Sister Sydney Burningham

                                  Tennessee is seriously beautiful, this is on a river near where we live.

Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 8:59 AM

Dance Dimensions.

Hello from Knoxville!

Well, everyone, it's happened, transfers are over and I am not in my last transfer as a full time missionary, strange the way time just flies, okay I know I say that every single time I email so I won't spend much time on that.  Still runnin' on 6 week time periods over here, and we are loving our West Hills area.  I probably talked about this last week but Sister Sume left us and was transferred to Greenville, Tennessee and she will love it, her new companion is simply wonderful as well. 

                                 This is Sister Sume and I on our last day together, she's a hero.

Sister Roundy and I came back to the area and decided to rearrange everything in our apartment so nothing reminded us of her and we could just have a fresh new start.  It always works out, Sister Roundy is great!  She has been out for about 10 months and definitely is diligent and knows what she is doing.  We have a lot of fun and are really starting to build relationships with the West Hills ward, it's a big ward and I still don't know everyone after three months but we're workin' on it.  Haha.

Okay first of all I just have to tell you we went to the transfer meeting on June 18th and we saw the Kronick family!  Oh my goodness can't even express to you my joy in seeing them and being able to catch up and everything, they mean so much to me I cannot even express it.  They are doing wonderful and they inspire me in so many ways.  That was definitely a highlight and gave me some hope and happiness, they mean the world to me, It's that Christlike love I always talk about that you can feel for people, it overwhelms me at times because I just love people so much it hurts.  But anyway, Tennessee is HOT and HUMID but I'm loving it and we see miracles everyday, I will tell you about one such miracle.

So, we went to this members home for dinner, she is a single lady about probably.. in her 30's and she dances at this place doing ballroom dancing, she has two instructors who are some of her good friends, they ask her SO many questions about the church and the standards, one of them actually just saw the Book of Mormon musical in Louisville Kentucky and is obsessed with Mormon's now, wears a shirt around that has "MORMON" in huge letters across the front, so she asked us if Friday night we would come talk to them about our church, we were so excited and went to see them!  We were introduced and they had SO many questions, it was amazing to see that even though the musical isn't exactly the best representation of the church that they were curious and wanted to know more because of it.  As we were talking, this boy was there as well just listening in, he asked a question here and there, but then as we were leaving he asked us if he could talk to us outside for a minute.  So sincerely, he told us he really felt like us coming was a sign from God and that he isn't really religious but throughout his life he has seen members of the church live and be changed because of what they believe and he said he wants to be a part of it, it was so incredible, that maybe we weren't there for her friends but this boy was there and he wants to change his life, the Lord led us to him, he is Young Single Adult (YSA) age so the assistants will teach him and we are excited to see how he progresses.  Someone else was prepared and the Lord knows and loves his children and when they are seeking he will lead them to the truth.

Everytime I study the scriptures and learn more about God's plan for us I am amazed at how simple it is.  There is quote I found by Henry B. Eyring he says: "Heavenly Father has made each of us unique.  No two of us have exactly the same experiences... whatever will be our experiences, there is but one plan of happiness.  That plan is to follow all the commandments of God." 

I know that by being submissive and humble and just trying our best to keep the commandments, that's how we gain a testimony of them, we have to do before we can receive a witness of the truthfulness of the things we do, the people we teach have to first read the Book of Mormon, then ponder it's message and teachings, after which they can go to the source of all truth, Heavenly Father, to ask him in sincere prayer about the truth, it works, it always works, but we have to put forth some effort before he can come and help us.  I love this work, I love how simple the Gospel is and that it can bring anyone true and lasting happiness, the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real, anyone can change.  

Thank you for the love and prayers, I am excited for the transfer ahead, love you all until next week.

Love,

Sister Burningham.

So there is this woman in the ward who does professional photography and so she took pictures of us for the bulletin board in the church, we have a missionary, get to know us bulletin board, it was a lot of fun!

                              Get it? Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Hahahahaha, oh the South.

                                                                               Just admiring Tennessee on our hike.

Elder Dallin Stout

Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 1:40 PM

New Transfer and President!

So its a new transfer and I am staying with Elder Martin! This transfer will be 7 weeks long because the last one was only 5. President Castro will be leaving Thursday and we will have President Felix. Here is a summery of this last week.

