Monday, September 29, 2014

Don't Forget General Conference

This week has been good. For starters I have an inspiring story about
donuts, this past Thursday I had a conversation with my companion about how
it had been a couple of months since I had a donut, then it just so
happened that night when we went over to a members house they had mini
donuts for desert, then after dinner we went to help a less active member
move to there new house and for refreshments they had donuts from Tim
Horton's. So I feel that even if you don't specifically pray for something,
if you are living righteously then God will still be willing to give you
what you are wanting.

Then on Saturday we were able to meet with one of our investigators who
lives out in Swan Hills, and he has been able to pray to know the Book of
Mormon is true so it is just a matter of time until he becomes a member and
bring his wife back into activity. I have learned that one of the ways you
can help re-activate someone is by teaching one of there family members or
friends and have them sit in on the lesson.

This past Sunday we had a the Stake presidency here to call a new member of
the branch presidency, and while they were here they gave a good lesson on
how we can get new members of the church, just by becoming friends with
someone and eventually invite the missionaries to go with you to meet them
and eventually have them meet more members of the church so that church can
be a little bit more social. But as long as they are able to be taught the
doctrines with a member there, they will be more receptive.

I am excited for General Conference, I have found that getting to hear the
talks from the head of the church is an excellent way to help me to endure
to the end. I would encourage you all to watch or listen or read Conference
this weekend. It is also important to remember what you are taught and
apply it to your life.

Here are pictures from my mission so far.

This one is of my district


And this is of a Squirrel from this morning



Monday, September 22, 2014

Elder Martino said...

This Week Was good. Last Tuesday we got to have Elder Martino speak to our Mission. He talked on the importance of diligence. I learned about how we need to be diligent in the tasks we are doing, for example we should read the Scriptures constantly, but not start out reading a whole lot at once because then we become burned out and we might eventually give up because we may think it is too hard. We also should be seeking to find people to share the gospel with. I learned about how the Missionaries can teach someone, however the person that will have the biggest impact will be the Member baring their testimony.

Then last Wednesday I got to help a member put in a fence, by putting in posts in the ground. Then on Friday I had the opportunity to help paint someones shed. Then come Saturday We were able to help our Branch President cut and gather wood for his house, he lives on an acreage and isn't hooked up to the power grid, which I think is cool. Here in WhiteCourt we get the opportunity to help out with lots of service projects. I personally think service is a great way to help others feel loved and like they matter.

Last night we had the opportunity to bring the sacrament to one of the ward members, they had a campfire going, so we were able to sit around the fire as we helped him out and share a gospel message with them. I know you can feel the Holy Ghost anywhere in the world, and I know that we can receive inspiration at anytime so long as we are willing to listen.

The scripture of the week would have to be Moroni 6:4. Once you have become a member of the church all you have to do is continue to become like Christ by being worthy until the end.

I would encourage all who read this message to follow the promptings you receive, whether that be introducing your self to the missionaries or reading the Book of Mormon. I know that as we are able to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ we will be blessed and our trials will be made lite enough that we will be able to handle them.


Just Keep this star in mind.

Elder Warkentin

Monday, September 15, 2014

Edmonton, Edmonton, WhiteCourt

So this past week we had the opportunity to go into the Edmonton City 2 times and we will be going in tomorrow as well for a total of 3 times. The first time was for our interview with the President, the second time was for the Trainer follow up meeting for new missionaries, and tomorrow will be for mission tour where we will have Elder Martino speak. WhiteCourt (the forest capitol of Canada) is about an hour 40 minute drive from Edmonton.

What is cool is eating food that is banned in the United States like Kinder Eggs. However things like Mountain Dew is less popular up here. and they seem to have more brands of Ice Cream up here as well.

So this past Friday I had this cool experience where we were driving around visiting with less active members and I got this prompting to visit one of our investigators, so we went to her apartment  and she wasn't there but her daughter was there and we were told she was at one of her sons apartments who happened to live in our same apartment building, so we were able to visit with her and get back in contact with her because she had broke her phone a few weeks before and I just thought it was cool to have received a prompting like that.

