June 22, 2015

GETTING TRANSFERRED ON WEDNESDAY TO KENT ISLAND. So don't send anything in the mail this week to my current address :) wouldn't want Elder Wilson getting too much love hehehe

I'd never been in a pie eating extravaganza contest before this week's Stake party. Let me tell you, the roar of encouragement while shoveling an apple pie literally face-first paired with a belly full of missionary meals (Yes I'm well-fed, Mom <3) threw me down a tornado of adrenaline. Yeah a little girl won the whole thing. Not gonna lie, I was a bit contentious.

Speaking of tornados, one flew through Poolesville on Saturday during Dinner. That was about 10 miles away, but still Elder Wilson's phobia was interesting to see in action xD The thunderstorms bombard us constantly. Summer's just beginning, too! Who knows what's in store for me on the Eastern-most island of the mission during the main heat of summer. crabcrabcrabcrab

It's a bummer that I'll miss Jamin's baptism this Saturday, but honestly Jamin should have been baptized yeeearrrrrssss ago! Whenever we teach lessons it's pretty much just question and answer games since he has been taught every lesson for the past 4 years. Elder Wilson will do a great job carrying on, though. The life-changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ blows my mind. I haven't come across a time in the past 9 months where I thought, oh I've already seen this before. Every principle, every word, every light of inspiration given to morph lives is applied personally and originally for the person receiving Jesus in that moment. The personal relationships people form with Him enhance every hope filled dew drop from morning to night. I've seen work stress dissipate, loose rebellious families knit together, addictions fly out the window; you name it. Hope floods your horizon when you set your gaze on love.

Our Elder's Quorum president picked us up Wednesday night for a team up. We plopped right in to his car, ready for whatever home teaching appointment he had planned. He drove for awhile, silent and void of whatever conversation we tried to stir up. Finally he rolled into a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Step by step we followed him out of the car, into the open field, and to the borderline of a dense forest. He turned, smiled, and said, "Watch this."

Without a second glance he was bending into the bush saying, "Anyone home?" With no choice but pursuit we follow into the heart of darkness to find a whole tent village under a clearing in the woods. A bald fellow with a skull necklace gets out of a tent and as soon as he began talking I knew he was a genius. Brother Mcphee, a less active member of the Urbana Ward, has been homeless for two years. He knows Anthropology like nobody's business and tells some stories that will rock your world. We trekked back to the gas station where Brother Mcphee discussed how he takes care of the other homeless people that steal and dive in drugs, all while they hate him. Oh and get this. He gives out Books of Mormon everyday to the homeless. He's a true die-hard missionary through and through. The inclination to judge this man based upon his social standing and family conditions would have flipped love on its back for the takedown. The love Brother McPhee has found for God has come through helping those around him who hate his guts.

Love in all its aspects refines and reproves us day by day until we finally learn. It takes an act of faith to leap into the loving arms of Christ, an act of change that puts our old selves away and keep our eyes directed to Him. Baptism cleans us of our previous shell of mortality with the Holy Ghost guiding our every action to clean our internal vessel. But it is only by love that this cycle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ fuels our ambition to change. Truly care for tomorrow and tomorrow will care for you.

NEW ADDRESS: 112 North Commerce Street, Centreville, Maryland, 21617

xoxo

Elder Burgess

June 15, 2015

I don't think I fully appreciated the blessing of living in a silent apartment. Ever since it began to heat up around here, Elder Wilson and I have discovered that a hive of at least a dozen bats live in our air vents in the ceiling. If you haven't heard what that sounds like, try mixing nails on a chalkboard at a T.V. screen high pitched frequency flooding your thoughts like razor blades. And they only make noise starting at 10:20. Oh yes. We time it.

 

The Bat Man's coming tomorrow to check em out. Who knows; maybe this'll be the beginning of a new era of a Super Hero.

 

Exchanges this week took me over to the even more hill-ridden country side of Mt. Airy with Elder Young. He's a laid back and relaxed Elder who appreciates dogs in street contacting almost as much as I do. :) We were walking down this country road, knocking on doors spaced fairly far between, when a man referred us to a farm waaaay down into the forest. Down we went, not knowing beforehand the insane people we were about to meet.

 

What first looked like a normal happy farm quickly turned into some sort of cult encounter. Upon knocking on the door we noticed a hand full of over weight bearded men covered in tattoos man-handling an old tractor into a barn. Strange, I thought. They all look the same. Hang in there. Six foot seven fat bearded ginger man, extremely tattooed, opened the door with a terrifying grin of yellow teeth. He was kind of nice, but I could tell something was up. When I started talking of God, he held up his hand to stop me there, then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing a silver necklace ornamented with an eye surrounded with silver tentacles. What was scariest was that the necklace was centered in an even bigger eye tattoo in the center of his chest.

