Sister Burton Takes on Anaheim!: Week 41: Our Little Bird

Hellllloo everybody!
Can I just say, this was a fantastic week! I am already in love with La Habra and I know these next few months are going to be stellar!

On Tuesday, Sister Green and I picked up our new missionary at the Mission Home! We had a nice dinner and testimony meeting, which was so powerful! Our new greenie is Sister Bird! She is from Longmont, Colorado. She attends BYU(go Cougs!) and studies Elementary Education! We welcomed her home with lots of GREEN gifts!!

This past week was full of meetings, but we were able to see tons of miracles as we went about doing the work. We had many funny situations that made the week even better!

*We were at the church one day and Sister Bird said, "Hey, there's a drunk man coming to the door!" Sure enough, this hippie like man walked up to the church doors, tried to get in, and then stumbled away. Welcome to La Habra!

*We also saw a gas station break-in, so that was exciting!

MIRACLES: we had so many instances where we followed the Spirit and were led to miracles. Too many to mention here, but I'll share a few.

*We've been teaching a part member family and they're slowly coming back into activity. They have a 9 year old son named David. We invited David to be baptized and he's working towards a date in May. We understand it will be a stretch for the family, but we know they can do it and that being active again will help them with the struggles they're currently having.

*We were walking down the street and talked to a sweet lady, named Angela. She said, "As soon as I saw you walking down the street, I could tell God was with you." I love it when strangers can feel the Spirit and recognize us as representatives of Jesus Christ.

*We knocked in a complex and the first door we knocked on, a lady named Bethany, welcomed us in. As we introduced the Book of Mormon to Bethany, at first it seemed as though she was low-key bashing us. But as we began to talk more, she began to open up. She didn't seem very firm in her Christian beliefs, although she said she was. We are planning to see her again this coming week to see where she's at.

I'm convinced all these miracles have happened because of the greenie power! Sister Bird has exceeded all my expectations in a daughter. She is so bold and has talked to SO many people this week! I remember my first week and how quiet I was, but boy, Sister Bird is "soaring!"

I just love being here! I love being a missionary! I love my companions! I hit my 9 month mark this past week and all I can say is, time sure flies when you're having fun!

Yesterday was Ward Conference, so some Stake leaders spoke to us. They talked about the church membership in California and how there are many people who are not with us each Sunday and how important it is for us to be reaching out to lift others up. It made me want to reactivate the WORLD. Along with that, this morning I studied Alma 5 (one of my favorite passages in the Book of Mormon). I love all of the questions Alma asks. I like thinking about my conversion and remembering how many times I've witnessed the Lord's hand in my life. I especially love Alma's words in verse 26; "Can you feel so now?" It caused me to think of all the people, members or not, who have felt the Spirit in their lives and have since distanced themselves from God. I invite each of you to think of the times you've felt closest to your Heavenly Father. Maybe you're in the midst of a really big trial right now and it might be hard to see it, but I KNOW that your Heavenly Father is very much aware of your circumstances. I also know that as you ponder on the Lord's tender mercies, you WILL feel so now. You will realize He is in the very details of your life.

Well, I'm so pumped for another week! The trifecta is about to take La Habra by storm!
Also, we get to go to the temple next Thursday, the 22nd, so my P-day will be Thursday instead of Monday.

Love you all! Have an amazing week! Look for God in your lives this week! I promise He's there!

~Sister Burton