9/28/2015 P-Day #49 (I counted wrong so we are getting on track)

9/28/2015

Thanks Danielle, Alison, Mom, and the Deatons for the letters/packages this week!

How was your week? Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun! 

So, to answer some of your questions...

My week was good! Well, kind of. Elder Godfrey is having some issues with his ankle/achilles tendon that has been going on for over a year and he hasn't told anybody... It was getting pretty bad, so he called Sister Mullen and she told us to stay inside for three days. And it still isn't doing any better.. So he was talking to President Mullen and he may or may not have to go home within this next week. We'll have to see. President is praying about it and should be calling us today to let us know. It's kind of bittersweet. Since he can't really rest and recover out here, he needs to go home so he can take the time to heal and recover. But then he has to leave a few months early. I don't know, I'm just trying to do my best to help him cope with whatever decision President makes. 

We went to a baptism on Sunday! It was for Steve C. Elder Turner and I started teaching him the last week we were together. And he decided to be baptized on Sunday! It was super cool to see! His family isn't happy with his decision to be baptized and they tried to do anything they could to stop him! But he stayed strong! His aunt and uncle are actually members and they were his only family who came to his baptism. Which was kind of sad, but super cool that they came to support him!

I'm super excited for conference this weekend! I feel like we were just watching the conference in April! I love being able to listen to the prophet, apostles, and the other general authorities! It's crazy how I can learn something from every single talk! Last time I was not very happy that we had to go to the stake center to watch the sesisons, but this year I'm actually excited! It kind of forces you to pay attention and I learned a lot more! I'm excited to share what stood out to me in my email next week!

Not much else happened this week... It was pretty slow. Next week will be interesting, though! We have a temple trip, general conference, and mission leadership council! And it's transfers! Holy cow this transfer just went by fast!!! If you have any letters to send this week, send them to the mission office please, because I might be moving to a new area! Love and miss you!

Love,

Elder Warren

9/21/2015 P-Day #46

9/21/2015

Hola family!

Thanks Danielle for the letter this week!

This week we had tons of meetings! We had interviews with President Mullen on Tuesday, our stake Missionary Coordination Meeting on Thursday, and Zone Conference on Friday! We were really busy!

In interviews, President Mullen talked about prayer. It was pretty interesting! We talked about how prayer is supposed to be a conversation with God. Not one-sided. We need to be talking to him, and we also need to be listening for answers. He also pointed out that if we aren't asking questions and are just giving thanks, asking for help, etc.. It's like we are placing an order. We need to actually put effort into our prayers, prepare beforehand and seek the spirit to help us know what questions to ask. I've been working on having more meaningful prayers and it's been incredible the difference they make! 

As a mission, we have been reading through the Book of Mormon and marking 

1. Any reference to Jesus Christ

2. His attributes

3. His gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, endure to the end)

4. His words ("thus saith the Lord...")

I have learned so much more from the Book of Mormon while I've been doing this!  It's amazing how much it talks about Jesus Christ. It truly is another testament of Him. It's also been cool to see how often Christ is actually speaking in the Book of Mormon. Especially in 2 Nephi, when Nephi is quoting Isaiah! 

On Friday, during zone conferences we talked about the Sabbath Day. The biggest thing that stood out to me, is that we don't keep the Sabbath day holy only on Sunday. We have to prepare every day. We should try and live our lives every day to be worthy to take the sacrament! Another intersting thing that was pointed out, that nowhere in the scriptures does it talk about how the sacrament renews our baptismal covenants. When we take the sacrament, we renew all the covenants we have made with our Heavenly Father. It truly is a fresh start. I'm so grateful for the Sabbath and especially the sacrament! It's a great blessing in our lives and we should all remember the Savior as we keep the Sabbath day holy!

McKayla's baptism was on Sunday!!!! It was amazing!!! There were so many people there! Tons of people came to support her and it was awesome! Chelsea gave a talk on baptism. She was super nervous because she was such a new member and wasn't sure what she should say. But she did great! McKayla was really happy after the baptism! We were all super proud of her making the decision on her own, even though there were people telling her not to! She has a lot of faith!

I love you all and miss you lots! Don't forget your Savior during the coming week!

Love,

Elder Warren

9/14/2015 P-Day #45

9/14/2015

Hey all!!!

Thanks so much to Noel, Danielle, and Omie and Papa for the letters this week!

This week has been CRAZY! I haven't had a normal week since I became a zone leader! Since we are involved with all the missionaries in our zone, it seems like we never get a break! We've had a lot of sick missionaries, so we've done a lot of babysitting! But somehow, we've been able to get a lot of work done in our area!

So on Sunday I got to do something that I've never done before... A less active family, that I don't even know very well, asked me to bless their grandson who was born a couple months ago.. It was super weird! I was scared out of my mind! Since I've never done that before! Haha the baby started crying halfway through and it was super funny!!! I guess it was good practice for when I have kids? Oh man it was a weird experience!

We went by to go teach McKayla on Friday and she told us that she wanted to wait awhile to be baptized. That she didn't feel ready yet. When we would try and ask her why she wasn't ready, she's just shrug her shoulders and say "I don't know". Since I was a pro at that, I was able to see right through it! Haha we figured that she was worried about offending her dad, or something like that. So we told her to pray about it and we scheduled her baptism interview for Sunday anyways. We went bySunday night and she has the interview and passed! Afterwards, she said that she still wanted to wait. So the four missionaries that were there, (our district leader was the one who did the interview) all sat down and tried to help her. It was so freaking awesome!!! I don't know if I have ever felt the spirit so strongly in a lesson! She told us that her dad said that maybe there is something else out there that will make her happier. She was worried about making the wrong decision. We asked her where she thought the confusion was coming from. Then we pointed out that Satan is the one who confuses us. God is never going to give us conflicting answers. So it's up to us to ignore the confusing little whispers that come into our lives. Our district leader, Elder Griffin, told her that she needs to ignore Satan and kick him in the butt. So now she's getting baptized on Sunday!!!! Whooooo! I'm super excited!

Elder Godfrey and I were out walking around in a neighborhood the other day, trying to talk to people who were out and about. We weren't having very much luck, and we walked past this dirt trail that led up the side of the mountain. We just couldn't pass up an opportunity to go exploring!!! Haha it was so much fun! I don't think I have ever gone hiking in a shirt and a tie, though... It was so much fun!

That's all that really happened this week.. I'll have a lot more to talk about next week!! I love you all and miss you lots!!!

Love,

Elder Warren

9/8/2015 P-Day #44

9/8/2015

Sorry I wasn't able to email yesterday! But here I am!

I think it's super crazy that you met with the Morales' yesterday!!! I was super jealous! Cynthia is still thinking about baptism, but it's a work in process... One day, though! I really love that family. It's really cool that you guys got to meet them!

So McKayla talked to her dad about her baptism this week. He told her yes, but he also made her feel really bad about it. Like she would be excluded from the family.. It was pretty sad. But she said that she's not going to let that change her mind about baptism! She is only sad that he can't accept her for who she is supposed to be. But she's getting baptized on the 20th!!! Whoo!!! I'm super excited! I love them so much! I love watching the gospel turn people's lives around for the better.

Yes, I got the white tie from Amazon! It will be perfect for now! But if you do happen across a paisley one, that would be awesome! :) It's not a necessity, just a want haha

So the whole suit deal... I was kind of planning on asking for one for Christmas, but Elder Godfrey was going with President Mullen to get one on Monday, so I thought I would ask :) 

I want to go get Maddy and Tenley birthday presents next week, so do you think you could put some money on my account? Not a lot, maybe $20 or $30? Then I can send your birthday present with theirs (only about a month late... sorry 

Well I'm sorry this is really short! We have an appointment in a few minutes, so we have to run. I love you lots! Thanks so much for being the great mother that you are! I'm really blessed!

Love,

Elder Cole

p.s. I think Sis Pulsipher sent a pic of us at lunch the other day, but here's another one. With my new glasses and companion! Love ya!