 

All he said was, "We're Pagan out here."

 

Up and off we went and a whole squad of the bearded tattoo dudes were lined up smiling horrid teeth as we walked back up the road.

Maryland farms are never a good idea to visit. Sheesh.

 

 Jamin is doing fantastic! still coasting toward the 27th for his baptism, absolutely golden in testimony and actions. In his words, "It's like I've learned all of this before." I've never taught someone so open and so intelligent at the same time to digest the profound truths of the Gospel. It just clicks with him. Yesterday after church we drove down to the D.C. Temple visitor's center to show him around and answer some questions about temples.

We had to call ahead to get the Sister missionaries over there to give us a tour and a lesson, which turned out to be Jamin, Elder Wilson, and I teaching the Sisters about Baptism, the Sacrament, and the role the Holy Ghost playes in conversion. Jamin was pulling out scriptures and straight up teaching the two sisters in front of the Christ statue. He's solid.

 

The temple itself was the pinnacle of spirituality yesterday. We walked around the gorgeous grounds, green with growth and vibrantly brilliant form the recent thunderstorms. There's a semse of peace and love surrounding the Temple that is impossible to explain. It's awe inspiring walking in silent solemnity gazing up at the spires on a blue sky streamed with white lengthy clouds. What's most amazing of temples is the hope they bring to our loved ones who have passed on. Because of the Temple, the same expressive, palpable love we feel form God can be felt from the next life.

 

Even pagans :)

 

xoxo

Elder Burgess

 

June 8, 2015

Mean people stink. Literally. Quite a few experiences of varied acts of anger thrown on us from unknown circumstances. Come on, holmes. Be nice.

The rain soaked us in downpours Monday during our basketball tournament with the neighborhoodlums. It dumped and dumped  for a solid day, then, when it all ceased, the thick cloud cover decided to stick around for five days. Those days I felt like I was back in good ol' Washington State. nostalgia hits hard sometimes.

Elder Carr, a traveling missionary (no pun intended), teamed up with us Tuesday through Thursday, making for a whole new spin on missionary work in 3's. I'd never proselyted with two other companions with me before. We all had to squish in together on doorsteps and crowded tables, cycling through awkward lessons but laughing constantly. For the past few weeks Elder Wilson and I have been running into thick mud puddles of inconsistent appointments, yielding dry results of investigators. We teach and teach, yet it seems no one wants to have us over again. Until this week :)

A text message popped up on Thursday from a guy we'd never met before named Jamin Eisenhower. He had been taught almost all of the lessons at school in Alabama, but is now chilling for the summer here in Frederick. "As long as I get baptized before August, I'm all good". Here stumbles into town a guy ready to change his life, taking the steps to come to terms with God and start a fresh beginning when we have been going hard trying to make something spur up on our own efforts. It's funny how that works. We're teaching Jamin three times a week and he'll be baptized hopefully by the end of the month!

Saturday we volunteered at a local fun run in the community, holding signs and cheering people on throughout the town. Off we went afterwards to our car to go on home at 8:55 when I felt to knock on a door down the street. A man opened the door sweaty and tired looking, obviously sick. Very nice fellow. His name was Julio and, coincidently, had also been taught by missionaries in the past. He told us that right now he had strep throat, but he'd love to meet another time. That would have been ample enough, however I felt the urge to ask him if he wanted a priesthood blessing. Sure enough, a smile sparked on his face and he insisted that we give him a blessing of healing. Inside we went, not knowing who this guy was or what we were going to say. I can't even remember what that blessing was like. There's a certain feeling you get when God's power is using you as an individual conduit to help another. The only way I can describe it is a warm soup and hot chocolate lighting heat from the inside after a wicked winter day. mmmm.

Despite Jewish ladies thrashing us across the street, 7th Day Adventists trying to Bible bash, and accidently setting off  a house's  $500 security system, God manages to lead our paths to those that need His help. Challenges await turn after turn no matter what life we live. Listen for the consistent plea for charity heard every step along the way and I promise God will lift you.

xoxo

Elder Burgess

8 Eternity 8

Mean people stink. Literally. Quite a few experiences of varied acts of anger thrown on us from unknown circumstances. Come on, holmes. Be nice.

The rain soaked us in downpours Monday during our basketball tournament with the neighborhoodlums. It dumped and dumped  for a solid day, then, when it all ceased, the thick cloud cover decided to stick around for five days. Those days I felt like I was back in good ol' Washington State. nostalgia hits hard sometimes.

