Marc's email 5/23/2011

Just checkin in from Villa Hidalgo, Nayarit. This week was another great week out here in Villa Hollywood. We started out with a zone conference on wednesday where the President and the Hermana spoke to us about why we are here. I cant remember one compliment that they gave us it was all just full of ways we need to improve. I think they have forgotten how to give a positive compliment but its all good. The conference was awesome though cause we listened to a talk from Elder Holland that he gave in the MTC. It made me realize that I am here to serve the Lord not to serve myself of the President. I am here because He has trusted in me and left me here in Villa Hidalgo. He has trusted that I would bring him his "sheep" and that is why I am here. I know that at times it is hard but I know the Lord is always walking at my side. I have had countless experiences where I have felt his love and His presence and I cant deny the fact that He lives. He loves me and He is aware of me. Also that means that He loves all of you and is aware of all of you. He is always watching you and our Heavenly Father is always protecting us. I would give anything to go to the temple right now just to sit in that holy place and think about the love the Savior has for each one of us. It is kind of hard being out here with all of the stress and heat and hunger to just sit and ponder but in a few short months I will have my time. I am here to forget about myself and take on the image of my Savior Jesus Christ. He gave 33 years of His life for me and I am so grateful that He has let me give Him 2 years. It sounds like you cant stay home for longer that a month.. Are you starting to hate Utah or what? Tell Cam and Coop and Lucy and Shea and Ben and Adam and all of the hooligans happy birthday and congrats on the pinewood derby. I definately think that shea has the pinewood derby skills cause nobody in the Burr family knows the secrets to that stupid race. The only prize I ever won was the "Thanks for trying out but honestly your suck" prize. Its alright I have the memories of dad and I spending some time together with him always getting mad and impatient. What a great man our dad is. But mom I know that all of the good attributes that I have have come from you. You have been the best mom in the world and I couldnt ask for a better one. Thank you for everything you have ever done for me. Well family I have to bounce, someone from the branch forgot to breath and died so we have to go help them. I am so grateful for all of you and love you all. Next week Ill hit you up with some photos.
Love Elder Burr

Matt's email 5/23/2011

So here I is, just posted up here in saint lizzy, living the dream. This week was just fantastic. To be completely honest, it might have been one of the greatest in the mission. On Wednesday, the travelling assistants came up to work with Elder Hopkin and I, and the elder that I went with and I found some awesome people that were way excited to hear about the Gospel. We then had a killer ward talent show on Friday night that was just filled with miracles. First of all, it was supposed to start at 8, but let´s be honest... When was the last time that a church activity started on time. But at like 8 05 there were 9 investigators there. Yeah they all got there before the members did. It was no big deal though. When it started one of the members came up to us and told us that there were two more girls there that weren´t members. We went up and started talking to them and realized that they are way sweet. One of them came to mutual saturday morning and absolutely loved it and now wants to get baptized. She also speaks english perfectly, so we might just see if we can teach the lessons in english... there is a first for everything right? Then on Saturday we had the baptism of zulema which was just great. She is a lady that we have been teaching for about a month and has one of the strongest testimonies I have ever heard. She is now helping us out a ton with the missionary work and is hooking us up left and right with references. She is just legit. I have posted a picture of her on the email.
Last night we found out that Elder Hopkin is bouncing out and Elder Huntington is coming in hot. He is from orangeville utah and is an absolute stud. I was with him in Chimbas and we grew to be best friends there so now we are both stoked to be together as companions and we are even more stoked to some some miracles. This will be his first transfer as zone leader so it should be a good one. I am just way excited to keep killin it here and working my hardest for the Lord.
I am also way stoked about the fact that chocolatada season is coming. I know that nobody understands that, but it is now time for Argentine hot chocolate and fresh bread. Oh it is just the greatest invention in the world and EVERYBODY offers it to us. Oh it is just going to be great. That´s about all I got for the newsletter of the week. Mom, I got the package, but it is in Mendoza and i will be picking it up hopefully in a few weeks when we make our way back down there.
I love you guys so much and am so grateful for your sacrifice on my part. I hope you all have a splendid week.
Elder Burr

