Fishing!

So this past week we had an investigator take us to go fishing with him. It was awesome because we got to spend some time with just him instead of having his parents there. It is awesome because he is hoping to go on a mission for the church after he gets baptized.

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Then we got to meet with another Investigator family last Thursday. It was also awesome with them because they had said that they are ready to be baptized, they just wanted to come to church a few times in a row before taking the plunge. There are people who are just excited to hear the Gospel and progress in the plan of Salvation.

Now I just thought I would share what I have learned about the Gospel. The Gospel is also quite simple, the gospel is Love! If we have love, we will follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. If we have love, we will treat our neighbors kindly. If we have love, we will want what is best for our family's. If we have love, we will love gaining knowledge, and we we will want to go to church to continue gaining knowledge. If we have love, we will strive to come closer to God. If we have love, we will want to pray to our father in heaven with a sincere heart to feel of his love. If we have love, we will have charity for others and we will strive to serve others. If we have love, we will want to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone. So the Gospel all comes down to love!

I love you all. Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Does an Investigator in another Investigators house count?

So this past week was awesome. We have this investigator family that we have been working with, and they had come to church with us this past week. Then after that on Monday (yesterday) the priest aged member of the family had come out with us for the night, we were able to show him what we do as missionaries and it made him want to go on a Mission even more, so he is hoping to get baptized soon so that he can go on a mission after he finishes High School. So we were able to have a lesson with another one of our investigator family with him being present. It was awesome because he was able to share his experiences in the lesson, and having him who was not a member could relate more to what the other investigators were going through.

Another cool thing that had happened was that we got to go to the Temple today, It is interesting how you can continue to learn more and more every time you go there. I know that everyone who makes it there can feel the peace and joy that can accompany you while you are there. There are people waiting on the other side who are just waiting for us to do our Family History and take their names to the Temple. The spirit of Elijah is real and will help you as you try to do the work we have been commanded to do. We need our ancestors and they need us to become perfect. As we learn and grow in the Gospel we can take it with us to go an teach those who haven't had a chance to hear the message in the spirit world. I know these things to be true. I would invite you to pray for yourself to come to the same conclusion. I can promise that God loves you and will help you accomplish anything you set your mind out to do.

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

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Shawarma, and Sushi!

So, this past week, on Saturday was when what is know as Heritage Days started. At the Festival there was music, dancing and of course food. Our mission president had everyone serving in the city helping out the Food Bank at the Festival. We were going around collecting any donations people had of Food or left over tickets. Also we got to go around a try some food from different cultures, which is where I got to try shawarma, it is like a donair except in a taco like form, and the meat isn't as flavorful.

Then the second part comes with more of a story, we were at an investigators house for a lesson last Sunday, we got on the topic of fish and one sentence lead to the next and we made plans to get some sushi. So yesterday for lunch we ended up going to a Japanese restaurant. I came to find that adding Mango to Sushi makes it taste really good. It was also awesome because we got to spend some time with the investigator in a place other then just his house. It was also cool because it was the first time I really got to try sushi and it is good.

I also know that the scriptures can answer any questions we have. It is when we start reading the non scripture books that is when it brings doubt into our minds, it is up to us to learn the doctrine from the scriptures and take the other books we read for what truth may be found in them. I know the Holy Ghost can testify of any truth we find, we can open up our heart to hear the Holy Ghost and know of the teachings from our Father which is in heaven. I know this church to be true and I know any honest seeker can come to find the truth as well.

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

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Biking in the rain.

Well this last Saturday I had the opportunity to bike in the rain. It felt good because after the long hot day's up here, it just felt good to get cooled off with having the rain. At first it was awesome, something about having water being pored on you feels good. We decided to do some tracting in the rain and it seemed to have worked because people were wondering who in there right mind would approach their door in the middle of a storm, So we ended up coming away from it with a few potentials. Then we got to go to our dinner appointment where it just seemed fitting to have Hot Dogs on a day like that. It was then after that when we came to this River we had to cross. There is a bridge that we usually take to cross this river. Going down to the bridge  there is a steep hill that turns into a gravel road at the bottom of it. As we were approaching a turn at the bottom where the gravel was, I must have turned too hard, for with the fresh rain there wasn't much traction. After falling we crossed the bridge and started up the hill on the other side of the river. As we got to the top there were some people who were going around washing windows, we ended up talking to them and now they may be coming to church this coming week.