From Mylee:  We, were surprised on Monday when a family from Cole's ward called to see if they could stop by and visit.  We were thrilled to meet the Morales/Chavez family.  Cole was involved in teaching their son and daughter about the gospel.  Elder Turner, was able to baptize their son and then a month later, he was able to baptize his sister.  They were a sweet family who said Cole is very strict but knows his stuff.  He keeps them on track and helps them stay focused.  He texts them to see if they've read their scriptures and wants them to feel the spirit.  They also said that he can eat a lot of their Mom's tacos!  I am so thankful, as a mom, that there are people that take care of the missionaries when they are away from their families.  It was comforting to meet them and know he has many second moms out there who will help him and love him and feed him!

8/31/2015 P-Day #43

8/31/2015

Hi Family!

Thanks Noel for the letter! And thanks Mom and Grandma for the packages!

Well this week has been a lot of fun and a lot of work! 

My new companion is Elder Godfrey! He's from Virginia, and he's been out for about 20 months! He's been a zone leader for 6 months now, so he's kind of showing me what's going on. Being a zone leader is a lot of work! A lot of missionaries in our zone have been sick, so we got to drive them around to doctors appointments, pick up their prescriptions, and babysit them so their companions could go out and work! Lots of fun. We spent a lot of time driving around Moreno Valley! It is super nice being in a car! I do miss being on a bike, but it's great to have A/C, it doesn't take forever to get anywhere, and I don't have to rely on everybody else to get anywhere! We were also on time for ward council! Haha our ward mission leader is usually a little bit late!

We went to go teach McKayla at the Nunley's house this weekend. She's ready to be baptized, and all she has to do is talk to her dad! But she is scared that he will say no, or he won't understand. So we talked about how God doesn't give us a commandment that we can't keep. And told her to pray for the strength to tell her dad. She told us she wakes up every morning at 5:20 and thinks about how she hasn't told her dad and can't sleep after that! 

Well not much else happened this week.. It feels like we were always busy, but now that I'm trying to write down what we did, I can't think of anything! Haha well sorry this has been a short email. I love you all and miss you tons! I pray for you every day! Go and serve God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength!

Love

Elder Warren

8/24/2015 P-Day #42

8/24/2015

Hi family! 

Thanks Danielle for the letter this week! The mission office held all of our mail last week, so if you sent something, worry not! I should get it sometime this week!

This past week has been amazing. I'm pretty sure I'm going to accidentally leave some details out, just because so much happened! 

Transfer calls were this week! Saturday morning President Mullen called us. I answered the phone and he asked me if I would help out by serving as a zone leader Haha at first I was scared. As a district leader, I watched over just a couple missionaries. Now I have to watch over the whole zone/stake (ten companionships). No pressure. I already had to deal with drama of reassigning areas, new companions, etc. Haha I also get to go to meetings once a month with the mission leadership council (all the zone leaders and sister training leaders), hold zone meeting once a month, and help out all the missionaries in the zone! Crazy crazy! I'm really excited though. My new companion is going to be Elder Godfrey and we will be staying in the Lasselle ward! I'm super pumped! I really love the members here and the people we are working with! I am going to miss being Elder Turner's companion. We got along really well and worked hard together. He was definitely my favorite companion (so far)... BUT Elder Turner really isn't leaving. We're going to be splitting the ward! He'll be in the north half on bike, training a new missionary. I'll be a ZL in the south half in a CAR!!! Of course I get a car once the worst of the summer is over! Haha I'm a little bummed I won't be on bike anymore, but it will be nice to have a car.

I was also sick this week. Elder Turner being an awesome companion made me stay inside for three days straight. I was about ready to hurt somebody at the end of that! I don't understand how anybody can sit around and do nothing. It drives me crazy. Also, there's not much you can do as a missionary besides read scriptures, watch old church movies, etc.. Needless to say, I'm glad I was able to recover and go out and work! Our zone leaders were nice enough to come babysit me when we had set appointments and one of them would go out and work with Elder Turner! 

Chelsea's baptism was this week! Whoooo! We have worked really really hard to make this happen! And it finally did! We were worried that nobody was going to show up on a Saturday morning, but there were TONS of people there! People were sitting out in the hallway! Her husband got to baptize her, and it was an awesome experience. We had dinner with them that night and it was crazy to see the change in her, even just a couple hours after her baptism. She's really excited to serve in the ward and really wants a calling! I love how much this gospel changes people for the better!

