Pretty Good Week

Hey family we had a pretty good week. Everything didn't happen exactly as we had planned, but we had more success this week than last. Our finding has been a little rough due to the super prideful Hispanics in this area, but we are working hard. This week I had two run-ins with Hispanics that wouldn't budge even if an angel slapped them in the face with the Book of Mormon. I did my best to stay calm and just testify, but they denied that I even had a testimony, so that is when things got a little hairy. I stopped her from going any further and simply, boldly stated what I know to be true and how sad I was to hear that she could be so satisfied with having so little knowledge of the gospel because she isn't willing to even try to learn more. It was a an awkward situation from there because I stopped the lesson from going any further into the pit of anti where she was angry and frustrated by calling her out on how she was frustrated that I was confounding her craziness and then continued by praising her for her testimony of Jesus Christ and how she loves the Bible and that she eve let us in her home. I am glad that I went that direction though because even though she didn't want anything more to do with our beliefs she lightened up and fed us a delicious cat fish meal. Needless to say she isn't being taught anymore, but her son, who is a recent convert, will be getting our visits. Elizabeth City is a crazy place. I feel that 20 years ago this was a rich beautiful community and now it has turned into the hood. It really is quite a sad thing to see, because the remnants of a beautiful outer-banks city are all around the place, but since then it has been "ghetto-fied".

Anyway besides that we did have some good things happen. We set a young couple with a baptismal date for the middle of October. so we are still finding some elect fellows among this craziness. :)

We have been trying to work closer with members, but we only have like 4 Spanish members so it isn't the most productive. I feel like I've opened up this area for the first time. The last elder here didn't leave me with much to work with. My companion is so new he likes to just watch me and learn. Hopefully Ill get him leading a lot more things. Maybe that is why I am here.

Well I'm glad to see the family is doing so well. I am excited to see that new temple video when I get back. Oh speaking of that, did yall get a call from the mission office about what airport I am supposed to be flying into. They called me about it and I wasn't sure what we had decided so I gave them Mom and Dad's cell numbers. I hope that all got situated.

Well other than that I guess I shall answer Sara's questions.
When it comes to types of stereotypes I'm not sure what they want. What first comes to mind is the stereotype that black people like fried chicken and watermelon which can be seen all over the south in any KFC or Bojangles. Another stereotype is sweet tea and the typical southern family. Another stereotypical thing to see is a Mormon family with more than 4 or 5 kids. I guess there are a ton of stereotypes if you just think of every culture and what first comes to mind. The way I would react to all of them is with laughter and pointing a finger saying "well that's stereotypical!" hahahaha I hope that answers your question baby sister. I love you a ton as well. Keep working hard and get good grades  :)

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham

So much work, so little time

Well to start I must say I am a little depressed that SLC would shut that opportunity down so quickly. My mission president didn't even get a chance to really look at it. Well it's a bummer, but I guess there is nothing we can do about it. This first week here in Elizabeth City has been kind of rough. The area is so new to spanish work and so is my companion that I have so much to get moving. I guess it keeps my mind busy on better things than being trunky. :) It seems like the hispanic population out here isn't as big as I had hoped which doesn't make it easier, but there is always a ton of less active work to do as well as giving solid english referrals to the two other sets of english missionaries that serve here in the ward with us. As I serve the people here in this small town I often ask myself why would I get sent to the South of all places to be a spanish speaking missionary? What am I needing to learn? To be honest I don't know if I'll ever find out the answer. I do know it is hard work though. I did a study the other day on how to specify my faith. In fact a big part of my study was finding the faith to find and what I received revelation on was that it all connects to the Atonement. Yes, I realize that is a pretty broad response to my question, but as much as I don't like to accept it I know that when Elder Holland said the most important convert on a mission is yourself I understood how much I need to be feeling the atonement daily to know that my faith to find is increasing. My experiences with the atonement + sharing those experiences at every doorstep = increased faith to find. Why? Because I understand more of the atonement in my own life and how it can help others so just like Enos my desire to share it changes, thus I will be that much more willing to get out and find people to teach. Maybe that made sense maybe it didn't, but I guess it did in my mind.

