A Good and busy Day!

Today Aaron spoke in two sacrament meetings...

Our stake has a spanish speaking ward and today Aaron spoke in their sacrament meeting.

He spoke Spanish and he did such a good job. I didn't understand any of the words he said but I could still feel the special spirit that was there.

As I sat in sacrament meeting and since I couldn't understand any of the words I had time to ponder. The church is the same no matter the language or where the meeting is being held.

The music is still beautiful. There was Christmas music and it was fun to try and sing in Spanish and to think of Aaron having been away from home for two years and that the last two Christmas seasons he sang these same songs in Spanish.

The sacrament was still the same and I renewed my covenants even in Spanish. The Young Men who passed the sacrament were amazing. They all had suits on and were dressed so sharp. They were so precise and reverent. It was really something to see.

Aaron had many people come up to him after the meeting to greet him. He was handed a name and phone number and an invitation to dinner from a family who thought he might be missing the food from Mexico.

Aaron also spoke in our old Lindon ward. The ward we attended when he left on his mission. It was fun to go home. That's how it felt. We had many people come up to us and greet us. Especially the older members who loved Neil as the Gospel Doctrine teacher. We saw old neighbors and people the girls babysat for. It was fun to visit.

Aaron did a great job of talking in both sacament meetings today. It is so fun to hear his testimony and see the man he has turned into. Aaron I am proud of you.

He's Home

He's home... Ok I admit. I lost it when I saw him. The plane was delayed a half an hour which felt like forever. 

Finally the moment is here and we see the missionaries walking towards the esculator. Aaron is the first missionary. Wait...they keep walking past where they should have come down the stairs. The airport workers were trying to tell them where to go and then the workers gave us the wait a minute sign. What is going on?

They were scared...later Aaron told us that they just couldn't come down and they went over to the side and said a prayer. I can't imagine the emotion. They are no longer missionaries. That is sad for them. They are begining a new chapter in their lives.

I was so emotional and I just pushed my way towards Aaron and just cried and held on to him. It was a long yet wonderful two years. Well done my son.

The kids made some great posters.

This was the moment. I was just crying. Neil and Aaron together.
Ahhh my heart is full. Neil couldn't let go.

The girls finally have their big brother home.

Together as a family again.

Welcome Home Aaron

Mexico City South Mission - Coming HOME

Tomorrow is the day. It is finally here. My boy is coming home.
I can't wait to give him a big hug.

Aaron speaks in sacrament meeting on Sunday November 23rd at 1:00.
We would love to see you all there. If you need more information let me know.

Coming Home

Elder Aaron Keith Warner will be returning

from his mission on November 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm.

This was some mission pictures we had taken before Aaron left on his mission.

Ah I miss this boy. I know he is now a man. But...to me he will always be my boy. My baby boy and only son. I wonder will he look the same? Sound the same? Feel the same? My mind is swirling with thoughts, with worries, with joy and love. Mostly my heart is so full and tears are close to the surface. My son is coming home. I have missed him. I have needed him.

This was our last goodbye. To look back now I am amazed at how much has happened in the last two years. We have had joys and sorrows. Good times and some of the roughest times of my life. I have grown in the last two years. I hope I can remember and keep in my heart all that I have learned.

Our family has been blessed. I don't think we would have made it through our challenging time if Aaron wasn't keeping us going by serving his mission. When we thought we couldn't move forward or make it. He would send us a letter and it would say just the right thing. He seemed to know what we needed.

I am full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father. I have never prayed harder in my life. I have felt my prayers being answered and I have had such peace and comfort over my prayers for Aaron.

Heavenly Father watches out for his missionaries and their families.

The 19th can't come soon enough. I am so excited. Today I worked on getting his room ready. It was so fun to do. I got teary touching his clothes and getting things ready for him.

11 days to go...

Mexico City South Mission update on Elder Warner

Aaron wrote a great email this week and I want to share it with you. It was something I really needed this week. And I am thankful for such a wonderful son and especially for my Father in Heaven who has helped him and our family for the last two years.

