Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Great things happen when you become busy.

This past week was cool. We have been trying to set up as many appointments as we could throughout this past week. We had a cool day yesterday where we had an appointment for each hour of the day. We even got to help one of the members out with digging a hole for them to have a gas pipe installed. It was a little harder because there was about a foot of snow that came down the day before, and the ground was frozen. Then we had a few lessons with Investigators and less actives.

Last Saturday was cool because we went down to do exchanges with the Elders down in Olds, we went down to try and meet with all the YSA people we could down there. It was cool because we got to go about 4 KM from the boarder of our Mission to meet with some of them. We were able to meet with some of them, but we also found that a lot of them had moved and no longer live there.

Sunday was cool because we had an investigator show up to church that we didn't quite expect to come, and we had a less active come as well. Then in the YSA Sacrament meeting my companion and I both gave talks, it is cool how the Lord can help us with what we need to speak on to help out the people we are speaking to.

Last Wednesday was cool because we got to watch a World Wide Mission conference that was broadcast to every Missionary everywhere at the same time. It was cool how Elder Brent H Neilson talked about how there are a lot more people who get Baptized from the Members finding and preparing people, then us Missionaries finding people.

I know Christ is My Savior and I know He loves me. I know that as we turn to Christ and speak of Him, we will be able to speak easier and be able to help prepare those that are ready for the Gospel to bless their lives. I know this is the work that all of us have been called to do. I know we can't do it alone. I know we are all loved by a Father in Heaven who loves us.

I hope all y'all have a great week to come.

Love,
Elder Warkentin

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Sometimes, you know your in the right place at the right time.

So this past week, we had an interesting story. We went to go and stop by someone in the area, who we didn't have the Membership record for, who we only found out about because someone in a different ward had called us about them. It just so happened that when we went to go and stop by them, our Bishop and one of his secretaries pulled up in the car next to us. It was completely unplanned, we were just stopping by because we had a few minutes and they were on our list of people we were trying to get a hold of. When we went in we were able to help with giving the dad a priesthood blessing. We had tried by there house a few times before and it just happened to be the right time. We were able to set up an appointment with them for this coming week. This is how you know that your in the right place when you needed to be, the Lord can give us promptings, we just need to follow them.

It is now interesting being in a Family ward and a Branch. We now have a lot more meetings that we have to go to on Sundays. Although it feels like the work is picking up. We have been working with a Less Active who seems like he is really wanting to come back to church, and is getting involved with the other ward activities. Then in the YSA branch, we are working with a cool investigator, who seems like he is progressing quite fast. We met with him 3 times this past week and he seems to already have a great testimony.

I know this work is the work of God. I know Jesus have us a great gift, He gave us the gift of Repentance. I think it is a great thing that we are able to be forgiven of our sins and be able to feel the joy that comes from a Loving Heavenly Father. I know the Gospel is the True word of God.

I love you all. I know Heavenly Father loves you!

Love,
Elder Warkentin

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Testimony!

I thought I would share my testimony this week.

I can see the hand of Heavenly Father in my life every day. Just the other day, I was praying for my companion and I had asked for help to know how I might be able to help him out. As I went about the next day, there came a point when it was my turn to pray, as we knelt there in prayer, I listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and there were words that came out of my mouth that I normally wouldn't have said, ones that I knew just had to come from a Father in Heaven that knows each and every one of us personally and knows how he can help His children. After the prayer we were then in a short discussion, and as it turns out, he was struggling with something that I had no idea about. As we were able to talk, it turns out that once again, I found that I was saying words that I knew were placed there by the Holy Ghost. We were able to learn from each other and in the end, I felt like I had learned just as much from that time as my companion.

As we are going around trying to visit with people, I know we are placed in just the right path for us to be able to help those out around us. There have been numerous times that one of us has had a prompting to stop by someone and we are able to find them home, and be able to talk with them and see how something major had just happened in there lives and with us showing up at that exact moment was what has changed them from having a hardened heart to gaining a softened heart, one that is able to be molded by the Lord. There was another time that we were in a lesson with an Investigator and they had received a call saying that a brother had passed away. We were able to bare a strong witness of the Plan of Salvation and that God looks after His children. We came to know, that was the perfect time for us to be there.

I feel that The Book of Mormon was sent to us so that we can have a way to learn and understand what God has asked us to do and all the promised blessings that can come from obeying the Commandments. I feel very privileged to have the study time each day to study from the Scriptures and talks from Modern day Prophets and Apostles. I know that God still speaks to us and tells us what we need to know from Modern day Prophets. It is interesting how "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was given to us in 1995, a good 20 years before the Family Unit became under attack in today's day. If we are able to follow the council of the Prophets, we will be prepared for anything to come. I know Thomas S. Monson to be the Living Prophet of God today.

I know Joseph Smith was able to pray to Heavenly Father in the Sacred Grove. I know he had received a witness of God and Jesus Christ, two distinct individuals, come down and speak to him. I know the fullness of the Gospel was Restored through Joseph. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of Christ. I know the Priesthood was restored through Joseph Smith and is still on the earth today. I know Joseph Smith to be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator.

I know Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know He died on the cross, and was risen on the third day so that He could pay for each and every one of our sins. I know He lived a poor life, so that He could provide us with the means to support our selves. I know He provided an example for us on how to live our lives. He was perfect and yet He still was Baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, as an example. He is a perfect teacher. He taught us how to come unto our Father in Heaven. I know He loves us. I know He wants all of us to come back to live with Him and God again. He is our Brother. He will look after us.

I know that Prayer was given to us to talk to our Heavenly Father. I know Scriptures to be the word of God. I know Christ to be our Savior. I know Joseph Smith helped to Restore the true church back to the earth. I know we have Heavenly Parents who love us just like out earthly ones. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Love,
Elder Warkentin

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

The first week with an Aussie Companion.

This past week was awesome, we were able to pick up a few new investigators. The first one was with a guy who is a painter. We were able to meet with him in the local library (Not just a boring place full of books). After meeting with him, he has already gone through the first 3 hours of the Book of Mormon. He had also come to church with us this past Sunday.

Then last Saturday we got some other new Investigators, they had accepted to be baptized on the 30th of this month. We have another appointment with them again tonight.

Then, also this past Saturday, we were able to meet with a less active and we invited him and he came to church with us on Sunday as well. We are continuing to try and get in and visit with people, just trying to share the Gospel and re-share the Gospel with everyone.

We also had a cool experience, yesterday after doing some Volunteer work at the Salvation Army, we saw someone on a bench and My companion was able to start talking to her. We found out that she is Homeless currently and we saw that she has been Humbled. She seems prepared to accept the message of the Restored Gospel. She doesn't have any contact information, but I'm sure the Lord with continue to direct her in the right path to His church.

Also, this past week, our boundaries in my area were changed, so we are now over the YSA Branch down here in Red Deer, as well as the 1st ward. We are continuing to do the work we were sent down here to do.

I know Christ is there to bless us and bring us happiness. I know God is a god of simpleness. He is not trying to cause confusion. He is there, and He loves us. As we follow His commandment, He has no choice but to bless us.

I love y'all. I hope y'all have a great week.

Love,
Elder Warkentin