HIGH & HOMELESS

HELLO!!! 

Another great week...in fact, this one was one of the best. We've been praying for miracles for Sister Stucki's last week, and that prayer most definitely got answered!! 

We got transfer calls and I am sttayyyyiinng wahoo! My new companion is Sister Ben :) So pumped! I'm gonna miss Sister Stucki, we've had a greaaaat transfer! If any of you are in St. George, go say hi to her for me:) 

I'll start with a funny story first... So last week, Sister Stucki and I woke up suuuper dizzy, un-motivated, out of it, and hungryyyy. haha S. Stucki kept falling over while she was getting ready and it was hilarious. We thought it was a weird case of vertigo or something along those lines. I'm sure we were a sight to see oh myyyy. Well then we start investigating...we realized that it smelled like weed in our bedroom and study room when the air came on so we started freaking out and went out to the halls to search and to get some fresh air. Right after we called our Zone Leaders to fill them in, a guy got out of his car and went into an apartment near ours. We introduced ourselves and got to know him too. We asked if it had been smelling like weed to him, and he laughed and said yes....and I quote, "I've been chiefin it up in my room hard-core".  uhhh...wut? So I guess he was doing it so much that we were feeling the affects of it when it came through our vents. That's a nice thing to wake up to huh? Well this week we got in contact with our housing coordinator and President Carlson and they did. not. want. us. there. hahaha thank goodness! So this week we have been staying with some sisters that live close by! Who would have thought I would be high and homeless on my mission...or ever high and homeless for that matter.....but at this point all we can do is laugh. Missions are exciting to say the leasttt. Now we might be getting a new home in the near future :) 

OK, now for the miracles. Where to starrrrrt. Campus officially started up this week...best thing of my life. We have so many people to talk to and to teach. So many cool, diverse people to meet. SO MUCH POTENTIAL. We got to meet a guy named "G", who took the lessons last semester with the sisters and stopped when he moved back home. And now we are teaching him again! SO cool!! 

One day there was a Christian protester on Campus who just stood there and told everyone that they were going to be condemned for their sins and said some other interesting things to women, etc. Interesting way to spread Christianity...but he got a huuuge crowd around him. Many people got upset and were arguing with him. So we went up and stood behind the big crowd and taught people about the love Jesus Christ has for them...it was such an awesome opportunity...different for sure...but super cool! We met some people who were seriously interested in our message, and expressed how grateful they were for it. We can't wait for him to come back...it's a great missionary opportunity haha

We also met with one of our investigators, "A". This was our first official sit down lesson, but we've met and talked with him before. We taught him the first half of the Plan of Salvation, and it's safe to say that it was one of the most powerful lessons i've been in. The spirit was there so strong and it really helped "A" understand and touch his heart. He had moments where everything clicked and he cried and cried...and we did too!! It was amazing to see the timing of things, he has run into trial after trial in his life right now, and it truly humbled him to have an open heart and a broader understanding to the Atonement and about Jesus Christ as his Savior. Before, he was very closed off. Other missionaries who have worked with him were considering giving him time before they continued to teach him. But Heavenly Father had other plans. Trials really do place us in a position to learn and grow closer to Christ. Trials are a blessing. "A" even brought a friend to church this week because he said he's seen how he's received strength in his trials, and wants the same for his friend who is going through similar trials too. WOW. We met with him again and finished the Plan of Salvation and it was the same, powerful, mind blowing experience as before. I know that it was not us teaching "A". It brings me so much happiness to see him start to accept Jesus as his Savior, and experience the healing power of the Atonement. He is truly searching for answers, and with his diligence, I know they will come. Sister Stucki and I went into the chapel after the lesson and said a gratitude prayer...we were just in awe. We cried and cried hahaha what a special moment!

We also met with "H" this week and read his children's Book of Mormon with him, to get him excited about reading it. It was so cute to see him get into the story line and ask questions and apply it to himself. He's doing awesome!

Why I Believe Conference

On Sunday we held a "Why I Believe" conference, where recent converts share their conversion stories. It is soooo powerful. I was so touched by each one of their experiences and blown away by their strength and how solid their testimonies are. You can truly tell from the light in their countenance, how much the gospel has blessed their lives!! It was amazing to have investigators there to feel of the spirit from their testimonies. As one investigator said, "I feel like I have a spiritual high" haha true that brotha.

