1 Year MARK!!!

 

A YEAR!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!?????? I don't believe it! It hasn't been that long! I've only been out for about 6 months! There is no way it's been a year! I think your calendar is all messed up! I've got about 18 months left!...................... Gah!!!!!!!!!! I'm, soooo old! I don't know anyone left in the mission! All the missionaries I knew real well have died or are dying within the next 3 transfers! My trainer dies next transfer! I'm so thankful for his training and example to me! We have definitely created a lifelong relationship! I get to serve around him for his last transfer. He is not in our zone but he is in OKC serving Spanish. He serve the first 2 transfers Spanish and the last two, other than that he has served English and trained like 15 million times! He is a super awesome missionary! Yes the library was open. Musical Grandkids aye? That sounds fun. I had a depressing day on Sunday. A young mom who looked like Jenni had a newborn and like 3 kids under the age of 5, AND I COULDN'T HOLD ANY OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss kids so much! Here in the city there are a lot more young families and I can't help out with the kids like I want to! It's so hard! The sisters in my district said they were going to buy me a fake baby "so I can meet those paternal needs!" Weirdos! So Tyler and Jacelyn aye? Whoda thunk? I went on a couple double dates with that chick. I don't remember if I told you or not, but while I was in Ponca Tyler actually wrote me. I told him I needed a wedding invitation and never heard back ;) Looks like he took some friendly advice! haha. I will see what President thinks of Uncle John's proposal. Hey do you remember what I won in the chili cook-off right before I left for OK? So the temple..... How do you like the new film? I don't know if I told you..... Man I'm a slacker..... I was able to go through the temple with a recent convert the first week I was in OKC. His name if Ralph Wynn and he invited me to go through with him! I didn't baptize him, but I got very close to his family while serving in Ponca City! Now the sister in our ward get to go with a Less Active who is just returning to church after many years. They are super excited! I did get Dad's response and I ate it all up!!!! That was fantastic! Why did I never engage dad in doctrine discussions before? I missed out on soo much! I can't wait to sit down with Dad and Sean and anyone and just...TALK...! I sent that same letter to like 15 different individuals including Pres. Marshall, Tolboe, Walkinhorst, Sean, other missionaries out here. I got an email from President Walkinhorst that he is taking time to answer my questions and give me a suitable response! I'm so excited! I was affraid he was going to reprimand me and tell me to study the first three lessons or something to that effect. President Walkinhorst and I are tight! Every time he sees me, he says "Uh Oh, watch out for the deep-thinker, you have to watch out for those Cali boys!" It's fun! Speaking of Lasagna, Have you tried that recipe I sent home? If not, I am very sorrowful! DO IT! :) Also, will you send back at least one of the two SD cards I've sent home now? I have one full, but I'm holding it for ransom until I get another :) I love ya!

 

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham

New Bishop

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is weird! Y'all are pulling my leg! It seems so surreal! Dad's not the bishop, or in the bishopric, or on high council? Let's have a moment of silence! ............................... Wow, that is so weird for me! I don't even know why. Well do I give me condolences or congratulations? Whichever it is, there you go. Well this week we had another finding miracle! We ran into a young guy outside his apartment complex and he invited us in. His name is Dustin and he's 25 and an army vet. He is now in the National Guard. He is super excited about learning about "Mormons" and he wants to read the Book of Mormon! He understands the importance of baptism and really wants to make sure he is going to faithfully keep all the commandments we teach before he commits to baptism! We are working with him on that! It's great! I went on exchanges Friday-Saturday with an Elder Edmunds. He is a ZL down here and he is from Centerville, UT! He remembers Eric and Uncle Jeff. He remembers Eric being a punk haha. Well I guess if he's related he'd have to be! Small world! Well I was talking with Bro. Lusk and now that we have a connection all he talks about is his mission glory days serving around Elder Jamon Quemado! He talked about ?jaqueba? Is that how you spell it? Anyway, he talked about the Bishop family dad baptized who later became the first native branch president in that little town. Apparently Dad and his companion ran into the Bishops and taught the restoration, well Bro. Bishop got all excited and got his pamphlet that had no cover or back on it which would have identified it as a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints literature. Apparently all this info is in a book! Dad is written about in this book! Dad you were a spiritual pioneer in Bolivia! You brought about so many miracles that you written about in the history of the church in Bolivia! Bro. Lusk has this book and he is going to let me look at it. I am so proud to be your son! Thank you for raising me to be the man I am! I have always looked up to you as my hero! Although you may not be my Bishop anymore, I will always come home and seek your counsel and advice! I love you! I am thankful for your stalwart determination to follow the law of consecration and devote your all to the Lord! I strive to be just like my Father! I keep on pressing forward because of the experience I had in the temple when I was depressed and discouraged. I heard your voice tell me you were proud of me, and to keep going. I have never forgot that! I work diligently to make both my fathers proud. (Moroni 10:32)

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham

This is Mom's email to Ryan, I thought it was wonderful:

