"Joseph Smith"

¡HOLA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!

This week was sooooo good and yet, not SUPER GOOD. The mission is seriously a roller coaster ride. That is all I have to say! 

This week seemed to last FOREVER! But it's all good. We had rain almost all week. ¿Que? Ya. I thought it was spring too. Guess not. It was freezing this week. We had one super super hot day, then the rest were cold. All the people say in about one more day, we will get hot again and stay hot for the next 3 months. So there ya go. Weirdo Curacautin. Weirdo. 

We had some really good lessons this week. Nothing really stands out though. One thing though, I have been kind of stressed this week. None of our investigators are attending church and it has bugged me so much. Why have they not gone to church? We invite, and invite, and invite and yet. None. Zip. Zero. Last night I had an emotional breakdown to my companion. Why are we teaching so many awesome people and yet none of them want to go to church? Then it just got me thinking, ya know, we can't make their decisions for them. They are their own agency. And isn't that just truly amazing? Heavenly Father has blessed us with agency. No one can make us do anything. We can choose to do whatever we want! BUT, we will always have a consequence. Always. Good or bad. And it really made me think of our many new investigators. It is their choice, but it is also our choice and responsability to teach them and help them. That is my calling. To help others make the right choices in their lives. I know I can do it through the help of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I just have to be patient with our new investigators. Patience is a virtue: mom :) 

Also this week, I have been thinking a bit about my own testimony. Do I really know that Joseph Smith was a prophet? Do I really believe this? Do I really know that I can repent for my sins or that Jesus Christ really suffered for EVERYONE in the earth? And I never had a lightning stike that said, YES! This is true Hermana Burnham. Believe it. No. That is not how the spirit works. I have seen my testimony grow day by day when I study the scriptures and pray. I love the Book of Mormon. Before my mission, I only read a little. Now, I read it everyday. And even in Spanish, I have grown such a deep love for it. I read it every day aloud in Spanish and holy cow, that has helped me to speak so much more in this language. I love this book! I can definitely say it is my favorite :) Lately in the lessons, I have been able to say the first vision memorized and it has truly made me gain a testimony of José Smith. I know with all my heart that José Smith really was a prophet. I can't deny it! I will never deny it. He was a prophet of God and he restored the Gospel to the earth. I know this is true. I know it, because the spirit whispers it to me every day. During lessons and while I study. I know that Jesus Christ loves us too. He is our Savior. Without Him, we can't become perfect or even return to our Heavenly Father. 

Ask yourself this week, why are we here on the earth? It seems like a simple question, but it is a big question. 

I love you all so much! And I am always amazed at the support you all show me. Thanks for your love and prayers! :) 

Con amor,

Hermana Burnham

"Elder Braga"

"Elder Harper"

"Hermana Lozano doesn't like the flash!"

"English class"

"Hanging out with our peeps from English Class!"

"Taco Day!!!"

"I sure am going to miss Hermana Lozano's cooking skills! Yay for Mexican companions!!"

"The Bluth's......love them!"

"Our big 2 Zone Hermana intercambio"

"Greetings from the Arizona girls!"

"Hermana Degroff and I"

"Hermana Contrerras"

"Hermana Chalmers"

"Hermana Maldonado"

"Polo.....The only dog I like. He is a giant Peanut"

"Luchito. My best friend!! :)"

"My new socks"

"Our Mexico T-shirt day"

"My lunch! The thing in Chile is a huge plate of french fries with chicken, an egg, and cheese. It is soooooo good!"

