Northwest Seafood!

I had a good week.

Harvey
Our sweet investigator, he is old and just so so sweet.  He is getting baptized on September 6th.  He is in an old folks home and has no family and no friends that come see him.  He just thrives in the gospel, he loves to read the Book of Mormon and he knows it's true.  He wants to get rid of ANYTHING that keeps him from The Lord.  He is such an example of great faith.

Ashley
We just met her last week, her cousin is less-active and wanting to come back to church.  She has been through hell and back.  Abused as a child from all her mom's different husbands and boyfriends. She ran away at age 14. Ended up pregnant at 16, then in an abused marriage, one that actually made her have a miscarriage of her 3rd child because she was beat up so bad.  We taught her the restoration and she just blossomed.  She said she was angry at God, but now she sees that God gave her trials to make her a better person.  She LOVED church and is also preparing to be baptized.  We don't have a date quite yet.

Alice
A less active with a sister on a mission.. called US out of the blue because she wanted to meet up and talk.  Basically she wants to changer her whole life, stop partying, sex, drinking, tattoos everything.  She said just sees the happiness the gospel has brought to her sister.  She loves her sister so much, and looks up to her a lot.  We shared Mosiah 2:41 with her about how those that keep the commandments of God are blessed.  She ran and pulled out her old scriptures, dusted them off, and then asked for a pencil so she could highlight it.

We saw many other miracles this week, that was just a few of my favorites.  My numbers are better here than in any of my areas.  I think it's because our area is so huge - we are basically covering two areas.  We just have so much work to keep us busy.  The weeks are going by faster and faster.

We also had zone conference this week, it was AWESOME.  Sister Oswald and I were singing during the lunch break and president overheard us and invited us to do an impromptu special musical number when our meeting resumed. SO we did and it was awesome.  Then I'm singing "Olive Tree" in the Skagit River 1st Ward with some sisters in my district and I'm also singing "My Soul Hungered" on our ward Sunday.  So it's just been a crazy musical week.  Lol!

Thanks for all the love and support.  Last week I got NINE letters in one day!  All of them from my family and grandma and a couple packages.  It was just awesome!

Sister Wawro

PICTURES:

We went to the beach last P-Day.

It was fun and made me miss Whidbey Island!

Our dinner appointment took us out to this fancy Chinese restaurant and I tried all these crazy foods:  calamari, snow crab, mini crab, clams, oysters, & mussels.

Oysters made me want to gag.  

Almost three times I dry-heaved. They were GROSS. 

Calamari wasn't my favorite, it was kinda rubbery.  

I really liked the other stuff, though!

Giving Blood

The work is going well.

We were able to contact a former investigator, "S"who has changed her whole life around, and is ready for the gospel.  She just got out of a rehab program, where she was addicted to heroine and marijuana.  CPS took her 2 kids away for 2 years, but she recently got them back in January.  She has a case file going on, the government is still monitoring her lifestyle and living situation and such, but it's looking good for her keeping the kids.  She has such a kind heart and is doing everything she can to be a good mom.  She wants her kids raised in a church with good morals and values, and she truly desires to do what is right.

We found another investigator, "V" who was dropped because they couldn't get in contact with her.  We finally were able to reach her and she is ready to come back to church.  She said she dropped the missionaries because once she decided to be baptized everything in her life went wrong!  So we explained how hard Satan works on those who are about to do something great.  We promised blessings of the gospel and how this would change her life.  She came to all 3 hours of church and to the CSYF fireside and LOVED it.  On the car ride home she said this was one of the happiest days she has had in a while.

