Awesome Week!!

 

Family,

 

We had an amazing week this week. We were strugling a little bit with the excercizing in the mornings, so we started trying to get up at 6:00 and excercize really well (that's 30 minutes before we need to get up). Although it was a little later some days, we were always up before we were supposed to be. We have been excercising well and hard and it feels way good. It is really making a difference in the work too. Since Wednesday when we started getting up earlier, we have taught at least two lessons every day, which is quite a bit more we almost doubled the number of lessons we usually teach. And three people came to church! That is the most people that have come in the same week since I've been here. I know the Lord has seen our efforts to be more obedient and is blessing both us and our investigators in the area. It is a good feeling.

 

My companion was sick yesterday on preparation day, so we could not email then. We are doing it today, but have little time. He is feeling mostly better. Another Elder hurt his ankle yeaterday playing basketball, so what we are doing is I am going on exchanges with my District Leader and we are covering both areas while the other two stay at the apartment to heal up.

 

Any minute now we find out if one of is leaving on wednesday for transfers. Is it nerve wracking. I was hoping I would be able to find out sooner so I could tell you what's going on, but we have not yet. I'll tell you next week.

 

Love you all!

-Elder Burnham

Winter Wonderland

 

Beloved Family,

 

Right now it is a winter wonderland. We are getting the biggest snow of the winter thus far. About 6-7 inches have come down, and it is still snowing. But even with this, it is 5 times nicer than last winter. by this time last winter, we had already had about 3-4 feet. But we are just over a foot-ish so far this year. Even with all of its annoying qualities, I will miss the snow. It can be adventurous.

The days are slowly getting longer. I love it. I wait for the days when it does not get dark at 5:30.

 

Due to the snow, church was shortened this week. There was the English Sacrament meeting, followed be a half-hour Spanish one. There were only about 10 Spanish people there. It was a good meeting though. The only sad part is that we had 4 people who told us they were going to come to church, and none showed up. We'll get 'em next week. Hopefully there is not a snow storm then.

We also had to have a member drive us here to the library because we are not allowed to drive our cars until 1:00 due to road conditions.

 

I have started reading the Book of Mormon anew, focusing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I want to bear my testimony of it. I would not be here without the Atonement. I have needed it many times in my life, and I especially needed it to fully prepare for my mission. There are few feelings better than feeling through the spirit that God has forgiven you for every mistake you have made. I know we would not be able to feel that if our loving brother Jesus Christ did not perform the Atonement for us. I have recently been reading about the end of Christ's life in Jesus the Christ, and I feel the spirit testify of his divinity when I do. I am always amazed that he says, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death." It was a tremendous load that was surprising even for him. But he drank the dregs of the bitter cup. I love that in the Book of Mormon in 3 Ne 11 that this is the first thing he tells the people after he introduces himself. That is how important it is. I love the Saviour and what he did for me. I hope you all continue to use the Atonement daily. If you have not read Jesus the Christ, I suggest you do- or at least parts of it. It is quality.

 

I love you all, and God does too!

-Elder Burnham

New Year

Family,

Happy 2011!! It is hard to believe the new year is already upon us. I hope you all had fun partying Friday night. :)

We had a quality week. One thing we have been focusing on is trying to set up as many appointments as possible. It is helping us teach more and have more solid lessons. This is an area I have struggled with in the past. It is simple, but sometimes it is easy to not make the calls (especially since talking on the phone is not my favorite thing). But we have seen good fruits from it.

We have continued working with Rosa and Pedro, but they did not come to church this week. I have faith they will come next week. We have several other good investigators, and we are going to focus on getting more members out with us this week, to help them progress. We are going to start teacgin a 9-year-old that wants to get baptized. He is the friend of a member and has come to church about 5 times already. I am excited for him. I think there will be a few baptisms here the end of Jan or the first of Feb. I hope I stay (transfers are the 20th).

Friday night I got a little sick. We had to go back to the appartment about two hours early. It made me realize how grateful I am that I have good health normally. It is only the second time I have gotten sick like that on the mission. I am a little congested now, but I am mostly better.

I am going to include a few pictures from Christmas and since. I hope you enjoy them. Love you all!

-Elder Burnham