Marc's email 5/16/2011

Things here in Mexico are pretty good. We had changes this week and they decided to leave me here in Villa Hidalgo with Elder Diaz. The changes here are a joke and I am convinced that they people that are in charge of the changes have no clue what they are doing. It is always just a "conundrun" or whoever dad says that word and we are always just running from one end of the world to the other. At times I ask myself why they have retards in the offices but I have never gotten an answer. Maybe Adam has an answer considering the fact that he had almost a year in the offices. Whatever though all of that is over with and now we have five weeks left to work for the Lord here in Villa. This change will be hard just because I already know almost every person here and now I am going around a second time but I know the Lord has His plan and I just need to be consistent. Every day I need to realize that I am here in this met little town for a purpose and that purpose may never be known to me but the Lord is aware of me and He has me under His wing. Sounds like somebody needs to be there at the house to keep you guys up late. I always knew that was my purpose back home, the Lord wanted me to keep you up late so that you wouldnt turn old so fast. Now see what happened? I leave and you turn into old grandparents who go to sleep before the sun goes down. Somebody has to help you with that. Mom you are just dragging dad around to these plays huh? Remember that one time you drug all 5 of us to the Blow Queen in DC? That was the biggest waste of money in the world. Also I am pretty sure that the pool will get used this summer. The grandkids will always be over there and I am sure you and dad might take a dip every once in a while. Maybe after he is done mowing the lawn or something. You could even take the snorkels out there and look at the sting rays and stuff and pretend like you are in Hawaii. Just throwing out ideas. Last night we went with an investigator that we have and we helped her little daughter with her math homework. We worked with her for like an hour before my head was pounding and I had to sit it out. Also this week the Lord has decided to turn the oven on. It is ridiculous how hot it gets here and how hot my room in every single night. My comp and I bought hammocks so we will be sleeping outside from now on. We decided that mosquito bites are 6 times better that sleeping in the heat. We will see how that goes. Also today I got your package that you sent me and it was the tightest thing ever. I might actually live now that I have some more real food. The helicopter was also sweet. I have always known that dad has my back. Sending me sick toys so I dont get bored here. There really isnt any time to get bored here considering the fact that we work all day. I have accepted the fact that even if it is dang hot I refuse to go back to the house. I am here to serve the Lord and bring His message to all those who want to here it. I am not here to go to the house when it is hot or to disobey the rules. I know who I work for and I know He knows me. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that Christ lives. They know us by name and They love us. I love Them and I hope to be the missionary that They want me to be. I love all of you and always keep you in my prayers. Thank you for everything mom and dad and family. I hope you all have a good week. I love you all.
your boy,
Elder Burr

Matt's email 5/16/2011

So another week has packed up it´s bags and headed out. It seems like that is how I always start out my emails, but that is honestly how I feel. I am in the same cyber as one of the hermanas that came with me who is going home in like 2 transfers... I just can´t believe it. Thank heavens I am not a sister missionary because the mission would just go by way too fast. I think God gives the elders 6 months more because He knows that we need them. This past week was another week. It was full of disappointment, but that´s the life sometimes. The little girl that was going to get baptized just got the cold feet and refused to get into the font. It was one of those moments where two 20 year old boys try being really nice and patient with an eight year old girl, but we just had no idea what to do. You know like when Lucy really wants to go with Nordstrom with grandma... Really there isn´t a force in the world that can stop them. Yeah it was pretty much the same thing. Bottom line is that if I have a daughter... I will just have to have a whole lot of patience. Other than that I honestly cant remember much else. I don´t know why, but my memory is just failing me or something. I am sure that once I close the internet I will have a whole flood of memories, but right now nothing is coming to mind. I know it was Adam´s and Ben´s birthday and Cam and Coop and Lucy and Shea are having theirs soon. That is just crazy. You are all just getting to be way too old. They sell some great wooden canes here if you need them. Just hit me up with a quick email and I will send some your way.
I was so happy to hear that all is going well at home. That is exciting that you are opening the pool this week. It seems like you were just closing it, but I gues that is how the time flies. Mom I congratulate you one your decision to fly with dad. That will be the greatest experience of your life. I would relate you to a hard core catholic woman... They are just so stuck in their foolish traditions, that when something new comes their way, they immediately reject it. It is the same thing with flying with dad. You have been catholic for so long and the missionaries have been knocking on your door for so much time and it seems like you have finally been touched by that special something. You now have a date and all you need to do is pray about it and have faith and with out doubt you will make it to that special day. Ha ha that was a great comparison huh? But that´s just how it is.
I love you all and am so happy to know that all is well. Thanks for all the support and the advice and all the great emails. It makes me so happy when I see that i have emails from you. Keep on keepin on. Do work. I love you all
Elder Burr