Elder Carr, a traveling missionary (no pun intended), teamed up with us Tuesday through Thursday, making for a whole new spin on missionary work in 3's. I'd never proselyted with two other companions with me before. We all had to squish in together on doorsteps and crowded tables, cycling through awkward lessons but laughing constantly. For the past few weeks Elder Wilson and I have been running into thick mud puddles of inconsistent appointments, yielding dry results of investigators. We teach and teach, yet it seems no one wants to have us over again. Until this week :)

A text message popped up on Thursday from a guy we'd never met before named Jamin Eisenhower. He had been taught almost all of the lessons at school in Alabama, but is now chilling for the summer here in Frederick. "As long as I get baptized before August, I'm all good". Here stumbles into town a guy ready to change his life, taking the steps to come to terms with God and start a fresh beginning when we have been going hard trying to make something spur up on our own efforts. It's funny how that works. We're teaching Jamin three times a week and he'll be baptized hopefully by the end of the month!

Saturday we volunteered at a local fun run in the community, holding signs and cheering people on throughout the town. Off we went afterwards to our car to go on home at 8:55 when I felt to knock on a door down the street. A man opened the door sweaty and tired looking, obviously sick. Very nice fellow. His name was Julio and, coincidently, had also been taught by missionaries in the past. He told us that right now he had strep throat, but he'd love to meet another time. That would have been ample enough, however I felt the urge to ask him if he wanted a priesthood blessing. Sure enough, a smile sparked on his face and he insisted that we give him a blessing of healing. Inside we went, not knowing who this guy was or what we were going to say. I can't even remember what that blessing was like. There's a certain feeling you get when God's power is using you as an individual conduit to help another. The only way I can describe it is a warm soup and hot chocolate lighting heat from the inside after a wicked winter day. mmmm.

Despite Jewish ladies thrashing us across the street, 7th Day Adventists trying to Bible bash, and accidently setting off  a house's  $500 security system, God manages to lead our paths to those that need His help. Challenges await turn after turn no matter what life we live. Listen for the consistent plea for charity heard every step along the way and I promise God will lift you.

xoxo

Elder Burgess

June 1, 2015

Fireflies and thunderstorms hint to an adventurous summer ahead. BOOM thunder outside is reckoning the imminent basketball game about to drop. Preparation Day baby. The humidity is drenching the work like no other. Pretty sure I've lost 10 pounds of water weight. Well, I guess it just transfers to sweat outside of my body.   lol

I left to Damascus for a strange and short exchange with Elder Larson in which we were at the car repair shop for a solid three hours for the mission car's tire replacement. Chevy Cruise. Sheesh. The majority of the exchange was filled with plating 30 tomato plants in a farmer's field, transferring five chopped tree's branches into a dump truck tractor, and questing for unknown members out in the backwoods. One specific experience led us deep into the woods where we stumbled upon a rickety old log cabin in open clearing. Let me tell you that this shack was the creepiest horror cabin ideal for any massacre. It didn't help that it was twilight red sky. The first sign something was amuck were the hanging foot-long skeletons hung by knots around their necks from the porch ceiling. Yeah. Poor Elder Larson. I kept going to the door and peaked inside the thin veil curtain on the way. I caught a brief glimpse of a wheel chair occupied with a slouched over old person facing me. To the door to the door. no one answered the knock.

Oh boy we ran out of there and sped MAN

On a more spiritual note, Zone Conference for the Frederick zone laid the peak of spiritual guidance for me this week. I'm honestly having trouble recollecting the experience into words. Questions seemed to pile my mind of doctrinal concerns raised through dozens of over inquisitive jerks. I tend to overthink things, which led me to enter Zone Conference with a heart and mind ready to spill questions and drink answers. Revelation is the key to salvation, whether it be mortal or eternally centered. In my case, all I wanted was clear night or day support. Heart-felt prayer and humility whipped from pride led me to eye-opening answers unimaginably presented clearly and emotionally. I'm not sure I've felt that before. President Richards and Sister Richards leave in four weeks to be released and changed with our new Mission president. I'm pretty bummed. The guidance of a strong leader and other out here is something I overlooked until Zone Conference.

God works through us as individuals to help and love each other. It's in the process of becoming one with God's love in tandem with our own will that true miracles sprout every day. God lives and God loves <3

xoxo

Elder Burgess 

May 26, 2015

I'm not sure eye lids can drop much farther than this right now. Sheesh. Memorial Day hit like a truck BAM Library was closed. Sorry about that :/ Elder Wilson and I played basketball with the young men for literally five hours straight yesterday in the summer heat. No sunburn too. Bear with me if this email is scattered...I might just end it here and take a nap. jkjk

I've had the opportunity to go to a bunch of conferences and meetings lately and the reoccurring theme that's been dwelling in my mind is how to measure success. Not only as a missionary, but life in general. Sometimes I sit there in meetings with groups on groups of missionaries around me that have been out for twice as long as me and I can't help but shake my head. I know I shouldn't be judging or making conclusions based on 2 to 3 hours of conversation, but waaaaayyyyy too many missionaries get down on themselves for not achieving goals. What's worse is that many of them want to be discouraged when they don't reach a goal. The advice I've been giving those missionaries that I apply to myself is to block out the negativity of opposition. It's no easy task and is hardly is ever accomplished completely. The state of mind, however, can be learned only through obtaining an eternal perspective.

