Singing up a storm

Picture courtesy of Margaret 10/10/10

Here is a little snipit of what Sister Burnham had to say:

Mom, I have not received any letters that you said would come from you and dad. And Thanks for the thankful list I was really touched. You reminded me, so I told the members of my relief society that I dance and that the Christmas Program coming up is something I participated in a couple of years ago. They liked that. And they found out I can sing. So I am singing on Dec 12th I am still a social butterfly here. Before Sacrament meeting I am getting to know the members and trying to plan appt with them. You will be really proud of me. Dad I am getting every ones last name down!

So I received a blessing yesterday. I was told in the blessing to read more scriptures, allow others to exercise their agency, and to work on being unified with my companion. So pray that I can do that! I also need to work on testifying in our lessons.

I read the letter you sent to Sister Cantey! (She is a lady in the ward that went on spits with Brianne and they wrote home to tell my parents all about Brianne and how great she is doing!!!)That was so sweet of her to write you Mom! I am singing up a storm here, and loving every minute.

I love you,

Sister Burnham

4 words...

The last letter from Sister Burnham could be summed up into 4 words

I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She is working hard and loving the people.

Goals!

Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 8:11:45 AM
Subject: Re: :-)

Dear Family,

My goals for this week are: Read scriptures while driving to apts. Memorize one a day. Invite everyone we testify to to be baptized. Study recognizing the Holy Ghost. And pay attention to where I am.

MOM CAN YOU SEND ME A GPS?????? WE CAN USE THEM NOW! THAT WOULD BE THE BEST EVER!

This last week was great, yet we had a bad attendance number this Sunday.
My first Zone Conference was a blast. I learned that relationships with others are hard to build because you are meeting so many people a day and I can't get their names straight. The more time I spend with them, the more I see how God sees them...

I am treasuring up the scriptures more...

I love this work and will finish strong!

Teaching with the Spirit and keeping warm :)

Sent: Monday, November 8, 2010 7:59:26 AM

Subject: Re: Hi from Home! :-)

Hello,

Since I am new in the field I bet you are wondering how I am adapting to Monroe. That is my first area. The missionaries say it is the teaching area. You teach more lessons than other areas.

I got to the airport. I gave a pass along card to Willie... I went to the Mission Home and ate dinner. It felt like they knew me already. We had a scripture lesson held by President Holmes and then I went to another missionaries apt. to sleep. I then went back to the Holmes to have breakfast and study with President Holmes and the other Elders. We discussed how we should teach and used a lot of scriptures one after another. I brought up how we persuade others by using the Book of Mormon. I felt special because he then focused on my comment the rest of the time. We then went to the church and had a training meeting and I met my companion Sister Corbridge. We hit it off great. Now we are as close as ever and teaching with the Spirit.

Well, I am doing okay. We have investigators with baptismal dates that were in motion before I got to the area. So that made it easy for me to go right in to teaching other lessons.

...I was amazed how small the ward is. But that means it can just get bigger. I am implementing music when we teach less-active members. I can see that softening hearts already.

This winter will be cold for me. And I do not have everything I need so today I will buy a winter coat, boots, wool socks, sweaters, and a hat. Hopefully that will be enough to keep me warm.
Sister Corbridge is worried she does not explain things to me very well. She does, I am just a complicated person to understand. But she did tell me that she likes teaching with me, because we teach more by the spirit. Like the spirit is more concentrated in the homes. That made me feel good. I have to learn the doctrine.
My planner is still not filled with thoughts like I thought it would be, so I am working on that. I am praying specifically for things whenever I pray. I just want to stay humble and not get a head of myself when I pray. Sometimes I have to sit in silence or pray for a while until I feel the spirit. Sister Corbridge probably thinks I pray too long.
The apt. smells better than the outside smoky smell. Ugh, I will be coming home smelling like smoke. That bad kind of smoke.

My biggest goal everyday is that I will finish strong! So I ask you, will you pray for me and Sis. Corbridge to FINISH STRONG? If you do I know that we will! And you will know by the Holy Ghost if we are.

I feel HIS love.

Love,

Sister Burnham

Monroe, Michigan

Sister Burnham arrived in Michigan on November 1st, excited but tired from her long trip from Utah. Her companion is Sister Corbridge. She is from Ogden UT.

She sent a little email when she got in.
"i am excited to teach. We have seven new Referrals so i am excited to teach about faith and the plan of salvation. talk to ya on Monday. That is my P-day. mom i got the package thank you!"

Love,

Sister Burnham

FINISH STRONG!

This is an email from a couple serving in the mission.

Brother and Sister Burnham,

We are so honored to have your daughter in our home for safe keeping and a good night’s sleep. She must be mighty tired but still has so much energy and radiance.

We are blessed to have her here and we will have our eye out for her when we attend mission firesides etc. Elder and Sister Ray from the mission office are in our apartment complex just downstairs and they will be taking her to the mission home in the morning for breakfast. The Ray’s will always keep us aware of where your daughter is assigned. She is so adorable.

Elder Hoopes and I are serving two years here in the Detroit Michigan Mission having come from Tempe, Arizona.

Thank you for another blessing in our lives.

Sister Burnham is serving in Monroe, Michigan which is only an hour and 15 minutes from Jennilyn and her family. We are uplifted from her letters and emails. Like always only happiness from our Brianne!