"Come what may and love it": August 2015

Weekly Letter -- 8.24.2015

Hello Family!

This week was great! We were able to have two lessons with Sammi and she was able to come to all three hours of church! (I went to Young Women's for the first time in like 6 years. So weird) She is progressing in the gospel and so willing to act on her own in order to find answers. She doesn't know if God exists. Prior to our meeting, she said she was atheist. We talked to her about finding out if He's there and how we can find answers. It's a lot like a science experiment (her dad is a scientist, so we've been applying the lessons to her understanding) and you have to try it out, read the scriptures, go to church, follow the commandments, pray and in His timing, you will find your answers that God is real, that He loves you and you are His child. She is already finding answers and it has only been two weeks. Miracles happen!

Steve is getting baptized this Saturday!! I've heard he is so excited and ready to do it. I probably won't be able to make it. but I'm beyond excited for him! Miracles happen!

Fun moment this week for me. We were teaching a recent convert of two years and he has had a rough life. We had an appointment with him one evening and he called us a few hours prior and had to cancel. His friends were making him go play basketball. Anyway, we didn't have anymore open spots that week and then he said, "could you come over right now". So we did! We sat outside his house as his friends were sitting in the car waiting for him. He knew he wanted to meet with us and he didn't care what his friends thought. Two white girls in skirts sitting on his front porch in a sketch neighborhood as his friends are smoking and doing who-knows-what while they were waiting and he was completely okay with it. He just kept saying how hard it was to be raised like he was, but the church has completely changed his life. He's going to leave for Utah soon and he's going to college out there. He's determined to show his friends that you can change and the gospel is the key to it. I'm just in awe over his example and how much God loves his children and helps them even when the situation seems impossible to get out of. Miracles happen!

Anyway, that's my story this week. The gospel is wonderful and miracles happen every day! That's what God does. I know that's a truth. Experiment and find out for yourself. =)

I love you all!

Sister Burns

Weekly Letter -- 8.17.2015

Hello Family!

This will be a short one with no pictures. =/

I spoke in church yesterday. It was only 5-10 minutes, so it was nothing, but it was still so great! I just love the Solon ward. I spoke about 2 Kings 5: 1, 8-15 and the hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints" (specifically the second verse). I just like that Heavenly Father knows what we need and as we act on what we should do we can see the miracles. They don't come all at once, but the blessings that come from our patience, diligence and faith far outweigh the trials and hardships we go through. God loves us! =)

Sami came to church yesterday! She is just the cutest thing ever. I love her so much! It just amazes me that a 15 year old would be so brave and so willing to seek and act to find answers.

Ron and and his "8 and 1/2 and 3/4" year old daughter, Olivia, couldn't make it to church yesterday, but they came to Family Home Evening last night at the Ward Mission Leaders house. The Stake President is their Home Teacher, so he was there to teach the lesson. It was perfect for all of the investigators and Olivia is really coming out of her shell. It's so great to see! We're going to have our next lesson with Ron at President Haymond's home. That will be one great lesson!

Steve is still on date for baptism on Aug 29th! Since transfers, I don't hear many updates, but everything I do hear is positive! He is changing so much and he's so much happier!

We did service at the Heritage of Hudson this week. There are some sweeties there! I feel like I have early onset dementia now because of it, but hey, it's great being around them and hearing their stories over and over and over and over again! =)

Also, I hit my one year last week. FASTEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!!!! But the best year.

Anyway, I hope you're all having a wonderful week!! I just love you all!

Sister Burns

I Moved to Summit County! Weekly Letter -- 8.10.2015

Hello Family!!

Well, I spent my morning driving down to the bottom of our area to get a TB test checked that we got last Friday so we can do volunteer work at a rehabilitation/rest home every week. Not fun, but I did it! The only thing that stinks is we have to go back next week and they have to stab us with a needle and do it again! Who came up with this two part TB test. Not my most favorite thing to do in the world....but it's a great way to do some service! Oh the things missionaries will do to help people....

Alright, rewind a little bit. Last Wednesday was transfers and I'm now serving in the Solon South Area with Sister Hancock (Twinsburg, Hudson, and surrounding cities...in Summit County!!)! It's a huge change for me. When I was serving in Shaker and Kirtland I lived at sites and then drove into the area. Solon is a bit different. We live in Twinsburg and drive to Kirtland to serve there Thursday and Friday. It's so different not living right by the Newel K. Whitney Store. I've lived there for a the last year.

