Letters Home

Dear Family,

"I've been studying Alma and his words of being a missionary. I like to compare his experience to mine, simply because of the sacrifices he made for this work. Alma and Amulek risked their lives and suffered to testify of Christ and speak through the spirit of Prophecy. From the days of Alma to the Missionary guide today, "Preach my Gospel" missionary work has always been centered on the Gifts of the Spirit. That is one of the things that I love and what divides us from the rest is that nothing has changed in this Gospel since the day Jesus Christ organized it".

"This work is hard. Very, very hard. But it could be harder. In these days we have it easy. We're not thrown into prison for preaching. It's similar in my mission because like the Nephites, we try to avoid 'weapons of war' from the Lamanites (Cartel). But that's about the only similarity of ages. (Just kidding, mom)"

I'm in a very hard area, at a hard time. But I've stepped back and been able to literally see the silver lining of what the Lord has in store for me. I've seen the blessings that He is patiently waiting to give me if I have the strength to fulfill the little of what He asks of me."

"I know that this is His work and I know this is the time He has provided me with! If I didn't, I wouldn't walk out into the 11 o'clock Mexican sun everyday. I am so grateful for you all. For your undying support that helps me through alot of this work. I love you all. Have a good day."

Your son, Elder Warner

Dear Dad,

My greatest blessing in life is being where I am right now. This Gospel means everything to me, it is my life. From learning what is important in this life, and gaining personal testimony of this Church are things that you have taught me. Without these two things, I wouldn't be out here. This is why I thank you for changing my life, for paving the way by example, without the knowledge of my observance, for teaching me without using any words and now I am here to share these teachings of what matters in this life to any who will listen. Happy Fathers Day.

Love, your son, Bryan

Baptism!!

Hello! How are you? Ok, so remember when I was talking about one of the investigators that was wanting to learn more etc? She got baptised on Saturday!! She hesitated for a long time cause she wanted to know more and she was scared that after, she was going to start up drinking again. The district leader and I taught her a lot the week my comp was out and the district leader just spiritually annihilated her to the point where she knew she had to get baptised. We taught her every lesson and more to the point where our visits were just sharing a scripture and leaving her with a chapter to read in the Book of Mormon. I worked a lot with the district leader this week as well. He called me and told me we're going on divisions and he was coming to work with me. It was fun and we got alot done and found some new people that we have been working with a lot lately. I also did divisions with the zone leader for a few days. It was fun. He's a goofy kid. really animated. We were walking and he congratulated this woman holding her baby for her family, then just looked at her and walked off, just goofy like that. Then one day we were walking (he talks to literally everyone) and passed by this gang. I see him walk towards them and just say in my head, "oh please no", wondering if I should hide or go talk to them with him. So I went over and we invited them to the church and then at the end one of them told me the name of their gang and if they ever need anything to shout and he will be there (then made a signal with his hands as a gun next to his friends head) Yah, we walked off after that. The heat has gone down, we're at about the hundreds so that has been nice. We're all foot now cause the cops stole my comps bike. That's my week. We're on the last week of this transfer already. I have heard that I'm going to Monterrey, but then I have heard I'll be staying here for another change so we'll see what happens. I hope you all have an awesome week! Elder Warner

Mother,

Hey my sweetheart! how are you!? Ok, so I got your answers here finally!

What do I think about everything? My thoughts are constantly running. I dont have time to think, haha. But my thoughts revolve around the frame of the picture. I like thinking about what's the cause, the blessing, the outcome, the result and so on about things.

Sr comp. It's not too much different, you carry a phone in your pocket and work more with the leaders but the main responsibility is to ALWAYS BE BUSY with your companion. you just always have to be an example to work hard.

The area - I read somewhere that no area is a dead area. The president puts missionaries in this area because he knows there is work to do. This area is just harder to find the work but there is work.

The ward is good and we have worked with them more lately so we've gotten to know them better.

I do feel safe, even when the marines are tackling drunk guys by the river while we're contacting, I dont feel in any way of harm.

Tracting has been harder here, we have had to find different ways of missionary work for this area.

I got my package and had a sister in the ward make the cake! So thank you so much for that!

I love you i hope you are doing well. Let me know how your week was and how work is going. Can't wait to hear! -Elder Warner

Week 5, Transfer 3

Hey, so this week was one of my more successful ones. Well, actually nothing turned out at all, but I felt like it was successful. Well, for my companion, he chilled in bed all week, I had to stay with him Monday night. Tuesday came and I felt just as worn out at as a regular day from calling every Elder in the zone to see if they had a teenager with the Priesthood so that I could get out with them and work. Unfortunately, not until Thursday. But I was able to get out 4 of 3 days to work this week from the help of 2 kids we found from around the area. On Thursday we had one kid stay with my companion at home and the other with the District leaders companion. I went out with the District leader and we destroyed the area. On Friday we were able to get the same 2 kids but I went out with a different Elder. Saturday I went out with the District leader again. We had an appointment at 9 in the morning, so we worked from 8:30 that day to 10:00 p.m. We were drained. Sunday came and we had 5 investigators with committments to the church. The only problem is I had to figure out how I was getting there. I wasn't worried cause I did my part and knew it was the Lords turn to work it out. So one of the ward members who is a taxi driver dropped his son off to stay with my companion and I went with him. We passed by the first investigators house and she was sleeping. The other one, no one was home. Likewise, with the third. The forth investigator got in a fight with another woman and wasn't physically able to go. The fifth never showed at church, but we found out she went to a different ward so it's all good. We have baptism dates for 2 of them next week and are confident in both of them. Other than that Wednesday was the Zone conference. I loved it! I love our Mission President and his wife is awesome! I learned a lot but they are also really fun. With the video attached, because it was my birthday, they made me dance. The Mission President's wife made lasagna for all of us. It was heaven. That's about the week. I hope all is well at home!

Elder Warner

Transfer 3, Week 4

Hola! How are you all?  We had a good week, it flew by. We have found 2 people through references that we have been working with this week.  They both are hesitant on baptism.  They both want to learn more before they make any decisions.  Which is good because they are actually looking at the importance of it, but it can have a down side as well 'cause it's hard to make a goal and may not turn out.  Either way we're helping them grow in the Gospel so its even.  Other than that, we have almost contacted out our area so we talked with the bishop to see how we can work with members better and he's going to call a Mission leader in our ward this week.  So we're hoping that will help this area out.  We got to 45 grados this week which is 113 degrees.  It was legit.  Oh yeah, and my companion got hit by a car on Saturday.  I usually leave these "Mexico facts" out but its sad how many people you see driving with a beer in their hand.  So this guy totally swerved into my companion when we were on our way home about 9:10 P.M.  Luckily he was only going about ten miles an hour.  But he hit him and just kept driving for about a quarter mile until the car in front of him stopped.  The cops got there and arrested him and took off. So he spent Saturday night in the hospital with a few bruises on his leg and foot.  I left him there with the Zone leader because we had 2 investigators that were coming to church.  So  Sunday morning  I called a sister in the ward for a ride so her 2 sons, with one holding the Priesthood, showed up at my house and the car was filled with this Mexican gang of one of the brothers, so I hopped in and stared out the window until we got to church.  Only one of the investigators showed but she has a goal for her baptism next week so we're praying.  That's my week until this point.  Hope all is well.  We have zone conference this week! I'm super excited so I'll let you know how it went next week. - Elder Warner

"This was a tarantula was off the street. Meaning yeah, I have learned patience, diligence, perseverance and all that, but the one thing that my mission has changed in my life is overcoming my fear of spiders, haha. 

Here's proof!"

(Editor's note:  This is indeed a milestone!  Bryan used to call for us to remove garden spiders off his bedroom wall at home.  Scared to death of them!)

"Writing on the wall says that the house is for sale with the door bricked up. 

I dunno, to me it was funny."

There are always wild chickens running around in the houses we teach in.

