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!