mi semana (Week 25)

Hola Familia!

Well this week was a pretty normal week! Yesterday for church it was district conference. (Like stake conference). President and Hermana Robertson were there and they gave really amazing talks! Hermana Robertson talked about the talk "Beware of Pride" by President Benson. President Robertson talked about Nefi and Laman. How they both left home, both returned to Jeruselam twice, etc. but there is a distinct difference between them. We want to be like Nefi. He found out for himself the truth of the gospel of Christ, he gained his own testimony and acted on it. He never complained. He trusted in the Lord and recieved the many blessings that come from all of this. My invitation to you all is to study about Nefi (in english: Nephi) and apply the principles you learn to your life.

This week I have been studying part of the talk Becoming a Consecrated Missionary by Tad R. Callister. (a thousands thanks to mom for sending it to me!). Something that struck me hard this morning is that all the commandments we have are of the Lord. They are not of man. We need not make excuses of why we can't follow through with them, because they are not of man they are of God. I testify that as we are obedient and try to make Gods will ours that we will recieve blessings in our life.

We are working with Jose who has a baptismal date for 9 de Mayo. Really he is a miracle because when we first talked to him he didn't want anything to do with the gospel and now he is excited and has desires to be baptized. The only thing I worry about is if he really has a testimony. I just need to rememer that he needs to meet the Lords requirements for baptism and he will have more learning after.

We are also working with Fernando. I have seen such a change in him. When we first met him he didn't really want to talk to us. Yesterday in our leccion he expressed his desires that he wants to recieve an answer and is going to pray for help to recognize the answers from the Lord. He really is a golden investigator. And he came to church yesterday! He also has plans with some of the single adult members that accompanied us yesterday to go to institute.

We are still working with Enzo and Mirian. The brother and mother of two of the recent converts in our area. Enzo is reading and praying, but still doesn't have much desire to actually find out for himself and make changes in his life. So we are tying to figure out how to help him.

To retain we are visiting Nazarena, Mariano, Luclia y Franco. Nazarena came with us one afternoon to help us in the missionary work.

The menos activo familias that we are working with are the familia Garcia, familia Sabor, and the familia Kloster.

Any advice or suggestions or just to write, don't hesitate to do so! Love you all so much! I am super excited to talk to you on Mothers day!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

Marianos Baptism

"Look Mom, You Are in Argentina!"

Lujan 

Marianos Baptism

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich! (Week 24)

Hola my dearest family!

Well transfers are this week. We got the transfer call this morning and I am going to continue working in Lujan with Hermana Passos! This is her last transfer in the mission and then she goes home, so I hope to make it a good one for her!

This week we had a huge miracle. Last monday we were riding our bikes back from the grocery store and we saw one of our investigators on his bike. So of course we stopped to talk to him. His name is Mariano, he is 13. His sister Nazarena was baptized about two months ago. Mariano has had the desire to be baptized but his mom wouldn't give him permission to be baptized. While we were talking to Mariano he told us that his mom gave him permission to be baptized. Then that night when we returned to our apartment we found a note that said: "Hermanas my mom has finally given me permission to be baptized. Come to my house tomorrow at 3:15 to talk about baptism. I am very emotional and excited. Mariano".

On tuesday I had a meeting in Ramos (which I really enjoyed and I learned a lot). Hermana Passos and Woffinden went to talk to Mariano about baptism. That night he had his baptismal interview. Saturday he was baptized! We had a lovely spiritual baptism. Then Sunday he was confirmed and received the Aaronic Priesthood. It was a miracle baptism. We weren't planning on any baptisms this week. This baptism made us accomplish our goal for the week and our goal for the month of April for baptisms. This experience strengthened my testimony because I can see how the Lord is preparing his children. I can see His hand in my life. I know that miracles really do happen and the Lord will bless us as we strive to do His will. The blessings will come in His time and in His way.

Also, we found a family of menos activos (familia Kloster). We had a leccion with them and we are going to start working with them. We also had a really spiritual leccion with the familia Sabor (less active). The mother said that she wants to come back to church and that it is her goal. We are excited about that and are going to continue to work with them. Also, the familia Garcia (less active) came to church yesterday. yay! Progress is being made.

We are having lecciones de retencion with the recent converts (Franco, Luclia, Nazarena, and now Mariano) and we are teaching the mother and brother of Luclia and Franco.

We are also working with Fernando. He is really making a lot of progress. At first it was hard for him to accept an appointment to talk to us but yesterday in our leccion he expressed to us that he has found Christ in a new way and his feelings for the Savior. He had made a lot of progress, and still has a ways to go. Keep him in your prayers, he is golden! I have so much faith that he will be baptized! (Keep the other investigators in your prayers as well please).

On tuesday I had a meeting in the offices and my comp stayed in our area and worked. I went with a different Hermana that had to go to the meeting too. I learned a lot and I really felt the love that President Robertson has for me and for each one of the missionaries. He is the best President ever! Also guess what they fed us for lunch after the meeting-- a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, doritos, an apple and carrots! I was in heaven! I loved it. I didn't realize how much I missed the simple things like peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was a blessing in disguise!

