taking a class on the life of the Savior and when it came down to taking the final test there was a note that said it had been switched to a different building but the timer had already begun so these religion instructors ran across campus to get to their final. Placed strategically along the way there was a little girl crying of a flat bike tire, an old man hobbling and dropping books on the way to the library, and another man in some kind of distress. When the instructors reached the place where the note indicated the final would be, there was the professor who told them they all failed. They had learned and studied a great deal of the life of the Savior and his parables but didn't apply his teachings by helping the little girl crying or the man struggling to walk and carry books or the last man in obvious distress (Search me, O God, and know my Heart). I'm hoping  this will help me recognize the needs of another and create an instinct to help/serve. (:

Service has been my favorite part of my mission (if anybody ever asks ;) it's those times I feel the most love and it becomes deeper than just teaching. I know I'm doing the right thing for the right reason and creating good! It just feels right (: There was someone who gave us awesome advice for when we go home from our mission: the best way to keep the spirit with you is when you're giving of yourself. "whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it" (Mark 8:35). And the best 6 words of advice given to any missionary or person: "Forget yourself and go to work"

This past week we helped Lisa dig a fire Pit! We got dirty and smelly and it was fun! (: She even found me a little Ernie toy! (funny joke: she has boy nicknames for each of the sisters and mine is 'Burt' so we joke that my next companion will have a last name similar to Ernie so we  can be Burt and Ernie!) right now we're Burt and Erick (Warburton&Erickson). We also had exchanges where I went to Albany with S Powell! Everything fell through but I really enjoyed meeting different people from another area and getting to practice a few teaching skills I wanted to work on (: 

Hope you all have an amazing week!! Happy spring!

~Sister Warburton(:

 

Sisters!

 Burt and Ernie!

 Exchanges (:

Typical (;



Hey Family/Friends!

Sometimes I feel like it would be easier to write a lesson than try to describe how our week went (; it didn't feel like we did much this week - rejections was a little tough but as I read back on the week it's actually still been a good week (: we have fun and there still are laughs! We've done a ton of walking and there's been a ton of rain (there were 5 whole days of no sun and just wet! Both misty and pouring rain) but eventually the sun came out! It was like happiness shining down on us! Seriously though, just like the Saviors love! (:

Here's a cool story: late Wednesday night we got an online referral to visit this lady and see her the next day... we learned a family (members) were traveling home from Oregon and had prayed to find someone who desperately needed the gospel. While at a bus stop they saw this lady (Neeta) and her son there waiting - Neeta was the answer to their prayers. They sent us Neeta's address and we went to see her. After talking to Neeta, she's been through a lot and recently had to relocate to sweet home. She told us on her way here, while waiting for the bus it was then this family approached her and her son and took them out to eat and they all really connected. Neeta was so touched by this family. She accepted to let someone (us) from the church come see her and it was really sweet for me to hear the love and care this family showed this lady and her son. God answers prayers! (:

We also had stake conference yesterday and they actually changed the stake presidency here in the Lebanon Oregon Stake. Two Elders of the seventy came and they explained the process of how a new stake president is selected and given the priesthood keys for that calling - pretty cool! The entire meeting was incredible! We got to sing in the choir and it was incredible to hear the testimonies of men who are dedicated to serving. 

I hope you all have an amazing week! Happy Birthday to the most AMAZING MOM! I love you!

Ps. I just learned we can check our emails throughout the week! Still can't reply back until Monday but I'll be able to read them anytime (:

~Sister Warburton(:

 

Sandy!

Port-a-potty joke! Whenever we're out and need to use the bathroom we find these things (but we NEVER would actually use one)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST! I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!

 



Book of Mormon Testimony

There were so many good things and lessons this past week! We had the spirit with us and guiding us! Which means we're doing something right (: 

So this huge and exciting event happened to me this past week: I finished the Book of Mormon! Yep! I can say with full confidence that God answers prayers (: The day after I finished the Book of Mormon, I had my personal scriptures on my lap and this time my answer came to me with this deep sense of love for them. I can't fully describe the feelings that come when you receive an answer to the Book of Mormon promise but I know it comes from God. I was reading the testimonies of the prophet and witnesses in the beginning of the Book of Mormon and wanted to write my own to keep in my personal scriptures. Here's what I wrote:

I, Marie, having been born of goodly parents make a record of my testimony and special witness that Jesus is the Living Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. I know by witness of the Holy Spirit that the words and stories contained in the Book of Mormon are true! And that the fullness of the Gospel has been restored. I know with a surety that Christ lives, "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!" (D&C 76:22) I know there is a loving God, our Heavenly Father, and he cares about us. That through Christ's Atonement we can return. 

I testify, The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The doctrines, principles, and knowledge taught in the Gospel changes lives. It has blessed my life. I am given strength through my faith, a strong spark of hope, and a greater understanding of who I am and the love the Savior has for me. I know these things are true with all my heart. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I would LOVE to hear your testimonies of the Book of Mormon or even your favorite scriptures (:

Hope you all have an amazing week! I love you!

~Sister Warburton(:

 

 Spring!

Someone left toaster strudel on our car!