"Come what may and love it": Weekly Letter 7.13.2015

Hello Family!!!

This week was a pretty amazing one!

Lets start off by saying I have such a strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! Every single concept that Christ taught, every single aspect of Heavenly Father's plan and the Authority Christ gave to His apostles is restored on the Earth. I was able to meet Elder Holland this weekend. It was just for a short moment, but is was a powerful one. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ. One thing I loved was seeing him with his family. He's a lot like how I picture Christ's original apostles and the early apostles of the restoration -- humble and full of love, willing to do whatever the Lord asks of him.

As Elder Holland was on sites Saturday, we could feel the Spirit so strong. I don't know if He had anything to do with that or if we were just more spiritually prepared that morning, but I was able to take some of the most powerful tours I have ever taken in my life. I am reminded over and over again that the Spirit is the teacher. When I'm striving to do the best I can, the Lord takes care of the rest. When I'm willing to listen, He guides and directs His servants. Nothing is better than knowing the Spirit is guiding what you're saying. To be honest, I don't remember what I said on most of my tours this weekend (12 tours in three days -- 36 hours on my feet. Whew! I don't know how I survived that), but I do remember the feeling that accompanied each tour I took.

One tour specifically was the American Heritage tour group. It was all recently graduated seniors. Many of which are planning on serving missions or have already received their calls. Others weren't too excited about missions towards the beginning of the tour. Both Sister Merritt and I felt strongly to focus on missionary work in the School of the Prophets. (Not that we talked about it before the tour...it just happened that way. The Spirit is an amazing thing!) Again, I don't remember what was said, but we ended up singing "Called to Serve". I don't know why we felt like we should focus in this way, but by the end of the song, those that were questioning missions were sobbing. The feeling in the room at that time is one I can't explain, but goodness, it was an amazing one!

Second tour and a missionarcle ( <-- you know you're a missionary when you go to type miracle and this comes out. Haha)

Okay, the second tour and a miracle to me happened last night. I was dead tired. (With exchanges and random events happening, I ended up at sites all but three hours this week. My last full day in the area was the fourth of July. 12 hour days at sites are so tiring at times! But I love them!) I couldn't even think through what I was saying. I'm pretty sure I repeated most of what Sister Merritt had said on tour, but I was drained. We took a pretty stressful tour right before, so I was just counting down the hours until it reach 9 o'clock. It was one of those moments that I was either going to start laughing hysterically or crying and not know why. (I promise that normally never happens to me, Mom) I really didn't think I could do another tour. My mission presidents voice was in my head "pull it one more mile" and I just kept praying that I could make it. I really needed sleep. And then the buzz came..."Sister Burns, can you come down and take a tour?" "....yep!" And down the stairs I went.

Anyway, I took the tour and I just kept praying for help. The moment the families walked out of the film a sister came up to me. The senior elder had told me that she had just got off her mission three day prior from Columbus, Ohio. She just hugged me and started sobbing. She told me to love every moment of my mission because it goes by in a blink of an eye. She gave me the motivation to keep going and do what the Lord needed me to do. (Possibly one of my most favorite sisters)

That tour became my all-time favorite tour. We sat in the School of the Prophets and talked about Heavenly Father and the love that God has for His children. I have never felt God's love so strongly for anyone else than I did for those in that room right then. I knew that God knew them individually. He knew what they were going through. All I could think to say was that God loved them. I don't remember what else I said, but every single person on that tour was sobbing. (Including me. I knew the tears would come eventually that day) The Spirit was the strongest I have ever felt it in that room. No one could deny how special that moment was.

I didn't know what those on tour needed to hear, but I know that God know them -- He knows all of us. He knows our ups and down. He never leaves us alone. He is always right there helping us along the way. Sometimes we're just too stubborn to see that or to let Him help us. But He loves us and will never leave us. He loves you...whoever is reading this right now.

I am so grateful for this week. I am so grateful it was so hard and I had to rely on the Savior to help me make it through the day. It's because I had to strive so hard to be near Him that that tour was such a great one. He was there to help me do what I was called to do. Sure, those things aren't always easy, but they are possible through the Savior. And the outcome is so much better than anything I could have thought of on my own.

Needless to say, this week was a highlight of my mission. I don't always get to stay in contact with those I take on tour, but I know the feeling felt in Kirtland will stay with them forever. This is such a special place.

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week! Read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church -- blessings come far greater than you can image! It's free and right in your hand ready for you take. Don't forget how much God loves you!! And how much I love you, too!!

I love you all,
Sister Burns