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.]

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

the power .. [09.28.09]

THE POWER OF COVENANTS ! it is so uplifting. having a 2 way promise with God is a beautiful strength. when we do what we promise to do for him He is bound to bless us ! this scripture makes me so happy !

Mosiah 5:7,15

"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters."

"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen."

NOW WHO DOESNT WANT ALL THAT ! eternal life and salvation ! we can become SPIRITUALLY REBORN through baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost ! it truly is amazing. Heavenly Father wants to bless us but we must first ACT of our FAITH and show him we are willing to receive these blessings he so desires to give us.

each day i know i can do better so i can live up to my Heavenly Fathers promised blessings. each day i can pray to Him and ask for help and strength and each day i do that while being obedient is another step of progression ! I LOVE THIS RESTORED GOSPEL. I LOVE BEING SO CLOSE TO THE SPIRIT. I LOVE TEACHING HIS WISCONSIN CHILDREN ABOUT THIS MARVELOUS PLAN !

this last week was really good ! we are seeing the Lords miracles upon His children. we have so many that are at the edge of acting upon their faith ! this week is a big one in getting H.F. children to Come Unto Christ.

SAMI .. KAYLA .. ZAK .. SARAH .. ANGELINA .. AMALIA .. SANDRA and the many others that the Lord has prepared !

we worked a lot with UWM this last week ! we had a booth and we have such solid YSA down here ! I LOVE IT ! i love working on campus !

ZONE CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING like always ! its such a faith promoting time ! gives me the extra energy to keep me going through the transfer !

and then we had the RELIEF SOCIETY GENERAL BROADCAST ! [i def missed you memmott ladies !] that was so good too ! i love being a women and sharing with others all of our divine nature given from God !

now we are preparing for GENERAL CONFERENCE ! this is golden for missionaries ! at least i feel so. all of us can receive answers to questions if we prayerfully consider them before ! i am so stoked !

i can already feel the miracles coming for this week ! THE LORD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY !

p.s. I LOVE MY LITTLE DAUGTHER SISTER PLUIM. she is just the cutest ! she has such a solid testimony and her analogies are the best. i love hearing and watching her teach !

p.s.s. its good being back with TALL JOHNSON ! she is so fun to just laugh with !

being in a trio is always interesting and the fun NEVER ends !

and about my MADAGASCARIAN GIRL .. she is leaving tomorrow afternoon for her island in madagascar ! president b said i could go say goodbye to her at the airport ! i will miss her. she is so stellar !

the FALL is here and it came FAST ! the wind is blowing and the chill is being felt.

i love seeing my baby girl black and my little johnson serving together .. they love it ! now i just need one of my girls to train !

I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
sister warner

labored much .. [09.21.09]

WOW. changes galore happened this past week !

one of the coolest parts besides getting to meet my new daughter SISTER PLUIM was getting to see my little sister johnson go be companions with my sister black ! HOW COOL IS THAT ? and we are all in the SAME ZONE ! crazy and so fun ! i love it !

the other crazy part is that the Lord decided to put us milwaukee sisters back in a TRIO .. but with me training .. its crazy but we are working it out. the other crazy part is that i am back with the tall sister johnson .. she is on her last transfer and soeur earl and her switched spots in madison ! i am not sure why all these changes but i know everything is in the Lords inspiration and His timing.

SISTER PLUIM. she is cute as a button. she is from ogden utah and comes from a family of 11 children ! she is the 2nd oldest and they range from 24years - 4years old ! they are so cute in all the pictures ! she is excited as can be for her time in WI. its so fun b.c. my mama hood trained me this time last year and now i am in her spot and she is in mine. its really fun !

this last week was full of sweet experiences with sister earl and then getting sister pluim and johnson. the new missionaries were all supposed to get to WI on thursday but the MTC didnt tell them they were leaving so they missed there flight and got here friday afternoon .. we had to do lots of changes quick in our schedules but it worked out well !

the sweetest experience was with ANGELINA :

she is toni cooks daugther, toni is from the muskego lakes ward. toni cook has been a member all her life but in and out of activity .. angelina wanted at one point to be baptized when she was about 10 and now she is 22 .. her mom went less active then and angelina was not open to the idea of baptism again when her mom started coming back .. BUT she[angelina] has had a change of heart and has been coming these past couple weeks to sacrament with toni and she just moved out of the cooks house asked to have her new apt blessed this past thursday 09.17 we went there with the elders vogan and stevens and they blessed her apt and then she asked for a blessing of direction from the elders and then she asked us, "so how do i start the baptism classes." WHAT FAITH AND PERSERVERENCE !

it was sweet and we sure are starting the baptism classes with her ! we are getting her involved with the YSA too ! it was such a sweet experience !

this week the highlight is .. ZONE CONFERENCE ! i love it so much.

this is our transfer scripture and i know it to be true ..

