Sister Sydney Burningham

We went on a hike this morning SUPER early and did our studies on the riverside, Sister Whatcott and Ellis's idea, brilliant, I will sent pictures of the sunrise, BEAUTIFUL.

                     The sunrise over the river, Tennessee is beyond beautiful, this is the river boardwalk.


Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 11:43 AM

Captain Kenny.


Family and Friends,

My goodness the time is still flying, in fact I think it's going even faster now.  In about a week I will be heading home to good old Centerville, Utah.  It's hard to think about, and I'm not quite sure how to prepare for it, so I've given it to the Lord.  But our week has been wonderful, filled with exchanges, miracles and so much joy and happiness in the Lord's work.

The BEST thing happened this morning.  So us four sisters got up early to head out on a little walk/hike up to the river boardwalk near our house to do studies and sing songs and just really take in what God has given us.  So as we are singing,"Nearer My God to Thee." watching the sunrise (It was really cool because Sister Whatcott and Sister Ellis can harmonize like you wouldn't believe) we just couldn't believe how lucky we are.  A few minutes later as we are singing a man drives by in his fishing boat and hears us, so he turns around and comes back, called himself Captain Kenny said he has church on the river every morning before he goes fishin' reminded me a lot of our next door neighbor Mike back in Chilhowee, told us his favorite scripture is Matthew 4:19 you know "Follow me and I will make you Fishers of men." Well he stood up and he starting preaching to us, straight up asking if he can get an "AMEN" so we just kept saying "AMEN" and he wanted us to sing how great thou art, so we did with him and it was so great, He seriously loves the Lord and does what he can to serve others, we learned so much from him and I just have to say that is something I am going to miss about the South is these preachers and ministers and people we meet who get so excited and enthusiastic about Jesus and his word and his life. Just the five of us on the river boardwalk having a morning sermon.  Made my week.  I LOVE TENNESSEE.

I was thinking a lot about what it means to be a "Finisher"  I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week in Moroni 6:4 it says:

"And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith."

Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith.  He came to Earth he performed his miracles, he set up his church and had an incredible ministry, he performed the single most important act in the history of all existence even the Atonement, for each one of us.  He finished his mission, we need to finish strong.

I was reading a talk by President Thomas S. Monson called "Finishers Wanted".

He says:

" There has always been a need for those persons who could be called finishers. Their ranks are few, their opportunities many, their contributions great.  From the very beginning to the present time, a fundamental question remains to be answered by each who runs the race of life. Shall I falter or shall I finish? On the answer await the blessings of joy and happiness here in mortality and eternal life in the world to come." 

It is what we become when all is said and done, I have learned what it means to become something I never thought I could become.  I have learned how the Atonement changes people and how it has changed me forever.  I'm excited for the next week here in this part of the Lord's vineyard and I hope and pray that we can all be finishers for the Lord, He loves us and He trusts us, He will always make more out of us than we could ourselves.

I have never been more tired and more happy in my entire life! I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Burningham.

We went bowling with the Griffin's! Our mission president and his wife have three daughters that came with them, this is Olivia on the right and Izzy on the left, they're darling.

Some of the missionaries went bowling last week, Elder Hancock, Sister Spencer, Elder Sinks and Elder Edwards.

Sister Sydney Burningham

          This is Brother and Sister Welch, newly called ward missionaries, we spent the 4th with them!

Mon, Jul 7, 2014 at 9:16 AM

Happy 4th!

Hey Everyone!

The 4th of July was wonderful and we were able to go watch some fireworks and talk to a lot of people so it worked out really great, they have this huge celebration downtown at world's fair park and it was really great!  We got to spend some time with the Welch family as well and they are wonderful.  It's getting very hot and humid where we're at and hopefully when we play tennis today we'll make it through.  It really has been an incredible week though, we are still working on finding people to teach, another one of our investigators moved this week and we're learning a lot about relying on the Lord to find those who He has prepared.  It's been interesting and humbling to say the least.  

We get to talk to so many people everyday!  I think that's one of the things I love most about being on a mission is that you get to meet so many different people from different backgrounds and different experiences.  Last night I feel was one of my little miracles.  I was feeling very discouraged because it just seemed that no one wanted to listen to the message we have to share, I didn't picture this all happening at the very end of my mission but there are lessons to be learned and I know that. I love our message, I know it's true and one thing I have noticed is that you can either be discouraged or you can allow these experiences can solidify your testimony.  We were trying to contact a less-active member the High Priest Group leader had asked us to go see, we were told where she lives by a neighbor and then we walked up to and met Charles, he goes to a church and holds a lot of our same core beliefs, I knew he had such a strong sincere testimony of Jesus Christ and I just felt like I needed to bear my testimony of the Savior and his Atonement, and as we did, he started to soften, he is a wonderful man and is always seeking truth, I offered him a Book of Mormon and told him that if he would read it with a sincere heart he would know that it is true.  He was hesitant based on what he had heard about the Mormons but took it.  After we saw the Less-active member we walked back outside and his aunt was out there, she is from another part of the mission and just talked about how her brother and sister in law are members of the church and she just loves us missionaries, it was getting late but she kept asked so many questions about the church, she got our number and said next weekend she wants us to come help her understand our beliefs!  She was so kind, walked us to our car and told us to never forget that what we do is beautiful and it matters. 

