Quick one

Monday, March 16, 2009 7:02 AM
Well we've got a busy day planned today and I've got a few e-mails to read so I'll be brief. Unfortunately our week was quite slow as far as finding new people to teach. Clemencia and Chris are really excited for their baptism on Saturday. We'll be taking them to the Visitor's Center at the Temple before it so that should be really neat and spiritual for them. Chris is so cool. I'm not sure if I've told you already, but we gave him the Book of Mormon Stories book and he loves it. He remembers the stories almost perfectly and he is always asking if there are primary activities during the week.
Brenda and Yamu (South African couple) are doing quite well too. Their understanding of the Gospel is really good. We've been quite blessed with some great people to work with. Yamu hasn't accepted a baptismal date yet, but we'll see if he'll be baptized with his wife on the 28th. They too are going to the Visitor's Center on Saturday. We're really excited for them.
On Thursday we had our Zone Meeting in Reading (as usual) and it was really good. We discussed a talk by Ezra Taft Benson from decades ago that was about pride. I never realized how many different ways we can be prideful in our lives. It was a good way to evaluate myself and the progress I want to make.
That's really the highlights of my week. I was a bit ill most of the week, but am pretty much over it now. I'm going to attach some pictures then start writing back, if possible. Love you all. The weather here is really nice now. Hope it's getting close to spring for ya. Take care.
Elder Warner
The pictures are good this week! One is of us three after Zone Meeting in our comp. ties.

The other two are still frames from a video I did last p-day. We were walking down the high street and a guy was doing a magic act so we stopped since we had time. He asked for a volunteer so we encouraged E. Keelbe to do it and he did.


The guy had E. Keeble wrap him up in a chain, put the red cloth over him then the guy escaped. It was pretty cool and funny to hear this guy call E. Keeble Elder like it was his first name. He sounded like a member.

Fast week

Monday, March 9, 2009 6:17 AM
Well this week past quick too. Becky's baptism was really good. I've attached a picture.
It was an interesting week on top of the baptism.
Monday we picked up a couple new people. One is from New Zealand and is really trying to figure out truth. He came to Church and enjoyed it. Tuesday was interesting. I went to Newbury on exchange with E. Wojtkowski. We taught their friend Betty who is going to be baptized on the 15th. She's got a solid testimony and is more than ready for baptism. The weather was awful, ha-ha. It was really windy and we got completely drenched, but it was ok. We didn't get discouraged at all. In fact, we were singing "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today."
While I was gone Brenda and Yamo were taught by E. White and a member and Brenda accepted a date for baptism on the 28th. That's pretty exciting. I got back into Oxford in the afternoon on Wednesday. We've taught Clemencia and Chris a few times this week. They've accepted everything well and have started to gain testimonies of their own. When we taught them the Word of Wisdom Chris was so happy he didn't have to drink tea (Clemencia used to have him each cold morning) that he stomped on the boxes of tea then binned them. It was pretty funny. He's really smart for a 10 year old.
We've taught a few other people here and there that are new, but I'll keep you posted on whether they progress quickly. Saturday morning we did what's called Ox-clean and cleaned up the car park across the street from our chapel then had a BBQ. It was good fun. We saw Clemencia and Chris before they came to the baptism and they've now bumped their date to the 21st of March. It's going to be a fast few weeks preparing them and Brenda (hopefully soon, Yamo) for baptism.
Becky was confirmed and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. It was the first time I've confirmed some one so it was extra special for me. We had some interesting experiences in the afternoon that ultimately deepened my testimony of the reality our Heavenly Father and the fact that this is HIS work. I'm so grateful to be a small part in it. I know that it's the true work of Christ and this is His church. I love you guys. Take care.
Elder Warner
The three of us after our service project on Saturday

The Elders in the Zone last P-day after playing football. Top row: Coombs, Lindsay, Wojtkowski, Fowler, White, member from Farnbrough, Evans. Bottom row: yours truly, Barker, Roberts, Keeble, and Martins.