Just so grateful for this week, we were able to teach so many, meet so many, and have many amazing spiritual experiences. I have seen my own personal testimony grow as we have been blessed to teach the Plan of Salvation so many times. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. A plan of true, everlasting, eternal joy. If we are faithful in this life, and do all that we can, we will be able to have this Joy in this life, and in moments to come.  Along with teaching the Plan, I've been studying Alma 7. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know he is my Savior. And I am just so grateful. 

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictionsand temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities...And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive." ~Alma 7:11-12, 23

SORRY FOR THE NOVEL! 

Have a great week! Love you

xoxo

Love, Sister Burgon*

A few more for y'all...

The District

Loving my area until Tornado season
CURRENTLY....

Running Away from.......

CRAZY TORNADOS!!!!!! 

This was taken by one of the Elder's in Kokomo...It's amazing everyone survived!!!! 

But I could never leave my BEST buddy "H"

and besides I Found MY FAVORITE GUY...T A R Z A N!!!!!!! So I'll stay!



That's all for this week...See y'all in a few winks.
Until then Remember....

Go make a difference!

I KNOW THE SCRIPTURES ARE TRUEEEE

Hello! 

I hope you all had a fantabulous week!!!! 

They sure go so fast! 

This week was another great one!! And good news...SCHOOL STARTS THIS WEEK!! Never thought I'd be so excited for school right? But school means students, and students mean people for us to teach:) Wahooo!!! I'm so excited!! This town is a completely different place now!! I love it!

This week we taught "H" the Plan of Salvation part 1 and it was so fun...he drew it out as we taught him and we used fun visuals too! But the coolest thing happened later in the week. We felt like he isn't quite ready to be baptized yet, so we pushed back his date. He just needs a few more weeks. Lately I've been seeing that that is a goooood idea becauuuuse, his mom (who ran away) came back this week and has shown interest in being taught as well. And his dad has too!! WHAT? Miracle!! It would just be the happiest thing if they could be taught as a family, grow as a family, and hopefully eventually be baptized as a family too!!! 

We were also able to teach "G" AND his wife this week...bessttt Restoration lesson ahhhhh!! He was so into it and asked the best questions!! He said he has never let any sort of "church people" in his home for like 20 years and we are the first ones he let come talk to him. Although he thinks that he can't just be settled in one religion right now, he said he believed what we were teaching him was true...and that he had "a lot of thinking to do" ..... I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!! We will see...but his wife was into it too! It was awesome! I love that the spirit has been there to truly touch him and help open his heart. He said that if he were to open up and join a church at this point in his life, it would be this one. :) 

We were also able to go to zone conference in Bloomington! Holy gorgeous place! The entire drive was amazing haha and the conference was sooo good too! President Carlson made some huge changes to our mission and the way we do things!! It's been cool to see the changes that he makes and the blessings that come from them! Good things to come! It's exciting!! Such a special spirit at these conferences!! 

Sister Carlson and the Zone Sista's

We had such a wonderful lesson with "T" a little while ago, he wondered why we even need the Book of Mormon, he feels like the bible is enough. We talked to him about it and showed him some scriptures and the spirit was extremely strong. My testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown so much since I've been out and it was a cool experience to be able to testify to him that it is so true and completely vital and necessary for our growth. The next lesson, we read Mosiah 3  with him and after we finished he told us that now he can see that the Book of Mormon IS important. It was amaaazing to see that click with him!! I know with all my heart that the Book of Mormon is the word of God! It truly does teach and inspire us to be better, and brings us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, if we diligently study it. Mosiah 3: 5-8, 17

"And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."   ~Mosiah 3:17

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!! Good luck to those who are starting school this week!! Remember to enjoyyy every moment of it LOVE YOU

xoxo

Love, Sister Burgon*

We'll see you again next week...'til then... eat more chocolate!!!

2+5 = S E V E N MONTHS OUT

HEY!! Hope you all had a great week!!! 

It was another good one down in Terradise :) I have a few cool stories to sharreee. One day we were on campus and it was completely dead...NOBODY was there, so we decided to go tract some neighborhoods. There was one house that stood out to us so we started there. A young mom with two little kids opened up the door. It turns out that she has been homeless because of some really hard times with her ex husband and she just recently found a home for her little family. She is in such a humble position in her life and really open to learn. It was one of those times that we just felt we were in the right place at the right time. For some reason we just have a good feeling about her! I'm excited to work with her more and see how much the gospel will truly bless them at this time in their lives.

