Memory Lane . . .

Elder Burnham's email from May 1, 2010 . . .

Happy Birthday Dad and Willie!!! One more year has passed and the time doesn't seem to slow down. Those sound like some sweet gifts that both of you received. I am especially jealous of the Joseph Smith Papers that Dad received. Which volume was it? How many have actually been released until now? All of them?

So, this week was super awesome! I was able to return home for a little while, haha, and had a nice stroll on Memory Lane. It was one year ago, almost to the day, that I was transfered to Cruz Alta 2nd Ward; and, this week I spent out there on division. I passed Tuesday with Elder Christensen and Elder de Araújo, my best buddy and my old comp, who are the Zone Leaders there, in their area. It was the fourth time that I have done division out in that area on my mission, so I know it pretty well. It was such a strange sensation to be back there. I would look at the other guys and say, "Oh, I taught in this house!" Haha, it was cool. Then, I had the great opportunity to do a division on Wednesday and Thursday in my old area. It was so awesome and it honestly felt as though I was home. I was able to visit my old converts and some members and see their progress over this last year. I visited Marcelo, Fatima and Antonio, Vinícius, Fabiane, Marlene and others. It was such a gift to see them and be able to talk with them. I love that place so much. That city is so very important to me.

Santa Maria is good too, though. Last Sunday we had the baptisms of Rose and Cíntia. It was awesome. I think I have never seen people be integrated so well, so fast by the members. This Sunday we will have the baptisms of Ledi and Felipe, and we are planning, though the date is not marked, to baptize Felipe's mom (Ledi's daughter), Claudia, next Sunday. Things are going great out here and the mission is improving. This is the month that we will finally reach 200 baptisms!

I hope all is well on the Northwest front. Talk to you soon, haha. I love you all!

Com Amor,

Elder Burnham