Everyone seems to put a Christmas title!

Well starting on Monday We got into the Christmas spirit by Shoveling snow.

On Tuesday we contributed to one of the members in our branch's early Christmas.

On Wednesday it just happened to be Christmas Eve so we went out to our Branch Presidents house and got to spend some time with his family. Later on that night we went to the Catholic church to experience midnight mast.

Christmas was fun... We started out by going to our 1st Counselor's house for breakfast and games. Then we went to the local Soup Kitchen to help out and for lunch. We then got to Video call home after that. After that we went to a member's house for Christmas dinner and games.

Friday was Boxing Day.

Saturday was post Christmas. We went out and visited some members. Then we visited a Less active and we got to see his horses. Then finished the day at a part members house and I won at the game of Darts.

On Sunday my companion and I gave talks in church. We then got to go out and visit with the same part member family we visited with last Sunday.

I think Christ(mas) is awesome! It is also cool reading about pre-Christ(mas) Here. I know that Jesus loves everyone... yes, even you! I also think it is awesome how we get the opportunity to return and live with him again after the Judgement. I love you! I know He loves you even more! for now I bid you goodbye.

Elder Warkentin

...Captain Kurfluffullus Jr. II

Christmas is Great.

On Monday we got to meet with a member here and apparently he had dislocated his shoulder a couple days before. So we got to share a message with him to help cheer him up.

On Tuesday we went to a members house and I was able to help set up her new computer to help her. When we got back to our apartment we had some elders randomly show up to sleep for the night because they were heading down to Edmonton for transfers the next day.

Thursday was a good day. we finally got a call saying our car was finally fixed, apparently it does take almost 6 weeks to get a car fixed when you live in a town. After picking up the car we were able to help out the Relief Society with their Christmas dinner.

On Friday we went into Edmonton for the Christmas Conference. We started out by singing Christmas songs for the first hour then as a treat we were able to be shown Meet The Mormons, which hasn't officially come to Alberta yet. Then we had a Christmas lunch. Then latter on that night before heading back to Whitecourt we stopped for Dinner and we were able to have a good gospel conversation with a local police officer. Cops have some cool stories.

On Saturday we were able to go out and visit with some of our investigators who live outside of town that we hadn't been able to see due to a lack of transportation. We shared the Christmas story with them and they said it helped bring the Christmas spirit.

Sunday, we decided to go out and try to stop by some of the less actives who live closer to the border of our area and it seemed like we either couldn't find many of their addresses or we didn't have the right address. For the ones we could find it seemed like nobody was home, until we came to the last house where we were met with a welcoming couple, so we were able to still share a cool message to them and provide company for them.

Now as to it being Christmas week I would like to bare my testimony about Christ. I know that He was sent here to redeem all of God's children and I know that he lived a sinless life. I know that through him we all have the ability to return to live with our Father in Heaven. I promise that as we try to live by his teachings we will be blessed and have true happiness. I know that Christ lives and loves everyone.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Elder Warkentin

What happens when a Wendy's opens up in a small town...

So on Monday we were able to have a good lunch with a member and were able to help him more feel the Christmas spirit.

On Tuesday we were able to continue helping people with there service projects.

On Wednesday we were able to help out the branch by continuing to help them move their Family History Center.

On Thursday we had a member who wanted to give us haircuts and have dinner.

Friday was a good day, we had exchanges and we were able to go to this Christmas parade and we were able to hand out a bunch on Christmas cards there and we ran into someone who wasn't a member yet, but he already seemed to know a bunch about our church.

On Saturday we had a good district meeting. We also continued with our service projects.

​

It is interesting how Wendy's opened about a week and a half ago and they have constantly been packed ever since, we have also been taken there 3 times so far.

I know that as long as we focus on the work good things will happen. I love you all.

Elder Warkentin

Bipolar Weather Alberta

Well starting last Sunday the Temp was about -40

Then on Tuesday we had another great lesson with a couple of or investigators, but we won't be able to meet with them again for another month because they are going on Christmas vacation.

Wednesday was fun because we got to run the cabling for internet, to move the Family History center to the other side of the building at our church.

Then on Thursday we had exchanges (finally) with our district leader. So we were able to go out hand have some lessons with less actives and investigators.

