Three more days!

Just three more days and Elder Burr will be home. What an amazing two years this has been. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for protecting him. His feelings for the people in Paraguay are very tender. He will truely miss them. He wants to return one day. I hope he can. We have loved the tender mercies that have come into our lives because of his service. I will miss his weekly e-mails, but it is time for him to come home. Thanks to all of you that have written him and have been a huge part of his life. His maturity and testimony have grown so much as he has sacrificed everything to bring the gospel into the lives of these wonderful people. I too, like Elder Burr know that my Heavenly Father lives and the gospel has been restored in these latter days. I rejoice knowing that my Savior lived and died for me. I pray that I can do all that I can in serving him while I am here upon the earth. Thanks again for your support Love Sylvia Burr

The Greatest week of my Life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man I don't even know what to say, words I don't think would be able to describe what is going through my head right now! I have nothing but gratitude in my heart. This past week was the most incredible week of my life, I was able to first go through the temple on Thursday with Sully and her husband. I was able to see them be sealed for time and all eternity!! TALK ABOUT BEING TRUNKY, I WAS THE WITNESS HAHA! I got to go with elder Petersen, and we couldn't help but smile and cry. I have never felt so much joy in my life! Then on Saturday I was able to go with Primitiva and her kids to the temple for the first time!! Again i balled my eyes out like a school girl. IT WAS INCREDIBLE THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG!!! I am so grateful for them and for their sacrifices to be able to enter into the temple!! Today i also had my final interview to help me not be weird and to not be scared of girls so that was a little weird but it was an interview that i will never forget. Man I don't know what else to say I am just shocked that its all coming to an end, tonight mariela will be baptized and not only will she be baptized but she will be married to her old boyfriend Edgar who is a less active that we reactivated!!!!! WHAT A BLESSING! I have so much joy and love for these people here, and i cant believe that I'm going to have to say goodbye to it all. I will never forget the people of Paraguay and for all of their sacrifices that they have made to come into this church. I know that this is the only true church, the one that holds the keys to the priesthood of GOD, which makes it possible for families to be together FOREVER! Like Ty said, its time to hang up tie and come home,i just cant believe it went by so fast. i have no regrets, just gratitude for every person that i have met out here and come to love. Thanks to everyone for the support and love, for the packages and letters that you have all written through out my mission. especially Jared and his letters every week NOT haha. Before i close i want to share some of my favorite scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:6-9
6.For i am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand,
7. I have fought a good fight, i have finished my course, i have kept the faith.
8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord , the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 9. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me.
I love you all!!! SEE YOU ALL ON FRIDAY MORNING!! PS Have a cold Gatorade in the fridge for me haha also the time in Paraguay changed it is 2:16 right now and in AZ it is 11:16, i don't know what time you guys are all going to be at the airport but i hope to see you all there! For the last time yours truly
ELDER JACOB J.BURR(O)

Pres.

YA BOiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii PRESIDENT WADE GOT CALLED TO BE IN THE AREA SEVENTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another fantastic week!! we were able to baptize Tamarra this week!! The conference was excellent even though in the morning session on Sunday we didn't get to watch it because Paraguay couldn't pick up signal so we had to watch a replay of Saturday morning haha i don't think anyone even realized it haha. Also i got the word that primitiva and Sully both got their recommendations to go to the temple!! Sully is planned for going in with her husband on Wednesday and primitiva is planned for Saturday!! they just need one more interview with president madariaga and they are good to go!!!!!! Not much else going out here in cañada garay, the members are making me a little bummed because they keep talking about me leaving and how i will forget them. I have truly come to love the people out here and they have completely became a second family to me. I hope that one day I will be able to come back and see them. By the way mom way to go with Jim!!! When I get home i will personally invite them to my homecoming! Everything starts with an invitation DON'T STOP! Man i don't know what else to say this is my last full week in the mission. please be praying for Mariela and Angelica, they are two ladies we are working with who are so close to being baptize!!!!! Also I don't know if it was just me but I really felt pressure by some of these marriage talks in the conference haha President Monson in the priesthood talk put it pretty clear that we serve a full time mission and then we get married, not just hang out haha. I guess we will see what the future has for me. I hope all is well and that everyone is doing splendid! Enjoy your last full week away from me! Love Elder Burr PS Pray that everything will go well with the interviews and traveling for Sully and Primitiva. they have to travel very far! One more thing did the suns make it to the playoffs? CHAUU!

Well this week i had a blonde moment i guess you could say haha what happened this week is i bought some ramon noodle soup to eat. As i was getting re

>Well this week I had a blonde moment I guess you could say haha what happened this week is I bought some ramon noodle soup to eat. As I was getting ready to make It I realized we didn't have gas for our gas stove so I decided to put the medal pan in the microwave. While I was sitting there waiting for it to cook all of a sudden the microwave started to catch on fire so I opened the microwave and with out thinking grabbed the burning hot pan. I learned my lesson not to put metal things in the microwave because it left one big fat burn on my fingers haha any who enough about that. I cant believe how fast the time is flying, its a little bit scary. Sometimes I am ready to come home and then the next minute I would rather stay here, its like a second family to me. I truly love the people here, they are so amazing and humble and ready to serve the lord when called. The members are helping us some much and they have complete trust in us now. This week we should have two baptisms so if you guys could pray for Amalia (the one who rocks the Yankees hat) and also Tamarra. We had an absolute miracle this week, right when we got to church we were looking to see if Amalia had showed up to church but we didn't see anyone wearing a hat. Then all of a sudden I saw a lady sitting in the front with like a semi fro haha sure enough it was AMALIA!! We were able to teach her all of the lessons and now she is ready to get baptized this Thursday! wooooooooooo! I am really happy right now though, life is good and I am working my fanny off before I come home. Please be praying for Primitiva and Sulley as well they are two of my converts that I baptized. They are getting ready to go to the temple before i leave so we are trying to get everything set up before I go home. Here are a few versus that I really like from the book of mormon. Its in Nephi 13: 31-34- It talks about how we don't need to worry about money, food, or clothes because God already knows that we need those things but what we must first look for is the Kingdom of God and then he will bless us with what we need. I hope all is well back at home, stay positive and keep it real. Here is one last quote by Richard G Scott: God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather God will respond with what in his eternal plan is best for you. I love you all please pray for the people in Cañada Garay! love Elder Burr

The pill is called La Bomba!

Ya I think I will be fine from the pill and better yet if I get sick I wont have to give me talk haha. What is my talk on and how long does it have to be. I have no question mark key on this computer so this is kind of weird . Sounds like everything is same old same old , Here in Canada garay as mom calls it haha (cañada garay) we have been working like crazy trying to get everything that this area doesn't have. As of right now we have inv, we have a new home right in front of the church, We have lunch appointments and ya everything is just groovy I guess you could say. This week we really forgot ourselves and just decided to serve people in our ward and we also decided to get the members involved instead of them always having this weird tension against the missionaries. The members are really getting attached to us and we had a miracle of being able to have 4 inv at church yesterday in an area that has a lot of problems. We are now able to really stay focused with some of our investigators and have them progressing towards baptism. I know that the prayers you guys have been offering have been answered! It was super funny because we have an investigator named Amalia who for the life of her with not take off her Yankees hat haha. Yesterday at church she showed up and sure enough she was rocking her hat. Our branch pres started laughing and said if she doesn't want to take her hat off I guess we could get her a white one for when she gets baptized hahaha not much else going on I'm just living the dream and kicking it like a villain. Like I told Sarah I'm as giddy as a school girl to come home but I am as focused as Jordan in the 4th quarter. I know this church is true and that we are blessed as we are obedient to what the Lord asks of us. Just like in Nephi the Lord will never give us a task that we cant accomplish. Fight the fight and stay patient ya-ll. One last quote from Elder Burr before I bounce. LIFE IS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER, PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND SCREAM!. Love Elder Burr

Finally Free!

Yes its true I am finally out of the office haha, as of right now like I said I am in Cañada Garay which is a place that is just a little bit insane. Its been closed for a few months now for a couple of reasons. One of the reasons being that a missionary got in a fight with a member and because its super ghetto out here and the missionaries have been robbed a lot haha its pretty fun. President gave me the special assignment to open this area back up which doesn't have lunch appointments, a house, service for our phone, AIR, no one to wash clothes, or inv I guess you could say we are starting from scratch. Its been quite the adventure but I am loving every minute of the pain and suffering I am going through haha. Now a little bit about my companion, his name is Elder Soto and he is from Argentina. I also got the assignment to babysit again, he just barely got in trouble for doing some disobedient things but I love the kid he is great and I am helping him to work hard and not waste his time. I was hoping to have a junior comp that would be pushing me to work my last change but its all good I am working extremely hard and I am having to put in more effort to stay focused. The members out here are super happy to have us here but of course there are a few that still think missionaries are bad and what not but we are trying to do service and do visits with everyone so that they will like us haha. i truly love the people here and i can see it being one of my favorite areas. We had a miracle bringing someone to church because this whole week has been insane trying to find where the members live and having to look for inv. I am working the hardest I have ever worked and more and I know that the lord will bless my comp and I with success! I hope everyone is doing great! Oh yeah crazy news elder Lucas went home because his knee wasn't getting any better, Also the sleeping bag, and hammock will be getting sent home this week. I don't think it will get there for 2 months haha. I love you guys! Dad thanks for always making me trunky with the whole fast Sunday count down haha. Stay happy and tell Jim and Lil that ill be praying for them! don't be scared to open your mouth and talk to them about the gospel. Let them know that this might be a sign from god telling them that they need to listen to the missionaries. Don't be scared of what they say, if you don't ever talk to them about it the answer is already NO. Love Elder Burr

The Clock is Ticking!

Well the time is flying by and it still hasn't really hit me yet. I guess as the time goes on I will start feeling it more, However as of right now I still just feel like a newbie. This week was a week that I will never forget because it was INSANE! Saturday morning Elder Levos and I made our way out to a zone called Luque Sur. We were able to do a few divisions out there with a couple of elders and then we taught a little bit in the district meeting about how we need to start off our lessons using the 8 lessons. Its so crucial, the first visit when you find someone to teach because they need to know that you are a Representative of Jesus Christ. The first appearance is everything, when finding someone because it could be the last opportunity you have to talk with one of Gods children. Its extremely exciting to be able to get into a house and to listen to people ask you questions that only the gospel can answer. Later on in the week while I was on my division I got a call from my kid Elder Manu that he was going home. This whole change he has been having bad chest problems and the well trained amazing doctors of Paraguay couldn't figure out what was causing the pain. Any who the well trained amazing educated doctors of Paraguay decided to send him to the US. It was really depressing having to take Manu to the airport and watch him go home. I'm not sure for how long he will be out or if he will even come back out but i guess we will see with the time. Now comes the insane part of the week, Friday morning we get a call from President Madariaga informing us that Elder Arnold from the seventy/Area President was at the office and that he wanted to meet with him and the assistants! It was the most intense meeting i have ever been in haha we talked alot about the obedience in the mission and the problems that have been occurring. After our meeting we had Elder Arnold took each one of us in Presidents office and interviewed us! I felt like I was at the bar of the judgement seat haha it was the most spiritual moment that I have ever had!! It was the most amazing thing and i know i will never forget it. This Monday all of the Zone Leaders from just around Asuncion and the District Leaders will be having a mission Council with Elder Arnold so it should be pretty intense! Other than that not much else has been going on, we have changesthis Wednesday and it will be my last change! I'm not sure if i will stay Assistant or if President will drop me and just put me out in the Field, I'm down with whatever. I hope all is well and that everyone hasn't forgotten me yet! I had so many emails today I was scared I couldn't read them all! NOT haha yes I'm dropping the cane on everyone that didn't write. stay happy everyone and be happy for the trials that come into your lives, the Lord is giving you the opportunity to grow. Para Siempre Dios Esté Con Vos! Elder Burr

Saying good bye to Elder Manu.

