Oct 28

My dear Dear Family

What a neat week! We saw lots of miracles. Fransisco went to a baptism this week and felt the spirit. He showed his faith by coming early on a saturday morning without his wife with 2 kids. I've never tried so hard in my life to entertain children in my life. We really wanted him to be abl eto focus on the baptism. He said he felt the spirit and told us that he had already invited his sister to his baptism. Everything is looking grat for the 16th of november. We are excited for him because we can see that he is clearly excited as well to take the steps to START following Jesus Chrst more fully. He has a lot of faith. He told us that he decided to go pray. He rode his bike up the mountain and started to pray. He layed down and as he looked at the stars he recieved his answer. Isn't it neat that God literally will answer EVERY child's prayer? That's the knowledge to share. He told us he had talked to missionaries before but the only reason he gave us a chance was because we put it all on faith and prayer. When we finally decide to trus tin the Lord we finally qualify for his help.  Also, Frankie had a neat experience as well. I wrote about in my email to president but it was so special to hear him bear his testimony of the restoration as he taught us. It was a role play in a mission prep class. He will be an excellent missionary some day! Eddie, a strong priest in the branch taught him how to tie a tie and is helping a lot. Frankie just needed to know that there are good people with good intentions that will help and support him. His progress has been gradual but it has been real. The Word of Wisdom is still the hardest part for him. We are still trying to help him feel the spirit often because when he does is when he is suddenly motivated and empowered to continue. The missionary work is great here. We have a few new families we are excited to teach as well. on our exchange our appointments flopped so we got to contact a lot of potentials and a lot of people in the streets. Very positive experience. If you aren't happy go talk to people in the streets and He'll make you happy! As for my companion, sister veazey is on fire! she is excellent and she testifies with power. I feel really blessed to be with her. WE laugh constantly but work hard. We are happy always because this is his work and it is true. The truth doesn't change even if/when people are harsh or sharp with us. Thank you for your help and prayers. I am so so blessed to have you. I'm excited and overjoyed to hear from Christian and thanks for the pictures. He will be an excellent missionary and i'm excited to support him the whole whole way!  Thanks and love you!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- can i have christian's mail address to send a bday card?

Also, it's fransisco loza and frankie martinez for the last names. As for school, i signed up for classes which was weird...it will probably all change again. As for housing, i am clueless. There is one sister here, sister cheatham that also is going to home at the same time. if you hear of any place with 2 that would be awesome but if not, no worries. Thanks and love you all! 

Dear President Neider,

Great week! The Lord, as always, blessed us very much! Frankie, is an 18 year old investigator here. He struggles with English and the Word of Wisdom because of his friends. He went to the PMG class with one of the priests last night where he had the opportunity to teach us the restoration. it was the perfect way to check for understanding and hear his testimony as it really is. He felt the spirit and offered a beautiful prayer. We hope he will continue to progress to be ready for the 16th of November. That was one of the many blessings but i am really enjoying serving here with Sister Veazey. We are working hard and trying hard to teach with the spirit. 

Also we went on exchanges this week. I was here with Sister Romero. I could see that she has a lot of desires to do good. WE had a positive exchange. I really tried to emphasize focusing on our purpose and effective street contacts. She does a great job in her street contacting. I left her with a few commitments to teach include members during lessons, to role play daily how to seal with the holy ghost and prepare to set as well as to find ways to show appreciation for her companion. She does have good desires and a testimony that is firm. She loves those she sees. Thanks president!

Hurrah For Israel

Hermana Burrup

ps- my brother just left on his mission to peru :) Good news to share.

Oct 21

Dear Dear Family,

I have a lot of mixed feeling and thoughts right now. I was honestly a little heart broken when i heard christian was leaving. I am anxious and excited for him to go and begin and bless and be blessed but i had this selfish hope that i would get to see him just 1 week. Christian, know that i pray fervently for you. You are a joy to the Lord, to your parents, and family. I love you and respect you dearly dearly dearly. Thank you for being worthy and valient in your preparation. you will not regret not even 1 day your preparation. Well, I feel very loved by you. thank you! Janae, i did get your package and the cookies are great! thank you very very much! you are so thoughtful! I loved the pictures i got from you as well, it's always fun to see pictures and faces.

Well, it's been a great but crazy week! Transfers, exchanges, splits, bed bugs, and weird other surprises this week. It's been fun though. Sister Veazey is from North Dakota and absolutely amazing! she has been out almost 9 months but is teaching me so so much! i am learning a lot about simple and effective, bold but loving teaching! We have a lot of fun together and get along very well. She is very optomistic and positive which has really helped me to keep working hard!

To tell you about the work, Frankie is at a really crucial point. He is discouraged with the word of wisdom. He has more problems with it than we knew. He has problems with coffee, alcohol, and cigarrettes. a lot of the problem is a social problem but he doubts himself a lot. He showed a lot discouragement and maybe lack of desire. This week will be another crucial week. please pray pray pray a lot for him. Fransisco is already talking about how excited he is for the 16th so he is doing wonderfully. We are working on getting people progressing right now and finding through the members. 

Family, this is God's work. We are a part of this work and the progress is oftentimes gradual but it is real. Mark 4:27 and 28 tie directly in with alma 32. Faith requires work and diligence and patience but gradually the progress comes thanks to the Enabling power of the atonement. May we all improve daily controlling only that within our power focused on our covenants to do His work in His way. may God bless us as we do His work. If all it required for many in the new testament was to touch his robe to be made whole than we must find our ways to touch his robe. to open the channels of the atonement in our lives. The base of our lives must be built on Him. I know this is his churhc and i know this is his work. and the work requires the efforts of all. President Neider said this morning, "we are only called to start the efforts of this work." he also said, "we have a lot of work to do. we must invite all because by the end of the millenium all their work must be done." I love dearly the Lord's servants here. May we support his servants everywhere in the capacities wherever and whatever they may be. I love you very very much!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps - mom, i am so glad you found that music.please send the music as soon as you can. i'd love love love to use it really quick. There is a really special family; the pecjak family. The daughter is going on her mission soon and we want to sing it for her farewell. we'll have to practice and prepare on preparation day really quick. :)

Dear President Neider,

What a busy week. it was a great week but very busy. I am learning very much from sister Veazey. She is a hard worker and loves the Lord. Very focused and an excellent leader. We went on exchanges with Sister Webb and Sister Smith this week. Sister Smith came to Altavista with me. I felt of her goodness and her hard work as we were went from one place to the next. She loves the People she sees. A main focus of the exchanges was street contacts. How to be yourself from the very first impression so that when we share out testimonies it also feels genuine. She is doing a very good job at testifying every contact. We discussed how to share powerful testimonies by speaking slower and sharing absolute truths so they will think. It was a great exchange. She is working hard and doing very well. we also practiced the Zone Training on explaining the holy Ghost using the pamphlets. Thank you president for all you do. We love you and appreciate your humble yet excellent work. Thank you for you and your wife's thoughts and prayers. i am so blessed to serve here with you two. Hurrah For Israel

Love

Hermana Burrup

Oct 14

My dear dear family,

Thanks for all the great news! Christian, Congrats on BYU! what an exciting time! I fasted for you on sunday, christian. I will anxiously wait until monday to find out when you go. Are you supposed to report to the MTC in peru? or where? It was great to hear about and from some relatives. I am so blessed for the support that i recieve from you. I can't say thank you enough. Well, transfers are tomorrow. Sister Jeronimo is leaving and we are both super bummed about it along with the whole branch. The good news is that she is going to Sunrise with sister Oyanedel. I am really excited for them to be together. They will do great together! As for me, i get to stay and Sister Veazey is going to be my companion! i am super super excited! She is actually a friend of Emma hogan's family, my roommate and friend at BYU. Kind of random and funny. With her here, Exchanges will actually be much more effective and less stressful. training will be given to a companionship at a time instead of 1 by 1. So those are the changes starting tomorrow. My second american companion. How crazy. Hope we can keep up with the spanish.

Well, as for the area and people, things are going well. Fransisco and Frankie are progressing well. WE are trying to work closely with the members and hoping to have a ward mission plan soon to start family mission plans. It has been a lot of organization and phone calls but good missionary work is better than just busy missionary work. one of the zone leaders in the mission says we need to be full time missionaries not fill time missionaries. it is so important to be effective in our work and to really make sure we are doing effective work. how a basis of finding and a broad set of teaching skills according to president neider. without both we will have great difficulty in helping others.

everyone in the district gave 5 minute trainings at district meeting and it was a neat opportunity to look back at general conference. i chose to train on the power and value of Right now. It was kind of a realization that not only do we need to eliminate saying we will be better tomorrow or later but also saying today. We can be beter RIGHT NOW. I can be a missionary RIGHT NOW instead of with that other guy across the street what about the guy right next door or walking past me or the cashier. Right now is the time. God has called each of us to his work. I am so glad i can do it not only full-time but full-heartedly.

I am also reading the new testament and have found myself hungry to keep reading at the end of each day of studies. i am anxious to get to the pauline  espistles but loving the Saviors teachings in the gospels. i liked mark 4:27and 28, :the seed  should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." it reminded me a lot of 3 nephi 9:20 and alma 32. The Bible and the Book of mormon really do testify of each other and the same doctrine in beautiful words that each give their own insight to the precious truths of God.  I also enjoyed mathew 27. Where joseph lays the saviours body in "his own new tomb." something everyone knows. as i read i felt the need for me to do the same. Give the Lord the very best of my very very own most precious possessions, talents, feelings, experiences, testimonies, and me. Now is the time and why not give all! I love the Lord dearly and feel strongly that he is a part of this work. it is his and nobody else's. May we embrace his glory, the eternal life of man, and helping others receive it. We will soon see that it is one of the Lord's greatest tools in helping us recieve eternal life as well. May God bless us all in his work! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Dear President Neider,

Transfers was a little bit of a surprise for me but i'm excited for the changes and know they will be a blessing. The Lord has helped us a lot this week and we are really starting to see some people progress. We've been trying to apply the trainings we received at Zone conference and Zone training and have found that as we testify often we really are much happier. We have also been able to see how baptismal dates help people to progress earlier on. Sister Jeronimo is sad to go but i Know she is going to have a great great time with sister oyanedel in sunrise. We have enjoyed being together and doing the 12 week program. We also went on 2 exchanges this week. First with sister Newey on tuesday. We specifically worked on how to work with members and why it was so important to have them out with us. Sister Newey and I talked a lot about it. she is doing well at teaching clearly and boldly with testimony. The second exchange was with Sister Webb. She is working hard and doing well there in Warm springs. We worked mainly on teaching for understanding and testifying simply and shortly. She really is giving her best. I'm proud of her. thank you president for your help. We look forward to interviews soon!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Oct 7