We also went on exchanges with the STLs which was fun too! We taught "H" and had a great lesson with him. We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and used a really fun object lesson to teach it. We committed them to hold Family Home Evenings and for "H" to do the object lesson for the spiritual thought in FHE. Then they came to us at church and were so excited to tell us how much fun they had at FHE and how well the lesson went and how they have big plans for the next one this week. It makes me so happy to see them all progress in the gospel! 

Remember that one lady we tracted into right after she was praying for guidance and was soooooo amazed with the restoration and cried and felt like it was the path for her? We saw her and her fiancé this week and it t'was great. We were so nervous to talk to her fiancé because we heard he was strong in his religion, but he ended up being SUPER open. He was also amazed at the message of the Restoration and they said that this is something that they would pray about as a couple. AH :) SO excited. so so so so excited :)

OOH cool miracle....One day we decided to go visit that man who randomly showed up to church last week, "G". It was an AWESOME visit. He said he was so amazed with the experience he had at church and was super impressed with the strong spirit that was there. He has been to soooooo many churches, and he said that ours was one of his favorites. He is now open to learning more from us and coming again! EEP :) 

I also got the opportunity to go to the Temple this week for Sister Stucki's departing Temple trip! We miraculously found members who were going to the temple to take us...and a quick two hour drive later, I was back in good ol' Carmel. It was so fun to be back and I even got to see sweet Sister Luo:) And I just loovveee the Temple!!!

This week I was reminded about a Book of Mormon chapter that I read in the MTC. It's found in Alma 31. This is when Alma is on his mission to teach the Zoramites who have fallen into wickedness. Despite the missionaries efforts, the Zoramites were very prideful, they were worshiping falsely and denied Christ. This made Alma and his fellow missionaries verryyyy sad. So they turned to the Lord and prayed for help and support. After this, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, comforting them and were "swallowed up in the Joy of Christ". Just like Alma and the Sons of Mosiah, we will all face trials and challenges and life, but I know that the way to find Eternal Joy, IN our trials, is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our burdens, trials, sadnesses, and afflictions can literally be "swallowed up in the Joy of Christ" if we seek Him and go to Him for help and support. PLEASE READ THIS CHAPTER :) It's good stuff! 

Sure love ya, Thanks for all the help and support! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Love, Sister Burgon*

​A few more pictures 'cause I know y'all love them...haha

 See y'all again next week...LOVE YOU!!!!

CAT MAN AND CHURCH VISITORS

HELLO FOLKS!!! 

It amazes me how fast a week can fly by...and how much can happen in only one week!! I hope you all had a good one! Thanks for all the emails...I sure appreciate the support!!! Ya'll are great! 

I have some fun stories and cool miracles to share this week....hang on tight:) "H", the 9 year old boy that wants to be baptized, is actually doing REALLY WELL!! He has been reading his scriptures and saying his prayers on his own and keeping the commitments we give him. It is too fun to teach him. He lives in a part-member family, so it's been cool to see the amazing spirit that has been brought into their home and brought them closer. And exciting news: He's on date to be baptized!! YAY!!! :) 

Right after we were done with "H", we tracted around his neighborhood for a few minutes and had the FUNNIEST experience. We caught a man on his way to work...he gave us the most confused look ever as we talked to him. hahaha The conversation didn't last very long. As we were driving away we passed him one more time only to find him on his hands and knees in the gutter next to his cat....acting like a cat....hahahahaha He looked up at us as we passed with that same confused look and we just couldn't help but laugh...I just don't know...:) We are still confused too! 

One night, right before we were about to head in for the night, we decided to tract 2 more random homes. The first door we knocked on, a man opened up and talked to us about an amazing near death experience that he had. He said he loves sharing that experience with others and goes from church to church sharing it. We had a great conversation and invited him to church. He wasn't interested in meeting with us more but then...fast forward to Sunday...guess who was sitting in the chapel...10 minutes early. THIS GUY!! He brought his wife and even bore his testimony during testimony meeting....hahaha and it was good too!! Miracles :) We were just shocked to see him!

We also PCed into a homeless family last week and had a lesson with them this week. You can imagine how hard it must be to be homeless with 2 little girls in a new place not knowing where to go, where to work, etc. They said they wanted to come to church, so our ward mission leader gave them a ride. Everyone was sooooo amazing to them at church, you could tell the kindness meant the world to them. It was such a humbling experience....we are so blessed!!! It's so cool to see how, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have EVERYTHING...even if in this world, we have "nothing".  If that makes sense:) The gospel blesses all!! 

