STRENGTH FROM THE STRUGGLE

HELLO!!! 

Wow...what a week. I have been so excited to write home this week because we have had so many miracles happen. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE THEM! I hope you all are doing wonderful....thanks sooooo much for all the prayers and support.

Ok where to start....At the beginning of the week, Sister Perkins and I decided we would work really hard to achieve our goals. At this point we didn't have any solid investigators and all of our appointments were falling through- esspecially our new investigators that we have found by tracting. The work was reaaallllyyyy slow. To be honest, up until about Friday, the week was like this too. It was interesting because everything we studied was about trials and about keeping faith, finding joy, and growing from our struggles. We had the awesome opportunity to teach a seminary class and guess what the lesson was on? Trials! It was based off of Job 38-42. The lesson went really well. We learned so much by preparing the lesson and also from teaching it. The class had great comments and it was too cool. Tender mercy am I right?

Friday night, we asked a Young Woman from the ward to come tracting with us. There are miracles that come from the members. We stopped by a members home before we started tracting and prayed with them. After the prayer they said that they had a map of the area, so they printed it out and gave us suggestions on who to teach, who they thought was prepared and open to hear our message. One of the families we stopped by let us in their home and seemed super interested. We have an appointment with them soon and we really think they will go somewhere. Tender mercy again! 

YW Splits

Our awesome stake has this missionary readiness conference every year. The 2nd year participants get to go out with the missionaries for a morning, do studies at our apartment, then go tracting and do visits with us. So Saturday morning we had 2 cute girls in our apartment and we got to show them the ropes of missionary life for a little bit. It was sooooo fun! They had so much excitement and truly, I think we learned more from them than they did from us. Since we had 2 girls, we were able to split up tracting. This was my first time tracting without my traineerrrrrrr! haha well, another tender mercy because it actually went well! In fact we found a new investigator from it:):) We loved having those sweet girls with us. I hope they felt the amazing spirit of missionary work!

Our District from the Missionary Readiness Conference

And that leads us to Sunday...the day of miracles. Guess who came to church? Our CUTE RECENT CONVERT WHO HAS BEEN STRUGGLING!!!! YAYAYAYAYAAYAY! We were so excited!! She's made some HUGE progress this week!! She said she realized that her faith has been shaken and that she has been working to get it back!! More tender mercies:) After sacrament meeting was over, a recent convert came up to us and introduced us to her friend...who wanted to learn about the gospel:):):) We have an appointment with her this week too! She came with us to Gospel Principals and the lesson was on prayer! PERFECT! After the lesson was over, she said that she "has made a decision" haha she decided for herself that she was going to "pray with real intent and listen for God's answer" no joke...i'm not even kidding. We are just a liittttlllee excited about her. God truly does provide....soooo much! (oh...another tender mercy...the lesson in relief society was on trials too....The recent convert whose faith has been shaken was crying....Seriously so humbled about all that Heavenly Father provided for us this week)

On another note....Sweet Sister Holt from out district is going home this week. So sad...we will miss her so much. She has extreme headaches and head shocks and needs to figure out whats wrong. So that means that we will be in a trio this week with her companion, Sister Hamilton. PARTYYY! We love her!  

Sister Hamilton, Sister Holt, Elder Holle, Elder Stout, Sister Perkins, and ME!

Tracting Moment of the Week: We tracted into a lady this week who was one week out of PRISON! haha....and she was completley drunk. She held our hands and asked us if we could feel her power hhahahaha we love her.

SO...that was our amazing week in a nutshell....God is there, He listens, He cares, and He does provide for us. I'm so grateful! Humbled and sooooo grateful! Keep praying folks! I know that it is in our struggles that we receive strength and increased faith. It's when we really see miracles and grow. Our trials really enable us. 

"Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees." ~President Monson

Our schnazy Car Crew

Minion's came in a sunshine box. Don't worry y'all...We don't go out like this!!
But we laughed forever when we saw this pic...

'til next week...

Love, Sister Burgon*

LET THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE

Perkie and BurgIndy. We take selfies. 

Hellllloooo :) 

Hope you all had a great week!! Thanks for all the emails and support!!!

This week was amazing! I love being a missionary...holy cow!! This week we went to my very first Zone Conference and it was so much fun! I loved the training's! As I continue to learn about how to be a better missionary, I'm amazed at this Gospel. I've learned so much and everything is such a huge testimony builder! I love this Gospel. I also learned I have a lot to improve on too :)

ZONE CONFERENCE!!! I LOVE ZONE CONFERENCE!!!
I was able to see S. Griffiths from the MTC...YAY!!

Indy North Zone

We also saw soooo many miracles...We were able to get in contact with a recent convert and talk with her. I think she will come around, but reading the anti has shaken her faith. I'm excited to work with her this week and really focus on her testimony that she had so strong. 

