Matt's email 1/10/11

> So it sounds like mom and dad had a blast in Washington DC. I am
> sure it was freezing cold, but there isn´t anything a nice, warm
> chocolate bundt cake and a diet coke with lemon from corner bakery
> can´t fix, right? It sounds like it was a very rewarding and
> education trip. The second time back east in 3 months huh big pops??
> Not too bad of statistics there. I doubt it compares to the twin
> studies. Just kidding, I bet it was 100 times better. But i´m glad
> that you made it back safe and sound and that you can return back to
> the real world. It seems like the past 10 months have just been
> mayhem around there. I´m glad it all turned out for the best. As for
> things here in the good old mission field... They are going really
> well. Nahuel took the opportunity to be baptized a member of the
> church and let us know that he now wants to prepare himself to serve
> a mission, so that he can share his story with others, and help them
> know the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived 21 years of confusion
> and controversy, but has now seen the light. He is so stoked to have
> been baptized and can´t wait to receive the Priesthood. Apart from
> that, we had a killer leadership training in Mendoza at the
> beginning of the week. I learned so much that it will be impossible
> to write in an email. It was incredible to have felt the Spirit that
> was there and to have heard the words from our mission president. To
> add to the list, we were all invited to eat tacos in the house of
> the Lindahl´s. There house is just too legit. It is easily the
> nicest thing in the city of Mendoza, and the tacos.... I can´t even
> describe to you how good they were. I ate a little piece of the
> United States while I was there. Oh man it was great. I´m sure you
> all saw the pictures of Elder Benitez and I with the Astar at
> Aconcagua. That trip was just incredible. Aconcagua was beautiful.
> The victory was sweet.
> On another note, I´m sad to say that this transfer is quickly coming
> to an end. It is the last week and transfers will be next monday. It
> is hard to face the fact that the time on the mission is slipping
> out of my hands. It really does go by way too fast. It isn´t a lie
> when every single missionary says that their mission flew by. It´s
> the hard truth. I´m sorry I don´t have much to write you all. I was
> about to wake up early this morning and write letters, BUT I was
> just way too tired. One day I will be getting around to that. I have
> a bunch of pictures that I want to send home and I remember how
> excited I was to get hand written letters from my brothers when they
> were serving. The only difference is that now they all have their
> personal little families and have all bailed out of the nest. I will
> get around to it someday though, I promise.
> I hope all goes well this week with everything. I love you all!!
> Thanks for being the best family I could ask for!!
> Elder Burr

Marc's email 1/03/11

Well it sounds like the Holiday Season was just as good as it always is. I hope so anyway because out here it hardly existed. All that really happened was just a lot of drinking and yelling and listening to music way louder than needed. But it was great and it was an experience I will not forget. This Sunday we had a baptism of a 10 year old girl and it was awesome. Her parents are the ones we need to get married first so they will be later this month. We have another baptism on the 8th of an 11 year old boy whose mom is already a member. So basically we are just working our hardest and the Lord is playing a huge part. None of this is possible without His help so I cant take any of the credit for the good that happens. I can just work my hardest and realize that without the Lords help it will never be enough. Other than that though nothing too great has really happened.
We went with this family who has three kids that are just absolutely out of control. Im talking about a 5 year old girl who is just too much to handle. She is all over the place and always yelling and just a bit much. So I hope nobody thinks that just because I am not there I still still dont get my fair share of headaches. Also Mikes experience sounds absolutely incredible. I couldnt imagine getting a Prophets blessing, I bet the Savior was right there next to them. I bet DC will be a great experience as well. Nothing like here though, I am pretty sure nothing beats Mexico.. Yep Ill just leave it at that but I hope everybody is happy and had a good week. I know that this is the best thing I can be doing and without your support it isnt possible. Thank you for everything and Im out until next week. Love you all Elder Burr

Matt's email 1/03/11

So to start things off I don´t think we could have had a better p day
> today. To start things off all the zone leaders are up here in Mendoza
> celebrating the fact that we reached the goal of 1000 baptisms.
> President promised us that if we got the goal, he would take us all up
> to Aconcagua. I have to tell you that that mountain is just beautiful.
> The largest mountain on the Western Hemisphere, and the highest
> elevation that any mission in the entire world could get to. The only
> one that could get higher would be the Mt Everest mission, which I
> don´t think exists. It was an awesome experience to say the least.
> When we first got there we saw a B3 carrying cargo nets full of
> supplies to the base camp. Let´s just say that their program is a
> little more low key than what I have seen. It´s like watching the
> firefighters on the helicopter bases trying to hook up cargo nets, but
> the only difference here is that they are Argentine.
> I am sure dad knows exactly what I am talking about, but it was great
> to see a helicopter operation going on here on the other side of the
> world. President was telling me that the company comes out of Utah and
> they contract the helicopter here, but I couldn´t tell you if that is
> true. I talked to the pilot and gave him the low down, but he had no
> idea. Aconcagua was absolutely incredible though. We only got to hike
> up to the first base camp deal, but it was still super legit and I
> took some great pictures. Hopefully I can get this computer to work so
> that I can send pictures, but if not, just know that the pictures are
> awesome. Aside from that, Elder Benitez and I had a great week. I
> don´t know if I told the story of Nahuel, the kid that was super deep
> into drugs and tried committing suicide, but he stopped by the pench
> on Saturday night and told us he had his answer and that he will be
> getting baptized on the 8. He then got up Sunday and bore his
> testimony... He is golden. It was a huge testimony boost for me to see
> how fast and effectively God works. It was truly a miracle.
> It sounds like you all had a pretty hectic New Year´s Eve party. The
> party life here doesn´t really exist, but we still had a blast. On
> Friday we cooked a bunch of pizza and on Saturday we ate another
> Asado. We then played soccer the entire day.... Yeah I´m not even
> kidding. I´m getting a little sick of soccer, but being with a
> companion that played professionaly, it is impossible to escape. It ´s
> all good though, one day I will be able to kick Cameron´s butt...
> One day.
> That´s about all I got for this week folks. Alvear is doing awesome.
> It is super small, but there are definitely people ready to hear the
> message of the Restored Gospel. I thank you all so much for your
> prayers and your support. I love you and hope that you all have a
> great week!!
> Elder Burr

Marc's email 12/27/2010

Well family not much has happened within the last two days. The family that we gave Christmas to attended church, with all their kids, and sat intently throughout all 3 hours. They were so grateful to actually get a Christmas and the parents were absolutely beside themselves. It was amazing to see the joy they had and to be able to help them. They will be given a baptismal fecha this week. It has to be for later in January cause we have to get them married first, but we will get it done. It will be a process that is for sure. Mom to your quote that you sent me, it is very true. That is something I have had to work on as well and it is not easy. But just remember to always look at people as Christ does and it really does help. Picture them in white in the Celestial Kingdom. Just so you know Kyle got a baptism this week and is doing very well. He got put with a native comp so he is really doing it. What is up with the family? Once I leave it just all starts separating? But that is really cool, they will all just have to travel home in two years to see the return of Elder Burr. It sounds like everybody is busy and working hard. That gives me gusto cause every day we work our hearts out. Three weeks in Hawaii sounds really hard. Mexico is almost like Hawaii just instead of nice people there are drunks, houses instead or palm trees, I cant remember the last time I just sat and laid, and it has never been quite here for longer than three seconds. That is not a joke either, every night there are either drunk people or freaking roosters or dogs. It doesnt help the sleeping situation at all. Dad just so you have the address to look up and see how met I really am look up Tuzania Ejideal. Yeah Those are my stompin grounds. And if you feel really ambitious look up San Juan de Ocutan. Ok well I am off to another week here in the worlds armpit. Love you family and mom and dad.
Elder Burr

Matt's email 12/27/2010

Well to be completely honest I don´t really have too much to say. It was so great being able to talk to everyone on the phone. It felt like it had been forever since I had heard the voice of anyone, but it was awesome. Easily the best Christmas present that I received. Yesterday Victor was confirmed a member of the church. At first we thought he wasn´t going to show up. We thought he was just going to pull a cameron and go hide, but at about 11 30 he showed up and got confirmed. It was really a miracle to see the change that he made in his life and the huge decisions he made in just 1 week. He was married, baptized, and confirmed all in less than a week. Can you even imagine? But other than that things are still pretty calm down here. This morning we had an intense game of soccer then we went to buy some lunch but got kicked out of the store because we are missionaries. That was pretty frustrating, but luckily I had a huge thing of caramel popcorn from Hawaii waiting for me in the pench. It made me happy and that´s all that matters right?
I have attached some pictures to this email. They are pictures taken on Christmas Eve and are the most recent that I have. I love you all and hope you have a great new year party and stuff. Keep on keepin on!
Love
Elder Burr

Marc's email 12/20/2010

Well it is time again for another email somehow. This week absolutely flew by. I honestly cant remember much so I will just write the Highlights. On Tuesday we had our area´s Christmas party that was pretty good. There were like 70 Elders and we all just met at the chapel and ate. The food was terrible and the noise was a bit much. There arent many things worse than a group of missionaries talking as loud as they can in Spanish. I gave an elder a machete for Christmas while all of the other missionaries gave ties and stuff. How lame are some people in this life. He was excited for it though, who wouldnt be. Then last night we went to the temple to try to contact people and get them to go to the Visitor Center. LEt me paint the picture for you. Your boy, Elder Burr and his comp Elder Wright were posted up in the median right next to some guy with an amputated leg begging for money. When the light would turn green we would walk up to the windows and I would have to talk to the people in spanish. Yeah I had to knock on peoples windows to speak to them in spanish. So tight and so funny. I love it though. So overall this week was great. Every day we just walk our feet raw and laugh all along the way. That is about all you can do out here is laugh and speak spanish. It sounds like things there are great. I will call at 12 your time so whoever wants to be there can but i only have like an hour or so. Thank you everybody for your support. Mom and Dad and family I love you and wish you a Merry Christmas from Mexico. I will call you on Saturday. Have a great week and a Merry Christmas.

Matt's email 12/20/2010

It is hard to believe that Christmas is staring at me right in the face. It seems like last night that I was finishing up with the pilots license, attending all the family parties, opening up my call, and all that stuff we were doing a year ago, but seeing how time is impossible to rewind, we will just have to accept it. To be honest we don´t have very exciting plans for Christmas here in Alvear. We were going to go to the house of the bishop to eat some pig, but we have to be inside the apartment at 11 and nobody here eats before that time, so we might just have another killer asado and kick it in the pench watching the fireworks. Tomorrow we will be travelling to Mendoza for a zone conference/Christmas Party with the mission so that should be pretty fun. We have to wake up at like 2 30 in order to make it to the terminal on time, but we have about a 5 hour drive to sleep and relax, so I´m not too worried. And another good note... we have successfully reached our goal of 1000 baptisms on the year 2010!! About 4 months ago we were 400 baptisms behind, but it is safe to say that we have all seen a miracle. I am sure President is just stoked out of his mind, and we, as missionaries, are pretty happy as well.
This week here was way good. Elder Benitez and I worked our butts off and started to see many miracles. Yesterday we left with members to go visit all the nonmembers in the ward list and committed a bunch of members to start helping us with the work, so we are expecting to see some great changes here. It is getting pretty warm here and Elder Benitez and I are enjoying a quarter kilo of ice cream on the daily. The ice cream here is heavenly, but they are seriously lacking a cold stone... HMMM cake batter with brownie... What a dream that would be. Anyway I guess I have to add a cool story of the week. On Tuesday we got a phone call from the daughter of the bishop. Complete snake. But she told us that she had one of her friend there at her house and she wanted us to meet him. We told her that it wasn´t going to be possible because we were super far away, but that we wanted to meet him the next day (Wednesday). On Wednesday we made our way to their house and met the kid. His name is Nahuel and he is 21 years old. A year ago he tried committing suicide, but it failed. since then he has been deep in the game with cocaine and was abusing it so badly that he developed a serious case of Schisophrenia. He has been suffering with that for the past year and told us that he wants to completely change his life in the year to come. He was previously assisting an aventist church, but said he didn´t find anything there. We invited him to come to the family night that night, and to our surprise, he came. He also showed up the the ward activity and all 3 hours of church. The kid is golden. He has a fecha for the 8 of January and we are working with him to quite smoking. He is awesome though and has had a great impact on my testimony. He is another answer to my prayers.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is our older brother. He really was the only perfect being to come to this earth and He is our perfect example. I know that if we strive to become like Him we will find ourselves at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. I love this Gospel. It is the biggest blessing in my life. You guys are the best family I could have ever asked for. I wish you all a very merry christmas and look forward to talking to you on Saturday. It´s been 9 and a half months since I have heard from any of you so don´t be bailing on me now!!
Love
Elder Burr