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

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

Christmas, Boxing Day, Transfers?

So this past week, was Christmas. For our Christmas, starting with Christmas Eve, we went over to our Bishops house and we went to feed the Birds with His family. That night we got to go and see some Ice sculptures. Then on Christmas We started out by opening our presents with our Zone Leaders. Then we went out and Shoveled random peoples sidewalks. We then went out to eat and the only place we found open was McDonalds. After that, we went to the church to Video call home to our families. After that we went with our Ward Mission leader to have a Christmas dinner.

Then the next day was Boxing Day. It was awesome because the Stake Presidency had all the Missionaries in the stake come together for a Breakfast. They then had set up a Volleyball Tournament for us to play in. We then had a lesson with a new Investigator that Afternoon. Then we had a Boxing Day dinner that night.

Then Come Yesterday, we got Transfer calls. It looks like my companion is going up to Edmonton and I will be getting a companion from Australia. I think it will be fun. So we will be going up for transfers come tomorrow.

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

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Here is a Picture of an Ice Sculpture.

The Build up!

This past wee has just been building up to Christmas from what it seems. This past week, we did some tracting to try and show people the new Christmas video, it worked because we had a few people invite us back. On Sunday, we had our ward Christmas program. Instead of talks, we had lots of Music numbers. Then on Sunday night, we had a stake Christmas program. There was a lot more musical numbers, There was even this person who was blind that was able to sing a song. We have also been able to share a Christmas message with the different members we were able to visit with.

It has been a cool Christmas season so far. I know that this is the season of Christ. It seems like everyone in some way celebrates Christ in their own way. This is a cool video to check out. What a great year it has turned out to be.

Here is my Tree this year:

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Marry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Conference, Conference, and Interviews.

I will start with the latter of those. This past Friday we had our Interviews with our Mission President. It was awesome because he brought us down a car, so we are no longer having to walk everywhere. We also got our mail, so it seemed like Christmas.

Then this past Saturday and Sunday, we had Stake Conference, where we had Elder Randall K. Bennett of the Second quorum of the Seventies come to speak to us. It was interesting how it all seemed to focus around the family. The family unit is a basic structure to how God works. We were put into families to help support each other. As we spend the Sabbath Day with our family and loved ones, we will be able to feel of the love Jesus has for us. As we had discussed, we found that we came up with quite a number of things that we could do on the Sabbath, we didn't find anything that would be a do not. It is up to us as to how we can feel the spirit best and how we can make the Sabbath more of a delight to us.

Then yesterday we had our Mission Christmas Conference. It was awesome to have lots of songs played. I think everyone had participated with a song in someway. It was also good to see all the people there that had helped participate to making the day a great day. We had our Mission President there and he had given us great story on Christ. It was a great time being able to get the true meaning of Christmas.

I know that Christ loves us. I know He has given us the greatest gift. I know that we are meant to be happy, after all, eternal happiness includes now, tomorrow, and forever. I love all y'all.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Christmas time is upon us!

Starting out, I hope you have all had a chance to watch the new video The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has put out. If not Here is the Link. It is an awesome one, and it only takes 2 minutes to watch it. It talks about Jesus Christ and how He was born to bring us the greatest gift of all.

Then this past Sunday, I had the opportunity to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It is awesome how President Uchtdorf had made an emphasis on how Christ is the light! When christ was coming into the world there was a night of light, to where the it seemed like the sun hadn't gone down. Then when Christ had left the earth, it was followed by 3 days of complete darkness, because when he left, he took His light with him. Then he returned and He brought His light with him. Since then, we have had the light every day, which to me means that Jesus Christ has not abandon us. He has stayed with us. He has always been there for us. He loves us and He cares for us. He is also there spiritually for us through the Atonement, which He gave to us as a gift. He gave us the light of being able to achieve exultation. I know my Savior lives. I know He loves me. I know He wants me to return to be with him. I know I can communicate with Him through Prayer. He will answer every prayer. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Even in a rough area, there is still some positives.

This past week at church, as we were just getting out, there was this guy who walked in and said he was looking for a church to join. The sad part is that we got his phone number, but when we tried to text it, we realized we wrote down the wrong number, so we are hoping that he is able to get back in contact with us.

Then, today my companion left to go to his mission after being a Visa waiter for a little over 2 months here. So it is now down to the 2 of us in this area.

Then the unfortunate thing happened last Saturday, our Car had died. We were able to make it back to the City before it completely died, which was a good thing. Although there is now a hole in the engine the size of a fist. So it is now in the shop.

I love all of you.

Love,

Elder Warkentin

Here is a picture:

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