Marc's email 10/31/2011

It is nice to hear that you and dad and Mike and Sharon all made it
home safely from the Islands. It is also good to hear that you enjoyed
the trip and got to do things that you hadnt done before. Considering
the fact that you have gone 20 times one would think that you have
done it all but there is always something new to do right? So it is
Halloween today and here in Mexico you wouldnt even think it. These
people forget to decorate and be creative so it always looks and feels
the same all year long. Even Christmas day feels like any other day. I
guess with a giant beer (or 4) things would get rockin but as a member
of the church it is all the same haha. This week was a great week here
in Estancia. On Tuesday and Wednesday I had to go to a concilio where
I learned a ton of stuff. One question that was asked, I would like to
ask it to you mom and dad and family. Who is our Heavenly Father? How
much do we know about Him? This question has cause me a lot of
thinking lately. We know everything about our Savior but hardly know
anything about our Heavenly Father. We claim to have a personal
relationship with Him through prayer but do we really know Him? I have
prayed and studied alot and have come to the conclusion that God is
everything. He is love. He is patience. He is what comforts a pleading
missionary. He sent His Son to die for us so we could return to Him.
Everything we do centers on Him. His only purpose is to bring His
children back to His presence. He wants us to be happy and to learn
and to cherish the family bonds. He wants us to be successful and
reach every goal. He is our number one fan. Sadly enough we hardly
ever think about Him. We sometimes think about ourselves and our
knowledge, strength, skills, etc. I know that my Heavenly Father
lives! He is who loves me! I love Him because I love Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the Son of the only living God. He is the redeemer of
the World I love them both. The concilio was all around awesome.
Another interesting thing happened this week. So we were contacting
some people in the park and happened to come across some CAtholic
missionaries. We got into a discussion and ended up leaving after some
time. We left them with the invitation to pray and ask God which
church is true. They left me with the same invitation. I did what I
always invite others to do. I asked God, for the 1000 time, if the
Book of Mormon is a true book from Him. My answer came that night in a
dream I had. In this dream I was present in the printing of the first
copy of the Book of Mormon. I was in charge of folding the pages (yes
I know that they didnt fold the pages) and I was able to witness the
printing of this book. I also helped set the type press and spot the
errors. It was a random dream but I know that it was an answer from
God. I know that book is true and this church is the only true church
on this earth. I can not deny it. I am so grateful to be here in the
work of the Lord. I am grateful for everything you have taught me mom
and dad. I love you both. And you family thank you for everything as
well. Your prayers are being answered here in my area. I love you all.
Elder Burr

Marc's email 10/23/2011

Wow you guys just cant stay home can you? You have gone to hawaii three times, Boston, St. George, New Hampshire, California, Lake Powell and other places. That is ridiculous. Yes mom I believe I am getting your packages. This week I got the package with the pictures of Christ and I gave one to the family Bautista. They love it. The family Bautista is one of my favorite families of the mission. The hermano is my mission leader and we get along way good. I love that family. No I do not need an umbrella, those things are gay. I think the rain has stopped for the season. I dont know what it always shows clouds if every day it is sunny and hot... Perhaps the people up there dont dare to come down to the hood to check it out. This week has been tight with the Games and everything. We have been working hard and saturday night it all paid off. We were in a lesson with Victor and it was awesome. We were talking about our purpose in life and the Atonement and then it all led to baptism. As we were answering his questions, in walked the Bishop and answered the questions he had about the medical field cause our Bishop is doctor so it all comes down to it and he said he wanted to get baptized the next day. With some phone calls and some help from the Lord, he entered into the waters of baptisms yesterday after church. We had like 30 or 40 people at the baptims including many investigators. It was an awesome, miraculous experience. We have also found many people this week that we will be going with to see if they progress. My comp is still learning and every once in a while I have to get on him for doing stupid things. For example we were in a Family Night with a family and we were sharing our favorite scriptures. It was way spritual until my comp shared the scripture in first nephi where the angel asked Nephi what he desired. Then he skipped to the scritpure that says: A virgin, A virgin.... The kid is a retard. But he is working on his stupidity. I love my area and the members here. I have some of the youth asking me to be the one to give them the Melquisidek or however you spell it priesthood. All of the kids and their leaders are working with us. The Sisters here love us and I really have learned to love this area and ward. Changes were today so I will be here another 6 weeks. Anyway I hope you are all good. Shea I know they tought you the slipknot knot.. you should have hung yourself there at that stupid camp out thing. What a waste of life haha. Did you get your toten chip to be able to carve sticks? Heather thank you for the email. It sounds like you and your family are all good. I will write some letters for the boys one of these days when I have some time to breathe. Ashley, I got your pictures and letter from Eli. Thank you! Well everybody I am out. Gotta go but some frozen chicken and cereal. I love you all keep it real! Dont get burned...
Elder Burr

