Happy Thanksgiving

This week has been really fun! Last P-day we had a zone BBQ for our departing missionaries. Sister Parker the Polynesian sister in our zone did most of the cooking and it was super good! We also had another solid dunk ball game but Elder Lyons twisted his ankle pretty bad. 

Tuesday we got to go to the departing missionary temple trip! I was so glad that president invited us. Its going to be my last temple trip in 2 years!! First time in the Salt Lake Temple and it was amazing. I think I understand why it took 40 years now haha. After the temple trip I went on exchanges with another greenie named Elder Canann. Both brand new and we had a full day of plans. Pretty crazy day.

Wednesday Elder Canann and I got a get a car from mission office to borrow because of Elder Lyons injury. It was super convenient because right when we got the car it started dumping snow. For dinner after we switched back from exchanges and Elder Lyons and I got to go to an early thanksgiving party which went pretty well. We got to talk to a bunch of RM's about their missions and stuff. That night we also had to drive all the way out to West Valley which is way outside the mission boundaries for a baptismal interview for a Swahili refugee. Driving on a Utah Highway in snow is pretty sketchy not gonna lie. 

Thanksgiving morning Elder Lyons and I played in an awesome turkey bowl in the snow! We also had like 3 dinner appointments which was a little chaotic but it was some good food. I think I might've gained like 10 pounds but no shame. We also got permission to go see President Hillier and his family at the mission home down in cottonwood heights! Felt right at home there it was awesome. 

Friday we spent contacting a ton. Highland Park Ward has some 90 perspective Elders so we just spent most of the day knocking that list out. Contacting is a whole lot easier with a car. Surprisingly a lot of people were opening their doors so we actually got to talk to people.

Saturday we spent time contacting some more and we got transfer info! As of right now Elder Lyons and I are going to be in a trio this upcoming week until I leave next Monday. We still don't know who will be the third but we find out tomorrow.

Sunday we went to like 5 wards. Paula didn't come to church again for some reason. We are still having lessons and she still keeps other commitments but she doesn't make it to church! I really hope I find out what happens in the future after I'm gone. Sunday evening we went to a really cool fireside at the Swahili branch. A Polynesian choir called Divine Heritage gave an awesome performance and the departing missionaries in our zone gave testimonies etc. I might not get to E-mail next Monday so I'll E-mail when I can. 

Avec Amour

Elder Burbank

Week of Service

Another solid week that blew by! Last Monday evening elder Lyons and I

got to visit a recently returned mission president and his family. The

McConkie family! They are related to Bruce R. McConkie. They served in

the Czech Republic! It was cool to hear his experience as being a

mission president. Oh and it turns out Sister McConkie is Elder

Jenkins from the Tahitian district in my MTC zone's aunt! I feel like

the world around me is shrinking every week I am in Utah. haha

Tuesday our zone got to go to the refugee center for our service

project! We got to help organize donated supplies in a big warehouse

for refugees to come pick up. There are about sixty thousand refugees

in the salt lake valley alone it's pretty cool. We also had some great

correlation meetings with the ward missionaries and with our senior

missionary couple in the area. We have been recently told by the

missionary department that recent converts and investigators aren't

reading nearly enough of the Book of Mormon. Our goal is to really

refocus on the Book of Mormon now. To really explain it to people and

as missionaries spend a lot of time reading along with less actives,

investigators and recent converts. A lot of people don't like to read

the Book of Mormon because they don't understand it but we can't let

people use that excuse! As members we should all be doing everything

we can to help explain the Book of Mormon to others. Having faith in

Christ and having a desire to come back to church or being baptized

really comes down to knowing the Book of Mormon is true.

Wednesday we had a great lesson with Paula  our "on date" and cleared

up some misunderstandings. She felt like she needed to know everything

and to need to finish the Book of Mormon before her baptism! She had

been rushing through the Book of Mormon and not really understanding

much. I'm really glad we got to clear that up because it's a principle

that we will be able to better teach in the future.

Thursday was a long day. Weekly planning took forever and we didn't

get to do much. We did get to meet with a member who works for the DEA

though which was super cool. Pretty sure he told us some confidential

case stuff but his secret is safe with us. haha.

Friday we had interviews with president which went great! He told me I

get to go to the departing missionaries temple trip at the Salt Lake

Temple! Last one for 21 months! But whose counting...

Saturday we got to do a big service activity with the neighborhood.

Basically everyone who is home Saturday morning all get outside and

rake everyone's leaves! It was lots of fun and we got to meet a lot of

new people! Later we got to help a non member mix and pour concrete to

help him build a fence. He's neighbors with one of the bishops so we

are hoping he kinda opens up to the church. He doesn't seem too

interested but he is a really nice guy.

Sunday elder Lyons and I gave sacrament talks in Colonial Hills ward!

Turns out the entire stake presidency just happened to be there haha.

Unfortunately Paula was feeling sick so she couldn't make it to church

which means she's definitely off date to be baptized now. We are

hoping we can move it a week or two later to give her some time but

we'll see. Not that missionary work is a race by any means but I really

want to go to her baptism before I leave! Till next week!

Avec amour,

-Elder Burbank

This is one of the chapels in Highland Stake. Just thought it was

super cool and unique! The building is almost 100 years old and the

ward that meets there is having their centennial celebration on Dec

3rd!

Visa came through!

This last week went by so fast! I felt like last P-day was yesterday! Crazy how time flys. Last P-day our zone went on a beautiful hike in the mountains behind U of U. It was so pretty up there! Ill attach pictures at the bottom. After our hike we basically got locked up in the mission office all night because we are not allowed to proselyte on Halloween. All the missionaries in the valley came and we all got to watch The Other Side of Heaven. After the movie we had a devotional with Mitch Davis, the director and producer of the movie! Apparently he is best friends with president Hillier haha. It was so cool to hear about the making of the movie. The fact that the movie even exists is a miracle! It kinda got me thinking about New Caledonia again. I got word that my Visa came through. Not sure of exact departure date. 

Tuesday I went on my first exchanges with Elder Larson. He is a super cool Elder with a great testimony. Apparently his Dad is like an executive of Post cereal so we all get unlimited cereal basically haha. He's the one holding up the ripped jeans in the picture. On the hike he managed to completely destroy his jeans. I couldn't stop laughing. 

Wednesday Elder Lyons and I had another lesson with Paula. She is still progressing great! She is still on track to get baptized on the 19th. Oh and we also had some messed up brownies after a ward mission leader correlation. They had waaay too much vanilla and Elder Lyons almost puked haha. 

Thursday I had to go on splits with another greenie. We both didn't know what we were doing exactly but it was a good experience. We stayed in Elder Lyons and I's area and I kinda felt like a trainer haha it was strange.

Friday we had a really powerful lesson with a recent convert that has kinda gone inactive. Ever since his father in law passed away he felt like God had robbed him. I think he only really joined the church because of his father in law but we are trying to build his own personal testimony. I've seen that quite a bit here. There are so many inactive members. Alot of these people never really had a testimony of the savior to begin with. We cannot rely on the testimonies of others nor can we have a testimony of the church as a whole. It just isn't good enough. We all need to develop a personal relationship with the Savior. This week a scripture in 2 Nephi 23:26 really hit me. It talks about why the scriptures even exist. So that we can learn of Christ. Studying the scriptures is so important. Really studying them. Reading for an understanding. Reading the scriptures is an absolute waste of time if we don't actually take the time to understand and learn from every single verse.

Saturday was kinda rough. Pretty much everything fell through except our dinner appointment haha. Elder Lyons always says that missionaries are happiest when they are teaching and that is the truth!

Sunday was my first fast Sunday in the field! I woke up with a terrible cold and not getting to eat. It was a rough morning but got better as the day went on. Fast Sundays are just hard. We have to work and ride our bikes all day and fast. Having a cold didn't help either but it all worked out. Till next week!

Avec amour,

-Elder Burbank

Week 2 in the Field

I had another great week here in Salt Lake! Last P-day my whole zone

went to the creator of Scentsy's house just to hang out. They have a

huge house with an indoor basketball court and such that they always

let the missionaries use which was super cool. That night we got to

teach our investigator Paula which went really well! She does lots of

research and studying before each lesson we have with her and she asks

lots of great questions! Paula also had her daughter sit in the lesson

with us and she seems pretty interested too!

Tuesday we had new missionary training at the mission office which

took like 6 or 7 hours! Felt like an eternity but President and Sister

Hillier had lots of great things to say. They talked about creating a

"Zion mission." President Hillier has only been serving for about 4

months but that seems to be his theme. Doing everything we can to

build each other up so we can confidently go out and serve. He is such

an inspired leader and just perfect for this mission specifically.

Also I met a new missionary at the training who got here last Sunday

from Sooke, BC! His name is Elder Sulzen. He said he knows the Fishers

pretty well! Small world....

Wednesday we had zone conference which meant another 7 hours at the

mission office but it was also super great!  More about creating a

Zion mission and creating ward or stake focused missionaries. Helpful

stuff! I also got my IPad and my bike on Wednesday! Both of which

makes the work so much easier! The entire area book synced to maps is

on the IPad which is insanely helpful! Going to be hard to give up

once I go to New Cal haha.

Thursday was lots of weekly planning. Some more great lessons and a

lot of biking! We bike all day every day it seems but I enjoy the

exercise. Also Elder Lyons and I went over Alma chapter 5 which really

stuck out to me. I recommend you read it!

Friday was more meetings and pouring rain! Elder Lyons and I got

completely soaked and every lesson and meeting basically fell through.

