"A Little Piece of Home"

I am living in Round Valley people!!!! First, the weather can never decide what it wants. Hahahaha! One day, it is blazing hot. The next, freezing cold. The next, it´s raining. And then today, we have hot and rain. Goodness gracious. Decide Chile!!!

Second, dogs. DOGS EVERYWHERE! I feel like I am going to get a dog bite anyday now. Yesterday, jajajajaja, Hermana Lozano stepped in dog poop. It was so funny! Me and Nathalia were laughing so hard. Then all the dogs in the neighborhood, about 15, started barking. ALL OF THEM! And Hermana Lozano was scrapping the dog poop off then 2 dogs tried attacking us. It was so funny. We just had to laugh about it all. Because, what else can we do?

Independence day was sooo quiet here in Curacautin! I think everyone died for 2 days. The celebrations happen 2 weeks before the 18th actually. It was not fun to have a ton of loud speakers right across the street from our apartment and then fiestas that lasted all night. Goodness Chile. 

Our investigador, Edith is doing pretty good. She didnt go to church yesterday, but seriously. Who did? We only have 24 people in church and 4 were just visiting for the holiday. She is trying to give up smoking and doing pretty good! She has started to smoke less and less! YAY! I am so proud of her :) We also have Monica! She is doing good too! She is 27 and took the lessons before but never really committed. But after, in about June, she quit smoking and everything! She was going to go to church yesterday, but didnt because she stayed up til 5am with Nathalia! Tsk tsk Nathalia! 

Anyway, besides that, we didn't get any new investigators this week :( A little sad, but that just means we can work harder this week! Thanks for all the prayers everyone! I can really feel them everyday! I love you all so much :) Chile is treating me good. Besides the dogs that want to kill me. Today is my 2nd transfer! WHA!?!?! So weird. Of course, I am staying in Curacautin for another 6 weeks :) Yay!!!I love this small town :) 

Well, everyone! Have a great week! Make sure to read your scriptures and do the little things! Little things can become big things!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Burnham

 

 

"Miracles"

¡Hola!

This week was about 1409124129830124701234 times better than last! Just because we had so many miracles happen! :) 

We have an investigator, Edith. Oh Edith. I LOVE HER! She is just the bomb. She is about 37 and has 2 sons. Her husband works in Santiago, but she lives here in Curacautin with her 1 son and the other at college in Concepción. We have been teaching her for about 4 weeks now with little progression. She is praying and reading the Book of Mormon, but not attending church and she smokes a lot. We have prayed like crazy for her, because we just feel so good about Edith. She is renting her house, but wants a house of her own. She told us this a few weeks ago. We promised that if she prayed and tried her hardest, she would be able to find a house of her own. 

On Wednesday, we went to go visit her, but she wasnt home. Then about 10 minutes later we ran into her on the street! MIRACLE! She told us that she got a house! MIRACLE! And when she got that news, all she could think about was us. It was so cool. She just had a new light about her. I could see that she was so happy and literally had a new light in her. SO COOL. 

We taught her on Friday and asked her to come to church and she accepted right away!!! She has refused about 2 times in the past. MIRACLE! And so she and her 14 year old son came to church. I know she loved it and the members were so sweet and inviting to her! I loved it :) I love Edith! And she told us at the end she didnt bring her cigarettes, which is huge for her!!!  I am so happy!

This week was just good! And this one will be good too because it is almost independence day for CHILE! WOOOOOO!!!!! :) Lots of Chile flags, good food, people, music, and FOOD! We made pajaritos with Maria Cristinas family. And now, not actual birds. Its like cinnamon rolls. No clue why they call them pajaritos though. Its strange. Hahahahaha! Oh Chilenos and theyre made up words. Today we have a party with the branch! EMPANDAS! Wooooo! I love Chile and the yummy chocolate. 

This morning me and Hermana Lozano went running. I thought I was going to die. But we need to because we both eat so much chocolate! Hahahaha the life of a missionary. Gaining weight and preaching the Gospel. Thats my life now :) 

Have a good week everyone! And remember, PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED! :) LOVE YA!

-Hermana Burnham

 

 

"Choose Your Love and Love Your Choice"

 ¡HOLA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!

 

This week was......well. No easy way to put it. HARD. Super, super, super, super HARD! Curacautin man. Why must you be so difficult. Oh well. I WILL SURVIVE!