Tuesday

     We had a very good lesson with Bro Nolan. We shared Elder Anderson's talk from conference called "The Whirlwinds of Life".  He asked us a lot of questions that he had, and he is faithful that God will take care of him even though he has very little work and income. We had dinner with the Herr family, they are from Elder Martin's last area in Simi Valley and we met them at the park. They brought cake and presents for him since his birthday was Wednesday and we had a good time.

Wednesday

     We did service with a member from 1st ward to help out Sister White. We mixed lots of cement and poured it, then placed cinder blocks on top to make a wall. For Elder Martin's B-day, the 1st ward Elders took us out for lunch. Later we had a short lesson with Debbie who we met last week.  We talked about what she read in the POS pamplet. Then we saw Deborist and talked to her about what she learned in church.

Thursday

     We had zone conference with President! It was only 2 hours because he had to do them all day, but it was great! He and his wife spoke to us, then his kids, Samuel and Hannah, bore their testimonies. We all got pictures with them at the end, that was the last time I saw him before he leaves. Later we saw Bro Santini, we gave him an Ensign with a time line for the Book Of Mormon and he said he will start reading. We finished our day with a visit to the Goyeneches.  Their 3 yr old boy, John, broke his leg the other day at sky high, a trampoline park! Thankfully he doesn't need surgery and now has a cast.

Friday

     We went to the library to do Mormon.org and on the way there we always pass a Presbyterian church that has a van parked out front that looks exactly like the mystery machine from Scooby-doo. The only difference is its called the "Ministry Machine" I got a picture of it as we drove by!

Saturday

    As we left our apartment we saw that our neighbors were moving so we helped them load up their moving truck. After we finished, we met them at their new apartment with the 1st ward Elders, and helped unload. Afterwards, they gave us all really good sub sandwiches and thanked us. We stopped by the Logans and shared some scripture with them and we also saw Bro Brodbeck. For dinner, we went to a ward Luau and saw Bro Limberg and the Goyeneches there. Their little girl, Lila, went down the waterslide into the deep end of the pool and she can't swim. Thankfully, someone was watching and jumped after her in all his clothes!

Sunday

     Bro Logan and Deborist came to sacrament meeting. Later we were able to visit Deborist and talk about what she learned while at church.

Love,
Elder Stout


Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 1:23 PM

So we had a good week here is a quick summary of how it went.

Tuesday

     We had 4 lessons planned that all ended up falling through! Bro Nickols called us and wanted us to come visit him so we did. We also stopped by Debrist who was having a stressful day so we said a prayer with her to help her be calm. We had dinner with the Gonzales family. They decorated their dinning room table with Los Angeles Laker stuff! they gave us name tags that said "Elder Martin #1 Laker fan!!" and  "Elder Stout #2 Laker fan!!" They also had jackets on the back of our seats, place mats, silver wear holders, purple napkins and ribbons hanging from the fan! They had a sign in the middle of the table that read "Just say no to Utah Jazz" we had a lot of fun with them.

Wednesday

     We met an older lady named Debbie who called us as we were walking by. She told us she has several LDS friends that have taken her to temple square and the tabernacle to see choir performances. She at one time has talked with missionaries but it has been a while, we will see her next week.

Thursday

     We met with Brother Sherman a Less Active (LA) who is a very nice guy. We talked to him about conference talks. We also saw Brother Nolan who is still looking for work but is getting enough income to make payments. He payed his tithing first thing with his last check and says he trusts God will prepare a way for him to get a job!

Friday

     We saw Brother Brodbeck and had a great lesson with him. Later when we were walking to "The Habit" for dinner, Brother Moffat pulled over and gave us a ride there. When we got there he payed for our dinner and had to leave. While we were eating, a couple sat next to us and talked with us. After a while we realized they were not members because they asked us how long missionaries are out for and if they get to choose where they go. When we were about to leave the wife returned to her table and gave us a $20 gift card that she just bought for us!  We thanked them before we left. We walked by our church building and a member called us over. He asked us, "Have you had dinner yet?"  We said yes and he said, "Well you have to have some food anyway!"  He took us to the gym where a graduation party was going on and told us to start eating. They gave us this amazing Samoan fruit drink that tasted like watermelon and put us in line for food!  So we got a little food and stayed there for a while with a member family from Oxnard.