My Dear Dear Family,

Thank you for your prayers and your support. I do feel strengthened by you. Christian, I am so so sorry to hear aobut your knee surgery. I believe you will be able to recovery without much trouble at all. If it's the same one I had, than you'll be back to normal real quick! Satan can't stop the work from progressing. Never ever. The only way it will be delayed is if it's the Lord's will and it's part of your preparation. Maybe you've been such a good member missionary that the Lord wants to keep you in Washington just a minute longer. But come what may and love it. I already have written in my agenda to fast for you. Well, This week was probably the most meeting filled week every! We started with Zone conference which was absolutely EXCELLENT! Then off to mission leadership council, then to Zone training meeting, Corelation and weekley planning like every week, then General Conference! I felt like each of the meeting was very inspired and helped prepare us for the work to be done. What a blessing to be a missionary right now. Sister Neider always says, “now is the time, here is the place, and you are the ones.” I think that is probably true of each of us. God has called every baptized person to His work, to REALLY live and apply their covenants. In our Zone conference they shared with us a new way for the members to participate. It started in Texas is starting hear and has been taken to oregon and florida. It's spreading. In a comfortable non pressure way we can discover those willing to learn of the gospel. It's called the willing and brief invitation, “Would you be WILLING to hear a BRIEFpresentation about ….(whatever aspect or principle of the gospel they may need) by two of my friends from my church.” if they say no, it's fine. No big deal. Just checking. If yes, then get information and work with the missionaries to meet with them. It has had almost a 50: 50 response. Imagine if we invited everyone and half said yes. How the Gospel of Jesus Christ would enter homes, change families, enrich lives, and gladden the hearts of God's children. Are we consecrated enough to the Lord? I Know so. If we are not or maybe when we are not, I love the advice my companion gave me....just choose to believe it. I have been so blessed by sister Jeronimo. When we present this to families in our branch we ask them to use it until they get 1 yes. They can use it with ANYONE. Family, Will you use the willing and brief invitation with those you meet and know? I know that it was inspired and i promise you will feel the spirit stronger because it is an act of faith and every act of faith will invite the spirit more into our lives. There are many who want what God wants for them but don't know how to access it. may be we be the Lord's angels. We will know this saturday about this next transfer.I love this work very much and know it is His work. Please pray for Fransisco Loza. He has a baptismal date for November 16th and needs a clear answer. Pray for Fankie that His schedule will permit him to be taught. He has a new job and we've struggled getting started. Thank you. I love you dearly and know this is God's work. Hurrah For Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup 

Dear President Neider,

This week really built my faith strongly. We had many many meeting and now i feel anxious to work already and put it to use. i feel like a sling shot just ready to fly! :) We are working hard and trying to get everything done that we need. We are trying also to finish the 12 week program. Sister Jeronimo has progressed a lot and she has become an excellent missionary. We set the husband of a less-active member for baptism this week. Sister Jeronimo took the initiative and knew exactly how and when to do it, why we needed to and was able to do it with the spirit and confidence. We love the work, each other, and those we visit. We are trying to increase our obedience by specifically getting out of dinner appointments on time so we can get back to work. May God bless us all in His work as we consecrate ourselves to His purposes. Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Hermana Burrup

Sept 30

My Dear Dear Family,

As i read the emails this week i realized that we are very very much connected :) I have been so blessed to be around you my whole life. Blessed by your testimonies and examples and willingness to always help. One of my favorites memories is when i tried to run away from home. I planned to live in a big sagebrush bush next to the canal at the bottom of the hill and sneak home while you were at school to get food each week. I was  aweird child but i remember Janae coming down and talking me out of it. Explaining and teaching me how much i need my family and i need the church. I was probably 5 or 6. Thank you for always building and lifting me. As i sat down to watch the Relief Society Broadcast i thought of you and wondered where you would be but i KNEW you wouldn't have missed it for the world. Well, covenants are pretyy imporant aren't they! in Stake conference here, they emphasized our baptismal covenants and encouraged us to tain our minds to think of our baptismal covenants every every time we see water. I thought that was a pretty neat way to actively remember and keep our covenants everyday. I think i've already shared this but i believe our temple covenants become "OUR PURPOSE" in life. If we can center our lives around the promises we make and those that the Lord makes to us, we WILL have joy. we WILL have direction.  we WILL change. we WILL be better. and we WILL become. If we want to become like the Lord than we must be under his influence as much as possible. Where can we feel his influence the strongest. In our temples, chapels, and homes. The 3 most sacred places on this earth. I feel axious to return to the temple. We go every 3 months. in about 3 weeks i will be able to go again. Well, this week i finally finished the Book of Mormon. I didn't finish in 75 days or even close to it but i finished it and felt the spirit the whole way. I wrote my testimony in the blank pages afterwards: "Through the Book of Mormon my prayers have been answered. I felt that my mind has been quickened and claeared. For the people i loved, i suddenly felt the spirit guid my words to help them and my fingers to find the right pages for them. I felt and feel God speaking to me, Hermana Burrup, personally. ON my weakes days i felt him lft me up encourage me and give me strength. I felt His love as I read of His love and knew his words were not only for those of old but for me. One night as i struggled in prayer over my weaknessses i was filled with a hunger to read. God speaks through his scriptures and his prophets of old and present. Christ surely does live for he is my life light and he listenes. I love him dearly and will ever follow him i nthis life and the next. God be thanked by me and all who read the Book of mormon for Jesus Christ surely did come and by reading the book of mormon we surely will know him."  To myy dear family and everyone/anyone else willing to hear my testimony, THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE. it will teach us how to make and keep and strengthen the bonds of our covenants. strengthen our bonds to the Lord and our claim to his blessings. Dad, i always have known of your love for the scriptures. Countless times i saw you reading in the dark of the night in your chair or your office or beside your computer. I remember them at your office at work in your car. I know you love the scriptures. Thank you for teaching me that! Yesterday we spoke with the excellent stake president here, President Steadman. He took his neighbor to see his office and to see what he does on sunday. Everytime i see him i think about you and your tireless service. He reminds me of you.  This work is real. The Lord is real. His blessings are real. We are important and This message is urgeant may we each tirelessly share it and be unite in our purpose as we make our purpose the Lord's purpose. What is an instrument? an instrument has 1 purpose. Each one has it's own. What kind of instrument are we? are we His? and are we single in purpose? I love you dearly! thank you for you prayers. I fasted that the Lord will help me focus and help me show faith. please pray for me as well. I want to give the Lord the best of all I am. I love you! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- mom, home is wherever you are...don't stress about the house. it can be my winter job before school :) focus on christian and helping me in his preparation. No regrets in the mission are most often prevented by no regrets in preparation. and thanks for getting one last package off. we're excited already. love you!

