Humility and Gratitude (Week 63)

My Most Dear Family,

I write to you in humility and gratitude today. Yesterday at Church President and Sister Robertson attended our ward. After church President told me what had happened. It was a bit rough. I had to take some time to read in the Book of Mormon, pray, and write a little bit. The thing that has helped me the most so far is the gratitude. Thanking my Father in Heaven that He blessed me with such a wonderful Grandfather who was an example, friend, and support to me. Grandpa was the best example of charity, love, and enduring faithfully to the end.  I am so very grateful for the plan of salvation and the power of the priesthood that binds our family together. Thanks to the gospel I can have peace of conscious even though this was hard news for me. I am grateful to have my Savior that heals my wounds and gives me the strength to carry on and continue in his service. I know grandpa is in a better place and that I have one more angel watching over me.

Here are a few of the things that have helped me.
• 2 Nefi 9:18
• "Express gratitude for your challenges and adversities and what you can learn from them. This will open the door for the Lord to bless and help you."
• 2 Nefi 9:52
• Alma 7:11-13
• "The enabling power of the atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity."- David A. Bednar
• "Grace-Divine means of help or strength given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ."-The Bible Dictionary
I had a big paragraph written about the miracle week we have had and I just accidentally deleted it, so I will sum it up in a few sentences. We have seen so many miracles this week. We have been able to teach a lot more lessons this week. The new investigadores we found are really great and interested. Two of them have a baptism date. Norma and Cristina. We found Cristina on Saturday and she didn't think she was going to be able to come to church. But the Lord blessed us with a miracle and she showed up to church all on her own!
Well I love you all so so so very much and wish you a great week. Find Joy in all of the tender mercies of the Lord and show him Gratitude for all you have. This is what has truly blessed me this transfer and weekend.
Love you
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

1 Nefi 17:51
PS- I would like to wish a very happy birthday to Molly Goodrich! Love you and hope you have a great day :)

Dad, Mom, Ashley, and Jack,
I send you my love, hugs, and kisses.
Love, Hermana Burr

       

Gratitude-What a Tender Miracle it is in our Lives (Week 62)

Dearest Family,

I have been focusing on gratitude this week. Every time I felt a little down I began to think of all of my blessings and I couldn’t help but to be happy. I have noted a change in my attitude, positivity, and faith. Even my companion noted a difference.

I love this quote: "Thankfulness is measured by words. Gratitude is measured by the nature of our actions." - David O. McKay

In Church we were talking a bit about faith. I love faith! We live in this world by faith. I know this is in Spanish but I wanted to share it anyway:

“en esta época, como en todas las épocas pasadas y en todas las que vendrán, la necesidad más grande que existe en el mundo es el tener una fe activa y sincera en las enseñanzas básicas de Jesús de Nazaret, el Hijo viviente del Dios viviente. El hecho de que muchos rechacen sus enseñanzas da más motive aún a los verdaderos creyentes en el evangelio de Jesucristo para proclamar sus verdades y demostrar con el ejemplo la fortaleza y la paz de una vida digna y bondadosa..."

I love this because it explains that in all times the biggest need that exists is to have an active and sincere faith in the basic teachings of Jesucristo.

My favorite day this week was Saturday. All of our appointments fell through, but in this time the Lord guided us to find an inactive member.  She joined the church in Paraguay 20 years ago. when she moved here she never found the church and she has been in Argentina for about 18 years. We are excited to help Gladis on her return path to the gospel. She was so happy to have talked with us and is excited that we are here to help her return.

Also, this day we talked to Flavia. She is an investigador that Hermana Santos, Hermana Laurie, and I found when I was here for divisions as HLE Viajante. Hermana Alvarez and I had not been able to visit her since we have been here; all of our appointments fell through. It was a really special moment for me when she walked out of her house to open the gate. I felt like I was watching my long lost friend approach me. I have so much love for this investigador. It made me even happier when She remembered who I was and was happy to see me. She has so much potential and I know that she will be baptized with time. I say with time because she told us to come back after summer vacation because she is going to travel.  This was a really tender moment for me and I am so excited to help Flavia on the path to conversion.

That night we were talking to a less active. She is living with her boyfriend that is an investigator. The Hermanas were working with him when we showed up. we are working with them now and we talked to her and she said that this Tuesday morning they are going to sacar un turno to be married. yay!

Have a Fantastic Week!

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Burr

Hermana's Alvarez and Laurie

Adjuntada la foto del Concilio. Les Amanos!

Zones

The first week in Hurlingham B! (Week 61)

Family,

What a wild week I have had! It has been a big adjustment to have an area again but I have enjoyed teaching people that I will be able to visit again. The first lesson we were in I felt the spirit so strongly when we were verifying her compromiso (commitment) and I shared my testimony of the Book of Mormon with her. In that lesson we taught her the plan de salvacion and she accepted to talk to her husband about marriage!

