Friday, October 30, 2015

"I kick when I don't want to kick, and stroke when I don't want to stroke."



This week we finally got to eat at the Wellington Grill! Brother Daknis took us. It was so fun! I love the Daknis family so much!

One day this week we were contacting a referral and saw a member down the street and decided to contact her, we helped her hang some photos in her home, it was so fun! A couple hours later we came back because she was hosting a Relief Society activity. It was so funny, when we came back she told us about how almost all the photos we hung up fell. It was defiantly sad, but none of them broke! What a blessing!!

I've been reading the fourth missionary...SO GOOD! One of the lines I loved from it was where it says "I kick when I don't want to kick, and stroke when I don't want to stroke." Missions are hard, they are so worth it! I'm so happy and grateful to be out.

This week we went to Costco for lunch! I love that place! As many of you may know! If not my roommates before the mission knew. (:

While in the parking lot, I made a joke saying "Wouldn't it be funny to run into a member and have them try to pay for our food?" (happens often but not that often) Well while in line, someone comes up and hugs me from the side, it was a member I knew! It was Sister Anderson from my first area! And she bought us lunch!! How sweet, after we walked around to finish up our lunch hour. The picture of me and the bears is from Costco, These bears are over 100$ each. Just in case anyone wants one, or to get me one for after the mission...I'll probably be pretty lonely after the mission.

We had dinner with the Allreds this week, and Kade likes to open our doors, so just when we were about to pray in the car before going in, Kade is knocking on the car window. I opened the door and he climbed in,he sat beside me on the seat, so we took a picture. This kid is so cute!!

In district meeting here are some of the funny things an Elder said...

talking about anti Mormon stuff "cut through the bull crap, just pray about it"

Making members (anyone) uncomfortable "Christ made a lot of people uncomfortable and we represent him." It might had been funnier if you were there. But oh well.

This weekend our ward mission leader left town and before he did his wife let us come over and told us to lock up when we left...well after weekly planning we decided to clean there house. What a surprise for them! It was super exciting for them. It made me so happy. And it distracted me from everything going on. I love doing service. And I know Heavenly Father blesses us when we do service. And I know he understands the desires our our hearts. (:

Saturday we met with Brooke for the second time this week, and followed up on the reading chart we made for her. It was so sweet. She hadn't missed a day!! Shes still on date for baptism, (Nov 21) but it might be happening in Utah.

While there we were stalling to start the lesson, since the member who was joining us was running behind the dad (non member) super funny saw the member pull up, and said, I got to go a BMC, he then told us BMC = Big Mormon Convention. haha only he would come up with those things. He went to the gas station for snacks and came back and sat in on the lesson. Also her and her mom came to church on Sunday!!! How fun! wohoo!

Yesterday was a bad hair day, and all day I just felt like a mess. so we decided we have a new term....GMMS= Ghetto Missionary Mess Syndrome.

On a more serious note, I want everyone to know how grateful I am to be on a mission. I've seen so many blessings. And I'm so grateful for the Atonement. I know Heavenly Father loves us, I know he knows us. I know ultimately hes the only one who can take away our tears, fears you name it. I know he cares so much about each of us. I'd like to invite each of you to offer up a pray of gratitude for the Atonement. If you don't know if he's really there offer a pray and ask "Heavenly Father are you really there?" I know he will answer you. I promise you he will. Tell him whats going on in your life. Give him your burdens. Don't carry them alone. That's not your job. I know our Savior lives. In the name of Jesus Christ.Amen.


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

More Inspired Exchanges

This week...I never know where to start...

We did exchanges. While with the Frontier sisters I got to go to Cheyenne and I got to be with Sister Ligon. It was crazy to see how much we had in common. Not just favorite colors but more like life events. This sister is amazing. I love her. And I'm grateful for her advice. Sister Ligon will do great things in life! I'm exited to see what she will do, on and after the mission. It was nice getting to learn from her. I hope she was able to learn something from me...and maybe it was just "what not to do."

They had another quote at their house...it reads.."When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown...Faith is knowing one of two things will happen. There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly."

I love this. Sister Ligon was a good example to me with her faith and trust in the Lord. It helped me see what more I could be doing to improve.

The next day I got to be in Wellington with Sister Jenks, love this sister!! Her desire to help is amazing and her love for everyone is great! We visited Sister Pitts She gave us chocolate bars. Because we had zone meeting the next day, and it was one of our zone leaders birthdays..I gave him mine. I learned about how with the gospel we truly have so much potential. We truly can succeed. Sister Jenks is another one of those people I'm sure we were friends in the pre Earth life. I love her! I'm grateful she was willing to be with me on exchanges.

We did some service for Kate and helped her get ready for a church dance. It was nice to be able to help fix her hair and make up. She is such a sweet girl.

Grandpa Devoge is in the hospital and just had surgery yesterday. If you all could keep him in your prayers that would be great!

We had to move Brooke's baptism. Please pray her and her family will come to church.



Monday, October 12, 2015

Unified!

This week...was so good, but so long.!!!

