It's melting!

So this past Sunday at church we had several of our less active members come back to church. As we have been trying to meet with the less actives in our ward we have been trying to invite them to come back to church and as they come back we try to get as many members as we can to say hi and make them feel welcome. So far we have had at least 5 members start to return.

We have also had many opportunities to help people move this past week. We helped 3 people move out of our ward and helped 1 person move in. As with moving, there are some people who are prepared to move by having all there stuff packed and ready to go, with having a big enough truck to move it all in one trip. Then there are others that are not so prepared and they still need to pack things up and they only have small trucks and cars to move things in, which caused things to take longer. This can be likened unto the Gospel, there are those who have prepared to receive the Gospel, who have prayed to find the truth and are ready to listen. Then you have those who aren't currently ready to accept the Gospel yet and they need to clean up and put there old unrighteous habits away and not return to them.

And to add to last weeks story, were were able to run into Bob again. We went to the library and after we checked Facebook we were getting up to leave and we found Bob there. He was feeling down and as we got talking to him we were able to help turn his day around and as we got talking about the Book of Mormon he became interested and he was feeling better and he said he would read from it when ever he was feeling mad.

This past week most of the snow here seems to have melted. Here is a picture from the field by our apartment this morning:
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I love you all,

Elder Warkentin

Life saving.

So this past week we ran into someone, lets call him bob, at the train station. When we talked to him we found out he had prayed a couple minutes before we showed up, he asked for a sign whether God was real and cared for him. As we got talking we were able to talk about the Plan of Salvation and he know it was an answer to his prayer. Also before bob prayed he was pondering whether to sit in front of a train or not. So the moral of the story is, if you see someone alone; go talk to them.

Also this past week we went over and visited, lets call them the doe family. The visit seemed a little rushed but we were at least able to feel the spirit. Latter at church we had brother doe show up for the first time in a while.

Then we helped out a non member, lets call him Joe. We went over to help him with some ice chipping and after we had a good discussion with him. then latter on in the week we had a ward pot luck and Joe showed up and we were able to introduce him to a few of the members here. We will be going back to continue helping Joe tomorrow.

Then we went over to a Stake Choir practice for the up coming Stake conference that is coming up here. It makes me excited.

So that's this week. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

I'm walking on water!

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The Last Half

On Monday we met with an Investigator who has been investigating for about a year. We are trying to work with her to move her baptismal date to be sooner.

On Tuesday we had our Zone Conference and we learned about how to become a more consecrated missionary through a changing of the heart. However my companion became sick, so we took it easy the rest of the night.

Then on Wednesday we started out with our Quarterly interviews with the Mission President. We were then able to stop by some Less active.

Then on Thursday we had another lesson with an investigator and we were able to learn more about the archeology of the Bible. At dinner we got to be part of a birthday celebration for one of the members here. We were also able to get in contact with a Recent Convert that we haven't been able to contact in a while.

On Friday we went to this lesson with another investigator and when we got there he had brought friends over and we had a surprise Bible study time where we were able to start by clearing up misconceptions about our church then we were able to get into the lesson, but they had many questions about what we were teaching, so hopefully that is a good thing.

Then comes Saturday, on this day we had what was called a social media day where members followed us around taking pictures and making posts about what a missionary life is like. So we started out by helping to move a Less active. We were also able to move an active member that day as well. So we had a busy day.

On Sunday we spent the day after church visiting with some members. and one of them for dessert at dinner made these awesome Oreo squares, they were basically Rice Crispy treats but with Oreo's instead of Rice Crispy.

I know that as we become like Paul and share the gospel with everyone, we have the power to change someones life for the better. I know that this church was restored be the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and as we read it we come closer to him. Amen.

Elder Warkentin

Preparing for things to come...

So starting out this past week I got to go on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. At the dinner appointment that night I got to try Moose in some spaghetti, I thought it tasted good.

Then come Wednesday we finished up the exchange by doing some street contacting. It seems like no matter where you go, there will still be crazy people.

On Thursday we had a couple lessons with investigators, It seems like it is easy for people to commit to baptism, however it is really hard to commit them to coming to church.

With Friday we went around trying to set up appointments, we got a few but most of the people seemed to be gone.

On Saturday we were able to get in and teach one of our Muslim Investigators, I got to learn a brief history about Lebanon. Apparently about half of Lebanon is Christian. He is a cool guy, when one of his friends were telling him not to meet with us, he told his friend "whats wrong with meeting with missionaries?". So I think he is cool like that.