Have a fantastic week and love you all!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

ZOO (Week 23)

Hola mi Familia!

First off to answer dads questions about Lujan... There are two branches here in Lujan. I am serving in Lujan 1. Serving in the same branch with my companion and I are the Zones leaders and the District leaders. So overall two companionships of elders and one of sisters in our branch. In the branch of Lujan 2 there is one companionship of sisters and one of elders.

Here is what is happening as far as investigators go, please keep them in mind while you are praying. Thanks.

This week we worked with the ------- Family. Jose (papa), Mabel (mama), Axel, Lucas, and Hernan. We have been working with Axel for a while, he has the desire to be baptized but doesn't have permission from his parents. But a few weeks ago we started teaching the parents. Mabel is a Jehovah Witness and likes to listen, but doesn't really accept everything, she will come with time. This week we set a date for Jose to be baptized, 16 de Mayo. He says that he prayed to have the power to cure and that he cures people. So we have been focusing on the priesthood. He understands that he doesn't have the priesthood, but still doesn't understand everything clearly (at least I don't think, but with time he will). So I am praying that he will clearly understand the priesthood authority and power and all that comes with it.

We are also working with Fernando. His brother, and the family of his brother-wife and daughter, are members. When we first started working with him he said he had a desire to change. There is a member that has come with us twice that went to school with him and this is really helping. He is really sincere and honest in his answers to all of our questions and we can see that he wants to make a change in his life. Yesterday he prayed for the first time in front of us. He says he still doens't feel it in his heart. So I am pryaing that he will recognize, feel, and act more in the promptings of the spirit.

We are also working with Mirian and Enzo. The mother and brother of Luclia and Franco (recent converts). Enzo feels he is wasting time playing too many computer games. He said that he is looking for an objective in his life. We are really trying to help him cause we know this is what he needs. He has desires to listen to us and such, but still doesn't have the complete desire to really know so he can make the changes. I pray that he will have the sincere desire to really act and change so he will understand and find what he is searching for.

As always we are working with the familia Garcia. We also started working with another family menos activo. The Famila Sabor. They are really great. They really believe in the church and we have a spiritual leccion con ellos. The thing they lack is to come to church. They had a bad experience in the church years ago and still haven't come back. But they are starting to understand that they need to.

Also, Hermana Passos and I went to the ZOO!!!! yay! The zoo in Lujan is a bit different cause you can touch the animals! It was fun! We didn't have time to go to everything in the zoo, but we went to all the cool animals! It was just peachy! I loved it, it smelled like a farm and I felt a little more at home!

Have a fantastic week! Share the gospel with others! Remember we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He loves us all!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

The Zone of Lujan

Seminary kids eating pancakes before school with maple syrup!

Pascua Y Conferencia General (Easter and General Conference)!!! (Week 22)

Family!

It sounds like you all really enjoyed conference and Easter! I am glad, so did I! I had a really good week! Conference was amazing. I just wish it wasn't over. Saturday I watched it in Spanish and I didn't really understand that much. I learned much more from what the spirit was telling me than what the speakers were saying cause I only understood part of what they were saying. But it was a good experience and I learned from the spirit! Then on Sunday some of us missionaries that speak English attempted to watch conference in English on the internet. Well it was being all slow, so we just listened to the conference through the internet radio. But it was in English. This was a blessing cause I got a lot more out of it in English and my questions were anwsered. I can't wait to study the talks in the church magazine!

Easter Morning in my studies I was reading about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. I was reading the story in each of the different books in the Bible where it can be found. This really stregthened my testimony of the Savior. I recieved a strong confirming witness through the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God. He suffered and felt the pains, afflictions, and sins of each and every one of us individually. He knows exactly how to help us in each situation in our lives. He knows and loves us individually. He died for us. Through Him we can be cleansed of our sins. He was resurrected and because of this each one of us is going to be resurrected. He is my Savior and Redeemer. He is the Savior of the world and I cannot deny it.

This week we had the video in the plaza. There weren't lots and lots of people, but we had a good turnout. While we were waiting to start there were Mormon messages that were playing. Then we watched Gracias a que El vive and the Bible video of the Resurreccion of Christ. The president of the branch spoke for a moment then we played the videos a few more times. The plaza is in the area of the elders. And now they have two new investigators because of this. One is a family that is searching for the true church. Que bueno! We are going to do the same thing this coming Friday with the branch again. This time it is going to be in our area. I am excited.

Fun fact for the week (and the humor): yesterday was my cumplemes. (This means birthday for the month. It is the day that I started the mission). I have now been in the mission for 5 months! Crazy, I can't believe it, can you?!?! Also, the other day I was just riding along on my bike trying not to get hit by cars, and guess what happened...a bird pooped right on my skirt! Que asko! (How gross). Luckily I got to wash it out not too long after but then it just looked like I peed in my skirt. But it's all good.

Thanks for all you do, have a fantastic week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

Enjoying some Brasilian beans and rice thanks to my companion!

Hermana Passos, Franco, and Hermana Burr (at Franco's baptism).

