Christmas!

It's not the easiest to be away during the holidays but it's WORTH IT! 

Tuesday was a zone conference Christmas party/talent show in Salem and I got to see sister Mickelson and sister Hart again! (Past companions) It was a fun reunion! The talents were all good! Our district wrote a song called the animals of Christmas showing off our ability to make animal noises (; and sister Erickson sang and played a song she wrote ~ it's SO good! Her and Kari would get along so good writing and playing songs together! After the party it was really kinda hard to get back to doing stuff but that night we had an awesome first lesson with Kristen - she is so open to the gospel and when we invited her to be baptized - it was the most positive yes ever! I'm SO excited for her! I can see this gospel really blessing her and her cute family!

We also did A LOT of Christmas caroling! I LOVED it (:

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning we spent at the Tolmans! We had so much fun and It was the BEST mission Christmas I could have had! (: I also loved having Christmas this year on a Sunday, being able to go to church and see everyone! The spirit of Christmas and celebrating Christ's birth is so powerful! 

SKYPING HOME!! I LOVED it! (: I love my family! They're dorks (; and it was so cool to see the Warburton clan! I love you all!

For dinner we went to the bishop's and his family! They're so awesome! Bishop is the best and really this ward is amazing! We are so spoiled and I feel so loved and cared for (: Sweet Home is the best place I could be during this season! 

I know Christ lives and that he loves us! The joy I feel comes from him! And It's his love and light that gives us hope and strength. He is my Savior! 

I hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

~Sister Warburton(:

 

 Sister Warburton and Sister Erickson

 

Skype



Frozen ❄️

Elsa came and froze Oregon! 

Wednesday and Thursday it rained and even snowed! Then because it got so cold ~ everything froze. Literally EVERYTHING was encased in ice like the movie frozen. We weren't allowed to drive our car because of ice on the roads and the power had even gone out Wednesday night from frozen tree branches breaking onto power lines. It was a crazy ice storm! But SO cool! (Pictures included!) but guess what! We still got to go out and do missionary work! (: 

Christmas is almost here!! I LOVE this Christmas season so much  and the spirit it brings! Christ brings so much happiness into our lives. He is our source of light that we turn to and he truly cares about us! I hope you all have an AMAZING Christmas!

~Sister Warburton(:

 

EVERYTHING covered in ICE



 Christmas caroling!

Christmas packages and stockings are the BEST





SNOW and THE BIG DAY!

If you're going to read any of my updates ever read this one! It's been one amazing, stressful, exciting, long, scary, anxious, laughable, cold, wet, spiritual, exhausting week! I LOVE being a missionary! (: 

First! It SNOWED on Tuesday and it rarely snows here in this part of Oregon! Ah! It was amazing! Then while we were studying that morning we heard a knock, opened the door and ended up in the middle of a snowball fight with the two youngest Tolman boys ~ there's a video online somewhere courtesy of sister Tolman (; that afternoon Steve and Serena had their baptismal interview! It's crazy how fast everything happened! I can't remember what I wrote last week about them but they've both taken the lessons multiple times and want to be baptized but had to wait for some legal technicalities to be married and then baptized. They're amazing! They waited 4 years for this, to be legally married and become official members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Saturday - all their dreams came true! They were married and had their baptism right after and it turned out INCREDIBLE! Even after sister Erickson would keep saying "what could go wrong?" (; 

There was so much support, help, and people! So many prayers and it all went amazing! Sister Mehr, a past missionary who served here and who is my mission great-grandma! (My trainer's trainer trainer) flew from Utah for the wedding and baptism! She's amazing! And it's so cool the little connections we have - she was the first missionary to find Phil from my last area! 

