Week 32: My 7 MONTH mark!

Goooood morning from beautiful California!

 Can you believe that yesterday I hit my 7 month mark? I honestly feel like the time is literally flying now! Hold on tight everybody!

  This week has been a little on the slower side. Saturday and Sunday we spent quarantined inside because Sister Jensen has contracted the plague, AKA the flu. Everybody around here is getting it. I'm not sure if it's as bad in other states, but around here it's really bad! Hoping for a speedy recovery...and also that I don't catch it either! Sister Jensen seems to be on the mend this morning!

  Tuesday night we had dinner with the Dedricks. Their BLIND nephew, Easton, from Florida is visiting for a few days. He's less active, so Sister Dedrick suggested that for a message we read a chapter from the Book of Mormon. It was so cool talking with Easton and learning more about the blind.  He told us about braille and how some words are spelled out (not the way we know the letters) and other words have symbols. SO COOL! Anyways, we chose 1 Nephi 8, and Easton read most of the chapter from his giant braille book. His fingers were flying! He said he hadn't read serious braille in awhile, OR  the Book of Mormon for that matter! It was so awesome to be able to share in the magic of the Book of Mormon with them!
 
  On Thursday, our day was literally PACKED! We had back to back appointments and were running all across town to get to them. They were all super good! And the best part of the evening? We had a late dinner at Costco. (haha). I really can't remember much about that day...but that was one of the highlights.

  Sister Jensen was feeling waves of sickness throughout the week, so we didn't get tons of time to find new people. But, when we were able to find, we ran into some miracles. We've still been tracting out Friendly Village, so we knocked on the doors of a part member family, (that we had no idea lived there) and a lady who is good friends with people in the ASL branch in Fullerton! We had some really great conversations with these people! It's amazing how the Lord TRULY does direct our paths and will lead us where we need to be.

  We had another lesson with Josh this past week. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation, but everything kept coming back to the Book of Mormon. He still struggles to believe it. We kept testifying that he actually has to read it and pray about it, with an open heart. He'd go on talking, saying how he wants to read it, although he'll never believe it. A minute later he would say that he's interested to see the parallels between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We know that Josh is truly seeking the truth, we are just praying that he will open up his heart enough to see the goodness and truth the Book of Mormon brings! Things are definitely going in the right direction though!
 Before our lesson with him, he asked us what Jesus means to us? During my personal study that day, I thought about what the Savior really means to me. I got teary-eyed as I shared my thoughts with him. I'll share a few of my thoughts with each one of you, too.
   The Savior means hope, eternal happiness, grace, and mercy. He means the entire world to me! We couldn't (nor should we) get through this life without Him. He is meant to be our friend, our confidante. I'm thankful that He doesn't give up on me, even though I sometimes fall and think I can handle it on my own. We NEED our Savior.

 I'll also share something from President Golden that he challenged me to do in my interview with him this past week. He asked me to reflect on these 3 questions:

  What does Christ-centered mean to me?
  Where am I?
  What can I change to become more Christ-centered?

  I've been pondering those questions a lot and have read many conference talks on it. I invite YOU to do the same. President Golden promised me that if I do these things, I will truly have a joyous mission. And that same promise extends to you! I promise that if you evaluate your life, think of what you can do to be a little more centered on Christ, your life will be more joyous! It doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but you will have much more reason to rejoice in the Savior!

Have a most fantastic week everybody! Thank you for the continued love and support!


Love always,

~Sister Burton

Dinner at Costco!

Waiting for our lesson with Josh in Carls Jr....

.Lunch at Cheesecake Factory last P-day with the Sisters in the district!

All gender bathroom- a normal occurrence in California.

Playing baseball last P-day with a card board box and a racquetball.

Jammin out to some good old Hawk Nelson.

Us in our natural habitat (Me never aware of my surroundings)