Weekly Letter 6-29-15

Note from Sister Burns' Mom - my computer was giving me grief tonight so you get pictures, then the letter, then more pictures. Enjoy!

Favorite people!

We're going to the zoo!

To top off the day . . . . I got a package from the Porter's!

The Kirtland Sisters

Hello Everyone!

Transfers were this week. None of the Kirtland Ward sisters (us and Sister Morrison and Sister Allen) were transferred, BUT! President likes throwing curveballs into everything and he combined our areas! So now we have four sisters serving in one, gigantic area. It's so nice! When one set of sisters is at sites, the other set is in the area. Normally one area gets neglected during the summer because we're always at sites, but now that wont happen. =) 

So far, it has been great! Last Friday we went on exchanges with the other Kirtland sisters to introduce the people we knew to the new sisters. Sister Morrison and I were together and it was a day full of miracles! We were able to teach eight lessons and get some service in as well. The great part was we stopped by two less-active members and they were home. With both sisters we were able to see such a light and a desire to change in their eyes. Both of these Sisters are going through some hard times, so the fact they we showed up at just the perfect time was such a miracle! One sister is going to come back to church and the other is going to come out on visits with us and hopefully we can get her some fellowship so she feels more welcome at church. 

Later that day we were at a members home teaching a lesson and it went horribly! It was just a long day and we kept mixing up our words. As we left we laughed all the way to our next appointment...like the laughing-so-hard-you're-crying laugh. Once we arrived at the next home we decided to change our lesson plan because we didn't want to butcher it again. Well, we flipped the page in our General Conference Ensign and decided to share a thought on "A Saint is a Sinner Who Keeps on Trying". The moment we began sharing the message with the members, they just kept saying how this was exactly what they needed. As we finished the sister asked if she could have my Ensign. Well, mine was all marked up with personal notes, but we had a fresh copy in the van that I found only a few hours before. The sister walked out with us and as we were doing so she told us how that talk had directly answered her prayer. 

I love how everything worked out. If it hadn't been for that not-so-perfect lesson, we would have taught something completely different. But because of that moment we were able to help one of Heavenly Father's children in a very direct and personal way. I love moments like that!      

Last night Sister Vellinga, her daughter and her daughter's friend came to sites. Sister de Kock was able to give them a tour, but after the tour all the site sisters stood on the balcony and sang "How Firm A Foundation" for Sister Vellinga (It's her favorite hymn -- verse seven especially). It was such a wonderful moment to spend with them before they left. 

So now the Vellinga's are heading back to Utah and the Browns should be here by now. Welcome to Ohio!! We are so excited to have the Browns here, but this is sure going to be a change. And that's the only constant here. =) Bring it on. 

Anyway, I love serving here. Every single day I am reminded how much Heavenly Father knows me and knows exactly where I need to be --- and right now I need to be in Ohio serving in the Kirtland Ward. I know that Heavenly Father loves all of His children and the Savior's atonement was made for each one of them. I love serving a mission!!!

I hope you all have a great week! Happy 4th of July!!! Watch some fireworks for me! And maybe eat a hamburger or two.

I love you all, 

Sister Burns

ELEPHANTS!!! Best day ever!!!

I'm one happy missionary!!!!

Weekly Letter 6-23-15

Hello All!!!

This week was great! The sites are getting so busy and my two favorite moments are from two tours I was able to take. 

Tour one: Previously Elder Jarvis

We were able to take this man on tour. He said he had never been to Kirtland before...we believed him. We gave him the best tour, told him of the Ohio Cleveland Mission and the wonderful things we get to do here. All the while, he was being really distant and wouldn't talk or open up at all. It's hard to give a tour when you can't get to know the person you are taking on tour. Anyway, we had been to the Sawmill and the Ashery and were halfway through the store when Sister Merritt asked if he had ever read the Doctrine and Covenants. He said the elders on his mission tried to get him to read it while he was serving, but he never did. We invited him to read and then took the opportunity to ask him where he served hoping that he'd open up if we got him talking about it. 

Well, he stopped for a moment....and then slowly said...the Ohio....Cleveland....Mission...

 

The little stinker was pulling our leg the whole time! Everything we told him about Kirtland and the mission he already knew because he lived it! Goodness. He served two years ago and is coming back to visit those he taught. We had a good laugh about it and then had a great tour. He was completely open after that and shared some amazing experiences from his mission. 