 

 

 

"In the Right Place at the Right Time"

This week was for sure AMAZING!!! We had some really cool things happen and it just made me realize that the mission will always be up and down, up and down. Good news, no more dog bites :)

This week, me and Hermana Lozano were knocking some doors because 2 of our appointments fell through. We were knocking one house when I looked down the street and saw a young lady, like 20 something, pushing the most ADORABLE little handicap boy in a wheelchair. I instantly got the thought, go visit her. NOW! So I waited for her to get into her house and I told Hermana Lozano that we needed to visit her. We knocked on her door and she let us right in! That is so amazing when that happens :) Her name is Pilar and Luchito is the little boy in the wheelchair, her newphew. We just talked for a bit and then her boyfriend and brother came into the house, Jaime and Cristian. They were all so nice! And she also gave us a big glass of Coca Cola (Ya mom. I LOVE Coca Cola now!) They were so sweet though. We just got to know them and committed them to read the pamplet from the first lesson. We visited them again yesterday and Jaime read the ENTIRE pamphlet. That is so amazing when people do that! Pilar read some, but not all. They were so into the lesson yesterday though. It was cool. Jaime had some doubts about the Book of Mormon so we focused on that a lot. And we also gave them both a Book of Mormon to read. I am so excited to teach them again on Thursday!!! And of course, Lichito is the spirit in those lessons. I love him so much.

Another thing that happened this week was a huge intercambio with all the Hermanas in my zone and another zone. So I had Hermana Maldonado from Mexico for a day with me in Curacautin. Not going to lie, I was TERRIFIED to be in Curacautin without Hermana Lozano. But we did good and taught 3 new people in just one day. We also ran into a really nice guy, Dagoberto. He is from Argentina, but lives right outside Curacautin. We invited him to church and he CAME TO CHURCH PEOPLE!!! Ya. That was so cool. He stayed for the first 2 hours then had to catch his bus back home. But we taught him lesson one and he accepted a baptismal date for November 8th. WOAH!

With all of this though, I have realized that we were always in the right place at the right time. With Pilar and Jaime, we had 2 appointments fail, but we continued to just knock doors and I am so glad that I followed the spirit when it told me to visit her. Then with Dagoberto, I was with Hermana Maldonado and we were helping a lady with her groceries. We walked her to her house in a totally different neighborhood than what we wanted and that is how we met Dagoberto. Its crazy that the Lord knows exactly where to place us and when. I know we ran into Dagoberto for a reason. He is so ready! Ahhh the Lord is amazing!!!!

Besides that, everything in Chile is good. I love spring time in Chile! There are just fields and fields of all yellow flowers when we drive to Victoria. Its BEAUTIFUL!!!! I love it. And its not freazing cold or too hot. Just right :)

Well folks, that is all I have today. Follow the Spirit, because you never know what could happen :) Love you all!!!

Hermana Burnham

"Work, Work,Work!"

 

This week was..... LONG! Hahahaha we traveled soo much and I felt tired almost the whole time. Monday we went to Victoria for a Zone activity, then Temuco on Tuesday for a 2 Zone Conference with Presidente Bluth and Hermana Bluth, the Victoria again on Wednesday for a Zone Meeting, then we had General Conference, but thank goodness that was here in Curacautin. Even if I had to watch it ALL in Spanish. Hahaha! It was a little difficult, but I got the main point of almost every talk. I just need the Ensign in English now! Hahahaha :) 

This week was longer than normal. Mostly because, well. I got bit by a dog. Hahaha! Ya thanks karma! Let me explain. We were running late for lunch with some members and so we were walking REALLY fast. We were just about there when it happened. We walked by a dog sleeping on the sidewalk and I kind of skidded my foot really hard on the ground. It really startled him so he woke up really fast, bit me and ran away. I am pretty sure he was just defending himself becuase it sounded like I was going to hurt him. Well, I panicked. Hahahaha! I screamed and yelled, "Hermana!!! I just got bit by a dog!! I just got bit! AWWWW!!!" It hurt so bad. So bad people. And I was just crying and I couldnt breathe because the dog started coming back! So I was scarred he would bite a again! Hermana Lozano made me walk a little then I sat down on a little cement thing and right then, the Elders called. OF COURSE. Thats what I was thinking because I was a little frustrated. They were all, youre late for lunch and Hermana Molina is wondering where youre at. Hermana Lozano was like, uhhhh we are kind of in a emergency. Anyway, we cleaned it in the Molinas house with hand sanitizer, so great, and then we ate lunch with my leg bleeding. After, we went to the hospital and I got it cleaned and had my first rabies shot. That was painful. And I have to get 5 in all!!! Goodness. 