Matt's email 10/23/2011

Now mother if I am sending you these emails to your email address you have to be letting other people read them. I got an email from Heather saying that you are hogging all the spiritual insight so you have to be showing some love. I don't want the family thinking that I forgot about them cause we both know very well that that wouldn't ever happen. I love you though!!

This week was amazing. It wasn't full of amazing miracles like last week, but it was amazing none the less. On Tuesday I spent the entire day... sick. I woke up and was trying to do workouts, but as I was working on the fitness, the inner parts starting doing workouts on me. I Threw up for the first time on the mission and the nurse, the amazing Hermana Packer, wouldn't let me leave the offices. She made me stay in bed with the Secretary who was also sick and she made us rest.. all day. It was by far the most boring thing that I have ever done. Before the mission I loved sitting, but I think my mind has changed. It was seriously torture, but I quickly recovered and now I am feeling good. On Wednesday and Thursday Elder Menocal and I went and did divisions with Zone Leaders in Lujan and helped seal a few baptisms that they were expecting there. I had the chance to work with Elder Passantino, who has become a great friend on the mission, and the two of us together saw miracles. On Friday we had to go pick up a new elder that was coming in, which pretty much occupied the entire day getting everything ready for him and then on Saturday Maria Santos got baptized!! She was the happiest old lady after her baptism. She absolutely loved it and her service turned out to be a huge success. The ward is excited to finally have elders back. They are excited for the change.

This week is going to be a blur. We have President Aidukaitis from the 70 coming to visit the mission and light a little fire underneath us. The last time he came, last year, he really focused on having faith enough to baptize every weekend on the mission. He talked a lot about the invalidity of excuses and taught us some amazing things that really helped the mission and I am sure that this week is going to be the same. He is going to come with some amazing insight and Elder Menocal and I will be blessed to be able to participate in all the meetings throughout the mission. It is going to be an amazing week. Aside from that we are going strong for beating the record that we set last month in the mission of baptisms and I think this little visit is going to do us real well.

I love you all. I love the faith that you all have. I love that you are all "busy" and that the life is treating you well. The work is moving along in Mendoza Argentina. It is the greatest place on earth!
Love
Elder Burr


Oh and PS What does many grandchildren coming mean?? Olivia is my prophecy fulfilled??

Marc's email 10/17/2011

Mother before I forget yes I am recieving your packages and I have loved every single one of them. They have really pretty much saved my life so thank you so much you are the best!! Sounds like the week was pretty boring for you and dad. Didnt really do much huh? I swear that in the past year you guys have maybe been home 2 months... Just livin the dream or something. This past week rained so hard here it was terrible. A hurracane hit Vallarta so we got hammered by the rain and it was freezing. Seems to be that I was on divisions in the middle of no where one of the days and was just walking around in my white shirt about half way frozen. The next day I put on a jacket that Jeny gave me and was just rockin it. Needless to say I was soaking wet for two days straight but it was TIGHT! Just kept on keepin on. A little bit about the week. Nothing too cool happened. Just talked with all the people that have come in from all over the world. There are a lot of americans strolling around this joint looking as tourist as ever. It is pretty funny. This last week my area also had the annual beerfest where the people drink the beer from all over the world. There wasnt much preaching of the Gospel in that place. We have dropped Mayra cause she decided to go to work instead of church so we hardly go with her. It is sad to see but I hope she changes. Also Victor is still way good. We are going with him tomorrow cause he didnt get baptized this last weekend so we are hoping soon. We have worked alot this week and have talked to a lot of people. I am trying to stay animated and work hard and be obedient but it does cost a lot of work but I love the mission and the work of the Lord. I know I am learning and changing and becoming the man He wants me to be. I have gained a strong testimony of repentance and I know the Christ really died for my sins and He is always willing to forgive me as long as I go toHim with a broken heart and contrite spirit. I love you all and hope you are all enjoying life cause I definately am! Keep it real this week
Elder Burr