Her's an example of a miracle this week a lot of missionaries attempted to tell me was a bummer. Friday evening Elder Wilson, Brother Lund (remember him? crazy southern California guy who died and came back to life), his son Ty (10 years old), and I went out to downtown Frederick to proselyte. We weren't exactly sure why but we definitely felt impressed to scout out down there. Long story short, we were putting around the old town's brick sidewalks along the 1800's historical town homes when a certain encrusted door knocker stopped Brother lund and I in our tracks. It looked a bit funky ad upon closer inspection we discovered the house was nationally registered as "Historical Housing", whatever that means. Up I went, knocking the knocker while Ty was climbing the electricity pole like the mad kid he is. An artsy 50 year old guy opened the door, revealing the immaculate, intricate painting of the walls inside. Pur woodlands canvased on a sky of pinks and whites rolling hills of Frederick made out the inside of this man's home. It turned out Bob's mom is Mormon and lives in Elder Wilson's last area. Bob even had missionaries live in his home when he was a kid. He let us in on the spot to his light jazz hummed house where we talked and chilled for a solid hour and a half about life, our personal stories, the places we've been, and how we've gotten to know our purposes in life. Before we left he pulled out his ipad, flipped to his Facebook, and asked us if we knew of a guy named Faust. James E. Faust? yeah. Him. He clicked a mormon message video narrated by James E Faust completely about the Spirit. Bob wasn't interested in taking any lessons from us or coming to church, but i can 100% say that was the most positive door approach yet on my mission. Key indicator wise he was one person talked to. Personally, he was a pivotal check point for me spiritually. After that meet up I have been on fire, helping everyone i come in contact with.

Goals are not given to lead us to dissatisfaction or discouragement. We are truly successful when we give our all to become a better human being through the ever present sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we change, through Him that we achieve optimism,  and through Him that we see how little a moment in our eternal lives a sudden discouragement may last. Take a step back to look at the grand scheme of things. One year ago I graduated High School in Gilbert, Arizona. A year later and I live in Maryland. Time is only measured by man and, as such, should pass by as we strive to reach the height of love God has set before us. Life is meant to be hard. Life is not meant to be discouraging. Keep a cheerful heart knowing there is always a friend walking your pains with you :)

I'm a ranter

hehe

xoxo

Elder Burgess

May 11, 2015

I stood on a slight hill in front of a small crowd of 15 people, thunderstorm on the horizon setting the perfect scene for the immanent Guinea Pig funeral for Oreo. Although only  one year old, Oreo apparently had a huge impact on her neighborhood. After reading a few verses from chapter 12 of the book of Job in the Bible and a brief description of things I learned from holding Oreo, we commenced the burial in her little card board box coffin. I said a prayer of comfort afterwards and promised of her happiness in the spirit world.

The life of Elder Burgess.

With an open heart and willingness to live, I'm not sure anything can stand in the way of out pursuits of happiness :) Another transfer has come and gone here in Urbana. Elder Wilson and I will continue to kick it running with the ever growing humidity beckoning us to sweat puddles. mmm deodorant is a life saver! And it's not even June yet. lol.

We've hit our stride with service and love in the ward this week. Mulch on mulch on mulch, move on move on move, we've helped the Southern Frederick towns with any kind of service you could think of. We basically ran the Spring Ridge Elementary Spring Fling's food concessions. Elder Wilson hit up the cotton candy machine for 4 hours while I sold everything to literally the entire town. We didn't take any money of course, but the fulfillment that's come from helping strangers in all ways, shapes, and forms opens up the gate for spiritual fulfillment. I've found charity only touches hearts if the heart giving holds nothing back. We can't expect to feel peace and joy in God's love if we don't dump our own souls into the service of another's well, quite often dried up from the onslaught of their own experiences. The gift of giving only flows from an empty reservoir. <3

Remember Elder Hinkle from back in January? He's the first of my companions to leave back home in two days. It seems like just yesterday we were teaching Bruce and Nicole, traversing through feet of snow only to slip down drive ways of angry Annapolis pastors. Seeing him pack up and leave in such a short time has put me into perspective of how short not only a mission is, but life in general. And Oreo too. Kind of. Two years drips away unnoticed as I tap into each day's spiritual root. Time is easily measured. What matters are the immeasurable memories held together through friendship :)

keep a journal yo

xoxo

Elder Burgess