Tuesday, April 30, 2013

March 26, 2013


March 26, 2013

Hello :)    Already it is Tuesday.  And already it is the 26th. I've been in CA for one month!! Is it just me, or does it feel like that has flown by?   

This week has been a good one!  Things are going well!!  But we can get to that soon.

My companion, sorry I haven't said much yet!    She is great!  She's a book nerd like me, though she likes sci-fi more than I probably ever will.    We get along great, we laugh and we talk about life and about the mission!   We sometimes randomly sing Les Mis songs. But we both don't know all the words, so that makes us laugh.  She is very "go with the flow' more or less. She says that I push her, cause I'm always like "OK, lets do this" right before we are about to go and talk to someone (gotta stay pumped right!?)   But, I'll share more about her as time goes on!   We don't go tracting much, because it isn't really effective.  We work mainly with members to seek referrals.  Right now we don't have many of those, but we are working.   We learned yesterday a new way to talk to the members about missionary work.    And well... I wanted to ask you the same questions we will be asking them.   When was the last time you prayed (individually and as a family) for a missionary experience?   When was the last time you gave someone a pass a long card?  When was the last time you gave someone a Book of Mormon?   Just simple things that you really can do!  I invite you to pray, especially with tour coming up, that could be a great opportunity!!   Also, think of the people that you know, if anyone could benefit from learning the gospel, and don't be scared, do it!!! Because you can! And they will be so immensely blessed!! :) 

Today... Not so sunny in CA, probably cause we washed our car this morning, so, typical.   We are going on a hike with our district, but I’ll still try to get letters to ya!   But if not, next week!!!

Also, in prepping for conference (SO EXCITED) read Mosiah 2:9.  Think about what you can do in the next 2 weeks to get you ready for conference! We get to hear the words of the Prophet! And who knows, they may change your entire life!  6 months ago they changed mine!

The people here are wonderful. And also hard to work with sometimes!   We saw Amanda (our investigator) on Friday, and she knew why we were there. She has been looking into the church for 4 years.  She knew we were there to get her in gear to be baptized in June.   She said she is still waiting for her answer.    We went back on Sunday and I was so scared, but it was my turn to practice inviting someone to be baptized, or in this case, inviting her to move her date up, to April or May, so it isn't too far away!   Whew, but the Lord was there.   She said she'd really think about it.  We see her Thursday again, so we are praying and hoping that she will know that this is right and that she can do it!!   Also, when we go to see her we will bring Cheyanne with us.  Cheyanne is my age and married, she is a recent convert, and struggling.  But she has a powerful testimony.  She was SOOOOO excited (totally an understatement) when we asked her to come with us to teach Amanda on Thursday.  It will be good for her to serve, and see that she is needed.   We are super excited for that!   

Kirk (the guy that came to church that one week) came again on Sunday. He's solid.  We are inviting him to be baptized on April 20th tomorrow night, WHOOT!   Exciting.   But the Lord does prepare people for us!  We went to a new couple in our ward.  He's a less active.  She isn't a member. Angie is her name.  She asked us lots of questions, and now we have dinner on Thursday, where we will invite her to take the discussions. :)  The work is progressing!   :)   

I am so grateful for this opportunity, that I have to be here in San Clemente, to be sharing what I know with anyone who will listen!  Oh, another miracle, we were talking to a LA who is coming to church more.  Her husband isn't a member, and a marine.  He's been home TWO times when we've gone over to teach.  He may not be ready yet, but the seeds are being planted!

I love you all!   Things are going great!   I don't drive yet, but I am allowed to when/if I am the designated driver.   :) So we'll see when that happens!! :)   But, things are going well.  I take one day at a time.  Cause I can do today.  I can make the very best of today, even if my best today isn’t the same as it was yesterday.  I keep going.  I love to pray!   To be able to talk with our Father in Heaven is remarkable!  I LOVE IT!

Well, I'd better go, but I'll write soon.  I'll share more in letters, sorry I’m kind of all over the place, it's how my brain works!  

Have an amazing week and a fabulous day!  I’ll be here.  The Lord is with us!   :)   Plus.... 274 days till Christmas (I think) we sang Joy To The World this morning.  It made me happy! :) Keep smiling. Keep praying.  Keep doing things as a family!!! :)    I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Talk to you soon!!!! :)

Love, Tay (Sister Burningham) 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

March 19, 2013


Dearest Family!!!                                                                  

And again, it is already Tuesday!! I don't know how it is on your end, but time sure does go by very fast here!!   Things are going well!    We got a new investigator, his name is Kirk.  (He is the one that just came to church)   I wasn't able to teach him, because I was on exchanges, but I'll tell you about that soon!  But he has accepted to be baptized, and we'll invite him for a specific date next time we see him!   But wow!   What an amazing experience.

Ok, so last Wednesday we had exchanges.   I went with Sister Nauta to Laguna Beach.  She is from Bora Bora.  And so... for the first time in a month, I drove.  For the first time in 2 years, I drove on the freeway.  And for the first time in my life, I parallel parked (with the help of her ward mission leader later that night)   Oh man.  So I had some driving adventures.   That was pretty exciting....  haha :)   it was exciting, that is for sure!   That area is a hard one, because Sister Nauta and her companion are both brand new to the area, so they are still trying to meet everyone, it felt like my first night again, not knowing anyone, but we figured it out.  And it was a good experience all around.

We have been continuing to work with several less actives.  Some are very interested in coming back, others not so much.  But we have a few that we visit weekly that are progressing!  
The new email thing is pretty cool, we have an hour or so on the computer, so short emails are good, but even if I can't respond, I love to hear from people!   

If you get the chance to talk to Natasha, tell her good luck, or I’ll just email her this week!!
Everything sounds like it is going well, and Mason, welcome to the family!! :)  I got your package yesterday! Thank you!!   That was great!   I don't think I need anything else, but I'll let you know!    

We've started to meet with the Priest age Young Men and their families, talking a little about missionary work, and how they can better prepare.   That has been going well!  The members really are great in this area, there are man,y many pretty wealthy families, but they are some of the most humble people!  Which is really cool to see!   I am very grateful that I am here in San Clemente, being able to work with the members here, and build the Lord's kingdom.

We have seen a few miracles this week, Through contacting we met a man named Torry, and he is open in hearing what we believe, so we'll be calling him soon (we met him on Sunday).  He said that he felt that he was far away from finding the truth, but well, I said after, he may not be as far away as he thinks.   So hopefully he is open and accepting!    We also met a less active, her name is Amber.   She has been through a lot of challenges, but she is a great lady, she is very strong, and she wants to change and come back to the Lord.   We pray that we may be able to help her in some way.  That she will be able to see that the Lord is real, and that He will lift her.  He lifts all of us.

I've learned a lot about the Lord this week.   How His timing is not like ours, and that His plans are not always our plans.   But, as we prepare, as we discuss during companion study what we will be teaching those whom we do have plans for, our faith grows, and sometimes we end up using what we'd planned for someone else, with a different person.  But the gospel is so amazing that every truth will help every person.   We just need to have the Spirit so that we may share the truths that that person specifically needs to hear!
My cold has been better!  Sister Longhurst got sick though, flu.  So that was no fun for her!  But she is doing well!  And we are pressing forward!

My new favorite missionary scripture is D&C 30:11,   I need to do better at really not worrying so much about what man can do.  I am in the Lord's work! I have His power!! And that has been evident as I have turned to Him and opened my mouth to everyone that we see!   
The work is progressing.   We are praying.   We pray for miracles.  We pray for the people we work with.   The Lord answers our prayers.  We are able to plan, and then go out and find out what the needs of the people are, their spiritual needs.  And really, this gospel has an answer to every problem.  I am learning to listen with spiritual ears, and I know that that is helping!!!
Running....is fine.  It's running.  We run around our little neighborhood.  Not on the beach.  "Where the sand begins our mission ends"  So we can't even go down by the beach, but that is alright, from most places we can see the water!

I'm glad to hear that things are going well at home!   How is school Kenna?    How is work mom and dad??    How are Karson and Easton doing?   I heard from Natalie that Karson misses me!   I miss him too, I miss everyone, but at the same time I know that I am where I am supposed to be.   I know that this is the Lord's work, and as I've tried to immerse myself in the Lord's work, I haven't been homesick.  I pray for you daily.   And I grow everyday, especially in the moments when I am thinking "I'm tired... this isn't working... I’m hungry."  In those moments I've tried to turn my thoughts to the Lord and say "OK, I am giving myself to you, help me."   And He does.  He makes it easier to go up to the next house, and knock on the door, and listen as they say that they don't want to listen, that even though they are a less active, they don't want the church.  He makes the spirit more present.  And I know that those people will come around.  He helps me forget myself and get to work.  And that is a great miracle!

I love you all!   I will write you all letters.    I can't wait to hear from you again!   I am amazed at how fast time goes.   I am grateful that we have the truth.   That the Lord is real.  That Joseph Smith did restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  What a wonderful thing to know, what a wonderful thing to be a part of and to understand!!  Keep the Lord close!   Pray!   Rejoice in the Lord.  Be grateful!

I'll talk to you soon!

May God be with you always!

Love Sister Taylor Burningham 

P.S.  Happy 5 year anniversary to living in our house, being a part of the 2nd ward!  So much has happened in the past 5 years!  I personally have grown so much!  My testimony was strengthened, my faith was tried.   I grew.  I feel that we all did!    So, in honor of it being the 5th year in our home (even though I'm not there) make some cookies.  Or go out to eat.  :)  and write in your journals tonight about any experience that you have really seen, that has helped you become the person you are today, because of living where we do.   I am forever grateful that we chose to move when we did.   Anyway, I love you all.  So much!   I miss you, but the time apart will be small.   I love you!!!!!!