Hey!

WHAT UP! ANOTHER CRRRRRRRRRRRAZY WEEK! You will never guess who I got to do a two day division with! My boy Elder Brown! It was sick, he is out in an area called Salto de Guaira its kind of like Pedro Juan the place next to Brazil. There is a huge river and then on the other side of it is Brazil. It was really fun though, I went with the other AP again Elder Levos because Lucas still cant work with his knee all messed up. It was alot of fun speaking in Portuguese all over again haha we left Asuncion Tuesday night and we took a bus out to Browns area for about 7 hours and then we stayed there until Thursday night. Then we got on another bus and we made our way on the worst bus in man kind making our way out to an area called Curuguaty which is about 4 hours from Saltos. The bus had no air and it was a small little sucker. We went out there to do a division with Elder Collura and Elder Argyle. After that we made our way back to Asuncion on a bus that was even worse than the other bus haha it was quite the adventure and that bus ride was 8 lovely hours long. So as you can tell its been a fun busy week with no sleep. Tonight after pday we are going to make our way over to a city called San Lorenzo to do divisions until wed, and then not this Monday but next the area president is coming. Elder Arnold so we have to get everything ship shape. I'm glad all is well in the hood and that everyone is happy! STAY THAT WAY! OK I'M OUT I LOVE YOU ALL HABLAMOS! ELDER BURR

What a GREAT Saturday!

Don't make Elder Burr to trunky! ha ha What am I speaking on? I think I'll just speak all in Spanish because this week we had our zone conferences and the old missionaries always have to give their last testimony and ya I could barely say my name in English, I gave my testimony in Spanglish. You can let brother Springer know that we are getting her daughters info all ready to go and that yes I will be picking her up with Elder Lucas or with one of the other two assistants. This week I got stuck doing office work and then late at night I would go out and work in downtown Asuncion helping out the office elders. This week was one of the most exhausting weeks of the mission though. We had 4 conferences that we had to plan and teach at. Elder Lucas and I taught on how to find and baptize more men so that there can be more priesthood in Paraguay. No priesthood no future for the church.

Any who we were waking up really early and going to bed super late. Then I had to take all of the elders that are in far areas to the terminal where they get on their buses and head back to their areas, yes I drove the shagon wagon and I am an official expert at driving stick ha ha. Not to much else going on. I got my flight plans that you guys sent me and then I saw my certificate that I get when I am released as a missionary ha ha HOLY TRUNKY!!! Man the office is a killer! I will send a few more pics with the ones from Fili. I hope all is well! Tell Aunt G she is in my prayers! love ya guys! DON'T GET TRUNKY! Elder Burr

I'm Shrinking!! :)

Elder Burr, Elder Decker, Elder Lisonbee, and Elder Brown!

Crazy Week!

Man where to begin, this week was insane haha last Saturday night I had the opportunity to go back to Zeballos and baptize Liliams little girl Monse. It was a great baptism. I was able to go back and visit a few members and converts so that was a big surprise for everyone. Then later that night President and hermana Madariaga invited everyone from the office over to their house to have cake for my birthday! It was awesome!! Then Monday night Elder Levos another one of the other three assistants that there is and my self went out to do a 5 day division in this crazy place out super far called Filadelfi. It was the craziest place I have ever been. It's like way far out in the desert where all of the Amish, German, Brazilian, and this other Indian tribe called the Nivacleg tribe! I cant even explain what it is like out there. It is like 20 times hotter than Asuncion, and like 20 times harder to learn the language Nivacleg than Guarani. I learned a couple of phrases haha. I guess I will just have to show you the pictures and explain it because its impossible to describe haha. Today we didn't do to much for pday, Elder Levos who is from Texas and I got back from Fili at 3 in the morning so we pretty much just slept all morning and then we went to a big Chinese resterant in Asuncion. Not to much else went down this week. We are just really busy here trying to get all of these conferences planned for the zones in the mission. The end of this month Elder Arnold from the seventy is going to come!! woo! He's the one who gave the talk about the cow who ate the wheat and died in the last general conference. Any who all is well and I am doing great!!! Thanks for all the support and love! I love you guys! LIVE THE DREAM! Elder Burr

