Some weeks just have the rough spots.

This past week was interesting, I seem to had come down with some sort of stomach flu and as a result we weren't able to do as much actual missionary work as past weeks. At least I had the opportunity to finish reading through the New Testament. I really like reading in Revelations and just seeing all that is to happen before the second coming of Christ. However, I know as long as we are living all the commandments and follow the Holy Ghost, we will have nothing to worry about.

We were still able to have a few good lessons this past week. However, some of our Investigators were influenced by the devil and had decided to stop investigating because they couldn't handle all the trials and hardships that were placed in their lives as a result of learning the truth. I would just encourage you all to push through those challenges, even if it becomes too much to handle on your own. Christ is there and will strengthen you.

In other news, our Mission President is changing the day of our Preparation Day (P-Day) to be on Tuesday instead of Monday. And for the more exciting news, our Mission in now getting IPad's on the 21st and that means we won't be back on Facebook for 6 Months as a training period.

I love you all. I hope you all have a great week to come.

Elder Warkentin

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It's been a hard week.

Let's start with the beginning of the week. Me and my last companion got to go around while he had said bye to those he wanted to visit with one last time. We were also able to visit a member of the ward out of a surprise visit, and he happened to have a friend there, he had us give her a Book of Mormon and go over it with her. She is also interested about our Church and wants to know more.

Then we had Transfer meeting this past Wednesday, and I am now stuck with my new companion.

Then when we went to a meeting with and Investigator we had this past Friday, he had a cool question. He asked, How can you tell the difference between a True Prophet and a False Prophet? So in the end it can down to him praying to know which ones are True versus false. We also helped show him how reading through the Book of Mormon can help answer that question and question he would have like it.

Then this past Saturday we were able to help one of the inactives in our ward move into one of the active members house. The active member was talking about how he was going to help him quit smoking, partially because the member is allergic to cigarettes. The inactive has been smoking for the past 57 years and is finally ready to quit. The plan is, after he has stopped his addiction, he will come back to church for the first time in years. The cool part is how the inactive still has a testimony of the Church and he wouldn't attend any other church.

I love you all.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Mission's are like a roller coaster!

So this past week, we had some busy days. On Tuesday our evening was full of appointments. Since we were on the bus, probably a lot of the time spent was just trying to get to each of the appointments. Then on Wednesday, we had appointments scheduled for every hour of the day, we only had a couple of them fall through. Then on Thursday, we had some meetings, we also got to have dinner with a family who has traced their family history back to 2697 BC. Then on Friday we had our weekly planning session followed by service and investigator lessons. Then come Saturday, we had exchanges and I went to the Tagalog area, where they had appointments to cover the day. Then at church, we were able to set up appointments for the rest of the day.

Now today, we got transfer calls and my companion is leaving me, it's alright because I'm getting an Elder Blatter to replace him.

Something I thought was interesting is when I was reading today, I came to the realization that time is proof of Jesus Christ. He was there when the earth was created. He was there at the meridian of time (the switch from BC to AD). Also he will be there for the end of time with the end of the millennium and the judgement. I know Christ lives. I know He loves me. I know He loves you.

Till we meet again,

Elder Warkentin

The Good, The Better, and The Best!

To start off with the good, we were able to spend some time doing service for a non-member, where we racked some leaves for him and his neighbors. As we helped out the neighbors we got to talk with some of them and help them out. Also we were able to find some more less-actives that we can teach and bring back into the fold.

Then comes the Better. We had gone into a lesson for a Recent Convert, and when we came out, we got in the car and started to drive off. Shortly there after, we realized we had a flat tire, so we found the nearest road to pull off on to change the tire. Since we had brought a member with us to the previous lesson, he thought it would be a good idea for him to change the tire while we tried to tract the street. As we tracted it, we found someone who had a boss that was Mormon, so he invited us back. We then went to the lesson yesterday and as we taught the Restoration, he agreed with all of it, we could even tell he was paying attention by the many questions he had about what was being taught. Also last week, we had a great week as far as total lessons taught, best week yet.