Matt's email 10/17/2011

So as the leaves are changing there, I am here enjoying the most beautiful spring that I have ever seen in my life. I can´t even describe how beautiful mendoza is in the springtime. Apparently some volcano errupted a few days ago in Chile and all the ash is in the air making it quite hazy all the time, but it is still amazing. This week was a fantastic one. We had the opportunity to go work with some elders from another zone on divisions and another huge miracle occured. We were working with a 28 year old woman named Silvana. She is a pre school teacher and also studying to become an official licensed teacher, but she has an amazing heart. We met with her in the house of the ward mission leader and the lesson was truly amazing. We started out by asking her what she believed Jesus Christ expected of her. She replied by telling us that Jesus expects that we work for him. That answer really caught my attention so I asked her how we ¨worked¨ for Jesus. She told us that it was by following His commandments. I absolutely loved that answer and it was an amazing entrance into baptism. After talking about the commandment of being baptized for a few minutes I asked her if she would be baptized the 22 of October. She was hesitant on the reply so we decided to pull out the weapons. We turned to Alma 7 and read verses 14 and 15 and as she was reading the scripture she was literally filled with light. It was truly something amazing. After reading she looked at us and said that she felt a burning in her chest... What an INCREDIBLE answer from God. She easily accepted the date and we left her with the commitment to pray. That night, instead of going to school, she decided to continue reading the Book of Mormon and to pray. She read 2 Nephi 31 and then began to pray. She told us the next day that in her prayer she asked God a lot about why she has so many weaknesses and why she passes through so many hard times. As she ended the prayer she picked up the Book of Mormon and turned right to Ether 12! It was unbelievable. She has seen so many miracles in her life and she has no way of denying these things. She knows that they are true and it was so amazing to be able to see her spiritual journey begin in just 2 short visits. I will probably never see her again in my life, but she was someone that has helped me change my life. I love the mission so much. I love seeing so many miracles and being a part of God´s miraculous work. What a blessing.
As for things in Godoy Cruz Centro. Maria Santos, the 71 year old mother of a family, is doing awesome. She has told us that God is calling her to be baptized and she is telling us that we have to write her when she goes back to Peru even though she can´t read. She is amazing. Her life will change so much with baptism.
I am so happy to hear that all is going well at home. I never knew that Chase Hansen was Shea´s cousin. Was he the one that broke his femur? Chris Maughan tells me that he is unreal. He and I talked a ton when I was over there doing divisions and he is just a ball of excitement. The mission is truly amazing. I love you all. Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Burr

