August 27, 2012

SHE'S TRAINING!

my family!

sometimes i wonder how i got to be so blessed with a supportive family. thank you for all that you are and do for me. I wish i had time and i wish i had words to say what you all mean to me. our family of 12 means the world to me. a lot of people hate the change that happens on their missions but everything i hear seems to sounds like blessings or something that will eventually bring blessings. Thanks for being obedient and thanks for being example to me. I love hearing your testimonies and i love hearing your experiences....the spiritual ones and the goofy ones too! :) Well to start, Janae thank you for the letter and package.  i ate choco flan for the first time! i loved it and i thought of you the whole time! i loved your card too. you are way too cute to me. I think i will definitely need THIS planner this transfer because i found out last night that i am training....i think you cursed me in your last letter, janae!:) nah, it's not a curse but i am on the nervous side because i know it will be hard. Sister Cedillo and i have had a lot of fun the last 3 months while working hard, praying hard, fasting hard, studying hard, practicing hard, working hard, sleeping hard, working hard. i feel like we have just done everything hard! We definitely saw the fruits of our labors this week. We had 11 new investigators this week because we started teaching a family and 2 couples. It's nice that we have people to teach but i feel like the weight of training really hits home when i look at the names of these people over and over. She and I really love them. The Lord really loves them. I feel inadequate. i feel weak. The reality and the message we share and the importance of the message we share has brought me so much joy. It's a message of salvation and my presentation of the material has an influence on their decision to accept it or not. Of course i'm afraid but it's an afraid of the changing process not of the outcome. I have a  faith that the Lord will help us. I'm excited to meet my next companion and learn from her and work with her. I hope she doesn't feel ripped off :) Family, How i love the Lord. How i love his church. It's pretty neat how a mission puts everything into perspective. With a job, classes, and every distraction in the world, we sometimes forget the role of the gospel in our lives. There is NOTHING more important. Our private religious behaviors and our public religious behaviors and our public non-religious behaviors....i can't think of anymore but everything she point to your goal. everything should point to your purpose. Every decision you make brings you closer to the Him or furthers you from him. Every decision you make may also bring others closer to Him or further from him. We cannot think for a moment that a decisions only affect us. In church i learned that just like our classes, we attend regularly to keep learning. To keep learning, we have to regularly and diligently be returning to the temple, reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, going to church. These are the ways we resist temptation these are the ways we build our testimony and these are the ways we maintain our testimony. I don't think i'm explaining myself clearly. mom, you can edit it before sending it on if you want :) Just know i have a testimony of the gospel and that i'm working to share it and build it. Once again, i love you and admire you! Thanks again! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Sister Burrup

ps- thank you kari for the letter and a few questions: can i have bro peck's mailing address? i think you might have to look at the byu-i website. also, can i get a list of bdays and anniversary's for the family...including grandparents :) and last but not least when are dad's next scans? i've been praying lots and sister cedillo has been praying too! 

Wahoo!  Pictures too!

Her district:

A Vegas rain storm

Laurel says, "We may have danced in rain..."

Hermana Cedillo's birthday at a member's home

Doesn't Sister Burrup look great.  She shines like a good missionary should!  I think she'll really miss her companion, but knowing Laurel, her next companion will also be the most amazing person in the world because that's how she sees everybody :)

Dear President Neider,

My whole life i have dealt with change pretty well. I know that the next transfers are going to be a big big change but i'm trying to have faith. Sister Cedillo and i have had a lot of fun while working hard the last 3 months. I'm sad she's leaving but i'm excited for what's next even though i think it will be hard. Sister Cedillo has been a great example, companion, friend, confidant, support....she's been great. This week was a good week together. We worked hard and  We were able to finally get a hold of and set appointments with people this week.  It will be busy and it will be a lot of adjusting without sister Cedillo but i know the Lord's blessings will be with us. We have 2 investigators, Paco and maria, that are preparing to be baptized next month. we are excited for them both. Both are living with relatives that are members so we have had a lot of support from their families.  We taught Paco the Plan of Salvation then reviewed it the next week. He was able to teach us the lesson part by part. We were impressed and it was fun to see him excited about the next lessons, participating at church and asking questions. Maria has been an investigator for quite some time but has made a lot of progress. She is reading the gospel principles manual and the book of Mormon both. It has been a great opportunity to teach them. I love that as we teach we learn. Personal and companionship study has always been more effective when directed toward specific needs of the people. Sister Cedillo taught me that. I' m humbled, President by the call to serve a mission and i'm humbled by the call to be a trainer. I'm certain she and i will be learning and growing together because i know i have a lot to learn still. Thank you president for your confidence in us and confidence in the gospel. 

