Love, Sister Burgon: B E M E R R Y & B R I G H T . . . aka L A U G H

Hello ery'one!*

THIS WEEK....oh man...too good! I wish I could explain how truly wonderful this week was...but the email would be a novel (and we all know that no one reads those haha) SO I will try my best....but just know, t'was a great one. 5 Stars. The Lord provides. Please read on....

Sometimes appointments fall through for a reason, and Tuesday was definitely one of those days. BUT I'm sure that it was all apart of Heavenly Father's plan....because we saw SO many people that we needed to see! There was one guy that just came up to us and asked to be taught right then and there, and we saw a bunch that we needed a return appointment with, etc. It was amazing. I'm always praying to be in the right place at the right time, and it's cool how Heavenly Father allows that to all work out.

Last week, when students were on Thanksgiving break, we spent some time contacting former investigators and potentials that we had met a while back on campus and a few of them actually agreed to meet up again. There was one in particular, his name is "A". We called him and he said that he had read some stuff about our church and wasn't interested in learning more because of what he had read. That's why he didn't keep his original return appointment a few months ago. We explained that not everything that you read on the internet is true...ha...and he agreed to meet up to clarify some concerns and ask some questions. So we met up and he actually brought his friend, "R". We taught the Restoration and helped ease some....internet stories...and by the end, they BOTH wanted to come to church and wanted to know for themselves if it was true. It was just amazing to me how perfect the Restoration is and how much it makes sense. I looovveeeee being able to help people see that the "way" is clear and simple. Christ established a church....and it's back on the earth for you, TODAY. Remember what I said about not making this a novel....I'm sorry. It already is. haha

We also had this one lesson with a guy who was very frustrated about Christians who say, "put your faith and trust in God" and then they live double standards and don't ACT on their faith. We have been trying to figure out his need for awhile now, and the spirit helped us to see it during this lesson. We talked about the importance of acting on our faith and seeing a change in us if we choose Christ. I have gained a huge testimony of the Church's "Light the World" initiative...for the very reason that it is an ACTION of our faith in Christ during this Christmas season. Acting on our faith leads us to be more like Christ. What a great gift to give this season. We asked him if he would commit to act by doing the 25 day challenge and by coming to church...WHICH HE DID! Lights, camera...ACTION.

UPDATE ON "J"!! Holy cow, miracles are real. "J" came to her lesson this week and said that she shared a Book of Mormon verse with her friend who was struggling. (Alma 26:27)

"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."

WHAT! YOU GO GIRL. AND she said she turned down party invitations, and a job shift to come to church with us!!!! AND SHE CAME....AND BORE HER TESTIMONY ON THE BOOK OF MORMON...and brought another friend with her. (who put her hands on bishops knee that just had surgery and commanded him to get up and walk after she prayed over him...but that's a different story hahaha) Seriously, that was probably the greatest church experience ever.

Also...Side note: This week, Sister Kammerman and I had so many moments where we just died laughing, and I've decided that is the key to life. Life-hack: laughing gives you abs. Your welcome :)

"A1" is amazing as usual. He shared his conversion story for Sister Kammerman in our lesson this week and it was pooowweeerrrfuuullll. At one point, he looked us in the eyes and said "I will never fall away. I will never leave." He also shared his story in sacrament meeting. Not a dry eye. Touching lives that kid is. It made my heart happy and I feel so proud of him. I can only imagine how proud Heavenly Father is of him. Helaman 5:12

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty stormshall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I gave a "spiritual nugget" (name in honor of Bro Petes...our ward mission leader) at district meeting this week which came to my mind during my studies. Please read Mormon 9:18-25.

"And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust. Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth. For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned; And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth."

I learned that something as simple as doubt can get in the way of miracles happening. I know that miracles will happen in your life IF you put your trust in God and do not doubt. May we always "doubt our doubt, before we doubt our faith."

I will stop there. If you have made it to this point...I thank you for listening to this novel. This may be a record long email for me...haha there is just truly nothing greater than being in the work of the Lord. Thank you so much for all your love and support! Happy Christmas season! xoxo

Love, Sister Burgon*

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