Alma 37:38-46

"...O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live."

XOXO

Love, Sister Burgon*

Unfortunately due to a glitch with technology (sometimes it happens) no pictures this week. Check back next Monday...she promised twice as many. Yay!!!

Pokemon Go TALK TO THE SISTER MISSIONARIES

HELLO!! 

Thanks for all the emails and support...

I hope you all had a great week!!

This week was great! Hot and Humid and lots of walking and working! The best!!! We are working with this less active named "J" who is just amaaazing! Side note SHE CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY!! YAYAYAY! While we were there her grandson, "H", told her that he wants to learn from us and get baptized! He is 11 years old and his non-member dad said he wants to sit in on his lessons too! We are going to start his lessons this week so we are exciiittteedd:) ALSO little miracle, we went to get lunch at a sandwhich shop after district meeting and our cashier asked us if we were from the LDS church, turns out that he is a member! He hasn't been to church forever and wants to change his life around! I've really been praying that we will be lead to be in the right place, at the right time and I truly feel like Heavenly Father has helped us with that this week!

We had thee craziest day on Wednesday. We had a lesson right after studies and we got to the area early, so we decided to tract. The thing was...the elders had just tracted that area, but we felt like we should still go talk to a lady who was taking her dog out. So we went and knocked on her door and it might have been the coolest/craziest/most spiritual tracting lesson I've ever had. It turns out that her family had just recently moved in so they were looking for a church and she has just recently found her faith in Christ. She was amazed at the Restoration and kept asking, "Why haven't I heard of this before". At one point she was in tears and then she stopped and started freaking out. She said that it just occurred to her that the night before, she had been praying for guidance and direction for her life...and then we show up! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? OK here's the kicker....as we were in this amazing spiritual moment...there was a full on fight next door....turns out the house next door to were we were teaching is well known in the neighborhood as the "Druggie house" and sketchy stuff happens there alllll the time...and there we were just next door witnessing it all...funniest part....we didn't even stop the lesson...just kept on talking hahaha....once we left the porch, an ambulance drove up to the house...at that point...we left hahahaha:) 

But then we decide to go contact a referral (also by the druggie house...don't worry, we had pepper spray) and it turns out that she had been taught by missionaries a few years ago! She invited us back so we will see her this week...another miracle....and it was only like 11 o'clock am! After lunch we had a lesson with a guy that we had met the day before. He met us on campus and we taught him....turns out his intentions in meeting us were not to learn about Jesus...although dinner and ice cream sounded nice....we thought going on a date might go against the Mission rules a little bit ..hahhaha...campussss liiiffeeee :) 

Then we just kept on PC-ing around campus and found some cool people and saw little miracles. THEN we went to a dinner appointment, and as we were walking out, we passed a guy walking in. So we gave him a card and he wasn't interested. Well about an hour later we got a call and it was him! He said he was interested and wanted to meet! WHAT? so cool. Then we drove around to tracting places and non of them felt right....it was weird. As we were leaving, we drove by a less-active sister's house and so we stopped for a visit. She was home and let us right in. We had the best conversation with her and I truly believe it was another moment where we were in the right place at the right time. WHAT A DAY!!!! 

Beautiful Campus!

The rest of the week was great too...campus is officially dead but fall students should be moving in soon!! I sure love it here! I have also learned that Pokemon Go is the BEST conversation starter....the best...I still don't understand the game though haha :) 

This week my studies have been on Abinidi and Alma. I LOVE Abinidi. He stood alone for what he knew to be true. I truly believe we will all have to stand alone at some point for what we believe in. It reminds me of the quote by President Monson, "Dare to be a Mormon, dare to make it known, dare to have a purpose firm, dare to stand alone". Even one person makes the biggest difference! When we stand up for Christ, we never stand alone! Also...go watch the Mormon message, "Good things to Come" :) Sorry for the novel :)

XOXO

Sister Burgon*

'cause I know y'all love pictures as much as I do...here's a few from this week...

There is Beauty ALLL Around!!!

I LOVE THIS AREA SOOO MUCH!!!

On Campus with a cool charcoal sketch of a black Abraham Lincoln. 

It's everywhere!!!! Someone please help me understand what is going on!!!

Love you! See you next week!!!