Love

Sister Burrup

August 13

My dear dear family,

I hope you are all doing super well. I love you and I pray for you. Thank you for your support here. There are many missionaries without their family backing them up. Thank you Kirsten for the DearElder and thank you everyone at the family reunion for the sweet notes. It was fun to read them and think about you all. Jon, your new job sounds great! What an opportunity! is is in provo? how did you find it? Also, thank you mom for the package. I know you love me because you sent me wal-mart smiles. They are my favorite! :) the kids love the stickers. thank you thank you thank you.

Well, this week Sister Cedillo and I had a good talk about conversion. People often ask us how long we have been members or if we are born in the church. I was thinking about Sister Cedillo's conversion story.She really is an incredible missionary! I wish you could meet her and hear her speak. She's a powerful missionary guided by the spirit and bold in her testimony. I love hearing her testimony because people listen! it's really neat. Sometimes It's hard not to wonder if people listen to my testimony. It happens a lot where they give me a look of "oh you were born in the church. your parents made you do this." Then i share my sincere testimony and they respond with "wow, you really do speak spanish." people don't always want to listen but when they do I want it to make a difference and i want it to help them on their rode to conversion to the Lord and to his church. i think about our FHE via skype where we mapped our conversions. Every person had their own ideas of how to do it. Every person had their own experiences that were the landmarks of the testimonies. Missionaries are good. Missionaries are important. Bur missionaries are NOT landmarks. We invite others to act by reading, praying, changing, repenting, coming to Him. Elder Holland said, "There are many excellent men and woman but there are very few excellent missionaries." An excellent missionary focuses on the people and teaches them the simple fundamentals. I'm working hard to better apply the fundamentals to my life and to help others see that the gospel is never too hard and the blessings are always worth it. Hector and Maria's son died this week. They are hurting but they are humble. We are teaching the other half of the Plan of Salvation this week. I'm excited for them to understand and receive the comfort that i know the plan of salvation brings. We dropped Ilda this week. the opportunities, the blessings, our salvation, everything is ours if we want it. So what's stopping us and how do we turn that stumbling block into a building block.  Ilda refuses to change. She told us she will never be baptized and she won't change religions. The way she talks shows that she feels and knows that it's different but tradition pulls her back over and over again. Someday she will know. She said she will keep reading the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is powerful. I'm praying that she will let it soften her heart and change her perspective. Family, I really love you! You mean a lot to me! thank you for your individual examples and thank you for your prayers. I look forward to hearing from you again next week.

All my love

Hermana Burrup

Dear President Neider,

This was a another great week. What a surprise. I guess i should stop being surprised at how much the Lord blesses His missionaries because i think I've been surprised my whole mission. I want to count the blessings and thank Him for the blessings every day. I feel like i learned a lot from Sister Cedillo this week. I started a new tradition for my mission where i make a list of the ways my companion demonstrates whichever Christlike attribute i am studying. I studied faith and It was so so easy to see how sister Cedillo demonstrates her faith.  It has been a great blessing to be her companion. Well, this week we had some exciting things happen. A ward missionary prepared a lunch for the men that look for jobs outside of the nursery. The Desert Bloom Elders, this member, and us talked to EVERY single person there. It was a fun way to talk to people and present the Book of Mormon. The majority of the men are from other areas so we walked away with lots of referrals for others but it was still a neat experience to introduce and testify of the Book of Mormon to so many people. There were a few that were excited, many that listened, and a few that only wanted to argue. Either way, we have faith that it made a difference somewhere in one of them....or maybe in the wife or roommate of one them that will see the Book of Mormon and read it. I don't think there is any reason to ever lose faith. It's easy and tempting sometimes but my new personal motto is "where is your faith? CHOOSE to have faith, Sister Burrup!" I have felt it give me courage and i have felt it motivate me and i have felt it cast out my disappointments and frustrations. Faith is the first principle of the gospel for a good reason: without it, we can't really get anywhere or do anything.  Next time you see me, President, I will have more faith! Thanks for representing the Savior well and helping us come closer to him.  It was fun to see you in the car at the light. It made our day!