Sometimes we have bad things happen to us so that we can meet someone who we wouldn't have been able to meet with otherwise. There are times when others are placed on our paths to find, and other times we are the ones placed on someone else's path to find, if we can talk to those who need a friend then we can make sure we are there when the Lord needs us. Sometimes watches may get ruined in the rain and other times we get cut up. In the end we are all sent here to be tested, if we can do our best at all times, we don't need to see the result of the answer to know we helped someone out along there way.

I love you all, I know we can have great things happen if we do what is asked up us.

Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Too busy, how do I get any work done?

Last week, Starting on Tuesday we got to go for a hike with a few other Missionaries:

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Then on Wednesday we got to meet with a less active who was able to come to church this last Sunday.

On Thursday I got to help provide service to a lady by helping to fix some printer issues.

Then come Saturday, we started out with teaching a new Investigator, after which, we got to help out some members with cutting down some trees. We then had a couple appointments after that.

Then on Sunday, we got to have church, then had a lesson with an investigator, then at dinner we got to be part of a members birthday celebration, Then ended the day with a less active.

Then Yesterday we started with helping with a gardening project. We then had someone feed us Lunch. We were then able to talk to several people doing some street contacting. We then had a member take us out to eat for dinner. After that we got to go to a lesson with a less active.

I know that as we strive to learn what we can from the scriptures, we will be able to talk with people about the different principles of the gospel to help them out in the hardest times in their life. The Book of Mormon is a great place to search to find the knowledge. I think everyone can gain a testimony if they are willing to learn.

Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Just talk to them, they will listen whether they want to or not.

So this past week we decided to try an "new" idea, we would try talking to everyone we could see. To go along with that, we would just bike around and find people out in their yards to talk to. I find that many people just don't want to be the ones to start a conversation, however, they are more then happy to continue a conversation that has already been started. To be fair we have already been trying to talk to people, we just are planing a little extra time to have a conversation with people, rather then feeling like we need to rush to get to our next destination.

Using the above mentioned technique, yesterday we were able to help an elderly lady cross the street to her house. Also since there is a footbridge in our are, we have been able to stop and talk with several people there. We have also been able to help several people with some yard work they were doing.

Since the ward I am in right now has a cool thing going where they are trying to get everyone in the ward to go to the temple on the same day in a couple months, I know as people prepare for entering the temple they will be blessed. This month they are focusing on helping people develop Christlike attributes, as I have been trying to focus on what attributes I would like to work on, I have been able to find the joy I suspect the Savior had while upon this earth.

I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer for everything. If you look for and try to apply the atonement to everything, Christ will be there and do everything he can to help us out. We just have to open the door and let him in, and allow him to help us out in each situation.

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

Love,

Elder Warkentin

3 in a day

Well this last Friday, after almost 5 weeks we were able to get back in contact with 2 of our investigators and 1 of our Recent Converts. Also we were given 6 free tickets to the 3rd place game for the closing of FIFA here. The saddest part of the day was hearing the news of President Packard passing away.

Then for the first time I experienced having an investigator come to church for their first time last Sunday. I think it is amazing how much you can feel the Holy Ghost as we attend church. Sometimes (being a member all my life, and growing up with the influence of the Spirit) I don't realize what it would be like to not have the influence. I know as we try to recognize the Holy Ghost in our lives, we will be able to have more peace and comfort in our lives.

Not everyone is lucky enough to know the Gospel. Just knowing of what is to happen after we die is enough to bring comfort to those who are prepared to come back into the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ. We all have ancestor's, we all have a work to do to help them have a chance at accepting the Restored Gospel.

I love you all. I hope you all have a great week this coming week. feel free to email me at any time: Nathan@Missionary.Email

Love,

Elder Warkentin


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