Happy Mother's Day

Well since we did just talk last night I'm not completely sure what to share. You guys heard that we didn't have the scheduled baptism yesterday for Ingrid, but that was only a downer for a little while. We found out that she had to work and I'm guessing that because it was mother's day that is why she wasn't able to come to be baptized. Originally her plan was to come on her hour and a half break and get baptized and then go back to work, but then during sacrament meeting she texted us and said that work was way busy and wouldn't be able to make it all. So we will keep on praying and working hard and hopefully it will go through soon.

So it was way nice talking with you guys and hearing your voices. It's so weird calling home. It's like I'm stepping into a different world when I call home. I love you guys a ton and it was so great to have one of those conversations around the dinner table like we used to.

Anyway besides that, this week was pretty normal. We were able to set three more baptismal dates this though and the work here is really starting to increase. Elder Forsey and I work well together and it is enjoyable. The thing about our baptismal dates though is that they are all single women and it seems like that is all we ever baptize in this branch so we have been praying and looking really hard to find a family that has been prepared to receive the gospel.

Oh we did have our final interviews with Pres. Cotterell this week and to be honest mine wasn't all that amazing. He literally just asked me what was on my mind for that day and then shared a few things out of PMG and that was it. I was bummed that he didn't blow my mind with something, but I guess its all good.

Well I can't think of much more to say. I love you all to death and Mom, I sure hope your mother's day was wonderful. I hope those kiddos treated you well. I love you all. Keep up the hard work and don't stop trying to share that gospel with everyone!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham

Woooo Hoooo!

Wooooo hoooooooo! That was an awesome set of emails. I can't believe Brianne is home. It is just so weird that she is home now on the member side of things now. She is going to be able to do so much over there. Serving a mission really helps you understand true doctrine to help you become truly converted which helps in every aspect of the gospel. It is the difference in being active in the church and being active in the gospel. I love you Brianne! So tell me Brianne, are you trying to keep the schedule or is sleeping in just a few more hours too heavenly to give up? :)

Wow you guys had such an amazing week. It is just so unreal what has happened for you guys. So Dad, thank you for that letter. I love it when you send those stories and when it is a hard copy it is so much better because I am keeping a binder with all that stuff. Also thanks for getting me that address. So what is it like having those senior missionaries in the ward....Dad, I can't imagine how stressful being a bishop is, but this work can get up there at times. I just love watching the Joseph Smith story to calm me down because I know I have not experienced anything he has. Plus as a missionary it is my favorite movie. Even in Spanish! So reading that Spanish was great. I'm impressed how well it was. By the time I get home we should be conversing hopefully. :) Maybe I can help translate for Hna Barrios someday. :)

Mom, I bet you shed sooooooo many tears this week. I wish I could have been there to give Brianne a hug too. Someday though. Hopefully she is still single then also. ;) Now you can whip her into shape and show her how to work out and also you will have a companion to walk in the mornings. My mind is still blown that she is home. It is just so unbelievable. I'm expecting a lot to come from her. She knows what it is like out here and I'm sure she has great material that can help me. Also, Brianne, when it comes to referrals we ask EVERYONE!!! My mission Pres. stresses it a lot. His biggest thing is the back cover of PMG. He says that the only page we really need to be successful is that back cover. Luckily we have more than that though. I love that book though. Hey are you going to try to work at the MTC? Anyway back to mom, I guess things are starting to get stressful now huh? Girls camp is coming up. Now you have a helper for a while though. Also I'm way excited to call you guys on Sunday. It looks like it may be closer to 3ish your time because we will be having a BAPTISM for Ingrid that day and then an appointment right after so it will be busy. But it will make for a great phone call. We are so excited that Ingrid is finally going to make that compromiso.

um I will be sending some pics soon to Jenni so get ready. Also I was talking to my comp recently and we decided we are really starting to crave home treats. Just something simple like rice krispies or cookies or something. I can't remember the last time I even had regular chocolate or anything like that. Latino desserts aren't always the best. I really enjoy tres leches though. Oh also I know it will be hard to understand, but I found another artist that I like. Her name is Marisella Vandera. Her and Jesus Romero are probably two artists I will listen to for a long time. They make great Christian Spanish music. You guys should listen to it. :) One more thing my comp has a little Webster electronic dictionary thing for Spanish and it is way nice and easier than a dictionary. Also it helps conjugate words and it is pocket size so I can take it church. I was just wondering if you could look into that.

