Sister Sydney Burningham

                                               She's the cutest. LOVE my companion.

 Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 9:05 AM

 "It's LDS night at the smokies!"

Hey Everybody!

So this really cool thing is happening tonight, we're not actually attending due to the lateness of the game and things like that but they have a night at the smokies baseball where they recognize the Mormons!  They have them all like stand up and they get in for cheaper, it's so great, I thought that was way cool, all the members in our ward are going and they are all way excited about it.  Also this week, Sister Sume send me a picture of a pig on fire in the mail this week, made my day for sure, I miss her a lot.  Sister Roundy and I are doing so great!  I cannot imagine ending my mission with anyone other than her, she puts up with me and we are really unified, miracles are happening.

One such miracle I just have to share, it happened last week on Monday night.  We were at a members house having dinner and we got a call from the Hardin Valley Elders, they met this woman at Wal-Mart, she stopped them and told them that she had been a member for years and years but she wasn't going anymore and hadn't for a long time.  She needed a priesthood blessing for her son who has been having seizures, they gave us her information and we contacted her the next day.  She is the sweetest lady, they have a lot of things going on in their family right now but our ward members got on board and they had some men from the ward come give him a blessing, she has three children living in the home, all of which are not members but want to learn more, the whole time I kept having this overwhelming feeling of love for them and a vision of what their little family could become, there are two things of many that I have learned on my mission I want to share.

1. The most unexpected people are the most receptive to the gospel.

2. Anyone can change.

I feel like every time I am discouraged or worried the Lord presents me with miracles and with the love of the Savior, as I experience the Atonement work in my own life I want others to have same, that's the miracle of conversion. 

In Alma chapter 26 verse 27 it talks about Ammon and how at times he was discouraged and concerned for the work, he didn't always have a perfect trust in the Lord and his timing, we all have doubts and we all wonder if this work is worth it. 

 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn‍ back, behold, the Lord comforted‍ us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience‍ thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

It is always worth it, because this work is true, Jesus Christ leads and guides this church, He is real, He lives and He loves us.  Through His gospel is the only way we can receive the peace we need and the confirmation that we are doing the right thing. 

We are singing with the youth in our sacrament meeting this sunday, so wish us luck, haha, we are excited they are all so pumped about missionary work, it's contagious. 

Thank you for the love, emails, letters and support.  It means the world to me, really I still have two weeks left out here, the things that can be accomplished in two weeks, endless possibilities!

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Burningham.

So mission rules are we can't eat in the car, and I couldn't wait because I LOVE publix cookies, it's a Tennessee thing I think, so Sister Roundy took a picture of me not being able to wait, it's fine.

Sister Sydney Burningham

Happy Fall from Sister Sydney Burningham!

Hey Everyone!

Another week gone by, can't say that it's slowing down at all, in fact it's going by like the speed of light.  But I'm loving every second of it.  So much has happened this week that I'm not sure if I can remember most of it, but I will tell you all about some highlights.  We got a week break from exchanges so we went hard as a companionship and tried to see as many people as we could.  It was awesome!!!... we're really starting to teach in unity and really just gain such love for the people and for each other.  We have been making some goals and making plans and things are just going great! 

So, the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month we have been going to help at the Methodist church food pantry, they just LOVE us there.  I'm serious they are the most wonderful people and they just love us coming to help.  We bag up the food and take it out to the cars of the families who come to receive it.  I don't know if any of you were aware but Kenny Chesney's family lives here and they are just straight up country and live clear out there in the backwoods.  The best thing is we know Kenny's uncle's friend, he owns his own catering business called "Uncle Butch's Barbeque" classic.  Anyway, this guy said he would bring uncle Butch next time to meet us and maybe we can meet Kenny Chesney's family or something, it's going to be great.  Who knew? 

Well, we have a baptism.. today!!  Joe Kronick is getting baptized at 5:30 tonight and we are so excited.  We'll be doing musical number as a companionship "Nearer my God To Thee" and there's a ton of ward members that are getting involved.  His son, Colin is baptizing him and Chelsea his daughter and Debbie his wife will be there as well.  We are so excited I'll make sure I send pictures of this incredible family next week, just amazing the miracles we are seeing.  Chilhowee ward is so great, I never thought I would love a place as much as Kingsport but wherever you go, you just fit right in and it all works out. 

We had an amazing experience this week.  So we got a referral from some people in Idaho and they told us to go see Zesta Faulkner.  We had a hard time getting to see her so on Saturday an appointment cancelled and we had some extra time, we all three instantly thought let's just try Zesta.  So we got there, she was home and we taught her the restoration.  I'm always amazed at the power and spirit that come when you teach someone about the first vision.  She just cried and said she knows the Book of Mormon is true and she's been reading most of it.  She has such a strong faith in Christ and I know she'll be baptized soon.  As we qualify ourselves for the spirit he totally leads us in the right direction, always.

