January 25, 2016

Current Address:

Elder Truman Burgess

216  1/2 Jackson Street, Apt 3

Hancock MD 21750

Never before have I seen 3 1/2 feet of snow fall in one consistent snow fall. We were literally snowed in from our apartment. Shovelshovelshoveling for the past two days has wrecked my back and forearms, but the amount of miracles that have surfaced from going through the bombarded streets of old Hancock shoveling for those in need has been a breath of warm, sweet air around here.

Our mission cars have been grounded all weekend, and the other two Elders have cooped uop with us while their apartment was destroyed, leading us to travel town in the ultimate squad of youthful plowers in a town forgotten by the State's snow plowers. I've never seen a community work so well together to clear roads with makeshift plows, farmers bring in their mega tractors, and even an old army vet plowed through town in his old era Army medic-tank vehicle. It's amazing how difficult times and natural dilemmas have a tendency to bring people together rather than tear them apart. 

On our final loop back to the apartment last night we approached an intersection at the end of one of the back roads of Hancock. At the exact moment we were within sight and sound of the street corner, a middle aged, lanky man passed by. He called out,"That's a mighty nice thing you all are doing for these people," and carried on his way. Just before he was outside of view he stopped, paused, and took a double take back towards us. "Actually, I'm going through a rough time with my wife and was wondering if you guys could give me some advice," he said.

I told him I don't know too much about married life, but I do know a thing or two about building a life on Christ's teachings and the happiness it brings. We had a brief conversation there all five of us in a snow walled intersection on finding happiness through forgiveness, love, and patience, and how the restored Gospel grants the greatest peace one can achieve in life. We even said a prayer with this stranger, who immediately initiated a group hug with all of us after the Amen. We set a return appointment with both he and his wife this Saturday, then carried on our separate ways.

It never ceases to amaze me how God blows us to where we need to be at the exact perfect timing when we engage in selfless service. We had no idea a guy would cross our paths like that, nor were we specifically looking for such an experience. All we were doing was looking to help a brother or sister lift a burden or two. "Seek and ye shall find" is a directive clear as day, yet as miraculously mysterious that keeps me floating on in awe of the love of God.

Keep it rolling ;)

xoxo

Elder Burgess

January 18, 2016 - Living the dream

You'd think that the humid, bone-chilling cold around here would motivate large-bellied fellows to put on shirts when answering the door. 

Noooooope. 

Elder Flandro had no idea what to say when the man's beard reached the middle of his chest, holding his ear that was dripping with blood from a cut (who knows where from), and hairy belly peaking out the door. He wasn't interested, but his young daughter was intent on sending us away with tons of lollipops. that's always a bonus :)

We received a call from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania mission informing us of a less active member who transferred his records into our Ward's boundaries. They didn't tell us where specifically he lived other than an address with the street giving a hint: Mountain road. And oh boy does he live on a mountain. Thirty minute drives north are a normal occurrence for us, but this time the GPS took us down "roads" just wide enough to squeeze our Subaru down (All Wheel Drive ftw), mud sloshing up onto the sides of the car, fallen trees hindering the path ahead waiting for lovely Elder flandro to lift out of the way, and, at one point, leaving us in a random field with no tire marks of any kind leading the way. Still, Modern technology can be trusted in the Appalachians, and we were eventually brought to Dale Boots secluded home. 

A vicious black dog definitely related to Cerberus was the next obstacle, but my dog whisperer skills quickly kicked into gear and before you knew it he was my new friend. A short and skinny bald man opened the door, astonished to not only have visitors on top of his mountain, but also to see them alive after his dog named, Shadow. It turned out his son was Dale Boots, 30 years old, and also happened to be 100% deaf. I will never forget the look of pure joy that spread across Dale's face when he saw us behind his dad. He rushed through the door and draped himself onto us in a bear hug I'm still recovering from. Communicating was a little slow writing notes to each other, though his excitement and relief to meet someone from the Church after who knows how long spoke on its own. We scheduled members to take him to church next week and our fluent ASL interpreter that lives in the ward with translate all of the meetings on Sunday for him. While we backed up he wave dhis massive arm in farewell off of his porch and yelled, "Goodbye, I love you!" at the top of his lungs as best as he could. 

It's moments like that that make this mission worthwhile. Glimpses and embraces of pure love that radiate from simply talking to someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ are a stalwart testimony to me that God does live, that He truly know my name, and He wants the best for all of his children. Becoming an instrument in His hands is the pleasure of a lifetime.

xoxo

Elder Burgess

January 11, 2016

When Christ told Nicodemus, "The wind bloweth where it listeth", he was most certainly referring to the roaring winds that whip through the narrow valleys of the Hancock Ward. Well, maybe not, but it puts the point across. Bone-chilling winds are a daily occurrence these days and it adds to the beauty of serving in the rolling mountain sides over here. Coincidentally, when Jesus spoke of the wind to Nicodemus, he was teaching of what it means to be born of the Spirit. My padawan Elder Flandro and I were at a crossroads on Saturday, our plans exhausted and ears frozen, when we were faced with the choice to visit one of two families, one was north, the other south. Neither had kept previous appointments, but we knew we had to visit one of these two families with the time we had. 

In an attempt to help train Elder Flandro on how to follow promptings of the Spirit, I said a prayer asking the Lord which way to lead, then had Elder Flandro listen to his feelings on which path to take. After waiting for a moment to ponder, he confidently said, "South." Off we went down the dirt country road to Tom and Shelby's home, really not knowing what to expect. Upon pulling up into their driveway we saw a uhaul truck full with their belongings and Tom packing up his truck. He told us quickly that they had one day to move out into a better rental home on top of Buck Valley Mountain and they were having a rough time moving while keeping a handle on their two 3 year old daughters at the same time. Immediately we offered our help to unload their truck later when they reached their new home (which still happens to be in our area). Tom and Shelby's eyes opened wide in astonishment and quickly accepted our help.

Saturday night at 6 p.m. was a nasty evening. 38 degrees with wild winds and heavy rain made the roads muddy and foggy. Still we drove to their aid, once again catching them by surprise. "I figured you weren't going to be able to make it up this far for us," Tom said through his thick hill billy beard. With us three unpacking and Shelby watching the kids we managed to unload all of their boxes and furniture in an hour and a half. There was absolutely no way they could have unloaded that together in the rain and dark with those two crazy kids. God directs those who seek His council to where they need to be at the exact time and the exact moment they need to be there. It's difficult to explain how it feels to be led and in turn born by the Spirit of God other than through the description as flowing on the wind. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and, we attune ourselves to its pattern, we in turn are led to where God will lift us.

xoxo

Elder Burgess

Derp on the mountain a week ago:

January 4, 2016- Living the Dream

Any missionary that has served in a small town for a decently long amount of time will tell you that after a while you get to know just about every soul in sight. Every door has been knocked, and every member has been talked to to help with their own missionary work. This dilemma often puts missionaries in a state of discouragement and bewilderment on what they should do with their time.

Not me hehehe >:)

I've been blessed to have serve in some ordinarily dry areas from the crazy island of misfit toys of Kent island to the way rich four story homes of Urbana, areas where everyone either has their mind's fixed one way for ever, or they have no minds at all. Trial and experiences have led me to the firm belief that no one cares what you have to say until they know you care about them for who they are.

Here's an example. Walking the freezing streets of Hancock, an old man tells us he's not interested but in the ancient motel atop the looming hill lives a woman recently moved in from Astonia (a country in eastern Europe), who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Up we trek to the haunted mansion-motel that I thought was abandoned expecting to meet the witch of of the west, my trainee unsure of himself and I'm unsure of how to ward off evil spells. Sure enough, the motel is open and inside the colonial mansion office sat a woman as a receptionist. However, the woman sitting at the desk was no older than her mid-30's, and as pleasant as possible. 

We introduced ourselves as missionaries and talked to her about what it's like thinking in a different language, how to raise kids when you travel internationally, and why in the world she and her family would move to Hancock, Maryland of all places in America. In her thick accent she laughed and told us her life story of traveling and devoting herself to god, cutting her husband off of cigarettes, and how her family dream has always been to own a motel. Naturally the conversation melted through the broken ice to heart-felt testimony of how God really knows us personally, despite language and ethnic barriers. Our homes may change and our friends may shift, but families will stay knit together through the teachings of love and kindness found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We scheduled an appointment to meet with her and her family while they weren't working, and I'm looking forward to eating some Astonian food :))

Too often missionaries feel they need to become some sort of stencil shirt and tie missionary, forsaking who they were beforehand all throughout their life. This is completely opposite to the plan that god has given us in the first place! He places experiences and adventures into our lives that push us and mold us according to how we face each day. At no point does God require us to forsake the life changing events that have shaped us to who we are. Rather, He asks us to become a greater person each day forward, using the past as a foundation to build upon. Living life in the moment with all you've become up to that point and sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings according to the situation is the true vessel of missionary work. Forsake the chains and bindings of previous mistakes by moving forward, remembering the true purpose of your life to love.

Happy New years. 2016 baby WOOOOOO

xoxo

Elder Burgess 

Don't worry; I wasn't back in the hospital again. That's a killer picture taken by Elder Carling from two weeks ago of me still doing missionary work while stuck with an I.V. and drugs >:)