Well I love you guys to death and I still can't believe that Brianne is on to her next mission in life. Keep working hard and keep searching for opportunities to share a little message. And watch those Bible Videos, they are mind blowing. I love you guys.

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham

Keep the spirit

Wow sounds like another good week. First of all tell Jake that he broke his promise of writing me after he went to the temple for the first time and he bet jump on it. Second tell him I love him and I'm super excited for him to be serving. I don't have any other suggestions for him, but maybe some stamps. The missionaries really get taken care of and I don't know too much about what it will be like outside the country. I'm proud of him though.

Sara way to go! Keep working on those talents. I wish I could play the piano. It's funny here in the branch because is like zero musical talent. In fact if the organ didn't have a record feature on it then we would be singing acapella every Sunday. Luckily one of the counselors in the branch can go up and press play on the organ and then sit there and act like he is actually playing. It gets me every time.

Ryan I answered your other email on your email account so check it.

Dad, my bike is working well so far and I treat it right. I do have an SD card that I will send out soon so don't worry. It's hard to keep up on taking pictures. It's not like I'm seeing crazy things daily, but I try to catch what I can.

Mom, sounds like you have been busy. Giving blood, running errands, crying in church. What an awesome week! :) This week for me was pretty eventful. All the investigators we have right now all have interesting stories. We taught this man Mario who is in his 50's and is just studying about everything right now. Originally the English elders were teaching him, but then when he got more interested he decided that he would like to understand EVERYTHING so he asked if the Spanish elders would come and teach him. So we went over and first had quite the interesting conversation about how he was studying about the Nazi's and how a group or cult or something was giving him this book to ponder about and look into. It was weird, but luckily he decided Christ was the way to go and now he is looking into the truth. We are excited to teach him. Then later a random member from an English ward called us and told us they have a family to teach and that was it. So we planned for it and met this family way down in holly springs and had a wonderful lesson. The entire family felt the spirit and really was intrigued by the message. The accept all of our invitations except one. At the end of our lesson with them we went to invite them to be baptized and to set a goal for a certain date,......... And also if you guys go out with the missionaries, unless the spirit is slapping you in the face to say something, don't contradict them. It would be like me telling him how to run his business because I'm American and he is from Mexico and he doesn't understand how it works. Baptism is only the beginning. And it sounds a little silly to me to not want these blessing to come to someone you love. Now, I know he loves this family and just wants the best and doesn't want to lose them and I am very appreciative that he called us to teach them. We are excited to teach this family again and hopefully we can help some people understand true doctrine so that we can help this wonderful family come unto Christ. This work is awesome. :)

Later in the week we taught our most solid investigadora, Ingrid who is planning to get baptized the 13 of May which is also mothers day, so I hope that I have some awesome stuff to say to Mom on that day. Ingrid is working on leaving coffee behind, but she has a testimony and knows she can do it, so we are excited for that also. This week was really good and full of great lessons for both me and the investigators. Elder Forsey and I are putting our shoulders to the wheel and working our tails off.

Okay, now speaking of Mom's day, what time do you have church? If we do have the baptism, which we should, it will be over around 3ish our time soooo.... just let me know in the next email. Oh one more thing am I going to receive an absentee ballot or something like that. The election is coming to be pretty big over here right now, so I thought I'd ask about that. I don't what's really going on, but if you could just let me know.

Well I love you guys to death and I hope things are going wonderfully. Keep working hard and keep searching for opportunities to do missionary work.

I love you guys.

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham