Hello dear family! June
11, 2013
I am glad that you had fun while
you were at Disneyland, and I can't wait until we can all go there again
together! While you were at
Disneyland, I was busy here, doing missionary things and working hard!
This week has been a good one,
and a lot of things have caused me to step back and think, about why I am here
and about if it is worth it! Thank you mom, for the quote that you shared from
President Monson! :)
The work is still slow in this
area. But, both Sister Drinkwater and I are willing to do whatever it
takes to serve the Lord to the best of our abilities, and that sometimes means
doing things that we don't necessarily want to do (like tracting, or spending a
lot of time contacting) Because those things aren't easy, but they are
worth it. I can see that now.
We've spent quite a bit of time
with Jennifer, a recent convert, this past week. She is really struggling
with believing her divine nature and divine potential. We have been able
to show our love for her and the Lord's love for her. I have been praying
to see people as God sees them, and to love them in the way that He loves them.
And it is amazing. The
power that I have felt as I have gone into homes, and truly felt the Love that
God has for them. I have no way to even explain it, because, well, it is
indescribable, but it is amazing. The power of God's love, if we all
truly understood how much God loves us, I think we would be a happier people.
I am so grateful that I have the chance to feel this love that God has
for each and every one of us! It is simply amazing! :) But, as we have been teaching Jennifer, I have been
thinking about how grateful I am to know that I am a daughter of God.
That was something that I personally struggled with for a long time I think.
But as time went on, and with Young Women's, Personal Progress, writing
in my 'Daughter of God' journal everyday about how I had seen God's hand in my
life really helped me to understand who I was, who I am in His eyes. Now
that doesn't make every day easy, but it does make it easier for me to trust
God, to know that He does have a plan for me, and that I do mean something to
Him! That is something that we do all have to discover for ourselves.
Another thing that I love about
being a missionary is being able to feel the power of the Atonement every.
Single. Day. It is real. The Lord suffered for us, so that we may never
feel alone! I love the talk by Elder Holland from a few years ago that
talks about the Atonement, and how because of it there is always someone that
we can turn to in our times of need. Prayer. That is one powerful
thing that I have continued to use, I have discovered that my prayers are
getting longer, and more meaningful. Because I am actually TALKING to
God, and I know that He is listening. He listens. But in order for
Him to bless us, we need to be doing all that we can do, we need to be trying.
He will bless us, because He knows our hearts, and He knows exactly what
we need, when we need it. And sometimes, I think that the moments where
we are having the hardest times, are right before we are going to experience
the most joy. "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in
the morning" (I'm actually not sure where that scripture comes from, but
it is a good one!)
Things are going well here in San
Clemente, we have met with a lot of potential investigators, and we have been
scheduled a few weeks out, so we are excited to see where those appointments
will take us. We are also going down the ward list, meeting members and
less actives, seeing if there is anything that we can do at this time to help!
We've been balancing our time, doing less actives, members,
potentials and finding activities so that we stay busy and productive, and
don't get burned out by just doing one of those things.
Kirk is adorable as always.
We saw him last week, and he shared all of his conversion story with us,
and that was really powerful, because I hadn't heard all of that before.
And can I just say, when men cry, ah just love it! Especially when it is
because of the Spirit! So Kirk is staying strong, he has the Aaronic Priesthood
and has been able to go and do baptisms in the temple! It has been amazing
to see all of that unfold!
We do have dinner most nights,
which is nice because we are able to work with the members, and that truly is
just wonderful!!!
So, things are going good!
I am learning to love people, to be exactly obedient and to truly serve
the Lord with everything that I have. I cannot believe that I have been
on a mission for 4 months. I'm not sure where the time has gone, I
am just trying to do my best to make the most of what I have, and even when it
is hard, I think of my Savior, and then I remember that it wasn't easy for Him,
so it may not be easy for me either. But it is so worth it. So
totally worth every second. To laugh with people, to testify, to share
with them the joy that I have been able to feel because of the atonement in my
own life. I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything.
I miss you tons. I really
do. But I know that this small moment in time is going to be just a small
moment, because we are going to be together forever. And I am so grateful
to have that truth!!!
I love you so much! I hope that
you have a great week! Keep smiling, and keep doing good, the Lord will bless
you!
Oh, so... yes, I'd love recipes,
anything that is pretty simple and easy and that tastes good. Also...another
pair of pj pants, just some from my drawer at home. And then maybe some
of my lotion, since I have so much at home. They don't have a Bath and Body
around here, and I guess I just don’t want to buy some random lotion ;) haha,
but, that’s all I can think of! :) Anyway, have a Happy Tuesday,
a Wacky Wednesday, a Terrific Thursday, a Fabulous Friday, a Stunning Saturday,
a Spiritual Sunday, a Marvelous Monday, and then you'll be getting another
email from me, so it will be happy, right?!? haha.
I love you! Have a great
week!!!
Love,
Sister Taylor Burningham
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