What's up fam,
How is everyone doing? I hope all is well and everybody has a smile on their face. This week was awesome, the family that we married got batpized on Saturday with their kids. Well it was the mom and her two kids. It's a big family but the rest are too young to get baptized. Their a crazy family we have a lot of fun with them. We are going to have a family night with them tonight so that should be pretty fun.
Well sept has ended we ended up baptizing 4 people which is pretty good. but we don't have anybody yet that we can baptized for the month of oct. but things are going good. me and my comp are getting along really good. and the ward is progressing. one of our converts that we baptized is really strong along with the family that we baptized. Everyone says that they are potentes or strong. They are giving us references its awesome their testimony is growing and its awesome to see them change and to see there families change. Its an awesome feeling and the best part about feeling this way. Is that you want to feel this way all the time and help everyone you can its great.



Today we went and ate at KFC in Chaloco that's the main part of all of the little cities or countries I dunno what there called in Spanish there called pueblos haha. We will know if we have transfers this Sunday. I think I will stay I hope I will stay I would like to be with my comp another changed and watch are converts grow. but I don't know I could stay or I could leave I don't know we will see what happens.



I just finished the book Jesus the Christ. That's the longest book I have ever read its huge. But its a good book I learned a lot of things. now I am reading the book of Mormon a lot more and learning from that. I think every time I read it I love it more and more and understand more and more. We are truly lucky to have the gospel in our lives and to have the book of mormon. its crazy how this book was written for our time. I love it.



About the temple not really any new news, only that they are going to rededicate it on the 16 of nov. and they are going to have an open house and it starts the 20th of oct until the 8th of November. and on the 21 we as a mission are going to help out there helping people park and answering questions and things. It should be a once and a life time experience. The prophet is going to come the 15 and there is going to be a show type thing to welcome him here in the estadio azeteca thats a staduim it is a huge soccer stadium here. We are invited to go and we might sing there. It should be an awesome next two months.



I am so great full for my mission and the things that I have learned I am a lot better person because of it. But most of all I am great full for a family like the one that I have. How blessed can one person be.
Most people think of this life as heart ache, trails, test, deaths, but this life is awesome its not easy its tough. But nothing easy is worth it. How cool would it be to catch a Gila monster if they were all over the place. If they where like blue bellies. That wouldn't be fun at all. or what if we always got what we wanted. that would be boring. If there were no trails or test. or what if when we go fishing we caught fishes every 10 secs. wait bad example I don't think that would be a prob. The point is lets be more great full. look at the cup half full instead of half empty. Lets be loving optimistic. maybe times maybe rough. but its all in or minds. every time we think of a bad thought or a depressing thought. thank our heavenly father for 10 blessing that you have. and you cant repeat these 10 things threw out the day. you will be thanking him for toothpaste and shoes and water. what happens when we are thankful we feel better. we feel good. gratitude is feelings of peace comfort thankfulness. lets be more thankful. and not grow weary in well doing. if god is for us who can be against us.
I love you guys. never keep your head down. only when you pray, take heart God is well aware of our trails and our needs. He will deliver us and give it in the very hour that we need it.
God be with us till we meet again
The end is near but still not quite here. so work hard and do right.
Love, Elder Warner

Mission Travel plans!

Today in the mail came Aaron's travel plans.

The letter started Dear parents we are happy to inform you

of your missionaries travel plans to return home.

RETURN HOME!!!

I cannot express the joy I feel.

My son is coming home. YeSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

Elder Aaron Keith Warner will return home on November 19th.

He leaves Mexico City at 7:45 and he has a layover in Atlanta.

He will arrive in Utah at 4:05 pm

I have tried not to think about him coming home too much.

(ok I admit I have some or maybe a lot)

Now that I know the flight number and airline and date and time it may

be a little harder not to count down the days and hours and minutes.

I do have a lot to do. Aaron hasn't lived in the house were in now.

His room has been a catch all (junk room) so I will need to find his bed.