We went on exchanges...I was with Hermana Tanner. She is so very sweet! I love her. I learned so much from her, like Mr. Goodbar is a Canadian chocolate. And her love for finding. She truly is a great sister. While we were in Wellington I found a Canada flag sticker in our closet...I'm sure its been there forever. I thought it was super funny.

Also we had lunch with Earl before he left for Idaho. We ate at the T-Bar. It was so very sweet. I love this man and miss him so much! We taught Lillie while she was in town for 2 days! Lillie and Art, it was so cool! After we had to walk back to our car, walking past Earl's place was so hard knowing he wasn't going to be there anymore. I miss him. Hermana Tanner gives good hugs. And Earl hugged me goodbye! He's my grandpa! (:

The next exchange I was with Sister Thomas she is my "ginga sister!"

I love her so much! I was so sick on this exchange and she kept checking on me. It was sweet. Out side the institute building they had this nifty sign. Selfie with a sign.

My companion and I have been very very unified this week...let me tell you how it started Monday we both put down the visor in the car at the same time. Tuesday in a lesson we said the same thing at the same time. Wednesday we went on exchanges...I was starting to feel sick...Thursday I was on exchanges and felt terrible but kept pushing through because we are told to be "perfect" on exchanges. I knew I couldn't stop till at least 9:30pm. if not later. Friday we exchanged back...and we had both been sick, and had gotten sick at the same time. comp unity!!! Saturday we sneezed at the same time. Cute right? This week we are working on being unified in getting better together.

Highlights of my week

*So I think a couple weeks ago I told you how I was getting a water flosser! It came...and it came with a tooth brush!!!! Holy cow! What a blessing! So here is a photo of the box!

*Brooke is on date for baptism (Nov 7)

*Went up to Red Feather with Sister Knotts Saturday. Its so pretty up there. Car photo of me and my sick comp(comp unity)





Tuesday, October 6, 2015

General Conference!

Week 3 transfer 9 down. Crazy!

Monday we got to play on the trampoline we played " ghost in the graveyard' pretty sure I haven't played that since living in Flat Gap(so before 2002)! After dinner we played a game called "Its alive" I tied for second place. Woohoo!

Tuesday we did area calls with our sisters. They are each so amazing. And so strong!

But before doing that we saved two goats which also met we saved a mother from the wrath of her teenage daughter. Our 8pm appointment forgot about us and wasn't home...but we had enough time to walk to the car and get in then she pulled up. How exciting!

I found a quote that I love:

" God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as he does about where you are and with help where you are willing to go." -faith in the future; remember lots wife

Wednesday we taught Paul this week. Paul is 99 and he is able to live alone. He goes for walks every morning. Paul might be in better shape than me. He's not a member but if not in this life for sure in the next. We then visited a former and she let us set up a return appointment and told us she was ordering us one of those water floss things. I'm excited. If anyone back home wants to tell me your product review that would be nice. But either way it's free so why not try it out.

Thursday....happy 1 year!!!! We had district meeting. Got to take a road trip to Johnstown. Had enough time to get back and met with Brooke. She's 10. Sweetest little girl ever. We taught about following the prophet. Her dad who isn't a member sat in on the lesson. It was so very sweet. Not sure how interested he is but him sitting in is a big step, I feel. We have dinner with them this week, I pray he stays in for the lesson then.

We had dinner with Earl and he adopted me as his grand daughter!!!!!!!! I'm number 8! All of which are sister missionaries, but he's not adopted every sister who has served here. What a great one year gift! I cried like a baby. I love this man with all my heart. I haven't met many as nice, and sincere as he. He loves others just as Christ himself would. This man is a great example to me of Christ like attributes. Friday...missionary leadership council, I found it very enlightening. And I got to see two of my past companions. With this next week we will have our area book on the iPad.

Conference weekend

woohoo. We watched the second session with the Matlocks and Earl. And had lunch with them. So many great things were said.

We watched the third session with the Martins. It was so fun. And Scott kept making us all these little crafts. It was sweet. And we got three new apostles! How great! I know with the spirit I felt and sustaining those three men plus the other apostles that they are each called of God.

Fourth session we watched with sister Rue. She is such a sweet lady.

And after we got to eat lunch with her. She also told us the quickest way to get to Livermore. woohoo! 1 hour there. instead of 1 hour 6 mins! Its very pretty out there. You are just literally in the middle of no where! I sent Lauren a video of the street we took, they can herd cattle down the street because well its the middle of no where.(maybe she will post it..not sure)

Conference was so good!

I just want you each to know I know the new and old apostles are called of God. I know our Prophet is called of God. I know we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and is aware of us. Every question I had was answered as it always has been. I'm so grateful for those who taught me the importance of conference and that it wasn't a weekend off from church. I'm grateful the Lord is able to speak to each of us. II know we have a Savior who loves us. I know they want us to be happy and return back to live with them. And we can! It is possible. Luke "For with God, nothing shall be impossible" We must keep progressing and moving towards our Father in Heaven. I love him. And I'm so grateful for this time I have to serve him.

Thank you each for your love and support.

Email me what you learned during conference.

jennifer.burden@myldsmail.net