Sister Burton Takes on Anaheim!: Week 20: Where There's Smoke, There's Fire!

Wow, it's already the middle of October?! Where the heck has the time gone? And we're already more than half way through the transfer. Time is flying!

In case many of you didn't hear, there was a brush fire in Anaheim Hills last Monday. Luckily, we were at home when the evacuation order came. The morning started off windy and the air was full of smoke. As soon as we were told to evacuate, we started making calls and packing up. We called Sister Golden and she said we could stay in the bungalow at the Mission Home. We packed up a few changes of clothes and our study materials and headed out. The drive to the mission home usually takes us 30 minutes, but the traffic was so bad it took us an hour and a half! We were at a stand still trying to leave our apartment complex. Then the smoke was billowing from the top of the hill and there were billions of fire trucks, police cars, and planes with hoses flying around. It was EXCITING! I was pumped for the adventure. This was Sister Evali's first evacuation!

By the time we arrived in Anaheim, the smoke had completely covered the sun and it was dark. It was a BAD fire. So, Monday night we helped out the missionaries in that area by visiting some less active members. It was SO much fun!! I loved getting to walk around the streets and talk to people. It reminded me of my time in Fullerton.

Tuesday morning, President Golden called our apartment complex and everyone was still evacuated. We spent our morning in the mission home doing our studies, service, and by the afternoon we were told we could go back! YAY! We left in the evening, after having dinner with the Goldens (which was so much fun!!) We found our apartment safe and sound! Many others didn't get back into the area until Wednesday night. What a fun experience! You know I had some good journal entries that day! We were just glad our apartment was safe. We heard there were 24 homes that were completely lost in the fire, 1 of the homes belonged to some members in our ward. The ward has really helped them out this past week, moving and cleaning things out. The family seems really positive about it all, which is amazing!

JOSHUA: Josh is someone we met in one of the more humble neighborhoods in Yorba Linda. We saw him outside one night last week, gave him a Book of Mormon, and set a time to come back. We taught him as soon as we got back into the area Tuesday. The lesson was so powerful! We planned on teaching Josh about the Restoration, but it wasn't going anywhere. He is a big talker and lots of the things he was saying referred back to the Plan of Salvation. Our lesson was all over the place, but we wanted to teach to HIS needs! I prayed constantly during that lesson, to be able to discern by the Spirit what he needed to hear. We talked about the Atonement and how we can live with our families again forever! I felt prompted to share the "Because of Him" video (which I recommend that EVERYONE watch!) The Spirit was super strong! Tears welled up in my eyes, which rarely happens to me in lessons. Josh is amazingly prepared and has so much potential! He doesn't really know how to read and we realized that we may need to take these lessons one principle at a time. But he is searching. Truly searching. We meet with him again this week!!

This week, the A10 ward had a Witches Night Out activity that we attended for a bit. We were able to mix and mingle. It was hard to recognize anyone because they were dressed up as witches. (haha) BOY, do they go all out for their activities!

OK OK, October 14th is an important date to remember (not only because it's Michelle's birthday! Shout-out!), but because NOLAN WAS BAPTIZED! Saturday morning, I leapt out of bed and couldn't stop from dancing and shouting that Nolan was getting BAPTIZED! I remember when Sister Greene and I extended this baptismal date to him and he was nervous about it for awhile, but he made it! Very rarely will someone keep the exact baptismal date that you originally extend.

I loved getting to see the Acacia Park ward members there, too! My heart was FULL of love! As soon as Brother Paddock stood up to begin the services, I started crying. Sister Greene and I looked at each other and couldn't stop smiling. Nolan was sitting there, in his white jumpsuit (and his black shoes and socks....I guess he didn't feel comfortable barefoot. (haha) I just couldn't handle it! I was able to give the talk on the Holy Ghost and was so honored that Nolan wanted me to do that. It was amazing to see how much Nolan has changed over the past two and a half months, since I first met him. Going to baptisms confirms to me that this gospel is TRUE! The Spirit is so strong and you know without a shadow of a doubt that this person is making the right decision! Many times throughout the service, Sister Greene and I would just start crying and squeeze each other's hands, because our hearts were SO FULL of joy!

Shelby, Nolan's daughter, even stood up and shared her testimony! She cried many times throughout the service. It was beautiful to see how touched she was! Shelby has been inactive all of her adult life and witnessing the growth of her testimony, while we were teaching Nolan in her home, has been beautiful! She is truly converted! The baptism was sooo amazing! Afterwards, Nolan said, "Thanks for being a part of my life now." My heart melted....Nolan is the BEST! He's one of the funniest, sassiest older men I've ever met!

TYLER: We taught Tyler again last night and he's solid. He's golden! We taught him about the Plan of Salvation and he had such deep questions. He's truly seeking! We were going to invite him to be baptized, but the lesson and conversation were just too much, but we most definitely will next time. We think we'll pass him on to the YSA elders though, because we think he'll be more comfortable there. But Tyler's so awesome!!

I'm so grateful for this gospel! I'm grateful that I'm able to share this wonderful message with my brothers and sisters in California. In church yesterday, some missionary parents shared their thoughts on missionaries (specifically their own) and it warmed my heart hearing about missionaries serving all over the world. As hard as it at times, I'm so grateful I listened to Heavenly Father and decided to serve a mission. I've learned a lot about myself, about this gospel, and especially about Jesus Christ! He truly IS the center of it all! He is the reason we have hope in the next life. He is the reason we can continually repent and come closer to God. I love my Savior and I most definitely would not be here if it wasn't for Him!

I hope you have a fantastic week! Stay positive! Look for the good in every situation! Heavenly Father loves you!

~~Sister Burton