ATTENTION!

ATTENTION*****! 

As we were driving home last Monday, I was reviewing my letter to y'all in my head and I realized I wrote "cease" instead of "seize" and I was soooooooooooooooooooo mad at myself. I am embarrassed still :/

ANYWAYS The weeks are starting to blend together. They zip by, although the days themselves last forever. I am constantly exhausted and don't get enough sleep because Elder VDG is a fitness nut and we wake up at 5:30every morning to go running outside in 30 degree weather before lifting. There isn't enough time in the days to do anything other than work. My mind is constantly on overdrive, but I'm hoping I'll get used to it. The missionary work itself has been really slow this week in terms of finding new people to talk to, and our only on-date investigator couple have planned their marriage for April, meaning the soonest they can be baptized is the week after the marriage. That made Elder VDG frustrated, which frustrated me. Too many missionaries, actually every missionary I've come across besides my MTC friends, measure their success based on baptisms. It drives me insssannnne!! Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ through His restored gospel. THAT'S IT. Sure, baptism is an essential part of truly following Christ and His gospel, but that's not up to us, nor is it our purpose. It's through absolute, unconditional love to others that brings others to find for themselves that God lives and that Christ is our Savior.

Our car got backed into by a Priest 18 year old in our ward after we ate dinner at his house. He was about to cry and I felt bad for him. It was, however, a miracle that stemmed from the crash. We were about to go teach our investigator couple about Temple marriages and Temple work after that dinner, and our members that had planned on accompanying us had all bailed. We have no idea what it's like to be married in the temple, so we were freaking out. If Zion (the kid's name) hadn't crashed into our car, his Dad would have left top go to Young Men's. Sinc ehe had to stay behind for insurance, his Dad was able to come with us to our appointment. He saved our buttttssss with his experiences and knowledge from being a convert to the church and getting sealed together after he was already civilly married. It was crazy.

The people we've worked with this week ranged from giving a blessing to a 20-year convict drug dealer, unintentionally entering a pagan prayer ritual, and witnessing an overly-drunk old hag puking 5 feet in front of us. It's been great. Keep in mind that I'm in one of the wealthiest areas in Maryland, not the hood of Baltimore.

Before these past two weeks, I couldn't have said with complete conviction that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God, but the connection between it and Joseph Smith never clicked. It wasn't until I prayed with all sincerity out-loud in my kitchen at 11:00 p.m. (way past bed-time I know) that the revelation of the truth of the restored priesthood on the Earth hit me. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God, no different from Moses. I know that the Lord works through all of us normal, generally fatally-flawed people to bring to pass His work for all of us to find true happiness and joy. I know this because I sought out for myself. I know this from the bottom of my heart through experience. 

I hope you all know that I pray about literally all of you every night in my 20-minute prayers <3333333 I am completely unworthy to have all of you in my life. Thank you for showing me the love that has built me to who I am today. 

It might snow on Thanksgiving this week, so I'll keep you posted! well, next week. Ah the joys of being a missionary.

xoxo 

Elder Burgess

P.S. ........SEIZE the day ;D