Sunday was busy with a whole bunch of Church activities. speaking of which, in preparation for the Book of Mormon musical coming to Edmonton, they are having people follow us around this Saturday to post about what a Missionary day looks like. If you are interested in following that just look up #YEGMormon on facebook.

I know that as we spread the Word, people will eventually be interested and want to know more. I would challenge everyone to share a gospel principal with a non-member they know.

I love you all,

Have a great week,

Elder Warkentin

Donair Pizza...

Well Last Tuesday was cool because we got to meet with 2 Investigators back to back. The second one is currently Hindu, and with it being my first time teaching someone who doesn't come from a Christian background, it was interesting to hear what he believed. We also got some Donair Pizza which has become my new favorite type of Pizza, which can't be bought in the States because the FDA won't allow because of the way Donair meat is cooked.

Wednesday we did more snow shovel trackting.

Then on Thursday we got a couple Media Referrals and we were able to contact one of them who requested a Bible and on our follow up visit on Saturday we were able to give him a Book of Mormon, and he seemed excited to learn about the Book of Mormon and seemed anxious to read it.

On Friday we spent some time contacting people known as "Children of Record", basically they are Children of members who have had some interaction with the church, but aren't baptized. We were meet with some success.

On Saturday it was hard to find people home because it was Valentines day.

Then with Sunday we got to have dinner with our housing coordinator. We also had a good lesson with a less-active couple.

Then Yesterday being Monday we weren't able to do P-Day then because it was Family Day and places weren't open. So Happy post Family Day, I hope you were able to spend time with family.

I know that those who love one another and try to serve all those around them are following the example of Christ. Keep up the good work.

Love always,

Elder Warkentin

P.S. Italian Syrup can make many drinks taste great.

Filipino Bacon

Last Monday we got to pick up another Investigator, He is currently Muslim which makes things fun.

On Tuesday we got to meet Gandhi!

Come Wednesday we went and visited by some Inactives.

With Thursday we meet with another new investigator and we finally caught the mouse in our apartment.

Then Friday we had exchanges and I went with one of the Tagalog Elders and I tried Lanka, which is like big chunks of deep fried Bacon.

For Saturday we went out trackting and found some interested potentials, which is different from a town where now one wants to listen to you. We were also feed some awesome White Chocolate Brownies.

Here is the Recipe:
Ingredients

• 1 Cup butter
• 4 squares white chocolate, chopped (1 ounce)
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 Cups white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/8 Cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/3 Cup white chocolate chips
• 2/3 Cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted (12 ounce)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Melt the butter and white chocolate together over low heat in a saucepan. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. Meanwhile beat eggs with sugar and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl; mix in the butter mixture, and stir in the flour and salt until thoroughly combined. Scoop the batter into the prepared baking pan; sprinkle with white chocolate chips.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for about 10 minutes before cutting into bars.

Bringing us to Sunday, We went LRT contacting and I found it is quite easy to just talk to people.

Well, I feel like anyone who takes the time to read the Book of Mormon and Pray about it to know it is true, will be blessed with peace, happiness, and the desire to do what is right.

I'll leave you on a boat to think about that...
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Elder Warkentin

Londonderry

Last Monday we started off by going and helping with some computer problems.

Come Tuesday we stopped by some people so that I could say goodbye to them. For dinner we had enchiladas that tasted really similar to a beefy 5-layer burrito from taco bell.

On Wednesday I started out by packing, then we left for transfer meeting. My new area is Londonderry, Edmonton. So I'm in the city now. My new companion is from Bluffdale, UT. Then I stared to meet the members here.

Thursday I got to ride a Light Rail Train (LRT) and a public bus for the first time. I continued to meet new members.

Then on Friday we went to a lesson with some investigators who are on date to get Baptized on the 14th. Then since the area I'm in is a Car share area, we get the car for the last couple days of the week, so we went to pick it up. To end that day we had a lesson with another investigator who was just full of questions.

With Saturday we spent the day helping someone move in, they might become investigators soon. Also if you walk through the food court in the mall when they are closing, you can get some good deals on food.

Now Sunday we started off by going to church, it is a lot different attending a ward with 200+ people attending. During dinner we finished a map of Canada puzzle. We then visited with some members. Then we tried to catch this mouse in our apartment.

Sorry, the computers we are using won't let me upload pictures so...

I love the Gospel and I know that as long as we are able to follow the teachings we are given we will have a happy and joyful life. At times life may be difficult but with Christ we will be better in the long run for it.

I challenge everyone who reads this to send me an email at Nathan@Missionary.Email with your conversion story.

Elder Warkentin