It's in the room somewhere I think.

I am just so excited and wanted to share my great news.

100 Days left!

100 Days Left and Aaron will have been on his mission for 2 years.
We your family have missed you Aaron in so many ways.

You have been in the Mexico City South Mission in the biggest city in the world.

We have missed your funny cute ways and how you made us laugh and smile.

We missed 2 Birthdays

Two Christmas Seasons Feliz Navidad

And 2 of all other holdidays



Yet there is so much you and all of us have gained.

You have gained a stronger testimony and shared it with others and helped them come to know of the truth and gain their own testimonies and be baptized.

You have grown to love the scriptures.

You have read them thru many times in the last two years.

You tell us all the time.

"I love the Book of Mormon".

We are so proud of you. It hasn't been easy. You have had many challenges.

You have grown and learned so much.

You have given each of us strength when we needed it. You have been a great example.

We have prayed for you and felt your prayers for us.

We have all been blessed because of your service.

Your Father in Heaven is proud of you and loves you and so do we.

100 days but who's counting (of course I am)

Today I have a 21 year old!

Happy Birthday Today Aaron.

21 on the 21st.

This is at the visitors center by the Mexico City Temple. A 2 hour drive.

Saturday Aaron and his companion took some investigators.

This is Aaron's Zone

This is a family Aaron is teaching. I love the look of their house with all the colors.



I received an email from him today and here is a part of what Aaron wrote about his birthday.


Well thinking of my birthday I have pondered what I might want. Then I shortly realized I have everything I need and want. I could ask for an i pod a new car, new shoes, clothes. etc.... But the best b-day present that any one could ever have. Is what I have got already!!! I have a mom and dad that will be in the parents hall of fame one day. 2 sisters that I don't know what I would do without. We have the gospel. We are all healthy for the most part. We have a house, food on the table. God with us. And angels to bear us up.

Thank you, I thank each one of you for being who you are and helping me to be so happy. Gifts break, gold grows old, thiefs can steal our treasure. But your gift to me can never be stolen and can never break. It lasts forever. 

We would be a lot better if we would focus on the gifts and the treasures that really matter. Thanks for giving me one of those gifts.

Elder Warner Update!

Even in Mexico Aaron can find Lizards. His friends call him the Croc Hunter!

This is Aaron's Zone.

Aaron and his companion volunteered along with their ward.

They planted tree's in the mountains.

This is the sign the ward put up about their service project.

I hope they call me on a Mission!

This is a picture of Aaron on the day he opened his mission call. He had just gotten back from a week in LakePowell.

You are called to serve in the Oaxaca Mexico Mission. Later while in the MTC Aarons call was changed because the Oaxaca mission was temporarily closed. Aaron was re-called to the Mexico City South mission.

Aaron has been on his two year mission since November 2006. Aaron has grown so much.

We as a family have a saying
"I aint gonna lie I'm a hurtin" We have missed Aaron so badly. No we wouldn't want him any other place he is where we would wish he would be. He is doing the right thing.

Serving our Heavenly Father is the best and greatest thing. It's just the mom in me. The dad in Neil and the brother who is missed by the girls. There has been a void. Something is always missing. A piece of our hearts are in Mexico. Some days it has seemed too hard to much of a sacrafice. The ups and downs of a mission is like a roller coaster ride. Highs and lows...dips and drops...rising to the top.

We received an email from Aaron today and it touched me. It showed me his growth. His spirit. His Love for the Book of Mormon and the gosple. This is the reward. This is where any sacrafice seems so worth it.

The email humbled me...It made me realize I am sometimes...too often like the people he speaks of who are always wanting more or something better. I am reminded what is important. I am going to complete Aaron's challenge. After all there is no way I am not going to win the contest and get the first hug when he walks off that plane.

Please join us in Aaron's challenge. 4 1/2 months is plenty of time to read the Book of Mormon.

Here is the email. I know this post is long. I feel important so if you have kept reading I hope you to will be touched.


hey family!!!
whats up? how is every one doing?? How is the summer treating ya??