Saturday

     We stopped by Deborist to see how she was doing and she was doing yard work. So we did some service for her to help her out. Elder Martin managed to break two broom handles while sweeping with a push broom! We saw Richard Perry and talked for a while with him. We had dinner at home and Elder Martin taught me how to solve a Rubix cube which is pretty cool. We later went to see the Goyeneche's. Juan was on his way home from work when we showed up so we stayed outside and played a bit with the younger kids. Elder Martin got on a tiny tricycle and tried to ride it around but he was far to big for it! When Juan got home we had a good lesson with them.

Sunday

     So after church the ward had a huge pie social for everyone. The members kept telling us to eat more so we both totaled out at 3 slices each! They wanted us to take leftovers home but I didn't want to look at another piece of pie!  Elder Martin and I both got to make calls to our Dads for fathers day and that was great. We had a good fathers day dinner with the Maddux family, they gave us very good smoked tri-tip! Which is like steak and people here always eat it. I also discovered I can still tie a knot in a cherry stem!

Love,

Elder Stout

Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 3:03 PM

This awesome week!

We did a lot of good work this week and saw lots of people.
Tuesday
     We were able to meet with Dan and help him to get in the habit of reading every day and praying. He is trying hard to start doing what's right and put God first in his life. We also had a gospel discussion with the Goyeneche's that night and help answer question that they had.
Wednsday
      We were able to see Bob and help him understand the Book Of Mormon better. He is reading through 3 Nephi right now and says he kinda understands, but the language is difficult for him. We also saw Bro/Sis Gonzales and gave them encouragement to keep their commitments.
Thursday 
     We had a really good district meeting that helped me personally a lot. We had a set lesson with Bro Santini and we were able to get to know him a lot better and learn how he first joined the church. We talked about the importance of reading the scriptures and praying every day. 
Friday
     Well during our weekly planning session Elder Martin upgraded his "missionary motivator" which was first just a Saran Wrap tube stuffed with paper and taped up. Well he broke it in half, used dental floss to connect the two pieces and made it into num-chucks! They didn't work that well, so he taped them back together, took the tube of a paper towel roll and attached it to the end of the stick. Making it into the "missionary motivator sword!" For companionship inventory when we got to "resolve conflicts" we had a war. He used his sword and I used scripture markers as throwing knives! He hid behind walls, ninja rolled from place to place and would attack! Haha!! So that's how we resolved our conflict and got our energy out after a long morning of planning!
Saturday
     Exchanges with Elder Pace. That morning we met this guy named Guy, who was the son of a potential. We gave him a Book Of  Mormon and set up a time to come see him and his mom. Not long after that we ran into an anti-Mormon Christian who basically told us we were a dis-service to the community by spreading lies and and walked away. Well, there is opposition in all things, and Satan is working hard so we must be doing something good! We also saw Richard, Angelina and contacted a referal after that. We also had a good lesson with Brother Brodbeck, who is wanting to come to church soon. We gave him encouragement that God would help him do all things that are good and always holds up his end of the promise, if we are willing to do our part. We also had dinner with the Goyeneche's and had a good discussion with them about how Satan is trying to hold them back from baptism. They have had a lot of trials block them from it but they are still determined to work through them. 
Sunday
     Elder Martin, our ward mission leader, Bro Tui and I gave talks in sacrament about missionary work and how members can present the gospel to their friends. I later met the Orleannas, who are a part member family, and we had a good lesson with them. Later that night, as we were walking home, some guy on a bike rode through the street laughing hysterically!  He was so loud that we could hear him from a block or two away! I figured he's on something and he definitely should not be riding around a busy neighborhood!

Love,

Elder Stout

Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 12:20 PM

This Week

Here is a summary of the week.

Tuesday

     We saw a less active named Kent, in the past he has always pushed away any possibility of coming to church. But he told us that he wants to come with us to church soon and not to let him chicken out!  We also had a lesson with Todd, another less active. We taught him about tithing and supported him in his decision to stop drinking. We later had dinner with Carl who is also less active and got to know him a lot better.

Wednesday 

     We went to visit Sister Madsen who is LA and probably the coolest older lady I have met! We had dinner with the Gonzales family who is LA and awesome to be around! We helped them to set goals to live the Word of Wisdom.