 

We just had to travel a lot for conferences and meetings so we lost time there and we had 3 door slams. 3 people. 3! I will hurt anyone that does that because it is the worst feeling in the world to have a door slammed in your face. Anyway. We just had to push back a lot of baptism dates because none of our investigators came to church. So lame. But hey. That just means we have to work harder this week. ¿Cierto? So ya. That's really it! Hahahaha!

 

So today was return and report for all the newbies and trainers. It was SO GOOD! Hermana Bluth man. She is the bees knees. She talked to the newbies and her topic was Choose Your Love and Love Your Choice. Of course, when we see this, we think of like a boyfriend or girlfriend, husband, yada yada. But she compared this to the mission. We all chose to be here on this mission. For me, I never wanted to go on a mission a year ago, but the Lord had different plans for me. He didn't make me go on this mission, but He did tell me that I needed to. It was my choice to come. Not my parents or my friends. Mine! And she encouraged us to all love our choice. AND I DO! Even when this is so hard and all of our investigators are being little stinkers, I love it. It is hard but the more I stay here, the more I love it. I am always shocked by the support I receive from home. You all ROCK MY SOCKS OFF!

 

But as for the investigators, we have 2 really good ones! Florina and Monica. Florina is 57 and is Evangelica. Its kind of like Baptist. She is so sweet and always wants us to come visit her. And then Monica is 27. She has taken the missionary discussions before, but never committed. But now, I know she is ready. The other Hermanas just planted a big seed :) She is so sweet. She should be getting baptized on October 11! We just need to teach her when she is not playing soccer. Everyone here plays soccer! EVERYONE! Its so cool.

 

My Spanish...... It's getting! I feel like I improve everyday, even if it is a little bit. Language study sure helps :) But it will get there! I just have to work at it each day.

 

Well everyone, choose your love and love your choice! And remember that Heavenly Father loves you. Afterall, we are all his children.

 

Con amor,

Hermana Burnham

 

P.S. Lo siento for no pictures :( I am in concepcion today and this computer is ancient. Hahaha! Next week!

"Angel with the Bread!"

Well, this week has been...... interesting. VERY interesting.

All in all, I have fleas. I guess that is karma for throwing a rock at a dog!!! Hahahhaa! But I have just been getting these red little dots all over my legs and my hands that just itch like CRAZY! So then I told Hermana Lozano and she suggested I call Hermana Balden, the mission nurse. So I did and sure enough, I have fleas!!! Hahaha so being super ghetto, I bought RAID and sprayed down my mattress and sheets. And all the entire room. And bathroom. And kitchen. And living room. Its so awful. They itch like crazy. I am now a dog. I have fleas!!!! Darn you Chile for giving me fleas.

Now for the door slam. This last week was really hard. I had 2 people be very, very, very, mean about my Spanish. I wont talk about it more, but just not very nice about me not really understanding Spanish. So I have been down in the dumps a lot. Then on Thursday, all of our appointments (we had 4!) were cancelled. So we just decided to knock doors that day. One lady, oh my. Hahahhaa! She barely creaked open her door and in a harsh voice, ¨Who are you?¨ We are missionaries from............ And then she slowly, without saying anything, shut her door. Can you say AWKWARD!!??!?! Hahahhaha! it was so funny. In the middle of my sentence, the sound of a slow creaking door shutting in our faces. Hahaha! At the time, I was upset, but now I just find it funny. We also had one lady run away from us about 5 minutes after that. So what a FUN day. Not, but we still contacted a lot. We do a lot of street contacting and door knocking. Scary, but it helps me with the language. 

 

Now for the angel. Saturday was another rough day. Just a lot of things. We had a lesson with our investigator, Nicol. I love Nicol! She actually started talking to us on the bus a few weeks ago. But she invited her very stong opinionated friend for the lesson and it was not good. Thats all I have to say. So me and Hermana Lozano were soooo discourage after that. And then I was super hungry. To the point where my stomach hurt. We saw a tiny little bread story and so I was like, hey, lets just buy some bread (the Chilenos always eat bread at every meal. Its the thing here.) And so I asked the lady for 2 pieces of bread and she gave me 4 and then said I didnt need to pay. ANGEL!!!! It sounds dumb, but it helped me realize that there are nice people in the world. Especially after a week of really mean people. She was so sweet. She gave me a big kiss on the cheek and sent us off. (Thats how the Chilenos greet each other. Kiss on the cheek!) 