The Highlight of the week was that we were able to teach the Jewish Seminary Class yesterday. Sister Perkins and I really prayed to know what we should teach about and tried really hard to let the spirit be the guide. Guess what...we got up there and taught a completely different lesson than what we had planned. It went so smooth and I was so touched that Heavenly Father would trust us to be his instruments in teaching the wonderful message of the Gospel. The spirit was incredibly strong and the kids seemed really engaged and interested. I'm super excited that we had that opportunity to plant some seeds and I pray that they will remember the Spirit that was there in the lesson. We also showed the video of the restoration and HOLY SMOKES...that video is so powerful. I love it ahhh. We were on cloud 9 when we finished. Super grateful that Heavenly Father answered our prayers and filled us with what we needed to say. 

Grateful for the Spirit...Let the Holy Spirit Guide...then take a selfie!

There was also a wonderful, glorious, monumental day that hit 70 degrees and sunnnnnyy:) haha that might have also been the best day ever. We were able to go downtown and PC (Personal Contact) which was super fun...but very different from tracting. So fun!! 

Tracting story of the week: We went to an appointment which ended up falling-through so as we were leaving, a guy opened his door and asked us what we were doing. We didn't even have to knock....:) We taught him and he was super interested. I was amazed that Heavenly Father put him in our path. 

I love this gospel so much and I'm so grateful to be a missionary!!! 

Tracting! in the SNOW!!! 

When someone kicks you out of an Apartment Complex for "SOLICITING" you make a face and take a selfie!!! #we'llbeback

LAYERS!!!! Hey Sista...it's cold outside!!!

Like REALLY COLD!!!

What? Tornado like Winds!!! Won't stop us!!!

"Fear not to do good...Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." D&C 6:33, 36 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!

Love, Sister Burgon*

ONE MONTH OUT....Whaaaaat

Hey everyone!

Hope this week was wonderful for everyone...went by so fast again!! WOW 

Sister Sadie Wells

Just want to give a quick thought about all the crazy things going on lately. My prayers are with the Wells family soooo much. I was so shocked to hear the sad news. As I thought about it, I felt really strongly that Sister Wells didn't get released as a missionary when she left this life. I feel like she accepted the call to serve a mission a whole lot longer than 18 months and I think she's doing great work up there. It amazes me that she taught people every single day about the Plan of Salvation...what a comfort to know that her family WILL see her again. This week I've learned so much about the Atonement too. I'm so grateful for it, and I know that peace and comfort and healing will come from it at this sad time for Sadie's family and friends. I came across a few scriptures this week that really helped me see this even stronger. Mosiah 16:6-9

"And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

So grateful for God's plan for us. I know he knows each of us individually and has a plan set out for us. 

Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ

In other news…This week was great! SO crazy...but great! I learned so much this week and my testimony grew stronger. One day we went out and all of our return appointments fell through. That night and the next day, we prayed specifically for 2 new investigators to teach. As we went tracting the next day, within the first 5 doors we knocked on...we found 2 new investigators. WHAT! Prayer is so real. 

I've decided tracting is one of the most eventful things ever. We got done tracting and were heading back to meet the Elders at the car. When we got there, they had a preeeetttyyyy fun story for us. Apparently one guy thought that the elders had a gun so he called the cops on them. Three cop cars pulled up, told them to freeze and put their hands up, and then gave them a pat-down. hahahahahahaha We were laughing at them. Can you picture these innocent elders...."We just want to talk about Jesus!" :) Of course they let them go and wished them a good day hehe:) 

Super grateful for this work and for my Savior Jesus Christ. I have been studying a lot on charity. There's some cool stuff in Moroni 7 I encourage you to read it.

Also just a quick-random quote from Elder Holland that I love. "Satan cannot directly take a life, that is one of many things he cannot do. But apparently his effort to stop the work will be reasonably well served if he can just bind the tongue of the faithful. If that is the case, I am looking for Saints young and old, who care about this battle between good and evil to sign on and speak up.”

I know that it is important to help bring people closer to Jesus Christ every single day. Look for small ways to share that love that the Savior has for everyone, in every way possible...everyday! Just like one of my favorite quotes says, "Share the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words." How great would it be if we could help people feel of God's love for them! And we can! I know that the gospel has helped me in this and it will for you too!

"Lead Kindly Light" by Simon Dewey

Love you all! Thanks for the support and love! Have a fantabulous week:)

Love, Sister Burgon*

LUKE 18:27

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

The District

Hey Hey Everyone!!!

Thanks again for all the emails! You all are the bomb:) Can you believe it's already week 3 out here in the mission field?? Time flies when you’re having fun right?

This week has been amazing!!! I don't even know exactly why it was so great...but it was:) There's been some more sunny, warm-ish days which is THE BEST!! This week I had the opportunity to go on STL Exchanges and THAT was fun! So there's this lovely place near my area and it has the reputation of being the "sketchiest place in our mission". To put it into perspective for ya...the same day I was there, the Elders got their car broken into and it turned into a little high-speed chase for there belongings haha. Never a dull day:) It was such a rush...while tracting; we couldn't have our shoulder bags with us to keep our stuff safe. But hey maybe it would be okay if they stole our things...they'd get a whole bunch of Restoration pamphlets, a Book of Mormon, and lots of pass-along cards...wow this might be a new idea...haha (kidding mama) But it was a great experience and I learned a lot (and survived woo) :) It also made me suuuuper grateful for my area. I love it here so much hehe:)