Marc's email 5/02/2011

Well another week more and another week less. This last week has been awesome. On Saturday we baptized Brayan. It was an awesome experience but it was also pretty sad. He had been inviting all of his friends and his mom and everything and he showed up for his baptism and told us that none of them were going to come. So we had a congregation of like 7 people and I could tell he was sad but he is happy now and he is always talking to us about how he is going to serve a mission. He has pretty much memorized the pamphlets of the lessons that we teach and he is teaching and talking to all of his friends and his family. He will be an awesome member of the church. Other than that though this week has been full of appointments and finding people. We have found a few people that we will teach again this week and see if they progress or not and we have a few people that will be baptized within the next few weeks. I have come to find that everyday my testimony gets strengthened whether we are baptizing or contacting in the street. That is the amazing thing about the mission, everyday I am learning and everyday I am growing. My testimony of Joseph Smith and of this church gets challenged every single day and that just gives me more opportunities to strengthen myself. Today was sweet as well. Since it is the last week of the change we all got together as a zone and we played some basketball. It was fun for about 10 minutes but then with the heat it got to be a bit much. After that we went to the house of the zone leaders and had a BBQ. That was something for the records. Since nobody here has a grill, we found pieces of rock in the street and made a little grill. Then we had to start the fire which was a joke. It took 5 people and 30 minutes to get the coal hot enough to cook the food. Then after that we had hamburgers which I am almost positive were made from pigeon meat. But all in all it was a great experience and the people in my zone are awesome. My district leader is the grandson of Gladys Knight. He is hilarious so whenever we all get together it is a good time. It is almost like a football camp or a scout camp.
Well I am glad to hear that things back at the house are good. I am also glad to hear that Osama is dead. It sounds like dad is busy and the family is doing good. Mom I emailed dad and you guys are going to call me at 530 my time which I think is also 530 your time. I am excited to hear from you mom and dad and the family. Also I think quade might go over there that day as well. Mom thank you so much for everything that you have done for me and being the best mom in the world. I have felt your love and prayers everyday out here and know that I love you. I am so grateful for the chance that I have to live with this family for eternity. I hope you all have a great week and I will talk to you all soon. I love you all.
Elder Burr

Matt's email 5/02/2011

I just can´t believe that it is Mother´s day this sunday... Wasn´t it just barely Christmas? Where has the time gone? I have included the number of our sick cell phone in an email to dad, and I will be expecting the phone call around 7 here. I believe that is 4 there. I hope I can get all my thoughts straight in my head so that I don´t forget to tell you anything, but this week will be really busy so we will see. Today we had Zone Conference with President and it was super spiritual. Tomorrow we will be spending the p day here in Mendoza because on wednesday we have leadership training. Then we have thursday and Friday to get one of our families ready for their baptism on Saturday, then we will be at sunday again. I just can´t believe how fast it is all going by. I hardly have time to breathe out here. Speaking about breathing, this past week was SO cold, I just about died. It started raining on thursday morning and didn´t stop until sunday afternoon. The greatest thing about san luis is that they don´t have gutters, so the streets were just flooded. It was all good, but my shoes, after a year of walking a ton everyday, are getting a little worn out and aren´t quite as water resistent so the water just found it´s way inside. It´s ok though because I promised myself that I was going to return home with the same shoes that I left with. I feel like I can´t tell you everything that has been going on, because that would just ruin the phone call so I will wait until next sunday. I want you to know that everything is going great. Elder Hopkin and I are doing awesome. I love my companion. He is just one of the greatest guys I have gotten to know on the mission. I am learning so much and can´t wait to see where all this training will take me. I love this gospel with all my heart. I know without a single doubt that it is the only true gospel on the planet and that the church IS the church of Jesus Christ, the same man that gave His life on the cross for us is the head of it. I can´t wait to talk to all those who can on sunday. About the skype... no we don´t have access... sorry. I love you all and wish you the best!!
Elder Burr