Dear President,

This week i went on exchanges with Sister Smith. Sounds like their area has progressed a lot and that they are working hard. I am very grateful for Sister Smith's humility and goodness. As we talked one concern came to mind that i will likely address on my exchange with Sister Webb. I am simply concerned that the work and companionship may not be equally yoked. I plan to speak with sister webb a little bit about leadership skills and trainings given to trainers in effectlively teaching with 2 people and one voice. While with sister Smith we specifically worked on using members for finding and how to still provide a spititual experience for the members when a lesson is canceled. I was very impressed and pleased to see the work they are do. Here in Altavista, we are being bold with the investigators and members. We are expressing our love and testimonies as well. WE are struggling with our Ward mission Leader because of his unpredictable work schedule but are trying to work with him to have correlation each week. We also have plans to get a new ward mission plan going quickly. We have goals for the members and missionary work and are anxious to get them going. Thank you president! Hurrah For Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Sept 23

My Dear Family,

the Lord blessed us this week. We were able to get some really good work done. We are trying to get things organized with the ward mission plan to get family mission plans started because we really believe it will help the work move forward. We are usually 4 missionaries in the branch but one of the elders recieved his Visa and it's actually put the pressure on a bit because the other elder can't visit as many people and we've been asked to work with a lot of inactives. it's been a little bit of a balancing act but we just do our very best and try to grin the whole way through. Sister Jeronimo and I both studied Patience in PMG chapter 10 because we felt we both needed it. I enjoy serving with Hermana Jeronimo and wouldn't be surprised if we get to be together for 1 more transfer. She's so good good good through and through. I admire her a lot. She is also a convert and a very strong one at that. I am glad we can talk openly about what is most important to us. Well, Frankie's Baptismal date has been dropped we are going to help him choose his own baptismal date. He is enjoying the book of Mormon and excited to learn but we have struggled having lessons with him this week and still haven't taught the Word of Wisdom. We are anxious to keep contact with him so he feels strengthened and doesn't get discouraged by his family and work situations. Vanessa Mora is really progressing now. She really opened up this week. We had two lessons with her with good members to be her friends and we have another one planned for tonight. She loves the ideas of eternal families. She told us that she took her kids to the park right after our visit. She said the wind blew the leaves right in front of her and she felt really really good. She said she feels that the book of mormon is true when she reads and that she feels different when we are there. She is really sensitive to the spirit. She opened up with her doubts and expressed her fear of marital problems if she gets baptized and her questions about rules. She is so sweet and when we are teaching by her face we can see she is hungry for truth. We love our lessons with her. I am also loving my studies. I felt the spirit strongly this week as i was reading in the scriptures. For example today in Ether 12 8 and 9 it talks about being partakers of the heavenly gift. I love that. a heavenly gift. The greatest heavenly gift we can recieve is eternal life but up until this point, the greatest heavenly gift the world has ever recieved is Jesus Christ. I beleive there are many heavenly gifts we can recieve in preparation to recieve the greatest of all heavenly gifts. How i love the Lord and i know he desires to bless us. I know this is his work. he is all around us in this work. Preparing before us then following afterwards the traces, tracks and footprints we leave on the hearts of the people by sharing simple testimony. Testimony really goes a long long way. I am trying to testify more than just teach and include the saviour in every principle i teach. It really does teach what President Stapleton taught me at my setting apart. All things testify not only that there is a God but that God is a loving heavenly father who wants his children to come back. i love you family and am grateful for you. May the lord always bless you and us in our steps and goals. Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Dear President,

How the week flies by. We have been trying to work with the members and had a meeting with our Ward mission leader about the importance of a Ward mission Plan. We are hoping to meet with him this week to set it up then present it to the branch president so that we can get going on Family mission plans based on the ward mission plan. We have a lot of goals for the area and believe it has a lot of potential if we can better coordinate the efforts and get the members excited about the the work. My companion is doing well and i've been impressed with her willingness to step up and lead the area. This week i went on an exchange with Sister Nieto. I went to her area and was able to  work with her. I specifically worked with her on the importance of how to begin teaching to help investigators progress or discern the need to drop. She is so good and does want to work hard  thanks president! i look forward to Zone conference soon! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Sept 16

My dear Family,

What a great week! We really did work hard. I was really feeling in the gutter at the beginning of this week. trying to convince myself not to be discouraged even though i was frustrated. Sister Jeronimo really pulled me through this week and helped me be positive, faithful, and encouraging. There was a series of blessings and miracles that the Lord gave us this week. for starters, The fireside with Elder Andersen was outstanding! It was highly focused on the power of the atonement of jesus Christ to perfect us not just clean us. He taught us to, "make jesus christ a part of our nature not just our behaviour." he said " Jesus christ will claim us as his to the same level we will clame him throughout our lives." " don't just believe in God but know him!" afterwards in my journal i wrote, "My testimony today was not found it was confirmed. Elder andersen testified of Jesus Christ. I know Jesus is real and he is my brother. I love him. I am changing and oh so weak but trying desperately to make me, Him...and My will, His." As i sat listening to Elder andersen, learning from him and his deep knowledge of the scriptures, my testimony was confirmed and reconfirmed. I know that a testimony is a constant work. It requires the Prime of our life and the prime of our day and the prime of our very selves. May we give the Lord our very best selves. my Prime self. Someone i've never been before. Sister Jeronimo and i have a new motto as of last night: We are doing good but we can do better. That is our goal and our work. Be beter by diligently working to become like the Savior.

