A week full of Albas! (Monday, May 25, 2015)

Dear Mom and ________,

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Thank you to all those who have served and are now serving our country in any way! There are many remarkable men and women out there (and even close to us) who do so much for us. Thank you. 

During a get-to-know-you game, someone recently asked a missionary what his favorite roller coaster was. His reply: "Well, besides the mission, it's ... " I have to say that I agree. Each week is a roller coaster, but somehow it all works out in the end. This upcoming week is probably going to be crazy too because we have so much going on, but I think it's better than not having anything. If you look at a heart monitor, you'll see that there isn't much to life if it isn't going up and down. 

We went to the temple this week as a zone, and I had never been to the Oakland temple before last Thursday. It's so beautiful! The detail and fine workmanship of a temple is remarkable to me and another witness that it truly is God's house, and He deserves the best. It was a special experience this week because it was my first time going as a missionary and my companion's last time as a missionary, and we were able to share that with our mission president and his wife, President and Sister Alba. We didn't know there were going to be there at the same time as them because they just go whenever they can. It was funny because we had already run into President Alba and his Assistants last Monday at the Safeway in Willits. How random to see him here in Willits, of all places! They had stopped for dinner on their way up to Eureka and we happened to there at the right time I guess. We're getting a new mission president in July, so it's been fun to meet the current President a few extra times.

Willits really is a pretty absurd little place. We've also had the cops staking us out this week as we talk to people on the street. I almost thought they were going to come over and ask to see the contents of what we were holding (the Book of Mormon), and we would have been delighted to explain! 

Two of our investigators are getting baptized on Saturday and we all can't wait! They are thrilled and are just counting down the days! They truly teach me so much each time we talk and I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to be here and be part of this monumental period of their lives and to learn from their example. There are so many opportunities to learn from each person we talk to, even on the streets. We're all learning together. 

I love the proverb that Sister Linda K. Burton shared during this last General Conference: "Thee lift me and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together." It reminds me of an insightful scripture I found recently in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." We know that life is hard and we're going to have struggles, but Heavenly Father never intended for us to do it alone. He has provided us with friends, family, scriptures, prayer, neighbors, and even His own son, Jesus Christ, to stick with us through the good and the bad as we are "ascending together" and making our journey back to Him as changed and improved children. His plan is perfect.

I hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful and productive Memorial Day!

Love,

Hermana Burton