So last p-day, Elder Stout (one of the elders that we share a car with) was playing basketball with us and went up to dunk it and fell on his hands and then his head. Poor guy. We went over to check on him and his hand didn't look like a hand anymore. So the Elders gave him a blessing and they headed out to the ER. Turns out that he broke BOTH of his wrists and now has a hard cast on one, and a soft cast on the other. Talk about eventful day right? The next day he went in for surgery and the very next morning after that he was up at 6:30 all ready to go. We spent the day tracting and he completely gave it his all. We go to the gym every morning and he's been there every time doing what he can to exercise. SO AMAZING. It's literally been a miracle. We have been able to see that because of his strict obedience as a missionary, he has been so blessed. What a great example right? Miracles are real:) 

Poor Elder Stout!

The Jewish lady I told you about last week, came to Stake Conference yesterday and it was so great!! She asked a bunch of questions and we gave her a church-tour as well. Everyone was so kind to her and I was sooo grateful!! We are teaching her Jewish class next week...I’m so pumped! We are really praying that she will have a greater desire to learn more for herself and that it will touch her heart. We are super excited about her. I love the scripture in Luke 18:27. It may seem a bit impossible right now for her to want to have her own testimony and be baptized, but with God nothing is impossible. 

Love you all and I'm so grateful for your support. Keep praying:) Have a wonderful week! Remember: if life gives you lemons, make raspberry hot chocolate;) 

Love, Sister Burgon*

Week 3: HOLY COW....I'M ON A MISSION!!!!

Me & Sister Perkins...Yes we are in a bathroom...hehehe

HEYYY EVERYBODY!

A BIG thanks to everyone for all the sweet emails I got this week...you guys are the best! Guess what...I'M IN INDY!! Sorry if this is super long...I’m too pumped haha

Can you believe it?? #Countdown2Indy is finally done and holy cow...I’m on a mission! It was absolutley insane to get here...we had the funnest day! We woke up at two o'clock in the morning, took a bus, a train, another train, an airplane, another airplane and a van to get to Indy! (While lugging around 3 suitcases and a bag hahahaha) It truly was fun...and I'm not just saying that. Talk about adrenaline rush. And I got to see my cute young women's leader at the airport and talk to my family...best day ever!

At the MTC we were challenged to talk to someone on the plane and give away a pass-along card. The first flight I was on I sat next to two elders....BUT my next flight I sat next to a lady who didn't even know who we were! We had a good conversation and she was super curious about the missionaries. I had big plans...but then she fell asleep...so I gave her my pass-along card when we landed haha. Hope she has enough interest to keep on learning about our faith. That was cool! Indy is so beautiful...there are groves of trees everywhere! It looks like the groves of trees you find in the mountains....but everything is flat! (we found a hill the other day and freaked out because we found a "mountain" hehe) It's not as weird as I thought it would be to have no mountains...Its beautiful here. The grass is still green, even in the winter, because of the humidity! So that's cool. It isn't too cold...it feels like Utah to me...but they have also told me that this is a warm winter for them in Indy.

My area is awesome. It has the super wealthy and also the super poor so we get a mix of everything. The members are so kind...we have only gone one night without a dinner appointment... these people are so great. My trainer’s name is Sister Perkins and I LOVE HER. We're REALLY similar. Both from Utah, same height, clumsy, goofy, and pumped about life. We have a good time. She's been out for almost 9 months and this is her first time training. We got double-transferred in, which means we are both new to the area. So this week we've been getting to know the area, the members, and the investigators from the previous sisters before us. It's been super fun. We share a car with the Elders so it’s always us four out and about everyday. Which has been nice because one of those elders has been here for a while so he's helped us a TON. We joke that he's the one training all 3 of us. But we really have a good time.

So my very first day, we went to lunch and got a phone call that a recent convert had been reading Anti-Mormon articles on the internet and wasn't happy. She texted us and said she wanted to be excommunicated so the 4 of us went over to meet with her. Talk about getting thrown right into it right? Wouldn't want it any other way:) We had a great talk and she's been doing a lot better. She's been working to find her own answers and not believe everything she reads so quick.

We are also teaching a lady. She is Jewish and teaches a Jewish Seminary class. She is super interested in religions and wants us to teach her class on Mormonism. We met with her and she was so open to what we believe. I was amazed!! I hope what we teach touches her heart.

BIG NEWS...I'm very proud of it...I got my very first "door slam" this week. Sister Perkins and I walked away and high-fived each other because it was our first one. Usually people are nice though...tracting is so fun to me:) I'm super grateful to have the Holy Ghost with us and have Heavenly Father looking out for us all the time. I feel watched over and protected...just truly blessed to be here. I always thought it would be easy to get overwhelmed...which it can be stressful, but we are in Heavenly Father's hands...so we have no reason to fear. I love the work! The coolest part about missionary work is that we are only instruments. Heavenly Father is in charge and the Holy Ghost is the teacher.  

SORRY this is so long! I love you all so much and I’m super grateful for the support I’ve felt! It means a lot!

Love you!

Love, Sister Burgon*