Sister Burton Takes on Anaheim!: Week 63: Did You Guys Call the Cops on Me?

I really never know how to start these things...so, HELLO! What another great week of miracles and exciting times! We had lots of smokey, cloudy days because of all the fires going on in Southern California. There was even a fire just on the other side of the hills and we literally saw the flames! But, all is well, it didn't last too long! I was prepared to evacuate (for the second time).

I failed to mention last week that our ward completed our Member Missionary Summer Intiative (we finished the puzzle)! The members worked so hard to share the gospel and to get involved in the missionary work! We'll be celebrating by having a special FHE party next week! I'll attach a picture of the finished project!

This past week we've been doing a boatload of tracting. We've been scouting out complexes in the area and just been going for it. Last Monday evening was a miracle. When we prayed before we got out of the car, we specifically asked Heavenly Father to help us find a female YSA that we could teach. The FIRST door we knocked on was a female YSA, Vanessa. She was literally in the process of moving in and hadn't been going to church for awhile. She is usually always working, so it was a miracle we even found her home! We weren't able to set up a time to come back, but she was interested in learning more. We walked away from that door with our mouths wide open! Heavenly Father never ceases to amaze me!! My heart was so full of gratitude for that moment!

In our finding this week, we also ran into a lot of funny and interesting situations! One evening, we were talking to a couple on the sidewalk and noticed a man approaching us on a skateboard. We parted like the Red Sea so he could pass. As he rolls up, he looks at me and Sister Thompson and asks, "Did you guys call the cops on me?!". We looked at each other, utterly confused. He said he lives in his car that was parked nearby and that sometimes people call the cops because they think he's breaking in. He then just walked away and we tried to continue the conversation with the couple....people are hilarious!

I also met a new friend, Glenn! We knocked on his door and had a great conversation. We were able to give him a Book of Mormon and set up a return appointment for the family ward Elders. As I got his number, I noticed the familiar area code "443." I asked him if he was from Maryland and he said he was from....BALTIMORE! I was so excited! I told him I'm an Orioles fan, to which he rolled up his sleeve and showed me his Orioles Bird tattoo. I regret not getting a picture with my friend Glenn! But, my heart was so happy to have that little piece of home in that moment. (Dad, I'm sure you're happy to hear about that ;) )

But like I said, the Lord has been blessing us as we've been diligently searching and finding those whom we can teach....this past week was evidence of that!

HELEN: we had our first lesson with her this week ( I mentioned her last week in my email so...reference that for background). It was a great lesson! Helen is literally the only person in her family that is not a member. She wants to know that the Book of Mormon is true and said she would be baptized. She'll be here for another month or two, so hopefully we can help her enter the waters of baptism! :)

KSEMIYA(She's from Russia): This is someone that Sister Thompson met last week on exchanges. Last night, we were able to have a lesson with her and teach her the Restoration! Ksemiya is SO cool(and not just because of her Russian accent)! After distancing herself from God, she realized she didn't want to live that life anymore. She was really understanding the Restoration and the Book of Mormon and could truly feel the Spirit! It was sooooo amazing! We have another lesson with her tonight!

Cassity update: we're going to the temple with her this Friday! She is doing so incredibly well! She is speaking this weekend at Stake Conference and is ecstatic! I just love her to bits and pieces!

On Saturday, we had the privilege of gathering as a mission to hear from Elder Carlos Godoy, a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy! There were so many good things that were shared that day, which I needed to hear! One thing that was especially touching was his conversion story, which he ended up using to teach us what to do/not to do with those we're teaching! He mentioned how he wore all black and had longer hair than the Sisters that we're teaching him, but it was the happiness of the members that caused him to question what made them so happy!? He told us (and I think that goes for any human being really) not to ever pre-select! There are souls who are crying out, "help me!," even though they may not appear to be doing so.

He also told us how the "one" that you baptize is not just "one" but a FAMILY! A family that came before that individual and a family that will come after!

This especially touched me that day because just prior to this meeting with Elder Godoy, I got to attend the baptism of sweet 9 year old, David, whom I taught back in La Habra 4 months ago! His mom didn't tell him that I was coming, but that there would be a "surprise" at his baptism! I was so excited to see him all dressed in white and his whole countenance had changed since the last time I saw him! He said to me "You came back! I missed you!" It melted my heart! This gospel will forever change David! He is "one, but "one" who will later yield a "forever family!" After he came out of the water, he just stood there, soaking in the tangible Spirit that was present!

I'm so grateful to be able to brush shoulders with alllll of these wonderful children of God! One of the biggest blessings I've seen(so far) from serving a mission, is getting to see these people change. It has strengthened my testimony of the power of the Atonement!

Also, I hit 14 months of being a full-time missionary! It feels so weird to say....BUT I could now NEVER imagine my life without having served a mission! This has been such a blessing and I'm so excited to find more people who are ready to come unto Christ!

Ofa atu(It's tongan for "love you"....Sister Thompson and I love to use Tongan phrases).

Sister Burton

2500 N. Bristol St.

Santa Ana, CA 92706