Hot and Humid

Well hello family!                                                                        September 3, 2013

This week has been pretty good, several miracles, and well, lots and lots of heat and humidity.  And it is really bad when your ac breaks and so...that was our adventure this week!    It got up to almost 100 degrees in our apartment before it got fixed, and we also spent the night in another sisters’ apartment while it was getting fixed.   So, that was an adventure! And the night before, we'd had about 6 fans that we borrowed from members. But it has been hot around here, so we are praying for cooler air!!! :)

  

So this week has been good, and pretty busy! We have been teaching a lot of new people, all of which I told you about in the letter I sent off today, but I'll share some highlights from this week! 

So, on Friday we taught a lady named Mackey, and her daughter Trinity.  They have been friends with members for quite a few years now, and Trinity even went to girl’s camp this past summer (she is 12). So we were teaching them the restoration, and right after we shared Joseph Smith’s experience, I felt prompted to invite them to be baptized.   So I did.  Mackey was a little bit shocked, but, she said yes, and then, Trinity raises her hand, with tears streaming down her face, and asks if she can be baptized too!  It was amazing!   Then they both asked what they needed to do to be able to be baptized! So that was a miracle, and we will be teaching them again this afternoon, so we are super stoked about that!!!

Also, Janis wants to get baptized, so we will be working with her as well!! :)

  

So, This week really has been wonderful!  It has been fun and hot. We've been teaching a lot, a lot of members, which is great practice, and well, my testimony gets strengthened nearly every single day! :)

This morning was great!   Why?  Because during personal study I was reading all about the Book of Mormon, and from the Book of Mormon! So, I needed to follow up on the challenge I gave you a few months ago, about reading the Book of Mormon with a question in mind, how is that going for you?!?! What experiences have you had!?

I am so grateful that you have been able to recognize the Spirit more in your life while I have been gone.  I know that the Lord is blessing each of us as I am here serving.  It has been such an amazing experience so far, and really, I can't believe that I've been a missionary for almost 7 months now.  What a blessing, and man, time is just flying by!! :)  It has been wonderful so far!  :) I've loved every second.  :)   

So, This week is transfer week, and both sister Putnam and I will be staying since she is still training.   A lot of our zone is getting transferred, so it will be fun to be able to meet a lot of new missionaries in the coming weeks!   

I honestly can't believe that I've been in Irvine for 6 weeks already, I feel as though I just got here.  But the work is moving, and it has been a wonderful thing to be a part of!  And I truly hope that I will be able to serve here for a long time!

OH, also some news.  So more and more missionaries are coming out, so we are now doing a car share.   So starting this week, we'll only have the car Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays.  And we'll be walking a lot.  (Our area is probably the smallest in our mission).  So that will be oodles of fun!    We are excited and nervous for the change, and we hope that everything will work out, it will just be different at first, and we'll just keep praying for cooler weather! :)  So that's us.   I'm just crazy as usual, talking to anyone and everyone about the gospel, and planning how I'll be a member missionary when I get home.  Which is quite fun!

  

Oh, so yesterday, we were listening to some of Sister Putnam's CD's, and well, part of a song that was in our Hans Zimmer medley came on, and it just took me to my happy place, which was great!  Since we haven’t gotten mail yet since it is transfers today, so I was able to remember home a little bit! :)

RACHEL COVERT IS GETTING MARRIED>!???!?? FREAK!! Tell her I say congrats, and to send me a wedding announcement. I can't believe that she is engaged!?!?  That is very cool though! :)

  

It is weird to be thinking that school is starting, and I'm not going to school.  It is super weird to think that Karson, my little baby is going to be in first grade, and that Easton is going to be in preschool.  And Briggs is getting baptized?  However did I get so old? I just don't understand!!  But, I am grateful for the time on earth that we do have, and the experiences that we get to go through.   All have a purpose, and all truly do help us know that there is a God, and that there is a purpose to everything that we experience.   

I am so grateful for this gospel.  For Jesus Christ who is our Savior!    I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time! It is truly a blessing! :)   I love the gospel, and I love my Father in Heaven! I love serving him! :)  

I hope that you have a great week, I hope that things go well, and that you can find a dress for Kenna! Can't wait to see pictures! :)   I hope that you keep smiling, I hope that Labor Day was fun and that work and school continue to go well!! :)

I'll talk to you real soon!