My favorite was about a less-active they were trying to work with (most of what we do in Ohio) and they hardly got to meet him. They would knock and knock and there would never be an answer. One day they felt prompted to attempt to knock one more time. They brought a member and that was so key! The man opened the door and finally let them in. The member told the man how much he was needed in the ward. They left and Elder Jarvis got transferred. He didn't hear much about it until a year later when he was transferred back into the same stake and was attending Stake Conference. The man who was once less-active was sustained to be in the high council and was a speaker that day! A year after that when Elder Jarvis returned to visit his mission, he found out that the man who was once less-active was now the Bishop! Miracles! 

It just goes to show that "many of the things you can count, do not count. Many of the things you cannot count, really do count." (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/on-being-genuine?lang=eng) Elder Jarvis had no idea that man came back to church, but he came. Elder Jarvis didn't see the fruits of all of his efforts, but God did. That's the most important part. As we strive to do God's will, it's always going to be better than we could imagine -- even if we can't see it at first. 

Tour two: Sister Pugh and her brother

This tour actually was a few months ago, but I was able to see some fruits this week. From my perspective, we were taking a member couple and the Sister's non-member brother and his wife on tour. The brother was such a little punk! (Family, think Matt Tabolt style) He was so funny though and we just had a blast on tour! He really opened up and seemed to love being there. We took some classic pictures and off they went. 

Sister Pugh (the member couple) sent some pictures yesterday and a letter to give to Sister Heckert and I. Best moment! It was the pictures we had taken on tour. In the letter Sister Pugh told us a little bit of the back story. Brother and Sister Pugh and her brother (Jerry) and his wife were coming up to Kirtland to go to the Holden Arboretum. Sister Pugh had been praying the entire time that she could get her brother to Kirtland. Well, they finished up at the arboretum early and Jerry said that he knew how important Kirtland was to them, so he'd give in and let them come. 

Well, insert awesome tour! 

This is what Sister Pugh said in her letter to Sister Heckert and I: 

"You left quite an impression on him and his wife. We had a lengthy discussion on the way home and continued answering more questions the next morning during breakfast. They came to visit us this past week and had more questions. I know they are far from becoming interested enough to thoroughly investigate our church but I have hope that if we continue to submit them to more missionaries and other information one day they may surprise me". 

Nothing is better than planting seeds! I love seeing people change and feel the Spirit even if they don't know what it is at the beginning. God loves all of His children and He's watching over them. He knows what they need. If we strive continually to follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will be able to help those around us -- even if it's in a little way. Those little things add up to great things. 

Sorry I didn't get to write you all back today. It's Sister Merritt's birthday and we're going to the Zoo with Tyler and Morgan to celebrate! But know I love you all!!!

Sister Burns

Serving at the Strawberry Days Festival in Kirtland! So much fun! I'm definitely coming back for it next year. Me, Elder Ramirez, S. Ramirez, S. Hardy, S. Holyoak, S. Merritt

Weekly Letter -- 6.16.2015

Hello All!!!

This letter is mostly going to be pictures today. Sorry!

Updates on a few people: 

Steve is our investigator and he's so great! He is an older man -- 70s or so. Super short! But so nice. He's a gypsy and has lived all over! He has studied many religions -- Catholic, Jehovah's Witness and everything in between. His wife took the lessons before she passed away, so he's very familiar with our teachings. Because of that, we really aren't teaching him many new things. We're mostly just pointing out the truths and showing him how he can find out for himself. He's already been baptized twice into other religions, so he's not to keen on doing that again until he finds it's true. But he's seeking out his answers and we know he'll get them eventually. He comes to church every week and loves it. He is just so smart and so willing to act to find his answers. That's so key. I'll keep you posted on him. He's great! 

Tyler is the best! I know I say that all the time, but he is! We got to take him on a mini tour and teach a lesson out there. Perks to serving at the historical sites. Tyler is the best!!!! Mission made because of him. 

Sawmill. Thanks Grandpa Joel. =) 

​

You can't tell in this picture, but we went to stop by a home and then it went from clearer skies to DOWNPOURING in like five minutes. There was a moment that we could hardly see. Ten minutes later, it was over. Never leave the house without your umbrella here. It rains all the time!

You know when the camera never does God's creations justice?

​

Sites are getting crazy busy, but I like it that way! We are hardly ever in our area though.

Saddest moment of the week....saying goodbye to President Vellinga and his family. Let's just say I haven't cried that much since....the MTC. He officially leaves the 29th, but he had a final mission tour and we were able to have a meeting with him. He is the best. I didn't realize that coming on a mission I would meet so many amazing people that would change my life. I'm so grateful I listened to the Spirit, pushed away my fears and went. Biggest blessing ever! 

I love you all!! 

Thank you!

Sister Burns

I Love To See The Temple!

Hello!!!!

This week has been great!!! 

I GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE SOON!!!!! 