Thursday

     We had an awesome district meeting and afterwards went to get Shave-it with the 1st ward elders. My companion had 7 punch cards all filled out! He was really nice, he gave us each one to get us a free shaved ice. We later went to visit Richard Perry who has been investigating for several years. We talked to him about how to have real intent to act on answers to prayer so that he can have an answer. We also got to know Mike a little bit who has also been investigating for several years. 

Friday

     We went to visit the Logan family who is LA and helped them with their garage sale.

Saturday

     We were walking the neighborhood when we met a lady named Amy. She asked us for a Book Of Mormon and told us that she used to be a member but that her husband was against her going to church. But now he is out of the picture so she wants to come back!  We also went to visit other less active members.

Sunday

     We went to visit the Goyeneche family and they are doing great! Juan is going to go to LA to get his paperwork from Argentina soon so that he can get married and them Baptized! We had a great lesson with them, they know a lot about the gospel so we discussed it and answered questions that they had.

Love,

Elder Stout

Sister Sydney Burningham

We went down into one of the ladies in our wards home and found these gems, she said I could have this coat but I couldn't take it from her, it's brilliant.


Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 10:53 AM

Faith Promise.

Hello Everyone!

What a week it has been, as every week.  I have a few quick updates for you seeing as how we had transfer calls on Saturday morning, transfers are this Wednesday.  It's always so funny to me that none of you run on 6 weeks at a time, haha.  We got the call and Sister Sume is being transferred on Wednesday, it was a bit of a shock to us because she has only been here 3 transfers we thought for sure she would be with us till I left, but the Lord knows what he is doing and she is needed elsewhere, needless to say it's been sort of rough because I just love her so much and have been able to see the Atonement work in all our lives and we've all changed and grown so much in our time together, it is always difficult to leave a companion but the Lord has a plan and it's perfect so we just trust in that.  We have spent some time the past couple days saying goodbye to the people she has come to love so much.  It always amazes me how instantly you can love people you meet.  I had one such experience this week.

So we were going to contact some in active members in our area book and we went to a home, no one answered so we were deciding what to do next when this couple were walking their two dogs.  We met LeeAnn and Jeffrey, they are pregnant with their first baby and moved here pretty recently, we asked them if they knew their neighbor we were trying to see and then our conversation moved to what we do as missionaries and then on to the gospel. They belong to a huge mega church (they have them all over here) called Faith Promise.  It's non denominational and they really love it.  LeeAnn spoke about her confusion and wondering if there is one way back to God and if there's a way we can really know before we pass away.  We had a long discussion with her about the Book of Mormon and how she can know, I felt an instant love for this little family and wanted to help, at the time she was pretty convinced we had nothing of value for her or her family and that Faith Promise is somewhere we should be going to church.  But in this time we had with them I realized that no matter what, if they accept or reject the message we have to share they are children of God and his sons and his daughters and now they have a Book of Mormon and somewhere down the road they may have the opportunity to accept the Gospel later.  I am reminded of the incredible prophesy about the southern states and them accepting the gospel.

President Kimball says:
"Make no small plans: They have no magic to stir men’s souls. This is the vision I have for the South. I believe that one day the South will baptize more people into the Church than all other English-speaking missions in the world together. There are great hosts of marvelous Baptists, members of the Church of Christ, Methodists, and Catholics who are honorable people, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love him. As they see the church veering off to the right or to the left of those basic teachings, they will begin to search for the truth; and as pivotal teachers come into the church and have influence they will see the time when we will baptize hundreds and thousands, tens of thousands, in your day you will see a million members of the church in the South. There will be temples plural in the South States. What a great call you have to serve with these marvelous people. The missionaries love the South. We are making great strides and expect to continue.”
I am always amazed at how much I love these people here they have such strong faith in Christ and they are being prepared.
This week in my studies I was reading 3 Nephi which I believe has become my favorite Book in the Book of Mormon mostly because the Savior comes and it is so powerful, it truly testifies of him.  I was thinking about the confidence I have in the Savior and that really I am to qualify to be the Lord's hands, voice and acts and to hold his light up in 3 Nephi 18:24 it says:

"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed."