Alma 8:10
"Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance."

if we labor much and pray mightly the Spirit will be with us and then these wisconsinities will feel it and come unto the Savior, Jesus Christ ! I LOVE THIS WORK !

the Lord sure does find ways to make us stretch and grow and even though it hurts sometimes we come out taller in the end !

I LOVE YOU !

sister warner

my rock ! [09.14.09]

last night we were talking about this principle :

3 Nephi 14:24-27
"Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—"
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock."
"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—"
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." [also found in Matthew 7:24-27]

i was pondering last night about WHO is that solid foundation and WHY do we need it .. my thoughts turned to my purpose here on earth. if i didnt believe in the Savior and Heavenly Father as my foundation then i wouldnt have a purpose. this morning i turned to my scriptures and where i was reading i found the exact thoughts of my heart ..

2 Nephi 11:7
"For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time."

if i did not have that foundation i would not be here. i would not have a purpose in life. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO KNOW THAT MY PURPOSE IS TO GO FORTH FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST SO I CAN RETURN TO MY HEAVENLY FATHER. that is why i exsist and why i go day to day .. the restored gospel gives me the faith, hope and tools to go to any battle i may come across with in this life. it gives me the strength to keep going. it makes my foundation ROCK SOLID !

this week was non then short of amazing ! and i've got some crazy news !

on friday 09.11 i called President Barrett about advice on Sami and the family situation .. he gave great advice and i told him we would go put it into action and then he said this, "Thats why we pay you the big bucks Sister Warner and because we pay you the big bucks we are gonna have you train another missionary !"

i was quite for a second and said OK ! ANOTHER DAUGTHER ! i am excited ! i get to meet her on friday ! another crazy part of this whole thing is when we got transfer calls on saturday night they said SISTER EARL IS LEAVING ! crazy. i thought i would just be in a trio with both my girls [sister earl is still one of my girls even though she is off to an island sometime !] and that when s. earls visa came she would just go ! it logically doesnt make sense but b.c. Papa Barr listens to the spirit so closley he does what the Lord wants .. so s. earl is going to a diff part of the WMM and i will stay here in MILWAUKEE WITH MY NEW DAUGHTER ! exciting !

other then that craziness the week has been good .. this is why :

we had a ORGANIZATION FAIR @ UWM [university of wisconsin - milwaukee] I LOVE WORKING WITH COLLEGE CAMPUS' ! ari [a lds student] is the LDSSA Pres and got it all set up ! we were at the booth talking to all the students and getting them to join LDSSA ! it was really fun and we got a good response from the students !

KIRSTEN HELLE is a YW in the Muskego Lakes ward and she is SO GREAT ! we started teaching her friend SANDRA this week and it was so good. sandra is orthodox and serbian .. she is amazing ! we are seeing her again tomorrow !

we were working hard with SAMI this week but the Lord is having us wait right now .. her baptism was pulling the family apart .. we are about bringing families into the gospel, not about tearing them up over the gospel. samis dad decided to hear out bro. ducharme [our WML] and it went really well. now that we are waiting i can feel that the effects of the gospel will help the WHOLE family instead of just one. we are still working witht the menters and it is good.

another long stretch of being at church yesterday ! we were there from 12p-8p ! it is amazing. working with 2 wards is really good ! i love both so much ! this area truly is amazing. i am still always amazed by the wisconsin saints.

life is good. sister earl and i bonded this week and now she is leaving ! it always seems like that happens. but i do KNOW that president is an inspired man and she will do amazing whereve she may go ! [she started praying for her visa b.c. she just wants to leave to madagascar from this area but she just might have 2 areas in the WMM !]

thank you for your love, support and care. my prayers are with you.