We started teaching a guy named Steve this week. He's 27 and served in the Air Force for a while until he was injured. He has a crazy story! Heavenly Father has really prepared him to receive the gospel! He has already accepted everything we have taught him! He read from the Book of Mormon and loved it. He came to church and loved it. And we had a lesson with him at a member’s home and he loved it! He said that everything is lining up in his life and he is certain that this is where he needs to be! He's already said he wants to be baptized on September 27! I'll keep y'all posted!

Well that should be about all for today.. I love you all and miss you lots!! Go serve God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength!

Love of love, Elder Warren

8/17/2015 P-Day #41

8/17/2015

Hola familia!!! 

These past six weeks have flown by. I can't believe I have already been in the Lasselle ward for 4 1/2 months! It's crazy. But anyways... Thanks Danielle, Maddy, Tenley, and Omie & Papa for the letters! Thanks Momma for the mini package! This week has been extremely busy for us, so I haven't quite had a chance to write back yet, but I will got on that asap!

It was REALLY hot this week! It was over 110 degrees! Our zone leaders were kind enough to let us go on a mini exchange with them on Wednesday. I went with Elder Gibson and Elder Turner stayed with Elder Reeve (who is not actually a zone leader, but was already on exchanges with them). We took their car to go visit some of our investigators and some of theirs! We stopped by a less active member in the Spanish ward (thankfully they spoke English) and started talking about how he came in contact with the church. Then his eight year old son walks out and he was super funny! He was just a very proper kid! Haha he was very polite, nice, asked really good questions, and wasn't bouncing off the walls like most kids that age! We invited them to church, and the dad asked if their was a meeting in English since his kids didn't speak Spanish. We told him that there was and the little kid asked what time, where it was at, and told  us that he would be there! Then he said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help him with his Spanish! It was so cute! I was trying really hard not to laugh! 

Then the next day, I got to spend the WHOLE day inside! Whoo-hoo! Well I'm going to need to tell another story first.. On Saturday, Elder Gibson got hurt while they were playing soccer with their ward. Some member kicked his shin and it was swollen up like a cantaloupe. It was pretty nasty. He went to the doctor when the swelling didn't go down and was told to stay off of it for a while. So I got to spend the day babysitting him while Elder Turner and Elder Aguilar (our real zone leader) went out and worked. I don't understand how anybody can go throughout the day and not do anything. I thought I was going to die!!! Being lazy is the worst!! It felt like such a waste of a day!

Chelsea's baptism is on Saturday!! We're so excited! There was a little complication when she got interviewed for baptism, but hopefully all of that is resolved.. She is meeting with a member of the mission presidency tonight and will be good to go for Saturday! We talked to McKayla the other night and asked her if she wanted to be baptized. She told us she did because she feels really good when she goes to church, and when she came to the baptism the other Sunday. So she's working towards being baptized September 20th! All she needs to do is talk to her dad and make sure he is okay with it! And then we will start teaching her! Haylei (the other daughter) is a different story. She has some problems with her mom, who doesn't want her to be baptized, but Bro Nunley said he will work on that problem... Keep them in your prayers!

Well other than that, not much else happened this week. I love you all and miss you tons! 

Love,

Elder Warren

8/17/2015

Sorry, I forgot to tell you this story in my last email! Haha!

On Sunday, we were asked to give a talk at a baptism for the Moreno Valley ward. Elder Turner and I show up at 4:30 (half an hour early) to find out that the missionaries forgot to fill the font! And nobody had keys to unlock the door to get to the faucet! The keys didn't show up until 4:50! So two other missionaries and I were running back in forth, filling up buckets, pots, coolers, mop buckets, etc with water and dumping them into the font to help it fill up faster! It was crazy! We eventually got it filled up around 5:40. Thankfully, they started the program in the chapel so people weren't just waiting around for the font to be filled! ALWAYS make sure the font is filled!!!

And if y'all could send letters and such to the mission office this week, that would be great!!!

California Riverside Mission

5900 Grand Avenue

Riverside, California 92504

Moreno Valley Zone Conference