August 17, 2015

Swordfish, soft shell cab, hard shell crab, mussels, scallops, oysters, clams, and a pig foot were all ingested this week. Some tasted better than others. Some made me gag. not going to say which foot it was. What an insane week!! The immediate change in my life has to be from Elder Dustin coming into town. He's from Idaho Falls, Idaho, has the demure of a slacker high schooler, looks like a certain cartoon character named Beavis, and has a heart of gold. I haven't had a companion as quiet as Elder Dustin. It's probably because he's brand new in the mission and his first area is Kent Crazy Island. I think back to 10 months ago when I was in his shoes with Good ol' Elder Van De Graaff (currently Alec ;)) whenever I don't understand why something's not clicking or why he decided to agree with a self-proclaimed prophet we met on the street named Joshua over me about what the Book of Revelations is predicting. Thank goodness I wrote in a journal religiously or else I wouldn't know where he's coming from! We goof off and work hard, though. The humidity matched with hard old fishermen are rocking his world. One thing I love about Elder Dustin is how he says absolutely anything that's on his mind. Any time he feels homesick he tells me, every time he thinks we're in life-threatening scenarios he tells me; pretty much every thought he thinks he tells me. The trick will be getting him to share his testimony and thoughts with others. 

We got a call from a very old man in the ward who told us that his half paralyzed wife had returned home from the retirement home for some reason and they need a blessing. This elderly Brother Aston used to be a professional race car driver, his specialty tricked out Dodge Neons (I know right), which litter his front yard. He retired about 10 years ago at the age of 65. This man has a mind of stone, but his body has lost about 70 pounds as he's taken on illness. He shuffles in tiny steps jsut to get across the hall. Now his 100% bedridden wife is home needing all the care form old Brother Aston. Elder Dustin had never given a blessing before, so, contrary to his wishes, Brother Aston insisted that he give him a blessing. Prior to this Elder Dustin's testimony had been difficult to witness in purity. As he rested his hands on Brother Aston's head, I felt the complete wave of the Holy Ghost wrap when Elder Dustin began the hesitant blessing. That was a good moment seeing my dear trainee open up. I wonder if this is anything what it'll feel like to parent a kid.          naaahhhhhhhhh

Among the dozens of doors tracted in the oppressive heat up in Chestertown, an old black man opened the door immediately, telling us in a raspy voice to come into the dark room. Shell shocked from the light to dark we noticed a room full of old black guys chilling in Hawaii button ups, smoking, and drinking tons of whiskey at 3:00 in the afternoon. They all were laughing and joking around as we told our stories of doors slammed in our faces and bananas thrown. It wasn't until I started reading a passage in the Book of Mormon about the Holy Ghost revealing the mysteries of God that I realized what T.V. show had been blasting to the left of me on the flat screen. These hard drunk old guys had been watching High School Musical for at least an hour. I looked around further and saw every Disney Channel movie lining the walls along side the NWA and Tupac Cd's. They were totally drunk, so the message was kind of useless to a degree, but we gave them each Books of Mormon and carried on our way.

You never know what the world will show you if you knock on a door xD

xoxo

Elder Burgess

 DC temple in 100 degrees in a wool suit

August 3, 2015

Wow. What an insane week. When you live near the border of Delaware, trips outside the farmlands and Eastern Shore translate to the state of mind after a week long hike, looking around at society like a caveman in a foreign future. I'm getting used to it though! I'm nicely nestled in to the Kent Island Branch. It usually takes about 5 weeks for me to get accustomed to an area. It's also a little easier when there's about 50 people in Sacrament meeting to get to know, rather than 150 or 200. Marvel's kind of off the radar ever since the funeral. He's either not home or "asleep". He'll come around :).

As you can hopefully see, we traveled on down to the temple this Tuesday for an Endowment Session. We hitched a ride from a grouchy old man that we call Old Man Francesconi, zooming and lurching through the D.C. beltway from 90 mph to 10. One time he slammed on the brakes on a bridge and skid, launching Elder Teichert into the seat in front of him. I dieeeeeed laughing xD I'm grateful he drove us the two hour trip. Grouchiness is something that can hide charity, but it's still there. I managed to get him to crack a smile once or twice heh heh.

 Needless to say, by the time we arrived I was more than ready to enter the Temple. The gorgeous grounds and breathtaking architecture paled in comparison to the calm tranquility I experienced immediately entering the walls. I've  attended a temple service here before back in February with Elder Hinkle (shout out), so I knew where everything was and what to expect. This time, however, I had taken a name to do proxy work for from a member of the Branch. His name was James Hendry, a Scottish man who lived in the 1700's. The beauty of the Temple is how it is a reflection of unconditional love for others, regardless of what you are doing. The underlying, most crucial aspect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to first, love God, and second, love one another. Everything we do in the name of our religion needs to reflect these two commandments. The temple is no different. Inside is literally the House of God, a place of holiness and love you can distinctly feel. As the saving grace of Jesus Christ is eternally on us, beckoning us to let His healing hands lift us, it is still our decision based upon our works that open the gates of our hearts to God. The relationship of grace and works that go hand in hand is clearly seen through Temple work.