The wedding was beautiful! It happened in the church and oh my goodness! Steve and Serena looked great! After, everyone moved to the room where the baptismal font is and there were so many people - from the ward, their family - a lot of nonmembers who got to witness their baptism! The room was overflowing! The program went so smoothly and it really was just SO amazing! I'm so happy and excited for them! And so humble and grateful I got to be part of it all (: the reception was right after and we got to talk with people and eat wedding cake (: 

Sunday - they were confirmed official members of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost! This experience really got me thinking about all the blessings I've received from being part of this gospel. Since I was little, I've had a growing testimony of a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior who lives. I've grown up with the knowledge of who I am, where I came from and where I'm going. I've been part of primary, young women's, and now relief society where friendships come from. I've received a patriarchal blessing and personal revelations while reading from the scriptures. I know prayers are answered! And miracles happen daily - even when they are not easily found. I have direction in my life and a hope for the future! I have an amazing family who strengthen me and the knowledge that because of temple blessings we are eternal! Oh my goodness his gospel is... there are no words to truly describe the gratitude for the life he's given me. 

~Sister Warburton(:

The beautiful sight we woke up to Tuesday morning!

 Me and Sister Mehr! (My mission great grandma)

 Steve and Serena! They're awesome!

Thanks Tatiana (;



Count Down Has Begun!

Ah! Sweet Home is amazing! I've felt so welcomed into the ward and there are so many good people here (: really! I'm loving it here already! We live in the garage-home of the BEST -the Tolman's- they're amazing! There's no way I'm going to be able to thank them enough for everything they do for us! Especially this Christmas season! They've surprised us with a Christmas tree in our little home and have really taken us in as family (: I feel so blessed to be here! Especially during the holidays (: and sister Erickson is awesome! She's from Colorado and it's just crazy that we were serving by each other before and now we're companions!

Well.. I'm missing Sigrid and Johns baptism this Saturday but I get to help plan for one here! It's crazy how things happen and work out! God's timing is amazing! It'll be Steve and Serena's wedding AND baptism! Everyone is so excited because they've waited a long time for this! There are past missionaries coming and.. oh my goodness it's going to be a crazy week! They're awesome and so ready!

 It'll be good (:

Sweet Home is stunning! One of the reasons I'm so excited about being here is because there are hills and mountains! And they're all green! There's also a little bit of snow at the top of a distant mountain (: I love it so much! The town is a little rougher but it's been really kinda fun to be sharing the new Christmas video - light the world with everyone! If you haven't seen it yet go WATCH It! It focuses on the Savior's life and the amazing example he is of giving. When you give and serve there is a light that comes into your life! And those you are serving (: the world needs more light! It has come up so many times this past week how wicked and dark the world is becoming. It's really frightening. But we have the light of Christ and I'm so grateful for it.

I love the gospel and I love the opportunity I have to serve this Christmas (: 

Love you all!

~Sister Warburton (:

 Home Sweet Home

 "Missionary work and teaching on a doorstep" we were nice and warm (;

Seriously the Tolman's are the COOLEST!

Sweet Home!

I am being transferred!!! This is so crazy, weird, sad, exciting, ah!
Ah! I'm being transferred to Sweet Home and my new companion is sister Erickson!! I know her! She was our third companion back 3 months ago and was serving in the Woodburn ward next to us. Crazy. Events from the past two weeks: Thanksgiving was good! We had two! One on Wednesday and then on Thursday and they were both really good (:
Right before thanksgiving we had exchanges and I was in west Salem
(the third time there!) it was fun! Rained the whole day, no one was
home, but we were laughing just about the whole time (:
Saturday, Sunday, and today have been so weird! We go around and visit people to let them know I'm being transferred and say goodbye and ah...
BUT we got to go to the TEMPLE!!! This morning with John and Sigrid!
They are going to be baptized on December 10th! So excited! They LOVED the temple and the visitor center!
Crazy! I'm going to miss this place - I've loved it so much! The people here and everything I've learned! Wish me luck on this next adventure (:
Here is my new address:
 40529 comfort lane
Sweet Home,
Oregon 97386

~Sister Warburton (:

 

Portland Temple with Oma Sigrid and John

Exchanges (Sisters: West, Bailey, me, McArther)

Sister Erickson-My new companion!