 

Anyway, I can honestly say that I am so happy last week is OVER! It was so hard to keep going when so many people were that mean to us. When I think about it all, it was meant to make me stronger. Sometimes I dont know what keeps me going during the day because the life of a missionary is hard work. But I know that it is my Heavenly Father who keeps me going. I can feel His presence in my life right now in the mission. I love being a missionary!!! Even if it is hard, I love it. Never have I felt closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

 

Thanks for all the support that I get from everyone I know! You all are the best! :) Try this week not to get frustrated with people that are mean. Look at them like a child of God. Its hard when they are being mean, but I promise that it works. LOVE YA!!!

-Hermana Burnham

 

 

"The celery is huge!"

"Me and Rafa...he is so cool! :)"

 

 

"The 4 Zone Conference"

 

"The Holy Ghost"

I dont have a lot of time to type today, but I do have a story.

2 days ago, me and Hermana Lozano were going into a neighborhood and I just got the sickest feeling. A feeling that we should not go there. So I prayed to Heavenly Father in my heart. I asked to him to give me that feeling again at the upcoming street sign if we should not go into that neighborhood. That that would be like my sign. So when we got to the street sign, I got that feeling again that we should not go. I told my companion and we turned around. I dont know why we were not supposed to go in there, but that is okay. Because I know that the Holy Ghost was watching out for me. 1 Nefi 4:6 talks about this! Such a good scripture. 

Anyway, Chile is great! I got to lead the music in church yesterday. So terrifying. Even with just 30 members. The food here is either really good or bad. And I cant decide if I will lose or gain weight here. We walk SO MUCH each day, but then the members feed us heaps and heaps of food. Who knows. My calves are rock solid now, so thats a plus :) 

It is starting to get warmer. SPRING IS COMING!!! Ya the seasons are still messing me up. Chile is beautiful and I love my zone. They are the best! My Spanish gets better each day. No where near perfect, but better :) 

I love you all so much! Sorry for the short email. I promise next weeks will be longer! :)

-Hermana Burnham

 

"The massive hill I conquered this week!"

"Of course bread and Ecco......the Chilean classic."

 

"I am a dog killer!"

Before you get scared from the title of this email, let me explain myself. There are dogs EVERYWHERE. I mean it too. EVERYWHERE! So many dogs. Its like they have their own little society down here. And theyre all so different. White, big, small, black, labs, pitbulls. You name it and Chile has it! So me and my companion were knocking doors a few days ago and one was just barking and barking and barking at us. NON-STOP. And, if one bites you, you have to get 5 rabies shots. 5 shots. I hate shots. My companion got a dog bite about 4 months and ago and she told me how terrible it was. So this dog, BARK, BARK, BARK. Non stop. Then it tried to bite me!!! LITERALLY! I freaked out. So I go to pretend to pick up a rock and the dog runs away. Thank goodness. But then it comes back and tries to bite me. So I pick up a rock and throw it at the dog. The dog never came back. I felt so bad!!! I threw a rock at a dog! THAT IS SO MEAN! I am a dog killer. Such a dog killer. But I really didnt want to have 5 rabies shots who knows where on my body in a foreign country. No. That was NOT about to happen. But the dog didnt yelp when I threw the rock. So I am pretty sure the Lord understands. 

ANYWAY! Hahahaha besides the dog, I am in CURACAUTIN!!!! It is about 6 hours south of Concepciòn and FREEZING! At night I sleep with about 8 super heavey blanket, my leggings, my pj bottoms, a sweatshirt, socks, and slippers. And I still get cold! Hahahaha! But the weather is starting to get warmer so thats good. There are only about 16,000 people here in Curacautin. A really small town where everyone knows each other. It reminds me of RV actually. So I fit right in. Kind of . Hahahaha besides being super white and not speaking Spanish :) I fit it! Hahahaha they play a lot of Spanish rock music here. A lot! And they love the song that goes like, this is gonna be the best day of my life. Ya they play that a lot. The Spanish here is WAY fast. SO FAST! And they dont really pronounce their s`s here. Like in gracias, they say gracia. Its just how Chileans talk. Really lazy and really fast. But its all good! It will come to me with time :) The branch here is tiny too. Only about 30ish active members go. The church is so small. Relief society is the same room as the sacrament room. I had to talk about 5 minutes in church just right on the spot too! hahahaha the poor members had to listen to my broken Spanish for 5 minutes. But I made it through!

