Mom! I was glad to get a little update from you today knowing that tomorrow we will be talking but I am glad to hear that all is going well.
I have to tell you that today I went out and bought myself a sweet Christmas present. A new pair of running shoes! Ha ha it's great huh! I bought them on my personal card, but I just had to let you get excited for me! They are some nike lunarglider 3's. Let's just say they were a lot cheaper than buying a trip to the moon and back! This week I have had a great case of plantar fasciitis and I have realized that it is because I have been running with the worst pair of shoes that I have ever owned. They are torn and broken and my foot hits the concrete on every step, but I hope these new ones help!
I will save the great stories of the week for tomorrow! I can't wait to talk to you. Last night we were with the Bishop... An amazing man. Tonight we are going carolling and then to President's house and tomorrow in the daytime we will be with President again but then we will be coming back to the offices to do some skypage!! I am super excited. At first I wanted to just call, but President has convinced me to skype so here we go.
I love the Christmas season. It is filled with so much joy. It is sad being in a culture where the idea of the birth of our Lord and Savior has been replaced with bottles of fernet, cheap wine and goat meat, but I'm so greatful for our tradiciones and for all that I carry in my heart. I love you mom. See you tomorrow!!
Elder Burr
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Marc's email 12/19/2011
So you are just home alone livin the dream huh? How does the story go?
Not a creature is stirring not even a mouse or something like that?? I
will be getting my packages this thursday I think so I am not sure if
I have gotten my Christmas package or not. On thursday we have the
mission party thing. I will be skyping there at 4 your time or around
there so be ready. My skype name account thing is elderburr1 so if you
can add me or do whatever you have to do to be able to talk at 4 on
sunday. It should be good. I am excited to see you all and see how
different you all are. Just a year and a half older is all. I am also
really happy that Bryson is still on track to serve a mission. I am
happy to see that that whole family has turned around and they are
making the best out of the situation. I always knew they would. I love
Kyle he is such a good friend. I also love Quade and know he will be
there the 25 to talk. That man is also awesome. This last week was
pretty tight. We baptized the little America and she is so happy. On
thursday we had the opportunity to direct and speak in a funeral of an
Hermana that died. That was definately a first time event haha. I
never even knew the lady but my comp and I each gave a talk and sang a
special hymn. We song Nearer my God to Thee. We had several people
tell us it sounded like an angel choir. I dont believe it but I do
know the Spirit was very strong. After giving the talks the Hno of the
lady that died asked us to dedicate the gravesite so we did that as
well. Needless to say it was a learning event and it was an experience
that the Lord gave me to be able to excercise His Priesthood. I was
very happy that day. This week was just another awesome week in the
mission field. I loved it. I wont tell you any more details so Sunday
we can talk about some things. I look forward to talking with you mom
and family. I hope it all works out well. Merry Christmas to all from
Mexico! I love you all!
Elder Burr
Not a creature is stirring not even a mouse or something like that?? I
will be getting my packages this thursday I think so I am not sure if
I have gotten my Christmas package or not. On thursday we have the
mission party thing. I will be skyping there at 4 your time or around
there so be ready. My skype name account thing is elderburr1 so if you
can add me or do whatever you have to do to be able to talk at 4 on
sunday. It should be good. I am excited to see you all and see how
different you all are. Just a year and a half older is all. I am also
really happy that Bryson is still on track to serve a mission. I am
happy to see that that whole family has turned around and they are
making the best out of the situation. I always knew they would. I love
Kyle he is such a good friend. I also love Quade and know he will be
there the 25 to talk. That man is also awesome. This last week was
pretty tight. We baptized the little America and she is so happy. On
thursday we had the opportunity to direct and speak in a funeral of an
Hermana that died. That was definately a first time event haha. I
never even knew the lady but my comp and I each gave a talk and sang a
special hymn. We song Nearer my God to Thee. We had several people
tell us it sounded like an angel choir. I dont believe it but I do
know the Spirit was very strong. After giving the talks the Hno of the
lady that died asked us to dedicate the gravesite so we did that as
well. Needless to say it was a learning event and it was an experience
that the Lord gave me to be able to excercise His Priesthood. I was
very happy that day. This week was just another awesome week in the
mission field. I loved it. I wont tell you any more details so Sunday
we can talk about some things. I look forward to talking with you mom
and family. I hope it all works out well. Merry Christmas to all from
Mexico! I love you all!