It is his light, not our own.  We do what we do because we love the Savior, because he has asked us to serve his brothers and sisters and lead them to him.  He can heal us from anything, he loves us and wants us to turn to him, I love having him with me, he has helped me to change and enabled me to become who I am now and through him I can become what Heavenly Father has sent me here to be, it is by serving others and leading them to Christ that I have found myself.
 
Thank you for the love and support, I still have one more transfer and I'm excited for all Sister Roundy and I's adventures ahead, I love you all, have a great week!

Love,
Sister Burningham.

Last picture and zone meeting with President and Sister Irion, we played volleyball with them, I love them and will miss them so much when they leave in a couple weeks!

                                                                                 Sister Roundy turned us into unicorns.

Sister Sydney Burningham

Just me holding the sun sphere, this is a mural at the very top of the sun sphere you can see all of Knoxville from the top of that thing.

Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 1:48 PM

To the Rescue.

Hello from Tennessee!

I just have to say Tennessee is beautiful, we went on a hike this morning and got to see this really old Quarry and it's so green and pictures don't really do it justice so someday I'll bring all of you back with me, or just take my word for it and come to eastern Tennessee, I have fallen in love with this place for real.

Okay, you guys I know I say this every single week, but time is going by so fast and I don't know what to do to slow it down.  This transfer has gone by the fastest of the them all.  We find out transfer information on Saturday and sometimes, (all the time) I wish it would all just slow down.  I've been trying to take it one day at a time but my goodness, it just flies.  This week was so wonderful, our companionship is doing well.  I'm still in a trio with Sister Sume and Sister Roundy, I never really told you much about them but they are super great and we are really learning how to work in unity.  Your companions sort of just become your rocks, no matter what happens they are always there, through the good times and the rough ones, it's so neat to see your companions and yourself change out here and become who the Lord wants them and yourself to be.  I have always been so blessed with companions, learned something different from every single one. 

This week something miraculous happened.  Well every week we see miracles but this one was particularly meaningful to me.  So we know this woman who got baptized last year back in I believe October and she went inactive shortly after she was baptized.  We have not been able to get in to see her and she has been really struggling.  So finally last week we just offered to come help her around her house and clean up a bit and help her get things back in order.  She agreed and we came into her home, she just seemed.. lost and afraid.  We got talking with her and it turns out she had this lifestyle before her baptism and she just relapsed.  She feels so guilty for the severity of the sin and just broke down to us for awhile.  We sat with her and hugged her till she stopped crying.  After a minute we opened up to 3 Nephi chapter 17 when the Savior comes to see the people, he tells them he must leave them just till the next day and they begin to weep because they don't want him to leave, so he tarries a little longer and blesses them, prays for them, heals them, and blesses their little children.  After we read she starting looking up, the spirit was tangible, she knew she was loved and honored even though her past had come back and old habits were difficult to break, she knew that the Savior loved her and wanted her to be happy.  I have never been a lesson where the spirit was that tangible.  She is the most incredible person, we don't know everything she's been through but the Savior does and it is never too late for anyone to come back.  The Savior will wrap you up in the arms of his Atonement and bring you back, every single time.  She said we could come back anytime this week and we will continue to work with her and her 2 kids.  As a missionary you feel this overwhelming love for those you teach, and work with, it is a very very small fraction of the love the Lord feels for them. 

On a completely different subject, so sorry I'm all over the place today but I was thinking about our time and our dispensation and specifically why all of us are here right now in this specific time period and I found a quote by Neal A. Maxwell that said: "All the easy things that the church has had to do have been done.  From now on it's high adventure, and followership is going to be tested in some interesting ways." Reading this quote at first I got a little bit scared and nervous but then I just got excited, we are in the last days and we get to spread the gospel to all the world, the Lord trusts us so much with his work and he wants us to be happy and he has given us the perfect plan to guide us back home.  We need strong homes and strong families, we need to lift each other up and help everyone get back, it's exciting and it's all true.

I love you all thank you for the support and love, until next week!

Love,

Sister Burningham

The two at the top left are our sister training leaders and Sister Roundy across us, we went on the coolest hike ever to this quarry.  LOVED IT..

Elder Zach Beckman

                                               A testimony of the Book of Mormon

Mon, 2 Jun 2014 12:20

My Week!