To tell you briefly of the investigators, Frankie told us last night that he knows the book of mormon is true. Sister Jeronimo and I couldn't believe it! He has been calling us and asking us to  meet with him that same day if possible. How the Lord has changed him. Humility and hunger burn in his countenance. We left him reading the Book of mormon last night and he called 30 minutes later to share what he read. He is progressing but still has a few big obstacles. Word of Wisdom, family, and fear of failing. Please pray for him. The Lord helped us find 2 new families as well. Cesar from saturday was also baptized on Saturday. It was a blessing to be at his baptism and see his enthusiasm for the work. 

The work is moving forward. I love being a missionary and i love sharing my testimony. Elder andersen said that His personal goal for every every contact he has with anyone is to build their faith so that little by little they may be prepared for the gospel. Let your conversations and minds and words and works be directed to the Lord always and the Lord will help you be his hands. I love you all!

Love

hermana Burrup

ps- Jon and Nicole, Congrats on the girl! i loved the pictures!

Dear President Neider,

How about that for an incredible experience with Elder Andersen! I loved it. This week started out very rough. We had splits set up and lessons and everything fell through. Sister Jeronimo and I talked together one night about faith and she really just built me up and helped me feel that i CAN have faith to bring miracles and blessings to the people here. She is so so wonderful. I really have loved serving with her. Her goodness radiates in her testimony, smile, and laugh. She is very dedicated to the Lord and His work. I love my companion! Well, even with a rough start to the week, when we fight through, the blessings come. Our member present lessons were low but we did work hard and had many planned. This week we are going to work hard to keep the lessons on track and well planned and anticipated to see if we can prevent that. I felt the spirit strongly this week. In my personal prayer tuesday night, my personal study this week, sitting at the feet of an apostle of the Lord, and in a short lesson last night. President this is the Lord's work without a doubt. I know my days are numbered. i refuse to count them but I want to be perfected in Christ day by day. Little by little. My imperfections seem obvious as a I pray but i KNOW they can be changed. Thank you president for sharing your testimony and life with us missionaries. I love, admire, and respect the Neider family even without knowing all of you. May God always bless each you. Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- Exchanges planned for this week and 12 week program is going great. We are really enjoying it! :

Sept 9

My Dear Dear Family,

I have to say dear twice because it is true. My love for each of you has increased a lot as i've learned from your words and examples. My companion, sister Jeronimo is in a family of converts. She is so wonderful. We have a lot of fun together but we had a nice talk last night when all was done and said as we lied in bed sharing thoughts with each other. She simply said, "you have a good family," and when she said that the spirit really hit me and let me know how truly blessed i am. "because i have been given much I too much give." and i feel that the modified version might say, "because the Lord loves me he lets me give." Sister Rachel Miner sent me a quote from her mission president, "I am not on a mission because I love the Savior, I'm on a mission because He loves me." Really and truly, the Lord gives us the blessing and opportunity to serve him. It is a refining and smoothing process. Painful but perfect in it's simple dependence on our personal diligent efforts and submissiveness to the Lord. Tomorrow Elder Anderson comes to speak to 500 plus missionaries. Sister Jeronimo and I are going to fast and are so excited to be there. We love doing this work and even more together!

Well, just to mention a few miracles of this week. Frankie is slowly opening and changing. He wants to read the book of mormon. We taught the gospel of jesus christ last night because he wanted to meet. He had a cigarrette behind his ear the whole lesson so we will be teaching the Word of wisdom this week. Pray for us. His name is frankie martinez.  Also, Rodrigo is a Recent Convert. He had an accident and was in the hospital. my companion was inspired to visit him. We knocked and he simply came to the glass door of his trailor and stared at us and left. We were concerned, said a prayer and felt impressed to sing hymns. Honestly, we felt flat out dumb....it's not even december to confuse with christmas caroling. He hid from us but we saw his shadow and know he was listening to our off tune singing outside his door. He texted us later that night and were able to make an appointment for him to recieve a priesthood blessing. His wife is near death to cancer in another state and his family is falling apart but he loves dearly the book of mormon and the church. The Lord always help. Those were just a few of the miracles this week. there were many more. Thank you for your love and support! I love you much much much!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- christian, Elder Nortin ate dinner with a member in our branch on saturday....that was crazy.... you have a moped? and why did you wake him up so early? and did you really have 4 girlfriends? and good work in your calling. He had a lot of good to say about you. A little blessing from heaven to hear about your goodness from him. Keep on preparing. I love you and can tell you are changing. The temple does that and so does the spirit when felt daily and moment by moment.

Dear President Neider,

We saw miracles this week! Just simple little things that obviously show that this is the Lord's work and he has i all planned out perfectly. Blessing from good helpful members and their efforts as well as blessings brought by the spirit. President, i love this work so so much. My mom wrote in her email to me, "enjoy the sprint," and I really am trying to get my head, heart, and body on the same page to do that.  I'm trying to forget all else and be the best companion, member, missionary, and friend to all of the Lord's children. I am still not done with the Book of Mormon but i'm getting there. My testimony has been confirmed and strengthened. I love the Lord's written words, and His living words through prophets and apostles and through His spirit. How he love His children! God be thanked that we are so privileged to be a part of his work! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Sept 2

My excellent family!