GREATEST BIRTHDAY EVER!! oh man where to begin! this week was burning hot but super awesome!! i had the opportunity to do a few divisions out in one o

GREATEST BIRTHDAY EVER!! oh man where to begin! This week was burning hot but super awesome!! I had the opportunity to do a few divisions out in one of my old areas "Salado" I was able to see old converts and old members! It was a hot week, I guess I forgot how hot it really is with out air conditioning haha this coming week it looks like I will stay in the office and travel with President while he does interviews and while I check the good old area books. Life is good and I'm super happy. Today like I said was one of the funnest days ever for me because E Lucas and I got permission to go to Zeballos our old area, and eat lunch with a member family for my birthday! It was sick though because I got my fake drivers license haha I watched a short video on driving and then Lucas and I took the van tozeballos. Lucas drove in about 1st gear all the way to zeballos haha he said he knew how to drive but really he didn't haha. Then on the way home I drove the shaggon wagon. I was pretty impressed with myself because I only killed the car twice ha. It was crazy though I thought we were going to die, I felt like Tony Stewart flying down the road. After I get done writing I'm going to go back to Zeballos to do a division with my old comp E Manu and his comp. Liliams daughter the lady we baptized is getting baptized tonight and she wants me to baptize her so I'm way pumped!! Everything is going great and I'm trying not to get to trunky. We just got done watching this movie called UP? It was pretty funny, I think its a pixar movie or something. Any who I will send a few pictures. Courtney's baby is super cute, how many nieces and nephews does that make now? haha thank you for all the birthday wishes! Love Elder Burr!

Holy Cow!

WOW WOW WOW WOW. TOTALLY UNEXPECTED!! So you are probably wondering why I am writing on Saturday and not Monday. Well let me explain no I'm not being punished but yet I kind of feel like it. I got a delightful call Monday night from President Madariaga informing me that I will be the new assistant. I feel super weird being here because it is something I would have never imagined. Its crazy being in here. We travel a ton and ya its insane. We have alot of privileges though haha such as. I will be getting my Paraguayan license so that I can start driving the van and Presidents car haha however the van is stick drive and ya Ill have to learn on the streets of Paraguay haha it should feel alot like need for speed or grand theft auto I feel like. Also our house is a mansion, and in every room we have AC let me put that again AC!! Also we live all together in the same mansion so there are now 8 of us the assistants and the office elders. haha I feel so spoiled but however I'm not done yet.We also have our own washer and drier and also a lady that cleans our house and that cooks our lunch and I'm talking gecko grill kind of food!! The only bummer is that we don't work very much in our own area because we are always traveling, across Paraguay to check on missionary's and to help them out. Its cool though because president and his wife have alot of trust in me and ya that's comforting because I don't feel that I am capable of being here. As I've said before I was never even adeacons quorum secretary. All I know is that I am going to work hard and just try and keep up with what all is going on. All I know is that when I was a ZL I thought I was tired, now I am dead tired but hey what can you do. I was super bummed to leave Elder Manu though we had a great time and I was ableto leave there with a bang. we baptized Juan Carlos Tuesday night so that was great! Also another crazy thing! So my comp was supposed to be an Elder from Argentina named Elder Lombardo. I was with him for a day and then out of know where President tells him he will be leaving and that Elder Lucas my old comp will be with me haha its insane! Elder Lucas ended up hurting his knee so he had to stay in the office and do like paper work for a few weeks but now we will be comps as assistants haha not much else going on, yes mother dear I got your calender and I loved it haha also I got Rush and Carley's family picture hahaha it was hilarious! Also one more thing I really wanted to fly to Miami and Brazil when I came home so I suggested it and ya I think theyagreed but the flight agent lady said that I wouldn't be able to because the rest of my group goes to Argentina and then Texas. I'm not sure if you got those flight plans or not haha you will have to let me know. If its the flight plans to Brazil and Miami its not correct haha. I just wanted to go to Miami so that I could sing will smith " welcome to Miami" I hope all is well at home. I love you guys,and I'm praying for you! take it easy and be happy! LATER! ELDER BURR! MY PDAYS ARE NOW ON SATURDAYS SO DON'T FORGET TO WRITE BEFORE! PS Elder Roeller is a way cool missionary he was in my last zone. tell his mom she has a great son!

