Monday, March 19, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Marc's email 3/12/2012
Well it sounds like you have all had a good week there in utah. I swear the grandkids are always there with you guys but that is good. I am sure it has made it so you two have not gone crazy, although dad peddling out 50 miles on his bike is way tight. I honestly can not believe that Matt has already finished his mission. That absolutely blows me away but I am positive he served until the end. He is a stud. That just means I have to work overtime to keep those blessings coming. It is alright I am more than willing to keep working in the Lord`s Vineyard. You have to hook me up with some pics from Argentina so I can see how my homeboy is looking. Well as for me here in Santiago this last week was probably one of the best weeks I have ever had here in the mission. We have found several people who are progressing towards baptism. We found a family this week that is incredible. Their names are Gladys and Ivan. Ivan had been drinking for 16 years almost every day. He is 30 years old. Gladys had been waiting for years for her husband to stop drinking. We met here and she was very sad and depressed. She had lost all hope of him ever changing. She told us she didnt know what to do. We started visiting them and in one day the hermano stopped drinking. He has gone this whole week without alcohol and they have gone to a baptismal service. They all showed up sunday at church and I have honestly never seen a smile bigger then the one that Gladys had in church. We have seen miracles here in Santiago. Also 5 new converts were able to go to the temple this last week to do baptisms for the dead. We were able to put more baptismal dates with Dairet and Brenda, two young women who are earnestly seeking for the truth. We have 5 baptismal dates for the 24 of march and I hope none of them fall. We are also going to to everything we can to get 2 baptisms this weekend. All I can say is the when one really tries to do the will of God, and is obedient, there is nothing that can stop this work from progressing. They Lord has blessed me with so many blessings and I can honestly say that this week Elder Mangum and I have been His tools. We have done His will and He has been our guide. I love Him. There are things we have said and things we have done that few people have probably seen. People leave there house to tell us they want to get baptized, families that have been saved, etc. it is all incredible. Well I hope you are all doing well. Although it may be hot here, Zion prospers. EVerything is going well in Zion.
Elder Burr
Elder Burr
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Matt's email 3/10/2012 #2
You have just converted yourself into a mountain biking fool huh?
> That's great though that you are out having a good time and checking
> out all the sweet digs in St. George. I'm going to be honest, 23
> miles sounds like a whole lot of bike riding, but I'm sure you just
> have a blast.
> This past week has been excellent. It is impossible for me to
> imagine that it is all coming to a very rapid close. The simple fact
> of not being able to accept it has helped me keep the foot on the
> old accelerator pedal. I seriously feel that I have grown this past
> week more than I have in any other week of my mission. I have had my
> mind open up to many new realizations and I have come to really
> comprehend the idea that yeah maybe my two years as a full time
> missionary may be coming to a close, but the mission experience has
> no end. I will never stop being a missionary.
> I have also realized the importance of continual spiritual growth. I
> have been able to think about many different situations that I have
> been placed into here on the mission and I have been able to
> evaluate how I reacted in each one. I wish that I could take the
> knowledge and the experience that I have right now back to those
> situations and hit the redo button. The 100% that I was giving a
> year ago would only be like a 25% of what I am giving now. It's
> amazing what happens when one grows.
> This weekend is going to be awesome. We are leaving in about an hour
> to go with President and Hermana Avila. This afternoon we will be
> working with the zone leaders, doing exchanges with them. I'm
> excited to get out and away from these offices and get my hooves
> dirty. Then tomorrow we have the stake conference where I will
> hopefully see many old friends. I will be setting up some times with
> them when I can bring you and Mom around so you can meet them and
> trust me, we will be eating quite a bit of food so you may want to
> begin fasting now. I hope you don't plan on keeping the rules of the
> diet here because that won't be possible! When we get back tomorrow
> I will be finishing up with the last minute preparations before I
> have my exit interview with President then I will have the
> interview, in the which I am sure that my mind will be blown, then
> it's off to stuff up the old Ogios. Monday I will finish packing up
> the stuff, I will probably go to centro with Elder Menocal so he can
> buy some souvenirs, then we have the farewell dinner, then it's off
> to the cama. Then comes Tuesday.... What a great day it is going to
> be! Giving the old man a big bear hug and then seeing mom... It is
> too good to be true. Right now it is hard for me to completely
> comprehend it, but the day will come. I hope you have a great travel
> and that you get here well rested because we are going to have a
> blast!
> I love you dad. You're the greatest!
> Elder Burr
> That's great though that you are out having a good time and checking
> out all the sweet digs in St. George. I'm going to be honest, 23
> miles sounds like a whole lot of bike riding, but I'm sure you just
> have a blast.
> This past week has been excellent. It is impossible for me to
> imagine that it is all coming to a very rapid close. The simple fact
> of not being able to accept it has helped me keep the foot on the
> old accelerator pedal. I seriously feel that I have grown this past
> week more than I have in any other week of my mission. I have had my
> mind open up to many new realizations and I have come to really
> comprehend the idea that yeah maybe my two years as a full time
> missionary may be coming to a close, but the mission experience has
> no end. I will never stop being a missionary.
> I have also realized the importance of continual spiritual growth. I
> have been able to think about many different situations that I have
> been placed into here on the mission and I have been able to
> evaluate how I reacted in each one. I wish that I could take the
> knowledge and the experience that I have right now back to those
> situations and hit the redo button. The 100% that I was giving a
> year ago would only be like a 25% of what I am giving now. It's
> amazing what happens when one grows.
> This weekend is going to be awesome. We are leaving in about an hour
> to go with President and Hermana Avila. This afternoon we will be
> working with the zone leaders, doing exchanges with them. I'm
> excited to get out and away from these offices and get my hooves
> dirty. Then tomorrow we have the stake conference where I will
> hopefully see many old friends. I will be setting up some times with
> them when I can bring you and Mom around so you can meet them and
> trust me, we will be eating quite a bit of food so you may want to
> begin fasting now. I hope you don't plan on keeping the rules of the
> diet here because that won't be possible! When we get back tomorrow
> I will be finishing up with the last minute preparations before I
> have my exit interview with President then I will have the
> interview, in the which I am sure that my mind will be blown, then
> it's off to stuff up the old Ogios. Monday I will finish packing up
> the stuff, I will probably go to centro with Elder Menocal so he can
> buy some souvenirs, then we have the farewell dinner, then it's off
> to the cama. Then comes Tuesday.... What a great day it is going to
> be! Giving the old man a big bear hug and then seeing mom... It is
> too good to be true. Right now it is hard for me to completely
> comprehend it, but the day will come. I hope you have a great travel
> and that you get here well rested because we are going to have a
> blast!
> I love you dad. You're the greatest!
> Elder Burr
Matt's email 3/10/2012 #1
Well Mom, I know you are sleeping right now seeing how it is like 5 in the morning, but I just wanted to write you a quick email and let you know I love you! I can't believe how close the time is that I am going to be able to see and hug you again! It is going to be great! I still remember so vividly that day when I began this amazing journey and now here I am a 21 year old grown up! What happened there?! This mission has changed my life. I am so excited to share some of it with you and Dad. It is going to be such a blessing for me! I hope that you have a great travel and that you take yourself some Ambien because it's a long one!
Right now I am off to San Juan with the Avilas to go to some work with the zone leaders and visit their stake conference tomorrow. I am way excited for the travel and for the work that I am going to be able to do! I love being a missionary and I'm so happy that it doesn't all end when I step off that plane!
Love your son
Elder Burr
Right now I am off to San Juan with the Avilas to go to some work with the zone leaders and visit their stake conference tomorrow. I am way excited for the travel and for the work that I am going to be able to do! I love being a missionary and I'm so happy that it doesn't all end when I step off that plane!
Love your son
Elder Burr
Marc's email 3/5/2012
Just to let you know about the pictures.... Its because the computers
sometimes dont read my memory card or my cord doesnt work or I dont
have time. That is what Mexico does to me sometimes... just jacks me
up. Any way that is good to hear about the mission president. I have
grown to love that one I have now. I credit much of that testimony
that I have to him. He has really taught me alot about my God and
Jesus Christ. I also did email matt but he just never tells me much. I
figure we have the eternal life to talk about the experiences we have
had here in the mission. Besides he will be home next week. Sucks for
him I will be out here baptizing the world and bringing sexy back. I
got changed to Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit with Elder Mangum from
Sandy. He is a really good missionary and we are the zone leaders.
Villa Hidalgo is in my zone so I will hopefully do some divisions and
see some of my converts there. I am really happy to be here. It is
going to be really hot though and I am not looking forward to that.
