Chat? ...Who Would Have Thought?

Hello all!! So much to write with no time to write it all.

This week started off with a sore throat. NOOO!!! It turned into chills, headache, clogged and runny nose, cough, and I sound like a man. Oh the joys of the MTC where everyone gets sick!! It definitely added an extra challenge to training. I felt horrible talking to people and spreading the nastiness. Hopefully it goes away soon. 

 

We got another companion! Her name is Sis. Johnston and she's from Virginia. She's serving in the Independence Visitors Center. We LOVE her. It was just Sis. Guinn and I since our entire district left on Tuesday. Now it's only the three of us. 

 

On Wednesday we went to Temple Square! (Weird being so close to everyone!! At least in the MTC I feel like I'm in a different state. Ugh) We took a tour and was able to talk to the director of the visitors centers across the world. My excitement for the work we get to do increased ten fold! We have the great opportunity to meet with people from all over the world, send them to the missionaries in their area, and it the meantime, we get to form a friendship and teach them the gospel. That friendship gets to last forever. It doesn't matter if we get transferred or leave the mission all together, that relationship continues beyond baptism. Ahh, I love how it is set up now. Also, I'll be spending a great deal of my time in the Visitors' Center, but we will have an area and proselyting days. I cannot wait to get out there.    

 

Best part of the week, by far, was chatting! Yep, we get to chat. If someone goes to Mormon.org and hits the chat, you talk to VC missionaries from around the world. We had some amazing experiences! Sis. Guinn and I first talked to a guy named Dave. He is an Atheist and was wondering how we share the gospel in areas like the Middle East. We get a lot of random questions, but they always seem to turn into amazing conversations. As we continued to talk, he asked about God and who we though He was. We shared our testimonies and when he had to leave we told him we would always be here to answer more. He seemed shocked that we would want to talk to "the enemy", but would love to learn more about our beliefs and get some answers. The way he talked about God, you could tell he was genuinely wanting to know. He gave us his contact information before we could even ask for it. 

My favorite part about chatting is feeling Heavenly Father's love for His children. We can't see them or read their body language like you can in a normal lesson, but God sees their hearts. He knows what they need and what will help them grow closer to him. As we talked with Dave, I felt God's love for Him. We never once felt defensive when he asked some questions. We could tell how honest he was and I haven't felt that much joy towards someone I haven't met before. Chat is wonderful. 

Yesterday we were able to chat with a girl from Northern WI. She was amazing!! She wants to be baptized more than anything and knows the gospel so well! She has never met with the missionaries and lives over an hour away from the closest meeting house, but she has studied the gospel on her own and knows that when she's 18, she's getting baptized. It was amazing feeling her spirit from all the way over here. The sad thing is that our computer crashed before we got her e-mail. But I know God loves her and is leading her to Him. 

 

They have a mock VC in the MTC that we practice in. Kinda funny actually. The teachers have volunteers come in and we'll teach one for 15 minutes and then teach another and another right after. It's a bit different than a normal lesson. You don't get to know who is coming before and plan specifically for them. We have to pray and follow the guidance of the spirit even more closely. We prepare a lesson and follow the spirit. I'm amazed that, no matter who comes in, something from our preparation ties into what the visitor needs. Ahh, the gospel is wonderful. God wants to be closer to His children and He'll make it happen. D&C 68:6 has been my theme this week. God most definitely stands by His servants as they share His gospel.   

 

Saturday evening we go back to Temple Square and go on a splits with a sister there (crossing my fingers and get to at least see Sister Snow!) and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such a surreal feeling being there as a missionary and not normal me. 

 

I see Elder Bigger every Sunday, but we're never allowed to have our cameras during devotional. Here's to hoping it happens before I leave on Tuesday! 

Love you all, 

Sister Burns

 

PICTURES!

 

 

Alone for two days when it was just Sis. Guinn and I after our district left. Lonely!!!

Temple Walk!

Selfie!

Introducing Sister Johnston!!! In our "Visitors Center" =)

 

The MTC - week 2!!

Hello!

First off, thank you so much for all of those who noticed my slight DearElder hint. ;) You made every day I received one so much better! And better is an understatement!

Sister Guinn and I received our flight itinerary! We leave the SLC airport at 6 a.m. on the 2nd! Family, I can call you if you're going to be up that early. =) I have a very short layover, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to call then. We're flying Delta though!

We have finished most of our regular training here. Our district leaves Monday morning and then Sis. G and I get to stay with our teachers for two more days until we start Visiting Center training on Wednesday. I cannot wait for next week! I look back at all I have learned over the last week and it stuns me. My testimony of Jesus Christ and my desire to share the gospel has grown so much. I can't imagine what it will be like in a week...or 72. =)

Just so you know, next week our P-Day changes to Friday.

So much has happened since last week! Sis. G. and I were called as Sister Training Leaders and we have had so many opportunities to work with the new districts that came in. (18 Elders and 4 Sisters. Wahoo!)  

Monday-Thursday we were able to teach an investigator in the TRC. Some investigators are members but are acting and some are real investigators...we aren't told which. We loved it! But it was the hardest thing by far. Our investigators name was Chaela. She had bright Pink hair and was so ADD!!! We would start on a lesson and she would never let us stay on task. All she wanted to do was talk. We found it hard to explain that there was a difference between Utah culture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our first four lessons really didn't get us anywhere. She was so focused on Mormon trends or Mormon this. Finally, our last lesson, Sis. G. and I learned to meet her energy and pace and apply what she was talking about to the lesson. Our last ten minutes were the most powerful we ever had with her. She was finally able to see why she would want and need the gospel in her life and it wasn't the culture she needed. Her complete outlook on life changed. She wanted to follow Christ and have that happiness and end goal. Ahh, it was amazing feeling the Spirit and knowing that Chea felt the same. It was wonderful! We did find out that she is already a member though...she was completely pulling our legs! I absolutely love her though and we learned a ton.

We're still teaching Troy and are loving it! (I can't remember if I told you about him or not). Heart stop moment though. We walked in for our lesson and he wouldn't even look at us. he told us he didn't think he should have us come over anymore. Ahh, not what you want to hear from someone that you know that he knows he wants to be a better person. As we talked to him about his worries he realized again for himself that he knew he felt God's love and he knew he needed to follow Him. Favorite lesson of all! I loved seeing the change in his eyes. Just wonderful. =)

I'm starting to get sick of the food, but it's better than what I ate at my apartment. =)    

Last night I got a call from the front desk at 10:03 to come get an important package. Heart stopped! I thought I was in trouble. We RAN to the front desk (by the way, we're supposed to be in bed at 10:15 and the front desk was across campus. We got there, completely out of breath, and there were flowers for me! So cute! Thank you to the Nance's for that! Made my night! Thank goodness I wasn't in trouble. =)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is such a wonderful thing! I am in awe every day over the Love that God has shown us in sending us here with the opportunity to learn and grow. I love my Savior and the constant love He has for all of His children. Such a blessing to know that for myself.

Love you all! Until next week.

Sister Burns

My district Sisters! S. Gilbert, Bradshaw, Guinn, me!

MISSIONARY!!!

When in the MTC... Do as the other missionaries do!

Our Sister Training Leaders, Sister Groesbeck and Sister Ochs (Oaks), before they left for Louisiana

Elder Johnson!!! Sometimes I wish I could hug Elders....

I see him all the time!

Sister Guinn and I!

Whirlwind!

Hello all!

Can I just start off by saying how much I LOVE the MTC? Wow, it is such a wonderful experience. I have never been in a place where I have felt the Spirit for so long and so strong. I absolutely LOVE my companion, Sister Guinn. We have so much in common and I swear we were meant to be sisters and companions. God sure knew what He was doing when He put us together. The first moment I meat here I could just feel Gods love for her. just an amazing experience.

The first day here was such a whirlwind! My host got lost on campus, so I was late to my first class, but that class was amazing. We were so busy all day long and when we finally were able to rest, it was hard to believe that it was still our first day. I have been tired ever since. But I love it! When we are serving God, He takes care of us. =)

Yesterday we were able to teach our first "investigator", Troy. I loved it! That morning, me and my companion were nervous, but after personal and companionship study, there wasn't a worry in the world. I cannot describe the peace we felt as we went into the lesson. I am so grateful that we get to teach by the Spirit now instead of using flip charts. We talked about faith and action and seeking answers to prayers. It was exactly what our investigator needed to hear. The Spirit was so strong in the room and, even though we stumbled a few times and forgot a pretty important step -- like setting up a return appointment (Oops!!! Thank goodness for practice!). We know He felt closer to our Savior and I know, as we continue teaching Him, we will be able to invite him and help him find the way so he can find the answers for himself.

*Excited moment!* Sister Guinn and I get to go to Temple Square our last week in the MTC! I've heard for other Sisters that previously served at Visitors' Center, that that week is their favorite! I can only imagine how wonderful it will be! I will give a full update on how that goes. Only two and a half more weeks!

I love being so close to the temple and having that extra blessing right at our finger tips. We get to go with our Branch today and I can only imagine how wonderful it will be. By the way, I LOVE my district! I've said that before, but they have grown closer and closer to each other and are such a blessing to me. The discussions we have together and so touching and I love them.

Campus is pretty good. I am just glad I wont be here for nine weeks. Only three. =) I am already sick of the food though. I feel like I live in the cafeteria. Ha. The weather has been perfect here! My favorite part is doing Personal and Companionship study in the Utah air and drawing closer to my Savior. I don't know why I didn't take more time doing that before I got out here. So, I'd like to invite you all to do it now! It doesn't have to be an hour, but spend time getting to know your Savior. We all need Him in our lives and if we come closer to Him, He will come closer to us and I promise we will be guided to the answers we are seeking.  

Anyway, I ran out of time, but I love you all!!

Sister Burns (That's me!!)

P.S. I LOVE DearElder and real letters!! *Hint* *Hint* =) Pass the word along... (Note from her Mom - let's flood her mailbox with letters! Either from Dearelder.com (which is free while she is in the MTC or regular snail mail.

Her MTC Address is:
Sister Eleena Burns
SEP02 OH-CLE
2009 N 900 E Unit 133
Provo UT 84602)

Go to the Ohio!

Well, here goes! My mission letters will be posted right here. Crazy! (I wouldn't mind a letter or two back.)

Miss you and love you all!

Goals

My past few blogs have been a little depressing. Time to change that!!!

I'm going to write a list full of goals that I am going to work towards in order to make my life better. I am the only one to can control how I feel and I am strong enough to not let negative things get to me like they did a few posts ago. "Come what may and LOVE it! No matter what happens I can enjoy life and find the good in everything. Now on to that list....

Goals in my pursuit of happiness:

1) SMILE! I'm normally really good in this area, but I've noticed lately that I've been lacking. I am going to smile all the time. Smile when I'm feeling sad, angry, confused, alone... Smiles can only do good and I need good in my life. 

2) TRUST IN GOD. Try not to solve everything myself and put my whole heart and life in God's hand and let Him lead.

3) BREATHE! When life isn't going planned, just sit down and breathe. 

4) CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY. Enjoy life -- the life I have now. I can only live this life once and I will only be this age once. Stop looking to the future and hoping for this I do not have. Instead of wishing, go forward living life and preparing myself now for the things to come. 

5) DON'T ENVY! I look at others happiness and envy what they have. In the words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf... "Stop it!" I have an amazing life even if I'm not married, or have children, or have a home of my own. I still have so many blessing that I need to be grateful for. Those stages of life will come when I am ready. If I try to control what happens in my life and plan out every single thing, I will and always am disappointed. Have goals, but remember its Gods timing an not mine. Keep my head up and be happy. My time will come.  

6) 20 SECONDS OF COURAGE! When good things come into my life, but I am just too chicken to do anything about it I am going to take 20 seconds and do it! I am never going to go anywhere in my life if I do not take chances or move forward. What is the worst that can happen, right? 

7) TRUST EVERYONE! I'm not saying trust people that should not be trusted. I'm just saying trust people that deserve it. Not every guy is going to break my heart. Yes, some will, but how will I find the one that wont if I don't let them get close enough to find out. Even if they do break my heart, God is always there to heal my heartache. The Atonement is not just for sin -- -it can heal my pains, too.  

End of goals for now. More to come. 

Rain

I have decided that rain makes me sooooooooo happy!

You'd think that with everything being so dark and gloomy I wouldn't like it at all, but I can't stop smiling.
Rain boots...umbrellas...the wonderful smells.... I honestly couldn't be happier.

 

This is how I'm feeling right now!!

Pure happiness!

Lesson learned: Even when things seem so dark and "dross" there are wonderful and amazing things to be happy about! God is wonderful -- He had to give us rain (or trials....whatever fits into your situation) and I'm thankful He gave me a way to be happy about it.


Yep, BANANANANANANANANA moment of the day.

- Eleena

Smile

I am so grateful God gave me a great smile!!!

While talking to my professor today she asked about my boyfriend.... and of course we had to go through the whole discussion about how I don't have one and the joys of stupid boys. Anyway, when she ask how long I've been single and found out its been all semester she was so surprised! She's like, "Eleena, I wouldn't have noticed at all. You handled it so well. I never see you stop smiling!"

Another example was last Monday at HEG when one of the guys in my group said how much he loved my smile and how I always make him happier.

And then when my bishopric was changed a month or so ago, the old 1st Counselor said how much he loved my smile.


Things like this make me want to smile even more! I never realized how much of an influence I had on others and how grateful I am to have a way to help and lift others. I still have so many problems and not everything is perfect, but I love that I have that one thing that can help make things right. Yeah, I am blessed!!!

Annie! One of my favorite lines.

BANANANANANA MOMENT! God loves me. =)

- Eleena