Rock farmers and horse massages! (Monday, April 20, 2015)

Dear everyone,

Well, here we are again! I can't believe it's already Monday again. This past week was pretty great too, we had the opportunity to do a lot of service again this week so that made it even better! And I got a massage from a famous horse! Okay that probably needs a bit more explanation. We did service on Thursday at a place called the Stallion Station, and they have a horse named Jedi who has been on America's Funniest Home Videos because he knows how to give massages! Crazy, right? I don't really know how it works, but you just stand in front of him and he massages your back with his face! So it actually seems a bit gross if you think too much about it, but at least it felt good. Our service project was clearing rocks off of the cross-country trails so the horses don't get stone bruises, so we spent a few hours out in the sun raking rocks and picking them up. I think I'd make a pretty good rock farmer with all the experience I have now. Saturday we helped someone with her flowers and garden and then I mowed her lawn and she really appreciated it. She says she doesn't normally let anyone help her, not even her children, but for some reason she let us help her and I'm so glad she did! (Don't tell dad, but I actually enjoyed mowing the lawn). 

More exciting news, Joel came to church again yesterday for second time in a row! And during our lesson with him afterward, we set a baptismal date for next month to start working toward! He is so great and I feel like he teaches me more than I teach him, but I'm grateful that I get to be here and have the chance to see him making these changes in his life and coming closer to Christ. I really love Winters and the people here, and especially the members of the ward. The first time Joel came to church, he was so surprised by how happy and loving everyone was and how much they loved him and us too. He couldn't believe that I've only been here and known them for a few weeks because he could see how much they really care. Transfers are coming up and I am pretty sure I will stay here, but even the thought of a possibility of leaving Winters makes me really sad. I am so lucky to be here and be blessed by these incredible people. 

Well, I hope everyone all of you incredible people had a great week as well! Lots of love and best wishes from Hermanita Burton!

Service! (Monday, April 13, 2015)

Dear Mom and you,

I decided this week that one of my favorite things about being a missionary is all the service opportunities we have! Whenever we meet people, even if they don't want to know anything about the church or talk about religion, we ask them if there is anything we can help them with (such as carrying things, yardwork, etc). We found a really kind elderly woman who lives next to someone we teach, and it turns out that she needed some help with her garden. On Saturday we went over to her house (in shorts and t-shirts!) and spent a few hours pulling weeds and getting all the leaves out of her flowerbeds. Most of the flowers she had were Irises, shout out to Grandma Mortenson! It was really fun and afterward she seemed much more open to talking to us. Most people are like that, in that they open up more when they see us in normal clothes and can see that we really are just normal people who want to help in any way we can. After finishing in the garden, we went into the house and shared the Easter video with her and talked more about Jesus Christ. She grew up Lutheran and now belongs to the Presbyterian (sp?) Church, and she has gone to church regularly for 83 years. What a record! We talked about how many of the churches have similar beliefs, and it was amazing to me to see how much faith and diligence she has, and I appreciate her example. She's a very sweet lady and we're planning on still visiting her to see if there is anything else she needs help with. 

Another service I often have the opportunity to do that I had never really thought about before is helping with homework. Who knew understanding Geometry would come in handy as a missionary? And Earth Science? I actually don't remember much about earthquakes and Earth Science that well, but I help her find the answers in her textbook and help her see the connections. I don't feel like I'm doing much by just reading her book with her and helping her find stuff, but then I remember that's not really why I'm there. I just want her to know that she is important and that we care about her, even when we're not at the church. I know I've said if before, but God really is in the details of our lives and He cares even about the little things!

I noticed another random thing about myself that I never really thought would help me be able to relate to other people, and that's my love of the DI and thrift stores! Yesterday we saw a woman who had given us a drink on a hot day a few weeks ago, so we pulled over to talk to her again. She was unloading her car and showing us all these great bargains she had just found at a yard sale and the thrift store and explaining the projects she's planning with them, and we helped her unload them. We talked with her for awhile and made plans to come back this week and help her organize her garage and do more yardwork! More service! 

I really love all of these service opportunities we have, and it makes me think of a that quote that says "Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words." Jesus Christ spent His life in the service of others and led by example, and He has told us that we are serving Him when we are serving others. I know that I need to improve my teaching skills and learn how to teach the Gospel simply so that I will be prepared when the time does come to teach with words, but I am grateful that I can still teach in the meantime even when I don't know what to say. 