My early birthday party!

Birthday Cake!

Living the "office life!"

Don't get trunky!

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK! Elder Manu and I are tearing it up out here in zeballos! We were able to baptize Lili and it was terrific! The members were there with her supporting her all the way. Also Juan her ex bf showed up haha I swear the dude is a stalker its a little bit creepy but whatever. Please tell me you got my flight plans haha if you have them you should for sure mail them to me! I cant believe how fast the time is going! Tomorrow we should have another baptism and all the news that come into the mission will be at our baptism tomorrow with Pres Madariaga and his wife so that will be tight. Tomorrow we find out about the changes and then it will be official will only have two transfers left haha insane! I don't know what I am feeling about changes. I really want to finish my mission inPiribebuy where I started but I don't want a new comp. Elder Manu by far is my favorite comp. The secret to having success in the mission is being best friends with your comp. We are havinga blast! The Lord knows whats best for me and he knows where I should go so we will see what happens. I am doing great though! Not much else going on. Next week I will have more to write.I love you all! don't get to trunkey haha just kidding its all good WE ALL DO! PS Ask Rush what hes thinking about doing. Later everyone! 87 days elder burr

Happy New Year!

WHAT UP!! Well not to much going on here haha there has been alot of rain and ya new years was INSANE!! everyone and there grandma was drunk but hey that's the cool thing to do here get drunk with your grandma. I cant believe how 2010 just absolutely flew by and how I didn't even realize it, it seems like the days are going by and I am not noticing it. I cant believe how short the time really is out here and how I have to really take advantage of it before its all over. This year I was able to make a sweet new years resolution that consists of a 3 month work out plan to get in shape so I can kick Jared's trash in the Burr 10k haha I'M COMING! LIONE the "TSUNAMI" MANU is going to get me back in shape haha. I'm going to look like Toni perkis when i get home. Any who, not much else happened this week, we are working with an incredible lady named Lili who Elder Lucas and I worked with back in the day. This lady was absolutely golden along with her 5 kids but her boyfriend that lived with her was a huge drunk. We would visit her and then her boyfriend would come home threatening to kill us so we ended up dropping her after she was so close to being baptized. Last week my comp and I were walking and we found her boyfriend sober so we went and talked to him and asked how him and lili were doing. the dude had a huge black eye and a cut down his face. He told us that him and Lili got into a fight and that she moved away with all of the kids. As I sat there talking to him I was shouting in my head ITS ABOUT TIME SHE PUNCHED THIS DUDE haha. I asked him where she was living but he said he didn't know so that day I told my comp that somewhere in Paraguay there was a woman with her kids who would get baptized if the missionaries find her. We went back to the house and said a prayer to possibly find her, Within 15 min we found her and all of her kids! It was an absolute miracle!!! We were able to be reacquainted and we put the baptismal date for the 14 of this month. She excepted it in a heart beat. As of right now she is living with her brother and sister in law and she is doing terrific! Please keep praying for her so that she can be baptized. Not much else going on I'm glad everyone is doing great. I will talk with you all next week! Love Elder Burr!

