Week 72: The week of...Miracles!

Hello dear friends! This past week went by both fast and slow! I was battling some type of cold, but I'm feeling nearly 100%, so that's great!

  We officially dropped off Sister Thompson on Tuesday to be with her brand new companion, Sister Akers! Sister Thompson hasn't even needed to call me this week so she must soaring(which I didn't doubt).
  We had Zone Conference this past week! I always feel so uplifted and strengthened when I come away from it! We talked a lot about Quality Gospel Conversations and how we can improve them! Over the past few months, I've been really trying to "expand my toolbox"(as we like to call it). And that's my focus, especially this transfer!
  Sister Steele and I have been getting into our groove! We're still trying to figure out our area and figure out people in the area, but it's really coming along. I know this area is a big adjustment for Sister Steele, but she's handling it like a champ!
 
  CINDY: I mentioned her last week. Well, we got to have dinner with her and got to know her better. She has been through a lot and has just been amazed at the generosity of the members and is curious about our beliefs. We had more of a discussion with her and addressed some of her concerns and questions. She gave such a special prayer at the end that especially touched me. She said, "Lord, I thank you for sending these 2 angels to me. Please give them Your armor as they go out to spread Your word." Sisters were definitely sent to this area for a reason! We're just gonna love Cindy and we know it will come with some time.

MYRA: I'm not sure if I've mentioned her before. Her husband was a member and he died about 4 years ago. She's had lots of missionaries come by for years. She watches General Conference every year, and loves religion. We had a lesson with her this past week and got to see where she's at. Again, progress will be slow with her, but she's read the Book of Mormon before and believes that these things are true! She has some hard feelings towards some members of our ward, so our biggest challenge is getting her to church...at least somewhere in the Stake. We're working on that.

 Saturday was the best day ever. Do you wanna know why? First of all, it rained!!! Pretty much all day! I got to wear my rain jacket and by the end of the day, my feet were soaked! Friday evening there was even a super solid thunderstorm! Reminded me of home a bit! Second reason Saturday was so great was because I got to go on exchanges with Sister Evali! We haven't been companions in nearly a year. She has become so bold and is a ray of sunshine! I learned so much from her! She reminded me of how the Lord has said, "Be of good cheer," and how that's a commandment! I've never thought of that before, but it's true! That's something I can definitely work on! I just love Sister Evali so much!

 Wow, Sunday was fantastic! We got the WARMEST welcome to the ward that I have ever received in any other area. They haven't had Sisters in 15+ years, so they were nothing short of ecstatic for us to be there! It's a pretty big ward and the members are very involved in missionary work! It's overwhelming when you get to a new area because it takes time to get to know everyone and get a feel for the ward! But I'm excited to get to work with them!

  ALSO, happy news! Cassity got her Patriarchal Blessing yesterday and said it was SO powerful! She bawled the whole time! She also was called to be a ward missionary yesterday! WAHOO! She's gonna be so great! I'm so happy she's doing so well! Golly, I love her. Luckily, she literally lives right around the corner from us and we've made dinner plans for the near future! There really is no greater joy than seeing someone so special and dear to your heart embrace the gospel!😊

 I wanna share something about a very strong prompting I received yesterday(which I think was actually a result of my fast). So, back in June when I finished the Book of Mormon, I decided that I would read the Book of Mormon again and plan to finish it when I finished my mission. I've successfully been doing that since. But last week when President Nelson gave his talk to the sisters and encouraged them to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, I was a little torn as to what I should do. During this whole week, I've wrestled with whether or not I should begin the Book of Mormon again and follow the Prophet's counsel to finish it by the end of December. I rewatched his talk last night during dinner and just felt SO strongly that I needed to take his challenge. Here I am, telling people to follow the prophet, and I wasn't following him myself! I began this morning (and plan to catch up as I can) and WOW, I can already feel the difference and the greater emphasis on the Savior. I'm excited to take this challenge! If you haven't begun yet, DO IT! I'm doing it right alongside you! I know there are powerful blessings that will come from following the Prophet with exactness! If you've already begun, I can't wait to hear how your relationship with the Savior has grown! I'd love to chat about it!