My companion and I at the hospital, after he was hit by a car on our way home from tracting.

Humble Blessings

Humble little Rama (Branch) in Cienega de Flores

(previous area)

Hey everyone! So right now I'm in the offices in Monterrey. We had Stake Conference yesterday and the Mission President was there so we got a ride back to Monterrey with him. 4 hours! Half the time of the bus. Anyway, but I'm here for P-day cause I have to sign for my visa saying I'm really here. So this email will be brief cause we have to run but you asked about if I miss my last area, home, people etc. Here is my answer. I sat in our new church with a ward the other week and thought how much I miss my house of prayer with the Rama. In that air conditioned building, I thought about how much I miss the primary-sized Sacrament room with us all using the hymn books to vent our faces from the heat. I thought about the people, the outside bathrooms and baptismal font. I thought about the first day I saw that building and thought it was a joke, and how the last time I saw it, it felt like my home. For the people, it all happened so quick. They were the hardest to leave, but I'll see a lot of them before my mission is over. My companion, the last few weeks I have realized the things I took for advantage, the things I didnt notice at that time. but I learned a lot from it, I miss him a lot. Our house, well our new house has security, air condition and water pressure in the shower. I'll throw more facts in next week but for now I'm out. I hope everyone is doing awesome! love you - elder warner

Transfer to Piedras Negras! (by the Rio Grande River on the Mexican-American border)

Hey Hey! Well its here, transfers! I got the call Monday night saying I'm out, and my comp is staying and being put with a greenie. My closet was my suitcase in my last area so it was easy to pack up, get a few hours of sleep and head out early. We got to the transfer site around 8, said bye to the Elders that their next transfer was home, and waited for my bus at 11. Left Monterrey about 11:15, got at my area - Piedras Negras, at 730 P.M. Yes, 730 p.m. A nice 8 hour bus ride. But we did get a break in between when they stopped us and searched our suitcases for drugs. I'm in a small(er) area. It literally goes to the river of the border of Texas (photo of our area map). I'd take a picture but I'm in more of a, dont walk around with anything of value, kind of area. My comp is awesome. I've been put as the senior companion with him. He's been working hard. He goes home in 2 months. I've talked with 3 people who only know English this week, and a lot of the people here cross the border to Texas everyday to go to work. I bought a bike, her name is the morada massacre. Thats about it for this week. I hope everyone is doing well. Love you all. Elder Warner

Well dad, I think this will be one of my hardest transfers. The Mission President called me last Monday before we found out about transfers. He told me he wants to put me as a senior companion to an Elder that has 2 transfers left. I have been pretty stressed this week having the responsibility of being a rookie on my 3rd transfer and put as a senior companion. The Pres. said he has confidence in me to do this, so that gets me through the days easier.

Hope to hear from you soon, Elder Warner jr.

Hello! we had a better week. We found some more people, kind of. So last week in our district meeting, our district leader put a goal that on every lesson we teach to someone, invite them to baptism. So we did this all week and called the week with 3 dates for May 8th. One of them is an mid age lady who attends some kind of church near her house. We taught her 3 lessons and she was progressing pretty well, but her biggest challenge is getting permission from her pastor and congregation to attend another church. So in other words she called Sunday morning right before we were going to pick her up and said she had "family problems". Maybe she did, maybe she didn't, who knows. The other is a cousin of inactive members we found from a reference. We only taught him one lesson but had his date. He didn't show for church due to something with his girlfriend. The other is way legit. his name is Miguel Angel. He has 16 years, laid back. He was a reference from past missionaries to give him another shot. We taught him all the lessons and got him to church with us. He has a baptism date for next week. Other than that all is good, still adjusting to this whole everything to be honest but we're almost there. This is the only pic I have for this week so forgive me. A glimpse of my area.


Mexico fact: a lot of people put their dogs on their roof for some reason, so when your contacting and think its raining, its just dog drool.


Thank you for everything. I hope you all have a good week!  
Love, Elder Warner