Sister Burton Takes on Anaheim!: Week 27: "They think I'm an old man. I'm actually Superman in retirement"

^^Something an 83 year old man said in his testimony yesterday....love it!

HELLO LOVELY PEOPLE! Wow, this week has been amazing! Truly the Lord is hastening His work here in Yorba Linda! We've seen so many blessings and wonderful things happen!

~Last Monday, we stopped by a former investigator's house (who actually no longer lives there). We've been trying to reach the woman that lives there now, Eleanor. We chatted with her for a few minutes Monday and at the end of the conversation, SHE set up the return appointment. She asked us to come by the next day and we could share more of our message with her!
We went by Tuesday and had an AMAZING lesson with her. She is the BIGGEST Donny Osmond fan I've ever met. She was wearing a Donny t-shirt, drinking from a Donny water bottle, the whole sha-bang. She told us how she always goes to his concerts. She was so cute! She said she knows quite a bit about our religion, since she reads the things Donny and Marie post about their faith. She is practicing a different religion right now, but she loves to learn more about God and tries to apply that knowledge in her everyday life. We taught her the Restoration and the Spirit was SO strong! She committed to read from the Book of Mormon and we'll be seeing her again soon! She most definitely is prepared, even though she might not recognize it yet ;) We have Donny Osmond to thank for being such a wonderful member missionary!

~This past week we got to decorate a member's Christmas tree! It was a BLAST! We love the Olive family! Their son is currently serving in Malaysia (where Sister Evali is from!). Sister Olive goes all out for her decorations, so we were happy to at least help with the tree. It helped it to feel a little more like Christmas and a little more like home :)

~We finally got a return appointment with a GOLDEN family that the missionaries have been trying to get in contact with for months! They were last taught about a year ago, but they've really wanted to learn more. We have a lesson scheduled with them tomorrow. We're SO excited!

~Last week, a lady literally walked into church, just to check it out. How do people do that!? First Jacob and Joey in Acacia Park and now Nora here in Yorba Linda?! She is very interested in different religions, so she just waltzed right into church. Well, best news is....SHE CAME BACK, yesterday! The ward members literally swarmed her. We could hardly get a word in! (haha). The members were so loving and inviting to her. Seriously, the Yorba Linda 4th ward is the best! Our meetings yesterday were so powerful too! The testimonies that were shared were fantastic! For Relief Society, we had a testimony/musical lesson focused on the Savior. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Nora said she loved the feeling she got there. She cried many times. She told us that she isn't looking to convert to any religion, but has just been looking for wonderful people to gather with. Well, she came to the right place!! She really has so much potential! We know she's felt the Spirit and now we just gotta let the Spirit work within her!

~We've been LOVING sharing the "Light the World" videos with EVERYONE that we meet! We just start talking about Jesus and most everyone will listen to what we have to say! It's wonderful getting to spread the love and joy of Christ with all we meet!

~This past week we reconnected with a former investigator who attended a Mormon funeral several years ago and was interested in learning more. Missionaries haven't been in contact with him for a long time, so we stopped by last week. He told us to come by Friday to share our video (Light the World). So,we did just that. We weren't exactly sure what to expect, but it was awesome! He met us on the porch and asked us, "What's up?" We weren't really sure how to take that. He said he read the pamphlet and he agrees. He believes in the gospel and he says he has that in his church. He asked, "What more do you have to offer?" We explained more of the Restoration and how the important thing is the priesthood! (let me tell you, porch step lessons aren't ideal. It always feels slightly rushed and it can definitely be hard to feel/hear the Spirit there. BUT you try your best). He said, "Well, I believe in the gospel. I'm good!" Right when I thought we lost him, I asked, "What if there was more, Darrel?" He paused for a minute and said, "Well, then I would consider it." WHAT? YES. We set up a time to come back this next Friday to answer his questions and to better teach him about the Restoration. He DEFINITELY has potential! Even though we didn't know what to expect going into it, the Spirit certainly was felt and led that discussion! Stay tuned on Darrel!

Testimony:
This past week in our District Meeting we talked about the Book of Mormon and how IMPORTANT it is in our own conversion and in our teaching. It was perfect, because just a few days prior, I was thinking how I really need to use the Book of Mormon more when I teach. As we sat around, talking about the Book of Mormon, I got so excited! I LOVE the Book of Mormon! I have found so many answers to questions that I didn't even know I had. I have found peace and comfort in life's trials, which come to us all. There are many people we meet that reject the Book of Mormon. Heck, once someone told me to throw the book in the trash. Sometimes it's hard to hear people tear into the Book of Mormon, because this is a book I hold so dear to my heart. I was studying a talk from President Benson this past week and he said, "The Book of Mormon doesn't contain things that are pleasing to the world, so the world is not interested in it." That sunk deep. Not everyone is prepared at this moment to receive this book, because their hearts are not yet softened.
I know that the Book of Mormon is meant for US in this day! I'm grateful for the guidance we can receive from it everyday! I encourage you, if you aren't already, to STUDY the Book of Mormon each day. Don't read it. Study it. It will change your life, if you let it!

LOVE YOU ALL! Happy December! Keep "Lighting the World!" I've loved seeing it all!