October 26, 2009

the light .. [10.26.09]


i know i say this A LOT .. but everything points back to the RESTORATION ! i love it.

we are in the day that EVERYTHING is brought back and we are in THE LIGHT !

THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL IS ON THE EARTH !

it is contained in The Book of Mormon and through our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

2 Nephi 27:29
"And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness."

it is here ! now ! how amazing ! we must give everyone the light ! the LDS church is still a thing of obscurity here in WI but that is why sister pluim and i get up every morning ! b.c. we know we were sent here by the Lord to help people receive this light .. how wonderful an opprotunity this is for us sisters and elders and EVERYONE !

GIVE 'EM THE LIGHT !

we arent all going to know it right now but the Lord tells us ..

2 Nephi 28:30
"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."

let us take in this light and continue to learn ! Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ love us so much .. They are always there ..

2 Nephi 28:32
"For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts."

He continues to reach out to us in love and mercy wanting us to accept and reaccept His light. that is something i am truly grateful for this week ..

THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL !

this week was fun and full of light ..

last monday was BEAUTIFUL ! the weather was perfect .. the racine sisters [a trio of my black, little johson and russian, visa sister johnson] came up to milwaukee to play ! we had a little custard and giant burgers from KOPPS and then played in the leaves at Whitnall Park = breathtaking ! the elders kept asking where we were all day and we wanted to play outside ! they staying inside for some reason !

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20th = our dear PAPA BARR [President Barrett] BIRTHDAY ! we went to the mission home and had an amazing dinner of homemade pizza and cheesecake with love from mama barr [Sister Barrett !] sister pluim and i made him a card with a bear on it .. it was sweet !

I LOVE VAL RISSE ! she joined the church just about 3 months ago and she is amazing ! she does so much with UWM and teaches with us whenever and whereever ! we had a great lesson with her and SARA at UWM and she set aside a time with sara to study the scriptures together on there own to help sara read the book of mormon and come unto christ !

UWM ! we had a booth on campus on 10.21 and it was fabulous ! i love talking to college kids about the gospel .. to some of them they see the light and to others they do not but it is ok .. they will all get the light sometime !

the WENZEL family .. oh how i love katie wenzel .. we had dinner with them on 10.21 and katie is coming back to church and getting her mom too and wanting her dad to learn and come to it as well ! katie is a beautiful young single adult and plays the piano magically ! we sat around and sang hymns to her family ! it was so fun !

FRIDAY 10.23.09 was AMAZING ! we had a YSA missionary activity and it was a CHAPEL LESSON TOUR .. where we set up the church building in a way to teach the Restoration while using the classrooms and chapel ! we had a good turnout .. val brought her mom and friend amanda and then lauren squires brought her mom and it was really powerful ! it was all about the LIGHT OF THE RESTORATION ! we use the lights and pictures and music to have them feel the power of the spirit. it was great and AMANDA was so drawn and she wants to learn more !

Saturday was a day of GENEOLOGY and HOMECOMING PARTY ! we helped at the geneology workshop that was held our building .. a TON of people came to learn more and continue their work in geneology and we were able to teach them more about what we do and why !

Zak Kier served his mission in mesa, AZ and has been home for about 2 months and had a HUGE homecoming party and of course invited the missionaries ! we were able to talk to a lot of his friends about what the "mormons" believe and why and what zak did in AZ and what we are doing here in WI ! it was so fun .. zaks dad isnt a member of the church so like usual WI style there was a lot of beer there and we left right when we should b.c. they were getting more and more typsy .. but it was good !

and then oh how i love the saabath day and covering two wards ! i said the opening prayer in the Muskego Lakes Ward and then sister pluim stayed there and i went off to a meeting for the Milwaukee 3rd YSA Ward and then at the end of the day sister pluim and i were reunited and it felt so good ! sundays are crazy but then again really good ! we are working hard to get people at chruch so they can feel the amazing spirit that resides in the chapel !

THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE FULL OF ADVENTURES AND FUN !

we have MISSION TOUR and ELDER BRUCE C. HAFEN of the seventy is coming out to speak to us and sister pluim and i got invited to dinner with him and the Barretts at the mission home ! SO EXCITING ! i love serving in milwaukee !

i love life .. i love this gospel ..

and transfers are happening this week ..

SISTER PLUIM AND SISTER WARNER WILL LIVE ON IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA !

so write me here :

5651 broad st. #1
greendale, wi. 53129

THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU ALL.

p.s. HAPPY HALLOWEEN and HAPPY MARRIAGE TO MY MAMA HOOD [soon to be JONES] on 10.28.09

I LOVE YOU.
sister warner

October 19, 2009

SHORTY WHAT IT IS ! [10.19.09]


THE MIRACLES ARE ENDLESS !

this gospel is for everyone and it is amazing. no matter what stage in life we are in, what our weakness or challenges are, or our strengths and happiness is .. the message of the RESTORED GOSPEL can and will better each and everyone of our lives if we act on faith and APPLY it !

2 Nephi 26:13
"And that he [Jesus Christ] manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith."

2 Nephi 26:33
"For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."

i love knowing that. we can all be better and this restored gospel makes us better ! that is why i want and continue to share it with everyone .. not only Heavenly Fathers children in Wisconsin but with my family and friends. JUST DO IT. that is mine and sister pluims motto ! we have to share this b.c. we KNOW how happy it makes us and i want you all to know TOO ! it is b.c. i love you and Heavenly Father loves you that he makes this good news available in many forms and one of that being His Representatives !

this week was good .. we can always do better but it was good ..

being on UWM campus was a highlight .. we taught SARA HASKEL .. she brought a friend .. RICHARD with her and NATE our amazing member missionary was there too ! sara has been going to church with her friend dani since she was 7yrs and still hasnt taken the plunge but she is making HUGE steps .. us teaching her is one of them. i love teaching on campus .. and now INSTITUTE is on campus and we are going to redouble our efforts to get it hoppin !

I GOT A HAIRCUT ! [sorry no picture included .. next week!] after i chopped my hair into a bob last year ive been wanting it to grow out but it has been growing funny and i needed a fix on the mullet i felt i was growing .. so now i have a slight a line haircut and it feel fabulous ! thank you to anneliese high .. natalyas sister !

funny story: we knocked on a door over by UWM and this older man opened the door and said, "hello i am not interested" .. i said, "hello, i am sister warner" .. then he said, "i am jon and i am a happy atheist." at least he opened the door !

we had an amazing lesson with HEATHER [i like that name b.c. of you H] the spirit was so strong. she has a learning disorder and she expresses herself through writting and she wrote this heartfelt poem about the pain she has had growing up and while sister pluim and i were both sitting there the spirit whispered ever so softly but clearly, "tell her I love her." i looked at Heather with tears forming in my eyes and said, "Heavenly Father wants YOU to know He loves you." sister pluim confirmed the prompting by saying the same thing. it was beautiful. she felt so much better and as sister pluim and i drove away we both smiled and said we felt the same thing. it was simple but it was what Heather needed.

KATIE WENZEL. oh how i love her. she FINALLY called us. she is less active and has been avoiding our calls and she said she was so sorry and i just hugged her forever when she came to talk to us. the healing power of the atonement it for everyone. i want everyone to have it and WE ALL NEED IT.

saturday was an ADVENTURE ! we went to 2353 north 10th st in MILWAUKEE .. i felt like i was home in LA ! we helped with a service project the YSA were doing .. helping fix a home for teen mothers .. it was and still is a pretty damaged house but the women who bought it has good intentions. it was really fun .. i learned how to rebuild a stair with e. carter ! or we should say i enlisted him to do it ! the best part was melvin .. 17year old african american boy who was helping and he walked by me and said, "e'cuse me shorty." i felt right back at home ! that prompted me to say to ari and you, "SHORTY WHAT IT IS !" it was a good time in the ghetto of milwaukee !