  Love you all! Thank you for all the love and encouragement you send! And especially for those people who have already sent well-wishes and notes for my birthday. I thank you so much! Can't wait to tell you about all the miracles and exciting things next week!

   All my love,

  Sister Burton

  2500 N. Bristol St.

  Santa Ana, CA 92706

My precious Sister Evali

A rocket in the sky. Someone said it was from Argentina.

Decorations are about the only real indication it's Fall here!

Our short lived trio!

A security camera in a palm tree. That's a first!

Me and Sister Evali, my Mylasian companion. 

Cassity's sweet note last night.

These sunsets!!!

My beautiful little posterity.

Love my dear Mija!

Week 71: I'm Officially Tongan!

Hello to all! Wow, this week has gone by so fast...probably because we've had no idea what we're doing:) But all is well!!!
  Even though we've had absolutely no idea who anyone is in this area, tender mercies have been strewn all along the way!
  There are a couple of people the Elders have been teaching on our side of the ward and luckily, we've at least been able to introduce ourselves and set up times to come back!
  One lady in particular, Cindy, is super cool! She had a dear friend in a neighboring ward that has reached out to her and invited her to many church events. This member is actually the mother of LOIS, the super stellar YSA! Small world! I've already been making connections with people in this ward. Cindy invited us to dinner this upcoming week, but assured us that we wouldn't convert her. (what she doesn't know is that's the Spirit's job! ;) ) More to come on that one.
  Sad news: Alexus has dropped off the face of the earth. She texted last week and said that she's been so confused by things and that's why she's been distant recently. We've tried to reach out, but have gotten no responses. It's so sad because she has so much promise and she KNOWS this is right. Satan just seems to have a hold of her right now :/
  The trio life has been good this week! This past week has been complete pandemonium, but what's new in missionary life?
  Here's a little something about my new companion. Sister Steele is from Kaysville, Utah, and she's been out about 5 months.She signs, so she's been teaching me words here and there! I've always wanted to learn sign language, so this is an awesome opportunity!
  This past weekend was General Conference! We watched a session at the church, with the YSA ward, and then spent Sunday at the Days' home! It was awesome! Watching Conference as a missionary is probably as good as it gets! Because we're already on this high, spiritual level, and Conference just ramps it up! I went into Conference with questions and BOY did they get answered! I'm so grateful to live at a time when the restored gospel is on the earth! I loved the focus on BECOMING a disciple and the focus on doing those "little things" to keep our feet on the covenant path. Also, a few talks mentioned how we just need to forgive people in the church and get over it. My mission has really taught me that well! Life is way too short to worry about drama and harbor unwanted feelings. It's so much more enjoyable to live life free of ALL the extra baggage!
  My favorite talk was probably Elder Rasband's, about fear! I'm notorious for being a worry wart and doubting things a lot. That talk especially spoke to me and helped strengthen me to finish my mission strong! Being in a new area with a new companion can most definitely be overwhelming, but trusting in the Lord is where it's at!
   I'm so excited to continue to study and apply the talks from this past conference.
  Today has been exhausting and that's about all I've got! I get to meet my "granddaughter" tomorrow and I'm so very excited!
  Love you all! Thanks for the prayers and uplifting emails!
 

Sister Burton
2500 N. Bristol St.
Santa Ana, CA 92706

It RAINED...for like 3 minutes, but it rained!

Tabling...my favorite thing in the world!!!

Mary, our favorite Tongan, got us matching Pule tahas(traditional tongan dresses).

To which we said...we are officially Tongan. Here's the proof!

Mary

Maeve hosted the Women's Session of Conference at her apartment. She's doing so well!

Pie at the Days after the Women's Session!

Cassity went to Salt Lake for Conference and met my sister, Jamie! My worlds have collided!!!

