Letter From Elder Burns, 12-13-2009

Dad,



Ya I cant believe I got transferred, but I'm over it because my new area is so awesome I will have to send you some pictures when I get more. This area is a little bit less productive than Newcastle because there aren’t as many people, but the ward here is amazing all of the members are focused on missionary work. just yesterday we had the opportunity to go out caroling it was awesome we went around to non member homes and after we sung the ward mission leader brother brooks invited them to learn about the gospel. Christmas time is the best time to share a message about Jesus Christ. We have a baptism coming up on Saturday. His name is Amul, he is an Indian fellow. We are also teaching a lady that is 81 years old, and she should get baptized by the end of the year. Grandma brown and the entire family is always in my prayers. This last week I’ve had the feeling that something wasn’t right, and now I know what it is. I just kept thinking about Sterling and Teresa for no real reason. Thank you so much for your encouragement it helps me so much and I am so thankful for you as a dad. Let me know how Grambo's health is going. I love you so much your awesome.

LOVE

YOUR SON

ELDER BURNS



To Mom,

After being in Richmond only 3 days, I am loving it so much. The area is awesome. This area is a fair bit less productive than the Newcastle area, mainly because of the population difference. We have a baptism coming up on Saturday. It is so awesome! His name is Amul, and he is Indian. We are also teaching an 81 year old lady and she should get baptized by the end of the year. How is Grambo’s health? I really worry about her. Thank you so much for that awesome talk. It’s really good, the young women will love it. BTW have the young women said anything about me since I’ve been gone....:) I love you tons

I’ll have more to report next week.

LOVE

YOUR SON

ELDER BURNS



Dear Sarah,



I miss you too, and the work here is going good as well. Have you had the opportunity to save up money for a car...? I love my mission so much. I love Richmond, but I miss Newcastle. My companion, Elder Bennett, is kind of a nerd, but he is awesome. No problem, I am happy to let you use the room. You are so awesome.

love,

your brother

ELDER BURNS



Dear Crystal,

My mission is going awesome and I am loving it....!:)

I love my new companion. He is kind of a nerd, but I love him... Well I guess I have to...:( His name is elder Bennett. I think he might like math class as well...You guys would make an awesome couple seeing how you are both nerds. Just think, all you have to do is wait for a year and everything will be ok. You wont have to worry about it anymore.

You’re awesome! I love you tons.

LOVE

your brother

ELDER BURNS



P.S. - BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CALL THAT I WILL MAKE ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE AFTERNOON. SO HERE IT WILL BE THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS BUT THERE IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS DAY SO BE AVAILABLE ON THE 25TH IN THE AFTERNOON

Letter from Elder Burns, Dec 6, 2009

DEAR DAD


This week was probably the hardest week so far in my mission. Mainly because we had so many appointments fall through. Ya, it's way cool that there are other missionaries they actually stay in the same flat (a flat is a house here) lol.

I'm not a senior companion, but I basically am.  My companion has been out for a year, but I still am the one that plans our days and calls the members. So ya, I basically am, but he has been out longer!!!

We actually had a baptism on Saturday.  Elder Lord baptized him.  His name is Michael Badier. Michael was a miracle baptism.  It was amazing how we ran into him.  We where walking out of an appointment and we walked past him and he said "hey elders."  It caught us a little off guard, so we talked to him for a while and found out that he had been taught by the missionaries a few years back.  Also we found out that he has read the book of mormon 4 times, and he knows it's true.  He had already had a baptismal date in the past. What set him back was his smoking, so we helped him quit.  3 weeks after we met him, he was baptized.

We're working with a few people right now, but nothing is really moving forward at this time, but we will come back. One really awesome thing we are doing is teaching this family from Laos.  The dad's name is DONE, the mom's name is AT.  There are 4 girls, the oldest - she is 15,  her name is DAN-MALA.  PHOUTMALLA, age 13, DONA SETE, age 11, and UMALA, age 7.  They are so sweet.  Phoutmalla made me and Elder Lord Christmas cards, and she drew pictures and stuff - it was so cute.  The only problem we have with them is they have no car, and its hard to find a ride for 6 people lol, but we are trying. Ya, we set goals as a companionship every day.  Our goal for the year for baptisms in the mission is 252, right now we are at 215, which is awesome, but it's still far away.  We work with members every day to get them to appointments and to fellowship.

Well, I love you tons!

LOVE

YOUR SON

ELDER BURNS

Thanksgiving Photos from Australia

These photos were provided by Sister Shireen Sills from Newcastle, Australia. She and Michael Gould were kind enough to have the Elders over for Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks!

Letters from Elder Burns 11/29/2009

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To Jared:
Dear Jared,
20 pounds (the turkey) lol! That's huge! I am so happy that you are doing well. Pokemon cards!!!! That's awesome. I wish I could play. Dad is awesome isn't he. I hate cats they scare me :) LOL I love you tons, Jared. Keep being nice. I miss you
love,
ELDER BURNS

To Dad:
Dear dad,

I am so sorry for the loss of your uncle and a dear friend to all of us. This message came as kind of a shock to me. Roger was one of the greatest men I have ever known. He was always kind and loving, but when I think about his passing, I think of the joy he must be feeling being able to embrace his father once more. Roger is definitely one of those wonderful people teaching about the Gospel to all the people in the spirit world, but Roger's passing is sad and it effects our hearts here on earth, but it brings me great happiness to know that he is with his dad again. Think of all the people that he will help in the spirit prison. Sure, we love him tons, but life is just a short part in God's plan for all of us. God needed him in heaven - he needed his wonderful spirit. Above all, what we all need to do is to trust in the Lord because through the Lord we can all achieve eternal life/everlasting happiness. You will see Roger again, he is not far away and his spirit is still with all of us,
but lets drift away from that now. I can't believe that Jared is doing so well. and that Breanna and Sarah are going on dates and stuff. It's awesome! How is Breanna's car doing? It has alot of miles on it.
I'm not too sure when I will call, but I will let you know in plenty of time.
I cant believe that christmas is so close its sad. Is it snowing there yet?
The heat is nice here its not too bad. I love you tons. May the lord be with you to lead and guide you. You are such a great example to me.
Love your son,

ELDER BURNS...AKA: ZACH

To Mom:

Dear Mom

I actually am having my Thanksgiving dinner tonight with Michael and Shireen. It's gonna be awesome. One thing I would like to ask is how is Grambo? Is her health OK? Tell me everything - I pray for her every day that she will be there when I get back. I pray for all of you as well. Thank you so much for that message I really needed to hear it: “LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE ITS YOUR LAST DAY”. I'm crying right now, that little message really strengthened me. I know that rogers passing is really sad but I also am so happy for him. He now has the opportunity to embrace his father once more. He was such a great man and still is a great man teaching people in the spirit world about this wonderful Gospel. Though we may not see him, Roger's spirit still surrounds all of us and helps us. I love you so much. Thank you for being such a great example to me and all of our family.
Love your son,

ELDER BURNS

To Crystal:

Crystal, I love you so much! I know for myself the power of prayer, it has helped me so much on my mission. The Lord will greatly bless you if you follow his commandments. Sterling and Teresa have had a very, very hard life, but they both have strong spirits. That is so awesome that they (Paul and Jessica) are getting the discussions. Well I love you tons!
Love your brother,
ELDER BURNS

Letter from Elder Burns, 11-22-09

To Mom:
Hi, mom! Michael and Shireen are going to make a Thanksgiving dinner for us. It's gonna be awesome! Elder Lord is awesome! I think that the address that you have for our place is the mission home. Our house address is 5/2 HEDDON STREET, and that will give you a better view. I'll send pictures of the house next week.
We're going to come back and visit right after my mission, lol. We have to come back and visit Michael and Shireen.
I love you tons! I'll talk to you next week.
To Jared:
Dear Jared,
I love you too. You are so awesome! I miss Speed Street .
And you, lol! I haven't eaten a joey and MY HEAD IS NOT THAT BIG LOL!
LOVE YOU LOTS
YOUR BRO
ELDER BURNS!!!!!
To Dad:
Dear Dad,
I know! I can't believe I've already been out for almost 3 months. and that Thanksgiving is coming very soon. Luckily, I have Michael and Shireen to look after me. They are making us Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas too. Shireen is getting me Pop Tarts for Christmas, lol!
Ya, it's so awesome that we have a baptismal date with Michael Badier on the 5th of December. He hasn't smoked in 2 and a half weeks, and he is still going really strong.
I can't believe that you heard from Andy Varney. He was the manager of the Central Ogden store.
We don't have the car now. We did when Elder Kingi was here, but now it's gone. We either bike or take the bus, but it's been extremely hot here. Yesterday it was 42 degrees C, but that is about 110 F, so it's extremely hot.
I'm already loving my mission, and I will miss all of you for Christmas. I have bought stuff at suburbs of Newcastle, our house is actually located in Broadmeadow.
I've got to go but I love you tons!
YOUR SON
ELDER BURNS