I love you!!!!!

Love,

Sister Taylor Burningham 

p.s. Thanks for the medical info, and I know exactly where the doctor’s office is, it's in my area! I'll go there soon! :)  Thanks mommy! :)

I love you all! :)   Have a great week! 

And enjoy the pictures! :) (in the next email!) 

Ok, so there is an elder in my ward (that is serving with me) and his name is Elder McCullough...I think that is how you spell it.   But, he home taught Rachel Covert when he was at BYU, and he knows the guy she is engaged too, so just thought I'd tell you the random connections that happen, even while serving in California!   So, that’s that, if you see Rachel, and tell her congrats for me, you'll have to tell her that I know her old home teacher.   HaHa.  Crazy.  How am I this old?  How can I know people getting married?!?!?!?!

I love you! :) 

and Kenna and Daddy too! 

Crunching Leaves

Hello Family! :)                                                                             August 26, 2013

How are things going in good old Utah?   I hope that things are great, and honestly it is still super weird to think that Kenna is already back in school, and a senior?  Where did the summer (that I didn't have) go? haha.  But, things are going good here in Irvine!  :)   

This week was a little funny, not sure why, but it was just kind of a weird week, But, we were able to see the Spirit working a lot in our lives, in the way that we were able to teach some members the exact things that they were struggling with! So that was just a great reminder that God is in the details of our lives, that he knows each and everyone of us, He knows what we need, what we are going through and how exactly we can be helped.  And then, there are those little things called tender mercies that appear, and we are able to recognize that God does know us and that He is going to help us.  Always.  So we had some pretty Spiritual experiences this week, so those were great! :)

Also, this week, our stake did a musical, about the parable of the ten virgins.  And it was AMAZING!!!   First off, I just love musicals!  Second, it was a great message!  All about how even though in our lives we are doing good things, we need to be constantly adding to our lamps, so that we will be ready when the Savior comes again.   So,  keep doing the things that bring you closer to God.  Read from the scriptures, pray-actually talk to God, he is, after all. our father!   Go to church, and I know that we have all heard these things before, but they really are so important!   We are at a day and age when we truly need to be doing all that we can, it is not the time to just be part way in the gospel, but it is a time that we need to be in it with our whole hearts! :)   So, that is what I got out of the musical!  They did it two nights, and we were able to go to both because we had investigators at both nights.    Patty, who was a former investigator that we picked up again, came on Thursday night and just LOVED it!  She cried, and we told her that was because of the Spirit, and so we are doing our weekly planning on Friday, and she called us, asking if she could go again that night, and asked if she could bring a friend.  Which she did!!! :) So that was super exciting! We weren't able to have a lesson with her this week though, but hopefully we will be able to teach her again soon!  

  

Also, Lucia, I may have told you her story before,  but after we had the mission conference about opening windows, we met Lucia, she doesn't live in our mission.  But she is being taught by sisters in her area.   She was in Irvine this past week, so we were able to teach her again, and even though it has been about two weeks since we met her, she is progressing so quickly!!!  (The elect will be ready!)   And she came to the "Ten Virgins" musical on Thursday... and best news I had heard all day...SHE IS GOING TO GET BAPTIZED!!! :)    Which is pretty grand!! :) And a miracle. She wants us to be there, so we will ask, but who knows.   But, she wants to be baptized! I still can't even believe it! :)   So that was a miracle!

We also went on exchanges this week.    Sister Bingham (the one who said hello in your letter last week)  is a Sister Training leader, and she came to my area with me while Sister Putnam went to work with Sister Bingham's companion.  We had a ball! :) It was great fun, and it just helped me realize that I am pretty hard on myself, but also that, I am doing good things, even though the success here isn't always evident right away.   So, we had a great time, we actually were able to teach an investigator (Alex) who we have not yet been able to teach, so that was great. Alex warmed up to us, but she is still pretty nervous about the missionaries.  She is going to be a junior this year in high school, but it was great to teach her, about how she can find out if this gospel is true for herself, so hopefully we'll be able to see her soon as well!  As for Audrey, she disappeared this week. We haven't been able to get a hold of her, but we'll keep trying, and praying for her! If anything, we got her introduced to something that will hopefully someday change her life! :) 

Also, on Saturday, our ward had a corn roast, which was pretty fun! And all the missionaries in our ward and in a ward in our stake helped get the corn ready.   And we just had a fun time talking with members, and getting to know them better! :) And eating corn of course!

So, it is pretty interesting, the weather here. Because during the day it is pretty hot, but slowly it is starting to cool down in the evenings.   Which has been nice.   Also, some of the leaves are changing, and falling, and I have discovered that I have a great love for crunching leaves. :)  So next time you’re outside, go crunch some leaves, and think of me. :)  I'm glad to hear that things are going well at home, with school starting, that will take a little bit of time to adjust, but I am glad things are going well so far! :)  

  

Dad, I know exactly how you feel (well sorta, you're a bishop, I'm a missionary).  But, in the way that I still feel brand new, and at times, I don’t know what I am doing, but I am learning to rely on the Lord.  But, it is still pretty surprising to me, when people are shocked to find out that I've only been out 6 1/2 months.    Which is just weird, cause I still feel like a new missionary in some ways, and in other ways, I don't.  But it has been interesting thing that I am experiencing.  And a sister said yesterday, "You're only 19??!!" so apparently I suddenly look older than I used too. ;)  haha.   Don't know what happened there... maybe my hair cut.   

Anyway, this week has been good!  And I am so grateful that things are going well, and that you are still trusting in the Lord, and that you are seeing different opportunities to share the gospel!  Take them!  We need to share what we have with the world!!!! :)

I love you all!   I hope that you have a great week!!! :)  

Love,

Sister Taylor Burningham 

Opening Windows

Hello dear family!!                                                           August 19, 2013

This week has been a great one, full of miracles and great experiences.

We had a zone conference on Tuesday and learned all about how we need to have shorter lessons more frequently so that our investigators can feel the Spirit more in their lives, so we are teaching shorter lessons and just having a great time doing that!

We also have been finding people like crazy.  We have 3 new investigators as of last week, and well, how we found them was just amazing.   We opened a window (like I told you about last time).  And so we go to this park that we felt like we needed to be at, and we opened the door and I saw a man on a bench and then a girl sitting by the wall, and so I said to sister Putnam "the man or the girl?"  She said the girl, and we went over to her.  Her name is Audrey.  She's about 16 and she dances, and we taught her the first lesson, and we will be teaching her again tomorrow, and she is super excited to meet with us.   But as we were teaching her, I had this thought (which was obviously from the Spirit) but it was that "you were supposed to find her."  I had always wondered if there were specific people for me, that I would find and teach, and well, I found one.  Audrey.   And I am just so excited to share the gospel with her! :)  So, we taught Audrey, (sitting on the sidewalk at a park) and while we were there, a guy rode by on a bike, and we had to move out of the way for him.  But after we finished teaching her, we walked around the park, and talked to the man that we had seen on the bench, but he wasn't interested.  And then there was the guy that had ridden by during our lesson with Audrey.   And we introduced ourselves, and said that we share a message about the plan that God has for us, and asked if he would be interested.   And he said “yes” (2 in one hour, we were freaking out!)   And so we taught him the Plan of Salvation, and we are still trying to set up a time to go and see him, and well, we are excited for that too!! :)

The other new investigator that we have is Patty, she was a former investigator, and we met her a few weeks ago, but we weren't able to teach her.   And so, on Thursday night she called us and asked if we could come and help her make cupcakes.   Which we did, and she also gave us dinner (even though we told her we had already eaten-two dinners, one night, God helped me do that, cause I felt fine, but man, it was scary!  Haha)  But she is just a great woman, and she only has an issue with Joseph Smith, but other than that, she would be a great Mormon (she even raised her family in the way that we do cause she liked how her Mormon friend's families were!)  But she is great, and she adores us, which is just fun.  She is now my 3rd grandma, so its fun!

But, those were the highlights of my week, and I also got to go to San Clemente to see Rick get baptized, it was a beautiful baptism, and it was great to see everyone, and a lot of people said that I was missed, and it was kinda fun to see their faces when they saw me and hear them ask in  surprise "you’re back!?" haha, it was great! And I am just so grateful that I have such a small mission that I was able to go and see him get baptized, and hopefully in a few weeks I'll be back for when Rich gets baptized, cause yes my dear family, Rich is going to get baptized (he gets back from India this week, then in the next few weeks he and Jenn are getting marrried, and then he will get in white and get a little wet!!!!)  :)  Which was just happy news!  

So, this week was good, I have so much energy and I am just excited to be working!   I love that I chose to come out on a mission, I love that I am here in Irvine, and that the work is progressing!  The Lord truly is hastening his work, the time is different than it has ever been, and what a glorious time to be living in!  :) I am so grateful!

Crazy that school is already starting Kenna, it feels really weird to not be going back to school, and weird to think that in a year I’ll be going back. But I try not to think about that ;) not that I have oober amounts of time to do so anyway, I'm pretty busy, and I just love talking to people about the gospel, even homeless people who tell us that they are prophets (what? we are supposed to talk to everyone, so we open our mouths! They are all God's children!)   But, it truly is great! Truly is a blessing! And I am just happy! :)

I love you all! I hope you have a great week!  

Challenge for the week is to use social media (facebook, instagram, whatever else is new that you use) to share the gospel, one thing a day if you can.  A video, a quote, a picture. anything! Get the word out there, the world needs to know! :)

   

So, I love you dear family! I hope you have a great week!!! :)   

Love, 

Sister Taylor Burningham  

Tender Mercies

Hello Dear family!                                                                                              August 12, 2013

This week has been a pretty crazy one, lots of running around, and different things, but I really have been able to see the tender mercies of the Lord.

For starters, to answer your question about Judith's baptism, it has been postponed (which was super sad!)  But, she is getting pressure from her mother in law (who she lives with) and just, not so great things!   We actually haven't seen her since Tuesday, when we taught a really great lesson, and she was ready and excited.  So we haven't really talked to her, but we are still praying for her, and she will be baptized someday, just not last Saturday.  So that was the low for the week.  But we have seen great miracles, and the week has just been good!

We had a zone training on Wednesday, all about motivation, and how when we do things out of love, we accomplish so much more!  And so, I really have been doing better at trying to do things because I love God, and because I love people, and not getting caught in doing things because “I have too" which some missionaries fall into!   But it was a great training!

We then had a mission conference, all about finding!  And man, it was powerful!  The speaker was just great, and we left pumped and ready to baptize the world (or just the Elect!)  So, she told us how to find. We pray and we set up a time to go somewhere and in our planner we write ( )@south lake.  And then, at that time we go to South Lake and we talk to everyone! But, the elect will ALWAYS have time to hear what we teach.   So, Friday, we prayed and then we went to this park.   And we are walking and we see this lady at the playground, so we start to go over to talk to her, and there is another woman who is sitting on the grass, before the playground. I say "hi, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints" and she stops me and says (pointing to the woman we had seen) "oh, my friend is a Mormon, and I was asking her about what she believed last night" (umm...what just happened!  We found the elect is what just happened!)  So not only were we able to teach her the restoration, we were able to teach a lesson, with a member present.  And she still wants to be taught! But, she doesn't live in our mission (neither do, they were just at a park here in Irvine on Friday. It was totally a God thing)  But, we have been texting her, and just trying to find out who the missionaries are in her area, so that she can be taught the gospel! But, it was a great tender mercy of the Lord!

Another, I saw Sis. Drinkwater at our mission conference, and Rick Hernandez, a man that we started teaching together is getting baptized on Saturday (she told me this at mission conference)! and do you know what is great about having a mission so small that it only takes 30 minutes to drive the whole thing, is that I'll be heading to San Clemente Saturday morning to see Rick get baptized!  :)  Happy day!  :)

  

So to answer your questions mom, Grace is still doing well, she had a crazy busy week last week, so we had to reschedule for this week, but we will teach her again!  All in the Lords time! :)  

Sister Putnam is great.  We have great fun together, and her testimony is just so strong! :) She is just blossoming, and it has been a real joy working with her!  And it has only been three weeks!   She is from Wyoming, the 2nd oldest of six kids.  And someday, pictures of her will come! I promise! :)  

Irvine is good, the ward is still great, just getting to know more and more members, and just working hard to find the Lord's Elect.   :)   So that has been great.  Still hot, got your package! Thanks a bunch! :)  It has been great! 

I'm glad to hear that things are good at home! I hope that Grandma can get some good news soon, so that she won’t be so bored!   Nursery for Jordan!?  That is great!  That would be so fun!  :)    Say hello to everyone for me, and send my love! :) 

Sounds like the competition was good (semifinals at the first competition of the year, not bad at all Kenna!!  Keep up the good work, and send me pictures!)  I hope that dance camp this week goes well also!   

So, the work is still progressing, we have a few potential investigators that we will probably start teaching soon.  One is Mackey, she is a friend of some members in the ward, and we met her on Thursday, and she is super excited to learn more about the gospel, so hopefully we will get to teach her soon!  And then Alex, who we are still trying to get to know better, the ward council asked us to go to Young Women’s on Sundays so that we can get to know her better, apart from her member boyfriend.    Which will be fun (cause I LOVE YOUNG WOMEN'S!) so yes, I'll go there every Sunday ;)    But, yesterday we only had sacrament because of a Singles conference that was going on in our actual building, we went to a different one, that literally looked like ours at home, so I felt right at home during sacrament meeting!  haha crazy! :)  So, that was my week!  It was a pretty good one, things are going well, and we are just working hard.

It is hard to believe that I've been on a mission for 6 months. But, here it came! Wow!! But, I am excited for the upcoming year and months, I am going to do my very best to serve the Lord with all of my heart and might, so that I will know for sure that I did everything that I possibly could have! :)  So. happy six months!

And, happy anniversary mom and dad ( on Wednesday!!) have fun in Park City! :)  Have a great week!!!  I love you all! :)   

D & C 78:18

Love, 

Sister Taylor Burningham 

Miracles and Breakfast and "Elder" Burningham

Hello family! :)                                                                                 August 5, 2013

So, I'm emailing just a little bit later today, since we had a zone breakfast (yes, I helped make french toast, you should be proud of me ;) I cooked!) haha.  But we had a zone breakfast at a member’s home, and that was fun, but now I get to email you which is just fantastic! :)

So, this week has been a pretty good one, we've been busy, and we have had quite a few spiritual experiences!  It has been great working with Sister Putnam, she is such a great missionary, so it has been awesome to work with her.  Her testimony is so strong, and well, she wants to be a teacher, and went to school for it for 3 years, so she is a pretty natural teacher, so things are going well in that area!  We have 2 investigators, Grace and Judith.   The Elders were teaching both of them, but because they are single women, we are teaching them now.  And guess what, Judith is just amazing, and we had a really powerful lesson with her, and with a member family in our ward last Thursday, and well really, we've just been getting her ready for baptism, but she is getting baptized on SATURDAY! :)    Which is pretty exciting, but it means also that Satan is trying hard to pull her down.  Which is no fun for her, but she is strong.  And it has just been amazing to get to know her, and be able to feel the love that God has for her.  It really has helped me realize how much God loves each of us, we are all so important in His eyes! He truly does want us to always be happy, and yes, things can be hard, but He is always there! And it is truly wonderful, being able to feel that love that God has! :)  

And then Grace (which I love that name by the way) anyway, we were able to teach her on Friday morning, and that was a good lesson, she had a lot of questions about the gospel, and about the restoration that we were able to resolve for her.  She knows the church is true, and we will be inviting her to be baptized in our lesson with her tomorrow morning.   Miracles are happening here.  It is so different from the ward that I was previously in, but it is so rewarding!  And I know that the Lord is willing to bless those who work hard.  And just this area, everyone, the bishops, the stake president, everyone, they really just feel like the Lord is hastening His work here, and they all want to be a part of that.  So it really has been wonderful.

  

Like I said, we have had a few spiritual experiences.  And being in this new area, and with a new companion, and well. I really do appreciate Sister Longhurst more than I think I did when I was with her.  Training isn't easy.   There are times when I just pray and hope I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.  But, it has been great.  I feel so close to God.  I feel the love that He has for Sister Putnam, and how much He wants and needs her to be on a mission, I know that He has similar feelings about me! so I am so glad that I can be here!!! :)  It has been an interesting week for me at the same time, so much spiritual experiences, and I really think that the difference is me.

I just feel more like myself here, like I can be myself.  I'm not an awkward new missionary.  I can just be me. I don’t really know what made the difference, but any advice to any future missionaries, be yourself as much as possible.  Open up yourself when you are teaching.  Then, the members and nonmembers know that we are also real people, but as I've shared experiences that I didn't realize in the moment what they had done for me, they are strengthening my testimony now, and I know that everything that happened in my life up till this point was for a certain reason and purpose.   And I know that they are helping me.  They were building me then, and strengthening me now.  :)   Also, I have to be honest, I didn't really cry my first 2 transfers.   Now I cry often, because of the Spirit (I’m not sad! haha) but, I feel like me again. I feel like I've come home, that is what this ward feels like to me.  And I am grateful! :)

I am so glad that I am here. I am so glad that things are going well at home! :)  It is grand to hear from you, I've never been so grateful for emails in my entire life! I love hearing from you, and dad, loved the bear hug postcard.  My zone leader wanted to steal it, cause he liked the picture.  haha. But he did end up giving it to me, so I was grateful ;)

    

So, this week is going to be a pretty good one, we have a zone training on Wednesday and then a mission conference on Thursday.   And then a baptism on Saturday, so we are just going to be busy, busy, busy!  The work is progressing!  I feel the energy of this area, and I feel that it is about to reap.  Which is very exciting!  I know that all things that are happening are because of God, and because He knows which of his children need the gospel at this time, and so we talk to everyone, and well, we will find the elect!! 

So, yesterday, we went to primary and got introduced.   So we stood up and I said that I was Sister Burningham, and Sister Putnam did the same.   Then they sang the "Hello, Hello" song.  And then (this was in junior primary),  the primary president introduced us a little bit more, but before she did that she asked the kids what are names were, to see if they remembered.  She pointed at me and all the cute little kids said "Elder Burningham."  So, there ya go, I'm an elder now.  haha.  It was pretty funny, but I mean, they are so young, they had no clue, especially since they've only had elders in their ward.  haha  It was pretty great.   : )

So that was my week.  I don't think I need anything else, maybe my pink polka dot skirt (and remember that pink shirt that I wore with that one, with the ruffelly (how do you spell that?) sleeves?) that could be an idea of an outfit to send.   :)   Thanks!    But, ya, things are good.  We have food now, so I should be good. I do eat it.  Probably yet too much ;) haha, but I am good at buying things that I do eat! Which is good!  I am getting good mom, I don't buy cookies or snacks just to snack on when I'm hungry.  haha, only sometimes I get chocolate, but that is a necessity, right?  haha. I hope you have a great week!! I love you all! and I hope to hear from you soon!!! :)

Love,    

Sister Taylor Burningham 

Hello from Irvine!

July 29, 2013

Well dear family, 6 months ago when I was just getting ready to head out to the Carlsbad mission, I had no idea that I would end up serving, six months later, in an area that at that time was out of my mission. But here I am, right in Irvine. Ya know the address that you send my mail to? Ya, I live about a mile away from it.   Irvine is pretty.  But it's hot. Any possible way to find me some cute cooler shirts that I could wear while I’m in this area for the next three months?! That would be absolutely fabulous! :)

So, leaving San Clemente was hard, and I miss the ocean. And I really miss Sister Drinkwater, and her crazy loud self, but this new ward I'm in, the Woodbridge 2nd ward is great! There are a lot more families here, and I honestly have no clue what to do, because they all want to help us out with the work here!  The work is just progressing here, and it is just amazing! :) I am so excited to be here, and to be working with this ward. The bishop and his wife are actually both from Provo, but they went to Timpview...ouch on that one, hope he forgives me for being a bulldog ;) Many jokes have already been made when we were in their home, but it was great fun! And I am excited to be here! :)

So Irvine, reminds me a little more of home, at least the ward does.   :)  Which, made Sunday a bit hard, missed you mom during Relief Society, but, all is well, and I feel so much love and excitement from the ward, that really, I feel so great! :)   So, we share a ward with some elders, who have both been here for a few weeks.   We are trying to work with them, but sometimes I get the feeling that one of them thinks we are trying to take over the ward.  Which we aren't.  We split up the investigators, and split the ward a little, just so we can have a smaller area to cover.  But it is still going to take some getting used to.   But, obviously the work is progressing, since there are 4 missionaries here, and they need sisters.  And, no offense to the Elders, but hey, there is just something about sisters that some people just need. And well, the Lord needs us here so I don't feel too bad ;) 

Ok, so about my companion!!   I'm training a brand new missionary.  Which freaks me out only...slightly.   Haha.  I feel so new myself, and to have someone right from the MTC is just CRAZY to me!  But, it has been great so far. Her name is Sister Putnam (and might I add, her first name is Taylor, haha great right?!)   But, she has a great testimony, and we get along great, I feel like we are going to do great things together in this area.  I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to train.   It is hard, There are times when I look around for help, and realize, I'm the senior companion, and well, then I look  up, cause God is the one with the answers.  But, like I said, things are going well, we are working hard.  We have a few investigators that the Elders had been teaching, that we have met, and taught.  One, Judith.  She came to church yesterday too, and she really felt the Spirit.  She will be getting baptized soon, which is great! :)  Then there is Grace, who we will teach tomorrow! And Alex, who is a 16 year old girl, who we haven't met yet, but hopefully soon! And then of course, always out and about trying to find more! :)

About Sister Putnam, she is from Wyoming.  (Well most recently, she has lived a lot of places) she has 5 siblings.  1st one to go on a mission.  Hmm what else, she has a great spirit, and I can't wait to hear more of her story! :)

So, P-day is now on Monday, which President announced at our transfer meeting. So that will take me some getting used to, but I think it will be fine in just a few weeks, but I’m glad I remembered to talk to someone about letting you know! :) So that I could have some emails from the people I love! :)

Hmm, so things are going pretty good, just excited to be in a new area, new people, fresh start.  I feel more confident here, and so I feel like I can be myself, and I feel like I can do better in missionary work, as I am just being myself. Which is fabulous! :)   Even though I may be a little crazy ;) I'm just Taylor Burningham, what more can I say!??!

Sounds like things are going good, time is just flying by.  Two years dad?!?  Where did that time go?!  How can I have been out for almost 6 months?  How can it be my 2nd area and 3rd companion already?!??!??!?  ahhh!   Time goes fast!  Enjoy the moment!   Cause we only have each moment for right then! :)

Anyway, I hope that things are going well, glad to hear that Grandma is doing OK, and that she will be fine! She is still in my prayers!  Say hello for everyone for me! :) Send my love! :)

Hmmm OK, thought of a few things that I would like, I already mentioned the shirts, but I'll say that again as a reminder ;) haha, and then I need a refill of my medicine: ondansetron 8 mg.  Just want to get more so that I'll have em when I am out of the ones I do have! :) gotta think ahead as a missionary! :)

I hope you all have a great Monday, have fun dancing Kenna! And have fun doing whatever else you guys may be doing this week!  Keep smiling, and reading the Book of Mormon together! :) Stay close to God! :)  I love you all! I love that we can email each week, it is just amazing!  I love life!  And I love being a missionary at this time! :)

So, have a good week! I love you all so much!  I'll write more next week, and probably in my letter ;)

Love,

Sister Taylor Burningham

Bye Bye San Clemente

Hello Family!!                                                                                            July 23, 2013

Sounds like this past week was pretty adventurous, seeing that you aren't even home yet, but I am glad that you are having fun! Glad that you are safe!  And Super glad that grandma and grandpa are doing ok, I'll still be sending prayers.

So,  as you can see from my subject line...I'm getting transferred.   In just a few short hours I'll be in Irvine, and then President Orgill will tell me where I'll be serving next. And he'll also be telling me who I'll be training.  Yup.  That's right.  Training!!!!  Freak out moment!  :)  But I am excited!  I got called on Wednesday from the assistants, and they asked if I would train (as an assignment from president) I said “yes.”  Then hung up the phone, and then that was when it hit me at what I'd just said I'd do.  But I am looking forward to the new challenges, and the new opportunities!  I think really the only thing that is stressful is that not only will I have a new companion, I'll also be in a new area! Crazy! But, I am excited! :)  So, that is my very exciting news for the week, getting transferred and training! :) At 5 1/2 months. (And dad, can't believe that my release date is only a year away (though it may be a little mixed up...but still) CRAZY).

But it will be a new adventure!

So, this week was a really great one!   We have been teaching our investigators and well, just working hard!  I had a trainers meeting on Friday, and so many of us are training (Sis. Drinkwater is too). There are 31 missionaries coming today, so lots and lots of new ones, it is another wave, just like when I came in!   But we are all excited!  And well, the Lord truly is hastening His work!

So,...hmm highlights of the week, Rich still wants to get baptized, even though he is in India, but he still is talking to Jenn about that!  Which is just fabulous!  And, I'll just have to call my mission President to be at his baptism! Cause I will so be there, I mean I have to be, he was the first person I met once I got here...in February! CRAZY!   We also taught Kristen, Angie and Allen this week, which are all investigators, and so that was great!  We also found a new couple to teach, and had our first lesson with them in a member’s home.   It went really well, Alex, the wife, is really interested in eternal marriage, and Matthew, who is a little quieter had some questions too, and did show interest! So, I'm leaving a lot of good behind, but I have seen so many miracles, and I am just ready to get out and work even harder! :)

So, I got the transfer call on Saturday, and I've been saying goodbye to people.   Which is hard, but at the same time, I know that I'll be back in about a year to say hello to them, and introduce you to all the people I love!  :)  But, I truly have loved serving in San Clemente. :)

    

Also, side note…Kirk gave me a painting (he is an artist) and its kinda big, so I'll be sending it home today.  Cause I love it, but I don't want to have to worry about it for the next year. Ya know? So that will be on its way shortly.

Hmmm what else.  Oh duh.  So President Orgill, before he came here to be president over our mission, he was in charge of the PCC in Hawaii.  So last night, their tour team was here, and did a show, and we were able to bring our investigators, and, remember that big show that we saw at the end of the night when we went to the PCC 3 years ago?!?!?   Well, it was a smaller version of that, and oh, I don’t know what it was, but I loved being able to watch people perform.  And again, it made me want to dance.  So, we'll see what happens when I get home! :)   But, it was great.  And fun!  And there was one point when I yelled out (cheering) and I felt all weird, since I hadn't done that in so long.  And my thought was "missionary, I'm a missionary," so it felt weird.  But, it also made me feel like me.  And I missed that.  So, I'm going to try and be more like me, and less...weird.  Ha.  :)   More me weird I guess. But we'll see how that goes ;)  

So, I am excited for new beginnings.  To help new people. To have, almost a fresh start, not as an awkward new missionary.  I'll be the seasoned companion.   Which will be different. But I know that it will help me grow, and really, things are just easy with Sister Drinkwater, cause we get along so well, so of course, it is time for change.  But I'm so glad I've been able to serve with her!  It has been a blast, and I know that I am changed from the missionary and person I was only 9 weeks ago.  Crazy how fast and slow missionary time is!

So, I hope that you have a great week!  Know that I am praying for you, know that I love you! and know that I'm totally judging you for not writing me ;) just kidding.  Totally not.   I have gotten less and less anxious for mail.  I think that has come with time and as I have given more and more of myself to the Lord and His work.  So, like, I got mail last Tuesday.  Won't get mail till tonight, and I'm not dying ;) yet.   Probably mostly cause I’m distracted by packing.  Lots of packing.  I have a lot more stuff I feel like than I did 5 months ago. Which just makes me want to leave some of it behind. And at some point, I think that will be the case.  But for now, just heavy stuffed suitcases.   :)

Well, I love you! I hope you have a great week, and a safe drive home!   Can't wait to get your postcards!   

I love you!  

And next week I'll be in a new place...my guess...hmmm... New port? Irvine?  It'll be north of here, I can tell ya that much. ;)

So, have a good week!  Be safe!  Read the Book of Mormon Everyday!

I love you!

Love,

Sister Taylor Burningham