Needless to say, I was really frustrated. I didnt want to work at all. My mind was just mind and I almost considered telling my companion this and that we should just stay home for the day. But I felt the spirit say to me that I needed to work. Just to give a little bit more that day. So I cried a little bit more and then got to work. We were knocking doors when we ran in to Paola. We met her in the street a few weeks ago, but never visited her. She had us walk with her to her house and then we taught her the most amazing lesson ever! It was so cool. She opened up to us a lot and told us a very special story about something in her life. So special that I kind of dont want to share it. I think it is best to just be shared with us 3. But I know thats what I needed to work that day. We we dont feel like working, we need to work harder! Ezra Taft Benson once said, Work, Work, Work! And that is so true :) I am so glad that I didnt give up and that we had that lesson with Paola. I know thats why the spirit told me to not stay home. It was only a dog bite! hahahaha Oh gosh. The dogs are gonna kill me. 

But all in all, we did okay this week. Me and Hermana Lozano both feel like we didnt do our hardest so we want to do better this week and give it our all! I know we can do it if we followt the spirit and work 100% of the time. A mission is hard. But it is so rewarding when you have a neat experience like we did with Paola. I really do love the people I teach here. They mean so much to me. I love my Chilenos :) Even if they are sketchy hospitals. hahahaha! 

So when a dog bites you, just remember, WORK WORK WORK!!! :) 

Con amor,

Hermana Burnham

 

 

"Cooking for the 18th"

"Empanadas"

"This weird Chilean dessert.....this wheat stuff with a peach. Really good though."

"The sunsets here are amazing!"

"Me and Hermana Lozano with our old zone leader, Elder Reynolds. He is now the Assistant to the President."

 

"Vaca Santa"

VACA SANTA. That is all I have to say. We found out something very awesome about Edith this week. Her boyfriend is...... A MEMBER! Ya. He is totally a member. He was baptized when he was a teenager, but now is just really inactive. He works in Santiago so is only home every other weekend and this last weekend, well a week ago weekend, he told her he was baptized. And then told her EVERYTHING about the church. The Word of Wisdom, the sacrament, temples, Priesthood, everything! It was so cool to see her talk about what he told her. But, she had never known he was a member and they have been together for about 15 years. So she was a little shocked to hear that, but at the same time really happy. It kind of confirmed her testimony of our message. So Edith es muy bien! She is progressing very well :) I love her so much!

Besides that, we had a pretty great week. Oh we had a lesson yesterday that was AWESOME! We were just knocking doors with Roberto Carlos, a member, and we felt the impression to knock a certain door. So we did and the guy, Jaime, let us come right in. We just talked and got to know him. Then his wife came into the room with their one year old son. He was so cute :) And we got to know them more. They are very young and kind of struggle a little bit getting by. We asked them what theyre greatest desire in life is and that is to provide for their son. They had a bunch of bible quotes around their house so we know that they do believe in God and are Christians. They dont really attend any church though. They asked a lot of questions about where we go after this life. We think maybe they had a loved one pass away recently. But they were so interested in what we had to say and asked for us to come back on Friday or Saturday. So yay!!! It truly was inspired. 

Besides that, I am just living the missionary dream in Chile. We had Stake Conference this weekend and President Bluth and Hermana Bluth came. Man. I love them so much :) The whole conference was about members and missionaries working together. WOOOO!!!! Go missionaries :) But it was so good to meet all the members in this stake. More than half of them are converts. It was crazy to see that so many here in Chile are converts. That makes me have so much faith when I teach others. 

The Spanish is coming along! I felt soooo much better this week! I actually taught more than 10 minutes in a lesson. It was incredible. I can truly feel the spirit work through me when I teach. 

Well folks. Thats all I really have this week. Remember though, that every member is a missionary. You dont need a nametag to share the gospel with others. The gospel is for EVERYONE. Remember that this week :) LOVE YOU ALL!

Con amor,

Hermana Burnham

"My study wall"

"They still make Trix....shaped like fruit."

"Thanks for the Dr. Pepper Mom!"

"Me and Nathalia.......love her!"

"Making pajaritos"

"Cooking for the branch activity last week."