Portland Temple with Oma Sigrid and John

The district  (Elders: Smith, Ashby, Radmall, Allen  Sisters: Lovell, Jensen Bailey, me)



Books of Mormons



We had zone conference Saturday and the theme was the Book of Mormon! It's pretty cool cause this past week at two separate times we met someone who had questions or who was going through some hard trials and we gave them a Book of Mormon - they were both excited and so interested in reading it! The Book of Mormon is SO powerful! I've said it before how much my knowledge, understanding, and testimony has grown because of the Book of Mormon just since being on a mission. (I guess thats what happens when it becomes one of the only books you can read;) but I'm grateful for it (: there was a question asked: if you could ask God anything what would you ask? What is your soul question? Then turn to the scriptures. It is the word of God and it's how he speaks to us! (Really try it!)

This past week we had some really nice weather for November! (Crazy it's November! I've almost been out for six months!) and I can officially say I've been on a mission and have been bitten by a dog - it was actually just a nip by a puppy with good sheep herding blood. Hahah but he got me good and now I have a pretty good bruise! We also gave the lesson in relief society - ah! Oma Sigrid was there! Next week her husband is planning on coming too and we'll get to start teaching him! I'm so excited for them! 

We also had car inspections - there is a competition for the cleanest car and we tried sooo so hard, the Weijlands helped us a ton, and our car looked soooo so good! Even waxed done but did we win? No! Hahah but I don't think I've ever been so excited about having a clean car as I was that night (;

Hope you all have an amazing week! Be safe! Love you all! The Book of Mormon is true!

~Sister Warburton(:

 

 Tree-ception (my tree drawn on a tree inside another tree?) I drew this a few weeks ago and this man went over the pencil marks with fire and is donating it to the clubhouse there!

 My battle bruise from the "ferocious" pup 

 Just for Angie (:

 

 



A little Stronger

It's been a good busy week!

Last week I got to meet one of sister Baileys converts from her first area (right next to ours) and it was so cool! He has this beautiful testimony and love for the scriptures, close to the spirit, and it was just really cool to see someone that sister Bailey helped baptized over a year ago and hear his testimony. That night for Halloween we had to be in early at 6 and we watched the face to face with studio c! I LOVED it! I've missed studio c and to hear them speak about experiences and the spirit was so GOOD! Something I really needed (:

Tuesday, we had lesson after lesson after lesson after lesson! It was awesome! Oma Sigrid is officially on date for baptism in December (I better still be here!) and she came to church! All is good with Oma (: we also started Phil's new member lessons! Hahah even though we didn't get to participate in Halloween we had lots of people share their candy with us! I love the people here!

Let me tell you about brother Rodney (brother Rod Scott and his wife Mike Scott) we've had some of my very favorite lessons with them and this last lesson was on the plan of salvation with help from our ward missionaries, the Weijlands. Rod loves information and just drinks it in! They are understanding and getting the things we teach but still needs work on remembering to pray (; I love them both!

Friday was filled with service! All day! Even when we were out of our service clothes and we were just walking and found a lady who was doing some yard work and offered to help. She told us this is the second time in the past two years that when she really needed help most God sent her two Mormon missionary girls to help her! She was pretty much mind blown and went on and on about this happening! Coincidence? I think not! (; 

This past week I've been able to really feel like a real missionary! I've seen the miracles and tender mercies! Its hard to always see them but looking back, they are there! I've also seen Ether 12:27 "if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." It's true! The Lord had shown me my weakness and I hated it at the time but now I've seen his hand in making me strong. I have a testimony in Christ and a belief in him! There's no way I could be a missionary without his mercy and love. It's still hard and a struggle. Everyday there are different challenges but it's amazing to see the blessings!

Try looking back at challenges in the past week and look for the blessings, even the little good things, that came from it (: I love you! And Christ loves you!

~Sister Warburton(:

Throwback to leaves still on the trees (: