Marc's email 9/26/2011

Well just hittin you up once again on this wonderful Pday. It sounds like you all had a lot of fun this last weekend. Mom has a permaheadache and dad is just chillin trying to get a bite to eat. I am happy to hear that all is well and that dad is still working. It is incredible to see the blessings that you both have recieved through your generosity and your conribution to the building of the Lords kingdom. A little about my area. Yes Mom is has cooled down a lot and I wake up in the morning with the cool air. It hasnt rained for like 2 weeks but it is usually pretty cloudy. Finally giving my nose a break from the dang UV rays that keep jacking me up. Also I cant remember what it feels like to have seasons, I just know hot now days. My area is doing good though. We have several people that we are teaching and we expect a few more baptisms this change. My comp is getting the hang of things. I sometimes have him running behind me cause he still isnt used to walking so much so I have to train him somehow right? I am not going to slow down so he can catch his breathe so he is learning quick. He really tests my patience though. Today I had to clean the whole house by myself while he slept. Yeah I tried to wake him up and yeah I ripped him apart but he just laughed it off. I just let him know that the next week he will be cleaning the house alone. We work good out in the streets but in the house I want to drop him at times but oh well I am sure I will be able to control myself. Yesterday was an interesting day. We had several people in the church but something interesting happened. So a family showed up looking for us. They came from a pueblo like an hour away and came to our church cause it is the one that is on the temple grounds so that came and asked us to do a blessing of a house. We start talking to them and they said that last week a boy committed suicide in the house and it hasnt felt the same. They said they had heard things and were seeing things so we agreed to go out there to bless the house. We showed up and started talking to the family. They were catholics and had a huge frame with the Virgin and candles and stuff. Anyway so I started saying the prayer and it was weird cause I started feeling weird things. That is when I let the spirit take over and if felt like I was on a tower like nephi in 3 nephi when he was praying and all the people were watching. I dont know how to explain it but after the prayer was done I felt so good and the family said their house felt completely different. I dont know what was there or what I felt but I felt the power of the Lord work through me and I loved it. Mayra and her boyfriend went to church. She is awesome and is praying and has received many answers and has felt the spirit. I am thinking that today we will put a baptismal date with her. Also Jeni is still doing good. Her family let her back in the house but her mom just abuses her now and yells at her and doesnt let her leave. She hides her book of mormom though in her coat and reads it every night. She is probably the strongest convert I have ever seen. Also this last weekend we had an activity in the stake center. I was miguel hidalgo and got to give the mexican grito. I just had to get everybody stoked to go to war so it was tight. I just started yelling spanish stuff and telling them all that their country needs them. Yeah never though I would get stuck with the main role of a mexican play but it was way tight. Well family I know this church is true. I know it is the only true church on the earth and the Lord is our leader. We must have the faith in Him to be able to move on. In ether we read that miracles always come after the faith. That is one thing I have learned here on the misison. Always after a trial of faith comes a miracle. I love my God and my mission. I love all of you.

Elder Burr

Matt's email 9/26/2011

Well this week sure did go by really fast. It was the last week of Elder Harvey and Elder Leal. I don't think they could have had a better week to go out. I started out the week going with Elder Harvey to an area in Valle de Uco. It is an area right up in the Andes mountains where it was just freezing cold. It was awesome though and we helped a few people get excited to get baptized last weekend. It was amazing to see how unexcited some elders are about baptizing. They have people that are so ready for baptizing but it is as if the elders just wait for them to tattoo baptism on their forehead or something. I really don't get it. But it was a great time to go out with the elders and work with them. We came back on Friday morning and then we started helping President with transfers. That took a lot longer than was expected, but last night after a late night at president's house, we finally finished up. So that was a relief. The coolest part of the week happened on saturday. We had the opportunity to go to the airport and pick up the parents of elder harvey. We made a sweet sign for them and everything. It was pretty much the best welcoming a parent could ever ask for. On saturday afternoon we were with them helping them get all checked in to the hotel and went out to eat with them. It was amazing to be with them and feel the love that they brought with them. It really was such an amazing experience but the best part was watching Elder Harvey's dad baptize one of our converts. It was honestly one of the best experiences on the mission. The only thing that Elder Harvey's dad can say in spanish now is the baptismal prayer. It was amazing. They also brought us all sorts of reeses and peanut butter and it was just great. Now that they are gone I am with Elder Menocal from nicaragua and Elder Roche. We are going to have a blast this next transfer. We will be washing an old area of the hermanas which will be a great experience. We are pretty stoked for it all. Other than that not much has happened. It makes me happy everytime I hear that all is well at home and that you are all happy. I couldn't ask for anything more. I love you all and hope you have an incredible week!
Elder Burr

