Hermana's Conference

Sorry.....no letter this week. Hermana Burnham said she is too busy!!

That's Good!

 

 

 

"Day of the Dead"

Halloween in Chile man. ¡NO ME GUSTA! Hahahaha! It is so different here. Well, first off. Chile has the day of the dead thing here. So on the 1st and 2nd of November everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, goes to the cemetery and they decorate their familes/friends graves. Hahahaha! Dad the head stones here are so weird. I will take a picture some other time and send it to you. It's actually kind of like the ones in the pictures Holly sent. But ya! So we spent 3 hours in the cemetery talking about the plan of salvation. That was fun! Hahaha not really. I was being sarcastic. None of the people wanted to talk to us or they were all from out of town, so it was kind of hard to have success. But we did talk with 2 different ladies and they accepted right away for us to visit them in their homes. So fingers crossed that we can go visit them! :) But Halloween in the night. Oh my gosh. They were teaching throwing eggs at random people in the street (and I prayed my little heart out that I wouldn't get hit by one. Thank goodness I didn't) then a church here is totally against Halloween and sang weird hymns on the side of the road, and no ONE answered their door for us because they thought we were trick or treaters, and almost everyone had family over so we couldn't visit with them. It was crazy. The missionary handbook is TOTALLY lying when it says holidays are better for teaching. ¿A DONDE? 

Anyway, today I found out that I will be getting a new companion tomorrow. It is actaully something that never really happens in the mission. I will be getting an American companion who has the same time as me in the mission. So I am just a little bit nervous. Okay. I am VERY nervous. It scares me to leave my mission mom, Hermana Lozano. She has been the best mission mom I could have asked for. She is so much like Christ. I don't want to say goodbye to her because I know there will be tears. There were already tears this morning when our district leader told us our cambios! But I can do it. I will have to wait in Victoria for 5 hours though in the bus station for my new companion and with about 4 elders. That won't be awkward AT ALL:........

Anyway, this week was good! We taught a lot of new people and contacted a  LOT this week. Curacautin is kind of hard to work in because it is such a small city and I feel as if we have knocked every door in Curacautin. But it is good. Little miracles happen to where I know that we still have more doors to knock and more people to meet. I was reading a talk this week form Elder Cornbridge and something really stuck out to me. It was so cool. Its a quote from him and he said, "Life is hard. Not the Gospel". How simple but yet so awesome! Ya. Life is beyond difficult, but the gospel is not. All that we are asked to do is follow Jesus Christ. That is it. It was really cool to read that. Life is hard and that is why we need the Gospel. 

Also, I was supposed to teach the Principles of the Gospel class this week, but we didn't have it because none of our investigators came to church and none of the recent converts either. Ya. That was stinky. But I learned so much from preparing this lesson. It was about repentence. One thing in the manual that really stuck out to me is that every morning we should wake up and ask ourselves, do I have the spirit with me? And then strive all day to keep the spirit with us. And at night, we need to repent of all the mistakes we made that day. And also, to repent everyday. EVERYDAY? Ya that was so different for me to read, but it makes sense. We are all human and we all make mistakes everyday. That's why the Atonement is so vital for us. Without it, we can't become perfect or be forgiven. 

I am so grateful for the Atonement and what Jesus did for me. I know he suffered for all of us individually and He did because He loves us all so much. We knew him before this life and we will see Him again after this life. I know that is true. 

DISFRUTEN SU SEMANA :) 

Con amor, 

Hermana Burnham

 

"Our last Sunday together. I am going to miss Hermana Lozano so much!"

 

"Eduardo's birthday.....14 never looked so good!"

"TORTA! Me encanta torta :)"

"Elder Contrerras pranked us with a fake cambio. I was in the shower and Hermana Lozano yelled at me to get out because Elder Contrerras was calling for cambios What a turkey! I got the floor all wet for a prank call!"

 

"Prayers are Answered!"

Not too much happened this week. Hahahaha! It was just kind of like a flat line. 

We had some cool stuff happen though! We had 2 investigators in church!!! WOOO!!! Orobia and Ramòn. They are so cool. Orobia is kind of older and is the sweetest thing ever! I love her. We called her yesterday morning and said we would walk with her and then we got to her house and she wasn't home. So we called her and she was all, oh I am in the church. What? Orobia. Hahaha we said we would walk with you! Oh goodness. It was crazy. Then Ramòn is about 50.... I think. On Friday he said he would come but didn't want to wear a tie because he doesn't like them. But, he showed up to church super early and wore a tie! And a full on suit! It was so sweet. They both instantly made friends in the branch and loved church. It was so cool. 

We  have been struggling a bit in our branch here. We have a LOT of inactives. A lot. We only have about 18 or 20 people each week in church. Then yesteday, we had 29! 29 PEOPLE! That is so cool. For about 12 weeks now, in all of my prayers, I have prayed for the members who are inactive to start coming to church again. For 12 weeks, this has been a huge worry for me. Then yesterday, my prayer was answered. It just goes to show that we need to be patient when we pray and ask for things. Because the Lord has perfect timing and we don't. It was so cool to see these members in the branch. I loved meeting them and also just seeing all the chairs filled. I know it is not about numbers in the branch, but about these members keeping their covenants and being happy. It was nice to see that prayers really are anwered. It was a testimony to me that if we pray with real intent and have patience, our prayers will be answered

I testify that Heavenly Father really does hear our prayers and will answer them. No matter who we are. He will answer and he listens. He WANTS to answer our prayers. We just have to do our part, and that is to act. Pray and act, then He will do his part. 

I hope you all have a great week! Remember, pray is the way! There is no other way :) 

Con amor

Hermana Burnham

 

"Sopapillas and Manjar........beyond delicious! It's like caramel."

"Exchanges with Hermana Contrerras"

"Hermana Degroff......the Arizona Hermana's"

"The Hermana Conference"

"

"Family Home Evening with Hermana Paola and Coni"



"Family Home Evening with Roberto Carlos.....so fun!"

 

"Hermana Matias.....Mi mejor amiga :)"

 

"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!"