Now comes the Best. This morning we had the opportunity to go to the Temple. I would have to say, the Temple is the best place to be in my opinion. As soon as I entered through the front door, I felt a calming feeling immediately. At the end of the session, I just didn't want to leave. I can honestly say, the Temple is truly a house of God, I wish everyone was able to go to the Temple and feel of the peace and joy. Also here is a picture in front with my companion:

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I love the Gospel, I love the Lord, I love the work!

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Birthday + General Conference =

For this week it all started off on Tuesday when I turned another year older. We had actually gone to Costco to get some lunch and when we got there, there were some members from a different ward that decided to pay for lunch. After that, at dinner there was an awesome family that had a Birthday Cake which tasted great. Here is a picture of it:

Then take a step forward to the next day and we got to help some members of our ward move into a new house. It's also awesome how there were so many people who were able to help out at the last minute to make many hands lite work.

Then we had General Conference, which I thought was awesome. I thought it was cool when Elder Oaks talked about how even when your at a position of leadership, he was still assigned a topic to speak on from Heavenly Father himself. Also I liked how Elder Holland talked about how even in the hardest of times, and when we feel like we can't hold on, and when we feel like we are doomed to fall to our death, Christ is there, and he has the strength to pull us up, and bring us to safety.

I would invite everyone who can, to go back and watch any part of Conference you may have missed or any part you weren't paying attention to.

I love you all. I wish the best for you all.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

some of you might appreciate this picture:

You know your in the ghetto when:
​Your wheels are stolen from your RC Car. 

At Least it was Productive

So for starters, this past week, we were handed a list of people who haven't had their address' confirmed yet, in our ward. As we were going through the list, we stopped by this house and the person who was supposed to live there had moved several years ago. However, the person who lives there let us right in and we were able to talk about the Book of Mormon. He is a Catholic convert, he converted from atheist-ism. it was weird to learn, they think when partake of the sacrament the bread actually turns into Flesh, and the wine actually turns into Blood.

We also had an awesome time on the LRT this past week, we past out several Book of Mormon's. Then on another day we hadn't had any success on the LRT, but because we just barely missed the bus, we ended up walking to Arby's and on our way we ran into someone who was asking for a cigarette, but instead we offered her a card and talked about the addiction recovery program and she seems interested in it and want's to quit.

Then this past week, the Sister's in out ward had a Convert Baptism. We were able to attend, and it was awesome; I felt the spirit of the Holy Ghost very strongly there. When she was confirmed a member, and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, it was a big calming feeling, which made me feel much better through out the day.

Has anyone found a really effective way of killing Mice? If you have any suggestion, please comment or email me. Thank You.

I hope you all have a great Easter week.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Only the Crazies!

So this past week as we went out LRT Contacting and Street Contacting, it seemed like everyone we were able to talk to was crazy in some way. Some of them were drunk and some were high. But all of them seemed like they were possessed by some kind of devil, no they probably weren't. At least they were willing to talk with us and they want to learn more about the Gospel. So what I get out of it is that someone has to first hit a low before they are humble enough to accept Christ's Gospel.

We also had Stake Conference this past week. I enjoyed it, and not only because we got to sing in the Stake Choir. There was an awesome talk about how if we take the time and effort to go to an amusement park and just sit right outside the gate, we will be able to see and hear all the fun other people are having. However if we enter the gate we can join the others and have the fun experiences. The price to enter through the gate is Baptism unto Jesus Christ and if we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are given a tour guide to help us navigate through the park and accomplish as much as we can. However if you just enter through the gate but sit down on a bench for the whole time, it would be as if we didn't enter the Park to begin with. So I would encourage all to be Baptized and endure to the end by staying and active member of the church.

We also had a few talks about holding Family Counsel or Companionship Counsel or Roommate Counsel. As we hold the Counsel's we are able to discus the issues that ruin relationships. As we are able to hold them and as people feel free to share whats on there mid, everyone can make a relationship work. We must also be willing to make the adjustments we are asked to make.

One of my favorite quotes from this past week: "I'm not Christian, I'm Roman Catholic"

There is also a new Initiative that the Church is starting up this coming weekend. It is called the #BecauseofHim Initiative and if you visit HeLives.Mormon.org on the 27th or latter you will be able to see some cool video's that you can share with your friends. I would also like to invite you to share the link on social media and include the hash tag.

And here is a cool photo from an LRT Station.

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Love,

Elder Warkentin