Marc's email 9/19/2011

Well it sounds like you all had a great week last week. Mom and Dad I
am happy you made it home safe from the deadliest catch. How was it?
Are you going to buy us a yacht now or just keep it real with the
Cobalt? How are P diddy and Kay and Ryan? What is that kid doing with
his life? Mom you shouldnt be tripping all over the place. I feel bad
for you though and hope you are ok! Also mother you shouldnt be
complaining. You were just sittin it out the whole time. Also it
sounds like the house is a little lonely. James and John just spittin
game on the hot chicks. Takin after their cousins huh? Coop just
crackin jokes about his goods and Charlotte runnin the show. It sounds
like a good time back at thugs mansion. Also I was happy to receive
the letter from kade. I had been thinking about him alot lately and I
am happy he is doing good and tearing it up. It really is awesome to
see the change is us as young men. The Lord puts us through the
wringer for two years and we end up being exactly what He wants us to
be. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Anyway a little about this
week. We baptized gregorio this weekend which was awesome. My kid got
his first baptism his first week in the mission so I hope he is happy.
His name is Elder Hernandez and he is just another Dallin Stone. He is
pretty cool though and we get along well. I love being a trainer
though and I love being able to teach a new missionary how to work. I
know I am not the best missionary in the world but I know that I can
teach him what I know and hope he turns out good. We have several
people that we are teaching. One girl that we are teaching now is
named Mayra and she is awesome. She showed up at the church a few
weeks ago by herself looking for something better. We got to talking
with he and this last week she told her boyfriend she couldnt live
with him anymore. She has had a hard life. When she was younger she
was a drug addict and an emo. She has scars all on her arms from when
she used to cut herself and even has tattoos on her wrist with the
scissors and the dashed lines that say "cut here".. She has felt the
love of Christ though and is now in the process of changing her life.
Also Jeni got kicked out of her house this week because her mom is
crazy so we have been talking with her a lot. She wrote me a letter
thanking me for the things we taught her and telling me that she
wouldnt give up the gospel for anything in this world. She is a great
convert and I know she will be blessed for her trials. Pretty much the
Lord has worked miracles in my area. I have seen His hand in this work
and I know He is the Son of the living God. I know that this gospel
changes lives. It has changed my life and the lives of many people of
whom I serve and love. As long as we are willing to let the atonement
of the Lord work in our lives, He will make us into the people He
wants us to be. He knows we all make mistakes and He knows these
mistakes make us hurt. That is why He suffered and died for us.
Through His suffering and pain we are all saved. I love the Savior
with all of my heart and am grateful for His life and His love. I am
grateful for all of you and your support and love towards me. I am
grateful for my family and my parents. I love you all.
Elder Burr

Matt's email 9/19/2011

So here you have 5 of the latest pictures of Elder Burr. The first couple are of when we were up in Chimbas and the last couple are of the baptism of Viviana and Abril. It was a very good week that Elder Roche and I were able to have. We started it all out by going back up to Chimbas, San Juan to help out some Elders that were struggling with some of the investigators that they had. We spent a lot of time talking with dads, trying to get permission from them to baptize their kids, and some were easier than others. I had the good luck of talking to one of the dads while he was at work. He was working on pulling out nails of a wooden beam and he seemed surprised to see us. He came and we started talking to him. I told him the purpose of our visit was to get his permission to baptize his daughter. Apparently like 10 years ago some elders were working with him and his family and they assumed they had his permission without even asking him so he wasn't too excited to give it to us. He told us he was going to give his daughter his point of view of the church and then he was going to see if he would give permission. Let's just say that sometimes missionaries think they are doing something good, when really they are ruining the paths for the future. It is something really sad to see, but sometimes numbers staart to run their heads. We ended up the trip with 6 ready to get in the water, so it wasn't all a failure. we then came back to Mendoza for the baptism of Viviana and Abril and everything turned out to be perfect with them. I was so excited to see them take such an important step in their lives.
We just barely got back from running with Harvey Leal and Roche and let's just say I have never run further in my life. Hopefully my legs don't fall off tonight because at the moment, that is what they feel like. I love you all and thanks for all your support and emails. I love reading them, even though I am not very good at replying. Mom, I got a package with a sick t shirt in it. Let's just say I'm living the dream to the fullest out here!!!! I love you. Have a great week!