Whether it be baptisms, endowments (meaning heavenly gifts), or sealings, we are constantly in the service of God and our fellow men. I took the name of James Hendry upon me and witnessed the glory of God in its finest along side James, acting as the in between for him and God. In other words, I was acting as a true representative of Jesus Christ. Deeeep!! The emotions that flowed from the Holy Ghost came and went as I let myself relax and take in the moment. For the first time in my life, I felt like I understood an essential piece of God's plan. Temples aren't strange or new; rather they are the means to be the most Christlike possible in this life. 

I could go off on the temple forever. MAN.

The strength and comfort given Tuesday followed with me in the ridiculously hot days following. On Wednesday the last house we knocked on was immediately answered by a 19 year old looking guy who came right outside before we could say anything. The first thing he said was, "You're just who I wanted to see. Are you Jehovah's Witnesses?" we said no. Then he said, "How do I join the ministry?" in the most dedicated, direct way most missionaries don't carry.

Daniel and his dad Tony had just clicked play on the movie, "The Son of God" the exact moment we knocked on the door. WHAT?? yeah they invited us in, we discussed our service and doctrine and scripture and a whole lot of other things. We are going back tomorrow and i can tell these guys are the real deal.

God works with what we are and who we become, not with who we've been. As my man Baloo says, "Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities. Forget about your worries and your doubts." yeah man. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is really all we need. 

 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

 31 ¶But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

In Gospel terms, the bare necessities are simply to love God and to love your neighbor. The treasures of heaven don't come from worry and doubt ;)

xoxo

Elder Burgess

July 27, 2015

I've got a treasure trove of black preachers and hallelujahs, but nothing quite had me prepared for Stevie's funeral. It was at an A.M.E. church out in the cornfields outside of Centreville next to a cattle ranch. Elder Teichert and I wore our suits and shined shoes trying to look as respectful as possible and ended up getting mistaken as federal officers by a biker gang chilling outside the church before the viewing. They were called "The Jersey Thugs", as written on their torn denim biker vests with a punisher skull on the backs. We cleared things up with them and entered the humid building to witness a huge roomed filled with wailing and lamentations and people draped over chairs crying left and right. I'd never seen anything like it. On the mission I'd been to three funerals before that one, but they were all in a much more quiet setting. Also, I'm not sure I've ever gotten as many dirty looks as I got in those three hours. The service began after the funeral and the weeping escalated. Like five or six preachers were leading the program with solo songs and loud, extremely loud, prayers. Oh the choir was beautiful though. Too bad they only sung  once. What bothered me the most was how only a third of the service was focused on Stevie's life. The rest was basically a normal church service filled with praises and hallelujahs and yelling. The pastors even advertised their Sunday services multiple times.

Ok, rant done. sorry. :))

What's important is that we were there supporting Stevie's family. And while they didn't notice us there at the time, Marvel and his girlfriend Shar stopped us on a road yesterday and begged that we come teach them. Elder Teichert and I were totally caught by surprise. Man, I love those two. Who would have thought when we went by last night that a whole house full of incredibly shady family members of Stevie (who was most definitely a dealer) would welcome us in and start asking questions about heaven? All on the street people honk, wave, and lean out their car windows at stop lights to talk with us. Centreville is a crazy, cooky little town, but it's one of a kind.

As happens naturally when a death comes across our lives, I've been thinking about how much hope has blossomed into my life in knowing God's plan for us. This mortal time on the earth is only but a dot (an insane hilarious incredible loving yet trying dot) on the whole spectrum of things. In knowing how short this time is and how important it is to make the most of it, I throw down experiences in the fullest for roller coaster adventures. Yet the knowledge of the bigger picture of life after death comforts me to let me know the adventures will never cease. I'll be climbing mountains, teaching holmes, and genuinely living life with a heart to God always. With this gem of hope it's up to me to share it with others. That there's hope in Jesus Christ's resurrection, in an everlasting life of happiness just waiting to be sought. Death is as natural as birth in our lives. It's bound to happen. Make the most of what time you have, whether you have a body or not.

Friendships are one thing I'm discovering last eternally. The familiar feeling you get when you reunite with a friend you haven't seen since day one in the mission, paired with a friend you haven't seen in only a week. It all spreads a happiness and love that everyone deserves to share. I can only imagine what it will be like when I reunite after another year :) You all are awesome. I love you <3

xoxo

Elder Burgess