I am very grateful for all of you and your examples to me! Thank you for everything, and I still hope everything is going well! 

Lots of love,

Hermana Burton

The blind can see! (Monday, April 6, 2015)

Dear Mom and people,

I guess I'll start with the fun stuff. Actually I should say funny stuff because it wasn't very fun in the moment, but quite humorous when looking back on it. So, long story short, I accidentally sprayed myself in the face with pepper spray... I'm not actually sure how it all came about because the circumstances leading up to it were definitely out of the normal. I was blow-drying my hair yesterday morning (which I never do) in the far corner of the living room so the noise wouldn't bother my companion, and I found a little pink thing sitting on the bookshelf. It looked like one of those Pez candy dispenser things, but I still wasn't sure what it was. It had a button that said "Press" so I did, not seeing the little tiny nozzle that was pointing directly at my eyes. And then I couldn't see anything anymore. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to drive so we could go to Woodland to see General Conference, but everything worked out and after many rinses and sitting with a wet wash cloth on my face, we were able to go to Conference. And I'm so glad that we could! There is something about watching Conference as a missionary and I learned so much. I'm so grateful for living prophets and apostles who guide us and teach us the will of God. 

The week leading up to Easter and Conference was really great too. We have been sharing the video "Because He Lives" (watch it if you haven't seen it!) and it's so great to see how people react to it. They seem to get nervous when we start walking toward them, and even more so when we ask if we can share a quick video with them. Then they love it when they see it and are reminded to remember that Christ still lives, and their attitudes change and they are happy that we are taking this time in our lives now to share this message. I know it doesn't always seem like it, but there really are so many good people in the world and I've had the privilege to meet so many of them in such a short time. There is so much good in the world, but we need to look for it and contribute to it so others can find it as well. 

Another amazing thing that happened this week was that we met with Joel again and introduced the Book of Mormon to him. He had already heard a little bit about it and about how it talks about how Christ visited the Americas, and he kept asking us if we really believed that He had. Then he said that it makes sense that He would come here as well, because God loves all of His children. It was an amazing experience because he was almost teaching himself as he thought about and realized these things, and we were just there to confirm what he was understanding and guide him. It was another witness to me that these are eternal truths and that we aren't really the teachers. It was a great reminder and comfort to me that I don't have to be perfect and know everything to be able to help someone come closer to Christ. 

Pues, thanks to everyone for the love and support, I truly appreciate it! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and have a wonderful week! 

Lots of love from Hermana Burton

Happy Easter! (Monday, March 30, 2015)

Dear Mom and everyone else,

I can't believe it's already Monday again! I realized that I really didn't get around to mentioning any of the exciting things or details last week, like the fact that I live in Yolo county! I think my favorite street around here is Yolo Polo Plaza... Somehow I forgot to mention that I'm also driving the car in our companionship. I most definitely was not expecting that, and it was really stressful at first because I had no idea where I was going. Now that I know the area better it is much easier, and I'm remembering how much I love driving. I also learned in this past week that apparently eating five tacos for dinner is completely normal, which is what was put on my plate last Wednesday. I love dinner though because we often eat with members of the church and get to know them. I can't believe how much love I have for these people that I just recently met! And it's incredible to me how much they love missionaries and pray for us and truly want to help us! 

I had a real "missionary" moment last night while we were talking with Joel, one of our new investigators. So far while I've been here, it felt like I've been going through the motions and doing what missionaries are supposed to do, without really feeling like a missionary. Then while we were talking with Joel, I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wanted to help him and how much I wanted to share the Gospel with him. It was probably the first moment where I felt like I could really help someone, instead of simply walking around and asking people if I could help them. We're meeting with him on Thursday and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Another fun thing about this week, Hermana Burton and Hermana Burton were companions for a day! Last Tuesday/Wednesday, my companion and her companion were on an exchange so we got to be companions for the day. I wasn't sure how it was going to go because we're both so new and inexperienced, but it was one of the best of most productive days of the whole time I've been here! I think because we knew each other and knew that we both had no idea what we were doing, we were more courageous and willing to try new things and step out of our comfort zone. And miracles happened! We talked to so many people and shared videos and the Book of Mormon with people in the streets and apartment complexes, and at the end of the day I went to bed feeling like I had done something good that day. It reminds me of the poem that talks about coming to the edge. I don't remember exactly how it goes, but it's something along the lines of:

Come to the edge!

No, we'll fall!

Come to the edge!

No, we'll fall!