My area is Hurlingham B. In the zone of Caseros, the city! My companion is Hermana Alvarez. She is 23 years old and is from Columbia! This is her last Transfer! The funniest part is that everyone tells us we look like twins :) my companion and I arrived in a whitewash-meaning we came to this new area together at the same time.

Here are a few scriptures that marked my week:
• Mosíah 23:21-22 I am pretty sure I have read this scripture almost every day this week! I have learned a lot from it :)
• Luke 1:37 This is my Scripture for the Year! I know it is the truth! (For with God nothing shall be impossible.)
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 is the scripture I am going to meditizar this week, a big thanks to Jenna for sharing it with me!

Here is my favorite miracle of the week:
It was Friday the 1 de Enero (January) and we had been having a good day. We found an eligido (chosen one) in the morning and found some less actives that we had a lesson with.  And we had one other lesson. The rest of the day we were talking to everyone and no one wanted to listen to us. At 8:00 in the night we decided that we were going to visit a woman that the hermanas that used to be in this area had contacted, Eliana. We knocked on her door and she accepted us. She is 23 and lives solo with her two daughters Alma (3) and Luz (1.5); she separated from her novio who is now in jail. We taught her the restoration and it was a lesson filled with the spirit. She accepted to be baptized on the 30 of January. We felt strongly that she would be able to arrive for this date. We made plans to go to church together.  The sad part is that on Sunday we passed by and she didn’t answer, we are not sure what happened. Cause we double checked our plans with her Saturday night. We had an appointment today to visit her.

Have a Fantastic week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

The week of Christmas :) (Week 60)

Dearest Family!

The highlights of my week:
• Temple trip
• Talking to my family by Skype on Christmas day
• Helping with the mission Christmas party
• Feeling the happiness of the season
I had a great week. I really enjoyed helping everyone in the offices prepare for the temple trip, transfers, and with whatever they needed help with. I have learned that I really like helping with the "behind the scenes" work and helping everything happen so the other missionaries have a success and can enjoy the spirit.

I am excited to be going out to work again. It will definitely be a big adjustment for me. I have a feeling it might be like being a refuerzo all over again, but I am excited to be able to focus on investigadores once more. I have learned a lot this transfer. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Hermana Theobald, Elder Slater, Elder Morrill, Elder Christensen, Elder Furtado, la Familia Johnson, la Familia McCllean, Elder Rojas & Elder Millett. They are all outstanding missionaries and I have learned from each one of them about being a consecrated missionary. I am excited to go and apply what I have learned.

I also really enjoyed the temple trip. I was able to receive revelation for what the Lord wants of/for me and what I need to improve on. I really love all of the blessings we receive from going to the temple.

Transfers are tomorrow! This transfer just went by way to fast! I am now going to be companions with Hermana Alverez from Columbia! We are going to be the hermana training leaders for the zone and we are both going to arrive in the area at the same time. So we are arriving in a whitewash! Yay! One of the reasons I am excited for this area we are going to is this past transfer I did divisions in this area and we found a woman who is really awesome. I am excited to get the opportunity to teach her again and help her come to understand and live the gospel!

Have a fantastic week!
Hermana Burr

T'was the week of Christmas :) (Week 59)

Dearest family,

I hope you are all enjoying this week of Christmas and are sharing the love of our Lord and Savior with everyone you come in contact with!

As I reflect on my year I feel so very, very blessed. My Father in Heaven has given me the very best gift I could have ever received, and that is to be in His service and witness all of the miracles He does in the lives of His children.

I have been thinking so much about my Savior and what He means to me. Every time I think about Him I can feel the spirit and my testimory grows that he really is my Savior and He is the most important person in my life. Without my Savior I would not be here today. None of us would. We must show our gratitude daily for him and his sacrifice by living righteously, following his commandments, and repenting and accepting his sacrifice when we make mistakes. If I could sum up who the Savior is for me in one phrase it would be this...Christ is my Savior, Redeemer, Brother, Example, and Best Friend.

I invite you all to reflect on who Christ is for you.

This week we did divisions in Caseros, Hurlingham, and Parpue Leloir. Here is just a little bit of what I have felt and learned this week... I love the assignment I have been given. I have learned so so much and I am continuing to learn so so much. I have seen so many miracles in my life and in the lives of the other missionaries and their investigators. Yesterday I learned an important lesson. The Lord is always helping us. After we have done all we can do He comes in and does the rest. He makes miracles happen. Although it may be hard for me somtimes to see the good I am doing, He is always going to make miracles out of my righteous efforts.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

A Savior is Born (Week 58)

Dearest Family,

I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season and sharing the joy and the real reason for the season with everyone you come in contact with!

