ANOTHER WEEK IN THE MTC

(Missionary Training Center / Provo, UTAH)

The news this week is GREAT! Sister Warner is fully integrated into the MTC and doing well. She did catch a cold but I think it is a little one. She also is picking up PORTUGUESE, but claims it is "crazy". Not quite sure what that means. Hopefully I will find out more in time.

I fully expected to miss my daughter, and I knew she would miss me too on some level. (I hoped it wouldn't be just things like, cooking for her etc...) This experience of not being able to pick up my iphone and text a quick note or talk to her whenever I want has taught me something valuable that I treasure. (More than the fact that I love cell phones!) And that is, that we, Madison and I, have become true friends! Not just mom/daughter friends, but real eternal friends. Friends who talk all the time, and tell each other things we don't tell others. I know this because now we can't talk or text 12 times a day, and I miss it.

 But 18 months is a blink of an eye RIGHT? It will go by so fast.

You can totally tell I have been crying! That's Okay!

Richard G. Scott and Gerald Lund have come to speak to the missionaries. What a treat! I know it bouys them up and strengthens them. She is grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary and is eager to teach others about CHRIST.

AND SO IT BEGINS....

Might as well start at the very beginning of this adventure.

     Madison, Nick and I set out for Utah...a 11 hour drive. I need to mention that I personally really felt some divine help in little things on this day. Starting with me miraculously remembering my wallet. I had put it in my church bag on sunday and forgotten to take it out and put it back in my purse. We hadn't left the neighborhood when I suddenly thought of it and was able to go back for it. I was so grateful for that!

     Later that night outside of Wendover, UT Nick got pulled over by the highway patrol for speeding. Madison was the spokesperson and related details of her reason for traveling to UT and her mission. Nick didn't get a ticket. It poured down rain on us in several locations along the route and we hydroplaned at one point but didn't slide off the road. Evidence of the

Tender Mercies of the Lord. 

     We spent the next day saying goodbyes. My grandmother, Verna Jenkins, is almost 89 yrs old. She lives in Orem so Madison has become gotten to know her better since living in Provo briefly. 

Joey Sanchez, Hannah Bennion, and McKenzie Gummersal all came over to say goodbye and give words of wisdom to Madison. 
Weds. we went to Provo and said our goodbyes up at the temple. It was a gorgeous day in so many ways. I held in most of my tears... It was great to have Madison's grandmother, Susan Warner there too!

Nick and Madi

I sure am glad I took her to the MTC. We talked about her just leaving from CALI alone, but I like the way we did this important Goodbye!



"This is why I'm here, because this is what Christ did. He sacrificed, loved, lived and taught in order for us to have the truth and know the way. I'm trying to be like Jesus, and it's hard. But it's the best (bayst). " -Sister Warner

The last wave goodbye...

Madison and Grandma Warner

Sister Warner and Sister Call, first companions!

Two Peas in a Pod !

 

6 to a room...It is awesome to think there are THAT many missionaries!

Sister Warner at Provo Temple, April 2013

The first week was new and exciting and EXHAUSTING. Madison is learning what she is made of. It takes so much energy and will power to give your life over to the Lord for 18 months. 

She writes, "I just keep reminding myself that I love my Lord and that if i can do this, my future family and many family's futures (in Portugal) will be blessed. It's hard to know what to say with the first week. I guess i'm just struggling with the battle between Madi and Sister Warner (Seesters Warner) and all that. I knew I would be humbled, I just didn't realize how severely and intensely. It helps to know that I have so much support from all the family and friends back home. Pday has been good, but it's still hard because it makes me think of home EVEN more. "On Saturday I had a break down wondering if i should really be here... I wasn't gonna write that but I figure, why not share that this is hard? But I have
faith
that the Lord will confirm it for me if it's His will.
So with time, it will get more normal and easy." 

PRELIM's

So, as most of you know, Sister Warner won't be able to post on this blog for the duration of her mission, so I will be TRYING to do her justice and keep up with her busy missionary happenings.   I must begin with bragging a little about her though, and as her mother, I am entitled to that, right? She has such a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and I know she will help many people in Portugal come to know their Savior and friend
Jesus Christ. 

I also know first hand how determined and focused she can be, which will help her in hard times...

And with that said, let me tell you I will miss her lots and lots .... but it's not about me, right? I support her 100% as do all of you!

We're heading to the MTC tomorrow!