Other letters (from us and from the mission pres)

November 3, 2014

Elder Warren,

It was so great to get an email last week from you!  It was so great to hear your experiences and your thoughts and feelings.  What a couple weeks at the MTC?? You have had experiences that you will never forget!

I had a panic moment last Friday, realizing I hadn't sent your box off with your bedding and stuff!  But it will be there Tuesday!  While I was doing that I was reading through that parent packet the mission president sent out and it specifically says that the only people you can email or email you are immediate family.  So I notified most everyone NOT to email you and you can't email them.  It says you can lose email privileges.  So, I know it's faster to email but unfortunately you are going to have to old school write letters to everyone else!

Well not much going on here. I am getting ready for New Beginnings on Wednesday.  Dad flies out on Tuesday (the same day you do) but later in the day so you won't see him at the airport:) Our theme is D.O.T.S. (Depend on the Savior)  it goes along with the mUtual theme "Come Unto Christ" So everything is polka dots, We've asked Taylor Swallow to come share how he learned to Depend on the Savior on his mission.  It will be great to hear his perspective.

I don't know if you want to hear stuff that goes on at home (halloween party, social stuff, friends that get engaged, etc..)  Does it make you homesick? Distracted?  Let me know what you think.

Well, we get to talk to you tomorrow and it will be great to hear your voice!  I can't wait for you to get out on the field and put what you learned in your quick 12 days at the MTC!  Well,  I will write more later.  I'm not sure how your p-day works this week since you miss your Wednesday Pday at the MTC and probably won't have one until next Monday the 10th.  Anyways, we will talk to you tomorrow!!!!

Love,

Mom

p.s. can I send you pictures through email? or is that a no no?

November 5, 2014

Elder Warren

It was great to talk to you and I think you answered most of my questions when we talked :)  I was looking at your facebook and saw that Kaitlyn Irvine got her mission call to New Jersey Morristown and Regan Pilimai got called to Georgia Macon!

Also, grandma wondered if you got her card that was on the outside of your package that had a gift card in it??

When you email us every week will you just mention who you got letters or packages from so they know you got them?  Then you can just keep them in a stack and write them back when you can, but at least they will be know you got their stuff :)

I will get on a once a week email next week :)  It's just been a little crazy with you missing p-days and stuff.

Here are a couple pictures from Halloween too

Love,  Mom

6 November 2014

Dear Brother & Sister Warren,

We are so grateful to have Elder Norman Warren join us here in the California Riverside Mission! It was exciting to meet him at the airport. I had the opportunity to interview your missionary and we were able to hear his testimony before having dinner together. We have been impressed with his testimony and desire to serve. It has been a privilege to get to know him.

Elder Warren is now hard at work in his new area, the JURUPA Zone with his companion Elder Taylor.

Preparation day is Monday; most missionaries choose to email their family on that day. We encourage you to write or email weekly as well. Thank you for keeping your letters positive, uplifting and encouraging your son to work hard and take advantage of the time spent here in doing the work of the Lord.

As we visited with your son this is what he said about his family: “We’re all really close and always do stuff together! They’re really amazing and I love them a lot!”

We look forward to a wonderful experience together with your missionary.  Thank you for preparing one worthy to serve.  May God continue to bless you.

Sincerely,

John H. Mullen, President

November 6, 2014

Dear Brother & Sister Warren,


The use of iPad Minis to do missionary work will begin soon.  While using these devices will greatly enhance the work, there are also some concerns.  One of the greatest concerns expressed by the Brethren is the temptation for families and missionaries to communicate through Facebook.  They have also explained that families, friends, boy/girl friends should NOT be on-line with a missionary when he or she emails on Mondays.  We know this has been a common practice in our mission, but it is the equivalent to texting or a phone call.  We will be asking the missionaries to discontinue this practice of live-chatting through email and, while we know it will be difficult, ask your support in making this change.  Obedience to this new rule will help missionaries stay focused on the Lord's work and prepare them for the obedience necessary when using electronic devices in doing missionary work.


Thank you for continuing to support your missionary.


 


President and Sister Mullen