Well hello everyone how are yall doing?? I hope this last week has been a good one for ya! because it was another fun one for me!!... it always is ha ha ha life on a mission!

So this week we were able to do alot of service and have alot of fun with it!! This week we went and poured a huge Concrete Slab in someones back yard and there was only me, Elder Price and a member and his neighbor and it took like 3 hours to do but it was a lot of fun; we got super dirty and just had a good time doing service the rest of the day!! I loved it!  But it is so sweet in this area there are Snowie Stands everywhere where you can get snow cones but a member owns all of them so we as missionaries can get a free snowies every shift ha ha ha!!!  So on those days that are just way to hot to go out we can go get a snow cone and talk to people around them!!  It is awesome I love this ward!

But this week we were able to meet this new guy and he came to church with us this week and what's cool is he is a writer and so he wrote this poem about all of his spiritual questions and life long purpose!!   About himself it was sweet!!  We challenged him to read the Book of Mormon and then later that week he called us and told us that he is finished with 2 Nephi already and this book is answering all of his questions!!  It is so sweet!!  I am so excited to see how he progresses!!  I will let you know what happens!

So what else happened this week??? Well I was able to go on a lot of exchanges this week with people in the zone so that is always fun being around other missionaries!!!  I love it!!!  They are always so much fun!!!  So going to meetings and being around them all is so fun!!

But not much else really happened this week that I can remember, so I hope you all have a fun week!!  I will write a better letter next week I promise but until then keep on keepin' on and keep smilin' and have an awesome day!

LOve
Elder Beckman

Sister Sydney Burningham

                            This is Erica, her husband and two kids, she just got baptized last week!



 Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 8:42 AM

 Stage Fighting.

Family and Friends!

What a wonderful week.  The time is going by all too fast, can you believe it is June?  I can hardly believe the time has gone by as fast as it has.  Everyone told me when I got to my mission that the mission goes by really fast for a really long time.  I suppose that is pretty well accurate.  Okay, also I haven't had horrible Harry Potter withdrawals on my mission but lately Sister Sume has been quoting it, haha so I was thinking about how to relate it to the mission because a lot of imaginary things have some truth to them at least.. okay I promise I'm getting to something good here haha so when Harry and Ron are in Divination class with Professor Tralawney Ron says to Harry "Well you're gonna suffer, but you're gonna be happy about it.." and I was thinking that sometimes in our lives we suffer, it is part of mortality but we can always find the joy in the difficult times and the difficult times will ultimately help us become who God wants us to be.  I just figured all of you would love a Harry Potter reference today, I quite enjoyed it!

So I don't know if any of you fully understand how opposite my companions are from me, haha.  But they are both real shy and we just have completely different interests so we were telling each other one night about the things we love and Sister Roundy talked about how she did drama in high school and they learned to stage fight, unfortunately I can't send pictures this week, it's not working but I will send you photos, they are hilarious, Sister Sume took a bunch of videos of all of us beating each other up, and I just have to say we are a hit in the zone, you all would love it.  I love my companions and each day we are doing better with our unity in teaching and in everything else.  The spirit is really working within all of us to keep trying and to do better.

We also met a Romanian boy this week.  He goes to the Romanian Church of God and is sort of bored with the "traditions of his fathers"  so probably he'll want to find out more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that was fun!

Erica got baptized!  (Again I'll send pictures next week) but it was a beautiful service, her husband baptized her and Erica's Mom, who isn't a member was crying and just talked about the spirit that she felt, she lives in Franklin Tennessee, but hopefully she will want to meet with missionaries there, the Lord has hastened his work and it will continue to go forth and I am so grateful to be able to witness it. 

In my studies this week I learned about integrity and honesty.  As I've been on my mission the spirit whispers to me about things that I need to change and do better, it's started to really get to the little things I need to be better at.  I was pondering about integrity and honesty and the value that comes from others trusting you and your judgment and trusting in you as a disciple of Christ.  I was reading a talk by Henry B. Eyring from the last conference and he says:

"As you pray and serve others your knowledge that you are a child of God and your feelings about him will grow.  You will become more aware that he is saddened if you are dishonest in anyway...you will be more honest with your employers, you will be more determined to be on time and to complete every task you are given by the Lord that you have accepted to do."

