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

Aug 5

My dear family, 

I think the weeks always get better when you work. Sister Jeronimo and I are feeling much more confident now that we are starting to meet the members. I feel like we still don't know very many people at all but when we go throught the directory, i think it is just that there aren't a lot of members. The branch is so cute though. They help out a lot and are so willing to help. As a mission we fasted to get 10 lessons with members in preparation to receive Elders Callister and Anderson. We are going to act in faith and start by bringing 10 members with us with or without lessons set and planned. This week we took with us a recent convert, Hermana Barragan out to contact people from the potential list in the area book. It was such a neat experience. We saw a man outside so we, "pulled over to get directions" and he was actually the person we were looking for. Turns out he was a referral from the stake president a year ago and they could never get in contact with them. We had a short lesson and then set another appointment to go back. We are excited for the appointment this tuesday. Their names are Carlos and Maria. They actually remind me a lot of you mom and dad :)

We went to a mission call opening this week for stephanie pecjak. Their home is the second mission home of Las Vegas. They are such a neat family. Frankie was excited to go as well. Frankie said he wants to serve a mission. We told him he needs to be baptized first. Honestly we haven't taught him any of the lessons yet. His grandparents won't let us into their home so we have to organize it at a members' home. His phone is disconnected right now so we are struggling get in contact with him. please pray for him and his sister yoselin. She wants to listen but she is a minor and doesn't have permission. They are a sweet family.

We also had a new investigator Manuel. We taught him the first lesson and it went really well. He really needs the gospel and seems to have a lot of potential.  Unfortunately, That night he called us 13 times and many times the next day and apparently He really wants to date my companion so we sent the elders. We are kind of bummed but please pray that he will recieve the elders as well. 

Rodrigo Reyes is a recent convert. Taught and baptized while Hermana Oyanedel was here. He is so full of faith and zeal for the gospel. He paid his first fast offering yesterday. He lives in a trailer alone with his son. his wife is in california with cancer in her stomache. He has so much faith and is so simply good. 

We are working hard and contacting as many people as we can. We are trying to testify with all our heart and often. I love the savior so very much and know that it will bless anyone who is humble enough to receive it including me. I feel that i have much to change but am grateful for the many blessings the Lord has given me. I'm behind in my Book of Mormon reading but oh how i love the Book of Mormon. i was touched by alma 15:18. We always think of ammon and amulek as the unstoppable firm missionary companionship but this scriptures simply taught me that in every companionship we must strengthen and love our brother. I want to help all those around me including poor sister Jeronimo who has to live with me and be with me all day every day. 

We also had mission leadership council this week. i loved it. I think the highlight for me ws sister Neider's quote, "include the savior as we commune together." it was powerful. How i love the leaders in this mission and see and feel their love for the Savior. I am anxious to do the Lord's work and do it well!

I love you! Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

Dear President Neider,

I think I'm the most blessed sister in the mission to be with Hermana Jeronimo. She is so sweet and simply want to do what's right. She full of integrity and does everything with faith. This week we made a theme for our companionship based on 2 miracles we saw. We decided that we can't pray that people will open their doors to us then walk to the door doubting. That is not faith. We have o expect the miracles. Twice we prayed and decided they would be home expecting the miracle and exercising our faith. Both cases we had been told they were hard to contact but the Lord provided. Our theme is, "faith moves mountains... and doors." it sounds better in spanish but we have fun with it. I really feel humbled by the opportunity to serve with a new missionary and specifically Hermana Jeronimo. I believe that New missionaries bring new faith and new faith brings new miracles to any area they serve in. Right now we are trying to meet all the members and investigators still but we are almost there. We are excited to see the Lord's miracles this week. Hurrah for Israel!

Love

Hermana Burrup

ps- THANK YOU!