Adventures of Hermana Burton and Hermana Broyles in Woodland - Part 2!

Dear Mom and family and friends and anyone else who reads this,

Well as you can see, Hermana Broyles and I will be staying together
for another transfer here in Woodland! I'm really excited. I'm getting
such great vibes. Seriously it's going to be the best transfer yet.
Bonus, my little hermanita Sister Julander is also staying in the same
zone! I don't even know how what else to say. I just feel happy today,
not because of anything in particular, but I just feel happy. Even as
I write this I'm humming "Tengo Gozo en Mi Alma Hoy."

Cool story. The other day my companion and I went out to Knight's
Landing (or in other words the middle of nowhere) to visit someone who
the other English missionaries found and couldn't communicate with
because she was Hispanic and due to some bad directions and a faulty
address, we got lost for quite some time and we may or may not have
left the boundaries of the mission (unknowingly of course). It was
extremely hot and we didn't even know what was going on, so finally I
just pulled the car over so we could get out and walk to try to find
the address. We walked into this trailer park and were walking towards
the other end to try to find the address when from behind we heard
someone say "Are you sister missionaries? I can tell by the way you
walk." There was a man who happened to glance out his window right as
we walked by and without even seeing our name tags he could tell who
we were. He and his girlfriend has just moved into the trailer we
walked by and he is familiar with missionaries and wants to meet. He
said he knew that we were there to talk to him in that moment.
Afterwards, we finally found the address we had been originally
looking for (2 hours after we started out) and she straight up wasn't
interested. I know that Heavenly Father had other plans for us being
there. We gave their information to the English missionaries and I
don't know what's going to happen with them, but it really doesn't
matter because I know that they needed us in that moment and that's
enough for me.

Also, we've made some progress in the past few days with the members
and establishing a relationship with them that will enable us to work
more closely together, and I'm super stoked for that. Missionary work
is not very effective if the missionaries are the only ones doing it.
We try and we have good intentions, but we simply can't do it on our
own.

Something else happened this week which was good, but I can't remember
it right now so well just leave it at things are going well and I'm
happy and excited about next transfer. Hope everyone is doing well!
Lots of love!

~Hermana Burton

Pictures!

Sweet companion. Twice. Mi hermanita Sister Julander! I also may or
may not have cut her hair today. And yes, that's the first time I've
ever cut anyone's hair. But you know me, I'm always down for an
adventure!

(imagine clever subject line here) (Monday, June 20, 2016)

Dear Mom and you too!

Once upon a time... just kidding. Let's talk about real life. This week was pretty good! It's funny because during the week it seemed like things were going pretty slow and we had all of these set lessons but everything kept falling through, and it felt like we weren't getting much done. But then at the end of the week looking back in retrospect, we actually did a lot more than we thought! Lesson learned I guess. You don't have to be having miraculous moments and huge successes in every second in order to have an over-all successful week. As far some of the good things that happened, we were able to set a baptismal date with someone we have been teaching! We also accompanied a member to visit some of the other sisters that she visits in the area and it was a very positive experience! It's always refreshing to work with members and to feel that we are not alone in the work and that others are fighting for the same cause. 

Another lesson learned this week. Prayer really works. I think sometimes we take it for granted and talk so much about it that we start to lose sight of the beautiful gift it is to be able to speak with God. The other day I was having a rough day and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and frustrated and I couldn't figure out what was going on. But I knew that we had important things to do that day and that I needed to be able to focus on others and help them instead of dwelling on myself. So I went into the bathroom, knelt on the floor, and told Heavenly Father that I was having a rough day but that I needed to get over it quickly so I could go out and help His children. And guess what? I got over it. I stood up and walked out with a smile on my face and I didn't feel any of those emotions again all day and I don't even remember what was stressing me out so much. I know that answers aren't always that immediate, but I am so grateful that in that case I was able to feel relief from a burden that was weighing me down. I don't know what else to say other than God listens to and answers prayers, and He loves us. I know that's true. 

Well, that's it for now folks. Have a happy week!

~Hermana Burton

These are for you, Mom.

Why did the turkey cross the road? Who knows, but I'm sure if you had been there you would have pulled over and looked at them so I did it for you. Love you Modge!

Good times. (Monday, June 13, 2016)

Dear Mom and everyone else,

Pretty good week! Some of the highlights were interviews with the mission president and an activity for Father's Day. I always love meeting with the mission president and seeing him and his wife. They are the kind of people that you just love to be around because you feel good about life when you are with them. The activity was also really fun. The food was delicious and they blindfolded the fathers and had them swinging a pole at a pinata, and one of my favorite members here is a really short man and I think the pole was taller than he was. Good times. 

I apologize for the lack of depth and detail in this email, I have tried to write it about 7 times and I keep erasing it and writing something else and erasing it and writing something else, and finally I just left it at that. In any case, I'm doing well and my companion is doing well and things are fine. I guess here's where the phrase "no news is good news" could come into play. I don't have too much to report, but that's because things are pretty normal and we're doing well. Love you bunches! Have a great week!

Hermana Burton

Happy Father's Day!

Also, I might have dyed my hair brown. Don't worry though, this time
was the last time for real (: We need to stop going to Walmart when I
feel bored and impulsive...

My sweet compañera!

Some pics from last week. This is the sweet Sis Julander who wrote to you one week.

Rapunzel

I'm alive! (Monday, June 6, 2016)

Dear Mom and everyone else,

I don't have any time to write today, but I just wanted you to know
that I'm alive and doing well! I hope you have a great week!

Hermana Burton