I think so often about our family goal to be EXCELLENT! i think we are little by little getting there as we each progress in the gospel with covenants and goals and sacred experiences. We'll get there as a family eventually! :) Well, i loved the emails mom and dad. you are both so thoughtful of me and i know you work hard and think lots about what to write. I hope you know that your emails are a source of revelation for me and that they have blessed me a lot. Dad, i don't know if you remember me saying this to you but it still stands. When you were in the middle of your cancer scare one of my biggest worries was missing out on YOU. i told you that i didn't want to miss out on you being at my graduation or my sealing, or my this or that and in that list i said i didn't want to miss out on your letters to me as a missionary. Thank you for taking the time to write me each week. i feel your prayers, and fasts, and love each week and it motivates me and gives me faith to keep on keeping on. I write quotes from your emails in my planners. thank you thank you thank you!

Well, it was a good week. Tansfers are tomorrow and i get to stay with sister jeronimo here in altavista! i'm glad we get to be together still. The only bummer i have about transfers is that one of the sisters i get to go on exchanges with, sister veazey, was called as a sister training leader which means i am not going to get to go on exchanes with her anymore but it's ok. I went on a few exchanges this last week and loved it!!!! it was a very positive experience and is always an invitation from the spirit to work hard everyday on an exchange or not. in my area or not. at the gas station at the store....everywhere! It's so fun to be a missionary. The funny things that happen are great but what is best are the miracles. The stake president here, president steadman said something like, "one of the biggest complaints from the youth in our stake is that they want to hear more of their parents mission experiences. What kind? not the funny stories but the spiritual moments." It's true. Kids love hearing the mission stories of their parents and siblings. i still remember one of janae's emails. i loved it because all she said was mission stories and mission moments that encouraged me. Thanks janae. Well, getting to the point. i love my life! yesterday i fasted for 2 things. the first was a companionship fast for frankie. his grandparents are really impededing his progress. they won't let him go to family home evening anymore and maybe not church either. They are threatening to kick him out of the house as well and so he's having trouble progressing. he hasn't been reading the book of mormon, we think because he is scared they will see it. but he came to a baptism and finally prayed. it's hard for him to pray. he even volunteered. So keep him in your prayers as well. As for the second fast, it's more personal to me and i find it embarrassing honestly but i was praying and fasting that the Lord would give me faith and strength to think more positively and know that i'm supposed to be here in altavista. This is considered a "hard area" because people are really rude to us here. it's hot and we're sweaty and we smile and testify from our hearts are persistent and give our best and they don't care. i was trying hard to push negative thoughts out of my mind to make sure not to get discouraged because it will weaken my faith. I know fasting brings power. The gospel is true and i feel a new brightness and hope for the future after having fasted yesterday.

Well, as for stake conference this saturday, what a great opportunity! I wish i could hear your talks or translate them maybe :) we did the translation for stake conference and it was hard! but it was good. What a neat topic you have! a few things came to mind right away and i'll just share a few thoughts. I don't know if it is world wide or just las vegas but lots of people who have their mission calls and are waiting to go have become temple workers here in las vegas. Why? Well, temple prep and mission prep are the same. just a few comments or personal discoveries. i feel that at least for me personally, i never could have really understood my temple covenants without  having served a mission. speaking of me personally. It has opened my mind to understand what it really really means to give the Lord ALL holding back nothing, and putting everything on the altar even my agency to a degree. When i put my agency on the alter it means i am giving the Lord my will/ not just doing what he wants but forgetting my own because HIS will is literally and absolutely what i desire. Well, i love that! As for mission prep, my favorite quote is from elder bednar saying, "the best way to prepare to be a missionary is to start being one." The temple focuses us on the eternal significance of what we know and gives us the faith to share it with more power. Why do we go to the temple? to learn but why learn? well, to then take it home with us and share it with our families and all we love! The temple and missionary work are woven together in the purpose of the God himself. What a blessing to be able to be a part of both. The gospel is so related from one thing to the next. Let the gospel take part in EVERY aspect of our lives without fail.

I love you so so much and am grateful again for you. May God bless you and guide you in his work and in your efforts!

ps- sister jeronimo really wanted me to say thank you to you for fasting for her as well. She is so the sweetest in the world and grateful for everything! i want to be more like her....by the way, thank you from me too! :) 

Dear President Neider,

it was a good week. We worked hard and i'm really proud of sister jeronimo. We actually had 2 exchanges this last week. We had planned them two different weeks but they preferred it this way so we worked it out. with the change of plans and some prayers sister jeronimo ended up staying in the area both times. I felt that when i came back this last saturday night she had more confidence. She was glowin with good news and she's really involving herself more. I'm so glad to be with her another transfer!

Well, to report on the exchanges. First i was with sister veazey, she is on fire there in east and working hard. She is enthusiastic and organized in her work and has a never ending faith filled optimism. She will be a great leader this transfer. For the training portion we worked on planning with the area book specifically and then simple training on being  bold and persistent but loving in street contacts. We also were albe to give a restoration lesson and evaluated afterwards the points of the restoration as explained in chapter 1 of Preach my gospel. I felt like we both left having felt the spirit, worked hard, and learned a lot. She is great!