Love

Sister Burrup

August 6, 2012

Family!!! (3 exclamation points just don't do it justice. i'm really excited! :)

Fasting is so important. Sister Cedillo said that when you don't know what to do, FAST! i think she is right. From your fast last week and good news about kirsten the next day then fasting for her and the work here...The blessings are real! numbers aren't everything but they do represent God's children so they are something. Better numbers are more of God's children closer to him and all in all happier. No effort is wasted and no effort goes unnoticed so let's start putting in more effort. no matter how small it still applies! Hector (the man with the scooter from my first weeks here) needs the gospel! We haven't seen him for the last month because he has been working nights, sleeps during the days, has missed his last 2 appts, and his phone was disconnected. Basically, we went to leave a Book of Mormon with him because we didn't want to drop him without him having a copy of the Book of Mormon. Before, his wife refused to listen or participate in the lessons we had with him. She would usually leave. When we returned on Saturday, For the first time, she let us in, she listened to us, she expressed her struggles, and she asked questions and shared her thoughts. Hector and Maria have disabled children in mexico and financially are barely surviving. They are clearly hurting financial but also emotionally and i think it is starting to affect their marriage as well. As we talked with them, read scriptures from the bible and Book of Mormon, offered a prayer, then talked about the spirit i simply got excited for them to have the blessings of the gospel and the ordinances of priesthood or salvation.( i learned that from jon this week :) I KNOW they can KNOW it's true. i pray for them and others that they will let the spirit testify to them and that they will choose to change through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

 Dad, Mom, I'm doing well. I'm very happy. Specific things on my mind are christlike attributes and scriptures. I need to become more like him to more correctly and effectively represent him. I'm trying hard to do my best but i get confused when expectations are different from different people. How do you do THE best. who's expectations do you strive for? I know the answer: it's in the white handbook. First the Lord, then your mission president, then your companion.....but how do i know HIS expectations for me? I feel strong in my testimony but i feel weak in my ability to express it and teach the doctrine simply? suggestions? 

Christian, i am so glad you are preparing now to serve and so glad you are counting the days until you serve. Be excited because it is wonderful but take your preparation seriously. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! learn how to use them! thanks for sharing your experience with the missionaries. You be the difference, you be the support, you be the member missionary that people need. I love you and admire you, christian! Sister Cedillo got to see her brother who entered the Las Vegas West mission today. it made me think of you a lot! I'm excited for you! What are you doing with Travis? when did you become the first assistant? is it hard? Teach me what you are learning! 

Mom, i also got your package. i'm excited to open. Thank you so much!  thank you for your emails. I love them! you and Dad write THE BEST emails ever! I love your picture jon and nicole. i'm glad you had a great time and don't worry jonny. i understand you are busy. have you found an internship? i've been praying for you.  janae, my next planner starts on the 27th. mom said you and steve are making "exciting decisions"...details? :) I love you? how are the....in laws? i hate saying that. how are my other brothers and sisters? I just want to know everything. you all know i'm FOMO :) i love you and thank you for your prayers and support!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- thank you karee, beks, and Elder Young for the Letters! and a quick question...what's the name of my blog? i won't visit it but i don't remember and someone asked. love you!