Kind of a rough day but C'est la vie. Members have been telling us

that it's been strangely warm for this time of year. Normally by

Halloween its suppose to be dumping snow not rain! I'm glad it's

staying warm though. Hopefully it holds up before I head to the

tropics! That's about it for this last week. Talk to you next week!

I didn't really take any pictures this week but I'll be sure to take

some for next P-day.

Avec amour,

-Elder Burbank

First Area = White Wash

This last week has been absolutely awesome! Elder Walton and I woke up at 3am Tuesday morning to send Elder Graf and Kennedy off to California. Then at 6:20 we hopped on a bus then took the front runner train up to our mission! The first day was awesome! President and Sister Hillier are awesome! They are so incredibly dedicated to their work. President Hillier used to be an area 70 so he has gone on tons of assignments with apostles and such. He has such a powerful testimony of this work!

My trainer is Elder Lyons. He is our district leader and he's been out for about 15 months. He is from southern Mississippi. He is a really cool guy and a great trainer! We got white washed into a brand new area covering 2 stakes! I have no idea why President Hillier trusts me to cover a brand new area but it's awesome! My area has Highland High School in it which is the one with the Rugby team in Forever Strong. Its actually really close to the Christensen's house haha. Their stake is just outside of our area though.

 This first week has been spent getting to know 12 wards across the 2 stakes that we cover. Its kinda crazy because we have to coordinate with 12 ward mission leaders across the 2 stakes but we are getting the hang of it. Our first full day in the area we got a new investigator named Paula and she is already on date to be baptized November 19th! She was already so prepared to hear the message of the gospel it is a miracle! Also we have been teaching many less active people here as well. About a third of the people in our area are less active with another third being members and the final third being non-members. It is crazy how many people already know so much about the church here even if they are non members. The mission as a whole actually gets a lot of baptisms. There are tons of refugees in our mission from all over the world. Our mission is english but there are wards in Korean, Swahili, Chinese, Thai and so many more. Lots of english missionaries teach refugees with translators its really cool to see. I got to meet a family of refugees who were all getting baptized from central Africa. They spoke Swahili! They were all so happy and nice to us Elders it was super cool! 

I still don't have a bike yet so Elder Lyons and I have been walking everywhere. I am trying to get a bike that I can borrow from the mission office for a short time. I pretty sure we've walked 20 miles in the last week it's crazy but I enjoy it. Email you next week!!

Avec amour,

-Elder Burbank

Some farewell MTC pictures and the apartment!

First day out in the Field - Pictures

New Companion - Elder Lyon

Pictures at "This is the Place Monument"

Slight Detour Ahead - 4 Days until MTC complete

So as you heard I am headed to the Salt Lake East mission for the time being. If my Visa comes sooner I still have stay until the end of the transfer so I'll be in Salt Lake for at least 6 weeks. I got the package and read your talk for Stake Conference! It is super powerful. Just reading it on my own brought the spirit really strongly! Thank you for all the treats! :) I am not too concerned about the Visa not coming through. From what I've heard its getting the Vanuatu Visa that always holds everyone back because we have to get them for Vanuatu and New Cal as far as I know. Also the Christensen's are in my mission! It would be cool if I got to see them again! The majority of the Salt Lake East mission is actually Wyoming. The mission covers about a quarter of Wyoming. Jackson Hole is just North of my mission boundary. Also its cool that Jane is already getting married! I think she really needs this. I guess I will get to meet Eric when I get back?

As for this week at the MTC its been awesome! My district and I had In-Field Orientation yesterday for like 7 hours which was crazy but it was really helpful. It really stressed how important it is to involve members and to work well with members to help with missionary work. Also earlier this week we had a devotional on Tuesday with Elder Bednar!!!! Him and his wife spoke at the pulpit together about how important it is to study general conference. He played little clips from many talks and broke each talk down into 3 categories: Doctrine or Principle, Invitation to act and Promised blessings. It felt like I was having a companionship study with an apostle! He basically said studying General Conference is just as important as studying the standard works. It was very powerful. Speaking about General Conference I really felt a connection with Elder Nelson's talk which was all about joy. I thought that was really cool because I was just talking with the second counselor in our branch presidency, Brother Markham, about what joy really means. Joy is something beyond happiness. Its a divine uplifting feeling that our spirits experience. We were discussing how anyone without the spirit can feel happiness/pleasure but you have to have the spirit with you to feel joy.

It's crazy to think that we only have 4 days left here but I am excited to get into the field! I leave Tuesday at 6:30 to take a train up to Salt Lake. Should be an awesome 6 weeks until I get to head out to New Caledonia! 

Bonne Chance with your talk on Sunday! I wish I could be there!

Avec amour,

-Elder Burbank

Here are a few pictures. View from the residence, Gathering for "Chanter" (we all sing a closing Hymn together every night) and a picture with one of the "Benin Boys" who left to Benin, Africa a little while ago.