The second exchange was with sister Parkinson. She is also an incredibly humble sister with her purpose clear. She didn't waste time in the lesson at all but boldly helped the investigators see the importance of book of mormon. I liked her focus on the book of mormon a lot. We trained each other specifically on importance of punctuality getting out of the apartment on time. We were 15 minutes late getting out and so we took 15 minutes out of lunch to make sure we weren't losing a minute of proselyting. We also worked on talking to everyone and the importance of personal experience and testimony in helping the investigators, "recognize us as true representatives of christ" Great sister with tons of potential and already doing good work! 

thanks for everything you do president. We love you and are so happy we get to be hear serving beside you! may God bless you and your wife! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Aug 26

My dear dear family,

Sounds like it was an exciting week at home. I loved receiving pictures and good news from you.  I feel lifted up by your words and prayers and i feel motivated to keep working and work harder when i know that there are so many praying that i will and needing me to give my all. So we keep keep going. I have come to love this area as well. It is small but the members are good and want to work. We have a new Ward mission leader. He is new in the Ward and actually is just reactivating. He is enthusiastic about the calling and has good ideas to help us. We are kind of in training mode right now to help him understand the organization of the church and his role. His name is Hermano Pulido. We are still working with Frankie and have a lesson tonight with him. He is pretty hung up on the idea of Joseph smith but a member has invited him to watch the video with their family tonight. We are sure it will help him and motivate him to have the courage to pray and read. I mentioned the husband of an investigator in my email to president but i wanted to tell you the story. He is a new investigator this week. Maybe a month ago we received a referral for Evelyn, john's wife. She lives kind of far away so we called. She didn't want anything. We called  another week later and still didn't want anything and made it a little more obvious so we asked if we could just drop off a booklet with her. She agreed. We went and asked if we could come in an explain the booklet to her. She reluctantly agreed because her 3 year old daughter was inviting us in already. We taught her our primary message, the restoration and she still was closed but as we were leaving her husband came in and kindly said they weren't very interested but we were always welcome in their home. Together sister Jeronimo and I decided that we would go back to teach him the restoration to see if there was any way they would open their hearts to really pray about it.  Their phone ended up being shut off. As got in the car at 8 pm we knew we would probably only be able to visit one more person. We prayed with faith and felt to go back to john and Evelyn. When we went back john opened the door and said, "i was really didn't want to lose contact with you please come in." We were kind of confused but as the visit continue because of the example of the members in his group of friends, He decided to read the book of Mormon. He had already read the first 8 chapters along with all the introductory pages beforehand. He had questions and said, "i want to learn from a Mormon, what this is really all about it. I just want to understand the words and will of Christ." Evelyn is in school so she is very busy. She was kinder this time but still unsure about having us in her home. Diligence goes far. When we are diligent we show out faith and we show our testimony to other that we KNOW they want it and need it. It would have been easy to drop her after the first phone call and frankly it is tempting at times to be lazy or slack because of fears of offending or making others uncomfortable but our love for the Lord is stronger. Sister Neider said in a training this week, "why not do what you were sent here to do." it is so simple but it is true. every time we open our mouths, we are really opening ourselves to receive more of the spirit because it is an act of faith and obedience. Why not actually do what i said i would actually do. The blessings are unmeasurably greater than the small and insignificant risk there is. They do not even compare. It is only the intelligent thing to do to be obedient despite our natural selves, desires, selfishness, and pride. I believe the key to discipleship is discipline. I know that this is true. I feel it is true and it makes me happy and it increases my faith. That is the power of the book of mormon, prayer and church attendance combined with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. I love you all. Christian, keep preparing. don't lose your focus and remember your purpose. Preach my gospel teaches us that prospective missionaries should be a source of finding. Let everyone in the whole world know that you are serving the Lord and it will open the doors to missionary opportunities.

All my love

Hermana Burrup

ps- Elder anderson is coming in 2 weeks. Can't wait! 

Dear President Neider,

The Lord blessed us a lot with finding this week but we struggled with our lessons with members. I really want to reach our goal, do my part, be an example, really help and prepare the people, but most of all obey and please the Lord. Elder Johnson offered some suggestions during the call-in report last night that we'll try out. I want to be a more effective missionary and eliminate any excuse or disruption. In regards to the blessings we have received in the finding part of the work, it is a simple blessing of diligence. We were blessed with a family, a couple and now an investigators husband is listening. I know that the Lord is blessing them with the opportunity to hear the fulness of the gospel. Each is already a religious family but has expressed the desire to follow the savior. Also, stake conference was great yesterday. Thank you President and Sister Neider for your words. We love you! To finish off, i went on an exchange with Sister Parkinson this week. I learned from her to be more diligent in street contacts even in a business or store like setting. She's a hard worker with great intentions. I think the main training portion of the exchange was on testifying always. She agreed to work on testifying, even if it is 1 sentence, EVERY street contact. We also worked on using members for finding and although we didn't have splits planned for the exchange, i showed her how to plan splits to get more work done. i do think she is working hard to do her best. We were able to see miracles. and had a very positive experience. Thanks again president, we love you and your wife a lot and appreciate you!  Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Aug 19

Family Family Family,

It's been warm but our district leader, elder Johnson left us the suggestion last sunday to get out and walk more. We set the day and went. It's hot and it's easy to just drive from one appointment to another or one potential to another but this week we walked. It was actually pretty fun. One elder said, "if you aren't happy, just go outside and open your mouth and you will be happy." and it's true. Sister Jeronimo is so so sweet. Afterwards with her optimism showed as she vibrantly exclaimed, "Wow, that was fun! Let's walk everyday!" She is so flat out good. I love her lots. For her if you could just pray that she will have courage and confidence to teach, testify, and participate in every lesson. She is a little shy because of her english. Her english is very good but she doesn't believe me. :) 

Well, speaking of the work, there are all kinds of good things happening! For starters, I went to Gabriela Jimenez' baptism on Saturday. We worked a lot with her in Sunrise and she finally was able to get there. The sisters dropped her after i left but were diligent in getting her to church. Revelation comes at church. There in the chapel we feel the spirit and it guides us and changes are desires. So that was really excited. Also, we had an amazing lesson with Frankie! I talked about in my letter to president. For him the spirit is huge. He was finally able to feel it strongly and committed to be baptized on september 28. We have a lot of preparing to do with him. He is a heavy smoker and his friends are important to him. His grandparents are against the church completely so we can't knock on his door. all the lessons are at the church or in member's homes.  He has a lot of integrity and knows he needs to follow the answers he receives. That is why he is scared of getting answers. Please pray for him to have courage. We also contacted some potentials and found the husband at home. Just last night he bombarded us with so many questions. They were great questions! We are excited to start teaching him. The work is moving forward and we love it. The spirit is strong and the people are prepared. We just hav eot guide them to their answers in the book of mormon, at church, and in prayer. 

