Carabanchel

February 6, 2017

Hola mis queridos! Well what a week. This week was kinda different because we had temple day on Wednesday. I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!! Then on Friday we had our district meeting. We met with our cute friend Martina and our other friend Emma.

I love Emma with all my heart! I'm going to miss her. ... Oh yeah!

I got TRANSFERED! I am now in the beloved Barrio 9 (Carabanchel) in the south west part of Madrid. I've been praying a lot this past week because I've been having feelings that I'd be leaving. I feel very at peace. I know that this is where the Lord needs me to be and I am excited to help his work progress. I am companions with my new friend Hermana Snyder! She is too cute and I know we are just going to kill it this transfer. We are praying for lots of conversions. She is also a blonde from Utah and we will be serving together as Sister Training Leaders, so we are in charge of the sister missionary exchanges in our zone. It's both of our first time being STLs so we'll see how it goes. I'm not too worried, she knows what she's doing ;)

So yeah, hasta luego my beloved Villalba. Sunday was incredible. It was fast Sunday so everyone in the congregation bore their testimonies. The spirit was so strong. One young man that went up had also been inviting his girlfriend to the church. This was the second time she had come but he went up and bore powerful testimony. Later, other young adults went up and bore their testimonies as well. At the end of the meeting this young mans friend, Marta, came up to us with him and asked us to start teaching her. It was such an incredible experience and although I won't be there to teach her I am so grateful for the example of this young man, for his faith and testimony. 

That's how missionary work should be. It's not a rote thing we missionaries go out and share with random strangers. It should be an invitation of love to help those around us find the path that leads to true happiness. Let us be bold and loving when we share our beliefs with others. I pray that each of you will be able to find opportunities to share your testimony with those around you and that I may have sincere love for each person I meet so that I may be a more effective support for those I teach.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! All my love!

Hermana Warner

(Emma)

Merry Christmas!

Good Morning Utah! And Hong Kong... and Argentina... and Brazil... and Arizona... and Oregon... and Idaho... and Florida... and Mexico... and Jerusalem (if you're still there)... and wherever you are right now.... Good morning everyone!

This was such a wonderful week! Like I promised, we had a Christmas Party! One with all the Zones in Madrid and the other one in our Ward here in Villalba. So we took pictures at the Madrid party but i don't have any of them right now... But it was super cool!  Got to see all of my companions again! (Hermana Schriever, Davis, Phillips and Koeber... well she's still my comp ;) It was so wonderful! I'm so grateful for the incredible friendships I've made here in Spain, it was a very nice reunion. (:

The Ward Christmas party was so well done. Nines (our 3 month recent convert) was in charge of it and she did a FANTASTIC job. The theme of the night was "Humility" so we dressed up as if we were in biblical times (kinda) sat on mats and ate theme fitting food from the markets. It was so beautiful, I couldn't have been more proud of Nines! She is incredible. I will attach the photos at the end, definitely an occasion for the books.

Then the last of the celebrations we had a baptism yesterday! Her name is Emma, she's the youngest of a part member family that we've been eating with and she just turned 8. It was such a beautiful service, the spirit was so powerful as she and her mother and sisters bore their testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel and of our Savior Jesus Christ. They invited EVERYONE. I admire their confidence as they share what they believe with others. They had been planing the baptismal service for over 3 months and inviting their friends and family to the sacred event.

In the scriptures, baptism is described as the gateway to the straight and narrow path. It's the first covenant we make with the Lord and so important that Christ himself did it. I loved watching this family as they recognized the importance of the event and hope to remember their faith and testimony as I prepare myself every Sunday to partake of the sacrament.

I'm so grateful to be a missionary during the most wonderful time of the year! I absolutely love it! It's incredible to see the change in everyone all around me and for the light of Christ that shines just a little bit brighter every day. I am so grateful for this Gospel, that it has been restored, never to be taken away from the earth again. I'm so grateful for my family and for all of you who support me. If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading or listening to or watching the Christmas Devotional. I'm so grateful for our Savior and know that He lives. No matter how many people don't believe it, it will always be true. I am grateful for that truth.

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

Loves and snowflakes ❄️☃️

Hermana Warner

1. Nines at the ward Christmas Party

2. Emma's Baptism!