There is a family that just got baptized here and the daughter, Nathalia, is the best! She is 17 and always comes with me and Hermana Lozano to lessons. She wants to learn English and I want to learn Spanish. So we work together on that :) She wants to study at BYU too. I just love Nathalia. 

When you go to a house here, you hardly ever knock on the door. You just yell, ALO! It is so fun! I love doing that! And when it is cold you say, ta helao. Hahaha Chileans just have their own little words so a lot of what I learned doesnt work here. Esta bien. 

We got a new investigator my first night here! Ximena. She has 2 daughters and then her husband, but we didnt meet him. Then when we were contacting in the street (which we do A LOT! Lots of street contacting) we met Daniel. Daniel was so sweet and so nice to us. He is about 22 I think and seemed so interested in what we had to say. I got a good feeling about him so we are going to visit him this week. 

Well, Chile is fun! I dont understand anything anyone is saying to me, but thats okay! I will learn in time! Its really pretty here and the people are always so sweet, Besides punk 16 year old boys that laugh at just the way I say Hola. Jerks. Anyway, the REST of the people are sweet. Chile is the bomb :) 

-Hermana Burnham

 

"My 'mom'.....Hermana Lozano."

"I totally biffed it the other day and got a huge scab on my knee." "I know I am so cool!"

"The view from our apartment."

 

Off to Chile!!

¡HOLA NACHOS!

Thanks for the brownies and soda mom!!!!!! My district basically loves you!!!! We all drank that delicious orange crush soda and gooey brownies. YOU DA BOMB!

Hahahahaha how are all mi amigos in the good 'ol states?? I hope you guys are all good. Things in Mexico are great, besides the super loud thunder at night and hearing gun shots! Hahahaha what can I say, its time to leave Mexico. 

Seriously though. I am ready to get on and go to Chile!!! Yesterday, my district got to be the hosts and hostesses for the newbie missionaries coming in. It was so fun! I got to check off certain things on their orientation packet and lead them to the supplies office to get all the fun Spanish books. I actually met 2 Elders going to the Scottsdale Mission! I was so excited! They told me they looked up Eagar and read all about it. Hahaha so I told them to say hi for me when they get to Eagar! It was just fun to be a hostess and think about when I first got here. I was so excited but so nervous! I get to do that all over again too in just a few days. Go from being at the top to being at the bottom. Ill be fresh meat out there!

So I leave the CCM on Monday!!! DOUBLE YAY!!! My flight is at 8:25 pm, but I leave the CCM around 4:30 pm. The first flight goes to Santiago which is an 8 and a half hour flight. So gross. I have never been on a flight that long and so I guess its just a new experience. Then we have a 3 hour lay over in Santiago and then hop on a plane to Concepción which is only an hour flight. We get to Concepción around 10am Tuesday morning. So crazy to think that I will be in Chile for that long! I cant wait!

This last week here at the CCM has been so bittersweet. Me and the Hermanas in my district became such good friends with a group of Hermanas from Mexico and they were so stinkin´ hilarious! None of them spoke English so that helped a lot! One, Hermana Nunñez, man she is crazy. Hahaha! She told us a story about an evil calabasa (pumpkin). Hahahaha she is just so funny when she talks. We asked her to make fun of our white accents and she did it perfectly. This girl. I miss her already! 

Well folks, next time I write, I´ll be in CHILE!!!! YAHOOOOOOO!!!!! I cant wait to get there and serve the people Heavenly Father has prepared for me. I firmly believe that I am going there for a reason. I love the Church! I love the Gospel! And I love my Savior! Have a great week everyone!!!

Amor,

Hermana Burnham

P.S. Where are my Tenneys? I am quite upset with you 3 at the moment. I know nothing about your lives and it saddens me greatly. Please write me! And that goes for everyone! WRITE ME!

 

 

"Me with my brownies and soda......thanks MOM!"

"Yes....that is hail. Crazy weather here in Mexico!"

"Delicious Orange Crush soda and gooey brownies!"