June 27, 2016

As far as I know, I've only been published in a local newspaper once on my mission. That was back in the winter in the small town of Hancock, MD, on a column in the back page of the weekly paper titled, "New LDS missionary in town". Don't get me wrong, I have the cut out piece of paper and it's pretty cool, but now it's stepping up another notch. 

Every Friday we volunteer at the county animal shelter in Edinburgh, VA. It's easily the most enjoyable service on our schedule because all they have us do for two hours is take out each dog, cat, kitten, and puppy and play with them. We don't even have to clean up after them! What began as a volunteer idea has now become somewhat of a weekly therapy session for us. This Friday I was chilling with a newcomer stray dog named Gloria, who was supposed to be overly energetic, but apparently we balanced each other out. There I was leaning against a fence with a dog on my lap when two old ladies exited the back door of the building and walked towards us in the kennels. Word on the street spread that the missionaries were doing some really hard community service, because these two reporter/columnist ladies from the local newspaper came to write a story on the relationships we have with the animals! They went full photographer mode as I chilled with Gloria and while three Jack Russell Terrier puppies untied Elder Gorman's shoelaces. 

Aside from public recognition for playing with animals, we've had quite the week of ups and downs. Our investigator Darlene is steady on date for baptism on July 9th and her husband who likes to be called Fatboy is set on cookin us up some groundhogs for dinner. Not sure what to think about that yet.

A miraculous meeting hit us when a former investigator named Warren bumped into us after leaving to Guatemala for three years, leaving his lessons with the missionaries behind. He has the very same Book of Mormon the Elders left him three years ago with their names written in the front cover. Though he has a burning desire to change his life of pain and his divorce and come to God, deeply rooted problems reaching back to the Vietnam War and his father growing up has led him to an alcohol addiction that has lasted over 40 years, the last 10 being the worst. no matter whom we bring, the experiences we share, the commitments we leave, he cannot let go of alcohol. In fact our visits seem to have increased the amount of alcohol he drinks. Addictions may begin as thin threads, but left untamed they will grow even past the point of chain and morph into a self-deteriorating monster. It's heart breaking to have an addiction recovery program all set up, a whole family to help him, and even God ready to help, yet he chooses to not reach out. As one side of the scale grows with potential good for him, the other side is met pound for pound. There's not much that can be done for someone who doesn't want to accept help from another person. They choose to climb up an impossible-to-scale pit with their slippery hands while a rope of salvation hangs just a grip away.

In the process of attempting to help Warren and so many others escape addictions on my mission, I have had a real eye-opener for why God has given us His Commandments. They are fool-proof directions that keep a steady course upstream in the midst of crosswinds. I love how God cares enough for me to not learn it all from sad experiences, but is willing to lead me past dangers if I simply take his hand and follow. If you're addicted to something, no matter what the negative effects seem to be now, please seek help. We cannot do it alone. 

xoxo

Elder Burgess