Elder Burr
Matt's email 12/17/2011
I have successfully received 2 packages this week that were UNOPENED when I got them! One of them had a nativity set in it that is now on my study table reminding me of the real reason we have Christmas and the other, which was full of amazing treats and beef jerkey and spitz and all that good stuff is also on the table waiting for Christmas. The gifts are still unopened so you have no need to worry! Thanks for the packages. They were perhaps 2 of the best that I have received while being on the mission and I am super grateful for them! So thank you very much!
This week was fantastic. Elder Menocal and I have been continuing travelling throughout the mission working with the Zone Leaders and it has proven to be super successful. We are happy to know that the vision that President Avila has for the mission is being put into practice and that the missionaries are seeing miracles by applying the simple principles that have been taught. This week we went up to San Juan to be with Elder Roché and Elder Baker which are two really good friends that I have here on the mission. Elder Baker was in the zone in san luis and Elder Roché was travelling for 2 transfers here in the offices so that made it really easy to go and do what we were called to do. I had the opportunity of working with Elder Roché. On Tuesday night we went to accompany a companionship of hermanas to an appointment that they had with one of their investigators. I had never worked with sister missionaries before, and honestly didn´t know what to expect, but I was amazed. These two sisters taught with a Spirit that was incredible. They changed the way that I think about sister missionaries. The lesson we had with this investigator went really well and he is getting baptized today! On Wednesday morning, Elder Roche and I worked in their area and saw another miracle. We were teaching a man who stopped them on the streets and said that he wanted to get baptized, but that had a huge doubt about the virgin. We were explaining to him about how we think about the virgin and how she was obviously chosen by God to be the earthly mother of Jesus Christ, but that she has no power or authority to be our intercessor between us and God and that the only true faith is faith in Jesus Christ, not in the Virgin. The man understood it well and then we asked him for a reference. He started explaining his neighbor to us and how she was this woman that was always with different men and didn´t know how to raise her own children and how she was just a mess, but we went and contacted her and the story was nothing short of a miracle. We knocked her door and I promise you that I have never seen a bigger smile in my entire life. She seemed so happy to see us and it felt as if we had known each other for years. She immediately made us pass in to her house and we started figuring out who this person was. As we were asking a few questions she asked us in the most simple wording I had ever heard what it was that we had brought to her house. We told her that we brought the most important message that she would ever hear in her life and then explained her the story of the Restoration. As we were sharing the story of Joseph Smith she stopped us and said, ¨chicos, I now know that God is not a God of coincidence. Just 20 minutes ago I was thinking about the church and why there are so many and I was wondering how I could become better. Then I heard a knock on my door and it was you.¨ I know that God is continually preparing His children and how blessed I felt at that moment to be worthy enough to listen to the Spirit and act and spiritual promptings. I wish I could be there to see how her progress continues, but the stories like these are ones that make the mission amazing. On Thursday I had the opportunity to work with another really good buddy who started out the mission when I was down in Alvear and we had a blast and were able to do one more baptismal interview and then yesterday morning Elder Menocal boarded the bus and headed on back to Mendoza to have interviews with President. The interview that I had with President was fantastic and we talked about what I am learning and what are some of the hard parts about being where I am at. I answered him honestly and told him one of the hardest parts is always being me. Sometimes we show up to a zone and in order to resolve some of the problems I am often tempted to be someone that I am not and every time I give in to those temptations, those situations never turn out the way I intended them to turn out. President helped me see that the Lord called me to be where I am because of who I am. He doesn´t expect me to be perfect and he does expect me to repent and change some of my old habits, but he doesn´t expect me to change ¨me.¨ I felt really good when he told me that and it made me excited to keep on keepin on. This has been the hardest, most rewarding time of my mission for sure and I am so happy to be serving the Lord in this amazing Christmas season.
Just to let you know we have permission to use Skype for the phone call home or if you would like we can just use the good ol telephone. I am good with either option so just let me know which you would all prefer. I need to know what time you will all be available if we are using skype so that I can get the account set up and do all that good stuff so an email back asap would be great.
