Week 24: Bermejo

¡Buen día a todos!

This week has been great. Even though washing an area is a little tricky at times, we have learned so much. Bermejo is a branch, so there aren't that many members, but they are just as helpful, if not moreso, than some wards! We have received tons of references and those make our work so much easier.

Kathy (investigator) and Nico (former inactive) are a couple that will be getting married in September so that Kathy can be baptized! They are super kind and really receptive. Their testimonies are already really strong. 

We haven't been able to meet with any other investigators this week, but I am confident that we will have more luck with that this week!

There's not much else to say, but I will leave you all with a photo of me and a man from Rodeo named Pedro Venturini. He had some of the most thoughtful questions I have ever heard as a missionary, and he taught us so much. I hope Elder Piedra and his companion in Rodeo can help him to keep progressing!!

Con amor,

Elder Burns

Week 23: Rodeo de la Cruz

Hello all!

Sooo. I'm being transfered! I will be going to Bermejo, which is actually in the same zone that I'm in right now (Guaymallén). I can't wait! My companion is Elder Rodriguez from Chile! He and I will be washing (we both will be new to the area). 

This week, I have really grown a love for teaching. Focusing on investigators, their feelings, and helping them see God's love is extremely fulfilling. We had a "charla franca" or a "drop-cane" lesson with the Marinero family, which is basically when we talk about things as they really are. For example, if someone doesn't keep the Word of Wisdom, they cannot have lasting happiness and will be condemned for it. I love these lessons, because the spirit is always so strong. You can BET that the spirit will testify of pure truth.

That's pretty much it for this week, but I hope you all are doing well!! Pray and read your scriptures!

Elder Burns <3  

The pictures: 

One is of me holding some alfajor wrappers. These things are cheap, and incredibly tasty. The one in the middle is a Terrabusi Triple Torta and it is KIIIING.

The other is of my planner for this month. ¡AGUANTE AMERICA!

Week 22: Rodeo de la Cruz

¡Buen día queridos familiares y amigos!

First, I want to explain the picture I sent last week of me holding that cup. That is mate (pronounced "mawtay") and it is extremely popular here. Its actually pretty good!

I don't have much to say this week, other than the fact that transfers are next week and we're working on our investigators in the best way we know how!

I was looking back at some marks I put in the Book of Mormon and I found a passage that applies beautifully to missionaries and pretty much anyone else that feels they are having problems with prayer. Mosiah 26:13 says:

 13 And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God.

This verse explains that Alma was having trouble making a decision, and he did not want to displease God, so he went and prayed. Then, for the next 7 verses, God just explains how proud He is of Alma for requesting help before making a decision, as if the real test was just if he would seek God's help or not, and the answer doesn't matter that much! For example:

 17 And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people.

 20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep.

This week especially, I've seen the importance of counseling with God in all things through prayer. Sometimes, He just wants to see us put forth an effort and pray. Other times, He wants us to wait for an answer. Either way, He's not ignoring you. I promise that with all my heart.

Mucho amor,

Elder Burns

Week 21: Rodeo de la Cruz

Family and friends!!

Happy 5 months to me! haha it's felt like a lifetime and no time at all. Only a fellow missionary can understand :) Just a reminder- I can receive DearElders every month and they are the best thing ever.... soooo yeah pretty please send some! :)

I learned so much about how the spirit can work in us! This morning as I was exercising and getting ready for the day, I realized that I was thinking about our investigators. Questions to ask them and insights about their situation were just popping in to my head. I'm so grateful for the spirit. 

This week we found an awesome guy named Bruno. He has a mental disability that makes it so he can't comprehend things very well, but we are going to keep trying to teach him anyways because he is seriously so cool and he has potential. He is an insanely good drawer, and he owns a towel business. Qué tal ey.....

Recently I've been focusing on the Preach My Gospel manual and realized that there is basically nothing missing from it. It tells us step by step, very descriptively, what we should share as missionaries and what results we should see. Not only that, it explains nearly flawlessly how to work with the ward and members, so you all should read it as well!! 

In Helaman 3:29, we read:

 29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the wordof God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.

This is actually my favorite scripture. It tells us the first step to overcoming challenges that life gives us-- read the word of God. As I was pondering this and thinking about temptation, I realized that in the heat of the moment of being tempted, it is nearly impossible to discern what is good and what is wrong. The word of God always has a response when we can't tell the difference. It literally allows us to "divide" the cunnings of Satan and recognize his snares. 

I love you all so much :) Have a great week!!

Elder Burns

Week 20: Rodeo de la Cruz

Hey everyone!

This transfer is already halfway over-- that's really weird. I bet I'll be leaving the area, but guessing won't help anything, so I'll just work and wait until then, ha! And for an update on the language-- my English is struggling a lot, it's suuuuper slow. But here's the best part: my Spanish is still pretty bad as well. So I'm kind of like always in a state of "meditation" I'll call it. haha ohhh well!!

Anyways, this week we taught Julia the Word of Wisdom and she accepted it pretty well. She has a problem with smoking, and hasn't been progressing much so we are working on that.

This week, we were able to teach Pablo (I think I accidently said "Paulo" in the last e-mail). The situation is kind of complicated, but that's alright because he has a very open heart and awesome goals that every missionary would want to see. In fact, we set a baptismal date for July 11th! We are going to try to de everything we can for that day to actually happen, because like I said, this situation is complicated.

This morning I was reading in Mormon 9. Verse 10 says: 

 10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.

When I read this, I noticed that it says that if God is unchanging, then he is a god of miracles. But why miracles? Why not a god of love, mercy, or power if he is unchanging? So I kept reading:

 12 Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fallof man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man.

As I thought about this for a little longer, I realized that 1. God's focus has been single and his purpose has been defined from the beginning of time: to have His children learn the things they need to in order to return and live with Him 2. Jesus Christ and the Atonement is the greatest miracle that has ever taken place.

 The most central part of God's plan is a miracle: the Atonement!!

Hopefully that made sense! It was really eye-opening for me at least :)

I love you all, have a great week!!

Elder Burns