Transfer: Lawton OK

Well, I'll just get to the good stuff. Yes, I am getting transferred. I am headed down to serve on an Army base. I'm headed to Lawton OK. The base is Ft. Sill. I am still a district leader. I have been one for over a year now. There is only one other elder who has been a district leader as long as me, and he came out one transfer before me. I enjoy the leadership service, and the opportunity I have to work so closely with missionaries, but preparing a training for every Friday is getting to be not so fun. It envelops a lot of my studies during the week, so I don't get to study everything I want to. Frankly I think this will be my last area. I only have less than 6 months left and President has told the mission to expect to be in areas longer than usual. I will truly miss OKC! This has been the refining point of my mission! I feel I have family here! It is always hard to leave family!

 

Saturday was great! It was awesome having the perspective of the witnesses. Being able to sign there sealing document was a wonderful spiritual experience. I thought it was just going to be some paperwork, but when I realized what I was signing it hit me! This is eternal! As I sat in the sealing room at the head with the sealer I felt so honored. I had opportunity to contemplate my own eternal family. I love and miss y'all! I am so thankful for the covenant that you and dad performed with each other and Heavenly Father! I am thankful for the knowledge of being a forever family! It brings so much peace. I'm glad Utah has been a good experience! Sometimes I feel like I'm getting left behind with all these monumental check points in our family's lives, but then I remember I'm on a mission and I just smile and say, nah nah ne nah nah! This is the greatest experience thus far in my life! I am loving it! I wouldn't replace it for anything! I hope that doesn't disturb or offend any, but It's how I feel. Nothing could turn me from this course! I WILL finish strong! I will be obedient to Father's commission! It's tough, it's exhausting, it's painful! BUT, It's salvation, It's love, it's my family! They deserve my all! They deserve the spirit! They deserve a chance! One of the thoughts that keeps me going on hard days is this; There are a few conversations we can have after this life with our siblings. The first is: Thank you, thank you for bringing the gospel to my life. You kept your promise! OR, It can be the more painful, Why didn't you come to me? You promised you would come and find me! I was right there! If you would have just knocked one more door, or called one more person I would have been there willing! It motivates me! It helps me keep an eternal perspective on things! I re-realized that pride has been affecting me again, so I committed myself to always keep an eternal perspective! If I see others as God sees them, then I wont exalt myself above them! Rather, I will desire there exaltation above my own!

 

So I recently had an opportunity to have an interview with President Walkenhorst and he asked me a question that was very routine to him, but it helped me out a lot. He asked "what has the Spirit been teaching you Elder Burnham?" I thought about it and reflected a little, and I answered in a way I thought contrary to missionary work in general. I said "I have been taught to slow down." I realized I have been frantically trying to cram my days full with "good finding activities." because the realization of lack of time is setting in! I am scared of the reality of time flying! These two years are not enough! I remember praying for more energy to move quicker and do more! I was rebuked by the Spirit. I was taught in a simple way through studying the scriptures: D&C 61:3. I realized I couldn't work harder, I was working myself to death! I also can't work longer, we have a set schedule. All I can do is work smarter. I am beginning to comprehend the art of prioritizing. I have never really been proficient at this, and I am training myself to be so. It is too easy to stay busy doing good things. It is a whole different ball-game when it comes to being busy with the most effective activity. "Good, Better, Best!"

 

Well, I love you all! Thank you for the support and encouragement! I feel it every day!

 

P.S. I will be in a biking area again :/

 

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Ford Burnham

"Strongest steal is forged in the hottest fires"

So first off I love the theme of "the strongest steal is forged in the hottest fires". It reminds me of an analogy I use for down and out missionaries. It's the process of refining silver. When you refine Silver you heat it in those "hottest fires" and then you bring it out and beat and bend and hammer the impurities out of it. The climax of the example is used in a story of a boy asking his father, who is a silversmith, "how he knows when it's done?" The response is: "That's easy son, I know it's done when I can see my reflection in it." We are constantly being refined and shaped, and molded, until the Savior can look at us and see his reflection. Once we are able to personify and develop the Christ-like attributes spoken of in PMG Ch. 6 then we know we are acceptable before God. I love that imagery.

 

So this week wasn't the most successful key indicator wise, but we definitely saw miracles! The Donelsons, a part-member family that we are teaching and that has a baptism date for Sept 6th is finally reading and praying as a couple every night! They have received a witness of the truth and have spoken often of the absence of depression and temptation this week. They have also told us they are seeing the great support all around them! We had a chance to sit down with Bishop Gillespie and counsel about them. He is very supportive and loves them to death. He had a meeting with them this past Wednesday and taught more on repentance because Shane, the member husband, hasn't used his priesthood in 3 years due to "things." When we had this meeting with Bishop he told us that we can proceed forward with the baptism as scheduled. So a young man who has been out of activity is so repentant and humble that in just 3 weeks of preparation he has been cleared by the bishop to baptize his wife!!!! It is amazing!

 

So another miracle we saw was we have been asked to be witnesses to a sealing of a recent convert family! We get to go to the Temple again!!!!!! This Saturday.

 

The low point is transfers is coming up next Wednesday, and I've been here for 7 and 1/2 months. It is highly possible that I leave :( Sad day!

 

Hey if you haven't sent those letters to Sister Dupape, there is no more need. Thanks though.

 

Well I love you all so much! I hope all is well.

 

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham

 

P.S. Did y'all feel the earthquake. Bro. Gates called me up and was all worried about y'all, he was going to call and see how you were. I assured him y'all were ok and far enough away that no damage would be done. Presidents home is standing but nothing inside of it is. He used it to teach all on how material substance is nothing compared to the security the Gospel brings. It was great. I love that man! He is so inspired!

Elder Burnham is Special...

 I don't even know what to say about these photos??? You are a special spirit Elder Ryan Burnham

Temple Escort

I'm glad they had a great time at the temple! So did I! If you remember I had been asked to be Bro. Aaron Gates escort. I was so excited! It was a wonderful experience! It gave me the opportunity to reflect on the day I went through for myself. I really enjoyed the training given by the 2nd counselor of the temple presidency. He really emphasized the point that this is the only time in his life that he will go through the temple for himself. All other times will be proxy. (Well I guess when he gets sealed in October it will be for him) But it was a real cool thing to really realize. I had never really paid attention to that point before. All went well and he did great! I only had to help a couple of times. He was a little overwhelmed, but he was expecting it. I am so glad we have the opportunity as missionaries to attend a temple! IT is just 25 minutes from where I am serving! It is a small temple, but it is still the house of the Lord! I feel the same in it as I do any other.

Well I'm glad the wedding was good. I'm glad you had some fantastic potato salad. I'm beginning to miss my momma's cookin'. Speaking of which, I was thinking; do you still have all those dehydrated snacks? Those would be perfect for a missionary who is on the go all the time! Also the powdered milk saved me a lot of moolah.

So this week I am making the "Burnham Christmas Breakfast" I would love it if you could send me the recipe for the sticky buns!

Well, an update on our area: We are super excited for a Part-Member family! She has accepted a baptism date for the 6th of Sept. and he has setup an appointment to meet with the Bishop this Wednesday to discuss what needs to happen so he can be in full fellowship and use his priesthood to baptize his wife! We are so excited for the opportunity to have started them on the path! We get the privilege of being there every step of the way as well! They are amazing! Probably one of the most humbly prepared people I've met on my mission thus far! Which by the way will be 18 months this Wednesday..... But I don't want to talk about it! ;)

I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to grow! I am thankful for the influence of the spirit in my life! I have never been so happy in my life! Now that I think about it, I've never been so heart-broken, frustrated, and disappointed as well! Funny how there is "opposition in all things!" But the "sweet" rocks the socks off the bitter for sure!!!!!!!!!

