Marriage Planner

Hey everyone! Honestly it's a little hard to recount what happened this past week. Time really is flying by faster than I could have imagined! Probably what stood out the most this week was when are where we had our lessons.

For about half of the week I was on exchanges with one of our zone leaders, Elder Hanneman, a hilarious yet diligent missionary who's knowledge and experience is even higher than Elder VDG's! I think of all the missionaries I meet by ranks, like jedi padawans, knights, and masters form Star Wars, or different ranked ninjas in naruto (Shout out to Jackson: Elder Hanneman is a like a Sannin LOL). Yeah I'm still a nerd

We had some pretty crazy  experiences together, Elder Hanneman and I. Our first night together we taught a less active lady in the middle of Chipotle at the busiest day and time, in the middle of the restaurant. We were teaching a full out lesson with scriptures and pamphlets and prayers in the midst of at least 100 bystanders staring at us. Initially I thought it would be weird, but we made an atmosphere of the spirit despite all the chaos around us, including some refreshing red hot chili peppers background music LOL

While I have taught a bunch of first lessons, and even more pamphlet lessons to less active and active members, I hadn't begun teaching initial lessons to investigators to be baptized yet. We finally got in touch with a couple who are on date for baptism, and I taught the law of chastity to a 30 year old unmarried couple who have lived together for four years. I taught the law of chastity before the Restoration to an investigator. I doubt that's happened to many missionaries before. It went great, and, I know this is going to sound crazy, I committed them to get married. Me. A fairly newly turned 18 year old. I extended the commitment to be married and they accepted it and have plans to be married within the month. WOW. I never would have thought I'd be a marriage planner. 

I'm back with Elder VDG and he's sick :'( He's getting better though. Thank all of you for even caring to read these emails, and even replying too! It warms my hear to know that everyone one of you that have sculpted my life to where I am now haven't fallen off the edge of the earth. :')

Everyday out here I learn what it means to continue to be converted to Christ. It's a life-long challenge; to forget about ourselves and turn out to others. To serve with all my heart those in need of love. It fills me up with a joy beyond description, a joy that solidifies the knowledge that I know that my Redeemer lives. When we fall, and we all will, it is on the rock of jesus Christ as our foundation that we are able to pick ourselves up and learn to push forward in life, having perfect unconditional love for all people.

Life is tough, but life continues. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

I love all of you with every fiber of my heart <3

Until next week!

xoxo

Elder Burgess