So now Sister Hancock and I live in an apartment all by ourselves. It's a bit quiet, but I really do like it. I have met so many great people and I've only been in the area for four days.

My mailing address is still the same (especially for packages):

7800 Kirtland-Chardon Rd.

Kirtland, Ohio 44094

If you want me to get mail Saturday through Wednesday, you can send it to the apartment. If not, I don't mind waiting to get mail on Thursdays when I'm in Kirtland.

But if you want to send me letters, you can send them to:

10827 Ravenna Rd. #102

Twinsburg, Ohio 44087

So let's start off with my first day in the area, Friday:

TB test...not fun.

First appointment with Sami, a member referral. She's amazing and became a new investigator!! She even came to church yesterday! She's 15 and just wants to know if God even exists. She is so sweet and so willing to do the things to find out if God is there.

We met a few members and then had a first appointment with a church headquarters referral, Ron. He has gone through so much hardship in the last 6 years, but he is so open and willing to see how the gospel will help his life. New investigator #2! We took a member with us and they connected on so many levels! Really, member missionaries are so important! Miracles all day.

Saturday:

We went to the Twins Day Parade and gave out over 150 water bottles with attached pass-along cards in 20 minutes. Next time we have to have way more than that! It was fun and there were so many twins!!! You'll have to Google it. Who would have thought...Twinsburg, Ohio.

After that, we were able to do service for a potential. She is the sweetest thing and I just love doing service. There is nothing better.

Sunday:

Church! And I finally got to stay for all three hours. So good. To top it off, Sami was there! She only got to stay for Sacrament Meeting, but she seemed to like it. I like the Solon Ward a lot.

Well there's a little part of my week. It was pretty great. Transfers always take some getting use to, but Sister Hancock is great and I'm so excited for this transfer! Also, Sister Hancock is graduated from collage and she's older like me, too! Not that I don't like 19-year-olds, it's just nice being with her that's all. =)

Anyway, the gospel is amazing! Heavenly Father loves us all! I'm so grateful to know that. It brings so much peace and joy into our lives. Nothing is better than knowing that we are loved by a perfect being who created the universe! If He did that, He can help us with whatever hard times come our way. He loves us. Trust Him. =)

I love you all!

Sister Burns

Elder Roundy was a pretty great District Leader. We had fun.

Last day together as a Kirtland Area.

In the School of the Prophets.

I love my Sister Merritt!

Pretty day at sites.

TWINS DAY!!!

Sisters Hardy, Holyoak, Hancock and me...I ruin the whole "H" thing.

Sister Hancock and I!

Sister Rallison went home. =(

Buildings all over Hudson look like this. It's so cute!

Weekly Letter -- 8.4.2015

Hello World!!

It's transfer week and I'm getting transferred! I wont find out until tomorrow as to where I'm going, so You'll have to wait until then.

I have a very short time to write, but I have to tell you about Steve!!

For those of you who don't know who he is or just need a refresher: He's a member's friend that we have been teaching for a few months now. He's 74, a gypsy, has been involved in so many religions, but he loves what he has been learning here. He's technically not in our ward boundaries, so he hasn't really been able to progress while we have been teaching him. He has a few things holding back from being baptized and we just had this feeling that once he felt comfortable going to the other ward he could finally progress. Well, through so many little miracles, he was able to meet the elders from that ward and he actually liked them! He has been meeting with them for two weeks and yesterday he set a baptismal date!! August 29th! I am beyond excited for him!

It's just so great to see God's had in everything. We needed to start teaching him first because he is really open to girls. We were able to teach him and help him build that foundation. After he had that, he was comfortable with the elders and whalla! Miracles. God knew exactly what Steve needed to grow and progress. Sure, at times Sister Merritt and I didn't know how to help him, but looking back over the last few weeks, God knew exactly what we should do and He led us right to it.

I love serving here. I love the people and the gospel! There is nothing better or more fulfilling. I know my Savior lives. This is all worth it to know that.

I love you all!

Sister Burns