I love the video the Church has produced for Christmas this year. I think in English it would be called something like this..A Savior is Born. Also, I love the video that should be called something like this...Imagine the world without a Savior. My invitation to all is to watch and share these videos :)

This week while on divisions with Hermana Kent we had a really amazing experience teaching the Restoration that I would like to share with you. We were working in a part of their area where they don't usually spend much time. The Hermana had the impression that we should go and visit someone they had only taught once and then their next appointment had fallen through. So we went to visit her. We were teaching her the restoration and we got to the part where we were verifying after the death of Christ, the prophet, and the apostles. We said duirng that time the people were unhappy, what would Heavenly Father need to give them so they could be happy again. She told us that they would need a prophet to guide them. I was really happy in this moment because that is the first time I have been teaching the restoration in this simple direct way and the investigator understood after explaining only once that there was a need for a prophet. We then continued and after the first vision we asked her how she felt and she said peace. We connected this to baptism and invited her to be baptized on the 16 of January. She said she would prepare for that day! We explained how the Book of Mormon is what is going to help her prepare for her baptism and gain her own testimony and what we shared is true and she committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. 

This transfer I have seen such a change in myself and I can see myself becoming an effective capable instrument in the hands of the Lord. I know the training's we are doing this transfer about how to teach simple, direct, and bold are changing me and the mission. I have heard and seen so many miracles from other missionaries as well. Thank you for helpimg me be more worthy of the revelation of God for this mission and for applying what the Lord wants. 

Also, we are now starting the training's on how to teach the plan of salvation so that should be fun! Have a fantastic week!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Burr 

Argentine Christmas package from aunt Marianne. 

fotos from divisions 

Zone meetings for the trainings 

Viaje al Campo! Trip to the Country (Week 57)

Dearest Family,

This week we went to the country! I got to ride a bike and I was so happy! Also I lived in the same place as Hermana Allen for a week! We saw many miracles, here are some of my favorites...

 One day I was working with hermana Days in her area with just her and we saw a miracle that I would love to share. We went to visit an investigator named Rocío. The Hermanas had taught her a few times, they had found her because she was an antiguo (old investigator). We taught her the restoration in the "new way". When we were teaching we helped her understand the need for a prophet and Hermana Days recited the first vision. After the first vision we asked her what she was feeling and she said "something weird, like He was talking to me." We helped her understand that this was the Holy Ghost testifying to her that what we shared was true and that it is what is going to give the true peace and happiness in her life. We told her that she can feel that way every day through being baptized. We extended the invitation baptismal and she said that she couldn't be baptized because she was not keeping all of the commandments. We told her the missionaries are there to help her change and prepare to be baptized. She accepted a baptismal date for the 30 of January. There are a lot of changes she will need to make. She has problems with most of the commandments but I know that she will be able to change her life and receive true happiness and peace in this life and in the life to come.

Also when we were doing trainings we were doing a demonstration of how to teach the restoration simply and directly. One of the hermanas that was being an investigator told us at the end of the demonstration that she felt the spirit very strongly. She felt the same feelings that she had felt when she was listening to the restoration for the first time. She is a convert to the Church. I know that when we teach with the spirit the people will feel the spirit and be converted. I love this scripture D&C 50:22--Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.

I am learning a lot with this assignment and I am very thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to serve and help the sisters of the mission. I am developing my confidence in the Lord and in myself and learning to be an example and a leader.

Have a fantastic week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Burr

Part of a side letter to parents, thought you might enjoy reading:
I do not have a set schedule. We make plans and then they change, and change, and change again! There are 8 zones and I’m not sure how many districts are in each zone. We travel in all sorts of ways. Sometimes the assistants drive us in a car, or the office elders drive us in a car, sometimes we take a bus and sometimes a remis (it’s like a taxi). I think it will only be for this transfer and then I think there won't be any traveling training leaders again. This morning we had meetings at president’s house and they had their tree up and the house decorated! Also we ate French toast, maple syrup, and eggs! I was in heaven :) In my studies this week I also read about the golden rule! (Nancy’s primary lesson was Do Unto Others). This morning I was reminded of my childhood because an Elder brought his rope to president's house and he had the other elders walk so he could rope them! President and hermana Robertson thought it was so cool, they were amazed! Also I got a few flat packages this week! I think I am going to wait till Christmas to open them. I opened one and saw the letters and thought it would be more fun to read them all at Christmas maybe. But I am going to be using my Christmas trees that you all made me! Thanks I was sooo soooo sooo happy to get them! Well I love you soooo much! Have a fantastic week!
Love you to the moon and back :)