Bautismo! y #GraciasaqueELvive (Week 21)

Fam!

Como Estan? It feels like forever since I wrote to you! How are you all? It sounds like you are all enjoying spring break with Grandma and Grandpa Burr! Enjoy a good game of mexican train for me!

Saturday Franco was baptized!!! Yesterday he was confirmed and received the Aaronic priesthood! He really was a miracle. His sister, Luclia, was baptized about a month ago. At first he didn't believe in God, but he had interest to see why his sister was baptized. He has a testimony now and is already a faithful member of the church. Before he was baptized he was going to seminary early in the mornings and to mutual, church every sunday, and everything! His mother came to the baptism and confirmation. She is not a member. She was crying the whole time. I really think she was feeling the spirit. We want to continue to work with her and also the other son, Enzo, and teach them and have them be baptized so they can all have an eternal family. To have the happiness that Franco and Luclia have.

The spirit was really strong at the baptism and I know this is the Lords work. This is the work of salvation. Without baptism performed with the proper authority we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, and that is why this work is sooo important, for our salvation. It is a blessing that our Heavenly Father has given us the way back to Him and to receive eternal life and salvation. Keep going strong!

A new video for Easter just came out! It is called Because He Lives! At least I think that is what it is in english! I invite you all to watch it! It testifies of the real meaning of Easter. We remember Christ's Resurrection. I know He lives and because He lives we will all be resurrected as well. We can find the happiness in this life and for eternities. This knowledge helps me daily to have the strength to keep going and the knowledge of what I can do to help people.............Here are just a few of the ways we are going to help all see this video...

This week we are going to help the ward show the new Gracias a que EL vive video in two different plazas. We also showed this video at Franco's Baptism. We gave the people a card to give to a friend. We put the "#GraciasaqueELvive" under our badges to help spread the video also. We are also going to have a "box of gifts" and give people gifts (the cards with a piece of candy" so they can watch the video and share it with their friends.

Please share it with your friends and everyone!

What are your plans for Easter? Are you super stoked for General Conference? I know that I am!! My invitation to you all is to think of at least one question you can take to conference. I promise you that if you listen the spirit with testify to you of the truth and answer all of your questions.

Oh also I want to tell you that last sunday I taught the relief society leccion! Loco!

Have a fantastic week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

Basilica in Lujan

Franco's Baptism in Lujan!

Capacitacion, Capilla Abierta, y BAUTISMO!! (Week 20)

Hola Family!

How are you all doing? It sounds like you had a super, super fun week! I am glad! In all honesty, it has been a week of ups and downs for me. It has been hard trying to adjust to living and working with someone from a different country, but I LOVE my compa, she is awesome!

This week I had divisions with Hermana Woffinden. She is super capa (which means she is a really good missionary) and I learned a lot from her in the short time we had together.

This week we had capacitacion-which means training. It was really good and I learned a lot. President talked a lot about baptizing, retaining, and reactivating. Also about family history work. Oh and there is a new video called "Because He Lives" (At least I think that is what it translates to in English). It comes out this saturday. It is a short video for Easter! It is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! It really brings the spirit. I truly am grateful for my Savior and all he has done for me. I know that because He was resurrected, we will be as well. If we follow the Savior and do what is required of us, we can live with our Heavenly Father, Jesuscristo, and our families for the eternities in the Celestial Kingdom.

Saturday we went to Rodreguez to help with the Capilla Abierta. I really enjoy capilla abierta because I get the opportunity to testifiy to a lot of people in a short amount of time. Oh and guess who was there? Hermana Gerber and her new "daughter". So she is a my "step sister" in the mission, cause Hermana Gerber is my "step mom" in the mission. It was fun to see her and hear how everyone in Padua is doing.

We have a baptism scheduled for this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His name is Franco. He has 15 years. He really is a miracle. His sister was baptized about a month ago. When I first arrived in Lujan, Franco wasn't super interested in the gospel, but he did have a little interest. Things all happened super fast. When I arrived he had two of the lecciones. We had a few more visits with their family. We taught all of the commandments in one leccion and that was crazy for me cause it was all so fast. It was amazing to for me to hear his experience with prayer. One leccion we were talking to him and he said that if he was going to be baptized he had to know for himself. We committed him to pray and tesitfied that if he prayed he would feel the truth. The next day he said that he had prayed. He said he felt a warm feeling in his chest. I was on divisions when he related this experience with prayer to my companion so I don't know all of the details. This is a testimony builder to me that Heavenly Father really is there answering our prayers. That I can trust in his promise that when the investigators act with real intent they are going to feel the truth.

Yesterday we met for the first time with the fmaily of our investigator Axel (14 years). This was a miracle. We had fasted that this would happen and it did. The father is catholic and the mother is Jehovah witness. Axel and his two little brothers have been coming to church with us for the past while now. We wanted to talk to the paretnts about what their children are learning in church. We had a discussion about the family unit and how it is important. The father has a lot of questions. We are going to have to work with them line upon line.

Thanks, have a fantastic week.
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

Capilla Abierta (open chapel)

Hermana Burr and her bike!