Hi Elder Burnham,
Crazy is the only way I can describe the past 4 days.  It began on Tuesday with an email to your father/the Bishop and then continued from there.  There is a bit of a roller coaster of emotions within right now.  Most of my time has been spent caring for your nieces and nephew but my thoughts and emotions were mixed with other events as well.  I'm hoping your father will take time to write to you today.  It will probably be therapeutic for him if he does.  You see, we sustained a new bishopric yesterday.  Your new home ward Bishop is now Byron Chapman.  His counselors are Tracy Walker and Bro. Jeff Lundquist.  I know you would have been happy to raise your hand to sustain them if you had been here.  Because I was dividing my attentions between grandkids, a daughter, and your father, as well as trying to get some sort of meaningful thoughts together to bear my testimony, I can't really tell you what was said by all who spoke in Sacrament meeting yesterday.  I think maybe I was blessed to have the distraction of the grandkids but in my heart I would like to have been there more for your father.  He has put so much into being Bishop for the past 5 years I would truly loved to have stood up there and honor him more than I probably did.  His testimony and the way he has ALWAYS fulfilled his Priesthood responsibilities has been a "rock" for me to rely on.  Sacrament meeting is to worship our Savior and our Heavenly Father so I felt like they needed to be the focus of my testimony.  It would have been so easy to share stories and experiences about Bishop Burnham but I know my responsibility was to testify of truths that would build others up in the congregation.  President Marshall made it clear that it was also mine and your father's responsibility to help the ward members to sustain the new bishopric and accept the change.  So many thoughts went in and out of my head all week after Dad let me know the change was coming this week.  In some ways I have observed and know too much and I did not want to say anything that could be misconstrued or offend.  I do not speak with the eloquence that so many other sisters seem to have.  What I would like to have said to all of them is that I have watched this man evolve and make many difficult decisions over the past 5 years.  The man I married is still inside the one that everyone sees today but there is so much more inside of him than they could ever imagine.  I will never know the complete burdens he bore because the mantel of Bishop is the only power that could have carried him through.  I will never understand completely the loss he is feeling now because I have not and will never walk in his shoes.  All of the excitement and fear that was there 5 years ago when your father was called to be the Bishop of Modesto 1st Ward is the exact opposite of what it feels like with this release.  He has carried the weight of others needs, trials, tribulations, frustrations.  He has given his time, talents and treasures to care for and comfort his brothers and sisters.  He knows what troubles are weighing people down and can do no more to directly counsel or assist them.  They will need their Bishop to help get them through.  It seems to me there is a feeling of being let go or fired, if you will.  In a 30-45 minute meeting with Bishop Chapman, your father turned it ALL over to him and now must trust that the Lord's plan will continue to roll forth.  I believe that it will be a blessing for your father not to carry the weight and worry but along with letting go of that he must also let go of the joyful opportunities that come to one who serves so closely with his brothers and sisters.  The blessings of being with the youth as they do temple baptisms and experience the other youth activities that are building their testimonies and preparing them for the future.  The blessing of seeing a brother or sister become clean through the joys of repentance and forgiveness and waters of baptism.  The excitement of the children as they bring the birthday certificate from the Primary so they can get their treat from the Bishop.  The thrill of seeing young men pass and bless the sacrament and fulfill their Aaronic Priesthood responsibilities as they home teach or collect the Fast offerings.  The humble blessing of receiving tithing and other offerings from those that have much to give and more so from those that sacrifice to give ALL that they have which seems so little and is so great.  He will miss hearing the stories of anonymous service given out of love and not from being compelled to do so.  Visiting the Primary on Fast Sunday and hearing them sing, seeing them smile, and listening to their innocent comments of love for the Savior and their families.  Helping prepare and then sending missionaries off into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The joy of their return after fulfilling an honorable mission and presenting them with the plaque that has been on the wall to remind us all of the service we should give.  I'm sure there is so much more that I can't think of or don't know.  What I do know is that the physically strong, extremely confident, and sometimes proud man that is your father, is also the spiritually immovable, tender and loving, very wise and willing servant that blessed our Ward and our family by doing the Lord's will as Bishop.  I don't know what his legacy will be to the ward members but my hope is that he has taught his posterity to keep the most sacred covenants that they make in their lives here in mortality so that we can be the Eternal Family our Heavenly Father desires for us.  We are truly blessed!
Love ya tons,
Mom
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

New Address

Elder Ryan Burnham

5613-B S. May Ave. 

Oklahoma City, OK 73119

 

 

 

 

 

Oklahoma City was settled on April 22, 1889, when the area known as the "Unassigned Lands" was opened for settlement in an event known as "The Land Run". Some 10,000 homesteaders settled the area that would become the capital of Oklahoma. The town grew quickly; the population doubled between 1890 and 1900. Early leaders of the development of the city included Anton Classen, John Shartel, Henry Overholser and James W. Maney.

Lithograph of Oklahoma City from 1890.

By the time Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907, Oklahoma City had surpassed Guthrie, the territorial capital, as the population center and commercial hub of the new state. Soon after, the capital was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City was a major stop on Route 66 during the early part of the 20th century; it was prominently mentioned in Bobby Troup's 1946 jazz classic, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", later made famous by artist Nat King Cole.
 