My mission means everything to me.  I love these people and I'm blessed to be able to be a representative of the Savior and minister to his people.  He knows us, he loves us and he wants what's best for us.

"Sometimes you just have small victories, be grateful for them and be patient with yourself." -Elder Holland

I love our prophet and apostles and general authorities of the church, they are inspired and I know they are called of God.

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

Love,

Sister Burningham

Sister Sydney Burningham

Sister Burningham and Sydney Ramey

Hey Hey Hey Everyone,

Seriously this week FLEW by.  As do all the weeks.  I can hardly believe I've been out almost 6 months.  That is not true, it can't be true.  I love every single minute I am out here and I can hardly believe the time passes as fast as it does.  Just to update you on the work here in Kingsport Tennessee.... Sydney Ramey got baptized on July the 6th at 1:00 p.m. I don't know if you can tell but I pretty much am really pumped about it because it is the first person that has been baptized that I have taught start to finish and had the privilege to witness the actual baptism.  She is incredible.  Her dad actually came to the baptism but he doesn't like Mormons that much.  The good news is that he was reading the Book of Mormon and took one with him, he is not supportive yet but he will be when he opens his heart open a little.

GREAT story for you.  So we have been randomly contacting people on the ward list that we need to find out if they've moved or where they are or if they're interested.  We went to Tonya Hatchers first.  The first thing she said to us was "Joseph Smith is not all y'all think he is."  then she told us she wanted her records removed from the church.  It broke my heart and I didn't think it would make me as sad as it did.  I just want people to realize that those thoughts and feelings are Satan and he works so hard against that which is good.  It was hard, but then we went to Susan Girgis's house.  I think she's insane.  She just kept saying words..and words..and more words.  She asked us if we had ever seen evil.. we said yes it's all around us and she looked into our souls with her piercing eyes and said ".. No.. REAL evil..." we got kind of scared then she said she was 50% christian and 50% muslim and that Joseph Smith AND Mohammad are both prophets..equally.  We will work with her she wants us to come back and we are going to try to get her on the right track.  She's just been away from church for too long.  Haha, anyway funny stuff.  I LOVE TENNESSEE.

Sister Bedke is awesome, we laugh all the time.  That seems to be the theme of my companionships is laughing, I think the Elders think we're crazy sometimes but you have to learn to laugh and make missionary work fun.  I love meeting people and seeing them as they can become. 

Something I learned this week is to be an example.  This ward is amazing, they are just welcoming Sydney in with open arms and it has been incredible to see the work progress here since they are all just into it. 

Something I love: "Bear your testimony always and if necessary, use words."

I bore my testimony for the first time in this ward on Sunday, the spirit was so strong, Sydney had just received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Beth was there, she is going to get baptized in Atlanta when her husband gets used to the idea and I looked at her and just lost it.  I have grown to love these people so much, it is going to be hard to say goodbye when that time comes, until then I'm living in each moment.

Keep being amazing, always share your testimony through your actions and love for others.

I love you all have a great week!

Love,

Sister Burningham

Sister Burningham, Sydney Ramey, Sister Bedke

Sister Sydney Burnigham

Everyone, Hey!

I am so excited to write y'all this week and update you on the work here in Kingsport Tennessee.  I didn't really mention in this email that we found a raccoon in our apartment last week, which was the subject of my email but we did, but don't worry our landlord, Mac, SO country, wrestled it into a box bare handed and set it loose.  I must say we saw a dead raccoon on the road the next day and I assume it was probably the same one, poor guy.  Such a southern experience it was great!  But anyway back to this week, it has been crazy!  As a Sister Training Leader we do a lot of exchanges we had our first one, I stayed here in Kingsport and Sister Hatch, who is a brand new missionary, been in the field about a week came here with me, she is one of the 19 year olds and an incredible missionary, it's amazing how most of the sisters coming out are already pre-trained, seriously.  They are amazing, such great teachers and working so hard here to help the work progress.  I learned so much from her, these sisters in our zone are blessing me so much and just giving me more of a desire to work hard and become who Heavenly Father wants me to be.  We had the opportunity to go to a district meeting outside of our own with the zone leaders and it was way awesome to see how other districts do things.  The work is progressing, I see miracles every single day through revelation from Heavenly Father, he really does work through us for his children.  Our zone is killing it in the way of baptisms these sisters in Watagua have like 7 baptismal committments it is just amazing.  

A little bit about some of our investigators-- I'll start with Beth, Beth came to church yesterday and she loved it as usual, it is a matter of when she gets baptized, not if.  I am amazed at the progress she is still making and we are pushing for July the 13th for her baptism, we will see if her husband and family can get on board for that date she has this incredible testimony of the gospel and her desire to follow Christ it inspires me. 

