I "luff" you!

Thanks for looking for the wrestling gear. I'm very excited to be able to get back on the mat. I wrestled Elder Chavez last Monday on the stage, and I whooped his butt! It was great! i was actually surprised because he was a state placer in Utah. All well, I am just excited to get back to the sport I love. We are going to try and preach the first lesson while in a match, that means a 9 minute lesson! It's going to be grand! My record for speed teaching the Plan of Salvation is 57.5 seconds! We timed it! That's what we did when we were dying from unknown illnesses. We had the ward primary program this Sunday and it was great! We have roughly 25 kids all together. youth; we probably have 5 or 6. But we are teaching some families, and working with some less active families so we should be able to pump that number up. Hey dad, coming from a bishop, what do you think would be the most effective way about approaching the bishop for any assignments we could help with? I know just asking if there is anything we can do for the bishop isn't very productive, so what would you like to hear from the missionaries seeking service, focus families, etc. We have a very solid bishop but he claims he doesn't really have too many things for us to do, Which is a LIE! :) we have like 250 less actives! He really doesn't have a focus list and so he tells us to go out and get 'em all. Anyway, we got to do some service this past Saturday. We cleared trees from a members home and them caught a calf! It was smelly, dirty, and scary work. I almost got run over by a cow! But I am a big bad missionary and I scared it off........ with a big stick :) Oh while clearing trees, one of the elders had a tree fall on him! It was probably 15 feet tall and not very thick. It was dead and dried up but it was pretty funny to watch. He didn't have any fatal injuries so we all had a good laugh and he said "Now I've got something to write in my journal" I chastised him, he hasn't written in his journal since his first transfer. NO BUENO. I write in mine everyday :) So mother, I have been hounded pretty bad out here about not having a picture of my family. If there is an older photo with the whole family, would you be willing to send it out with my wrestling gear? Thanks I luff you! Everything is going well here, we are working with some amazing people and we are having young couples move in left and right so we have a lot of energetic RM's willing to go out with us......... and feed us :) Last week on Saturday we had all 3 of our meals provided, it was awesome!!! I love you all and I pray for you always!

 

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Burnham(B2)

Miracles

This week was full of miracles! First I think a struggling companionship in my district is finally figuring out how to make things run smoothly. It's amazing how far love takes things. It's all a choice. I had each elder in the district read Beware of Pride by Ezra Taft Benson. That talk is a power house! It has changed my life completely! I encourage all to read or re-read this talk! Oh my gosh it's good! We have had enthusiastic members coming out with us and plenty of progress with investigators! Our ward is missionary minded, and we might be getting a third companionship here in Poca City, Spanish. There is a large population of Hispanics here, in fact we are attempting to teach a man who speaks only Spanish. We set the phone up on speakerphone and have our Zone Leader translate our lesson, its quirky but it actually brings the spirit in more. Because, we are kind of forced to teach very simply so Elder Reese can translate correctly. I have gained a huge testimony of simple testimonies! They are sooooooo powerful! I am really coming to love Alfredo! BUT...... we don't have to use the phone anymore. We had a young dentist and his family move into the ward and he speaks Spanish!!!!! Miracles!!! I think he might have thought we were a little weird when we almost started to cry when we found out he spoke Spanish. haha. It was a beautiful day, Then they randomly invited us over for dinner, GREAT day! We have found a bunch of less-active part-member families and we are excited to work with them. Members are giving us referrals! I'm losing weight from biking!!!!!!!!! This just might be the promised land! I'm a happy missionary! Oh, so I kind of blew it this past week. I was so enveloped in the work, that I forgot to wish Brianne and Sean a happy birthday. I hope they understand. Better late than never right? HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Well I love you all, and I hope everything continues to soar! You are all in my prayers.

 

Not a second Wasted,

Elder Burnham(B2)

Love Ponca City and Conference

Well Ponca City is fantastic! We have a ward, a ward mission leader, activities, members willing to go out with us. It just about made me cry! I was lost these past couple of days for two reasons, first I'm still the designated driver (since I'm still District Leader and have been out longer than Elder Faulkner) so I don't know my way around this city and second because I don't really know how to work with a functioning area, I've never been in one. We have coordination tonight with our mission leader, I'm a little nervous. I'VE NEVER HAD ONE BEFORE!!!!! Sad right? 7 1/2 months and have never had a coordination meeting. It's exciting! My district is pretty great! We are full of bold, loving, and genuine missionaries! I'm finally getting used to this district leader thing. I'm starting to like giving trainings and exchanges. It might help the other elders grow, but it helps me out more, I think. That may be selfish, but it's true. Man how about conference?!!!! Holy Cow!! I almost jumped out of my seat when Elder Ballard challenged all members to bring just one friend/person to the missionaries! I was looking around frantically to see if I wasn't the only person to hear that. Then Pres. Monson's talk darn near made me cry like a baby! I love that man! This conference was fantastic! Conference is like Christmas out here! Holy Moly! I love this work! I love conference! I love my family! I love being bold with people! I love feeling the Spirit prompt me to do ridiculous things and see the blessings come from it! I love reading the Book of Mormon! I love riding bikes in a flat area! ;) I love when members feed and go out with us to teach. I love receiving referrals from members! I LOVE LIFE!

 

Not a second Wasted! EVER!!!

Elder Burnham(B2)