This week went alright. We are finding some problems we aren't finding that many people that want to listen. Here it's a lot different the people are a lot poorer they just have a shed for houses and don't really have any worldly possessions. A lot of people haven't finished school. Some of them can't even read that well.

We are so lucky to live where we do, with the gospel and the homes and the food we have and the jobs cars, TVS etc.. But we take it all for granted and we dont want to study we dont want to finish school. Or study the gospel we dont take advantage of the things and the opportunities we have. We are lazy!!

These people would kill for a 86 Nissan pickup truck or a 2000 alero or half the size of the house we have. But sadly at times we are not grateful for what we've got. We should love our lives the way they are as poor as it is or as rich as it is. The TVs. cars. medals, recognition, houses, pools trucks, cool lizards. they are all great. but thats not whats most important. All that will end one day or fade away or lose its taste. The scriptures say we can't take these things with us when we die. So why do we want them so much?? instead of focusing on what others need and helping we focus on what car were going to buy next or if we can get into a bigger cooler house. Or what's the newest I pod or game system. But that is all in vain.

We are fools at times but its normal. Lets try to help a little more. lets try to be a little better a little stronger. Lets work on the things that matter. Lets labor on developing spiritual gifts. helping others... there is no greater joy. But yet the natural man keeps us desiring the cars trucks houses fame etc...

Things are going pretty good right now we have some challenges but thats normal. The food is different here they eat more spicy food the tortillas are mostly hand made and so they are better. The ward is pretty small there are a lot of in-actives. We have 5 different little towns that we work in. Its raining a lot.

I have a challenge for ya guys. Well as you all know I have 5 months left. In this 5 months I challenge you all to read the book of Mormon!!!!!!!! I promise you as you read this book not only will you grow closer to God you will be blessed and your life will change. pay attention as you read to what you think about what thoughts come to mind and act upon them. I love the book of Mormon. I know you guys can read it in 5 months because I have read it in 3 weeks when our mission president had challenged us!! Of coarse there has gotta be a reward. I dont know what reward that will be heres are a few options.
1. 1st hug when I get off the plane
2. A sweet hat from Mexico one of those big ones there called sombrero.
3. The 1st date when I get home a dinner and a movie
4.you choose
Those are some options you guys tell me the next Monday what the reward is alright???
Is that cool with you??
If all finish maybe we might just have to go on a family trip or something.
I would also remind you guys. and ask you this question
Are you saying your prays at least 2 times a day. you read your scriptures everyday. do you pray as a family do you read as a family. Do you have family home evening as much as possible. I know this to be important. When we dont pray and read we tend to fall into temptation. prayer is so important and so power full. Its like our sheild. and what happens when the enemy comes and take a blow at our sheild well we are protected and it doesn't hurt us. But what happens if we let our guard down just for one day 1 prayer we didn't... 1 day we didn't read the scripture. Baaaaaaaaaammmmmmm it takes a huge blow with all he has got. Satan trembles when we are on our knees cuz he knows when he cant take a shot at our soul cuz we are protected.
Please read please pray I love you guys, have a good week. mom sorry no pictures this week I didn't have time ill try this week to take some pictures.
I love you guys
have a good day
love
Elder Warner

Mission life in Mexico. Growing and Learning!

This is such a funny picture. It was taken right before transfers last week.

Aaron was transferred to the Cloaca area of Mexico. It is on the other side of the mission.

It is a big change. Aaron was in the main part of Mexico City for all of his mission so far.

This new area is a lot of farm land and it is economically challenged. Job's are hard to find in the area. The district covers five small towns.

Aaron's companion is from Peru and Aaron is still District Leader.

The reason this photo is so funny is Aaron and his companion are the only Elders in the District. Aaron is District Leader to a group of Sister Missionaries. Aaron sent home an email telling Neil not to be too sad about being home with only girls. He can now relate. Aaron's Mission President told him that he has a great personality and that he will some day make a great husband and he is the right man for the job. Let's hope so.