I hope you all have a very good week with the last minute preparations and dinners and good stuff that you will be doing. I love you all!
This week was fantastic. Elder Menocal and I have been continuing travelling throughout the mission working with the Zone Leaders and it has proven to be super successful. We are happy to know that the vision that President Avila has for the mission is being put into practice and that the missionaries are seeing miracles by applying the simple principles that have been taught. This week we went up to San Juan to be with Elder Roché and Elder Baker which are two really good friends that I have here on the mission. Elder Baker was in the zone in san luis and Elder Roché was travelling for 2 transfers here in the offices so that made it really easy to go and do what we were called to do. I had the opportunity of working with Elder Roché. On Tuesday night we went to accompany a companionship of hermanas to an appointment that they had with one of their investigators. I had never worked with sister missionaries before, and honestly didn´t know what to expect, but I was amazed. These two sisters taught with a Spirit that was incredible. They changed the way that I think about sister missionaries. The lesson we had with this investigator went really well and he is getting baptized today! On Wednesday morning, Elder Roche and I worked in their area and saw another miracle. We were teaching a man who stopped them on the streets and said that he wanted to get baptized, but that had a huge doubt about the virgin. We were explaining to him about how we think about the virgin and how she was obviously chosen by God to be the earthly mother of Jesus Christ, but that she has no power or authority to be our intercessor between us and God and that the only true faith is faith in Jesus Christ, not in the Virgin. The man understood it well and then we asked him for a reference. He started explaining his neighbor to us and how she was this woman that was always with different men and didn´t know how to raise her own children and how she was just a mess, but we went and contacted her and the story was nothing short of a miracle. We knocked her door and I promise you that I have never seen a bigger smile in my entire life. She seemed so happy to see us and it felt as if we had known each other for years. She immediately made us pass in to her house and we started figuring out who this person was. As we were asking a few questions she asked us in the most simple wording I had ever heard what it was that we had brought to her house. We told her that we brought the most important message that she would ever hear in her life and then explained her the story of the Restoration. As we were sharing the story of Joseph Smith she stopped us and said, ¨chicos, I now know that God is not a God of coincidence. Just 20 minutes ago I was thinking about the church and why there are so many and I was wondering how I could become better. Then I heard a knock on my door and it was you.¨ I know that God is continually preparing His children and how blessed I felt at that moment to be worthy enough to listen to the Spirit and act and spiritual promptings. I wish I could be there to see how her progress continues, but the stories like these are ones that make the mission amazing. On Thursday I had the opportunity to work with another really good buddy who started out the mission when I was down in Alvear and we had a blast and were able to do one more baptismal interview and then yesterday morning Elder Menocal boarded the bus and headed on back to Mendoza to have interviews with President. The interview that I had with President was fantastic and we talked about what I am learning and what are some of the hard parts about being where I am at. I answered him honestly and told him one of the hardest parts is always being me. Sometimes we show up to a zone and in order to resolve some of the problems I am often tempted to be someone that I am not and every time I give in to those temptations, those situations never turn out the way I intended them to turn out. President helped me see that the Lord called me to be where I am because of who I am. He doesn´t expect me to be perfect and he does expect me to repent and change some of my old habits, but he doesn´t expect me to change ¨me.¨ I felt really good when he told me that and it made me excited to keep on keepin on. This has been the hardest, most rewarding time of my mission for sure and I am so happy to be serving the Lord in this amazing Christmas season.
Just to let you know we have permission to use Skype for the phone call home or if you would like we can just use the good ol telephone. I am good with either option so just let me know which you would all prefer. I need to know what time you will all be available if we are using skype so that I can get the account set up and do all that good stuff so an email back asap would be great.
I hope you all have a very good week with the last minute preparations and dinners and good stuff that you will be doing. I love you all!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Matt's email 12/10/2011
Alright I have realized that if I don´t answer the questions first in the email I never answer them so I am just letting you know right now that I have gotten one package that had the popcorn and a way sweet rvca shirt in it. I don´t know if the envelope had anything in it besides a letter and pictures because when I got it it was opened up with a razor knife and all I found was the letter and pictures. If there was anything else in it, I didn´t get it. I don´t know why but all the packages that I get have been opened up in the customs so I have no idea how much is actually getting through. The popcorn and the Ensign are amazing though. I have been studying all the talks lately and I have realized how much more I am learning now. I love being able to go back and read the words of the modern day prophets and meditate on the teachings that they have for us in our day.