White Christmas

YES it was fantastic to hear from everyone! I'm glad that I was able to talk with most everyone, except for two people I wont mention that sold my call for a CHRISTMAS PLAY! haha its all good I probably would have done the same if someone offered me basketball tickets but Ryan come on man a play?! Any who it ended up being a terrific week with the white Christmas that we had, we were able to baptized Blas, Liz, and then Janette on Sunday so I cant complain! I hope that everyone was able to do something nice for someone this month. The elders from Zeballos all delivered a few things to some people who don't have much in the ward. It was great seeing the facial expressions of those that received their gifts. I'm so grateful for what the Savior has done in my life. I hope all is well! not much to say I pretty much said it all over the phone. I will talk to you guys next week! love ya Elder Burr. PS I will try and find a way to send the sleeping bag home.

HOLY INFIERNO ITS SO DANG HOT HERE! its getting pretty toasty here so as you all no its beginning to look alot like Christmas sweating from head to toe. Its so crazy you take a shower and write when the water is turned off you are sweating haha kind of insane but hey it beats being cold so I cant complain. My comp and I just got done playing a mean march madness tournament with the zone it was sick! My comp and I were the phoenix mercury I was Diana Turasi. It was pretty dang hot playing but it was worth it. Every Monday wed. and Friday we go running to our church and then we play two on two basketball against Elder Roeller and Anderson its a great time. I am having a blast with my comp and he for sure is one of my favorite comps! He is teaching me how to do the Hakka haha its pretty nuts. This week was pretty good for us, so I cant complain, we were able to take 7 to church and tomorrow we are planning on have a hay down or a hootenanny as I like to call them. Blas and Liz are planning on getting baptized and married tomorrow afternoon. Please pray for them and pray that Blas doesn't relapse with his cigarettes. They are doing so dang well though!! I love visiting them they are sooooooooooo poor but they are the humblest people. The other day I took some winter clothes that I don't use over to their house. They collect plastic for a living and all the stuff that they wear is what they have found on the street its crazy. But yesterday they totally caught us by surprise! We are so used to them going to church in basketball shorts and with sandals but yesterday Liz went with a dress and Blas went with a white shirt and tie! What a blessing! I am so happy with them! Its so crazy because after so much time in my mission I have finally realized how to have alot of success. If you can get you investigators to realize of the blessings that they receive for keep their commitments they will agree to any commit like baptism. All is well with Elder Burr said my love to everyone! haha funny story at church. So yesterday we brought good old Nini again to church haha its always super hectic trying to get her to church because she cant walk at all haha but she was telling us about how her water line got cut and how she hasn't showered in 2 weeks haha its was pretty....... interesting I guess would be the only word I could say. but then when I got to church the president of the branch gave me the gospel doctrine manual to teach out of no where haha it went well but the funny part is before that my comp and i were helping nini get to relief society and I was kind of pushing her to make her go faster and she yells at me and says I cant walk you need to be patient hahaha in front of all the women. I felt pretty dumb but oh well. She is an extremely grumpy lady but she loves when we visit so its a little weird. So a note of advice before I bounce be patient. I love you all have a great Christmas everyone and don't forget the true meaning. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT1 later! Elder Burr

Hey-O

WHAT UP! MAN THIS WEEK WAS PRETTY INSANE! I have my comp and I think it just might be one of my favorite comps. His name is elder manu, he is from California but he is originally from AZ! He even went to Gilbert high and we had the same seminary teacher!! haha we know the exact same people so everyday we will talk about how this person did this back in the day or we will be walking and be like hey do you know this person haha its hilarious. He was in the val vista ward, also he is a huge Samoan haha hes teaching me some Samoan haha. Today we played American football and it was way fun playing! This week was pretty insane without Lucas we had been together for who knows how long. On Sunday it was really hard getting people to church because we usually do a division with people in the ward to get investigators but elder manu doesn't know the area yet so its kind of hard but i am teaching him the area the best that I can. We brought probably the oldest person on earth to church Sunday haha her name is Nini and she can barely walk, but she is a sweet heart. Also we are working with a couple named Blas and Liz who are looking really good for the 23 of December to be baptized and married, please pray for them. Blas is still smoking but he doesn't smoke to bad. We are trying to visit them everyday because I know Satan will be really working with them so that they don't get baptized. Everything is getting well here we are working super hard and we are having fun. Please keep praying for my area and for my zone its kind of struggling but we have good elders in our zone. Also about Christmas here in Paraguay AZ is 4 hours behind Paraguay and Paraguay is 4 hours ahead. Right now it is 240 so in AZ its 1040. Please if you can let me know when you guys want to call on Christmas i will set it all up with my comp. Just please let me know by tonight what time you are going to call. I think the cell phone is alot better than a land line because everyone will be trying to call their families in Paraguay. Ill email you guys a little bit later in the day. I love you guys alot also dad let me know if you want a scripture case I want to get you one they are way cool! I hope all is well! Peace and love from the dirty south. Love Elder Burr

Elder Lucas and I saying our goodbyes

My zone made Dear John shirts!

My zone with Elder and Sister Foster

My new companion Elder Manu

Corner Pocket

How goes it! Well well crazy news down here in the dirty south. We had our zone leader meeting in the morning and I was told that I will be a zone leader still in Zeballos but I will be training a greenie at the same time haha it is going to be tough because there are all Americans coming in and I am going to be doing all of the teaching and giving all of the meetings in my zone and getting every ones numbers every night haha it will be a little bit of a hassle but I'm up for the challenge. I know that the Lord will hear and answer my prayers if I come to him, and boy will I need my prayers answered haha. Any who other than that good stuff I'm doing well and I'm feeling fatter which is pretty cool, I've always been a twig so now I'm getting some meat to back up my guns just kidding but seriously ha. This week was pretty nuts, on wed night I went to a place called San Jorge to do a division with an elder named Elder Chatalein. While doing contacts I felt impressed to contact a certain house. As we arrived to the door a younger lady came out and welcomed us in her home. While preparing to sing her a Christmas song she called her grandma and her aunt to listen to us. We ended up finding out that the aunt had Parkinson disease. During the song and the prayer this lady was yelling and calling us liars haha it was pretty spiritual as you can imagine. Then we began teaching about the book of Mormon and again she began yelling. The girl then asked us if there was anything we could do for her aunt. We then asked her what exactly was wrong with her. She then began to tell me the craziest story about how her and a few other ladies were doing like an open casket thing and they were dancing around the baby chanting stuff . She then went on to tell us that the ladies then left and that the aunt of this girl sat there staring at the baby, and while she was staring at the baby, the baby smiled and she fell down as if she were dead.! After explaining about the priesthood and about giving blessing we gave her a blessing and I began to say that if there was a devil it had to leave her alone. It was insane! the next day Elder Chatalein said that she had been doing alot better and that she had been recuperating ! what a miracle! It was so incredible to be able to have an experience like that and to be able to see the faith of this family and for them to believe that their family member would do better. then later that night when I got back to my area I was telling my comp about the story and while I was telling the story our lights started to flicker on and off and then out of no where the lights went out hahaha I ALMOST PEEPED MY PANTS! Any who that night we had to sleep on our ruff because it was an oven in our house. We got bit by like a million mosquitoes that night. Other than that it was a pretty great week! about the whole Christmas call, I still haven't got any info but they should give it to us in a week or two. Also about the scriptures I wanted you to take the pics of them because I want to make you a scripture case like I did. Dad do you want one as well? They are pretty cheap and I want to get you guys something for Christmas, but I'm not sure if I will send them home because its a little expensive. Just let me know what is both of your guys favorite pictures of anything of the church and like a favorite scripture or something. The guy that does the cases can carve pictures of like the second coming and stuff like that. Just let me know by next week so that he can get started! PS I got the testaments and I wanted to send it to you guys for Christmas. Do we own it? I hope all is well I loved the pictures! It looks like everyone is looking beautiful. Stay happy and please keeping praying for my area! Love you guys peace! Elder Burr

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!