"Serving From The South": September 2014

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Exchanges

PICTURES:

Exchanges with Sister Boaz

Exchanges with old Whidbey Island companion, Sister Oswald! Love her!

We both have matching necklaces from sweet JULIE CHRISTENSEN on Whidbey Island. She's the best. I just so happened to be there the day Sister Oswald got hers in the mail!

We sent a few pics to some families on Whidbey Island since that's where we served together - happy to be doing exchanges with her for the day!

(MOM: Carina's face in this picture kills me - so funny! LOL!)

LOVE Sister Oswald!

This is "M" - he is a guy I taught in Lake Stevens before I was transferred. He came up to me at this mission fireside and told me he got baptized!! It was awesome to hear that!!!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

From Mom: Unfortunately Carina's email connection this week was slow and not working great (she said she didn't get any of our emails for about an hour), so we didn't get much news from her in the short time she had, but she was able to send a few pictures. Hoping for more next week from our sweet missionary daughter...

PICTURES:

Being healthy - taking my vitamins! :)

Sis. Price gave me another skirt from Christopher and Banks.

I love it! Super Comfy.

Went on exchanges last week with Sister Perkinson (Perkins?). LOVE HER!
(Mom Sidenote: This is my new, favorite picture of Carina!! Beautiful!)

From mom: Carina went on missionary exchanges with Sis. Perkins (center below) last week. When I posted the pic on Facebook about it, Matthew Child - family cousin - said that they were good friends at BYU. Such a small world. When Carina told her that, she said Sis. Perkins was really excited, loved him and they used to chat all the time. Fun when good friend connections are made. :)

Sisters having fun!

So, this lady came up to me and was like "Wawro... that is not a very common name. Do you happen to have family in Orem, Utah?" I'm like, uhhh, heck yes! She's like "yeah, my granddaughter Eva VanCott did plays with all of your cousins!" So yes - again, a small world. This is Sister VanCott, and she served a couples mission with her husband here and just came back to visit, originally from Orem. Very cool! (sidenote from Mom: found out that my niece, Haley, did more than just plays and musicals with her granddaughter - they were also college roommates at BYU!)

Went to cottage meeting last night and saw my old "mission mansion roommate", Sister Arave. Love her!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Another Baptism!

This week went well. We had "H"'s baptism this week and it was just wonderful. It went so well and his Confirmation on Sunday was equally as wonderful. The ward has really just taken to him and loved him. He is the sweetest spirit I have ever known. He has such a pure heart and a desire to be righteous. He is just such a precious soul of Heavenly Father.

We were able to talk with a family who has really been struggling, their teenage daughter just doesn't believe she has a testimony, but she wants to gain one. Her boyfriend used to be an investigator in the past, but apparently wasn't really too interested. We've been working with them and strengthening their family at dinner and having great gospel discussion with them. She told us last night she wants to take the lessons with us so she can find out for herself, and her boyfriend also wants to be involved and see if he can learn for himself. I know that this will most definitely help their family continually becoming converted to the gospel.

We are working also with a less active named "A" who has a sister on a mission in Mexico. She wants to gain that testimony for herself, because she has seen how much the gospel has blessed her sister's life and made her happy and she desires that for herself. It's so cool to watch her grow because she has a really rough past...sex, alcohol, drugs, tattoos boyfriends that are like 30 years older than her, partying, Vegas trips etc. It's so neat that she has that desire to come back, to give up everything, to change herself and her heart to receive those blessings. We taught her the restoration this week and she gave great answers, the spirit was definitely there.

Love you lots

p.s. I'm excited to go to the dentist today! (Mom: Apparently there is a church member in the area who is a dentist and likes to help out missionaries - he is going to even-up one of Carina's teeth in the front, as one is just a bit shorter than the other. Pics next week!)

PICTURES:

Sweet sweet "H", we caught him laughing and I had to snap some pics

Getting ready in the mothers' lounge at the church before his baptism

With friends at the baptism - I got to sing during the program!

Sister Jones, "H", and Sister Wawro

The Bishop got him some new church clothes - he was so excited, and looks so good!

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Washington Park/Beach

This was a good week. "H" is doing so well. He is truly the most tenderhearted and sincere person I know. He just desires to do what is right. We went through the baptismal interview questions with him and every answer was so sweet and sincere. When I asked "Do you feel as though you have repented of all your past transgressions?" He paused for a moment, took a deep breathe smiled and said "I do, I really do. I have prayed and asked Heavenly Father for forgiveness. And he took that pain away." I almost cried, it was just so sweet. I am looking forward to his baptism this Saturday.

"A", our investigator is doing well also. We are still trying to help her give up those worldly things. She wants to be baptized, she wants her kids to grow up in the church, she wants the blessings and help from God...but... she doesn't want to give up smoking, or living with her boyfriend, or things like that. She "wants" to give them up, but she's not ready and not making the effort to do so. We keep promising her blessings and talking about how much she loves her kids, what is she willing to do for her kids? We had a great talk with her this week, she cried when we told her how much Heavenly Father loves her and wants the best for her, just like she wants the best for her kids. I think this week we are closer than ever to helping her progress towards baptism and making those steps to change her life.

Yesterday we went to Washington Park in Anacortes, it was so beautiful! We went on a little hike by the water, played games, sat on the beach. I just love the beautiful Washington weather.

Lots of pictures this week! Love you!

Sister Wawro

PICTURES:

(From a member: "Had your daughter over to pour concrete yesterday. So fun!"). Missionary Service Project