[Editor's Note: February 6, 2010 marked Elder Burnham's "slump" day; meaning, he has 18 months in the mission with only 6 more months to go.]
I said it two weeks ago, but forgot to say it on the day of... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! One more year passed. Benjamin turned 4 ,too, huh? Give him a big hug for me.
Today is a bittersweet day, as you all will note just by looking at the date and using your mind -- hence, the title. But, much time still remains in the great work.
Yes, Dad, you said it - it is incredibly hot! I haven't even been able to sleep because of the heat and during the day it is unbearable. But, I like it because the harder it is, the more satisfying it becomes. But seriously, it has been about 105 all week and humid to the max, making it feel 115-120. Never have I felt a heat like this.
This week was a week of surprises. We had planned in doing a division with the zone leaders of the zone Parque Pinheiro, here in Santa Maria, and did so on Tuesday, only to have to return on Wednesday because of the arrival of 4 Americans who had been stuck in the Provo MTC for 14 weeks(!!!) waiting for their vistos(visas? I don't know). They arrived so we had to return to go get them, and give trainings to the new trainers and to the new missionaries. They were so dead when they got here, after 30 hours straight of travel by bus and plane, in a country where they had never been and with jetlag and time change. What a crazy experience for them, but they were happy to be here.
An experience, huh? Well, I don't have any recent miracles on the top of my mind, but something cool. The other week we were teaching some Lutherans - true Christians who go to church every Sunday and do things that they should. They were really cool and we had a great discussion in the first visit (in this visit, we only speak of Christ and His Church and baptism and atonement). When we returned, they were prepared for us. We taught the Restoration and the family commited to pray; but, this family lived behind the house of the rest of the family who came in at the end with a bunch of material on baptism and the like. As Elder Bryson continued the lesson with the focus family, I turned to the others to respond to their questions. I did not bash, but listened to everything they said about baptism and how the Church was wrong and the like.
I then started asking simple questions to them, leading them down a path of reason about why children could not be baptized and I pulled out a few scriptures and at the end I simply asked them if, after hearing what I said, it made sense to baptize a child, to which no response came. They just sat there, paralyzed. I then invited them to pray and ask God if what I said was true and to pray about Joseph, which they accepted. I don't know if they did so, or if they even remember the words I said, but it is so awesome to have so many ideas just come rushing to your head in such a magnificent flow of logic from the Spirit. The gospel just makes so much sense, and that is what I love about it.
Dad, yeah, the office is way nice during these hot days. Fortunately and unfortunately, we are only in the office two days a week and only until 5. But, man, it is hot (and no, I don't really have any car privileges . There is a rule in Brasil that the missionaries can't drive)!
I love you all. Live the gospel. Keep the commandments, in this there is safety and peace!
Com Amor,
Elder Burnham
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