Monday, November 29, 2010

To my Fan Club!

Well chest nuts are not roasting on an open fire and jack frost isn't nipping at my nose but this sunburn is. Each day is getting hotter haha just imagine Christmas being 115 degrees. Any who so how was thanksgiving? Mine was pretty rad, my comp and two other Elders made tacos, mashed potatoes, garlic bread and chocolate chip cookies. I made the garlic bread and mashed potatoes, I know you are all thinking right now. but Elder Burr doesn't know how to cook. Surprise surprise I have the evidence with my pics haha they turned out great! Other than thanksgiving, we had a baptism of a youth named Rolando. It was way cool, This whole change my comp and I have felt that we had contacted all of our area but we decided to start over again and contact. We found Rolo and he has been golden ever since. Also I forgot to mention about when Elder Foster came to Asuncion for the huge conference we had. His wife and him talked about how each and every missionary was born for that purpose to serve as a missionary. Then they showed us this video of the universe and about how there are billions and billions of galaxies and about how there is eternal life and ya it was incredible! Also yesterday it started raining like crazy as usual so it was hard to get people to church. We brought a new family that we found to church and I carried there 3 year old daughter on my shoulders about 4 miles through the rain and mud, and snow up hill, OK so maybe not snow and hills but rain and mud yes ha. We found this family one day and we asked if we could do service for them. I'm sure everyone is thinking of service such as moving furniture or mowing the lawn Right? wrong. She told us how she just moved in and she still hadn't put in her toilet. For those of you that have served a mission in Paraguay you know how the toilet works here. We dug a huge hole in the wrong and then we put in a big barrel. and ya that's how the bathroom works and then when they fill it they find a new spot and dig another hole haha. They are a super poor family but they knew of the blessing that they would receive for walking in the rain to church. After that we had our primary presentation and boy was it interesting. When it rains here no one leaves their house, not even the members so we didn't have to many members. The primary president had two of our investigators memorize two scriptures to read when they showed up to church for there first time in the presentation haha I have just become used to weird things like that happening. but it ended up working out great and yes of course I played the piano to some primary songs which they sang just lovely haha. Hey by the way I have a few questions. Have you seen the movie the testaments? and also Mom please take a picture of your scriptures and send it to me in the email when you can. Your quad scriptures you always use. I pulled out 20 dollars to send a little something home for your birthday mom I doubt it will make it for your bday haha sorry. Everything is going just dandy here in Zeballos. I hope all is well. I love you guys please keep praying for my area! Tell Tyson I loved his pics of the family he took to the temple! As of right now Miguel the guy that is the branch president that my comp and I baptized is preparing to go to the temple but he still needs an interview with the stake president. kisses and hugs for everyone. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight! chau! Elder Burr

To my Fans!

HEYO! Hows it going folks! Lets just start off by saying I loved every ones letters haha I didn't know it was for Christmas but asI read I was a little confused because everyone was wishing me a merry Christmas ha. I couldn't stop laughing after I had read every ones letters they were hilarious! I am glad that everyone is doing awesome and to hear that life really still is moving at home. I can not believe all the people that are married it blows my mind! haha man its crazy. This week was a tough one for my comp and I. My comp was sick the whole week pretty much and might need to get his nose operated on haha I told him that if he had it done here he would look just like Michael Jackson haha he resented that. This week was the hottest and coldest I have ever been in my life. Here in Paraguay when it is beginning to rain it is so unbearably hot also the day after it rains. and when it begins raining and you are out in it, it is freezing cold! We had alot of rain this week which was crazy, it seems like I either fall in the mud every week or get close to it haha this week I did good. On Friday it was so hot that my comp and I couldn't even sleep, it was like an oven! Then Saturday I was sleeping with a blanket haha I swear it really is like camping but I would trade nothing for these experiences I love all the misery and joy that I get here! This week was a really tough one with investigators as well. We had a total of 5 GOLD FAMILY'S AND ONE BUY ONE THEY FELL! my comp and I started being alot more direct with our inv and they all were direct with us and said thousands of lame excuses. I asked one of our family's if they knew that the church was true, If they thought that God wanted them to be baptized and married. They agreed and after I said if you receive an answer from God will you get baptized. They then replied no. I was absolutely, shocked that someone can have a clear perfect knowledge that these things are true but not be baptized. It makes you so sad because we know that these things are true but sometimes the people we love don't. I loved how brother Andes said its amazing how we go into the mission as knuckleheads I think he said it haha and we come out as polished priesthood holders. its so true! I have seen a complete change in my life and it is amazing. Thank you for all the support and love! I hope all is well. I cant wait to talk for Christmas! PS ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS! not. Love Elder Burr!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Elder Foster {Seventy}

