Sister Kari Warburton: "How do you pronounce your last name?"

First off congratulations to Marie & Carson for getting engaged. I'm excited to have a brother in law

Transfers were this week and I am in Cookeville TN which means I am in a different time zone from the rest of the mission Haha

I'm still trying to get to know the area. So far people have been nice. Someone even gave us ice-cream while we were knocking doors. It was awesome!

I can't really think of anything else to write. Here's the spiritual thought I wrote this week: I feel that too many missionaries put on a front that everything is all sunshine and roses all the time. Before I was on the mission I didn't realize how hard being a missionary really is. Wanting to fix people's problems but all you can do is pray for them, feeling homesick, disappointment of not hitting a goal, getting cussed at & yelled at, getting bashed every. Single. Day. (Got to love the bible belt), getting bit by dogs, 50 million bug bites, getting pushed beyond you limits, etc.

But because I have felt the greatest amount of pain I have also felt the greatest amount of joy. I have never felt the scripture "There is opposition in all things" more. The feeling of joy when it clicks for someone, serving, being the reason someone has a better day, laughing your head off, feeling the spirit so strong that you feel like you could literally move a mountain, the life long friendships you make, learning the true meaning of charity, the list goes on and on and it always out-weighs the bad.

I have never been so miserable but yet so happy in my life. My source of strength is my Savior and without him it's not possible to endure to the end. If you're a missionary or not he is ALWAYS the source of strength and peace.

~Sister Warburton