Dear President Neider,

I think every week on the mission gets better and i get happier and happier! I already feel like the happiest person on earth so it surprises me each week how things get better! We've been praying for help finding people who are prepared for the gospel. A little over a week ago, Sunday, we decided to fast for the blessings and help we desperately need. The blessings clearly came this week! Time and time again i am humbled by not only the blessings God is waiting to give us but also in the ways that He sends them to us. For the second week in a row the family of a recent convert, Martin, came to church. They felt more comfortable and the members included them and welcomed them perfectly. Last night the member feeding us invited Martin and his family to dinner as well. It was a great way to get to know the family better in a casual setting but to end on a spiritual note with a lesson as well. Martin has been praying and working to be an example of his family and it's paying off. As Elder Cronin suggested last week, working through the members is more effective. Sister Cedillo and I set some new goals with Elders Martinez and Bailey, and the branch mission leader this week. We are going reteach the missionary lessons to the inactive and less active members and ask them to invite a friend. We are praying that the members will feel the spirit, remember their personal conversions, and desire to come back while still finding people who need the gospel as well. We're excited to get started.  This week, we are working with members! Thank-you President for your prayers and example! 

Love

Sister Burrup

July 30, 2012

My family my family,

I am feeling extremely humbled today as i have thought on the last week but also as i have read your emails. I believe that humility is directly related to counting our blessings and What blessings the Lord has for us! Sometimes these blessings are only obtained through patience and diligence. The last 2 weeks in my personal study i have noticed and reflected several time on, "the trial of our faith." It can take so so many different forms. The trial of faith that seems to be specifically relevant to me as a missionary and after having read your emails seems to be specifically relevant to our entire family is that of diligence. Sometimes the test of our faith is to see if we will be persistent in obeying the laws of the Lord. Not one but ALL of them! I had the chance to testify of the joy that the gospel brings to our lives. The inspiration came to testify to her that only through obedience to every commandment will we achieve the joy that he wants to give us that is also the joy that our very souls desire. i'm not certain if this makes sense to you or if it only makes sense in my head but either way, know that I am striving for Christ-like attributes and by striving for these attributes, i come to know how truly perfect the Savior but also have to come to know that the Lord's help is upon those who desire and those who work to become like Him…

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- i may or may not have drank coca-cola for the first time this week. don't judge and don't try it either. it's gross! :) Love you again!

Dear President Neider,

This week has been a great week but i do feel like we were forced to work harder for the improvement we had. We decided to drop a few of our investigators because they aren't progressing, keeping appointments, and won't pray. I've never dropped investigators that I helped find and teach before. Frankly, i'm a little sad about it but the work of God will always "go forth boldy, nobly, and independent," of any worldly influence. Like everyone we meet it's up to me just like it is up to them to grasp the gospel and grow or let it pass by. The neat thing about the gospel is that the opportunities to come to Him never stop coming. Sister Cedillo and I fasted and prayed yesterday that we could find investigators and if it's the Lord's will that we  get a baptism this transfer. Our goal was 3 but one moved, another is now the Elders' area, and the third canceled her last two appointments. We kept our hope and we exercised faith and the blessings always do come. Just last night an investigator came to a baptism with us. She has been taught by missionaries before. We hadn't invited her to pray about a baptism yet but she told us that she has already been praying for a date for a while now. In simple small ways the Lord has blessed us. In simple small ways, the Lord has answered our prayers. In simple small ways, i know God is aware of small Sister Cedillo and I and our efforts to unite our purpose with His.  After talking with Elder Cronin, Sister Cedillo and I are going to focus more on working with the members.  I'm excited to see what blessings the Lord has in store for his children here in Warm Springs. President, thank you for you example and thank you for your work! You are truly an inspired servant of God. Thank you!

Love

Sister Burrup

July 23, 2012

My Family!

…Here in Las Vegas they don't mess around on pioneer day at all. There are huge multi-stake parties at parks with food, bounce houses, and a parade...a real parade. We had a group of maybe 25 missionaries from those 3 stakes in the parade. So, believe it or not, when you are a missionary, you feel like a celebrity sometimes. We marched down the street singing called to serve and everyone cheered. we had a good time seeing the other members and their potential investigator friends in a more casual setting.