Anyway basically to sum everything up I have a lot of work to do still and not much time to do it. We have found a few people this week and had some success getting recent converts to share the gospel, but the work is no where near where we want it for the spanish work at least. I don't really have much else to update you on. I love you all and hope everything is going well. Keep working hard and I'm dead serious about putting me as WML and I'll get those missionaries going as well as the work in the short time I'll be home. ;) Well if I can do anything for you all let me know. Hasta luego!

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham

pictures from Elizabeth City

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 the 4 of us in E.C. when I first got to the area.

 An investigator who finally got married legally so she could get married and that is them holding the certificate.

"Hippified"

 

I am officially in 1006 Weeks St. Elizabeth City, NC 27909. This is a totally new experience. Everything I have ever been taught as a missionary hasn't been taught here. I am following up the training of elder Merkley. (He is the one eating the sandwich on my left.) We live in a house, which is nice an spacious even with all four of us in it. I am going crazy though. The way things are done on this side of the mission is completely different. To best explain it all I can say is that it is like it has been hippified. Everyone is all just about being happy and nobody cares about our progress or our numbers and we don't need to be held accountable to anything. It is driving me crazy. Luckily my companion is new and sees the benefit of the things I have been taught, so I can still have an influence there. I am doing my best to keep an open mind to all their ways and I am feeling around before I start opening my mouth and making suggestions or even asking questions. I just feel so lost. I definitely feel I know exactly why I am here though. I'm positive that President has put me here for a reason and I am going to do my best to make the most of it. We have a lot of work to do here. Well other than that this area seems to be alright. It is near the water which is nice and it also has a lot of Hispanics which is nice. This area hasn't been open to spanish missionaries for very long so we don't have the numbers I wish we had, but we are working on fixing that and getting things going here. The active Hispanics now are solid though and love to help us out so hopefully we can get a move on. We play soccer every friday night with lots of non-members which is looking like a great finding idea. There is a lot of potential out here, but it wont blossom over night. My companion is humble and we seem to get along just perfectly. The ward is a little unfriendly, but luckily I get to work with the nice humble hispanic group that loves everyone even if they can't speak your language. My first sunday here was odd. I had to translate everything including a temple recommend interview for a member. That was interesting especially since he had had a disciplinary council recently. It wasn't the warmest welcome, but that's okay.

I have so much I want to do and so much I need to do. I know I can help this district a lot and I can definitely help my companion a lot. I am excited to sprint through this finish line and collapse on the other side exhausted. I have only just begun. Um in your last email there was a lot to respond to so I hope I got most of it figured out. Oh president said he received the letter but hasn't had time to give it any consideration yet though. Maybe if Ryan's president can make a quick move on it first and contact my president then chances may be better. I'll keep addressing it with him though. Other than that I think that is all. I have a lot to learn and to teach. Its exciting stuff. Well I love you all and everything is going well. Dad make me the ward mission leader for the 3 months that I'm home and I'll whip that missionary work into shape. ;)

Con Amor,

Elder Burnham

Smithfield, North Carolina

Elder Burnham with Leonarda, the lady who got married finally. That was his last day in Smithfield.

Elder Burnham with the Gruvers, an older couple that spoke spanish so they helped us out a lot.

Last Day in Smithfield

The Gruvers, an older couple that spoke spanish so they helped us out a lot.

Is me with Leonarda, the lady who got married finally. That was my last day in Smithfield

Pictures

My first district in Wallace, NC. My companion is on the far right Elder Beecroft.

This is the district from youngest in the mission to oldest. (Elder Edmond, Elder Beecroft, Elder Me, Elder Caldwell, Elder Randall, and Elder Hartley)

One of my favorite missionaries, Elder Taylor Shirrod

Wallace, NC on Christmas day.

My last district in Wallace, NC from youngest to oldest.

Me and my hijo, Elder Young, playing tennis on preparation day.

This Honduran family investigated FOREVER and never got baptized. I love them to death

Ah the Verdin family. They make some of the best tacos!

Sister Gray and her grandaughter. This is Michael Jordan's Aunt.

Hermano Del Angel, our biggest member missionary helper in the Wallace branch

One of my favorite companions, Elder Sosa from Honduras. I love that pudgy hispanic.

Big boy Elder Bush, he looks like Mr. Incredible

The baptism of Yammi Vargas and her grandmother Dominica.

The baptism of Dominica's husband

MTC Companions half way through our missions, Elder Miller and Elder Adams.

Elder Olson

My district in Smithfield, NC