We saw a few miracles this week that were pretty awesome.  First, we were at dinner at a restaurant a member took us to.  The guy next to us looked sad and just kept drinking beer watching the game on tv.  Then randomly he turned around and started talking to us from across the restaurant, asking if we were missionaries like the elders he sees.  We replied that we were and then the door was open.  He turned back around but I got up and went and sat by him in the booth and asked him about his life.  He said he wasn't happy and he is trying to make some changes.  I bore my testimony of how I haven't always made the best choices in life either, but when I changed my ways, did what was right, came to church  and found God... there was happiness.  I gave him our number and church address and a pamphlet.  He didn't show up to church even though we invited, but I left feeling so good, and I know that was no coincidence.

Second, we were going to visit a less-active family.  So we knock on their door and are like 'oh hey is this the "H" family, we are the new missionaries in the area!'  They invite us in and we have a little small talk and then they are like 'so what are you here for?'  Turns out the less active family "H" do not live there anymore, and the family that does live there, name is Henson's - they just misunderstood us when we asked!  So we laughed and then explained what we as missionaries do.  They recently just changed their whole life around and found God, they recently joined a church, but are always willing to learn more and grow in their understanding.  We promised the message we had to share would bless their life and asked if we could come back and they said yes!  Best part is... they are a family of 7!  5 kids ages 13-18.  What a blessing, and definitely not a coincidence.

I love these moments of missionary work.  My mission has just changed my life so much, I feel so blessed and grateful to be here.

Love
Sister Wawro

PICTURES:

About to donate blood

Gave blood!

The last time I donated blood was my junior year of high school and I threw up all over myself and the nurse taking my blood.  It was so embarrassing and traumatizing.  I am so thankful all went well this time!

We hit one year!  It makes me so sad actually.  The time goes by too quick

The "G" kids whom I LOVE and adore.

This is "M.N." who I LOOOVVEEE.  And I got to see her last night at the fireside - I just didn't expect that.  It was the BEST surprise ever!!!!  She just got home from her mission.  Her parents, who I love, are in Lake Stevens.  I totally cried saying bye to their family when I left.  We just totally connected.  :)

ONE YEAR GONE!?

We had exchanges this week and I was with Sister Mailau, which was absolutely wonderful.  It felt so good to go to work.  We found two new investigators, had some great lessons, and talked with everyone!  It was just awesome. 

Sister Jones is still not up to full health yet - she hasn't had a full day of working yet and is still not sleeping every night, resulting in her needing to sleep in every morning. I've been enjoying the time I have to study and also to work on the area book and maps, but I look forward to the day we can just go and work a full day.  I hope by the end of this week, she will get feeling better.

We met a part-member family this week that is interested in having family home evening with us.  It's a couple (the dad is the member) and they have a 13 year old daughter, so that is exciting.  Our investigator Harvey wants to be baptized, he is just the sweetest man and has a heart of gold.  He's been reading the Book of Mormon every day and he understands the stories, and we did the pamphlet lesson with him this week and he totally understood the Restoration.  We worried because his mindset is that of a child, but I was impressed with the retention and knowledge he does have.  The bishop met with him on Sunday to go over the baptismal questions and see if he is accountable, and he feels as though he is, so that is exciting.

We also had a less-active member show up to church, and she brought her cousin with her. After the three hours her cousin wanted to set up lessons, asked for the Gospel Principles book, and wanted a Book of Mormon.  It was a miracle!  She said she didn't know why, but she just felt like she was supposed to come to church with her cousin this morning.  What a tender mercy.

I also had to speak in church Sunday.  The topic was "Come unto Christ" from Moroni 10:32.  I know it was inspired to have assigned me that talk, because I really needed it.  I was able to write and teach about everything I've been studying.  I used the "Believing Christ" book, and focused on the Atonement and how Christ is ALWAYS there, and all He asks is that WE take that action step to COME.  As Elder Bednar says, to be agent - not an object - to be acted upon.  After I gave that talk and bore my testimony, it was the best I have felt in a really long time.

Tell Brittan happy birthday!!  I've been thinking about her all weekend - did she open my gift yet???  And what did she say?  What was her reaction?  LOL!  It's so weird that she's going to start driving!

Love you all!

Sister Wawro 


Sidenote from mom (Today is Aug. 11th - exactly one year since Carina's farewell talk at church and then her evening party.  It was also Brittan's birthday, but she chose to celebrate it another day so that Carina could enjoy her last final day in Denton.  Time is just flying by!  Here are some flashback pictures to August 11th, 2013)

With a few friends who came to her farewell address at church

Some of mom's best friends!

Grandpa Palmer - in town for first grandchild/missionary!

With buddy, Robert Mott, now in the MTC preparing to leave for Ecuador!

Farewell party food!

Just a few of the 200+ people who stopped by to say goodbye!

With another buddy, Wyatt Evans, now serving a mission in Louisville, Kentucky!

With some of her favorite high school friends!  Love these girls!  :)

PICTURES FROM CARINA:

I got to use a jack hammer...that was awesome!!

Loving the bikes!

Cool wall art!

Adorable kittens we found and gave to a less-active member.. she was so happy! 

And they were just ADORABLE!

Exhanges in Ferndale with Sister Mailau, she's from Tonga but came to the states when she was 13.  She has 3 siblings on missions now.  So fun!

This train broke, and we were trapped on one side of town! 

We had to look forever to find the end of the train.  It was quite an adventure.  LOL!

My companion, Sister Jones.   :)

Zone meeting 

Sis. Oswald!  :)

Burlington + Tons of Pictures!

Alrighty!

Well I am now in the Burlington/Sedro-Wooley area.  They recently just combined these two areas.  The sisters in the area used to cover Burlington and the elders covered Sedro, but they just took the elders out and gave us the whole area so we are basically white washing!  It's crazy but also exciting.  Again, it's an area that needs a lot of work, there are like no investigators and no one on date for baptism or anything, but we are determined to build this area up!

Here's my new address (it's been updated on the main page of the blog as well):

405 Norris St.
Apt. #101
Burlington, WA 98233

My companion is Sister Jones, she's been out one transfer longer than me and she is wonderful.  She is laid back, super low maintenance, and very, very sweet.  And we laugh like all the time!   She has just been such a blessing.

The ward is really sweet, the building is old and has a cool chapel.  There is no A/C though, so it's super hot on Sundays, but it's okay, we live.  We have this super sweet investigator "H", he is old and uses a walker and his mind is kinda gone, but it's so sweet - every time he sees me he says "oh Sister Wawro, I love you."  It melts my heart every time!

On Mondays, my email time will happen at the library - we rent out laptops.  (And, in response to mom's question about stores/conveniences nearby)...YES!  All of it...Walmart, Costco, Michaels, outlet malls, like...everything!  :)

So yeah, it's been a pretty good week and I'm looking forward to what this area has in store.   :)  Lots of pictures this week...

Love,

Sister Wawro

PICTURES:

Saying goodbye to Lake Stevens people!

Napoleon Dynamite!  YESSS!!!!!  Ha ha!

The goodbyes at the apartment. 

Sister Yeager gave me the best hug!  LOL

Sis. Moss drove us... so sweet.

Sis. Goode was my temporary companion at transfers, since Sis. Jones was at the doctor, so we just hung out at the mission office together

My area is called "Skagit River 2nd".  The two big towns we have are Burlington and Sedro Wooley, but we also have Lyman and Hamilton - small towns on the border

Lots of hills in our area.. so pretty

 WE GOT SONIC! 

It's literally been a year since I've had Sonic, and I've missed it on the hot Washington days!  I think we found the only Sonic in all of Washington!  LOL!  We found it on the way to Sis. Jones doctor appointment - she's from Arkansas and loves Sonic too.  Yep!  Mozzarella sticks and cranberry slush...my faves!!!  #bestdayever

Sis. Jones... our first Sunday at church together!

Our apartment

 

We ate one day at Denny's for breakfast!  It's because of the Sahitos' in my last area.  

They gave me free Denny's cards before I left!  :)