This past week was full of many great things. We spent up until yesterday afternoon working over in Valle de Uco with the zone leaders and a few of the other missionaries over there. I felt like I took more than a few steps into Bolivia. Every person in the entire city was bolivian and like 15% of them only spoke quetchua, which is nothing like spanish. It was a little frustrating, but I was amazed at the amount that the other missionaries taught me as I was working with them. I feel so blessed to be able to serve the other missionaries here in the mission and the memories are always something that I will keep close to my heart.
Last night we had the yearly Christmas party in our ward in Godoy Cruz and it was amazing. There were so many inactive member that brought friends to the acitivty that it was just incredible. There were members that recently got baptized in Utah that came and another that got baptized in Buenos Aires that are all just bringing in the friends. It is a huge miracle and the biggest miracle of the night was that we found out that towards the end of January Cristian and Yemina are getting married!! They finally have been touched by the spirit and have gotten over their worldy desires and want to follow Jesus Christ!! I was so happy to hear that news that I almost fell down in shock. It was amazing. On the other hand, the dad of Andrea passed away this week which is an amazing opportunity to touch her heart and see the importance of baptism with her kids. The miracles are just flowing right now and I am loving it. I
I hope you all have a great week and that you enjoy this amazing Christmas Spirit. I love you all!
Elder Burr
This past week was full of many great things. We spent up until yesterday afternoon working over in Valle de Uco with the zone leaders and a few of the other missionaries over there. I felt like I took more than a few steps into Bolivia. Every person in the entire city was bolivian and like 15% of them only spoke quetchua, which is nothing like spanish. It was a little frustrating, but I was amazed at the amount that the other missionaries taught me as I was working with them. I feel so blessed to be able to serve the other missionaries here in the mission and the memories are always something that I will keep close to my heart.
Last night we had the yearly Christmas party in our ward in Godoy Cruz and it was amazing. There were so many inactive member that brought friends to the acitivty that it was just incredible. There were members that recently got baptized in Utah that came and another that got baptized in Buenos Aires that are all just bringing in the friends. It is a huge miracle and the biggest miracle of the night was that we found out that towards the end of January Cristian and Yemina are getting married!! They finally have been touched by the spirit and have gotten over their worldy desires and want to follow Jesus Christ!! I was so happy to hear that news that I almost fell down in shock. It was amazing. On the other hand, the dad of Andrea passed away this week which is an amazing opportunity to touch her heart and see the importance of baptism with her kids. The miracles are just flowing right now and I am loving it. I
I hope you all have a great week and that you enjoy this amazing Christmas Spirit. I love you all!
Elder Burr
Marc's email 12/5/2011
Hey mom so I dont have much time right now but I will let you in on
the news. I got transfered to Xaliso Nayarit and I am companions with
Elder Boylan. He has 3 months in the mission but he seems like a good
hard worker. The area is different than being in the city. It is right
on the benches of a little mountain hill kinda thing so it is way
pretty. I still dont know much about it but I am also district leader
here so that is good. I am happy you are having fun in Germany and
seeing new things. I love you mom thanks for everything. Also jeny,
the girl that i baptized wrote me a note that said that she would love
to meet you and tell you that you have raised a noble son and that
your son brought her the gospel of Christ. it would mean more if you
understood spanish but that is what she said. It meant alot to me when
I read it.. Well I will tell you more next week
Elder Burr
the news. I got transfered to Xaliso Nayarit and I am companions with
Elder Boylan. He has 3 months in the mission but he seems like a good
hard worker. The area is different than being in the city. It is right
on the benches of a little mountain hill kinda thing so it is way
pretty. I still dont know much about it but I am also district leader
here so that is good. I am happy you are having fun in Germany and
seeing new things. I love you mom thanks for everything. Also jeny,
the girl that i baptized wrote me a note that said that she would love
to meet you and tell you that you have raised a noble son and that
your son brought her the gospel of Christ. it would mean more if you
understood spanish but that is what she said. It meant alot to me when
I read it.. Well I will tell you more next week
Elder Burr
Matt's email 12/3/2011
Sorry I didn´t have any time to write you last week but now I am a
>>> little bit more relaxed with some more time to write and say what
>>> ´s up. The past week was pretty hectic, but it turned out to be
>>> pretty good. We had a lot of missionaries coming in for different
>>> meetings which is always a pain because that means that we have to
>>> be in planning with President and figuring out what we are going
>>> to teach, but I have to say that it has helped me become a better
>>> teacher, which will hopefully be a benefit in the future. I am
>>> sure it will be. I have to be honest, working this close with
>>> president brings with it a lot of stress. We are always having
>>> phone calls and people asking us a bunch of different things, but
>>> I am so grateful for the opportunity to kneel and pray whenever I
>>> feel like I need it. It has been such a help to me to be able to
>>> get on my knees and talk with my Heavenly Father. It is what I
>>> most look forward to at nights and every morning I wake up
>>> thinking about it. It is something that without the mission I
>>> never would have been able to pick up as a habit.