Come to the edge!

So we came to the edge, and he pushed us.

And we flew!

Having faith is walking to the edge of the light, to the edge of where we can see, and then taking a few steps in the dark. Hermana Burton and I really didn't know what we were doing, but we tried anyway. We came to the edge, and even stepped past the end of our comfort bubbles, and miracles happened. I can only imagine what would happen in the world if everyone, including myself, took that extra step forward more often, not knowing for sure what would happen, but having faith that it would work out. There's a reason why faith is the first principle of the Gospel. 

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well!  I love you all and appreciate your prayers and support! Happy Easter and General Conference! 

Hermana (Carol) Burton

Picture of Herman Burton and Elder Brady Stuart, both of Tremonton, courtesy of Elder Stuart’s Mother (received Sunday, March 29, 2015)

Elder Stuart was there when Carol arrived in Santa Rosa. It sounds like they are in the same district and see each other weekly. Someone from home!

Hello from California! (Tuesday, March 23, 2015)

Dear (insert name here),

Well, I made it! I am currently serving in Winters, California, but
don't let the name fool you because apparently it's the hottest area
in the mission, especially in the summer. My companion/trainer is
Hermana Vallejo and she is really wonderful! She was born in Guatemala
and grew up there, but has lived in the U.S. for 8 years so her
Spanish and English are both on point. I can already tell that I am
going to learn so much from her, and I'm excited to be working
together. She has a lot to teach me, and I most definitely have a lot
to learn!

The first few days were a lot harder than I expected, and there are
many more unexpected challenges and difficulties of being a missionary
than I initially understood. I won't go into detail about what
happened or why the first few days were so rough, because that's just
life. And life is hard. But the Gospel is a message of hope and
healing and love and change, and it works for everyone! Even
missionaries who have a bad day(s). Saturday night, I decided to have
a better attitude no matter what happened, and I had a wonderful
Sunday. The best thing is, I can't even remember everything that
happened Sunday! I just know that it was a good day. I'm so grateful
for fresh starts and chances to learn and improve. I have always loved
New Year's Day and renewing commitments and making resolutions to be a
better person, and y'all know how much I love changing things (and
especially rearranging furniture). Then I realized that, thanks to the
Gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyday day is New Year's
Day! Any person, in any circumstance, and at any age can decide to
make a change and improve themselves.

Life is good, God is great, and y'all are pretty wonderful too! Thanks
for the love and support and I hope everything is going well!

Lots of love from Hermana Burton

Pictures!

1 week left! (Tuesday, March 10, 2015)

Dear Mom, etc,

By this time next week I'll be in California... I can't believe it! Thanks to the crazy time phenomenon thingamajig here in the MTC, I feel like I have been here all my life but I also feel like I just barely got here. In our district we say that "we were born in the MTC, we have lived our entire lives in the MTC, and we're going to die in the MTC. All in one day." It has been hard thinking about saying goodbye to these wonderful people. The other district in our zone left Monday morning and this morning, and that was hard enough. (PS Hermana Poirier truly appreciates your love and support. I'm going to miss her like crazy but I know that she is going to change lives, as she has already changed mine.) It's weird to think about leaving, but I know that it's time. I am looking forward to the new start and the new adventure. 

This past week went by really fast, but it was purty good. Writing about what happens in the week here is difficult because while I'm living it, I have so many experiences and it's quite challenging and so much happens. Then on prep day I sit down in front of the computer and can't remember anything, except how grateful I am for the opportunity to be here and to be a missionary. I know that God watches out for the missionaries and I know He knows all of us. We get to watch gospel films each Sunday evening, and this week we went and saw the Testaments. I had forgotten how much I love it. The most touching moment is at the end when the Savior comes to the Nephites and Helam had been waiting all of his life to see the Savior, but couldn't because he was blind. The Savior walks over to Him, puts His hands on Helam's eyes, and with the most tender look on His face, says one word: "Helam." In that moment it almost seemed as if Jesus Christ were looking directly at me, and saying only one word: "Carol." I know that He knows me, and I know that He knows you. Someday we all are going to have that moment when we will see His face and realize how familiar it is to us.

I probably won't be able to write next week because I'll be traveling on Tuesday, but I love you all bunches and I hope everything is going well! Please give all the niecephews lots of hugs and kisses from me, and don't let them forget who their favorite aunt is. PS that would be me. 

Hermana Burton

Mi compañera es fantástica

And my zone is great too! I miss them already.