I LOVE YOU.

sister warner

THE RESTORATION ! [09.08.09]

THE RESTORATION ! all thoughts .. conversations .. teaching opprotunities this week turned to the restoration.

on sunday morning i was questioning why a restoration was so important. i said a prayer before reading The Book of Mormon and that question was on my heart .. we had some time before our meetings at church and i decided to just read from my personal reading .. this was where i started reading ..

2 Nephi 9:1-3
"And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel— "
"That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God; when they shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise."
"Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children."

my simple but important question was answered in these 3 verses. the true church of God and His Son Jesus Christ would be RESTORED to the earth AND IT IS ! we have a living prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson, the FULNESS of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, Heavenly Fathers children are being gathered back to His fold. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE BECAUSE I HAVE FELT THE BLESSING OF THE RESTORED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN MY LIFE.

i love sharing this message. i am so grateful the elders came to our home and shared this message with you Laura and Heather and of course me ! b.c. of that message you Marmie came back to church with us nad b.c. you came back to church we had the opprotunity to be SEALED as a family for ETERNITY. all these blessings go back to the blessing of the RESTORATION. it has changed my life and i have the beautiful opprotunity to see it here in WISCONSIN in action changing lives ! i love it.

this week was good ! it all def pointed to the restoration ! we are truly getting into the milwaukee area and working our hardest ! yesterday was Labor day so that is why today is email day ! i love hearing from you. it brightens my week and helps me continue going ! thank you.

both pdays [08.31 and 09.07] were fun ! we had a good volleyball game LAST pday and some good thrift shopping happened ! this pday we had a north vs. south zone football game but us sisters didnt get to play too much .. thanks elders ! its ok we got a volleyball and started playing with that ! i realized again why the Lord didnt send me somewhere HOT .. i felt so sick after being out in the heat all afternoon but i am now ok.

AMALIA is wonderful. she was my investigator in appleton and now goes to Marquette University in Milwaukee .. we went to MU on 09.01 and it is a Jesuit school but we got to talk to some cool people. our lesson with amalia was good .. she needs to pray specifically about Joseph Smith and then everything else will come !

SAMI MENTOR is such a fun 13 year old. we set a baptismal date with her for 09.12 [this coming saturday] as of right now its going through but her dad is not so happy with this decision of hers and now that its coming closer its getting harder for her and we need his consent .. we are working on that today .. BUT PLEASE KEEP SAMI AND THE MENTOR FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS .. she needs this and i know the whole mentor family will be blessed b.c. she will bring the Spirit with her full time into their home .. that will mean her and her mom will both have it [her mom has been a member for some time, kim was less active but has been so strong in the last months] and it will bless their family .. her dad and her older brother !

09.02.09 = SEPTEMBER 2nd .. the day i left the MTC and flew out to WISCONSIN 1 year ago ! it was so fun remembering that day and all the emotions that i felt and being here now. I LOVE THIS PLACE. we had a sweet experience that night .. we went out with Natalya, a YSA preparing for a mission, to go see some YSA and we couldnt find the house # to the persons house we were trying to see when a nice man told us it was the next house .. we tried the person we planned but he was not home SO we went to go talk to the other man and he let us right in ! FRANK was so cool .. his wife was not home but we talked of eternal families and the restored gospel .. we sang him, "i am a child of God" and said a prayer with him .. the spirit was beautiful ! he didnt give us a return appt but he did say we could stop by again so i feel like that was ! it was a miracle !

another miracle was on 09.03 when we were planning in the park .. we were sitting on a blanket and planning for the upcoming week when this lady walked by and she asked us if we were doing homework .. we told her no we were missionaries and she came to talk to us .. she invited us to dinner and we went the next day ! it was really good .. eye opening to sister earl b.c. she doesnt know anything really about other religions .. REBECCA is non denominatinal .. she invited us to her church this past sunday and we went .. she should be coming to the LDS Church this next week .. right now she is trying to convert us to her church which is interesting but when she feels the true spirit of the restoration she will understand the blessings that await her !

on saturday we were invited to SISTER HECKS BBQ ! it was so much fun ! we got to talk to ALL of her family. they loved us and we loved them. i love being around families .. we talked TONS about the restoration .. sister heck is the only mormon in her family and she is amazing ! she doesnt hesitate one bit when its about the gospel ! such a fun day !

sunday = 7 hours of church ! gotta love back to back meetings and wards BUT the coolest part was when i walked out of the Muskego Lakes Ward to go to a meeting IN WALKED MICHELLE MOORE[now ARREOLA] it was such a blessing ! we hugged and we in such shock ! she just moved to WI and just happened to go to the ward where i serve ! i remember going to YW stuff with Michelle there and then YSA Dances with her there too ! crazy how your worlds collide ! i loved it !

as for this week lots of goodness planned like always ! SAMIS BAPTISM !

i love this gospel. i love serving.