>>> So a while ago I got the form that I have to fill out to get my
>>> flights home and all that good stuff. I have been putting it off
>>> because I don´t want to think about it too much, but the time has
>>> now come to ask a few questions...
>>> First and foremost, Do you and mom have any desires to come out
>>> and see what Argentina has to offer?? I know it will be a
>>> sacrifice on your part, but if you and mom want to, I think it
>>> would be awesome. If not it would also be cool if you were waiting
>>> in Atlanta or something like that so that I could fly home with
>>> you in the Mooney. That would be quite the homecoming huh?? And if
>>> you don´t want to do either of those, I can just make the journey
>>> alone and see you all at SLC. So those are the options that we
>>> have now to deal with. I trust that the decision that you make
>>> will be the best so just let me know as soon as you can. I am
>>> perfectly fine with any of the three.
>>> I want you to know that I´m finding joy in the service. It isn´t
>>> all color of roses out here, but it is definitely a battlefield
>>> for learning. I know that everyday when I wake up I am
>>> strengthened by the Lord and I know he watches over me as I sleep.
>>> I love knowing that I am a child of God and that He loves me as
>>> you do. You are the greatest!!
>>> Elder Burr
>>> little bit more relaxed with some more time to write and say what
>>> ´s up. The past week was pretty hectic, but it turned out to be
>>> pretty good. We had a lot of missionaries coming in for different
>>> meetings which is always a pain because that means that we have to
>>> be in planning with President and figuring out what we are going
>>> to teach, but I have to say that it has helped me become a better
>>> teacher, which will hopefully be a benefit in the future. I am
>>> sure it will be. I have to be honest, working this close with
>>> president brings with it a lot of stress. We are always having
>>> phone calls and people asking us a bunch of different things, but
>>> I am so grateful for the opportunity to kneel and pray whenever I
>>> feel like I need it. It has been such a help to me to be able to
>>> get on my knees and talk with my Heavenly Father. It is what I
>>> most look forward to at nights and every morning I wake up
>>> thinking about it. It is something that without the mission I
>>> never would have been able to pick up as a habit.
>>> So a while ago I got the form that I have to fill out to get my
>>> flights home and all that good stuff. I have been putting it off
>>> because I don´t want to think about it too much, but the time has
>>> now come to ask a few questions...
>>> First and foremost, Do you and mom have any desires to come out
>>> and see what Argentina has to offer?? I know it will be a
>>> sacrifice on your part, but if you and mom want to, I think it
>>> would be awesome. If not it would also be cool if you were waiting
>>> in Atlanta or something like that so that I could fly home with
>>> you in the Mooney. That would be quite the homecoming huh?? And if
>>> you don´t want to do either of those, I can just make the journey
>>> alone and see you all at SLC. So those are the options that we
>>> have now to deal with. I trust that the decision that you make
>>> will be the best so just let me know as soon as you can. I am
>>> perfectly fine with any of the three.
>>> I want you to know that I´m finding joy in the service. It isn´t
>>> all color of roses out here, but it is definitely a battlefield
>>> for learning. I know that everyday when I wake up I am
>>> strengthened by the Lord and I know he watches over me as I sleep.
>>> I love knowing that I am a child of God and that He loves me as
>>> you do. You are the greatest!!
>>> Elder Burr
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