Marc's email 10/3/2011

Well Hello my fellow family,

Just to start off answering some questions. For the play I had the main role of Miguel Hidalgo. He was apparently bald on top and had some hair on the sides. He was a catholic cura and gave some lets go to war speach. I made the wig from some ladies tights and a white scarf thing. Yeah that was akward walking into the store asking for womens tights but I was a must. I will send another picture from the Noche Mexicana. It was the 16 of Sept. and it is their independence day so we took some investigators to the party. I just went as a cholo with a sombrero and mustache. Mom you should be proud. As for conference.. I loved it. I loved the talk by Elder Holland in the conference session. He was absolutely right and I hope that impacted the hearts of all the young men. Also mom and dad you should be thinking about a mission. That would be way tight. Just leave the house to matt and I. Also the pool and the cars and boat and airplanes and stuff. Dont worry we will take care of it all. Also I was surprised to hear the they will be making the tabernacle center into a temple. That will be tight. I learned so much from conference and I too received another testimony that this is the church of Christ and he is the founder that started this church. We have all of the truth and we have a Prophet that is called of God. He holds the keys to the kingdom of God and he is entitled to power from on High. I also have that power to call down the angels from heaven and act in the name of my God. How grateful I am to have this opportunity. This week we have been teaching Mayra alot and she is doing well. On friday I thought about dropping her but she sent a message on saturday saying she is willing to leave behind her life of sin and put her life in the hands of God. It was an amazing experience and it made me realize once again that God is in this work and that Christ is working along side me. My comp is doing good. Sometimes I have to get on him for stupid stuff he does but he is learning and progressing. We should be having a few more baptisms in these next couple of weeks. Well I am about to go eat at the Sirloin buffet for the birthday of the grandson of Gladys Night. I love you all and am so grateful for your prayers and thoughts on my behalf. Dad work hard and ger er done. Mom dont get lost in all of your crap that you have. Family keep it real and stuff. I love you all.

Elder Burr

Matt's email 10/3/2011

I honestly don´t even know where to begin. I am exhausted from a weeks worth of work and definitely not a week´s worth of sleep, but I am loving it and am somehow finding the energy to get it all done. This past week was full of events. Monday I had the opportunity to go to the going away dinner at President Avila´s house with him, his family, and all the missionaries going home. Among the crowd was Elder Barra, Elder Leal, Elder Harvey and the hermanas that came to the mission when I did. I couldn´t believe it. I am so glad that I am not a sister missionary because the time has gone by way too quick. I am so grateful for the time that I have left on the mission. I am excited to keep changing and seeing miracles. I had the opportunity to listen to Elder Barra´s last testimony on the mission. Let´s just say it didn´t surprise me. I hope he figures it all out. It was amazing to hear Elder Harvey´s dad bear a powerful testimony of the church and hear him repeat the words to the baptismal prayer in spanish. It was something that I will probably never forget. It was hard saying goodbye to some of them, but life here in the mission still keeps going on. On tuesday was the day that I have been looking forward to for the last while which was the arrival of Elder Maughan. It was great being able so see him and talk about some of the good days, but what was even greater was seeing him with a tag on, ready to preach the gospel. Highschool relationships are so much different than mission relationships, and I think that difference really had an impact on me. After that there was a ton of stuff that happened but as of right now I am just more excited to talk about the experiences that I had at conference. First of all I have to say that I loved Elder Callister´s talk on the book of mormon. I remember the talk he gave a while ago about Joseph Smith, which has become one of my all time favorites here on the mission, so I was expecting something big from him, but he ended up blowing my mind spiritually. I felt the spirit so strong in his talk and I felt an undeniable voice reassuring to me that the book of mormon contains the words of God. I know that it was written for us in our day, in order to help us resolve the problems and tribulation that we face in this life. I also LOVED the talk by Sister Dalton. I seriously had desires in that moment to have a daughter some day in my life. It was the first time that I have ever let a talk from a female touch my life, and it changed my whole thought process. It was amazing. I could keep going on for hours about how much I loved conference. Every single talk made an impact on me, but I think one of the most spiritual moments I have ever had in my life was listening to President Monson close the conference and knowing without a doubt in my mind that he really is a Prophet of God and that he talks with Him face to face. He couldn´t have just ¨invented¨ the words that he spoke. He has to have been called from God. I love this church. I love everything about it. I can´t deny the divinity of it. I can´t deny the fact that it was restored by a young boy who had just a simple question. I can´t deny the fact that this mission has changed my life and that it has strenghtened the little testimony I had before the mission and has turned it into the most valuable thing that I possess. Thank you for blessing me so much in this life. I love you all so much.
Elder Burr