Inspiration! (Monday, October 5, 2015)

Dear Mom and anyone else who happens to read this,

Can we just talk about how wonderful Heavenly Father is for a moment? Actually, we could probably go on about that for quite some time, so let's just say that He hears and answers prayers. I definitely felt the Spirit during General Conference and he reaffirmed to me that this truly is the Church of Jesus Christ and that God communicates with us through living prophets and apostles. I think all of the notes I took could be put into a book called "The Book of Modern-Day Revelations," and even carrying around an abridged version would be enough to cause some serious back problems. Seriously though, it was an inspiring experience. 

Luckily for me, it was the second revelatory experience I had this week! On Thursday, our mission president and his wife (along with the assistants to the president and the technology elders) came to our zone and did a training on finding and pretty much the basics of missionary work. To sum it up, just think of President Uchtdorf's talk in the Saturday morning session and trust me that simplifying your life and going back to the basics are true principles of the Gospel. I'm still working on it, but I know it will bring blessings and happiness. Try it! 

Another exciting note, we are meeting with our adorable family tonight for their baptismal interview and if all goes well, they will be baptized on Saturday! One of the most rewarding parts of missionary work is watching others make covenants with their Heavenly Father and come unto Christ. It's going to be great. 

Well, I hope y'all had a great week and that you also received answers during General Conference! Don't forget to review your notes and what you learned and make a plan of action so that you can grow and change from the experience. Lots of love from Willits! I'll find out Friday what will happen in the next six-week chapter of my life.

Hermana Burton

Ponderize!

Dear Modge,

I'm starting off with Luke 2:52. Thank you for your example Mom, and everything that you have done for me. I admire your determination to constantly be improving yourself, and I appreciate the love and concern you have for each one of us hooligans who don't always make the best choices. I know Heavenly Father is grateful to you and Dad for raising us in the home you did, and He is watching over each one of us (as you and Dad are) to see how we will apply what we were taught and how we will use our agency. Allow me to echo the words of Elder Holland: "To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle--and all will-- I say, 'Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are.'" Seriously Modge, you're great. 

I want to issue a challenge to our entire family to accept the invitation of Elder Durrant and "ponderize" one verse of scripture each week. 80% pondering, 20% memorizing. Not necessarily memorizing word for word, but understanding what the message is and where it is found. I love and appreciate each one of our family members and I respect their right to make choices, but I recognize that perhaps we aren't all living up to the blessings of being members of Christ's church (myself most definitely included) and I know that even if it is only one scripture a week, we will be blessed and we will begin to see God's hand more often in our lives. Start where you are. Exercise your faith, discipline yourself, and do it. I truly believe that our family will grow closer as we all participate in this invitation, even though we may be far apart in distance. 

Wow, I'm starting to sound bossy. Just don't let the "High and Mighty, Big Shot, Told-You-So Boss of the Whole Wide World" know (: I hope everyone will take my challenge in the Spirit in which it was intended, with love, and a hope that we can all come closer to Christ and each other by adding this one simple step to our already-existing routines. I am so excited for Sarah and Josh to be baptized this weekend and begin on their journey of making covenants and preparing to be an eternal family, and I want our family to be able to do the same. Y'all are the most important thing to me and I love you dearly. 

Have fun in Park City for me and give all my little people hugs and kisses from their favorite Aunt Carol! (You might have to remind some of them who that is... ) And you can tell all the other people that I love them too (:

Love,

Hermanita Burton

Remember this. And please send it to my all of my sisters in my behalf (:

Not really missionary related, but cute anyway.

I don't know if I told you, but Jessica and my classmates sent me a
little package a while ago and it had a bunch of all of our pictures
together. I had never seen this picture, but I thought it was cute and
I wanted to show you. This was the day we all went on a walk of
Catania together and we played volleyball in the park and I remember
this little kid coming up to us all the time and chasing the ball.
Precious memories.