I LOVE YOU.
sister warner

my soul delighteth ! [08.31.09]

2 Nephi 4:16

"Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."

my heart is full of emotions ! it has been a CRAZY week of changes and happenings ! so here it goes ..

* MONDAY we found out the TRIO NATION was being dissolved. it was sad news and a pretty rough day .. especially for sister black and i .. we felt gypped for not having a whole transfer together but we know this is best for the work to go forth and plus we will be friends for a really long time !

* TUESDAY we said lots of goodbyes and sister black and sister behrends packed ! sister behrends had been in the milwaukee area for almost 1 year so she had LOTS of stuff ! it was quite a packed day of visits and see you laters !

* WEDNESDAY we drove with President and Sister Barrett to interviews in Kenosha and then promptly drove back to up to the MILWAUKEE AIRPORT to get my NEW COMPANION ! we walked into the airport to find SISTER EARL teaching a way ! 9 weeks locked up in the Provo MTC gets you excited to talk and see REAL PEOPLE !

* SISTER EARL = SOEUR EARL ! she is from provo, utah and is 21 ! she is going to a FRENCH SPEAKING ISLAND off of MADAGASCAR ! she will be visa waiting here in the WMM for about 2-3 weeks ! she is fun and VERY excited about the work ! she is REALLY TALL ! she is 5'10" and TOWERS over me ! [kinda like you elle when you wear heals and without too ! ] it is great to have that fresh MTC feeling again ! especially since i was just there 1 year ago exact ! i am so grateful to be here in Wisconsin and for the WMM .. it really is #1 ! s. earl will think that about here and madagascar .. i really hope she sees DANCING LEMURS !

* THURSDAY we had lots and lots of planning ! i still dont know everyone as well as i wished i did so we made lots of plans to meet so we can teach ! we also attened the YSA Institute and the Open Mic Night after .. they were good ! Bishop Becker rocks the guitar like no other ! he is the perfect bishop for the YSA ! also the APs were there as well [we work with them in that ward !] e. young sang us a good song ! i encouraged s. earl to sing in french but she denied ! it is def fun to train again !

* FRIDAY we used all our resources to TALK WITH EVERYONE ! nothing in missionary work happens until you talk to someone ! it is SO TRUE ! it feels good to talk to everyone b.c. then you know that you are giving everyone the opprotunity to learn about the beautiful restored gospel !

* SATURDAY was some good volleyball BUT its gotten SO COLD ! fall is coming early and winter is coming fast ! you can see your breath in the morning ! wow. it was still a little warm when i came to WI in september ! the other good part was SAMI came .. she is our 13 yr old investigator and she even brought a friend ! she is cute and fun .. her mom KIM is coming back into activity and it is similar to my growing up experience .. marmie thank you for always coming to church with us and finding for yourself again the true everlasting happiness that comes from the restored gospel .. thank you.

on saturday as well we got to see PANG KOU YANG ! she lives in west allis now and she is amazing .. she still feels like she should go on a mission which is amazing ! i LOVE her so very much ! she is stellar !

* SUNDAY was amazing ! 8 hours of church ! we were there from 12p-8p ! crazy ! meetings and back to back/overlapping chruch but it was filled with the spirit to the max ! i love the sabbath day !

2 Nephi 4:24, 34-35

"And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me."

"O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm."

"Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."

this is how i feel. i love Nephis Psalm in 2 Nephi 4 .. i could put it all here but i encourage you all the read it ! its amazing and BEAUTIFUL !

the Lord is our rock and our salvation and i KNOW that i can turn to Him for anything and that He and His Son is ALWAYS there for us. i will put my trust in Him forever !

thank you for all your prayers for all the missionaries around the world and for Wisconsin ! thank you for all your support to me.

my many more congratulations to my sister and new brother in law .. heather and braden ! i saw some pictures and it was BEAUTIFUL and H you are looking GOOD ! and I LOVED THE CARDBOARD OF ME ! so fun ! i love that the black family went TOO ! i love you all.