I am also reading in the Book of Mormon right now and I just thought it is amazing just how often there are things referring to these latter times in there, I think I can even point out something in every chapter. It is also amazing to see how simple and yet how hard our job is being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, We are only asked to invite everyone to come unto Christ, and use his atonement, by repenting, baptizing, using the Holy Ghost, and continuing that to the very end.

I know that we all have the ability to follow Jesus Christ and we have the ability to make it to the Celestial Kingdom, and I would be very sad if I couldn't be with anyone of you because you chose to not follow the teachings you have been taught, and if you need to know it what you have been taught is true, pray about it.

I appreciate all the emails and support you all are giving me. Have a good week.

Elder Warkentin

Monday, September 8, 2014

The First Snow of the Season

So today when I woke up it was snowing and it is still snowing, probably the earliest it has ever snowed in my life.

So this past week we had the opportunity to go on exchanges and while I was in the other area, we were able to run into one of the less actives in the area and we helped her have a desire to attend church again.

As I was reading in the Book of Mormon this past week I was reading about how Nephi was able to read in the scriptures he had at the time and as he was reading he was able to receive revelation from god at the same time as he was reading and It was cool how after reading in Isaiah he had was able to also receive the 10 commandments in a way that was able to apply to him and his people. I just think it is awesome how you can read something and get one message out of it and when you go back to reread the same passage you get a different message from it that applies in a different way. I know that the Book of Mormon is a very strong and powerful tool that has the power to change everyone's lives and if we are able to read it everyday then we can be changed by it.

Also this past week it was my companions birthday and we were able to have a nice dinner and he even got a cake that the members had made for him. It was a fun time. and it looks like the temperature here is still cooling down. Just this morning it got down to -4 Celsius.

I love you all and I hope you have a good week.

Elder Warkentin

Monday, September 1, 2014

The Frost and Dinner!

So for starting out we have managed to have a dinner every night this past week. You don't have to worry about me being fed. Did you know up in Canada KFC combines with Toco Bell and A&W is the stand alone restaurant.

The frost, so this past week we had some nights that got below 0 Celsius and we have had it rain a bit as well, so we have had frost on our windows. People say that it could snow before the month is out.

I have had people ask about the size of my area. It is about the size of the Salt Lake Valley but there are only 3 main towns, yes towns not even cities. In fact there are so few people in this area that at church yesterday I think I counted 28 people there. although we have the biggest branch in our district.

We have been having success though, there has already been 4 baptisms in this branch this year and we still plan to have more. We are trying to grow the membership count in the mission, however it can be hard when people work for 2 or 3 weeks straight and you can only meet with them on there 1 or 2 week break. Although it helps having faithful and strong members here that are wanting to seek this branch become a ward, so they are willing to do what it takes to see that happen, so we can usually find someone who wants to come with us on lessons.

I can definitely feel the spirit here and the best time of the day is when I get to read in the Book of Mormon, because I learn many new things everyday and as long as I am able to follow the direction and counsel that I am able to receive then I feel like I can take on the world and all the work that is placed before me. I know that as we are able to follow the direction and heed the promptings we receive then we are able to come unto Christ. Sometimes I want to just tell everyone how it is and make them follow Christ but then I have to remember that everyone has their free agency and that can sadly include letting them make the wrong choice. Even if we are only able to do a fraction of what we need to I know that through Jesus we can accomplish anything we set our minds to, but if we don't follow Christ then we won't be able to do even what would seem like a simple task.

My companion and I are getting along great. He is from Saint George so we have a few things in common. He is going home right after he is done training me though. We both are able to laugh at each others jokes at least.

I love you all and I hope you can all be strengthened by reading the Book of Mormon and Praying. I hope you all can have a good week to come and let your burdens be lightened.

Elder Warkentin