As disciples of Jesus Christ we have a responsibility to be honest, to have integrity and to give everything we are to each thing the Lord requires of us.  We had dinner with this amazing lady who is in drug addiction recovery and works with all kinds of people, she has struggled with it as well in her life, she bore a powerful testimony of the Savior while we were there, the spirit was tangible.  She simply said ( and I will never forget this) "I do the things I do because I love the Savior."  Why do we do the things we do?  Is it out of obligation?  I know sometimes that happens to me.  Do we do it because it is expected of us?  The only way to really change is to do the things we are asked to do because we love the Savior, that's when we change.

I love you all I hope you have an amazing week!  I am loving every minute of being in Tennessee and being a missionary, it's the best life, really.

Love,

Sister Burningham.

Elder Justin Thiel

You'll just have to send the contacts to the mission address because I don't know the address to my apartment and my companion doesn't know it either.. This week was pretty good. We had a lot of our appointments fall through but the Cottman family is still getting baptized this week so we will have 6 baptisms on Saturday!!  My bike tire popped again this week so I had to go get a new tire.  We got a member to take us to the bike shop and the member took us out to lunch too, so that was really nice of them.  My new tire is an aggressive road tire.  (it just looks like a mix between a mountain and road tire) It rides a lot nicer now.  
We had a very powerful lesson with a less active this week.  The less active was a 15 year old boy and we talked about the last week of the Savior's life.  He broke down in tears at the end of the lesson and excused himself. when he came back (because we ate dinner with them too), Elder Hunsicker asked him about his baptism and he said that he felt clean and warm that day and today was the first time that he had felt that since.  It was a really powerful moment for all of us. 
We didn't have to bike as much this week as in past weeks.  We had a man come to church this week who is awesome.  His name is Tavorious and he is ready for the gospel.  Elder Hunsicker was teaching him before I got here.  He has quit smoking now and when we told him about he law of chastity, he went home that night and told his girl friend that things had to change.  He found a separate place to live so that he can get baptized.  His girlfriend and him want to get married in July, so they did this until they can.  That guy has some dedication!  He also came to church with us on Sunday and he said that he loved it!  
I'm really enjoying it here so far.  This week we found a brown recluse spider in our apartment.  The brown recluse is a cousin of the Hobo spider and is just as dangerous (its bite does the same thing).  It's called the recluse because it likes to hide and not be found, so they like to hide in cloths and bookshelves.  They're really fast but we killed it without a problem. 
I listened to an awesome talk this week by Jeffery R. Holland, and it was based around one scripture, Luke 17:32.  I want you to look it up and tell me what you think it means.

I'm glad to hear that grandpa is getting better and that everyone is excited for school getting out. The schools here got out last week. I don't know how I will find the eye doctors place, so I can get a new prescription. I might try to plug the name into my GPS and find the nearest one.  If you can, see if there is one in Warner Robins or in Macon.  What did the letter from Sister Applegate say?  I'm curious, but if you can't tell me that is fine.  I'm glad that things are looking up for all of you!

I hope that you all have a great week!

Love,
Elder Thiel

Elder Zach Beckman

       The Plan of Happiness in chalk!!!  What a great IDEA for teaching and reaching New Investigators!!!


Tue, 27 May 2014 11:47:09

The PLAN of HAPPINESS!!!

So this week was awsome!!! probably one of the best weeks of my mission so far! but its only by the grace of God that it was all able to happen!!

So this week me and Elder Seegmiller went on Exchanges and that was so sick we killed it!!  We found 5 New investigators and it was just an awesome time to get back together again, ha ha!   I forgot how fun it was serving with him!

NOW FOR THE REAL STORY!!!

So this Monday was Memorial Day our P day got moved to Tuesday instead of Monday and the mission wanted to set a goal for 100 New investigators in 1 Day!!!  So in all honesty I was super bummed about this whole P day switch thing but then Elder Seegmiller came up with this Brilliant IDEA!!!  So his idea was we were all going to go to this big park where EVERYONE goes on holidays and we got a bunch of chalk and we drew out this HUGE Plan of Salvation!!  It covered like 2.5 Basketball courts it was awesome!!  And then with all 12 missionaries we just walked around the park talking to everyone and then we would ask if they would like to see our awesome drawing and they would come see it!! ... It was so awesome!! ha ha!!  The sisters in our zone killed it and just got so many new people to teach it was awesome!!  But through out the whole day our two districts found 47 New Investigators!!! IT WAS AWESOME!! ha ha!!  And we had a mission wide conference call and they were talking about how awesome our zone is and everything it was great!! But honestly I learned that just simply changing your attitude toward something can make all of the difference!!  So if you ever are just thinking something is going to suck... Chances are that it really is going to!  But if your Change your attitude it will make all of the difference!!