This experience solidified my testimony even more but not only that it helped me see that the Lord will only give us what we can handle and then he takes care of the rest.  I consider last night my miracle from Him, to let me know there are people that care and people searching, he gave me that experience so I would keep going, and never give up on his children and his work.  

I have been reading a talk I read at the beginning of my mission called The Fourth Missionary by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge. In that talk he writes:

"Every challenge you face, every hard thing you confront, every bad thing that happens to you, every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, tragedy, every disappointment and heartache, every temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose only: to give you opportunity to respond by applying in your life the teachings of Jesus. As you do so you are changed to become more like Him."

That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is why we are here.

I love you all so much, thank you for the support and prayers and love! Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Sister Burningham.

Happy 4th! Left to right: Elder Sinks, Elder Edwards, Sister Roundy and I. 

Left to Right: Elder Crowell (not sure if he is related to the Crowells in our stake but probably!) Elder Williams, and Elder Sinks. The two on the left are our zone leaders, they're a hoot.

Best Pizza ever it's called "Gino's Pizza" close to our place.  I have a new obsession with pizza...

Sister Sydney Burningham

Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 9:00 AM

 I'm trying to become a positivist.

Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone's week is going well and that everyone is ready for the 4th of July!  We have big plans as well, we're pretty excited!  I think the 4th of July is my favorite holiday..yeah it's my favorite holiday.  So grateful to be here in Tennessee for another one!  This week has flown by as most have and it is getting more humid and more hot, we were hoping to play some tennis today, but we may have some rain delay, not the best but we'll figure it out.  We had a really great week! 

Sister Roundy and I are building more unity and deciding on some ways we can help the work progress here in the West Hills Ward, we had a really incredible lesson last night with a family in the ward after dinner, we asked them what makes them worried or afraid to share the gospel, there were a few things that made them hesitant to invite their friends and family to learn more.  

1. In the workplace, getting fired or a stern talking to because they talked about religion.

2. Saying the wrong thing and feeling like they ruined someone's chance.

3. Afraid it will ruin the friendship/relationship with the person they invite.

We talked about Preach my Gospel and our purpose as missionaries, that the Lord expects us to always be inviting and bearing our testimonies frequently, that it is simple, the Lord requires a willing heart and an invitation, as far as the fruit that comes or what happens, He takes care of that part, when we put in our part.  

We talked about Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34.

 33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

 34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

We invited them to pray about someone specific as a family to make that invitation to meet with the missionaries and have the lessons to know more, when done with love, it will not be taken offensively or ruin anything, people know us, they know we hold our faith dear, they know it means everything to us, in most cases they consider it very kind to invite them to learn what means so much to us, and that we're willing to share what means so much to us, we had a great lesson and we're excited to hear about their experiences!  They are the sweetest.

President and Sister Irion leave tomorrow on their road trip back to Utah and President and Sister Griffin arrive! We are so excited to meet them and their family!  We have interviews with them this week and I can tell you more about them.  This month President Irion's last charge is to Be Positive, specifically about people.  Anyone we come in contact with, as I have been conscious about what I say about those around me in conversations with my companion, other missionaries, members, I have realized that sometimes I say some pretty harsh or unfair things about people based on facts or my assumptions.  The Lord does not want us to speak about others that way, they are his children and he loves them, he doesn't need us to point out our differences and their flaws, he needs us to life, inspire, bless and love them.  It has made such a big difference in my missionary efforts, not that I am perfect at it yet, and I have a long way to go, but I just feel like it was very inspired.  

This week this 12 year old girl in our ward got up and bore her testimony about bearing testimony to her friends who aren't members of the church, I was so happy to see her faith, so strong and she is so willing to pray for missionary opportunities to share the gospel, I found myself wondering if I had that much submissiveness and faith to do whatever the Lord wants me to do, it was a good reminder, I just love her and look up to her in so many ways, the youth here are incredible, we're doing a musical number with them in sacrament meeting July 20th I'll let you know how it goes.

Sorry for such a long email again, I want to tell you all everything but it's simple not possible.  I hope you have a great week and a great 4th of July.  It's July. Mind. Blown.

I love you all, thank you so much for all the prayers, love and support.  God Speed!

Love,

Sister Burningham.

This is Miss Lill She is the sweetest woman ever, she moved to Missouri so we aren't teaching her anymore, but she really loves learning and wants to change her life, we love her so darn much.

This is Elder Russo, he's one of my heroes, got transferred really far away, he's a visa waiter for Brazil from Oklahoma, but he just decided to stay in Tennessee the rest of his mission.  We're happy to keep him.

This is my girl!  She is so great, and loves to read the Book of Mormon and play with the missionaries, they live next door to a member we go see!

This is at a HUGE quarry on our hike a couple weeks ago, it's way cool.

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.

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..

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.

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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