Friday was good. We had district meeting and following that we helped set up and had an awesome Branch Christmas party. We had 2 of our Investigator family's show up and lots of less actives.And here is a picture of my current district:


​

Sunday was good. After church we got to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. There were lots of good talks there.

That brings us to today where the temp is close to 0 Celsius.

I know that "He is the Gift" and that Christmas is an awesome time of year. I love the work I'm out here to do. I would encourage you all to share what you know to be true to those around you.

Have a great Christmas season and remember Christ. You all are great.

Elder Warkentin

Maple Syrup Pancakes.

So on Monday we got to visit with a part active family.

On Tuesday We actually had a lesson with some investigators and they fed us some of their Mennonite cooking, which tasted quite good.

Then on Wednesday we had fun trying to help out this visitor with his family history work, of which it is hard trying to help someone use a program that I haven't used myself.

On Thursday I had the opportunity to talk with my family back home, because my Mission President allowed me to. It was great being able to see them.

On Friday we got to spent most of the day shoveling snow because it had dumped about 2 feet of snow the day previous.

On Saturday we were out just trying to share the Christmas message with people.

On Sunday because it was cold (-44C) our Branch President decided to cancel church. So we ended up just trying to go out and talk with people. I also made these pancake things where I replaced the water with Maple syrup. They tasted really good. Here is a picture of them:

​

And here is a picture of me standing next to a small snowbank:

​

I know that even though it is cold outside the Gospel is true and as long as we follow Jesus Christ we can know that we will have a great afterlife. I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Warkentin

Zone Conference

On Monday We were able to help some Recent Converts in our branch move.

Then on Tuesday we had Zone Conference, and since our car is still in the shop, our District leader came and picked us up. So we had a good lesson on the atonement and how it helps us whether we accept it or not. We were also let in on what the church has planned for Christmas, they well have another video like what they did on Easter, this one is called "He is the Gift" and if you visit YouTube on December the 7th you will see the advertisements. But the video will be launched on christmas.mormon.org on the 26th. The video is awesome and I would encourage you to share it.

Then on Wednesday we were able to talk to people at the local soup kitchen.

On Thursday something cool happened, we were out trackting and on the last door we knocked on this lady opened the door and as we were talking she said she was already a member of our church and she said she know she needed to get back to church.

On Friday when we were dealing with some stuff with the car and someone in line behind us asked us some question about the Gospel because he saw our name tags.

On Saturday, I got the chance to watch the Doctrine and Covenants video's and it is amazing to watch the stories and how the church came to be what it is today. It is truly inspiring.

On Sunday I had the opportunity to give a talk, which went well. However we were going through the branch list and trying to visit with people, but all the houses we were trying, the people seemed to have moved.

Then I took this photo this morning:

​

As for me and my companion, we are getting along. I know this church is true and I think it is important to do what we can to follow Christ. If you know something to be true, share it so that others can join with you in your knowledge.

I love you all. Thanks for all your support.

Elder Warkentin

Big Area + No Car =

On Monday we spent the night shoveling sidewalks for people.

Then on Tuesday we were able to help some less actives clean water out of there apartment because a pipe burst.

Then on Wednesday we got approval to get some things on our car fixed so we took it into the shop and we have been having to walk everywhere since. its interesting how a 2 minute car ride is about a 15 minute walk in the cold.

On Thursday we got to help some people start to move. After that we had a lesson with a couple, and they became 2 new Investigators.

Come Friday it was cool, we first got to have a visit with a non-member and after that we had dinner at this members house and it just so happened that they had this family of 5 living with them and while we were there we got to teach them the first lesson and the mom said she is looking for the true church and I just thought to my self how it looks like they found it with us.

Then of Saturday we got to have some good lessons with some local members.

At church on Sunday I learned about how the Holy Ghost will manifest all truth, whether it be finding the true church or finding an answer to a question we have. That is why we feel so good when reading the scriptures.

I am grateful for being out here where I get to witness miracles right and left. I know that everything Jesus has taught is true and as long as I am able to follow his teachings he will bless me, and the same is true for all those who hear and follow his words.

I love you all from Canada.

Elder Warkentin