July 9, 2012

Mi familia grandiosa!

Cada dia doy gracias a dios por todos los ejemplos y apoyo que me dan uds. Gracias gracias gracias!  (translation for mom: my great family - it's even better than great in spanish. it doesn't translate right. - each day i thank God for the examples and support you all give me. Thank-you thank-you thank-you! ) Also, Thank you Sister King, Elder Crawford, McKenzi Bullock, and Kirsten for the letters. Sister Cedillo studied personal prayer on wednesday and shared her thoughts and we ready part of Preach my gospel together. Meaningful prayer is powerful but obligatory, repetitious prayers become obedience without blessings. I am not sure if that made sense or not. Jeff Perry gave me a talk called the 4th missionary. it talks about 4 types of missionaries. The 3rd is obedienct but only by obligation and only with his might and strength. not with his heart, the 4th missionary gives his heart. only until we give everything or consecrate ourselves to Him can we be blessed for the work we do! How i love the inspired words of leaders and prophets now and in the scriptures. It is so so important to study study study, ponder ponder ponder, and pray pray pray about them. over and over and over again! We teach that "enduring to the end" is doing the very things that the gospel starts with: building faith through personal prayer, personal scripture study, church attendance, and temple attendance. I always think of mom's seminary lesson on "private religious behaviors." I loved that lesson. Mom, I would tell you my problems and disappointments but there aren't many and when they come they are small and fade because they are of little importance. This week, i was trying not to watch the doors to the chapel the whole sacrament meeting again. It's a good thing we were sitting in the back because i'm sure it would have been distracting :)  

The update on Lupita and Antonio. they canceled their apt last week. We haven't seem them in a while. Living in North is another area so we are still working to get them meeting with the other sisters in north. they canceled because our apt was on the 4th of july. We didn't see many fireworks at all but we celebrated by planning outside. The members are amazing here! how i love you and how i love the gospel! i'm out of time but know that i think the world of you and have a testimony of the gospel! do everything to strengthen your testimonies NOW not later but now! read alma 34! :)

all my love and prayers!

Sister burrup

Dear President Neider,

The work in the Desert Bloom ward is going well. We have been looking for opportunities to serve the members and branch president to gain their trust and confidence. I feel like it is slowly working. I am still getting to know the ward but i already have come to love and respect the members here. When i'm forced not to be a full-time missionary anymore i want to be like the members here involved and engaged in this marvelous work. I love that the scriptures call it a marvelous work because the blessings, miracles, and simply the way the Lord moves the work forward is incredible. I love seeing it happen right in front of me. 

We met with Gladys this week after a lot of fasting and prayer. We weren't sure if we could teach her or not based on her ability to understand.  We brought two members with us and our branch president will come with us again this week to offer any insight. We all went away from the lesson with the understanding that we shouldn't continue to teach her or include her in our numbers. It was an interesting experience because of the feeling that came. About half way through the lesson, i understood that we couldn't keep teaching her. I immediately felt really sad and disappointed. Not because we wouldn't get to teach her or count her in our numbers or have another investigator but because she couldn't understand the many blessings available and in store for her.  I know that even though she mentally is not able to grasp it now that eventually she will be able to claim those blessings for herself. She loves coming to church so i think we will continue to see her and share scriptures with her but will not continue teaching lessons with her. 

I love the gospel and i am coming to love the people here. I am praying for charity and praying for consecration. I am the Lord's servant and nobody else's. Not even mine own. Thank you President and Sister Neider! Sister Cedillo and i love you both!

Love

Sister Burrup