Matt's email 4/26/2010

So I can't believe that I am sitting at the computers in the laundry room again. This week went by so fast. It's hard to explain how time works here but it isn't normal that's for sure. I am getting my flight plans this Thursday and I'm pretty sure I am leaving the 11th or sometime around there. So I have about 2 weeks left. It is crazy. I'm super excited to leave though. I have loved every minute of it but I'm definitely getting sick of doing the exact same things every day. The only thing I get to choose is whether I want to play softball or frisbee. It will be nice to get out and be able to eat real food and see real people. I have to keep working for these next 2 weeks though. Whenever I look forward I get too anxious and we all know I'm not the most patient person so I try to focus on what I'm doing at the moment. Saturday I took this language quiz deal and the teachers "grade" it and out of 7 I got like a 6.3 which means that I have learned and can use about everything they teach at the MTC. The next two weeks will be good for polishing everything that I have learned here and then Argentina will be a whole new learning experience. I was pretty excited about it and it gave me a confidence boost for sure. We have the opportunity to talk with natives learning english every week and I can have a legit conversation with them about things other than the Gospel and that is really cool. They wanted Elder Easley and I to do a contact in English so they could see how we do it and it was the hardest thing. Every contact I ever do is in Spanish and it was super dificult trying to do it in English. It's pretty hard to explain too. But everything is going great here. I have a goal to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of April and I only have like 100 pages left. That's a piece of cake! I started it about 4 weeks ago so I figured if I go at the same pace I can finish it. When I'm done I'm going to get into D&C and I'm really looking forward to that.

My testimony is strengthened every day out here and despite the hard times I have had it has definitely been a life changer.

A few of Matt's boys

Just the boys Elder Easley, Shepherd (Shepmet), Myself, and Elder Fish.

Matt's email 4/19/2010

So I leave the family for 1 month and you seem to make it to the Bahamas?? Who are we kidding here. I hope you are enjoying the sun and the beach and all that other stuff that goes on in the Bahamas. Utah is almost as cool as that but not quite. The MTC is going great though. I love sitting in a cooped up classroom and studying the gospel. Lately I have been able to go outside and study out there but my companion failed to bring short sleeved shirts so I have to wear long sleeves every day which blows but it's all good. I'm just sweating off some dead weight I guess. Luckily I haven't gained a pound here. I can't stand the food. I just eat peanut butter and jelly everyday and it gets the job done. This week was incredible though. We taught our first lesson in spanish and it went really well. I would get frustrated when I couldn't remember how to say something but I would usually find a way to talk around it. I'm glad I took 4 years of spanish in school or else I would be completely lost. They definitely don't teach the way they do in high school. I love it though. I'm learning so much in the Book of Mormon and I have grown to love it. I look forward to my personal study when I can just post up and read the Book for an hour. I probably should read some PMG but I just can't justify closing the cover.
This church is true. The Gospel has indeed been restored and Jesus is the Christ. The Atonement is real and I'm so happy I get to go teach the people in Mendoza about the church. I love being a missionary even though I have been in the MTC. It has been the greatest blessing in my life.

Marcus Update

Marcus was given the Melchizedek priesthood on Sunday, April 11, and he was also ordained an Elder by his father, Bryan.
From the Church's website:
The Melchizedek Priesthood “administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God … and live” (D&C 84:19–22).  
Now his mission papers have been submitted (pending the final doctor's note clearing his knee) and he is waiting for his call!

Matt's email 4/12/2010

This week at the MTC was just like last week. It gets really hard sitting in a cramped classroom all day but I'm learning more than I could ever imagine. I thought I knew a lot about the Book of Mormon until I got here and realized how much I don't know. It is definitely a humbling experience but I'm learning and growing spiritually and that's all that matters. This past sunday at 12 45 marked my half way point in the MTC. I can't say that it has "flown by" but it has gone a lot better than I ever expected it would. I had the opportunity to give my companion a blessing this week. He has been sick since day 4 and I walked in and he was in tears. He said he wanted to go to the doctor but then I offered to give him a blessing and he said he would love that. It was just Elder Easley, myself, and Elder Hancock and just like you dad I let the Lord work through me. Ever since then he has gradually been improving. He coughs 90% of the day now instead of 100 so it's an improvement. I wish I could tell you that anything interesting happens in here but it is impossible. 

Thanks for the prayers on my behalf. Every day I look out at the lake and wish so bad I could go out but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else and I love my mission. It's the best thing.

Matt's email 4/5/2010

Dear family,

I had another fantastic week at the MTC. I can't believe how fast the weeks go by here. It seems like I was just sitting in the laundry room emailing you guys. It is crazy.

I hope you all had the chance to watch conference. I have never been shaken so deep by a meeting in my life. Especially Julie B. Beck.... just kidding her talk was good if you are a female but dad I could just imagine your facial expressions at some of the things she said. They probably looked like mine. But unfortunately I had to leave the priesthood session during Elder Rasband's talk because Elder Easley had to take care of some business. It's alright though because I will be able to read it in about a month. I also heard a lot about it from other missionaries. We had to opportunity to watch the Joseph Smith movie afterwards and I don't know how a man went through so much for this Gospel, but it is a testimony to me that it is true. He wouldn't have endured what he did if it wasn't. I'm grateful for him and for what he did. I hope you all have a fantastic week. The mission is amazing and I appreciate your prayers and support.

Getting started

This blog will serve as a place for friends and family of Matt and Marc Burr to get updates about what is happening on their missions.  Please email me (Heather) at byutaylor (dot) comcast (dot) net if you would like to include any pictures or updates of your own about the boys!