Well, the big news this week is that they have split our area in half and added two new elders to our branch. I forgot to mention it last week because it was still a rumor then but now it is real. The new elders are working hard. They are goofy but good. We are excited for them but a little heartbroken because we lose Sandra, Maria rodriguez, carla, alejandra and a few other really good potentials that we've been working to gain their confidence and trust.  Sandra is the sister of a member and her son was supposed to be blessed in sacrament meeting but he got sick. They gave him a blessing of health. She has already had positive experiences with the gospel. We have high hopes for her. Maria rodriguez was our baptismal goal this month....now it's the elders. She has really good questions but a lot a lot of faith! Carla and Alejandra are the only 2 member referrals we've ever gotten. So, The elders are going to take care of them and we're going to go to their baptisms. We still pray for them and we still think about them. It's always hard when they split an area and you have to let go of some of the people you have grown to love but it will be ok. I'm still optimistic. Sister Cedillo and I have a new method to keep our heads up. we simply say, "where is our faith?" and it reminds us that God knows and he has the power to do all things. 

So mom, you asked about martin. Martin is doing really well. He blesses the sacrament every week and has prayed a miracle into his life of never working another sunday. He is a great example for his family. We are working with his mom a little bit. Little by little. She likes to sign up for meal which is great because we always get to do a lesson with them too. The only down-side to the dinners is that she prepares so so much food! last time we had a meaty soup, a plate of rice beans and tortillas,  pork and green mole, and spaghetti. one meal? i don't think so. We had eaten lunch with a member just 2 hours before that. We were so full and borderline sick. It was all really delicious but we couldn't finish it. She likes to cook so we are going to work with it. We are going to do another FHE with their family but turn it into a barbeque with other families from the branch. His sister seems interested but isn't consistently home. This last week when we went by, his brother prayed for the first time. Family, there is nothing more beautiful than a sincere first prayer. I have an increased testimony of the power of prayer. Give thanks always always always. pray for others always always always. Prayer changes hopes into reality. in 1 nephi 7:12 it explains prayer a little. when we pray for God's blessings, they will come if 1-it is his will and 2-we exercise faith. Then we are invited to have faith. it is such a simple scripture. The scriptures seem so fundamental to me. they are powerful and applicable! we read the book of mormon with inactive members sometimes and help them understand. Sister Cedillo knows her scriptures well! i respect her a lot! We have our quiet and sometimes awkward moments of frustration but we have our close moments of humility together too! 

Sister Burrup

ps - thank you emma, kari, and dan for the letters!

Dear President Neider,

This has been an interesting but good week. My first experience with any change to the area. As soon as we found out that the area was splitting Sister Cedillo and I began praying that the Elders in our area would be ready and willing to work hard and would take care of the investigators in their area. I know that prayer was answered. Elder Bailey and Elder Martinez are working hard. The members are excited to have elders in the branch as well. Even though the elders are good, it is still a little sad to pass investigators over. I know that the area splitting will be a great blessing though. Sister Cedillo and I are trying to be exactly obedient and diligent in our studies and looking for people to teach. Sister Cedillo and I have both come to the conclusion on our own and together that we simply need to exercise faith and expect God's miracles because they happen in the smallest of ways that make the biggest of difference in others. Although i haven't been in the mission field for long, as i have prayed i have felt the truth of the fact that it is God's work and not mine or anyone's. They aren't my investigators they are His children. It's not my progress or my success but His. How i want to do His work, not mine. We are working hard and trying to adjust to the new changes. I know that low numbers don't mean a thing. Our new technique for finding people to teach is asking for referrals EVERYWHERE and asking the members and the other missionaries to simply write down addresses of Hispanic families. Because there aren't a lot of Hispanics in our area, we want to talk to every single one!  We are still setting high goals as a demonstration of our faith. Thank you president for being supportive and inspiring. Sister Cedillo and I think the world of You and sister Neider. Hurrah for Israel!

Sister Burrup