If nothing else Aaron sure is getting good life experiences on his mission.

Soccer is the favorite P-Day activity.

Aaron's last district! No sister missionaries

The First Crew Member is HOME

Elder Scott Fox the first of The Crew is home from Argentina. 

He spoke today in sacrament meeting and he did a great job.

Momma Warner (that's my name according to The Crew) & Elder Fox.

Here is the rest of the Warner clan being goofy. 

We are all excited because Aaron is the next Crew member to come home from his mission. November we can't wait!

God's Army

This is a picture that Aaron's former companion Elder Salmeron drew for Aaron.

It is amazing!

Click on the picture to make it larger and you will see all the detail.

Soccer

Soccer is a big sport in Mexico and I think Aaron has caught the bug. These are missionaries serving Mexico and P-Days are spent playing soccer most of the time. Exercise is always good.

Neil is hoping when Aaron comes home from his mission he still like baseball.

Monday's spent waiting

Monday is the best and worst day of the week. Monday's are Aaron's P-Day's and the day I get my email for the week. It seems like I live from Monday to Monday each week. If I receive a good email it is a great week and the week flies by. If my Monday email brings news of discouragement I spend the week worrying and praying extra hard. My week then seems like it last forever.

The time I get an email varies from week to week.

Sometimes I get my email from Aaron around 11 or 12 and sometimes it's earlier and occasionally it's around 2 or 3. Well today I haven't gotten my email yet. Hopefully the reason is that Aaron is off having fun and playing soccer or they went on a fun adventure.

It seems that Mondays I spend the entire day checking my email. I am always hoping that I can catch Aaron while he is emailing. If I catch him on the computer occasionally we can send emails back and forth. I love that. I know that he is on a computer and so am I. It is the only time I am sure of what he is doing. I also seem to get better answers to my questions.

While I was waiting I thought I would write this blog about my Mondays. I'm sure when Aaron gets home in November I will miss my Monday email. But for today I am just wishing he would send me my Monday email. It is sooooo hard to wait all day to hear from my boy.

I love you Aaron and I miss you like CRAZY!!!!!!!

How to heat water when you live in Mexico!!

No your eyes are not seeing this wrong. That is a plugged in iron... in a bucket of water. This is the way Missionaries in Mexico heat their water for showers. Yes that is my son Aaron smiling and giving me a thumbs up.

I had heard of missionaries doing this and warned Aaron at how dangerous it is. He obviously didn't listen. Good thing we all pray for missionaries safety. They sure need them when they do dumb things like this. I think this is a normal thing to do in Mexico and I guess its better than a cold shower. I just can't believe we haven't heard of a missionary being electrocuted.

Aaron's Mission Mexico City South

I just got this picture in an email from Aaron. He is the fourth missionary from the left.


The mission President is President Doxey from Pleasant Grove. Aaron really likes President Doxey and his family a lot.

I am so grateful that Aaron has a good Mission President.

It is such a small world. President Doxey was the Stake President of a lot of Aaron's friends (The Crew). In fact Aaron's friend Chris Gourley took Sara Doxey to the Prom. All The Crew went as a group.

I am so proud of Aaron for serving a Mission. He has grown so much. I know it hasn't always been easy for him. He was so shy and quiet and that can make a mission hard. The language didn't come easy but now he seems to not know English. When we spoke to him on Christmas he really struggled to talk English. He had to pause and think before he spoke.

Aaron really loves the scriptures and it is such a special experience to see him growing and learning so much. Our family has been blessed by Aarons example and service. We are so grateful to our Father in Heaven for the times he has blessed us and sent help to Aaron. We are humbled and grateful for the power of prayer.

Having Aaron on a mission has taught me so many things. It has been a struggle for me to have him gone and so far away. I have missed him every day and in so many ways. I sure do love my special son. I am so grateful though that he is on a mission and I know without a doubt it is where he is sapposed to be and I wouldn't have changed it for any reason.

I love ya my boy and can't wait for November to come.