I know the church is the church of Christ. I didn't realize how often the book of mormon throughout each book talks about the liahona. In alma 37:40 I learned a lot. Miracles do happen!, I read it, "according to their faith....it was done...day by day." or "according to their faith, miracles were wrought, day by day." Not a day need go by without miracles or without participating in his work and living our testimony by sharing it. I love this work and i love the Lord. We are excited to see the miracles day by day this week according to our faith. Take care and thank you for your love and support!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Dear President Neider,

What a week?! We saw a definite miracle with an investigator this week named Frankie. He was actually a Christian missionary in El Salvador so he has had some different questions than we are used to but we just study lots follow the spirit and invite members and it goes well. The miracle was simply that he could feel the spirit. He said, " i felt something i haven't felt in a long time...since i was walking with god in El Salvador." he has a lot of regrets since he came here and fell into his old life. He is scared of answers and scared of change because he is scared of failing. We are working with him but so excited for the progress he is making. We are trying to work more with members and trying to be more supportive by having more contact with them.  We also did an exchange this week. i was with Sister Webb in Warm springs. It was a positive experience and she is working hard. They have good teaching opportunities and they are doing well at keeping the area book updated. Sister Webb is an effective teacher and very sincere in her testimony. She's doing great and we learned a lot. Thanks for all you do president. We love you and your wife! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Aug 12

My dear dear family,

How are you? I was so excited to get the good news about jon and nicole and the pregnancy! Can't wait for the two of you. You will be excellent parents. 

Well, to tell you a little about the work in altavist, this has been a little bit of a strange week. We've had a lot of meetings this week so sister Jeronimo and I just felt restless to work. We just wanted to get out and go to work. So this week we will work hard to catch up on lost time. We are trying to get things moving now. We know the people and we are just trying to push the work forward. We had a few lessons with members this week and more than anything felt the great need to train the members. President Neider taught us that our job is to find on our own but more than anything to train the members in their missionary efforts to find and support the investigators already present. There are few spanish people in this area so when there are lessons the members get really excited. They are so willing to let us teach their homes, to come to lessons, sit with them at church, invite them....anything they will do. We are trying to be supportive of them and their efforts but to teach them to humbly testify in a loving way that won't be taken incorrectly. To teach them their role to testify in lessons. We had a lesson with frankie this week and struggled teaching because the member was so excited to share her testimony. We have some ood plans in how to better organize and coordinate the lessons between the members and us so that we are all prepared and know what the point and end goal of the lesson is. Please pray for us that we can be effective teachers and trainers in missionary work. President neider said that we are simply the missionary specialists but that the members should be the source of people to teach and homes to teach in. We want covenant keeping homes to teach in he said. despite the less than ideal lesson with frankie he was anxious to come to church yesterday and even brought his friend. If a desire to share the gospel is an indicator of the personal conversion of the members than it certainly would be as well for the investigators. Frankie is our main focus right now because he is progressing most. He has a lot of good questions that honestly are hard to answer but we study it out and the Lord helps us. 

We are also working with family history and temple work for the recent converts in the area. Rodrigo Reyes was baptized about a month before we got here. He has his own manuals now and said he stayed up until 1 just reading and reading and reading. People like him are out there that simply want and are looking for the gospel. The members will lead us to their doors and homes. I'm excited to get going and to start family mission plans in this branch as well. 

I'm still trying to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the transfer. I'm behind but getting better. this week i woke up with an anxiousness to read. An excited to read. The book Of mormon is true and i know and feel the blessings it brings. I am coming to know my savior better and better with each day of reading. Never let a day pass by without the power of the book of mormon. Christian, the book of mormon is the most powerful tool in conversion but also in temple and mission prep. Learn it, study it, and feast upon it. I love you so much!

I'm doing well, trying to stay positive, and absolutely focused. Thank you for your love and prayers,

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- mom, in regards to school, i just need to know when sign ups are for classes next winter so i don't miss it. As for the flights and all, i'm game for anything at all. As soon as it's for sure, sister royal and you will work out the details. She said that you will probably buy my ticket and then the church would reimburse you but that they would need the details probably sooner rather than later. Thanks for working things out and sorry i'm not more of a help.  the office number is 702-794-0365

Dear President Neider,

Thank you for you wonderful counsel and encouraging words at interviews. I think every time we get the opportunity to see you and your wife we walk away motivated by the spirit to work hard and show our faith to the Lord.  Thank you for living worthy of the Spirit. Well, We are planning 2 exchanges this week to get caught up a little and we're really excited to learn from other sisters. We are excited to be in this area and are trying to constantly show our faith. I feel bad that we aren't contributing 10 LTMs to the mission each week but we are trying to show faith that we can get there as we diligently work. Finding has been the biggest problem. Elder Johnson kindly indicated a few ways we could work on finding and we will follow in faith. We're excited to see what miracles the Lord has prepared. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the Lord. I Love his work and his children. May God bless others by blessing us in this work! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup