Friday, November 13, 2015

Fire! (A good kind this time) (Monday, November 9, 2015)

Dear Mom + _________,

Hello again! Another week. Wow. Well, we had a Zone Conference with our mission president this week and it was wonderful! I really love President and Sister Wright and I am so grateful for them and what they have done for our mission. The main theme of the meeting was about "being a missionary who is on fire" and revamping our enthusiasm for the work. It was very a timely message because I realized during the meeting how much my "fire" had dwindled and that I needed a pick-me-up to get me going strong again (and I'm still working on that). It was almost surprising and uncomfortable to realize how many things I had relaxed on and that I wasn't being as effective as I could be and as Heavenly Father wants me to be, and it was a bit of a wake-up call. Quite frankly it's a little embarrassing to admit, but then I just remembered a talk I read about not just putting our "best" foot forward, but putting both feet forward and being okay with not being perfect. So, newsflash: I am extremely not perfect and I sometimes (and by sometimes I mean often) make mistakes. However, I am incredibly grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who lifts us up when we fall and provides us with the tools we need to get up and get moving again instead of condemning us to the ground and leaving us to drown in our many mistakes. I hope all of you will be able to recognize that in your own lives as well and reach up and take the hand that is "always extended" toward you. 

As far as the missionary work goes here in Dixon, I am looking forward to this week because a lot of people we are teaching right now are on the fence between simply letting us come over and talk or actually listening and progressing, and this week we are going to try to find out which side they want to be on and then we will move forward from there or go out and spend more energy on finding people who are ready to progress and move forward. I've realized that there is a big difference between opening your door and opening your heart. Many people we find are willing to open the door and let us in, which is a great first step, but they aren't willing to open their hearts and let the Savior in to help them make changes and move forward in their eternal progression. The hard part is finding people who are willing to do both. But, I know they are there so we'll just keep pressing forward for now. 

Well, have a wonderful and productive week!

Hermana Burton

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