Sister Burton Takes on Anaheim!: Week 31: "You wanna go to Disneyland?"

Wow, what a beautiful week here in Yorba Linda! Seriously. It's in the teens in PA and it's mild and beautiful here! California winters top any other state ;) This past week has been a really good one!

First off, on Wednesday, I had exchanges with sweet Sister Assis! We both realized that we looked familiar to each other. Then we discovered we had a New Testament class together during Sophomore year at BYU! Small world, huh!? We spent a lot of time doing service that day, but we still had a super amazing exchange miracle! We went to Friendly Village (of course) and decided to see a former that I've only briefly met twice. Well, she (Jill) talked to us for awhile! We talked about the temple, since we've been trying to invite everyone to the Grounds Tour next week. That then opened up several other questions and she started asking us about baptism and how that works in our church. She is SUPER open and really appreciates that missionaries go out from our church to share the word. It was such an amazing gospel conversation! As soon as we started talking about temples, we heard this REALLY loud man walking down the street towards us. I tuned him out, but he stopped in front of Jill's house and said, "What can a guy do with $5?!" Jill told him he could go to the .99 store and buy 5 things. Sister Assis and I kept looking at each other because we had no idea what was going on. Jill said some other things to him and then she said, "God Bless You!" The man replied with some colorful language, along with a "God Bless You." He then continued down the road with his Carls Jr food in hand, and yelling things at the top of his lungs. As he walked away we asked Jill if she knew him? She said, "I've never seen him before in my life." We DIED! What a miracle/funny experience!

That same day, I received a text from the Mission Office saying that I needed to call Nolan, the sweet man recently baptized in Acacia Park. I panicked when I read the text. I was hoping nothing was wrong with him. Then I thought maybe he was preparing for the temple and was wanting me to go too. Anyways, a million things were going through my head. Well, I called him later that evening and we chatted for a minute. Then he said, "...So you wanna go to Disneyland?" I laughed so hard. First off, I was glad everything was okay. Secondly, it was too sweet that he wanted to take me, Sister Greene, and Sister Goodwin to Disneyland. I told him I'm not able to go on my mission but that Sister Greene and I are already planning a trip back after our missions and we'd love to go then. It was such a tender phone call! He said he also wants to take us out for burgers,(haha). We're planning to go to Fullerton in 2 weeks on P-day to go to "In n Out" with precious Nolan! What a hoot and a half!

We've been tracting A LOT this week! More than I ever have before. We've sort of hit this point where we've tried everyone in our area book and are teaching those who are interested. Now, we're trying to build up the area book. We decided to tract ALL of Friendly Village and completed one of the streets this week. We've had some very interesting encounters so far, along with a MIRACLE.
-The other day was the first time I was asked about the magic underwear. The guy proceeded to pull out an anti book and tell us a few things. At the end of the conversation I thanked him for telling us what he THOUGHT we believed and allowing us to tell him what we actually believe. Safe to say, we're never going back to that house.
-Sister Jensen knocked on another door and randomly asked if Jimmy was home? The people said "Oh, he lives across the street!" We were both dumbfounded that a man named Jimmy actually lived across the street. Well, I went over and knocked on the door and asked for Jimmy. The lady who answered, went to get him. I slightly panicked because I told the lady we heard Jimmy talked with missionaries before and I just didn't know what to say if Jimmy actually came to the door. But alas, he was already in bed. We began talking with the lady, and mentioned some things about temples. She then said, "Oh, I'm a baptized member of your church. I used to attend the Spanish ward in Cerritos!" We were amazed! Her husband and children are not members and it sounds like it's been a long time since she's been to church. She was really open and nice and said we could come back. As we walked away, our jaws hit the ground. We realized that even if she was the only potential, after tracting the entire neighborhood, she would be worth it.

We've had a few lessons with our investigators this week, but its been slow progress with them. But slow progress is better than NO progress! We're just trying to reiterate our purpose as missionaries and help people to see that this gospel brings SO much joy!

And last night, we got to go to the Tolleys! They're a senior missionary couple from Montana who serve in the mission as the Vehicle Coordinators. They were so kind to take us, along with 8 other sisters, in for dinner. We made pizzas and enjoyed time getting to know them a little better! I wish I had taken a picture. Maybe my New Year's Resolution should be to take more pictures?

During our lesson the other night with Josh, we asked why he started meeting with us again? He had been taught 5 years ago, but wasn't feeling it. He told us, "You just have unique perspectives to all this. You've given me better answers than the people in the past. You have really good comebacks." (not sure if we should be proud of the comeback thing? haha) But it testified to me that the Lord TRULY does place us in areas we need to be in for certain reasons/people. I know that Sister Jensen and I were placed here for a reason, one of them being for Josh.
I believe this applies to ALL of us! Heavenly Father puts us in places, with certain people, for a very specific reason. There are people's lives we need to touch. There are hearts that need cheering. We are instruments in the Lord's hands!
I encourage you all, as you are probably setting New Year's Resolutions, to maybe pick at least one goal that you can work on that will benefit someone ELSE, not just you. I know that as we turn outward and truly try to emulate the character of Christ, we can help others feel of God's love and they (and ourselves included) will be able to know their purpose in our Heavenly Father's plan!
I'm excited to spend almost this entire year being a missionary! My one and only goal is to become even more like the Savior, with other mini goals to help me reach that goal! I want to look back on this year and see how I was able to make a difference in someone else's life, not just my own.

I love you all! I hope that you have faith and optimism for this new year.
~Sister Burton