But this Sunday we had a new family we are teaching and there names are Cerissa and Michael but they call themselves "Circle" ( I will let you figure it out), but they are awesome!!  I hope they keep progressing so I can give you more of an update later on in the months!!

Well everyone I sure do love you and hope you all the best this upcoming week!!!
LOVE
Elder Beckman

                                     Proselyting with chalk talk - the Great Plan of Happiness!!

                                         An overview of the Plan of Salvation - in chalk talk!!

Sister Sydney Burningham

                                             Before bed one night, oh and this is the best book.


Tue, May 27, 2014 at 10:29 AM
Do you want to build a snowman?

Hey Everyone!

I have to first just let you all know that no I have not seen the movie "Frozen".  I do however know every line to every song because every single place we go the children are singing it and wanting us to know it.  Apparently it's a pretty big deal, so I mean I feel like I've already seen it!  Haha, but that time will come, for now it's missionary work in the Great Tennessee Knoxville Mission, the best life.

Okay, so I just have to tell you about the most amazing woman.  Her name is Wilma, she is 93 years old.  She is pretty much bed ridden, but can get out sometimes, she met her husband when she was 16 years old, and married him then.  He passed away two years ago today and they were married for SEVENTY FIVE YEARS.  I mean really, that is a very long time to be married.  She is the cutest and she just talks about him all the time, she calls us her angels and we come sing to her once a week, so she can feel the spirit and talk to her about what happened at church on Sunday.  She was absolutely determined to get to church for Easter, and she did for sacrament.  Her testimony has strengthened mine, she is someone I will always look up to, so Christlike and still sharing the gospel with everyone in her 90's.  No fear in that one, only faith.

Erica is getting baptized on Saturday, her husband is baptizing her and it will be wonderful, she has been coming to church for awhile so most of the members thought she was already a member, which is great because she is so converted to the gospel and so excited for Saturday we are meeting with her tonight for her interview, watching people you've come to love enter into those covenants is the most wonderful experience, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week about captain Moroni, who is just an incredible person.  I am so grateful to be able to read about his life.  I was reading in Alma chapter 51, after the Lamanites have come to attack, Moroni is trying to fortify his cities and then verse 22 says:

"Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down the wars and contentions among his OWN people, and subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore."

It really hit me after reading this that how often are we in conflict and contention within our own families or within our own ward families?  Maybe we don't agree on some things, but we are all on the same team.  I have learned that we have a living prophet on the earth who is leading and guiding us away from Satan (the Lamanites in the story) but in order to be firm against Satan we have to help each other, if we are finding so much contention and confusion with those closest to us, who share our same values and have our same beliefs, it is going to be a lot easier for Satan to get in and take over.  It is difficult to be kind and honest to those that we love the most because we know no matter what, they will accept us and love us unconditionally, but it has been my experience as I work on fortifying our companionship and our ward family out here, when we are all on the same page and working toward the same cause then unity comes, and unity is power.  I am so grateful for the people who have loved and supported me throughout my life.  It reminds me about Elder Craig W. Zwick's talk from general conference he says:

"The willingness to see through each other’s eyes will transform “corrupt communication” into “minister[ing] grace.” The Apostle Paul understood this, and on some level each of us can experience it too. It may not change or solve the problem, but the more important possibility may be whether ministering grace could change us."

I know it's so difficult to be patient and loving, and we aren't going to be perfect at it all the time, I just know that when we are patient, kind, and try to see things from someone else's point of view and think about what we say before we say it, that will make all the difference. I love my mission, I love Tennessee, I love my circumstances, even though sometimes they hurt me and they stretch me. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week, until next time!

Love,

Sister Burningham.

We found our ward mission leaders guitar and so we played and sang some hymns as part of our lesson after dinner.  Love that family.

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I made this planner for my companion, she LOVES penguins.

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