Yo

Apparently last week's email may have not gone out...hmm :/

I've gone from a noob missionary to a hood missionary to a teenage councilor pretty much. We've had to drop most of our investigators because they weren't willing  to keep commitments. However! A hand full of 17 year old seniors have been picked up as investigators...all of which may or may not be girls.

lol

Maybe I'm looking too hard at his teaching with them, but it seems to me Elder Hinkle is uncomfortable talking to girls. Even about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh I love Elder Hinkle. Honestly I was not expecting to teach the people I have been teaching so far on my mission. High School girls, rich old men, Navy ship rats (don't tell them I said that). Amid all of the craziness of unexpected occurrences out here, one thing's for certain. Every person I come across is exactly who I, Truman Elder whacky Burgess, has been sent to share the Lord's light with. Yesterday this lady invited us in (don't worry there was a man upstairs in the house ;) ), and every wall was covered with line upon line of anime figurines. The walls were an army of Pokemon, Naruto characters, Japanese super heroes, you name it. I can say with 100% confidence that any other missionary, including my beloved Elder Hinkle, would have looked at all of that and turned off completely. Luckily, your boy Elder Burgess has spent his fair share of time among the geeky world of anime, and connected immediately with this eccentric, truly Christ-like lady. 

That might have been an extremely nerdy example, but it puts the point across. The Lord places us in situations where he knows we can spread his love to our brothers and sisters, even if they reek of year old mayonnaise and haven't brushed their teeth in a millennium. Don't overlook the good you can do and the days you can make due to aesthetic, outside appearances. Unconditional love does not come easy, trust me, but when it is achieved nothing can stand in your way on your pursuit of happiness.

hoohoohooo I love all of you! Maryland is a crazy place full of crazy people, not to mention crazy dogs, and it makes me think of how much of an effect all of you have had on my life. I wouldn't share all that if I didn't trust you all of you for your prayers and thoughts! Hit me up!

Happy Valentines Day hehe

xoxo

Elder Burgess