Him and I really need your prayers to get some baptisms in this place.
We have placed the goal at 10 in the change so that is what you can do
to help me. Well it seems like matt will be with you guys in a week
and I really am just befuddled. Thats good though I am proud of my
brothers and the work they have done here in the mission field. I know
we have all been blessed beyond our imagination and I am grateful for
the chance I have to be a missionary. Anyway I love you all and am
grateful for your support and your prayers. Dont forget about me when
matt gets home, you still have a son and brother in MEXICO!
Elder Burr
sometimes dont read my memory card or my cord doesnt work or I dont
have time. That is what Mexico does to me sometimes... just jacks me
up. Any way that is good to hear about the mission president. I have
grown to love that one I have now. I credit much of that testimony
that I have to him. He has really taught me alot about my God and
Jesus Christ. I also did email matt but he just never tells me much. I
figure we have the eternal life to talk about the experiences we have
had here in the mission. Besides he will be home next week. Sucks for
him I will be out here baptizing the world and bringing sexy back. I
got changed to Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit with Elder Mangum from
Sandy. He is a really good missionary and we are the zone leaders.
Villa Hidalgo is in my zone so I will hopefully do some divisions and
see some of my converts there. I am really happy to be here. It is
going to be really hot though and I am not looking forward to that.
Him and I really need your prayers to get some baptisms in this place.
We have placed the goal at 10 in the change so that is what you can do
to help me. Well it seems like matt will be with you guys in a week
and I really am just befuddled. Thats good though I am proud of my
brothers and the work they have done here in the mission field. I know
we have all been blessed beyond our imagination and I am grateful for
the chance I have to be a missionary. Anyway I love you all and am
grateful for your support and your prayers. Dont forget about me when
matt gets home, you still have a son and brother in MEXICO!
Elder Burr
Matt's email 3/3/2012
Well it sounds like February is now packed up in the bags. I can´t believe how fast that month passed by. Everytime I want to look at the calendar I realize that 3 or 4 days have passed. It is incredible the rate at which time is going by. Hopefully real life doesn´t go by this fast because if it does I will be 85 and in a motorized cart in no time.
This week was just jammed packed with important events. On Monday we had all the zone leaders up in Mendoza so that we were able to have a Pday together. They all got here in the morning and we played some basketball and soccer all morning then we had a great spiritual discussion on miracles and what precedes them and after that we sent them out to work and were left to plan all of the consejo that we had with them on Tuesday. After we finished with the consejo I was able to go out pretty much all day on Wednesday with Elder Wheeler and we had an amazing day. We went to contact a man that we had talked to a while back and when we got to his house we noticed that he had one of those handy little intercom doorbell deals on his wall. Those things are not very missionary friendly, but we pushed it anyway and noticed that a girl had attended us. We asked for her dad and she cut the line. About 2 minutes later we heard somebody fuddling around with the keys at the door and in no time we found ourselves talking with the same girl that had attended us. She is amazing. As we were talking with her we noticed the mom in the background sweeping and we began to talk to her as well. We were at the door conversing when the girl, Vanina, asked us if we had eaten anything all afternoon. We told her we had not and so she invited us in for a cake deal. We passed and started talking a little bit more in depth with Vanina about God and about the church. She began telling us how she doubts that the Catholic church is true and she was saying that if there is only one God, there should be only one church. Just as we were about to start with the Restoration, her mom said that the cake thing was done. Vanina left and came back with a platter full of cake and two cups of.... Tea... We quickly refused the tea and told her how God has law of health and then she offered us the cake. We each grabbed a little piece and began eyeing it a little bit. She then informed us that the cake was made with red wine.... OH MAN I was just speechless. She then promised us that the alcohol had all evaporated out and that all was left was grape juice. Let´s just hope she was right! The lesson we had with her was incredible though and she is reading the Book of Mormon like a champ. She´s great and I hope all works out well with her. On Thursday we had the old new missionaries with their trainers in and we had another training meeting with them. Yesterday we had a new missionary in that we had to get all oriented with his companion and all that and then today was just great. In Mendoza there is this holiday called Vendimia. It is basically to be able to celebrate the grape harvest and the wine in Mendoza. The main act is the parade though. Just imagine the provo 4th of July parade, but instead of child themed floats, a beauty pageant. It was really a cool experience to see. Mendoza has the coolest culture. The beauty queens of each department in Mendoza each had their own float and they all threw out fruits. They threw grapes, peaches, watermelons, melon dew, plums, just the whole cornicopia. It was amazing BUT obviously as missionaries dressed in white shirts we stood out like big fat sore thumbs which was a huge benefit because these beauty queens always threw us everything. It was great. Plus we were able to spend the entire day with the Ávila family, which always makes for an incredible day. I will attach some pictures so don´t worry!
Other than that not much is going on. My two homeboys got confirmed on Sunday which always makes me happy. This week I´m going all out. On Wednesday we have a training meeting with the new district leaders, we have a lot to teach to Elder Jacobs and we also have to help with transfers but bring it on! It´s going to be an amazing week. On Saturday elder Menocal and I are heading up to Chimbas with President because we have a few converts receiving the Melchezidek Priesthood in Stake conference so that is going to be awesome. Other than that, nothing is new. I am still just living the dream. I have no doubt that this is the only true and living Gospel over the entire earth and it is the only Gospel that will bring us exaltation if we apply it everyday in our lives. I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for him and for his sacrifice on my behalf. I love you all and wish you all a great week!!
Elder Burr
This week was just jammed packed with important events. On Monday we had all the zone leaders up in Mendoza so that we were able to have a Pday together. They all got here in the morning and we played some basketball and soccer all morning then we had a great spiritual discussion on miracles and what precedes them and after that we sent them out to work and were left to plan all of the consejo that we had with them on Tuesday. After we finished with the consejo I was able to go out pretty much all day on Wednesday with Elder Wheeler and we had an amazing day. We went to contact a man that we had talked to a while back and when we got to his house we noticed that he had one of those handy little intercom doorbell deals on his wall. Those things are not very missionary friendly, but we pushed it anyway and noticed that a girl had attended us. We asked for her dad and she cut the line. About 2 minutes later we heard somebody fuddling around with the keys at the door and in no time we found ourselves talking with the same girl that had attended us. She is amazing. As we were talking with her we noticed the mom in the background sweeping and we began to talk to her as well. We were at the door conversing when the girl, Vanina, asked us if we had eaten anything all afternoon. We told her we had not and so she invited us in for a cake deal. We passed and started talking a little bit more in depth with Vanina about God and about the church. She began telling us how she doubts that the Catholic church is true and she was saying that if there is only one God, there should be only one church. Just as we were about to start with the Restoration, her mom said that the cake thing was done. Vanina left and came back with a platter full of cake and two cups of.... Tea... We quickly refused the tea and told her how God has law of health and then she offered us the cake. We each grabbed a little piece and began eyeing it a little bit. She then informed us that the cake was made with red wine.... OH MAN I was just speechless. She then promised us that the alcohol had all evaporated out and that all was left was grape juice. Let´s just hope she was right! The lesson we had with her was incredible though and she is reading the Book of Mormon like a champ. She´s great and I hope all works out well with her. On Thursday we had the old new missionaries with their trainers in and we had another training meeting with them. Yesterday we had a new missionary in that we had to get all oriented with his companion and all that and then today was just great. In Mendoza there is this holiday called Vendimia. It is basically to be able to celebrate the grape harvest and the wine in Mendoza. The main act is the parade though. Just imagine the provo 4th of July parade, but instead of child themed floats, a beauty pageant. It was really a cool experience to see. Mendoza has the coolest culture. The beauty queens of each department in Mendoza each had their own float and they all threw out fruits. They threw grapes, peaches, watermelons, melon dew, plums, just the whole cornicopia. It was amazing BUT obviously as missionaries dressed in white shirts we stood out like big fat sore thumbs which was a huge benefit because these beauty queens always threw us everything. It was great. Plus we were able to spend the entire day with the Ávila family, which always makes for an incredible day. I will attach some pictures so don´t worry!
Other than that not much is going on. My two homeboys got confirmed on Sunday which always makes me happy. This week I´m going all out. On Wednesday we have a training meeting with the new district leaders, we have a lot to teach to Elder Jacobs and we also have to help with transfers but bring it on! It´s going to be an amazing week. On Saturday elder Menocal and I are heading up to Chimbas with President because we have a few converts receiving the Melchezidek Priesthood in Stake conference so that is going to be awesome. Other than that, nothing is new. I am still just living the dream. I have no doubt that this is the only true and living Gospel over the entire earth and it is the only Gospel that will bring us exaltation if we apply it everyday in our lives. I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for him and for his sacrifice on my behalf. I love you all and wish you all a great week!!
Elder Burr
Marc's email 2/27/2012
That message from Elder Holland is incredible. It is so true and I can
not wait to meet my Lord and King. Family thank you for the emails and
felicidades and everything. I can not write all of you back but just
know I love you and and grateful for each and every one of you. My
birthday was awesome. I will try to send some pics of when I got my
face smashed into my birthday cake that a family gave me. I love the
families here in the ward. They have all been so good to me. Found out
last night that I will now be Zone Leader but I will find out tomorrow
in the concilio where I will go. I am pretty excited to do a little
bit more for the Lord. I am willing to do what He wants me to do. He
is my Master and Leader. This week was awesome. The family will all
get baptized this saturday so some Elder Will get hooked up with some
free baptisms. We were able to teach over 60 lessons once again so it
was awesome. This week was just a lot of finding people and teaching
lessons. I have been reading a talk about how Christ is the perfect
leader and how we can follow Him. The part that caught my attention
was that Christ is a leader that says "Do what I do" not "Do what I
say". He really is the perfect examlple and when He commanded us to be
perfect, He was willing to help us all along the way. We can be made
perfect throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It we let Him heal our
wounds and forgive us our sins, we will live a life free of guilt. I
know He lives and loves us. We are His brothers and sisters, sons and
daughters of a Living God. Well that is about all. My birthday was
awesome. I am old and stuff. I love you all.
Elder Burr
not wait to meet my Lord and King. Family thank you for the emails and
felicidades and everything. I can not write all of you back but just
know I love you and and grateful for each and every one of you. My
birthday was awesome. I will try to send some pics of when I got my
face smashed into my birthday cake that a family gave me. I love the
families here in the ward. They have all been so good to me. Found out
last night that I will now be Zone Leader but I will find out tomorrow
in the concilio where I will go. I am pretty excited to do a little
bit more for the Lord. I am willing to do what He wants me to do. He
is my Master and Leader. This week was awesome. The family will all
get baptized this saturday so some Elder Will get hooked up with some
free baptisms. We were able to teach over 60 lessons once again so it
was awesome. This week was just a lot of finding people and teaching
lessons. I have been reading a talk about how Christ is the perfect
leader and how we can follow Him. The part that caught my attention
was that Christ is a leader that says "Do what I do" not "Do what I
say". He really is the perfect examlple and when He commanded us to be
perfect, He was willing to help us all along the way. We can be made
perfect throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It we let Him heal our
wounds and forgive us our sins, we will live a life free of guilt. I
know He lives and loves us. We are His brothers and sisters, sons and
daughters of a Living God. Well that is about all. My birthday was
awesome. I am old and stuff. I love you all.
Elder Burr
Matt's email 2/25/2012
Hey I´m just writing you letting you know that I got your emails and everything is going great. We just finished baptizing Gaston, who is a miracle that I will have to tell you about a little bit later but today was definitely just a mix of emotions. It was amazing though and I was able to baptize a very good friend.
I got your package on valentine´s day and I absolutely loved it! The dried mangoes hit the spot!
I have one more favor to ask of you... So Gaston, this kid we just baptized, loves the brand Penguin. SO.... It would be amazing if you could pick this kid up a sweet Penguin t shirt or tie for an awesome baptismal gift. I hope you catch the drift. You will get to know him and feel his spirit, but he would absolutely love something like that. I´m sorry for the late notice, but know that you would be helping the cause. Gaston is the kid in picture number 1214... he is a stud!
Love you mom. I hope you have a great time celebrating my birthday without me!
Love,
Elder Burr
I got your package on valentine´s day and I absolutely loved it! The dried mangoes hit the spot!
I have one more favor to ask of you... So Gaston, this kid we just baptized, loves the brand Penguin. SO.... It would be amazing if you could pick this kid up a sweet Penguin t shirt or tie for an awesome baptismal gift. I hope you catch the drift. You will get to know him and feel his spirit, but he would absolutely love something like that. I´m sorry for the late notice, but know that you would be helping the cause. Gaston is the kid in picture number 1214... he is a stud!
Love you mom. I hope you have a great time celebrating my birthday without me!
Love,
Elder Burr
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