 

 

Jamon Quemado

Mother,

I am not pressured at all, if anything they should be. I now have more resources to use and annoy!!!! :) hehe. No I'm excited for the opportunity to take Pres. out teaching with us! Talk about powerhouse! Yes Bro. Lusk is very excited and has a lot of respect for Dad! I'm very excited for him to be our ward mission leader! We will be able to gel very easily! You will be getting some more mail soon, I have birthday stuff back at the apartment but it's been hectic with transfers and the new area that I haven't gotten to the post office! I'm excited for the work! I've got AP's, ZL's, and STL's in my district so lots of spirituality there! Well I don't have too much time I've got some appointments to run to, but I love you all so very much! I'm glad to hear the youth are still stellar! Our ward in great! Our bishop reminds me of Elder Bednar! It's ridiculous! We have some awesome work ahead of us, and they expect a lot! We are willing to provide all we can! Get 'Er Done! I love ya all!

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Jamon Quemado 
           (Ham Burned)

Conversations with Ryan

I am not pressured at all, if anything they should be. I now have more resources to use and annoy!!!! :) hehe. No I'm excited for the opportunity to take Pres. out teaching with us! Talk about powerhouse! Yes Bro. Lusk is very excited and has a lot of respect for Dad! I'm very excited for him to be our ward mission leader! We will be able to gel very easily! You will be getting some more mail soon, I have birthday stuff back at the apartment but it's been hectic with transfers and the new area that I haven't gotten to the post office! I'm excited for the work! I've got AP's, ZL's, and STL's in my district so lots of spirituality there! Well I don't have too much time I've got some appointments to run to, but I love you all so very much! I'm glad to hear the youth are still stellar! Our ward in great! Our bishop reminds me of Elder Bednar! It's ridiculous! We have some awesome work ahead of us, and they expect a lot! We are willing to provide all we can! Get 'Er Done! I love ya all!

 

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Jamon Quemado

 

Oh, My companion; Elder Wilkes is from St. Jorge Utah. His family is supportive and he is a goober. He is a drama kid and quite mouthy, but I can work with him. I'm his breaker meaning I'm his first companion after being trained. I get to "break" the bad habits of his trainer. This is my second time breaking. I broke Faulkner. Also one of my Zone Leaders is Elder Edmunds, He is from Centerville and knows the JB's. Then, you remember the tanners from Gma's ward, their son is out in OK as well.  

 

 

Hey I'm back, the library extended my time! The address is in the STL's (sister trainer leader) area. They are amazing sisters! Yes I get to team up with Pres whenever he is not busy with other stuff. Yes the Ap's and ZL's are in my district. I am the DL still. No they are not in my ward, but in the stake center our ward attends. We are the OKC 2nd ward.

 

Love ya.

It's February

Dearest Mother,

Transfers: I am outta here! :( I didn't want to leave, but I don't get a say in it. I'm headed to the grand ol' city of Oklahoma. I will be serving in the OKC 2nd N. area. I will be staying DL and will be serving with Elder Wilkes. I will be breaking him (first companion after being trained.) He's a young guy, so I'm excited to work with the greenie fire! I think it may be a biking area so yay...... Well I'm going to miss Ponca City. I remember Sean writing home once saying that a certain area was the closest to home out on the mission, well I feel that way about Ponca so far. But hey I'm only half way done, I have a bunch of time to find more "homes." Haha, I don't think umbrellas will help us too much. We are supposed to be getting snow and ice this week and it's supposed to get ugly. I'm not a fan of these Ice storms! Way to go Landon! That's some great faith there! I'm glad to hear that! Man that's a real cool connection with that BYU dancer. When was the last time you made contact with "Ho"? I'm glad to hear your back is doing better! That's no fun being immobile. A new washing machine aye? Sweet! That is nice I'm sure! Dad's get their toys and Mom's get theirs. :) hahahaha. Well be looking in the mail this week for a little package, Sara and Dad will be getting a little something. I pray Elder Sims brings some great enthusiasm to the ward. Our ward has some great fellow shippers, if they would be utilized! It's funny how missionaries (including me) think members need to be the ones doing all the work, bringing all the golden investigators to us. Well ALL investigators have that potential! They just need a friend. If they, the members, will just be willing to open their home or sit with them at church, or just sit in at a lesson and bear their testimony. Voila they are golden! It's amazing the change that occurs when a member is involved. I love when members are all curious about investigators and want to know their progress. Even if they don't think they want to be a part of missionary work, that right there proves otherwise! Members just need a little nudge, Missionaries expect a back-flip on the first try, we have got to be there to guide, ensure, and testify WITH them! I'm so ready to tear apart OKC! Bring it on! If those members down there aren't missionary minded..... Well they will be! Man this is like a pep-talk I feel all energized! I gotta go work now! I love ya! Keep up the faith and never be ashamed of the gospel! 

Elder Burnham and Jonathan Martin

Elder Wilkes and Jonathan Martin

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham