Lots of Love

Dearest Mother,

 

Thank you so much for the package! It truly made my day. I also received letters from Pres. and Sis. Tolboe, and G-ma & G-pa Burnham. This week was great! Our numbers don't show it, but it was. So for my birthday dinner we were supposed to go over to a families home, but Bro. Rex was sick so we just took it home. We had some delicious enchiladas! That has been the only Mexican food Ive had out here. Talking about that meatloaf and biscuits was not cool mom! Well tell the Hawkins congrats for both baby and recital from me. Tell the boys to all go on missions as well! :) Sara always does well, I don't understand her crazy anxiety throw-downs! I'm sorry to hear about Sis. McRae. Let her know I love and appreciate her. 

 

So no we did not even know about helping hands, But we raked a senior sister's backyard that was infested with snakes and brown recluses. I thought I was going to die! 

 

For living prophets, you could have each of them choose a talk from this last conference and ask them how they might be able to bring it up while talking with a friend or friends, and challenge them to do so then tell them you want to hear about the experience next week. This will help them learn the doctrinal points taught by our leaders and help them be more comfortable providing missionary work. For scripture study, boy that might a little tougher, I actually will send home a form we got from President Taylor about 50 questions the BOM answers so you could make copies and ask them to answer them. For reverence you could do an object lesson, have one of the kids start singing or talking about sports or something, then have one of the other kids try and bear his/her testimony. Then that can segue into bearing testimony. Are we just reciting words we have heard others using or are we actually sharing our beliefs with people? Is what we are saying being confirmed by the Holy Ghost or is it just filling a time slot? If the spirit is not there it will not pierce the heart of those who hear. The question should be; is there anything you cant learn from President Monson about following the Spirit?! 

 

Well I love yall to death! Thank you for all you do for me! I'm loving every moment out here! I know this is exactly where my Heavenly Father wants me to be! I love this mission! I love my comp.! I love the Lord! I love my Savior! I love my family! I love this gospel! I have a testimony of it, and want to share it with all! We just need to OPEN OUR MOUTHS! This is probably the biggest thing I'm working on at this point, surprising right? Elder Burnham having an issue talking, whoda thunk it?

 

Not a Second Wasted

Elder Burnham.

Happy Birthday

Well it looks like I have a full plate of things to do! I will try my best! I'm now old enough to serve a mission :) If I can succeed in doing these things, I do believe it would be a mission record! haha. So we did here about the tragedies that had occurred. It is always hard to understand why such obstacles arise, but I always feel comforted and encouraged by the words in 1 Nephi 3:7 and D&C 122:5-8. I know that through the atonement we ALL can be strengthened, if we will just expel the "beam from our own eye" and turn from our carnal, natural, sinful ways and return to the fold of Christ where we can edify one another and bless one an others lives. What greater thing than service is there? Was it not Christ who in all his power and authority told his great apostles to "feed my sheep." Now I have never fed sheep before but I imagine they don't just come strolling up to some stranger who has some food. No, you need to gain a certain amount of trust and then you can administer to them. Is not every single person a metaphorical sheep? Everyone has problems, trials, challenges. Has it not been taught over and over, that if we turn to acts of charity we will be blessed and our own burdens will be lightened. The Lord does not give us anything we cant handle, then why run and hide when something gets difficult? I have come to a firm testimony that the best way to overcome/deal with opposition is to take it full stride/ head-on! We are all brothers and sisters no matter race, gender, or religion! We need to take every opportunity in serving! I hope I haven't been too preachy, this week has been full of craziness that has all boiled down to "just go out and do!" If we second guess ourselves or convince ourselves that someone else is going to take care of it, you are just denying yourself and your family eternal blessings! I don't know about anyone else but I want to rack-up as many as possible! So Saturday Elder Neil L. Andersen, Bishop Davies, and Elder Soares all came down to OKC and had a mission conference! What an experience! He had some great things to say! First he addressed an issue of some missionaries complaining about not going foreign! I think I've gone foreign :) He said that the U.S. missions is the bread-basket for the church! Without the membership strong and willing here how would it have been possible to spread the gospel to other countries! It wouldn't have been! Basically he told them to shut up and remember who called them! Not a man in a comfy chair looking at a screen with your picture on it, but our Heavenly Father! He addressed some issues of disappointed missionaries not seeing the results of the the seeds planted. He addressed "inch by inch it happens. Your testimony will be recorded in the hearts of these people. No moment it wasted." He also talked about the people of Oklahoma having a strong faith already, and that we need not be intimidated by this. He said "Rejoice in Christ with them, and don't be afraid to learn from them." I love the work I'm participating in. This is truly God's work. I love the feeling of when we get into a home and teach of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The Spirit has such a powerful presence. If we stay obedient, and strive to do all we can then the Lord will make up the difference! I am so very thankful for my family who has supported me, and continue to support me. I love you all. Thank you mom! Thank you for teaching me how to iron! Ive had members and missionaries admit to me that they never learned, so they just through the shirt in the dryer and that's there ironing. haha I love that we had home-cooked meals and that I was able to pick up some skills in the kitchen. I'm a 19 year old boy and I know random facts and I owe my desire to know more to my parents. With out y'all I would be nowhere. I love you so much!

 

Not A Second Wasted

Elder Ryan Ford Burnham.

Poem

Two by two

They go about their chores

Of knocking on someone elses' door

To tell them of the plan

And salvation of mortal man

To tell everyone they see

Of the eternal love that can be

The glow that is within can come forth

To wipe away their sin

And their eternal growth can begin

To our Heavenly Father's kingdom above

That is filled with His eternal love

This all can come to you

When you see them walking.....

Two by two.

Struggles and Miracles

This week has been a struggle, as well as full of miracles. We found out this week that two of our investigators watched conference at home. YES!!!!! And they really liked the marriage counsel that was given, which surprised me that that is what they really got out of it. I was so excited, I'm sure I had a big goofy grin! Those same investigators, the Roberts, have committed to being baptized the 25th of May. We are so excited for them! We are running out of lessons to teach though. We will be watching the restoration tomorrow with them. We have been struggling to get them to read the Book of Mormon. We leave commitments but they have busy, hectic lives and never get to it, so we read when we visit them but that isn't as effective as them doing that personally and gaining that divine witness. It's so frustrating! Any ideas?

 

 Well Elder ___ who was in Ada as well has gone home. He has had depression and anxiety, and said he can't feel joy out on the mission so he went home Thursday. I'm going to miss that man. Transfers are this Thursday, and Elder Jones will be getting a new comp. Because of the increase of missionaries new districts have been formed and Ada has been made its own. So our district has 4 elders and Elder Anderson, my comp., has been called as district leader. So this will be interesting. 

 

So Elder Jones has this thing called an ab roller, and it is killer but I love it! He has been staying with us in a trio since his comp went home. He brought it over and I fell in love. I need to find one! 

 

We are still teaching Ying and he has agreed to start coming to church. He plays in a band at another church but he said he wants to check ours out so we are really excited with his progress! We gave him a Mandarin Chinese Book of Mormon and he got really excited it was real cool! He is just soaking up the Gospel like a sponge! I wish Sis. Richardson was here to be his fellowshipper :)

 

 We have received notice that for like the next 4 or 5 transfers we will be receiving up to 25 missionaries each, 22 came out with me. President Taylor and his family have two more transfers before they leave. I'm really bummed I really like them. This Friday is a mission conference and Elders Neil Anderson, Davies, and Soares are speaking. It should be a real awesome experience! I love this work. I love this mission. I love my awesome family. I love my companion. I love the Book of Mormon (how is your reading going?). I love my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior.

 

Not a second wasted

Elder Burnham.

Conference was amazing

Dearest Mother and Father,

I love you guys sooo much! I'm super jealous of you getting Adi but whatever at least I got to see her, stinks to be Sean! :) haha. One of the biggest things I miss is good Mexican Food! But I do like bbq. One of my favorites is called Rib Crib! mmmmm good. That boy is crazy! All of that stuff is soo much fun! Slap him around a bit! Its so weird to think Momma is going to be sooo young! I really like that quote mom. That means I will be gaining my first year of experience this month! Well conference was amazing! I cant believe I never really cared to listen to conference! I regret it sooo much! I was very good at watching and letting the talks go in one ear and out the other. But now I enjoy it so much! I think having someone that I want to receive personal revelation for helps out a ton. And when I'm a father/husband I will be just as excited to hear the counsel of our leaders. Yes I am tightening the nuts..... now. So I guess conference made some headlines with a women praying, I think its so funny what things get printed these days, because we are under a microscope. I think one of my favorite talks might have been Sis. Dalton. she laid down the hammer! That woman is a powerhouse.  So dos it look like Jenni and Bud are going to go for that home near Ustach? So are y'all "catching the wave?" I hope so this work needs to go on stronger than ever before! I hope you are praying for families or names to give to the missionaries, but not just stopping there, going out with the missionaries! Or inviting the families and missionaries over for lessons. Its so critical that members get active in the missionary work! Every member a missionary just like Henry B. Eyring stated in the Saturday evening session! "Put your shoulder to the wheel push along!" I love being out here! I love the families and investigators the lord is teaching through me. I love my companion. I love my amazing hilarious dorky family. I love my brother and his example to me. I love the leaders of the church. I love my mother and father. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father.

Not a second wasted,

Elder Ryan Burnham.

I forgot this little experience.

 

This past week has been amazing, and to top it off we received prophetic counsel from our leaders! This past Monday the four of us elders here in Ada were able to participate in a blessing for a non-member friend of a sister in the ward. She had been having some neck and stomach pain. Elder Jones anointed and Elder Hopkin sealed. It was amazing! During the blessing we all felt her jump, we thought we might have hurt her neck. Come to find out she told us afterwards she felt a shock wave come from our hands into her heart and neck. She couldn't feel her pain anymore and she claimed to be a little freaked out. We told her how healing comes predicated on faith, and testified that what she felt was the power of the priesthood, and the Spirit. I have never witnessed something so tangible and amazing as that. It was such a testimony builder as to what we are doing in our Heavenly Father's work, and we have been granted special power to administer to his children.

MTC pics

Fantastic

That is sooo Awesome!!!! What a great missionary experience mom! Thank you for sharing that! I am so glad to hear of the work furthering! I hope that man realizes the blessings that will come through his personal conversion! What a great opportunity for your new missionary to see the power of the Lord preparing the elect! So did Tony comment on the Easter activity? Did he understand it? So elder Anderson and I are teaching a man named Ying. He is a foreign exchange student from China. He attends the university here because his parents want him to go into business management. But... he doesn't want to do that. The culture is so different here than over there. He is doing it because he has that strong belief in responsibility/duty. He would rather play and study music. So secretly he is playing in a band at one of the Churches here in Ada. Which I have a firm testimony is the Lord preparing him for us. He has been exposed to God, Jesus, the Bible, the Holy Ghost, and all these christian beliefs. We taught him The Restoration, and he just soaked it all up! He was very pleased to find out that we explain things so much better than the pastors of the Churches, and he understood and believes that Joseph Smith was the only one with authority to restore our Lords church. He is golden! We are working to get him a Mandarin Book of Mormon (you should ask the elders to get tony one) so he can better understand the words and teachings. He feels it is his obligation to meet with us, so we will be meeting with him this Saturday. I'm so excited. I wish ?Sis. Richards? from Salida ward was here to be our member fellow shipper. But we will make due. We had a very nice Easter. A brother in the ward invited us over for dinner, which was not mom's cookin' but it was good. He also invited a friend of his who is not a member or investigator...yet. We actually received a call late last night saying that on today at 3:00 she would like a blessing from us, so we are thrilled for this opportunity for her to feel the power of the Priesthood, and the Spirit. 

 

OK regarding Facebook: we received a text from President Taylor stating that we will be allowed to go on just this once, because of the some event Mormon.org was doing and that he wanted us to bear our testimonies and add the link to Mormon.org. So I was "exactly obedient" and did so. I promise I wasn't searching friends, chatting or looking at whats going on with everybody. I was on for maybe 10 minutes then jumped right off. It actually felt really weird getting on. And I couldn't remember my account info. It took me a while to get on. But I think it was a good idea. Ask Jenni if anyone commented or anything on it? I'm curious to know the effects. any non-members comment? If so direct them to the website, or missionaries! I know this is going to be a busy week with the kiddos around, but I'm curious to know of some people's addresses :) I love you! Also do me a favor and look up the "Red Rock Roosters" the man that fed us used to be in that band, and he has 3 platinum records on his wall. Or have Dad check them out. 

 

This week has been fantastic! Miracles upon miracles! We were able to get into a less-active's home and talk with her. Oh boy what an experience. So she has been less active for probably 25 years. And she has had a tough life. Well come to find out she has some hereditary thing where it is difficult for her to maintain a child for the whole pregnancy. She said she had lost around 5 babies. And she really wants to have another child. She has one boy who she calls her miracle boy. Anyway, after she told us this, I was prompted intensely to promise her she would be capable of having another child if she were to repent, and come unto Christ, go to church, and become active again. I was so scared. I did not want to make this promise, I don't know what I'm talking about, I am no professional doctor or what not. I was afraid of being chastised and rejected. But I couldn't ignore this prompting. So I took a deep breath and made her the promise. She turned and looked me in the eye, turned back and said she had never thought of that, that it had never crossed her mind. And that it made sense. Man was I relieved! We committed her to going to church yesterday, but she still show up. I am sometimes so frustrated with free agency! Why doesn't she understand the blessings and the spirit that is received from church attendance? Gahhhh! But I'm not done with her yet! ohhh nooo this is just the beginning! I love this work! I love the challenge this work gives me! I love being here in Ada! I love my family! Not just my immediate, but my spiritual brothers and sisters! I love my companion. I love the two other elders serving here in Ada. I love this ward. I love my Heavenly Father, and his son Jesus Christ. I love what They have done for me! I love that I can return a fraction, to them by serving my mission to the best of my ability!

 

Not a second wasted,

Elder Burnham.