Not going to lie this week was a tough one for us, We didn't have our baptisms. One family is now working super late at night and it is hard to get a hold of them, and the other one went to church again but we found out that Liz had done the funky monkey with some other guy before and they are having alot of trust issues so we are really focusing with them on the blessing of the Savior and how he can bless there life if they will just be obedient to what the Lord asks. Right now in my area there is like 500 Americans ripping off the Paraguayans building them houses for alot of money but for horrible quality its really sad. They are pretty useless when it comes to using Paraguayan tools and trying to work during the burning hot sun haha its pretty funny. As of right now we aren't doing terrible we are working with alot of people but it is just so hard for people them to break their traditions of the Catholic church. Tomorrow is going to be awesome! We get to see Elder Foster!! Also our zone will be singing A Light That's Pure haha you guessed it I will be playing the piano for it. It sounds like everyone is doing really well which makes me happy! I cant believe how fast the time is flying, I was reading in a book that Ryan gave me about what I should do in my mission or something and whats even funnier is that it says is that when you have 138 days left you should read D&C backwards haha any who so I was curious and I found out that on the 29th of this month everyone can start reading D&C backwards haha I know Dad will be up for that! Also today we went to this little china town market place to buy a few things and I made myself super trunky by buying a swimsuit hahaha horrible idea but I couldn't let it pass. Also I was thinking about college and all that jazz and I am trying to think if it would be better that I look for work and work all summer when I get back or if I should go straight to Chandler Gilbert doing summer school and just trying to find work to do. I have no idea but if anyone has any great ideas I would love to here them! I hope all is well at home, PS Tell Jared not to be scared to write me haha just kidding I don't think I ever wrote him on his mission. I hope everyone can give me a shout out when you have the time. I will send a few pics. I love you all! Dreams without action stay dreams! Tell big T Bone I say hi! deuces! Elder Burr

Beautiful Asuncion
My companion and I eating a cow huff!

Pray for these two couples

How goes it! I loved the pictures you guys sent hahaha I have no idea what mom was supposed to be for Halloween a 70´s lady maybe? haha Who knows. Any who everything is going well I am 100% better so Mom don't worry the bronchitis is all good and gone. I'm guessing it was the lighting from the camera that made my skin look green and red haha also I have plenty of vitamins at the house so its all good. I cant believe today hits 5 months left in the mission, I'm really giving it my all now with the heat that has just arrived, lets just say its unbearable but all you can do is smile and work. Yesterday at church we brought 11 and we brought two families that now have been to church twice. They are having a hard time deciding to be married because they are both young couples but they are so cool. Please be praying for Blas & Liz and also for Francisco & Liz. They both are really poor couples that have close to nothing, but there faith that they both have is incredible. Every time we teach them it is so amazing how they are able to move on. Its really sad because there is an extremely poor neighborhood in Zeballos where Blas and Liz live where there neighbors laugh at them when they go to church and have been saying that we only want money from them. They told us yesterday that they don't care and that they love going to church so that made me really happy! Yesterday at church almost nobody showed up because everyone was voting for the new Governor of Asuncion it was really lame haha any way I walk into the gospel principle class with our investigators and our wonderful members hand me the manual to teach the class which was on the law of chastity haha talk about awkward questions haha it was pretty funny though. We were able to talk alot about the importance of marriage so hopefully our investigators were able to understand more about why they should be married. They are getting ready to be married and baptized for next week if everything works out well. Please pray for them. Not to much else going on here in the dirty south just working trying to bring happiness to everyone here in Paraguay through baptism. Thank you for all of the support and for all the love that you guys bring me. Here is a cool quote before I bounce. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. I know God loves us and that he has a plan for us, stay happy everyone your future is as bright as your faith! Love Elder Burr para siempre dios este con vos. chauu!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Happy Late Halloween!

HELLO SWEET FAMILY OF MINE! I'm glad the weather is nice for you guys because it is so dang hot here and it is only getting worse haha it beats the winter though. Well not to much going on this week, it wasn't that great because I was on the DL for 3 days with bronchitis haha it seems like every year I get this nasty old cough. The people think it is hilarious when I laugh because sound like an old car that wont start haha I'm doing great now though I'm not sick anymore so no worries! I went to the hospital and they gave me an inhaler and some nasty cough medicine that tastes like prune juice. The people that went to church last week didn't go this week because I had been resting all weekend so that sucked but they will be getting baptized in 2 weeks, They have to go at least 3 times before they can be baptized. It sounds like Halloween was pretty fun this year, I carved another pumpkin hahaha it looks great you will all have to guess who it is haha. I hope all is well at home and I hope you all know that I'm praying for each one of you. Side note NO PACKAGES, NO CANDY, NO GARMENTS, NO NOTHING JUST LETTERS!! Don't for get that after Christmas I have only like 4 months or so. I'm going to buy garments here in Paraguay because they are extremely cheap, Also I don't want candy from the U. S. because they make me sick haha an Elder got a whole bag of skittles and after about 10 I was ready to throw up. I'm happy that everyone wants to send packages and what not but all I want is letters please. Also on the 15,16,17 of this month we are going to have a huge conference and Elder Foster from the seventy is coming! The guy that gave my favorite talk last year on the cows and their mothers woooooooooo! Any who it will be on a Monday so if i don't write I will write on Tues but I'm not sure but I will keep you all informed. Well stay graceful Arizona! Across the painted desert where the mountains touch the sky, something something I cant remember the news song about Arizona hahaha any who toodles! para siempre dios este con vos. Elder Burro segun los paraguayos