I have never been more happy in my entire life. I knew I was temple homesick. but now I see how truly temple homesick I was. There is a feeling that is in the temple that exists no where else.  So many people are seeking for peace, praying for peace, fighting for peace, and so many of them don't know that that peace is in a magnificent building right in their backyard. 

We all need that peace. I need that peace. In Galatians 5:22 is says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith". As we enter the temple we feel such a strong peace that cannot be duplicated my man. That feeling is the Spirit testifying of the reality of Christ and of Heavenly Father. I know that the temple is the House of the Lord and as we feel that peace, our faith in Heavenly Father and the Savior grows and grows. I am grateful for places like that in this crazy world. 

There is not a better place in the world. 

Other happenings:

Just Sister Merritt and I driving through Mentor on a pretty, sunny day. Nothing too exciting.

Preparation Day clothes for the Temple Visitors' Center (Community of Christ)/Historic Kirtland Visitors' Center (Us) picnic yesterday! I like pants!! But shockingly, I love my skirts more. The mission does crazy things! =)

I know what you're thinking....it's root beer! From the Community of Christ gift shop. Yumm.

I played...for about one minute....and then we learned to hula. Oh yeah.

It's the lake. Hard to see though.

And the skyline from the same spot!

No filter.

Nancy is my favorite! She lives in Kirtland and gives tours at the temple. Zach is one of their interns from England!

​

Tours are going great! We are getting so busy and I just LOVE it! I get to meet people from all over the world. Favorite tour of the week was taking a tour group of 115 youth from Highland, Utah (I only had 20 or so of them). They had all graduated from high school just days before and chose this as their senior trip. They were all so amazing. Their goal as a group was to give out 450 copies of the Book of Mormon while they were driving from Utah to New York and everywhere in between. Some of their stories were amazing. Like talking about the gospel at Cedar Point or Cracker Barrel. One lady actually started crying when they gave her a Book of Mormon because she had been praying for it. Ahh, so amazing! I love serving a mission!!!!!!!

Also, Steve, our investigator, has been coming to church every week for about a month or longer. We're having our second official lesson with him tonight. He's pretty great!! We wouldn't be meeting with him if it wasn't for his member friend. Member missionaries win again!!!

Well, I'm out of time, but know that I love you all and the gospel is true!!! Nothing, absolutely nothing, is better than knowing that and we all can, too! =) That's the amazing part. 

I love you all!

Sister Burns 

P.S. Did I mention that I get to go to the TEMPLE?!?!?!?! =)  

Weekly Letter - 6/2/2015

Hello All!!

I spent all of my time emailing others, so sorry this will be short. 

I just had to tell about yesterday! Miracles!!

I made the goal to call three people no matter how busy sites would get. When sites get too busy, we have to split companionship's and take a solo tour. Well, it was busy, so we all got split. Sister Merritt took a tour and I got to call people while I waited for another tour to come (miracle #1). As I was waiting for a chat or call to come through, three voicemails popped up in my box. I listened to them all (one was blank) and didn't know any of them. Normally, people can get your specific extension and call you, but I never gave these ladies my extension, so I'm still not sure how they ended up with me (miracle #2).

They were both requesting free DVDs. I called them both back and would love to tell you about Kimberly! Most of the time we give out Finding Faith in Christ or Restoration DVD pass-a-long cards, so that's what I thought she was ordering. Anyway, I called Kimberly back and got a hold of her the first time I tried (miracle #3). She told me how she found a card on a table (miracle #4) that told her about how families can be together forever and she wanted to order the DVD about it.

I was able to talked to her a bit more and she told me how her and her husband had recently lost their 2-year-old son within the last year. She told me how she was religious, but knew there had to be something more. She is so prepared for the gospel! (miracle #5) 

I was able to teach her about Heavenly Father's love for His children and that He has a plan for each one of us. I told her how she can be with her son again and that there are missionaries who can come to her home and teach her more about it. She accepted the invitation immediately! (miracle #6) We continued to discuss God's love and then I was able to set a time where I will call her back and talk more about it (miracle #7 in the making). 

I guess what I'm getting at is there are so many miracles all around us and Heavenly Father loves every single one of His children! My favorite part about serving a mission is seeing that Heavenly Father truly is involved in our lives if we take the time to look for Him and allow Him into our lives.       

I love you all! Look for the miracles today. 

Sister Burns

If you're teaching a lesson, you might as well make it fun....

Tyler's missionary! (A.K.A. him)

Plan of Salvation!

A day of service!!! First we planted flowers all over sites!

Then I was on exchanges and we helped the Benally's move in my old area! I love Shaker Heights!

Five hours of service! Nothing is better!