Pam Mitchell is the one who is supposed to be baptized on June the 29th.  A couple days ago a bunch of members just donated like a million church clothes for her and her 13 year old son, this ward is amazing and we brought them over to her, she was very grateful and planned on coming to church yesterday, but when Sister Bastian came to get her no one answered and we went over after church to see if she was okay and there was no answer.  We are hoping we don't lose her, she is so prepared and wants to follow Christ so badly, it's just the worlds influence that makes following the Savior difficult.  We will keep following up and I will keep you posted.  Needless to say disappointment is part of missionary work at times but you just learn how to never give up and continue to seek for guidance from the spirit to know how to help the people you serve.  I have been working on my boldness with those that I teach really just committing them to doing things and helping them to change because if we don't invite them to change, they probably won't do it on their own. 

I love being here in Kingsport, the ward is so supportive and we get so much help.  I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be here with Sister Bedke who is so amazing and deals with my worrying about everything and everyone haha I have learned so much on my mission but one of the things is to accept the things you can't control and give the rest to the Lord.  Sister Bedke and I were talking this morning and she just said sometimes I wonder why us?  Why did we get the blessing of being raised in the gospel and others didn't?  and really we don't know why our lives have taken the course we have but we recognize how blessed we are and use that to bless the lives of others.

"If you put the Lord first, the adversities can lead to beautiful blessings, you can see his hand and witness miracles." -Sister Mary N. Cook

"Following Christ is not an occasional or casual practice but a continuous committment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

My mission has changed my life, the people here have changed my life and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for it.  I hope all of you back home are praying for missionary opportunities and for the missionaries around the world.  Nothing will ever stop this work from progressing. 

Keep being amazing! I am so grateful for the examples I have had in my life!

I love you all so much,

Sister Burningham

Sister Sydney Burningham

Hey y'all,

Sometimes I try to sound southern, still not working that well, but I'm giving it my best shot.  Haha, I love it out here in Tennessee especially in Kingsport.  I guess I will start out by telling you a little bit about Sister Training Leaders and our responsibilities.  We had zone meeting and we met with our Zone Leaders Elder Schouten and Garber and the Assistants Elder Mills and Robinson to talk about what we are responsible for.  Basically there are too many sisters on missions and the Elders can't handle all of the concerns and problems the sisters are having at times so that's where we come in.  We do 6 exchanges a transfer, one a week with each companionship in our zone.  We report to our district leader and speak with our zone leaders about any problems or things we would like them to train on for the sisters we are trying to help.  We also are going to do weekly planning sessions with them and give them insight and new ideas about what we have done in the past that has worked.  I love these girls, they are incredible missionaries and they just want to be the best they can be.  It will be such a blessing to work with them and help them with missionary work.  I will admit I feel very inadequate, my companion Sister Bedke has been out a year and has much more experience than me, as do most of the sisters in my zone but I am trying to just trust the Lord and try to understand I have things to offer these girls even with my limited experience.  My companion is AMAZING, she's from Pleasant View, Utah went to Weber High School and graduated a year before me, in 2009.  She is kind and so loving, such an incredible teacher and just wants to work hard.  We talk about everything and I feel so comfortable with her.  I haven't had any hard companions yet so I consider that such a blessing.  Anyway, it has been a CRAZY week to say the least but with a lot of prayer, study and experience I am finding strength I never knew I had. 

Well, we had a heartbreaker this week.  Beth decided not to be baptized on June 8th.  Man, that was a hard day.  Her husband basically gave her the option between him and the church but she has a date set for mid-july so we just pray everyday she'll get there.  She has the strongest testimony and she was at church yesterday, it was just a really hard thing because there was nothing I could do. We still meet with her a lot and she is working towards getting baptized and her husband is slowly warming up to the idea.  On the brighter side we have 2 other baptismal committments.  Pam Mitchell is an old southern black lady that is really struggling financially.  Sister Johnson and I found her at her home outside, she keeps telling us she runs away from people like us (whatever that means haha) but for some reason she could not move, she waited, we prayed with her and she is all the way to Jarom in the Book of Mormon, it is incredible.  She set a date for June 29th and came to church yesterday, she said every single talk and comment was made for her.  We took her some food to get through the week and we will go with her to get some church clothes from some members for her and Devonte for church next week.  Words cannot express my love for this woman.  When Devonte heard she was getting baptized he said "Mamma, can I get baptized too?"  So needless to say this will be an amazing experience for them and we can't wait to be their guides the rest of the way, she has to overcome a few things but with the Lord, anything is possible. 

I am witnessing miracles. 

"It is easier to give yourself to Him, to surrender your will to His, than it is to fight the fight within.  It is easier to give yourself to Him, than it is to wrestle in your heart and soul between what you want and what the Lord wants.  Do not just look the part of a disciple of Christ, BE a disciple of Christ."

The gospel will bring everlasting happiness, I experience it and see it everyday.

Thank you for the prayers, love and support.  I love you all so much, have a great week!

With Love,

Sister Burningham