Mission Changes

 Well this week has been a roller coaster for everyone it seems. Lots of
bitter sweet moments. It is awesome to hear that the family is doing well and having a blast together. Things sure are changing rapidly in every aspect of our lives. I am excited for everything though. The whole mission split and that broadcast and the change for the family and just everything is super exciting. This week we had our final zone conference with President Bernhisel. Tears were shed and hugs were given. It is going to be huge change in the next couple of weeks. We found out that the whole culture clash between the missions is going to be bigger than we thought. Also it sounds like President Baker is making plans already to flip everyone as soon as he gets here to break any pride battles that may take place so I may see Virginia after all. I guess we will see what happens. 

Well as you can see we did have a baptism this weekend and Sister Julie Maley is the best. She reminds me a lot of Jenni but a little taller. :) She is just as outgoing though and loves to be there to help people. She was a little nervous to get baptized and confirmed in front of people, but once it happened she ate it up. She is awesome and I am looking forward for her and her husband, the man that baptized her and a returning less active,
to get sealed in the temple. They have big goals and we are super excited to help them. This week has been huge. Lots is happening and it is only starting. After that broadcast we are expecting a huge fire in the ward and if not then we are expecting to start one from it. I love this work and I can't believe how fast time is flying. Next week we will have a lot more news on everything and a lot more info. Be prepared. Well enjoy the family time and I can't wait to see y'all soon. Keep up the good work. Study that broadcast and use it for EVERYTHING! Your awesome. 

Con Amor,
Elder Burnham

Trunky??

Wow that was a bunch of great letters that just made me laugh and made me trunky. I confess this weekend was a trunky one for this missionary. We had a lot of great miracles happen and things have just been going well. This Sunday we had two new investigators come to church made it a total of four there. With it being the Father's Day theme I heard a lot about personal stories these people had with their fathers and it really made me think of the good times I have had. It was just such a trunky day. Life has been just really great this week. I also have to say that reading Sara's email and Jenni's email just made my day. Sara is going to need to stop growing up and talking about boys and stuff so much. Reading what she wrote just made me bust up. I can remember all that nonsense going on when I was at youth conference. Now I know the girls side if it. hahahaha I also love hearing about Jenni and the kids and picturing all the things that she said they were doing. I am excited to see them again. My WML here and his wife remind me a lot of Jenni and Buddy and it just adds to that trunkiness. I get a long with them well and we are working super hard. We have done some serious planning and we are about to flip Smithfield around. I sure love the work out here.

Ummm to answer your questions. We are teaching half and half here. (Spanish & English) We have a lot of work going on in both areas. My companion has never done so much work apparently and he is surprised to see how often we are finding. The pants are working great and I also was given some pants from Elder Sosa that didn't fit him anymore. They are Honduran Homemade from his mom. I feel special. I have one functioning suit that I am hoping makes it the rest of my mission. I have been doing my best to only wear it when necessary. I really hope it makes it. I don't have any room to grow in them either so its just more motivation to keep working out and eating healthy. My new companion is Elder Leisek from Mesa, Arizona and he is really a good missionary. He has a big heart. He has only been out a year. He came out with Elder Sosa. My new mission president arrives June 27 and apparently he is planning on transferring people around ASAP to get rid of any barriers between NCRM and CVM missionaries. It will be an interesting change. We also have been encouraged to go to that broadcast with our WML's so I 'm glad we will be listening to the Prophet together. I don't know anything about a map and I'll see what I can do about a picture.

Family I love you all a ton and I'm glad to see that things are going well and people are happy. Life is great when we have the gospel. We have an exciting week planned coming up so we will be busy. If there is anything I can do for y'all out here just let me know. I love ya tons. Hasta entonces.

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham

New Comp

Hello my familia! This week has been different. We have started a new transfer and lots of changes have been made. My new companion is Elder Leisek from Mesa, Arizona. I don't know if you remember Elder Beecroft my companion back in Wallace before Elder Young, but they were MTC companions. They also came out with Elder Sosa so I have now served with their small group. They all have just hit their year mark and are doing great. Elder Leisek is a great missionary that I seem to get along with just fine. He is an athlete and isn't too shy around new things. I am excited for this new transfer. As you can see in the picture he is not brown, unfortunately and he is a little taller than me, but we have a good time. The other picture is of my last district. We were all very much spiritual giants you could say. :) The only other big change to the district is we did get sisters. I had my first accounting call with them last night and even though it went for longer than I planned it wasn't too bad. They are opening up the area they are in and they seem to be excited. I guess I'll keep you updated on how things go there.

Well this week has been full of miracles. Elder Leisek and I had a rough start, but the Lord took over quick and things started to get rolling. We have been finding lots of people and then Sunday lots of people brought friends that are just looking for the truth. We also had a random 15 year old girl show up just because she lives down the street and wanted to come to church. She had never even heard of the church. Miracles were seen all over the mission. The other awesome thing was that in sacrament meeting a returned missionary from the other ward that meets in the same building spoke to us. He just returned from South Africa. Well I got to talk to him afterwards and come to find out he trained Elder Richard Wilson. It really is a small world out there. Sunday was a great day for everyone. The work is progressing and even though I am working with some changes we have a lot going on to keep us busy. This is the best part of the work. I'm excited to update you on things next week.

So about the plaque thing. I decided I want both the NC and Virginia plaques or I may go less active when I get home. ;) I also like the scripture in   3 Nephi 5:13. Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. 

 

 It's short and straight to the point and explains exactly what I am doing. Well I love you all and I am extremely grateful for everything you have done for me. I guess we are all praying to have the two Elders Burnham serve together. Keep me posted and I hope y'all have a great week.

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham 

Elder Burnham and Elder Leisek

New Companion and Ward mission leader

Mom I would love more than anything for you to write the presidents and see if that is possible. I would give anything to serve with my brother as a full time missionary just for a day even. That would be the experience of a lifetime and I would do anything to have it. I can see that probably being really hard to make happen, but it would mean so much to both of us I'm positive. If you could pull any strings that would be miraculous.

Well other than that I don't have any huge new about anything yet. We know that Elder Sosa will be heading to Durham tomorrow and I will be getting a new companion. I went to a massive leadership meeting last Wednesday and pretty much could bring down my new companion to two elders, but we will see which of them it will be. Both are unfortunately Americans. :) I also learned that President Baker will officially be my new key holder on June 27. Exciting I guess. Other than that not much happened. I am always learning a lot and working hard. We didn't have too much help from members this week so we had a lot of other lessons from our own efforts. Always finding is what we do!

One amazing thing that I can tell you about is we have the best ward ever!!! Our War Mission Leader is straight from heaven and knows exactly what to do and is working super hard. He is our best friend in the ward and is more converted to this work than any other member I have come in contact with. I love his spirit and his testimony. I really hope to be able to serve as well as he does in the church. We have huge plans to change this place around and get everyone excited about missionary work. He is a strong believer that if missionary work is strong in the ward amongst the members than everything else will strengthen along with it. He just gets it! I am glad to be serving here in this loving ward where everyone gets along for  the most part and where we can focus on the most important things. I will definitely keep you updated on how things progress here.

Well beautiful family I love you more than bananas and I sure hope things are going fantastic. Pull those strings Mom!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham