Hello family!! December
16, 2013
This week has been a good
one! We had a little cold spell, but we are back to warmer temperatures,
and that is still so weird to me. It is weird that my birthday is
in 5 days. It is weird that Christmas is in 9!!! How did that happen??? It
seems like it was Christmas last year not so long ago!!! Freaky!!! This past
year has really flown by, and it is just amazing!! It has just been amazing!! :) Hmm so, this week was good. And weird. And
lots and lots of meetings!!!
So, on Tuesday we were on an
exchange and we found out that we would be doing the training in not only our
zone on Thursday, but also in a different zone on Wednesday. So that was
exciting. And for my first time doing a zone training, it went pretty
well. I wasn't nervous at all to get up in front of other missionaries and
train on how to give an effective baptismal invite! So that was Wednesday and
Thursday morning. We also had choir practice both days cause we've been
having tons of performances on the weekends. And this weekend was
no exception.
But back to Wednesday. After
choir we went to Irvine for an STL council, to talk about how we can
best help the sisters in our mission. And that was good. I
also got a blessing from President Orgill. Beyond my patriarchal
blessing, it was probably the most powerful blessing I've ever had.
It was amazing, and we were both in tears by the end. I am just so
grateful for the Priesthood, and that God trusts man to give them His
power! I feel so blessed to
be around those who are worthy of it! It is amazing, and well, I
just love it! :)
So that was Wednesday, and Thursday
was similar, just no meeting in Irvine after choir. We got to teach Ethan
and Giselle the Plan of Salvation!
And they are super smart kids, and asked really good (deep) questions,
like "well, in the spirit world can I play soccer??" it was pretty
cute. And I just feel so blessed
to know about the Plan of Salvation, to know why I am here, and what my purpose
is in this life. And I have noticed that my mission really is teaching me
about who I am supposed to be, the person that God intends for me to be.
So, when you see me on Christmas, don't worry, I’m still the same, I think I’m
just a little bit closer to God than I was 7 months ago. I've learned a lot. It’s been the
best year of my life! :) Hmmm…and I too am super excited for
Christmas! I am pretty sure that we will be skyping. Probably
calling between 10-11 here, but I am not sure about that yet, I will let you
know next Monday! But I am excited
for that! I know that it will be a great Christmas gift for all of us! :)
Hmmm…so what else...we didn’t
teach a whole lot this week, which was a bummer. We did talk to a lot of
people, and then lots of meetings and lots of choir. We did also do service on Friday for a part member
family. The wife is a non-member
and is in charge of this Girl Scout activity. And so, for 2 hours we road on a trolley with Girl Scouts
and their parents around Laguna singing Christmas songs. It was a blast!
:) We had a lot of fun!! :)
Yesterday we got to sing in San
Clemente at an Interfaith event. We started with a flash mob to get onto
the stage in the chapel. There were so many people, and well,
one elder started singing “Joy To the World,” and a few others came in and
then on the chorus all 80 of us that are in the choir came running in from the
sides, and I can only imagine what that must have felt like to have missionaries
pouring into the room. And well...at the end of us singing “Angels We
Have Heard On High,” which was our last song, people clapped and STOOD! It was ridiculous, but the Spirit that
was there was so amazing. I am so glad that we have this Christmas
season, and songs that help us remember even more the birth of our Savior and
also about His life and what He did for all of us. It was so
powerful! :) Then, being in San Clemente, people
from my old ward were there, and that was just a joy to see all of them! I got
to see Jenn and Rich, and btw when we come back to visit, they already
requested that we come by! haha, so that will be
exciting! But, it was just great to see people that I love,
and well, really it felt like going home! So that was a sweet moment!
This week should be good! We have our mission Christmas
conference on Thursday, so we are looking forward to that. On my
birthday, some people may come up from San Clemente to see me, but I’m not
really sure what I'll be doing. I'll
try to take pictures! :) I've been super bad at that this
transfer! But I'll try especially since this will be my
only birthday and only Christmas on my mission!!! Have to remember that
right??!!??!
Well, I must agree with all of
you, I can't believe that I'm going to be 20 the next time I email you.
Goodbye teenage years! It will be weird, to not be home for my
birthday, I just feel special cause I'll get to talk to you just 4 days
later. You can just sing to me
then ;) haha just kidding, you don’t have to if you don’t want to!
So, now responding to all the
news on your end... Jordan M is engaged? Nope, you didn't tell me that!!! Who to? haha!!??? That is exciting though, tell
her congrats for me!!!! I'll be
praying for Karson! He'll do fine though!! I am sure he'll be excited to
not have a rod in his arm any more. I’ll just be keeping mine till the
resurrection.... :)
I am glad that you were able to
meet Zach, dad. I'm sure that as
we all open our eyes, and try to be more and more like our Savior, we will have
more chances to share the gospel with all of those around us, because I know
that we will be led to them! It is such a blessing that we
have, and I know that as we ask, God will give us chances to share the Gospel!
:)
In honor of the Christmas season,
I invite you to study the Christmas story this week, and also, something more
about the life of Jesus Christ. I know that as you do so, the Spirit
that is so strong right now will enter more into your lives, and that your love
for the Savior will also grow. I know that, because it has happened to
me! :)
I love you all! And I feel so blessed to have such an
amazing family!!! I love you!!
Oh, also, the reason for my
subject line. We got to eat ham and funeral potatoes yesterday for
dinner, and that always just reminds me of Christmas, and I just love that we
get to eat that at Christmas time. It is one of my favorite parts about
Christmas, though I am not sure why! haha! And then grandma’s chocolates. I
got a package from grandma and grandpa yesterday, with a tin
of chocolates. And I was
lucky, and the first one I ate was mint.
And it made me cry, happy tears, cause it just felt like home, and
finally helped me feel like Christmas was coming :) So thank you! Again,
I love all of you!! I hope you have a great week!!! And thanks for the Birthday wishes!!!!
Love,
Sister Taylor Burningham
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| The wall by my desk |
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| Christmas Decorations |
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| Tiny tree |
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| Me, being silly |
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