Elder Burr

Marc's email 9/5/2011

hello mom and dad and family its just me checkin in from another week
of hard work and dedication. This week was a way good week actually.
So a few weeks ago we ran into one of our contacts in the street and
she came up and started talking to us. She told us that she wanted us
to go back over to her house and teach her. Her name is Jeni and she
is 20 years old. She has been smoking since she was 13 and has always
wanted to stop but never found the way. We went to her house and
taught her the word of wisdom the first lesson and since then she
hasnt smoked. It has been two weeks now. We have been going with her
about three times a week and yesterday in the church we gave her a
baptismal date. She will be baptized this saturday. Last night she
sent us a text asking us to pray for her cause apparently her mom, who
is catholic, doesnt talk to her and says she isnt worthy of God. She
knows she is following the example of Christ and she knows she has
received many answers from Him so she is going to put her faith in the
Lord and get baptized despite all of the comments from her family. It
is incredible to see people change their lives and put their future in
the hands of the Lord. This young girl has recognized that she is a
daughter of God and she has helped me so much to strengthen my faith.
Also this sunday we had so many new people come into the church it
isnt even funny. The whole time we were running around with the
members and meeting their friends then people would want pictures with
us then more people would show up with the security guards and it was
just insane but way good. I have learned so much and seen so many
miracles and I know the Lord follows through with His promises. We
have the goal to contact 180 people every week which is a hard goal to
reach but I have gone 4 weeks now of reaching that goal and even
though we havent found our investigators contacting the Lord has seen
our work and I know he is preparing people here and rewarding us for
the work that we have done. So we have several people in teaching and
are actually starting to baptize here in Estancia so I am way happy. I
ask for your prayers on behalf of my area and district. It sounds like
you are all busy and just living the dream. Also dad finally bought a mountain
bike??? What in the world.. He always used to get mad at me for going
to the gym and doing exercise but now he is just hittin up the alpine
trail huh? Thats way tight dad congratulations! Ill come home in a
year and follow you in the truck like you did with us on the 50 mile
bike trip. Also cam and ashley. Congratulations on the new kid that is
cookin in the oven! That took me off guard but that is way tight. Man
you guys must get bored in st. George or something! Alright well
everybody I love you all and am grateful for your prayers and support.
Mom I have gotten one package since I have ben here and I dont
remember when you sent it. I think July. I know this church is true
and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know Christ is at the
head of this church and this truly is His kingdom here on the earth. I
am honored to be His representative here in my area. I know that
prayer is real and that we all have a personal relationship with our
Heavenly Father and I know He knows all of us. We are His children. I
love you all and hope you all have a great week.
Elder Burr

Matt's email 9/5/2011

Ohhh man it was atiring week. I can´t believe it´s already time to email again. The week seemed like it just upped and bounced on me without waving. Last monday we had some of the zone leaders come to the office pench to be a little closer for the training meeting we had on tuesday. I got to see Elder Huntington again which was great and I found out that one of the ladies that we were teaching together, Lily, was baptized last weekend! Even though I wasn´t there to see it, I was still really excited to hear the great news. On Tuesday we had the zone leaders all up for a consejo that pretty much lasted all day long. Elder Harvey, Leal and I talked a lot about goals in our lives and the importance that they have for us. We also showed a great movie from mormon ads about a P51 pilot and his experience in the airplane. He talked a lot about not getting vertigo and the importance of following the wing of your companion. He also talked about the rules and commandments in life are like your instruments inside the airplane. If you are true to them and trust them, you will always be able to stay oriented. It was a great teaching device and the missionaries got excited after seeing it. We also put, as a goal in the mission, 125 baptisms in the month of september. We are all really excited to reach it and the mission is being blessed so much right now. On wednesday we had a training capacitacion with all the zone leaders and the district leaders and Elder Harvey and I were able to talk about the doctrine of Christ. It was great to be with all of them, but it was also great to see them all leave and go to work. After them, we had a meeting with all the trainers and their companions. It was basically to see how they were doing and how their new companions are becoming accustomed to this place. President Avila worries about them a lot and wants to see all the missionaries succeed in their callings. We then had pretty much the whole weekend to work in our area, which was an awesome time to practice what we had taught. We committed two people to baptism for this saturday and 2 more for the saturday to come. God is blessing us so much in our area and it is such a great blessing. Today we woke up and Elder Harvey, Elder Roché, Elder Leal, Elder Ostler, Elder Boisados and I all ran a 5k race. It was great to get out and get tired ha ha. It felt awesome.
This week we have some new elders coming in so we will be doing all the preparatives for them which means for the next few days we will be pretty busy. I will send some pictures next week with some people dressed in white!! I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

Elder Burr