Three's company

Monday, March 2, 2009 4:01 AM
Well this week went by really fast. I forgot my connector for my camera in the flat so you'll have to wait till next week for pictures. I'll just touch on the highlights.
Tuesday after District Meeting in Reading I headed back to Oxford with E. Lindsay for an exchange. It went quite well...About an hour after being back in Oxford I realized that I only got the phone from E. White, not the keys to the flat. They were with him in Newbury! We couldn't really do much because we had teaches in the evening. We saw Becky and she's doing great. During the teach I got a phone call from President Swinton and he informed me that we were getting a new companion. His name is E. Keeble from up north in Halifx, Yorkshire, my first British companion. It was an exciting night. We also saw our Hindu friend, but we've since lost contact with her. Afterwards we tried to break into the flat, but it just wasn't working so we ended up having to drive to Newbury to get the flat keys from E. White and got home just before 10:30 :-).
Wednesday morning, E. White came back. We did a bit of finding then we had to rearrange the flat a bit to make room for a third bed in the bedroom. E. Keeble arrived around 4 then we spent the rest of the evening teaching. We saw Clemencia and Chris who are doing great! We saw them again on Saturday and they're now going to be baptized on the 28th of March. They came to church and loved it. We also saw the South African couple in the evening and they're alright, but were away for the weekend.
Thursday we helped a member and her husband move house. We saw Becky again then did some finding. Becky is getting all set for her baptism on Saturday. She's just got to be interviewed and she's good to go. It's been interesting being in a Tri. I was quite nervous for it because I wasn't sure how it was going to work, but I like it. We've gotten a lot of work done since he's been here. E. Keeble is a good missionary so it makes it a lot easier.
We had a good turnout at church. Becky came, of course, Clemencia and Chris, and another investigator and her daughter. It was a pretty good day. We're working things out quite well as a Tri and we all get along easy. Today we're going to Reading for a Zone P-day so that's why my e-mail is all over the place. I'm in a hurry. I'll have pictures next week. Love ya! The Church is true!
Elder Kyle Warner

Fasting for 40!

Monday, February 23, 2009 4:27 AM
Wel,l my week wasn't the most eventful yet, but not bad. We had some really good things happen. Unfortunately we've had to let a lot of people go, but we're now preparing Becky for baptism on the 7th of March. We're also teaching a South African family that is really prepared and should hopefully want to prepare for baptism soon.
On Thursday we had Zone Conference in Reading. It was amazing. It was unreal how powerful the spirit was. We're now doing something special, kind of what we've done before though. We're fasting for 40 days, not from food, but from things that may distract us from the Spirit's influence. Its crazy how many little things make you lose your focus. The intent is obviously not just for 40 days, but by the end of the 40 days we should be changed, more spiritually in tune, and not go back to those things. We've done one before, but it's time to do another. I really like it. It helps my focus on the reality and seriousness of my calling.
We've had a couple other visits with Becky this week and she's doing great. All is well in the work. Things are going to pick up quickly this week, I think. The weather has been really nice lately. It's been in the mid 40's-low 50's F. A bit better than home I presume? :-). Anywho, the pictures are:
E. Karges and myself at Zone Conference and
a house in Oxford that has a shark body diving in.
It's pretty funny. I heard that no insurance companies will take it.
Love ya!
Elder Warner
(ONLY 5 MORE DAYS UNTIL.......HUMP DAY!!!!)

Hello!

Monday, February 16, 2009 4:41 AM
There's not too much to report since last Thursday. We finished the moves alright. Thursday evening we taught Clemencia and her son. It was a really good teach. Unfortunately they're gone till the 23rd, but when they get back things should pick up quickly.
We've done quite a bit of finding this past week. We've been working to find those who are prepared for us. Its tough work, but it's been working out alright. Church attendance was really low this week, but things should get better as we get further into moves and pick up some more people.
Becky is really close to a baptismal date. She's praying and reading every day. She's enjoying Church too so we're real excited for her. It's going to be a slow progression for our friend who thought we were police, but she's really good and trying to have faith in Jesus Christ.
That's pretty much all that's gone on here in Oxford since I last wrote. The weather is a bit better-staying around 7 degrees C, so not too bad. Thanks for your prayers and support. Love ya!
Elder Kyle Warner

A couple of firsts

Thursday, February 12, 2009 5:04 AM
Well E. White and I are going to have a couple firsts this next moves. We'll both be having our first area for 6 months or more and first companion for 4.5 months or more because we're both staying in Oxford! It was kind of surprising news, but we're both excited because we know the area, we're getting to know the ward better, and we've got some good things started.
A lot has happened since last Monday. I want to send a couple pictures so I'll just touch on the highlights. It's snowed a lot here (for England); the most in 20 years. It was fun for us because we're used to it, but schools shut down, buses shut down, etc. They aren't prepared for it so the streets just had to be cleared by car and the sidewalks just turned to ice. Most of it’s melted now because it's warmed up and rained a lot too. But I attached a picture of the view from our flat the other day.
We've taught a couple people a few times. We've been working with mostly women lately. The one who let us in because she thought we were police is doing amazing. She is going to be coming to church this week and is loving the Book of Mormon. Every time we see her it's so spiritual. She must be really sensitive to the Spirit.
On Saturday we went to Newbury so I could interview a girl who's preparing for baptism then had an exchange with the Assistants in the afternoon. It was really good. We started teaching 5 new people with their help and I learned a lot. Sunday we had only 3 people at Church, which is better than last week, but I know we can do better. Tuesday was pretty good. We taught a new woman from Botswana who is amazing. We're seeing her and her son tonight. They're going away for a week, but when they get back things should progress quickly.
We've been meeting a lot of people who've been quite prepared by the Lord for us. We've been praying hard for it and our prayers are being answered as usual. I love being able to teach our brothers and sisters and help them feel the Spirit. I get excited each chance I get to bear my witness of our Heavenly Father's love. This is going to be a fun moves for E. White and myself. We've got big plans for our friends we're teaching. I hope all is well. Till next week.
P.S. the other picture is of the District after District meeting on Tuesday. Left to Right-Me, E. White, E. Barker, E. Gasparato, E. Lindsay, E. Wetherill, Sisters Eyre and Higbee.

P.P.S. E. Gasparato has been moved to Staines and E. Roberts is the new ZL. E. Wetherill has been moved to Worthing and E. Voycowsky (not how you spell it, but how it sounds-he's Polish).
-Elder Kyle Warner

I looked out the window...

Monday, February 2, 2009 5:04 AM
And what did I see?
Snow?!??!
It snowed last night and has been snowing off and on all morning. Not much has stuck though. Not even an inch, really, but I hear it's going to continue over the next few days. It's been an interesting week. Tuesday I was on exchanges with E. Wetherill from Newbury and we had one of the most spiritual teaches about The Restoration I've had all mission. We had a member with us and almost all four of us were a bit teary eyed as I finished quoting the 1st Vision. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong within me as I quoted it. It gave me a deeper testimony of it's reality. It was the woman that let us in Sunday night. She loved the teach and we'll try to extend a baptismal date to her tomorrow.
Wednesday we taught a member referral who was pretty cool. She has been to a temple open house, seen the Joseph Smith film, and is burning through the Book of Mormon. We taught Michael the Word of Wisdom on Friday and he took it quite well. He's really interested in the D&C and wants one of his own. Saturday was interesting. We had a lot of teaches set up, but 3 of the cancelled. I saw E-man (from Portsmouth). He was in Oxford with his brother Tom, who's in our ward. He's doing well and if you remember Allison, E-man's girlfriend that I taught with McConkie and Dutson? She's no longer his girlfriend. They're engaged and she's going to be taught the lessons again. I was so excited to hear the news. E. Karges will be teaching her too so it's a cool tie. In the evening we taught Lydia and she accepted a baptismal date for 28 Feb. That's really good news too.
I think this week should be pretty good. It's week 5 of moves so that means that next week. We'll have P-day/Moves on Thursday. I'm not sure what will happen. Anything could, really. Elder White and I have both been here for the same amount of time so we'll just have to see.
That was pretty much my week. I should be sending home another DVD full of pictures and video clips for ya. The picture is the view outside my window just before I studied this morning. LOVE YA!!
Elder Kyle Warner