I LOVE YOU.

sister warner

sufficiently humbled .. [08.24.09]

LOTS OF THINGS JUST HAPPENED !

with emails come news from President Barrett .. the Assistants [we work with them in the YSA Ward] hinted at some new changes yesterday BUT only kept saying "hypothetically" so that wasnt much help so i just brushed it off till i got the DL from President !

so the "hypothetically" is now REAL.

THE TRIO NATION IS BREAKING UP !

sister black and sister behrends will be going full time down to Racine/Kenosha to do english/spanish work AND ..

i am getting a NEW SISTER ! a visa waiting sister on her way to MADAGASCAR !

how crazy .. we will stay here in the Milwaukee Area and work the Muskego Lakes Ward and the Milwaukee 3rd YSA ! i am not sure any more details then that except she should be coming on Wednesday !

missions are crazy .. changes could happen all the time and they do ! i am sad that my baby girl black will not be with me anymore .. i just love serving with her so much .. we are BFF. seriously ! i am also gonna miss the sister behrends .. her crazy ways that bring us all so much laughter will be missed !

so with all of this news i am feeling SUFFIENTLY HUMBLED ..

i am still way new to the area and am SO GRATEFUL FOR MY GPS so that i dont get too lost [btw .. i kinda learned how to read a map the other day !]

BUT I KNOW THIS ..

Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

i have FAITH that the Lord will strengthen me as i am obedient, humble and faithful .. He will show us through revelation how to work with the wards and get to know everyone and how to help Sister Madagascar feel the Spirit of missionary work in the field before she goes off to Madagascar ! its all so exciting and sad at the same time. I WILL DEF MISS MY TRIO NATION !

without them it just wont be the same BUT lets not think of that .. lets look at the miracles from the trio this last week !

* President and Sister Barrett giving us a referral ! i love serving around the mission home ! its wonderful ! Chandra is her name and we are gonna meet and teach her !

* CHAPEL LESSON TOURS ! they are amazing .. we had a training on them a couple ZC's ago and i was able to do A LOT of them in Appleton .. the spirit is so strong while you teach using the entire church building .. sister black and sister behrends havent done it so it was fun to be able to teach them and then do it with them ! we set it all up for MARK [the library guy !] but he cancelled .. havent heard from him since he called us later that monday night .. maybe he got finally understood what it meant to be a representative of Jesus Christ ! BUT we still did the CLT with Lauren Squires [a recent convert] and it was AMAZING ! the Spirit truly testifies of all things and it testified of the truthfulness of the restored gospel.

* we spent a day in RACINE ! it was so fun ! the sisters dont teach in Spanish yet BUT sister black is already so good at it ! i have been able to help her study a little but .. sister behrends is still workin on hers .. but now that they will be down there full time they will be able to be more engulfed in it all ! i am glad i am doing English .. sarai told me when i received my call to Wisconsin and English, "there are just some things you can express better in your native tongue." i believe that to be true .. the Lord knows me personally and He knows that i needed to speak English and work my WHOLE MISSION WITH YSA ! [there are so many sweet people in racine though ! i am glad i got a little tour of it !]

* another reason to live close to the mission home = sticky note it for President and Sister Barrett ! we did a little service project for them .. we cleaned the kitchen while they were up in the UP and put sticky notes every where .. it was fun !

* MEXICAN FIESTA ! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints loves GENEALOGY and so do I ! the LDS Church was invited to have a booth at the Mexican Fiesta and teach people about Family History ! it was a lot of fun and we were able to teach a lot of people about their family history ! i even got into my own ! i loved searching for my grandparents and finding out more about them ! it was like a treasure hunt ! it was also such a good opportunity for the LDS Church to be seen and get out of obscurity ! i love this gospel.

the adventures of SISTER WARNER & SISTER MADAGASCAR will be in full swing later this week ..

SHOUT OUT ! my lovely sister HEATHER KATHLEEN WARNER is getting MARRIED to BRADEN HATCH on FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009 ! CONGRATULATIONS ! i am WAY jealous i will not be there to party it up in the AZ but look out for a little cardboard cutout of me ! i love my family ! you guys are truly the best. seriously.

oh btw .. we just talked to President Barrett on the phone and we ALL 3 get to go to the airport this wednesday [dont know yet when or really what is going on .. haha] to pick up the new sister ! how fun ! i love my mission !

P.S. oh and another thing .. you might laugh at this picture of me and my sisters in scarfs and coats in AUGUST but it was seriously SO COLD ! the Mexican Fiesta was on the Lakefront and the wind chill here is insane ! this summer has been a mildly cool one with a couple days here and there of pure heat and humidity BUT we were cold ! haha

on and that is BRITTANY KOZLOSKY ! we live with her .. i took some of her senior pics for her .. we love her ! I LOVE YOU ALL !

I LOVE YOU !
sister warner

the work goes forth .. [08.17.09]

nothing feels better then doing the work of the Lord ! seriously.

coming into a new area always puts me back to the basics of missionary work. i love getting to know more Wisconsinites and feel the strength of the saints here in this part of the Lords vineyard !

ITS AMAZING !

we are working hard in this TRIO that covers 4 units ! its crazy fun. key thing i've always known and am learning even greater is PLANNING ! especially in a trio .. we all 3 have ideas and getting them ALL on the same page is the fun part ! LOVE IT.

lots of highlights and special events this past week !

* UWM = university of wisconsin - milwaukee ! i am OBSESSED WITH UW's ! i continue to have the wonderful experience of working with college campus' ! we toured UWM this week so i could get familiar with my surroundings ! UWM is located close to the LAKEFRONT [lake michigan that is !] it is beautiful !

* BETH SCHWENKER = amazing ! she joined the church 6 months ago and we were able to have dinner with her and 10 other YSA from the milwaukee 3rd ward ! it was so fun. beths testimony is amazing ! she radiates the restored gospel of jesus christ ! also a YSA who is from this part of wisconsin attends BYU and sister black actually knew him in provo .. SPENCER TWILMEYER .. he is really funny and i started asking him about who he knows in provo and he knows all of the PROVO NATION that i know ! so shout out to PROVO NATION .. i miss you but i got some of you here in MILWAUKEE !

* WISCONSIN STATE FAIR = lots of cows, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, etc .. ! we went to the state fair here in milwaukee and it was a lot of fun ! people saw our tags and asked tons of questions ! it was really fun ! also lots of good food !

* we live with the KOZLOSKYS in muskego [which is a suburb town of milwaukee area] and they are amazing ! i took brittney [oldest daughter] senior pictures ! it was really fun ! i love being able to use my degree on my mission ! i love mom and dad kozlosky and britt and becky are like our younger siblings ! its so fun !

* AUGUST 13th 2009 = 1 YEAR AS SISTER WARNER .. full time representative of Jesus Christ. i love wearing my tag that bears my name along side the Saviors .. its an amazing feeling .. i get excited to put it on every morning and remember the sacred call, trust and setting apart that i have. in celebration of my 1 year .. I BURNED PANTYHOSE ! it was great ! also i thought we had ZC that day but it was not true but even BETTER was we got to go to the CHICAGO TEMPLE ! the other 2 sisters had a recent convert go and so we went with ! Lauren Major from the YSA ward went with us too ! it was an amazing day. I LOVE THE TEMPLE. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY !

* ZC .. zone conference = SO GOOD ! it was on 08.14 ! it was with the MILWAUKEE NORTH & SOUTH ZONES. wonderful trainings were presented about the tools we need to continue to use as missionaries .. such as chapel lesson tours, using the book of mormon in everything and much much more ! our transfer scripture is pure gold !

Alma 26:20-22

"Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls."

"And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent."

"Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."

* VALERIE RISSE was baptized in the Milwaukee 3rd YSA ward on saturday 08.15 .. it was a beautiful baptism and she could not stop smiling. i was able to talk with her quite a bit last week and she said from the moment she walked into the LDS church building she knew it was true and she said she felt like she was home. that really is the restored gospel of jesus christ !

* MUSKEGO LAKES & MILWAUKEE 3rd YSA = my focus ! i love working with these 2 wards .. we go on exchanges every sunday and it is fun .. i will always go to these 2 wards b.c. i will be permently up here in the M-TOWN !

i love this gospel. i love being in the full time service of my Heavenly Father. i love being a representative of Jesus Christ.

I LOVE YOU.
sister warner

the TRIO nation in MILWAUKEE ! [08.10.09]

WELCOME TO THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND THE ADVENTURES OF ..
sister behrends .. sister black .. sister warner [the trio for one transfer !]

THE LORD BLESSES US ! i feel so blessed .. this describes my feelings perfectly ..

1 Nephi 1:15
"...I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love"

it was SO hard leaving my beloved GREEN BAY & APPLETON AREAS but i know the Lord sends us where He needs us .. He needs me here in MILWAUKEE with sister behrends and black ! [which is just the best trio EVER .. how great is it that i get to be back with my 1st girl ! crazy. WE LOVE IT]

i miss my little sister j SO MUCH ! she is still holding down the winnebago NICE AND STRONG ! she is with sister bryner now .. who actually busted [your 2nd comp] sister black .. sister bryner took my spot in the GB and now in the Winnebago ! crazy good times !

MILWAUKEE IS SO DOWN ! the really cool part is that MY MAMA HOOD was trained here and trained another missionary here and NOW I AM HERE. everyone KNOWS & LOVES THE HOOD and its so great b.c. I LOVE THE HOOD. thanks mi mama !

so start sending me the goods .. MAIL THAT IS to here ..

5651 Broad St. Ste #1
Greendale, WI. 53129

[this is the mission office i know but that is where i am now ! i live 5 minutes from the mission home and the mission office ! its so great !]

ALSO .. i CANT believe this BUT i entered the MTC almost 1 YEAR AGO ! august 13, 2008 ! this coming thursday will be my 1 year ! we will be at Zone Conference on august 13, 2009 ! i love ZC so what a good day for me ! i have so many thoughts and feelings about being out for this long.

BEING A FULL TIME REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD HAS BEEN THE GREATEST OPPROTUNITY I HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN.

it truly is indescribable ! i love this work and I KNOW IT IS TRUE IN EVERY WAY !

on to the goods of missionary work in milwaukee :

* right now we cover 4 units .. 2 in milwaukee [ Muskego Lakes .. which is the ward President & Sister Barrett attends & Milwaukee 3rd YSA Ward .. i love the YSA .. we get to work with UWM ! also the sisters here opened Racine/Kenosha and are working down there in 2 units part time b.c. we only have 11 sisters .. we have 1 more sister coming to the WMM at the end of this transfer so after we are even sister b&b will go down to racine/kenosha and i will stay in milwaukee with another comp !]

so basically life is CRAZY right now .. President Barrett called our trio .. "DYNAMICALLY RECONFIGURABLE" .. we are going to be SUPER BUSY .. on exchanges A LOT .. and DIVIDING AND CONQUERING ! life is great ! i love both these sisters SO much ! i already know my sister black so its really fun to get to know sister behrends !

life was kinda crazy LEAVING the appleton area .. I MISS THOSE YSA SO MUCH ! they are small BUT so strong ! they helped my faith grow leaps and bounds ! i was so blessed to be in that area ! President Barrett is truly an inspired man.

coming to milwaukee has been a joy yet .. i am learning how to be a missionary all over again ! I LOVE IT ! i am meeting lots of the members and getting aquainted with BIG CITY LIFE !

oh and btw .. AUGUST = HUMID like no other ! and the rain/thunder storms are amazing !

i truly feel blessed. there will be more good info this coming week on all the work we are doing here. i am still in mega learning mode about the area and wonderful saints of milwaukee !

i do know this .. milwaukee has A LOT of suburbs to it .. we LIVE in MUSKEGO .. the CHAPEL is in HALES CORNERS .. we WORK in FRANKLIN, NEW BERLIN, WEST ALLIS, HALES CORNERS, MUSKEGO and many more i am sure i am not familiar with yet ! and just think this week i will go to racine and get to know more there ! I LOVE THE WMM !

i am on my 9th transfer .. which is INSANE and this is what i am remembering and focusing on as i am GOING and DOING the Lords work.

3 Nephi 5:13
"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

1 Nephi 1:20
"...But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

this gospel is true. i know it is because i have asked my Heavenly Father. each one of us have that beautiful opprotunity to speak directly to Him. how amazing !

thank you for your support, love and faith in me.

I LOVE YOU !
sister warner