Farewell picture with the Days, but I'll be back:)

Week 70: Growing Pains

Happy October!! Crazy to think the year is moving right along! It sure looks no different here in Southern California, but it's still so stinkin beautiful with all the palm trees and perfect sunsets!
  Remember last week when I said it was going to be action packed? Well, little did I know how action packed it truly would be! Life as a missionary is filled with unexpected things, all the time! But wowzers, what a loco last week of the transfer!
 
ZOE: We had a lesson with her earlier this week where we were able to finish the Restoration. After reciting the First Vision, she noted how she felt God and Jesus Christ's presence with her for a moment. THAT'S THE SPIRIT. And WOW, she was so excited to continue to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know it's true. After the lesson, she said she feels this is the path she's been looking for, but obviously wants to continue learning! We let her know that missionaries in San Clemente would continue to teach her. We love Zoe!

ALEXUS: We had another lesson with Alexus and we got to teach her the Plan of Salvation! Cassity came because it's her FAVORITE lesson. She even got to explain some of the principles to Alexus! This perspective rang true to Alexus and she loved it! Gah, I love her! She had a family emergency this past weekend so she was out of town. We missed her at church. She's not super great at texting back, so its been a real struggle. But, hopefully this next week, we'll be able to see her!

ALEECIA: She is a returning member! We got together with our Relief Society President and went and taught Aleecia the Restoration, which she didn't remember super well. She was really excited and ate it up! She has been really wanting to come closer to God and get back on track with coming to church! She even told us how grateful she was that we came into her life at the exact time that she needed us!
  We sure did live it up this week! We worked hard and enjoyed every moment together! I just love Sister Thompson with all my heart! We are literally 2 peas in a pod and I couldn't be more happy to have been her companion these past 2 transfers. She has been such a blessing in my life and I've loved getting to see her grow and become an even more confident missionary! My little missionary is growing up ;)
 This week was full of exciting events....one of which is....Sister Thompson is training!! aka: I'm gonna be a Grandma! She is going to do a fantastic job at training! She's actually training a Sister that was originally assigned ASL, but will be here in OHYSA to begin her mission!
  As for my fate, I will be hopping over to the Esplanade ward, which is still in the Orange Stake and covers part of Tustin and Santa Ana. I get to be in the same zone AND the same district as Sister Thompson! YAY!! And the Esplanade ward was Cassity's Grandpa's ward! Small world!
  Currently in the Esplanade ward, there are Elders, but now we're going to be splitting the ward with them and apparently the ward is SUPER happy to have Sisters....because it's been years since they've had them. My new companion is Sister Steele, who is currently coming out of the ASL branch. She began her mission in Fullerton, in April, right when I left the Zone to come here, so I don't really know her super well. BUT, it will be fun! Whitewashing AND going back to a family ward....I'm a little nervous about that last part.
  It was REALLY hard to say bye to all the people I've come to love these past 6 months. Back in November of last year, I wrote in my journal, "My dream is to serve in OHYSA." Now I can say how grateful and blessed that I am to have lived my dream! It will be quite the adjustment back to a family ward, with crying children during Sacrament meeting and calling everyone "Brother" and "Sister," but I know and trust in the Lord's divine direction and know that Sister Steele and I are being placed there for a reason. I'll just need to figure that out.
  BUT, tender mercy, Sister Thompson's new companion doesn't get here until next week, so we'll be in a trio and covering both areas until then, so I'm just sorta weening off of YSA. :)
  Today is nuts because we have to get all the new stuff for our new area, take over an Elders apartment, and figure out what the heck we're doing, but it'll all work out!

 Love you all!

 Have a great Conference weekend! I can't wait to hear from the Living Prophet and Apostles! I'm gonna start preparing myself for the spiritual feast this weekend and I hope you'll do the same!
 
Sister Burton
2500 N. Bristol St.
Santa Ana, CA 92706

ZOE!

Aleecia and our RS President, Jamie (with the long hair)

Orange Zone

Cassity got us these! Retail for 1,400-she only paid 30!!!

Literally ALWAYS in this blanket pose. Like mother, like daughter.

Took a cute little Polaroid of us!

Jamie, the RS President

My girl, Cassity!

Mary, seriously, the best ever!!!

Cassity!