I LOVE THE FORMELLA / HELLE FAMILY ! and of course NATE RADER ! he just got baptized about 3 months ago ! there family is just amazing ! kirsten is my girl !

i love this gospel. it makes me happier and better each day ! i love sharing what i find and do with you.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

I LOVE YOU.
sister warner

*WISCONSIN FALL is AMAZING !*

October 12, 2009

THE BOOK OF MORMON ! [10.12.09]

THE BOOK OF MORMON !

i cant get over how powerful Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands talk on the book of mormon was ! [Safety for the Soul] i have thought a lot more about the book of mormon this week and what it truly means. the book of mormon are the words of Christ. i know this b.c. i have asked and received a confirmation that the words teach us how to do good ! that is exactly what the Savior taught us isnt it ? the book of mormon goes in depth about how to follow in His path and i know if we were all to follow in His path and continue to strive in Christlike attributes we would all be happier, healthier and better people !

2 Nephi 33:10
"And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good."

i love being a representative of Jesus Christ here in Wisconsin because this is what i get to do each and everyday and it brings me the greatest fullfilment and joy ..

2 Nephi 25:26
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

this is the greatest work of all time .. TO INVITE OTHERS TO COME UNTO CHRIST !

this week was a good one .. it could have been better but i was sick and my mind was fuzzy for a couple of days straight. i finally forced myself to take some nyquil and just sleep. s. pluim and i planned it out on 10.07 that when we got home i would go straight to sleep and then just sleep in the morning till i wake up [nyquil makes me the drosiest person ever ! i cant function early in the morning !] s. pluim had lots of study and working on the area book time and i woke up at about 9am and felt SO much better ! it was amazing ! i could actually think straight and life was good ! sleep is a miracle sometimes ! so now this week i feel great and am ready to work hard !

[sidenote about the GREEN BAY PACKERS this last week ! they played the MINNESOTA VIKINGS .. biggest rivals and the state was pretty crazy about it ! especially b.c. FAVRE is on the vikings now ! in WI you either are a PACKERS FAN OR A FAVRE FAN ! its insane all the talk about it that week ! sad to say that my packers lost though !]

we are working a lot with the MENTERS ! KAYLA is so wonderful. i love teaching her. she is so simple and so humble. she is very shy but she is coming around. sami and zak are doing good. we have lots to work on this week to really see where they are at and there desires.

ANGIE has such a solid testimony ! she has truly found her way back home ! we are continuing to teach her and she gets very happy when she feels the spirit ! her work schedule is kinda crazy so we are trying to see her at every opprotunity we can !

WE FOUND SERVICE ! we went with the Muskego Elders [e.vogan & e.stevens] to the New Berlin Food Pantry and they were SO EXCITED to have SISTERS come ! i guess sisters use to volunteer there years ago and they just love sisters ! [sorry elders !] it was a really good time and very fun ! i love doing service and this is the first one we got in this area !

UWM.UWM.UWM
we have institute on campus now ! we are trying to get more people there now ! s.pluim and i did have an interesting run in with RJ & AJ at UWM campus .. we were just walking down some steps and these 2 guys [lookin like they were going clubbin] just say to us "what are you doing on thursday night ?" we both turn around and i look at them and say, "we are representatives of Jesus Christ." i was a little out of it b.c. i was sick and on medicine but it was quite amussing to see there reaction. for a moment i felt as if they were mocking our standards b.c. we were teaching about the word of wisdom and such but we left them with a pass along card and our testimonies. s. pluim and i just laughed and thought, "who are you ? and maybe you should practice better pick up lines." at least i didnt say i was a nun this time !

JESSICA PACK .. now THIMMESCH joined the church exactly 1 year ago and just got married in the temple ! jessica and eli are so amazing ! we are going to start working with jessicas mom more ! 3 RM from this area came back for it as well and that was really cool !

the weather sure has changed to VERY COLD ! we need to get sister pluim a coat ! the poor girl ! besides the weather changing the work is constintly changing and getting better ! i love this gospel ! i love s. pluims sweetness and energy ! life is good ! WISCONSIN IS THE BEST !

I LOVE YOU.
sister warner

BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS !

* MY PAPA ! MONTE MEMMOTT IS THE TOP DOG !
* KAY FIGAWHAT ! she is the best !

[if i have forgotten to mention anyones celebrated day i apologize and blame it on being a missionary. i love you all yet.]

October 05, 2009

the windows of heaven are open ! [10.05.09]




WHAT A GOOD WEEK / END !

the windows of heaven are truly open !

General Conference is such a spiritual uplifting time. those who spoke were inspired and received revelation directly to help our individual lives. i am SO grateful for personal revelation and that we have someone who is called of God to lead and guide us today. it is amazing ! i am so grateful to know that we have a prophet on the earth today !

Jacob 4:6
"Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea."

Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

General Conference not only strengthen my errand as a full time servant of the Lord but it helped me to know that my Heavenly Father knows me, Melanie Elizabeth Warner, personally and individually. i really enjoyed Jeffrey R. Holland ! what a powerful testimony of The Book of Mormon ! it is our keystone and contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ ! the theme of love, personal revelation / the Holy Ghost and keeping the commandments brings blessings is what i noticed the most during the conference ! it was exactly what i needed !

Conference has given me the confidence to be more bold and announce the truth and bear solid testimony of it ! for now and always !

this week had some great highlights leading up to the greatly needed General Conference !

we found out Monday [09.28] after emailing that sister TALL johnson would be going BACK to madison .. that meant sister pluim and i would be in a normal companionship ! how grateful was i ! being in a trio is fun but difficult at the same time ! that eve we also found out that there would be ANOTHER VISA SISTER AND ELDER coming to the WMM ! they are both on their way to diff parts of Russia and the new visa sister is SISTER JOHNSON ! [what a great name !] we call her russian sister johnson .. president put her down with my sister black and sister little johnson in racine ! so now they are in a trio and training a new visa sister ! so fun !

on Tuesday [09.29] SOUER EARL boarded a plane from milwaukee, wisconsin to atlanta, georgia to paris, france and then finally to the island on reunion off the coast of madagascar ! President B let me go say goodbye to her at the airport ! it was so great getting to say goodbye to her ! and then sister johnson drove back to madison with sister bishop and sister pluim and i stayed in our home of milwaukee !

sister pluim and i are starting to work more with UWM and it is so exciting ! i LOVE teaching on campus and having college people stare at my tag and what it means ! there are SO many people that go to UWM !

we also both got a little sick this week .. i still am .. i think it happens with the weather changes .. FALL IS HERE AND WINTER IS DEF COMING REAL QUICK ! man i forgot how chilly wisconsin is !

we set 3 baptismal dates this week ! 1 is with ANGELINA ! she is go cool. she is 22 and her mom has been a less active member all her life but now is coming back and her daughter is on her way to the gate ! she is getting baptized on 10.17.09 and then we have the MENTERS ! KAYLA is the oldest [20] and has a diff dad then SAMI and ZAK and all 3 kids are going to be baptized on 10.24.09 if everything goes well from talking to their dad. I HAVE FAITH that it will all work out !

btw .. my lil' sister pluim got her HMONG NAME ! i love taking my comps to get HMONG NAMES ! its is .. HNUB CI .. which means .. BRIGHT SUN ! [hai hai hood you will be proud .. she already has a similar hmong name to you .. she might be the one to walk in your footsteps like me .. we will have to see !] sister pluim really is bright and shiny happy as the sun and i am the beautiful moon ! we just fit so nicely !

what miracles this week and fun !

more are going to happen this week .. i can just feel it ! this is the Lords work and when we do what He says He is bound to bring forth the miracles and blessings !

i love you. i am so grateful for the restored gospel that gives us such peace, hope, answers and direction. it blesses everyones life no matter what they are going through or what stage of life they are in. it makes everything better. it makes me want to be a better person ! i cant wait for the conference talks to come out .. go to lds.org in a week and they should be there !

i love this :
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.

2. When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

3. We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We’ll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.

P.S. SHOUT OUT TO MY TWINS .. LAURA & HEATHER .. i will be thinking about you on 10.10 .. you both are so amazing. thank you for being such great examples to me. have fun and be safe ! I LOVE YOU !

I LOVE YOU.
sister warner