Elder Truman Burgess

My mission so far is startlingly comparable to a new hit T.V. show. The first season started off in the MTC; new Elder Burgess thrown into Mormon Hogwarts with a class of seven other fresh noobs learning the ways of the spirit. Two weeks, 14 episodes, The Elder Burgess Show (hint hint Truman Show hint hint) built the friendships between me and my MTC district in our condensed adventures, like Elder Abraham taking laxatives and accidentally pooping his pants while making his bed at 6:00 in the morning. LOL. 

Season two is my first transfer here out in the field, which began with all of us going our separate ways in the mission, introducing a cast of new characters. This past week was the mid-way season, hour long special episode of the second season, where we all came back together as a district one last time to do a trainer-trainee conference. It was astonishing how much we had all changed and grown since the MTC. We're all spread out across the mission, from West Virginia all the way to the Chesapeake, and we've picked up what it means to be a missionary pretty dang quickly. 

This past week has been tough. Elder Van de Graaff and I are tight now, which is good because literally every person we meet on the street completely ignores us. You know in those movies when the main character wishes he had never been born and afterwards tries talking to his friends but no one acknowledges his existence? Yeah, that's us. Although 99% of people ignore us, we've met a few people this past week that made it all worth it.

Thursday we were street contacting while walking from appointment to appointment in 40 degrees 70% humidity, and no one was out. Our motivations were near rock bottom when Elder Van de Graaff knelt down to tie his shoe. I stood leaning on a stop sign looking around when I focused on a log cabin house down the street. I couldn't take my eyes off of the one single candle light in the upper left window, a hint of a spark in the frigid dark day. Without a second of doubt, I told Elder VDG we needed to knock on the door. He followed me, just as confused I as I was up to the porch and up the steps. I knocked on the door and a smile immediately formed across my face despite not being able to feel my ears. A giant Santa old man hesitantly opened the door and peered out at us. I thought he was gonna yell at us or point us off like most people, but I kept the smile up and said I don't even know what. Whatever it was, he grinned a heart-warming grin and said, "Y'all have a gorgeous church in San Diego. How can I get up in there?"

BAM we shared our genuine testimonies on how the restored gospel has brought happiness into our lives and the hope it brings, which leads us to the Temple. We're meeting with him day tomorrow.

Long story short, the Lord prepares those that are in need of the gospel in their lives to cross paths with us every day. All we have to do is have faith in the spirit and strive to align ourselves with the character of Christ by forgetting about our problems and devoting ourselves to the aid of our fellow man. Listen to the promptings of the spirit not in a physical sense, but with honest, humble, complete love for one another. If our minds are set to bring pure joy to others through loving acts of kindness, the Lord will guide us in all things.

Ya boy Elda burgess be doin reaallllllll goooooood

Don't worry about me! I love you all and hope you're ceasing every opportunity to live life to its fullest!

Until next week!

xoxo

Elder Burgess