Well I love you a ton! I know where I am at, and I am focused! I love this work and know the divinity of it's origin! I am Sooooo thankful for the opportunity to be employed in the Lord's occupation!

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Ford Burnham

Ryan's New Suit

 Ryan thought he looked SO good in his new suit he had to send us some pictures! I do have to agree!

 Miss you handsome Brother

Ryan is Awesome

Ryan sent this picture a while ago and made us all smile!!!

Roller Coaster Week

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.............. my sanity!

 

It's been a roller coaster of a week. We have seen far more miracles than anything, but it's been crazy! So we had an amazing FHE at Bro. Gates home with Tyler and his sister. We watched "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration" The one shown in the Joseph Smith memorial building. It was amazing! Not only did it help Tyler understand the story of Joseph a little better, it increased my testimony so much! I'm my daddy's son, I balled in front of everyone! It was a powerful experience! After that experience, Bro. Gates thanked me for the opportunity to host the FHE then he asked me to be his escort through the temple! It was amazing! I'm a little nervous to be an escort, but I'm soooo excited for him! He goes through for the first time next Saturday. I have truly come feel like a little brother to this man. HE is getting married October 25th and I have also been invited to that sealing!

 

Next miracle: Martha, She is a next door neighbor to a member. She is wanting to quit smoking and so she asked the member if the "elders of her church" could give her a blessing. We sure did! We gave her more than just a blessing! We gave her an opportunity to come to Jesus, through learning of the Restoration. She is accepting and open. We are very excited! After that lesson we went to a members home for dinner, and they had invited a friend over top hear the first discussion. He is probably one of the most prepared individuals I've ever met on my mission! He has studied almost every religion and read all holy books except the Book of Mormon. Which he is reading now! It was awesome to tangibly see the cogs all fit together for him. It was so apparent on his countenance! It was great! He stopped us mid lesson and said "I've learned something" (we were teaching of the apostasy) He said "So Jesus' church was lost in it's entirety, and it is now again on the earth as the Latter-Day Saints, It makes sense. I've always wondered what happened to Christ's original church." I couldn't contain myself any longer! I just started smiling and getting all giddy! I don't know how many times I told him how awesome and amazing he was! We invited him to be baptized, but he gave a sincere response that he would like to receive more knowledge and read more before he committed. He understands the magnitude of baptism and isn't taking it lightly. So of course we settled with a soft commitment.

 

Next miracle: A recent convert's daughter just turned 8 and is getting baptized! They came to us wanting know how to put together a program. It was cute. He has the priesthood and will baptize her! It's awesome!

 

I got to go to the temple Friday night with another recent convert. We did baptisms for her parents, and daughter. It was beautiful! Elder Buhler and I actually got to go and do initiatorys beforehand. that was an awesome experience!

 

So this past week I did exchanges with the Zone Leaders and man was that tough. Satan was working pretty hard that day. We had some great lessons and committed some okies to be baptized and all, but I was attacked with an unrelenting barrage of critical thoughts. It was a very depressing day. I don't know what it was. It may have been me subconsciously fretting teaching with my leader, or not wanting to be judged or something. I don't know. All I know is it was horrible. I broke down. Lots of tissues used. I just kind of vented out to my leader. I shared the struggles of my mission, what I've always been worried about etc. What really stressed me out was the next morning I had to train my district. How could an emotional mess train? Well I have a testimony of prayer! He somehow made it possible for me to give a decent training. Then that night we attended the temple and I've never looked back. It's like it has never happened. I have gained a stronger testimony of the temple. I don't think it's going to be possible to live in the world today without attending the temple as frequently as possible! It was much needed!

 

Well I love you all, the weather hasn't been too crazy in OKC. We have gotten some earthquakes, all the Okies talk about these earthquakes like they are more devastating than the tornadoes they have. It's quite amusing. I'd take an earthquake over a tornado anyday!

 

Not a Second Wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham 

 

 

This is the OKC 2nd ward Quad at "Pops", there are thousands of different flavors of Sodas and Bro. Lusk took us.